Welcome to an opening round bloodbath in the first major drama of the NBA Playoffs. Think Titus Andronicus, Billy Shakespeare’s bloodiest play, or tragedy depending on whether you have money on the losing team.
This looks like an epic showdown between the #3 seed Los Angeles Clippers versus the #6 rated team in the Western Conference, the five-time world champion San Antonio Spurs.
Think back to when you were in high school and you had to sit through boring classes about Shakespeare. You would rather be outside surfing, or chasing Sheilas. Well, this isn’t Romeo and Juliet. This is all about revenge, betrayal and bitter enemies. I guess that really was Kid Romero and Julie. Go figure. Well, this is high drama in jock straps.
“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.” We have switched plays on you and that really is a line from Henry The Fourth, Part 2, Act 3. However, Henry could never hit an open jumper, run the pick and roll and he certainly couldn’t jam. He was better at misdirection and poisonings. Quick, someone check the Los Angeles lime Gatorade.
You get the point. This isn’t remedial sports. The Spurs are the defending champs and simply put, they have the best coach in the entire league, Gregg Popovich, and he is squaring off against arguably the second-best coach in the NBA Doc Rivers.
If Shakespeare was a sportswriter he would be salivating over his keyboard. This series has everything; talented youth versus cagey veterans, kings versus pretenders to the throne and good versus evil. There’s the rub – just who is good, and is Coach Popovich really Iago – Billy’s baddest dude?
Codpieces and swordplay never really go out of style.
Both teams are sizzling at the right time. The Spurs have won 14 out of their last 16 and the Clippers have been victorious in their last 14 of 15; including seven straight wins for LA.
The teams split the season series 2-2, with the Clippers ravaging the Spurs in San Antonio in their last meeting.
With crafty King Popovich calling the shots, you never know who is on the floor at any given time for the Spurs – but San Antonio played all of their Evil Princes; Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kawhi “The Claw” Leonard and the most malevolent looking dude in the NBA, Manu Ginobili. Really, he is 37, he is from Argentina and he looks like he drinks blood.
I know that the Clippers are the three seed, and they are handsome and athletic with Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul playing the lights out, but something tells me to watch out for the Old Guys. Come on – you can’t bet against guys that actually drink blood.
I am picking the Spurs to win this series and then eventually face the Golden State Warriors, led by the best shooting (swordsmen) in the NBA; the handsome hero Steph Curry and the dashing Klay Thompson. Really, these guys should be leading men in movies – but it would mean a cut in pay.
If you only watch one opening playoff series make it the Spurs and the Clippers. Treat yourself to some drama played out on the hardwood and beware that evil often triumphs. Somewhere down the line one of these three teams will eventually face LeBron James – The King of Cleveland and the Monarch of the East.
By the way, just as a passing thought… “The first thing we do is kill all the lawyers.” Henry The Sixth, Part 2, Act 4.
If Billy were still around he would probably say that about player agents.
So, it’s time for the NBA Playoffs – lace em’ up and don’t forget to adjust your codpiece.
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