I SOOO want a Utah-Orlando NBA finals

[charlie and algernon]

Besides the fact that I've been a big fan of Utah since the Stockton-Malone era, it would SOOOO crush the hopes and dreams of ESPN to lose their dream matchup of LA-Cleveland. I especially loved that the Orlando-Cleveland game last night got first billing after the hockey game on sportscenter, while Utah's 25 point comeback win over Portland was relegated to the back half of sportscenter, right before the Top 10. I think the sportscenter anchors would cry if Utah and/or Orlando made it to the finals at the expense of the chosen ones of LA and Cleveland.

[madinmaryland]

1. I always wanted a Utah Jazz vs. New Orlean Hornets finals for the obvious just

to because the team names are completely fucking reversed!

[charlie and algernon]

2. i'd be all for a name swap

Utah Hornets just sounds really cool and well, New Orleans Jazz just makes damned sense.

[madinmaryland]

10. Utah is also known as the Beehive state, so the hornets would make

sense for them.

[brendan120678]

14. You do realize that the Jazz were originally...

located in NOLA, right?

They moved to Utah in the late 70s.

[KamaAina]

3. They both play in the Western Conference, Jones

:P

[KamaAina]

4. Slight problem: There are no "Utah Jazz".

They simply do not exist. Nor do the Baltimore Colts or Hartford Whalers in their current incarnations.

[charlie and algernon]

8. but unlike the Bmore Colts and Hartford Whalers

there actually is a current team calling themselves the "Utah Jazz" playing in Utah.

:shrug:

[brendan120678]

12. Really? There are no more Hartford Whalers???!!!???

You'd really find that hard to believe here in Connecticut.
Everybody still wearing all their old Whalers crap around everywhere.
And some places still sell Hartford Whalers hats, shirts, etc. new.
Hanging on to a dream that -- somehow -- the Whalers will return.
Pathetic.

[KamaAina]

13. I am told that Montreal Expos caps have acquired a sort of retro chic

within that city's surprisingly large hip-hop community. (Man does not live by Celine Dion alone. Who knew? :P )

[CBR]

5. I want Cleveland to win. nt

[TZ]

6. I think Cleveland deserves a championship

They are the modern kings of sports futility.

[charlie and algernon]

7. any other year and I'd be all for it

but this year ESPN has already crowned them and LA as the two finalists, so now I'd love nothing more than for the fanboys at ESPN to be proven wrong and be forced to cover two other teams in the finals.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Agree. nt

[jakefrep]

9. Let the Cleveland fans enjoy being the "chosen" ones for a change.

And if Clevland and LA are the two best teams, why shouldn't we want to see them in the Finals?

[joeybee12]

15. I have no hope for America's Team, so keeping Cleveland and LA

out is fine with me...I would normally think that it would be great if Cleveland finally won something in some sport, but the Double D combination of Shaq and LeBron is very irritating.

[HughBeaumont]

16. This is OUR year.

The Browns aren't getting to the Super Bowl any time this decade unless they miraculously overhaul their lines and get an efficient passing game going.

The Indians are unfortunately stuck in salary-capless Major League Basebusiness, which means they and about 20 other teams are large-market farm clubs. With a miserly owner, it's pretty much not happening.

The Cavs are the only hope this freezing, dying state and city HAS. I know, the universe would collapse on itself if Cleveland won a title in anything and I know you all think LeBron James is the biggest diva in sports, but sorry. He cannot win a title by himself. You need other pieces to the puzzle; the dice that somehow always rolls for the Bostons, San Antonios and L.A.s of the world finally rolled for us.

Honestly, Orlando ain't the same team they were last year, Sunday's game notwithstanding. They live and die by the "Fools Gold" and Howard proves less than dominating in the face of a strong frontcourt, which we now have. They literally have to shoot straight out of their asses to even stay close to better teams, and the player that really killed Cleveland (Turkoglu) is in Toronto.