The Gatekeepers of the East by Prospero Pulma Jr.

The Gatekeepers of the East

For the past five seasons, any team in the NBA Eastern Conference has to add the Detroit Pistons to their playoffs plans. Michigan's Bad Boys don't only own the record of humiliating a star-studded L.A. Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals, they also earned the distinction of making five consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals with little changes in its lineup, with Ben Wallace's defection to Chicago as the most prominent. So, if any club is dead serious in displaying the Larry O'Brien trophy in its cabinet, it must solve the Detroit puzzle first. Okay, the Miami Heat solved that one last year but the Heat got drubbed by the Chicago Bulls in this season's first round elimination. In turn, Detroit sent the Bulls packing after six games and are now facing a resurgent Cleveland Cavaliers under King James. The Pistons are battle-scarred veterans while the Cavaliers are relatively green in the playoffs department, so the Bad Boys (a misnomer because the Pistons are mild mannered, with the exception of Rasheed Wallace, compared to other teams,) are the natural favorites.

Is Detroit destined to receive a second ring after three years? Hopefully. But upsets do happen. Just remember the 2004 NBA Finals. And oh, yes, the huge kick in the butt that the Dallas Mavericks got from the Golden State Warriors and, of course, the Bull run that gored the defending champions.

By Prospero E. Pulma Jr.

The Giant Killers Part 3 by Prospero Pulma Jr.

The Giant Killers Part 3

Puny but not helpless are the words that best describe the Chicago Bulls as they face the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA's 2007 Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Bulls apparently don't believe in all those publicity about the Shaquille O'Neal-Dwayne Wade tandem that has brought Miami its first NBA crown as unstoppable. And they have proven that with two consecutive drubbing of the defending champions. To win one game against the Heat is good enough, but to rack up two victories is very impressive, given the relative youth of Chicago's roster. Okay, they played at home, but still they have done enough damage that the series will certainly stretch to six games at the least, if Miami is lucky enough to win four consecutive games and if Chicago is stupid enough to lose all four outings. Even if the Heat will eventually win the series, the Bulls have already softened them for their next opponent, who might last the seven-game series, until the Heat runs on a dry tank when they face the Pistons. And it will be the clash of the titans, a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Finals that Detroit sadly lost.

-by Prospero Pulma Jr.

The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend

For beating the Detroit Pistons, I hope that the Miami Heat will be crushed by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. I wonder if my ex-officemates, let's just call them Oliver and Dick to protect their privacy, share the same loathing for the teams that sent their favorite clubs packing.
Oliver is the most luckless among us. He is a diehard fan of the New Jersey Nets and San Antonio Spurs who were sent packing early in the competition; Dick was more fortunate because the Phoenix Suns got booted only in the Western Conference Finals. So, if their minds run parallel to mine, I bet that Oliver is torn between laughing at the two consecutive losses of the Miami Heat (the team that sent the Nets home after winning a token victory) or wishing that Wade and Shaq will make Dirk and his crew pay dearly for eliminating the San Antonio Spurs. As for Dick, he is probably crossing all his fingers for Miami to win.
It's true that you, sometimes, you treat people who make your life miserable as your hero and friend even though you will never meet.
As for misery loving company, Chauncey Billups and the other Pistons will be joined by Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili (Tony Parker is on vacation with Eva Longuria!), and the other ill-fated superstars a Loser's Convention. There, they will sulk, pig-out thanks to depression, and cheer for the team that is avenging them. But I don't think that avenging another team's loss is the primary motive of the title contenders for playing it rough, tough -alright- dirty.

-by Prospero E. Pulma Jr.