Basketball has always been my favorite sport. Maybe it was the plethora of basketball manga I read while growing up (Slam Dunk, anyone?). Or perhaps I am a victim of reverse psychology, because standing at a mere 5’1″ I have a severe disadvantage in the sport.
It’s no big news that my favorite team has not been playing well for the better part of the decade. However, I grew up in NY during the Knicks’ glory days (at least for my generation), and so I remain loyal to my Knickerbockers. I cried when they lost the 1999 NBA Finals, and still hold a grudge against the Spurs and Tim Duncan for this reason. And the day I met Allan Houston was one of the greatest nights of my life.
The 2010 NBA Finals will commence tomorrow night. And being a Knicks fan, I am once again faced with a dilemma: which team to root for? Or, which is the lesser of two evils?
(I will not get into the history of the Knicks vs the Celtics or the Lakers here. But suffice it to say, they are probably the two most hated teams for every Knicks fan. When I ran into Spike Lee — a rabid Knicks fan — a few weeks ago, I overheard him telling his friend, “This is the first and only time I root for Boston…”)
When Boston and LA faced off at the Finals two years ago, I decided to stick with the east coast and go with Boston. I will probably do the same this year, just because I can’t bear to see the Lakers win two Finals in a row.
Who will YOU be rooting for in the 2010 NBA Finals?
To be perfectly honest, I am not quite as interested in the Finals this year. It seems that in the past few seasons, the NBA has not changed much in terms of the power teams. I usually tend to root for the underdogs, so basketball season has been a series of letdowns and predictability for me.
There is also the issue of the playoffs system. J and I both agree that a series of SEVEN games is too much — too time-consuming, too tiring (for both the players and the fans), and at times, tedious and unnecessary. In addition, while the 2-2-1-1-1 system of home court advantage may seem fair, a better solution would be to go the way of NCAA Basketball and choose a neutral location.
Despite the issues I’ve listed above, I will still be tuning in to watch every game of the Finals this year. LET’S GO GREEN!
I like books, gadgets, spicy food, and art. I dislike shopping, hot weather, and the laws of entropy. Although I am a self-proclaimed computer nerd, I still have a love for handbags and makeup... and I am always teetering on high heels. To learn more about me, visit the 
LETS GO LAKERS!
LAKERS!!!!!!!!! How can you root against Kobe, he was ridiculous in the last game! and how can you root for a team that has Kevin Garnett’s cheap ass trying to elbow punch Dwight Howard numerous times and Paul Pierce makes the World Cup players getting carried off on a stretcher and Derek Fishers flops look like bad actors when he "needs" a wheelchair to get to the locker room just to come back out minutes later.
go LAKERS!
I know exactly what you mean about the Knicks. I’m still upset about when they lost the finals!! Even though Hakeem Olajuwon is a great guy, I still can’t completely like him because he beat us. Oh Patrick Ewing, I’ll always love you. 😀 I live in Boston now, so I can get excited when the Celtics win, but I’ll always be a Knicks girl. 😀
I’m sad because I was going for Los Suns. I love any team that will stand up for what they think it’s right even if it’s outside their immediate realm. I hate the Lakers for the same reason I like the Suns — I mean come on Phil Jackson, sports has no place in politics or pointing out the injustices of the world? Has he not seen the 2 million movies about Sports breaking social barriers? Sorry, I’m ranting. So, as much as it pains me, I’m going for the Celtics. I have to cheer for Nate Robinson since he’d from my hood and UW.
I’m sad because I was going for Los Suns. I love any team that will stand up for what they think it’s right even if it’s outside their immediate realm. I hate the Lakers for the same reason I like the Suns — I mean come on Phil Jackson, sports has no place in politics or pointing out the injustices of the world? Has he not seen the 2 million movies about Sports breaking social barriers? Sorry, I’m ranting. So, as much as it pains me, I’m going for the Celtics. I have to cheer for Nate Robinson since he’d from my hood and UW.
@M & C — Los Suns are probably my favorite West Coast team, so I feel your pain. I loved what they did too, and thought Phil Jackson was a douche for making those comments. The Suns also has Steve Nash, easily one of my favorite players on the NBA!
I grew up in a household obsessed with basketball! I played from eight years old up until high school. It’s in my blood! Sorry to say, but for me, it’s all about the Lakers. I was a fan even when they were terrible. Also, I can’t deny my love for Kobe. In his early years with the Lakers he used to shoot hoops at my high school. We would all watch him in awe. Now I still watch him in awe! 🙂
I’m also a huge Knicks fan! At least I was in the 90s when they were awesome – I was so in love with John Starks!
I’m also rooting for the Celtics because Doc Rivers used to play on the Knicks. 🙂
GO SPURS GO! Die hard spurs fan.. I don’t know who to cheer for… but somehow I am leaning towards Boston.. I mean they have played great.. and I REALLY don’t want another ring on Kobe’s finger… I was wishing for the 5th championship for the Spurs.. Don’t think we will get it in a long time.
I am a Spurs girl, all the way. Go Spurs Go, indeed, @AT! I used to live near San Antonio and used to go to Spurs games when players like David Robinson and Dennis Rodman were still on the team! And I’ll always love my boys Tim Duncan and Tony Parker! Also, I have a huge thing against Kobe. I despise him. If I ever met him, I’d spit in his face if I thought I could reach it! (OK, I wouldn’t really…) But I’ll definitely be rooting for the Celtics.