NBA CONFERENCE FINALS UPDATE
Temporary loss of cable makes this analysis sketchier than usual, so bear with me. From what I've seen however, there is a common thread between the two series - two, great free-flowing offenses (Nets and Kings) that can be shut down by excellent perimeter defenses (Celtics and Lakers) for limited time periods. Games 3 and 4 for both series were classics - with the Nets and Kings jumping out to big leads behind dominant point guard play in the first half, only to be stymied by furious pressure while Kobe and Pierce gunned their teams back in the games. So far its been a nearly even matchup.

Kings 2: Give them a healthy Peja and they're up 3-1. Give them a smidgen of luck in Game 4 and they're up 3-1. Mike Bibby looks like a young Mo Cheeks (although more willing to pull the trigger). Webber and Vlade have both played magnificent up front. Be afraid Lakers, be very afraid.
Lakers 2: Even before his last second heroics, Robby Horry has been keeping the Lakers alive. While Derek Fisher and Rick Fox have all but disappeared in this series, Horry's been providing 13 points, 13 boards, 4.5 assists and over 2 steals a game. It's not going to be enough if the rest of the supporting cast doesn't turn it around.

Nets 2: Kidd is averaging a triple-double so far, and the six players averaging double figures shows how well the wealth has been spread. I still can't understand what Byron Scott was thinking during the 4th quarter of Game 3, with no subs or timeouts used during the whole run in the last five minutes. Could Van Horn, MacCulloch or Jefferson have done any worse than the crew that was out there?
Celtics 2: They've gotten this far with Pierce ice cold all but one quarter. He's going to explode in at least one of the last three. If the Celtics take the other one...I really don't want to think about all the annoying "underdog Celtics recapture lost glory" columns that will be flooding the net from Beantown's endless supply of sportswriters.