A return to fun

After the holy trinity of pro basketball rivalries in the early 1980s--Lakers-Celtics, Lakers-Sixers, and Sixers-Celtics--the next best rivalry involved the Sixers and the Milwaukee Bucks. Playing in Philly's venerable Spectrum and Milwaukee's Mecca Arena, the Sixers and Bucks, coached by Billy Cunningham and Don Nelson respectively, put on some entertaining shows back in the day (as today's youngsters--in both their lingo and their warped perspective of what is truly ancient--would call it).

Julius Erving and Sidney Moncrief. Maurice Cheeks and Junior Bridgman. Andrew Toney and Brian Winters. Moses Malone and Bob Lanier. Bobby Jones and Paul Pressey. Those were good tilts. Never mind the fact that the Sixers usually found a way to win; they were entertaining, well-played contests that lived up to the beauty of NBA ball in that golden age of the pro game.

Today, as the Sixers and Bucks reunite in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Western Conference Finals seem to be over already. Even though Derek Anderson's possible return in game 3 could give the Spurs the extra scoring punch they need, no one can deny that the Lakers are playing on an elevated level... and that the Spurs are playing on a lower level. After L.A.'s quick 1-2 punch in the Alamodome, the East Finals have already become much more appealing before a single second has been played.

This reality, however, should not obscure the fact that, regardless of the West Finals, a Milwaukee-Philly matchup--set up with the teams' game 7 triumphs on Sunday--promised to be good fun anyway. The Sixers' game 7 win over Toronto showed how much guts and clutch shotmaking the Sixers have from players not named Iverson. In fact, E-Sports' Ivan Washington proved to be the resident genius of the week in the fourth estate when he implored Sixers coach Larry Brown--who obviously listened--to play forward Jumaine Jones a lot more. Given increased minutes, Jones promptly scored 16 points and made an impact on the boards, giving the Sixers a decisive lift when they had to have it--and the injured George Lynch couldn't deliver it. With Jones--not to mention the athletically courageous Eric Snow and the rock-solid Aaron McKie--the Sixers seem to have more dependable alternatives at the offensive end than they did entering the playoffs.

Milwaukee is an even more entertaining team that fits perfectly into the George Karl mold. Karl always says that basketball is at its best when it's kept simple, and there's nothing simpler about basketball than the need to shoot well--just ask Terry Porter and Danny Ferry of San Antonio.

In Sam Cassell, Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, Tim Thomas, and Lindsay Hunter, the Bucks have plenty of players who can shoot. Against a Sixer team that relies a little more on elbow grease to win games, the Bucks will need to establish tempo and shoot well from downtown to win the series. This dynamic means that, for all of the talent and shotmaking ability on both sides, there is enough of a contrast in styles that will make this series an intriguing chess match between Karl and Philly's Larry Brown, two exceptional coaches.

It might be the consolation round, the championship lite series, the bronze medal series, or whatever you might care to call it. Nevertheless, the 2001 edition of Sixers-Bucks has the look of a fun series from yesteryear, a series more fun than the dreary disappointment out West. Memorial Day weekend in Milwaukee (for games 3 and 4) will have the beers flowing and brats broiling to joyous, lavish excess.

When the Sixers and Bucks tangle, bodies won't be flying around the court in admirable but ugly pursuit of loose balls; no, they'll be flying around the court making acrobatic plays. And in the final analysis, neither team seems to have enough of an advantage in any one facet of the game to make this a short series. Sixers-Bucks, after the early letdown in the Alamo City, could save the Conference Finals and keep the excitement of the NBA's postseason in the East.