The new against the old, the ever stronger and more convinced cries of the (more or less) new recruits against the backlash of the great old ones, ever closer, by now, to what would seem to be their last dance.
And this the theme of the NBA conference finals, penultimate act in the race for the title of champions, a race in the most literal sense of the term, given the very fast pace this season has taken on due to the lockout.
Two very fascinating challenges, these, between four teams that seem to be in front of a mirror, one's adversary, in which it is possible to scrutinize, depending on the case, one's past or one's future.
Ad east the Miami Heat of the new big three (Lebron, Wade and Bosh, for the few who didn't know), after the very painful overtime victory in the night between Wednesday and Thursday they lead two to one over the Boston Celtics of the old big three, Allen, Garnett and Pierce.
For Boston, after the success of 2008 and the defeat in the final of 2010 (where they surrendered only in Game 7 to Kobe Bryant's Lakers), this is really the last dance, the parting step of a wonderful career, while for the Heat and for Lebron it is the viaticum for a rematch, after the final they badly lost last year.
Of the two, this series seems to be the more targeted, because the Celtics are objectively few and old, and the definitive one explosion at the highest levels of their point guard Rajon Rondo, author in game 2 of an amazing 44-point performance (to which must be added 10 assists and 8 rebounds) and only 3 turnovers, despite having remained on the field for all 53 minutes of play, it doesn't seem to be enough to compensate for the natural, and very dignified, decline of the old aces, especially that of the battered “He got game” (from the Spike Lee film of which he was the protagonist) Ray Allen.
And also because the very solid defensive organization of the Boston greens does not seem to be sufficient to limit theor overwhelming power, first of all athletic, of Wade and James, more incisive than ever in absentia Bosh. In the first home game, in the night, Boston relied on the wild cheering of a very hot arena and on its famous Pride, the Celtic pride, which, combined with the pride of its champions, was enough to bring home a victory for 101 to 91, thanks mainly to Pierce and Garnett.
In front of them, as always, Lebron James, to date the most dominant player that can be admired on a basketball court, as well as the most hated and loved, awaited his first team victory after many individual successes (he was crowned Mvp of the regular season for the third time) and after last year's disappointing, to be generous, finals. He still has time to do it, but time is running out for the self-appointed "chosen one", Michael Jordan's designated heir.
On the other coast, however, things seem more complicated. After winning game three at home, in the night between Thursday and Friday, the young rampants of the Oklahoma City Thunder have shortened the distance with Tim Duncan's San Antonio Spurs (who became, during the game, the player with the most blocks in the history of the playoffs, surpassing a legend like Kareem Abdul-jabbar) reaching 1 to 2, thanks to a great team performance and the unexpected offensive contribution of the his supporters, above all the former Biella guard Thabo Sefolosha, author of 19 precious points.
Even these two teams, Spurs and Thunder, are very similar in some ways. In fact, it appears clear in almost all of his choices (starting from that of Gm Presti, who trained in the Spurs), Oklahoma's intention to be inspired by San Antonio (winner of four titles in the last 13 years) in managing her own franchise.
Both are teams built through the draft, in fact, equipped with un absolute champions, respectively Tim Duncan and the champion in progress Kevin Durant (the boy will, that's for sure) flanked by a very fast and lethal point guard, Parker for the spurs and Westbrook for the Thunders, and a left-handed sixth man of diabolical intelligence, such as Ginobili and Harden.
To distance them, however, in addition to two game systems that could not be more different, it is the registry office, given that the average age of the big names in San Antonio is well over 30 years old (with the peak of Duncan's 36 springs), while the "oldest" among the champions of Oklahoma, Kevin Durant, will turn 24 in September.
By the end of June we will know who will have won the NBA title. But, as the poet says, it's not so much the destination that matters, but the journey, the path you take to reach it.
So let's enjoy this long road paved with sweat and talent, with ecstasy and despair. Let's enjoy the generational clash taking place in the conference finals, a generational clash that also becomes a philosophical clash, between the iron organization of the systems of Boston and San Antonio and their spectacular choral game, and the rhapsodic game of Miami and Oklahoma, which prefer to rely on the cadenced solos of their champions.
Let's enjoy the fight between the pride of the old multi-titled champions (especially those of San Antonio) and the hunger of the young who have not yet known the joy of winning the NBA ring.
Make yourself comfortable, it will be a long, exciting journey. We will keep you updated.
