The Postmen NBA Spectacular: Western Conference

October 30th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Even though I’ve only recently actualized it, there are few things that get me as excited as the start of the NBA season. The constant highlights, Charles, Ernie, and Kenny on Thursday nights … man, do I love it. To express that love in full, here’s Part Two of the Postmen NBA Spectacular, brought to you by nondescript team previews everywhere. Part One can be found  here. This wouldn’t be so uncreative, but FD totally stole my every player preview idea. Sure they did.

Below, the Western Conference, in some vague semblance of order.

Phoenix Suns: This is a weird bit of homerism on my part; I have no tangible connection to the Suns, but there is no other team, besides the Bulls, I would reather see succeed. Everything about them — the style of play, the quirky cast of characters, the coach-but-not-really Mike D’Antoni — everything about them is damn near heartwarming. A team like this needs to succeed, not just for “what it means” to the NBA, but because they deserve it, damnit. Here’s believing last year was just a stepping stone, and not their last best shot.

Houston Rockets: It’s all about Louis Scola. I’ll never figure out exactly why the Spurs so haphazardly gave Scola away to an emerging Western rival, but he could be an incredible role addition to this team, a perfect complement to Yao’s lumbering, yet endearing, low-post style. Rafer Alston still presents a hole, which may be aptly filled by Steve Francis. Note of self-indulgence: Last year, playing with the Knicks in NBA Live was never as bad as it seemed like it was going to be, mainly because a guard tandom of Marbury and Francis is a basketball video game wet dream. If Francis is half as effective in real life this year as he was hitting baseball jumpers over my roommates last year, the Rockets will be winning with more than one offseason steal in their regular rotation.

San Antonio Spurs: This post isn’t really about predictions, but here’s one: The San Antonio Spurs will begin the season semi-sluggishly. Tim Duncan might suffer some sort of nagging injury; Tony Parker might be turning the ball over at a high rate; Manu Ginobili might be complaining about not starting. And then, right around midseason, the Spurs will play five or six straight holy shit games, capping the streak with a thrilling late-night win over, say, Dallas. Maybe Phoenix. And from there on out, they will — like every other year — be the quiet favorite to win the title. Sound familiar?

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