With the incredible growth of sports journalism thanks to ESPN and Al Gore, we’re able to hear more insight and opinion than ever before. While that can have a positive impact, it also leads to some excessively sensational claims. Following the Spurs’ win last night over the Cavs, which secured their 4th championship since 1999, people are throwing around that “D” word. Dynasty. And I don’t think it applies.

Dynastic rule suggests “continued dominance,” which the Spurs haven’t had. Magic and Larry accounted for 80% of the 1980s titles, Jordan’s Bulls rattled off six championships in eight seasons, and Kobe and Shaq won three in a row. The Spurs have four titles to their name but they’ve never repeated as champs. How can you be a dynasty when you’ve never ruled the league in consecutive years? Playing with a target on your back is what separates dynasties from champions. Don’t forget that the 1999 title came in a lockout-shortened season where the league played just 50 games. If this “dynasty” is spanning nine seasons, why have the Spurs won less than 50% of the titles? Their run is impressive but it’s not representative of a dynasty.

Michael’s Bulls, Magic’s Lakers, and Larry’s Celtics played in arguably the most competitive era in the history of the NBA. How many great teams were denied rings during their reign? Malone, Stockton, Ewing, Miller, Payton, Barkley, and Wilkins all came up empty in that era. Hell, it took Jordan’s two year hiatus from the sport to give Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler their shot at glory. Simply put, Duncan’s Spurs haven’t had to go through the same talent those dynasties did. They’ve defeated three lousy teams in the NBA Finals: The 8th seeded Knicks in ‘99, a brutal Nets team in ‘03, and the Cavs this season.

Make no mistake, the Spurs have had a remarkable run. But with a league starving for great teams and lacking big-time rivalries, giving them that “Dynasty” tag is a slap in the face to past greatness. Hell, the Spurs don’t even have a rival that’s comparable to Lakers-Kings, let alone Bulls-Knicks or Celtics-Pistons. Dynasties create incredible memories that sports fans never forget. The Spurs simply haven’t given me those memories.

With the Spurs out to a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, the conclusion to this series seems to be inevitable. With that in mind, I have a few thoughts on the series that I’d like to burn on instead of giving you a recap that you probably already know about.

• LeBron James is alone on the floor. I don’t think Michael Jordan could do more with that supporting cast than James has. There’s no reason for the Spurs to exhaust defensive energy on anyone other than James because nobody else on that Cavs team wants to make a shot.
• Watching the Cavaliers might be one of the most frustrating things on the planet. I don’t think I’ve seen a team so bipolar in my life. They can play like the best team in the league and transition to tanking like the worst team in the league literally within minutes. It’s truly remarkable.
• Tony Parker is out of his mind right now. He’s reminding me a lot of Allen Iverson when the 76ers went to the Finals in 2001. His knock against him was his ability to make shots, but you can go ahead and throw that out the window. Dude is about as automatic as it gets driving to the hole and shooting the J.
• LeBron might be the third or fourth best player on the floor right now. I already mentioned Parker, and you can go ahead and start talking about Tim Duncan as probably the best power forward to ever play the game. Big Fundamental has been bastardized by many, including myself, for being boring. Boring or not, he’s as undeniable as it gets on the low post both offensively and defensively. And even though I’d like to take a blunt object to his head, Manu Ginobili has been absolutely lights out off the bench. That three pointer with the foul he had last night essentially sealed the deal for the Spurs. When he’s your sixth man, you know you’re in good shape.
• How about the play of Robert Horry, especially down the stretch here. Horry has been playing defense I don’t think even he knew he could play down low. Three blocks in the first half last night, are you serious? His game is more than just Big Shot Bob, it’s turning into Complete Package Bob.
• Note to Mike Brown: Don’t sub out LeBron. Brown pulls LeBron after just four minutes in the first quarter and sits him the entire quarter because of foul trouble. With a player like LeBron and a lack of surrounding talent like the Cavs have, you have to leave him in. Trust that your star player will be smart enough not to pick up his third foul. James needs to play all 48 minutes next game regardless of foul trouble. The Cavs are a completely different team without him.
• Someone notify Drew Gooden that he belongs in the low post. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen that douchebag step out and shoot the mid range. Granted he hits one every now and then, but come on. Don’t run your offense through a power forward trying to knock down 12 footers. And on the topic of Gooden, that inbound play in the first quarter where the Cavs picked up a shot clock violation was pathetic. The best thing you can come up with is a Drew Gooden inbound for a three pointer? I don’t believe that for a second.

Well, that’s about all I have for now. I’m not sure when game three is, but what I do know is that it’s not taking place in the near future. The NBA’s scheduling is flat out ignorant. I don’t have anything else to say about it so I’ll just leave you with that.

With the weekend elimination of the Phoenix Suns from the playoffs and the inevitable demise of both the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers, it appears as if NBA fans are destined for a train wreck of a match up as the Spurs and Pistons continue to prove that defense is actually what wins championships. Am I intrigued and interested to watch two defensive machines battle? Hell no.

Save me the time. Who the hell is thrilled to watch Tim Duncan be his usual Big Fundamental for another seven game series? Who’s interested in watching Chauncey Billups and Tony Parker struggle to drive to the hole on two dominant post defenses? Does anyone remember the travesty that was this finals match up in 2005? I felt like stabbing my eyes out after watching each team take turns kicking the ball around in games 1-4. 102-71 is not a final score of a game that I’m interested in watching. Neither is 97-76. And if Detroit hangs 69 points like they did in game one of that series, I’ll throw something at the TV.

Look, it’s not a secret that Detroit and San Antonio are two places that I don’t consider ideal locations to live. It’s no coincidence that these are also two teams that I have absolutely no interest in watching hoist an NBA championship trophy. Watching Tim Duncan play is about as exciting as watching paint dry. The only entertaining part about the Pistons is hoping Sheed will snap at a referee (he led the league in technical fouls this season, not a small accomplishment). Congratulations, they both play good defense. I couldn’t give a shit. After all the controversy surrounding the playoffs thus far including the elimination of two teams (Phoenix and Golden State) that could be considered fan favorites, a finals like this will undoubtedly hurt the NBA. When these two met in 2005, the finals received the lowest television ratings in the history of the NBA finals. This year, it’ll probably be worse. And while Detroit and San Antonio fans will be thrilled to make it to the finals, you can count most of the country, including myself, out.

There’s a lot to admire about the San Antonio Spurs. They play great defense, they have the best post player in the game, and Tony Parker has a hot wife. There’s also a lot about San Antonio that’s not very respectable.

Aside from having the most boring color scheme in the NBA, the Spurs also are one of the most classless acts in the NBA. I’m talking about Tim Duncan, I’m talking about Bruce Bowen, I’m talking about Manu Ginobili, and now I’m talking about Robert Horry. Horry’s forearm shiver to Steve Nash last night was the most unnecessary and flagrant foul I’ve seen since Ron Artest shoved Ben Wallace and ignited the Auburn Palace brawl. Horry’s clothesline comes on the heels of Bruce Bowen’s knee to Nash’s crotch in game three and Bowen’s kicking of Amare Stoudemire’s ankle in game two. There’s a way to send a physical message and then there’s a way to act immature.

I have a lot of respect for Tim Duncan, who is probably one of the most outspoken players in the NBA. Let’s not forget, however, that the Big Fundamental wanted to brawl with referee Joey Crawford just a few weeks back. I have a lot of respect for Bruce Bowen, who is probably one of the best defenders in the game. My opinions of Bowen have changed while watching this Suns series, and it’s clear to me that his method of defense not only involves using veteran moves, it also involves using cheap shots.

Maybe when Amare Stoudemire said after game two that the Spurs played dirty, he wasn’t just bitching because the Suns had dropped a game at home. All I can tell is that this series has turned into more than a battle between two rivals, and is now a war of both skill and physical play.

The San Antonio Spurs are one game closer to making the Western Conference Finals. In game one of the much anticipated series between the Spurs and the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs seized homecourt advantage with a 111-106 win. With two-time MVP Steve Nash bleeding profusely on the sidelines after colliding with Tony Parker, the Suns were unable to make a comeback in the final minute of the game.

“You only see things like that in a boxing match,” the Spurs’ Robert Horry said, “where a guy cuts his nose and it won’t stop bleeding. You feel bad for the guy because you want to have the best team out there at the end of the game, and he wasn’t out there.”

Apparently, Big Shot Rob missed Saturday’s fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather. They both left the ring virtually unscathed. Meanwhile, Nash looked like he got his ass kicked in an alley. It was an ugly sight, especially when Nash isn’t the most attractive person on the planet to begin with.

This series is shaping up to be one hell of a battle. Phoenix’s duo of Nash and Amare Stoudemire did combine for51 points but had no answer for San Antonio’s duo of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, who combined for 65. We tend to overlook the Spurs because of their… lack of anything resembling personality. But these guys can obviously play. The Suns may make the highlight reels but if they don’t start playing some defense, this series will be as ugly as Nash’s snout.

Everyone was shocked when Tim Duncan was ejected this past weekend by power-tripping referee Joey Crawford. Apparently, NBA Commissioner David Stern was shocked and pissed off. Stern responded by suspending Crawford, one of the NBA’s most experienced officials, indefinitely. His status for the upcoming NBA Playoffs are uncertain.

“Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities,” said Stern.

It’s a suspension that has to be made. Duncan is one of the NBA’s brightest and classiest stars and throughout his career, he’s rarely done anything to warrant punishment from a referee. I’m not sure what Crawford has against TD but it’s obviously impairing his ability to call a game fairly. If I was in his position, I’d probably be carrying out my vendetta against Manu Ginobili. But Duncan? He can stay.

If Crawford is out of work for the playoffs, it will be very strange. He’s been in the profession for 31 years, refereeing 266 playoff games and 38 games in the NBA Finals. Those are the most by any active referee in the league. But Crawford’s actions are deplorable. All you’re supposed to do is call the game, not try to ruin it.

Say what you want about the NBA but David Stern has definitely taken some action this year. He responded to complaints about the new NBA ball and made the switch. He’s responded to criticism towards Crawford by taking action. Better yet, he hasn’t moved games to his home town for a little more income. But who’s done that?