NBA Finals: Playing the Game the Right Way

Some have mourned the fact that the the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons made the NBA Finals this year. With half-court offense, suffocating defense, and a slow-it-down approach, viewers would be bored to death.

Others have lauded applause on these two squads, and the prospect of a series played "the right way." Who wouldn't love a seven-game showcase of the fundamentals?

Both parties, regardless of whether they think it's exciting or boring, agree that the Spurs and Pistons share a distinctly team-oriented style. From top to bottom, from bench to center court, we can pretty much agree that defense and structured offense are pivotal to either team's success.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that some fans (both casual and fanatic) would have preferred seeing the Suns or the Heat in the Finals. Their style of play may come off as more exciting, more athletic, and easier on the eyes.

However, the assumption that the Spurs/Pistons matchup will be an all-time Finals snoozer underestimates the intelligence and passion of the general public.

Sure, the NBA has about as many ardent fans watching television broadcasts as the adrenaline-pumping, edge-of-your-seat sport of figure skating. Those fans are going to be watching anyway. Those are the fans that, for whatever reason, understand and are entertained by pick-and-rolls, double screens, and "the right way to play."

The fans that are going to be tuning in to these Finals, the casual fans, have already tuned in because this is for the World Championship. Touting the melodramatic storylines of Larry Brown and Greg Popovich, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, Rasheed Wallace, and Chauncey Billups isn't going to entertain and capture the attention of the casual fan. Not when you're telling them over and over again that there's something deeper than the superstars going on ... not when you tell them the finest art of basketball is being displayed.

We're not talking about Shaq, who could draw a million viewers at a press conference just telling jokes.

Don't sell us on something that you're not giving us.

If we (those who don't follow the NBA) have been wrong to think that the NBA is a league of thugs, self-centered young millionaires, and athletes born with the ability to jump out of the arena, but unable to rotate correctly on defense, then show us.

Don't assume that we can't find beauty in the fundamentals.

Instead of taking time to build up manufactured drama and storylines, bring up a replay of the Pistons and the Spurs playing the game "the right way" and diagram it for us. Tell us what to look for, illustrate how Manu got open for a jumper, or how a successful rotation by the Pistons forced a bad shot by the Spurs.

Don't wait for SportsCenter or the NBA Tonight to break down the game, because the opportunity was lost the moment you talked about Larry Brown's possible move to Cleveland instead of talking about the "fundamentals."

I'm sold on watching an NBA Finals that features the "right way to play the game," teams that have a system, and coaches that elevate X's and O's to zenlike figure skating letters dancing on a clipboard.

If that's what is on display on the court, then tell me about it.