THE NBA Finals format is 2-3-2.
First and second games in Los Angeles. The third, fourth and fifth in Boston and, if necessary, sixth and seventh in Los Angeles.
Does the format favor any one?
I say it gives a very slight advantage to the team hosting the first two games.
Why?
One, home-sweet-home advantage, which, to the Lakers, is translated into both hard court and atmosphere familiarity, if not friendliness.
Two, crowd support. You play in front of your allies, that helps extract adrenaline rush—almost game-long.
Thus, Los Angeles won Game 1 on Friday. Easily (102-88). I will not be surprised if it wins Game 2 again on Monday (June 7).
OK, the Celtics have three games to win on June 9, 11 and 14 in Boston but then, that’s easier said than done.
Winning back-to-back has become as common as man walking in space.
But three in a row?
Not to mention the cruel ways of the law of averages but, look, the gods of the game do hate boredom; it’s a bug worse than a pest and they just detest it to high heavens.
Besides, two’s a company and three’s a crowd, right?
At the most, therefore, two wins for the Celtics in Boston would be all right (all write?). So for that to be safe, the 2008 NBA champs must steal Game 2 in Los Angeles to stay in strong contention.
But, of course, the Lakers aren’t ready to budge and if they need to employ the complex LA Freeway to waylay the Celtics on their way to Game 2, they’ll do it for sure.
I got a text message from Joseph A. Dumuk, my genius-friend from San Fernando City, La Union, telling me he believes in the adage, “A playoff only becomes critical when a team loses in its home court.”
Thus, a Lakers loss in Game 2 can be that disastrous.
Boston is definitely hostile territory for Los Angeles in Game 3, 4 and 5. And enemy grounds bring on the specter of bad karma—the very reason Noynoy hates to pitch camp at Malacañang.
So, what’s good about the 2-3-2 format then?
Nothing. Immaterial. All incidental—the format.
Pack ‘em in all the time. Different venues would always ensure that. The warriors, too.
In case we’ve forgotten, the NBA is all business.
(alsol47@yahoo.com)