| A Different Postseason Authored by Andrew Perna - May 9, 2007 - 7:38 pm
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Much to the delight of the people around me, the 2007 postseason unexpectedly failed to invite my Pacers. Ms. Scoop celebrated the fact that any plans she made wouldn’t have to revolve around Indiana’s playoff schedule. After the initial disappointment and short bout of depression, I came to realize that the NBA playoffs sans your favorite team can still be entertaining. In fact this spring I’ve enjoyed watching basketball more than ever before.
Life for any diehard fan watching a rival team, or any team for that matter, can be difficult during the regular season. While it’s always fun to watch, I’m forever hoping to see the Pistons and Knicks end up on the wrong side of the box score. This is even more true towards the end of a season, when teams are jockeying for playoff position (I think I spent more time tracking the Magic in the final weeks of the season than I did the Pacers).
That means that regardless of the game, I almost always feel as though I have some sort of vested interest in the outcome. It’s rare that I can sit and enjoy a basketball game without something large looming over the result (fantasy basketball included).
As a hoophead I have always followed all of the playoff series, but usually it’s with one eye rather than two. That’s because I expend most of my energy watching the Pacers. Each two and-a-half hour game takes a physical and mental toll on my body. From feelings of anxiousness leading up to the game, to the rapid heartbeats in the final moments I’m often an emotional mess during the postseason.
This season has been vastly different. From the opening tip of the playoffs I have kept tabs on each series as though I’m a fan of each and every team. Without having to save my energy for the Pacers battles, I have been able to enjoy the playoffs without feelings of anxiety or stress. Sure I still experience rapid heartbeats during the final moments of close games, but that’s just the anatomy of being a sports fanatic.
Like most of the nation, I was captivated by the Golden State-Dallas series. While it was both exhilarating and painful to watch Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson come out victorious, I felt as though I was being entertained, rather than put through the ringer.
If you’re as dedicated (or pathetic) as I am, you know the feeling the postseason can bring. Well, that is unless you’re a fan of the Trail Blazers or Knicks, who haven’t received an invite in quite some time. But you should relate to my current situation of being able to enjoy the playoffs stress free, right?
When the Pacers were eliminated from playoff contention on the last weekend of the regular season, with a loss to the Nets, I remember thinking that the playoffs just wouldn’t be the same. I was right. The feelings of anxiousness have yet to arise, my closet is still stacked with a variety of clean Pacer jerseys, and I have been able to enjoy the spring time for the first time since I can remember.
I’ve watched playoff games at bars and casinos this season, something I never thought possible (Yes, I also have to sit on the same couch when watching Indiana). The playoffs have just been different this year. They’ve actually been better.
Do you know what Andrew is talking about? Let him know… Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
