May 21, 2007 8:18 am  |  36 Comments

Conference Finals: WWslamonlineD?

ideas please

By Sam Rubenstein
None of the Round 2 series went to a seventh game, so BOOM we’re in the Conference Finals. They are starting suddenly, much like this paragraph. Jake wrote about the end of the Cavs-Nets series on Saturday, and Cub will have the same for the end of Phoenix-San Antonio today.

Then we move on. Yesterday I caught some of the first half of a San Antonio blowout. Flicking back to that channel later revealed that Utah made a run and at least they should have more confidence heading into Game 2. It’s funny how the team that played the harder series, on much shorter rest heading into the Conference Finals, would be the one to lay the smacketh down.

How are we covering this round on slamonline? Well, it started so quickly I was caught with my pants down, so to speak. Suggestions anyone? I have a lot of power right now, and you have the power to influence me. That means you are the most powerful force in the universe at this time.

On a personal note… today is going to be rough. I’ll put this out there in public before I get to the office to take some of the sting away when it happens. Tonight, Ben, Lang, Khalid Salaammons, and I are supposed to attend the Yankees-Red Sox game as guests through a business contact. I prayed for rain so the game would be pushed back a day and I wouldn’t have to back out. But, it is my girlfriend’s birthday, and there is just no way I can go. I am going to get made fun of today.

The season finale of Heroes is tonight, and odds of being allowed to watch that, even late night on DVR, stand at zero to negative infinity. It’s going to have to be a Tuesday morning viewing.

(If she is reading this, there was never a doubt in my mind that dinner and spending time together tonight is absolutely more important than a silly little TV show, or attending the greatest rivalry in sports, or watching the battle for Eastern Conference supremacy.)

Okay, let’s see the reader’s choice suggestions for how to cover the Conference Finals. It doesn’t have to be one writer assigned to each series, unless you want it to be. I believe in democracy and that too much power corrupts. Let’s be open minded.

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This story is filed under: Blogs, NBA, The Peoples Champ

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  • K22C Posted: May.21 at 8:19 am
    1st

  • K22C Posted: May.21 at 8:24 am
    I think that Three writers should do one part in both games…. someone play of the game, someone a recap, and someone just random thoughts about whats going on.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.21 at 8:27 am
    What did you guys tell Khalid to get him to go to a baseball game? Does he think it’s a poetry slam or an industry mixer or something?

  • Cheryl Posted: May.21 at 8:40 am
    I say you let us, the commentators, cover it as “guests”. so we do some sort of round robin of the cats (and chicks) that add their 2 cents here anyway. Doesn’t have to be a play-by-play, just notes taken and opinions given. Then the rest of us can have at it. what’cha think?

  • Kev Posted: May.21 at 8:46 am
    I’m not sure about the entire series, but I do know that with much of the rest of the crew being alibi-proof, Sam should be covering the game tonite.
    Just tell the GF you had to work. It’ll go over fine.

  • K22C Posted: May.21 at 8:52 am
    Hi Ryan

  • OneShot Posted: May.21 at 8:58 am
    Biased reporting! One writer per team, arguing . . . sorry, ‘discussing’ each game as it goes on.

  • Steve O Posted: May.21 at 9:03 am
    No one should acually watch Spurs/Jazz but instead find out the final score and just type up a more exciting review full of dunks and highlight reel plays instead of Duncan off the glass, Parker drives and dishes to Duncan who banks a layup. Ginobli out of control shot that somehow goes in, Duncan bank shot blah blah blah

  • Slobodan Chutzpah Posted: May.21 at 9:10 am
    For one, scrap the play-by-play(-ish) recaps. Most of the people reading the stuff will have already seen the game, and you can get your play-by-plays from anywhere else. Stick to providing fresh insight into the games and the s**t surrounding them (which can obviously be in the form of a running commentary), in the grand old tradition of Slamonline. Try to link to more stuff relating to the games.

  • Steve O Posted: May.21 at 9:11 am
    Not to mention if the WB runs He Got Game again during the time of the game I will miss the rest of that series just as I did Game 1.

  • FLUD Posted: May.21 at 9:20 am
    DO NOT scrap the play by play-ish. Some of us live in europe where the W.conference time diff is plain stupid. There’s more juice in those recaps than can be quantified. Spurs in 5

  • Doc Posted: May.21 at 9:22 am
    Do ASCII drawings illustrating each play

  • Slobodan Chutzpah Posted: May.21 at 9:29 am
    I live in Europe, and wholeheartedly disagree with Flud. Scrap ‘em.

  • Harry Veysey Posted: May.21 at 10:00 am
    do not scrap play by play! Theyare the main reason i log on everyday. maybe add in a little more build-up and post game stuff!

  • Esco Posted: May.21 at 10:10 am
    Don’t scrap ‘em…Do one recap with a play-by-play for those who haven’t seen the games, and an informative one giving insight on the games, and like a ‘Links’ type one giving stories pertaining to the series…And maybe have Russ write an angry (drunken) recap, seeing that he is great at writing while angry, or drunk for that matter…

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.21 at 10:19 am
    Heresy, Slobo. Remember the Pistons-Magic series? I’m still getting bricks thrown through my window for “scrapping” coverage of that one.

  • Ryan Jones Posted: May.21 at 10:20 am
    Also, Esco: Russ drinks Perriere, or however it’s spelled, which might make him less of a man, but is not likely to make him drunk.

  • Sesa Posted: May.21 at 10:26 am
    Yeah, I agree with Esco. Not all of us are able to watch NBA on consistent basis especially those who don’t have cables.
    Oh and I also like those jokes inserted along the play-by-play recaps.
    Any of the SLAM columnist whom had an available will do, to avoid biased reporting that is.
    BTW, anyone else annoyed with Jeff Van Gundy commentarry?
    And you were saying Reggie Miller provides a bad commentarry

  • Steve O Posted: May.21 at 10:33 am
    Perrier?? Homo

  • Rod Strickland Posted: May.21 at 10:48 am
    I say hire Woody Paige. That man knows basketball. (HA HA)

  • KA Posted: May.21 at 10:55 am
    haha sam is SO whipped. kuh-tish!

  • Yassi Posted: May.21 at 11:06 am
    Just ignore them?!

  • Tariq Posted: May.21 at 11:12 am
    Since, according to Sam, I am the most powerful force in the universe (word to Grayskull), I propose that I, and I alone, be appointed paid slamonline consultant. Readers can enjoy my sporadic observations, filled to the brim as they are with wisdom and aesthetic brilliance. I doubt anyone would have a problem with that.

  • Co Co Posted: May.21 at 11:42 am
    Give Russ the Pistons/Cavs series

  • Simmy Sosa Posted: May.21 at 12:17 pm
    I want to write about Wise Lebron’s Pearls of Wisdom, including this gem: Player-haters
    Ela-vators
    Cross me, and you’ll die!! *snap**snap*

  • FLUXLAND Posted: May.21 at 2:57 pm
    Oh Sam, how silly do you look now : “I believe the Suns will now catch the Mavs in the standings and have homecourt in a 7 game playoff series. It will send the Suns to the Finals where they will destroy whatever the East has to offer. Nash will be a champion, as will Amare, Marion, and D’Antoni, and in a few years it will all fall apart because of jealousies.” Remember that gem of a post? Way to eat it buddy!!!

  • Richie Posted: May.21 at 3:16 pm
    If you’re gonna get a guest writer, I say get chuck klosterman. I happened to see the new Paul Shirley book “Can i Keep My Jersey?” and Chuck wrote the intro. If he can write something for Paul Shirley of all people, cant SLAM get some love too?!

  • mutoni Posted: May.21 at 3:50 pm
    richie, klosterman and shirley both write for espn, so it’s not that surprising that they collaborated on a book.

  • Richie Posted: May.21 at 3:54 pm
    Thanks for pointing that out, looks like a good read

  • Crown Me Posted: May.21 at 4:59 pm
    whatever you do, i think you should allow a segment at the end of each article for the best 2, 5, 10, however many slamonline reader quotes about each respective game. give us an email address to send it to, tell us to put the game we’re commenting as the subject, and drop our short bit of knowledge on the game. or just let me do them all. either way.

  • Tim Posted: May.21 at 5:06 pm
    Appleson!!!!!!!

  • snyper48 Posted: May.21 at 5:29 pm
    K22C, Im with you brother man

  • kabelion Posted: May.21 at 7:08 pm
    How dare you miss the extravaganza that is the season finale of Heroes. You can always find another woman, I hear Britney Spears is single…

  • The Truth Posted: May.21 at 8:25 pm
    How about have your girlfriend write a review of each game Sam? If its good enough for Simmons its good enough for Slam….. And it will give an interesting insite into the female mind and their understanding of Ball, not counting the few who have it on lock down

  • David Posted: May.22 at 12:01 am
    I like Oneshot’s suggestion. Post the notes and the recaps as ongoing arguments. If the arguments are close enough, regardless of the score, you settle the debate by arm wrestling.

  • Jeff_InsideHoops Posted: May.22 at 2:11 am
    FIRST

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