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Show May 20, 1999 l4 Hill playoffs 'expert' p anel predicts 1999 World Champions edge, depending on who they're playing. Elliot is playing injury free. That hasn't happened for a while. Robinson has accepted his role and is doing whatever it takes by Steven R. Ford Hilltop Times 15 ' staff Every big sporting event like the NBA Playoffs brings out different people with different opinions. Hill AFB is a great place for such debates because there are so many different people here from so many different parts of the country, even different parts of the world. So after sitting in the lobby of the Hess Fitness Center with some guys I know from the base AFMC Men's basketball team, I thought that it's about time we aired those opinions. center Jeffrey Blue, My "expert" panel includes defensive dynamo, Khalil Gatlin, offensive juggernaut, Santea'T" McCleave, coach Vance "Daylight" Harris, and myself. I asked the panel who will meet in the NBA Finals and who will be the 1999 NBA Champion. Here is what they thought: "K-Lov-e" Mmmm, "Despite a rough regu- lar season, in my mind, Indiana is still the team to beat. " i ot . T McCleave 22 year-olsenior airman with 421st Fighter Squadron Dunn, N.C. San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers Indiana Background: d, Hometown: Finals prediction: NBA Champion: "I'm naturally a Pacer fan," Blue said of the eastern conference team. "I like Reggie Miller. They were on the doorstep last year, and I don't see any reason why they shouldn't win it all this year. Despite a rough regular season, in my mind, they're still the team to beat. The two Davis' (Antonio and Dale) can handle Duncan inside." Indiana is playing good basketball and has perhaps the best bench left in the playoffs. They do not, however, have the homecourt advantage if they meet San Antonio or Utah. San Antonio, on the other hand, has struggled of late, and it doesn't get easier in the later rounds. Their second-roun- d opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers took the season series 1. Khalil Gatlin senior airman with 21 year-ol75th Civil Engineering Squadron Background: Finals prediction: NBA Champion: d, , e, defending western conference champions." About the Pacers, Gatlin remarked, "The east is pretty weak this year. They Pacers have, by far, the most talent in the east this year. They have size, talent, and they have a leader in Reggie Miller. They took the NBA Chamthe same pion Bulls to seven games lastyear and return team." . In Utah, we love a convert. Note that Gatlin is the only the Jazz to panelist, including yours truly, who picked and picks limb a on make the Finals. Then he goes out the Jazz to win the whole enchilada, but, given that they've moved on to the second round, the Jazz aren't looking seconlike a bad pick so far. Against theTrail Blazers, their with a d-round opponent, the Jazz are 1 this season win at Portland's Rose Garden. 2-- Background: Hometown: Finals prediction: NBA Champion: .. ri i. , K J f iJ ::::! ::., ':W vfSi V airman first class 20 year-olwith 75th Mission Support Squadron Washington D.C. San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers San Antonio Spurs to win." "Besides the fact that I'm from New York," Harris began, when asked about the Knicks, "the depth and talent they have will provide matchup problems for anybody they face. Van Gundy is a player's poach, and the players like him. About Ewing, they can win without him. His leadership and experience is important, but he's slow to rotate on defense. They cover the outside shooters better when he's not on the floor." I have to note for the record that Harris picked New York before the Knicks even snatched game one against the Heat. He believes in his boys from the Big Apple. However, with Patrick Ewing ailing from several injuries and barely able to continue in game five against Miami, the Knicks don't have much consistent scoring or post play to hang their hats on. The Knicks have suffered from inconsistent play from their point guards and are anemic at the power forward. But they do play good defense, especially in the paint. With the second worst offense in the league, the Atlanta Hawks don't seem to be much of a threat in the second round. Steven R. Ford Background: Hometown: Finals prediction: Khalil Gatlin "The Jazz play smart ball. You just have to e go with the defending Western Conference two-tim- .of WW champions. " f t Vance Harris "The depth and the talent the Knicks have will provide matchup problems for " anybody they face. i'"?- I! jf .A 5'Sif ''':;:;sv HiX t mmmsmmMu m Perry, Ga. Utah Jazz vs. Indiana Pacers Utah Jazz Of the Jazz, Gatlin said, "They're ateam that just has a lot of experience. They have a lot of veterans. They have some young guys who give them a lot of athleticism. They two-timjustplay smart ball You just have to go with the T McCleave , championship if David Robinson and Sean Elliot play well." "They were the team to beat in the west this season," Big Blue said of the Spurs. "Duncan is the season MVP. They're tough on the inside, defensively. Mario Ellie is an emotional leader, but somehow they had the right chemistry this year." Hometown: ITI "The Spurs will win a Jeffrey Blue 2-- Jeffrey Blue About the Spurs, T said, 'Too big. The Spurs will win a championship if David Robinson and Sean Elliot play well. That's the only way. Averyjohnsonhastohitopen shots because they're going to be doubling Robinson and Duncan." Concerningthe Pacers.Twas impressed with their size, saying, "They're deep and they're huge. They're experienced and they're huge. They have about three and a They have a star in Reggie Miller, and they have a great coach too." The Pacers definitely look like the cream of the remaining eastern crop, but the Spurs looked a little shaky against the overmatched but scrappy TAVoives. That's why these things aren't played on paper, foiks. Vance Harris Background: Hometown: Finals prediction: NBA Champion: NBA Champion: 31 year-ol- d, Hilltop Times sports writer Ogden, Utah San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers San Antonio Spurs OK, so it's time to evaluate my own picks. Why the Spurs? Well home court advantage throughout the playoffs is a big thing. The Spurs have size, talent, muscle and speed. What they lack is a consistent outside scorer. They need to get more production from Avery Johnson and Sean Elliot However, with the talent they have down low, including a legitimate MVP candidate in Tim Duncan (21.7 pts and 11.4 rebs) , few teams will be able to handle them in the post. Why the Pacers? Well they may be the most well rounded team in the playoffs. They have size, speed, inside scoring, outside scoring, experience and youth. They have big guards, small guards, quick forwards, power oriented center with skills. The have Regforwards and a gie Miller who steps up big in big games. With the Heat eliminated, they also have the homecourt advantage in the east. What more do you want in a team? But sometimes you have to listen to your instincts, and mine tell me it's just not their year. Now to the big question why not the home team Utah Jazz? Lots of reasons, history being foremost among them. The Jazz have never reached the NBA Finals in any season in their history without either homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs or at least throughout the western conference. This season, the Jazz have neither. What's more, in the years that the Jazz have played well in the playoffs, they usually finish the regular season strong. 5 to end the season is mediocre at best. 2 to start the playoffs isn't encouraging either. The Mailman isn't delivering. The once bullish power forward seems almost afraid to go to the basket, instead relying on outside jumpers. Unfortunately for Karl Malone, the NBAs third leading scorer during the regular season, the Jazz can ill afford many off nights as the playoffs progress. Of the three veterans, only Stockton looked very good against Sacramento, and the younger Eis-leplayers don't seem to be stepping up either. Howard solid looks bad lately, and the Jazz must have games from their number two point guard if he's going to continue to split time with future Hall of Famer, Stockton. The prognosis isn't good for a Finals run, and this could easily be the last year Utahns are able to realistically dream about a championship. So in the next few weeks, we'll see how our experts do. If you want to register your opinion about the NBA Playoffs or some other sports topic, write to me at steven.fordhill.af.mil. Remember to include your name, rank or grade (if appropriate) , unit or division, and some contact information should I need to get back with you. It's time for Hill AFB to sound off! 5-- 3-- y staff sergeant with 31 year-ol367mTraining Support Squadron d, Long Island, New York. San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks New York Knicks d, "Being the best in the west, they're a defense oriented team," said Harris about the Spurs. "Not many western teams focus on defense. It will help them weather scoring lapses. It will be hard to do well if you can't stop your opponents from scoring. The Spurs are solid from top to bottom with a decent bench. Ellie provides a little |