NBA Playoffs - They're still FAN-tastic!

by Bodog Sportsbook | Apr 15 2008

If we look past the fact that they were all known by crotch-stomp inducing nicknames such as The Mailman, Magic, The Human Highlight Film, Bad Boys, Sir Charles and The Shaq Attack, not many will argue that the stars from the ’80s and ’90s weren’t the greatest in NBA history. And when we compare them to some of the stars of this year’s playoffs, it looks like today’s NBA isn’t as far from those glory days as people may think. So, don’t miss any of the betting action as the 2007-08 NBA playoffs tip off April 19 at Bodog, because the NBA is FAN-tastic again.
 
Allen Iverson – Dominique Wilkins
What does a 6-foot-nothin’ guard have in common with one of the most electrifying dunkers in NBA history? Simple. They are both scoring machines with the ability to light up the scoreboard like the stage at a U23D concert. No matter how terrible their supporting cast is, they always seem to generate points in a way that brings forth the same confusing sense of wonderment and shame you got watching your first donkey show in Tijuana.

Shaquille O’Neal – Charles Barkley
At this point, older Shaq shares more traits with Sir Charles than he does with his younger ’90s self. Besides playing limited minutes and their love of Chunky Monkey ice cream in the offseason, they both have larger-than-life personalities and are two of the most entertaining players ever. Listen to their pregame predictions or their postgame analysis, and it’s like two stand-up comedians auditioning for their own HBO comedy specials. Just with more dick and fart jokes.

Chris Paul – Isiah Thomas
Two tenacious floor generals who always set the tone for their teams. They lead by example and their teams will follow them to the top of the mountain or into the morally deficient roles of “Bad Boys.” Let’s just hope after his playing days are over, Chris Paul doesn’t still remind us of Isiah… right, Knicks fans? Unless, of course, you see incompetence as a highly desirable quality in a president/coach/workplace sexual harasser.


Steve Nash/Amare Stoudemire – John Stockton/Karl Malone
There are not many tandems that scare teams as much in pick-and-roll situations than these two sets of All-Stars. They go together like Hardcastle and McCormick, PB and J, or starlets and side boob. They are pairings that were meant to be greater than the sum of their parts. Like a microwave and a melon…

Ray Allen – Reggie Miller
They can score from all over the court. Front and back. Maybe even the parking lot if you put a hand in their face. They are the best long distance shooters in the game during their respective runs. They can make killshots on opposing defenders quicker than a sniper from Easy Company in Dubya Dubya Two.

Kevin Garnett – Larry Bird
Two Celtics with wispy facial hair. Plus, they also happen to share a certain attitude when it comes to their jobs on the basketball court. It’s a blue-collar work ethic that only the Minnesota faithful have seen, but make no mistake: Like the legendary Larry Bird, K.G. is a warrior and will play whatever role his team needs. Hopefully at some point, that will include hitting fade-away jumpers on the baseline with a broken back and an amazing ’80s porn-stache.

LeBron James – Magic Johnson
Teenage phenom comes into the league and can help at every position on the floor. Like full-grown Siamese twins or the bearded lady, these two players should be seen live at least once, and are well worth the price of admission. Very few NBA stars are as complete as these two, always contributing in every statistical category and proving that the best way to win is to make your team better. Now if LeBron can just find a way to “make” Zydrunas Ilgauskas play more like Kareem…

Kobe Bryant – Michael Jordan
The best players on the planet. They can take over games, just because it’s Tuesday and they “want it more.” When opposing teams see these guys with that particular look in their eyes, it must be kind of like getting the stink eye from across the prison yard… they know it’s going to be a long night, and there’s nothing they can do to stop it. So, they squeeze their eyes shut and imagine a “happy place” until it is, mercifully, over.

> Bet on NBA playoffs in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Starting April 19, the playoffs will heat up the NBA action at Bodog. Bet on the next generation of players as they continue their quest for championship glory while millions of misguided youths begin to create their own false memories that their generation was better than the last.