That was the beauty of the playoffs: until the final buzzer sounded, anything was possible.
The debate in the studio continued, and the topic quickly shifted to the other matchups.
"Heat versus Toronto Raptors—there's no suspense there. Mourning's interior defense will teach Carter a lesson. 3:1," Marv Albert said as he ran through it quickly. "Philadelphia 76ers versus Hornets—Iverson is simply on fire. The Hornets' backcourt can't stop him at all. Same result, 3:1."
"In the Western Conference, Trail Blazers versus SuperSonics—Pippen's experience and the Trail Blazers' stacked group of forwards will lock Gary Payton down. 3:1," Kevin Harlan added. "Utah Jazz versus Timberwolves—Malone may be old, but Stockton's playmaking is still deadly. Garnett needs more time to develop. 3:2, with the Utah Jazz narrowly advancing."
"Gentlemen, we can't overlook the two most terrifying teams in the Western Conference." Bill Walton tapped the table, his expression turning serious. "The Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs."
"Let's start with the Spurs." Kevin Harlan pulled up the Spurs' statistical panel. "As last season's Finals team, they finished only fourth in the Western Conference this regular season, at 53 wins and 29 losses. But that is absolutely misleading. Tim Duncan and David Robinson, their twin towers, suffered injuries of varying severity midway through the season. Coach Popovich wisely chose rest rotations and conservative treatment, sacrificing regular-season results in exchange for health in the playoffs."
"That's right." Marv Albert agreed. "Unlike the Chicago Bulls, whose decline stems from an aging core and poor chemistry, the Spurs' roster structure is extremely stable. Duncan is still that all-capable 'Stone Buddha.' His low-post scoring, facilitating passes, and defensive range are the foundation of the Spurs' system. And while David Robinson's athleticism has declined somewhat, his experience and mid-range shooting remain enormously threatening. More frightening still,