Really?

Should there be?

Who gives a damn!

As long as that chump Steve Nash didn't win with gimmic ball.

Let me put it this way: Small ball is on trial right now.

Group A (The best of the two: Set offense v.s. Smallball/Run and gun)

San Antonio v.s. Phoenix

Group B (The 2nd Tier: Set offense v.s. Smallball/Run and gun)

Utah v.s. Golden State

If Phoenix doesn't get to the finals all that does is prove that Smallball/Run and Gun only works in the regular season where most teams don't play defense. And if that is the case then Steve Nash shouldn't have won 2 straight MVPs muchless 3 straight MVPs.

Forget the MVP debate. Right now it's Set Offense with a capable big man v.s. Small Ball/Run and Gun.

Of course there's another version of ball that hasn't made it to the 2nd round in a while. And that's the old triangle teams of Jordan and Pippen. They didn't have a dominating big man but still won 6 Championships. That's the road the Lakers have to take if they are going to establish Kobe Bryant as the greatest player the N.B.A. has ever seen. I think they can do it if the drop Parker, which they already have, and Walton and replace them with a couple of real players. Or should I say: A couple of real defenders. But anyway that's for next year.

As for this year, right now Small Ball/Run and Gun has one hell of a task ahead of them. If by some chance they make it out of the Western Conference Finals they'll, more than likely, have to face the Detriot Piston.

I'm telling you: Small Ball/Run and Gun is on trial and if it doesn't win a championship this year...it's purely gimmic ball, and therefore: not worthy of having one of it's players being named MVP.

They got away with it twice without Small Ball/Run and Gun making it to the finals but one of it's players winning the MVP. No way does it happen for a 3 year in a row.

Again, it's not the MVP award that's worthy of debate: it's the legitimacy of Small Ball/Run and Gun basketball as a sound basketball philosophy.

mike

On more thought: Lady, this is a battle of philosophies. And right now it's playing out beautifully. Especially in the Spurs and Suns series.

Right now the Suns have basically abandoned Small Ball/Run and Gun by inserting Kurt Thomas into the line-up and having Shawn Marion guarding Tony Parker. Now it's a game of adjustments and it's the Spurs move.

I'm going with the Spurs.

mike

Haha.

Because it is expected...

I'm glad the Spurs beat that cocky Suns. The Suns haven't accomplished anything yet and they acted entitled.