As I suspected, there is no score lopsided enough to make watching the Nuggets and Hornets dull. Despite the 29 point margin of victory, I feel downright giddy after watching that game last night. Perhaps it's because I don't get that many chances to watch good Western Conference matchups during the regular season, but it was like (as they say in Superbad) hearing the Beatles for the first time.
There are perhaps no two guys who appear as in control of the entire dynamic of the game as Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups when they are on offense. Paul a force of nature. The movement never stops, and the paint seems to expand when he enters it. He moves in and out of defensive traps and collapses as if there is a force field around him. There was one time in the second quarter when he drove through the lane, all five Nuggets collapsed in on him, and he was able to fine Rasual Butler for a wide open three. It was incredible. There was no daylight for him to see Butler, and certainly no room for him to make the pass. But, he wasn't even labored. This a routine phenomenon. There is something special about every possession.
While Paul's control was incredible to watch, Billups was master of his domain at the other end. His team began the game cold (Carmelo missed his first 5 shots and didn't hit a field goal until there was 3:40 remaining in the second quarter), but picked up the slack until everyone else fell in line. 5-6 shooting in the first quarter for Billups, 4-4 from beyond the arc and 16 points. It was clear that this would be his night.
I've only seen Denver a few times since the big trade earlier in the season, but it is amazing how much better and more efficient they are with Billups at the helm. And, it's surprising how much more I enjoy watching them. The only guy whose style still reminds me of last year's team is JR Smith, who provides offense off the bench. I think he always has the green light when he is in there, and I think his ability to get up ahead of the defense is valuable. However, his style appears more reckless and cavalier, reminiscent of AI's Nuggets. The new Nuggets are controlled, calculated, and the pieces move as Billups dictates.
But, they still run, and New Orleans needs to do a better job getting back. They didn't struggle with it all game long, but there were lapses that really cost them. There were several times when Denver was able to collect missed Hornets' three point shots and still beat New Orleans down the court. The Hornets did play impressive half-court defense, particularly in the first half. However, when Chauncey can't miss from downtown, it doesn't really matter what you do. 52% on three pointers for the Nuggets, 2 percentage points higher than their field goal percentage (which was also impressive). Just ridiculous. New Orleans shouldn't be discouraged. You don't lose when you shoot 52% from beyond the arc.
Finally, I need to discuss the Birdman. I have heard that he has had a good season, but I didn't actually see it until last night. I've always thought of him more as a leaper with a cult following and less as a legitimate contributor. But, he made a huge impact on the game last night. He ignites the crowd, he brings energy to the floor, and he contests everything that comes to the middle. 4 blocks for the Birdman in 23 minutes. Also, I didn't know until last night that he was the first ever D-League call up in history. Thanks Marv Albert.
Anyways, watch this series. The game beforehand (Atlanta/Miami) only had a margin of victory that was 5 points wider, and somehow that was like watching paint dry and this was like sipping a fine beer. I guess it's more about the talent and less about the outcome.
Now, I must go and watch the Cs hang a 20 point victory on Chicago.
True Blue Jazz: Yeah, so most people seem to have no hope in the Jazz. Be you a Lakers fan hoping for a sweep, a "famous" person... aka, a mainstream media guy... predicting the Lakers in 5 or 6 or a Jazz fan hoping the Jazz don't get totally embarrassed, you'd have to say/admit things don't look good for the Jazz. They've been struggling for the last bit, both at home and on the road (though that's a season-long issue). Injuries come and go, tensions may be rising, the coach may be giving up (or just trying to goad the team), the players may be packing for the off-season (and a new home?), etc. That, though, is what it is. And it'll all be dealt with at some point. Right now though, the main thing ahead is the first round playoff series with the Lakers.
Forum Blue and Gold: The Lakers have mismatches all over the place to exploit in this series. If they are smart, they should score plenty.
That starts inside in the paint. Mehmet Okur cannot keep Andrew Bynum off the low block or alter his shot in close, and Pau Gasol has a huge size advantage inside. We saw this some in the last regular season meeting between these two. When isolated, Boozer (especially a hobbled Boozer) was virtually helpless on Gasol. There are members of the Jazz — AK-47 — that love to come from the weak-side and block shots — Gasol and Bynum need to be aware and be ready to give up the ball.
The other big problem for the Jazz is at the two — Ronnie Brewer cannot slow Kobe Bryant. In the first two games this season against the Jazz, he averaged 38 points a game. Again, the Jazz can do things to bring help, but that leaves other players open if the Lakers share the ball.
Roomofzen Note: The Lakers are your 2009 NBA champions. Get the broom out.
76ers at Magic, 5:00
Liberty Ballers: We all know the Magic are a thousand times better on paper. We all know they have Dwight Howard. And we all know what the Sixers need to do to win. (3-point differential, defensive rebounding and free throws.) So, instead of polluting your minds with more useless numbers and strategies, I'm simply going to tell you in a couple sentences how excited I am, and leave you with a few YouTube clips to get you pumped!
How excited am I? As excited as I've ever been to watch a basketball game. Need I say more? On the flip side, I'm as nervous as a 6-year old school boy about to ask his secret crush if she wants to share a bag of cheddar fries. I think the game will go one of two ways -- good or bad -- there's no in between.
Don't ask me why I have faith in this 41-win Sixers team who has disappointed me time after time this season, because I won't have an answer. There's just something a special about this group of guys, and the sky's the limit.
Third Quarter Collapse: The book on the Orlando Magic this season is that they're a one-dimensional, three-point shooting team that struggles to win when their threes aren't falling: In a post called "Die By It," Depressed Fan points out that Orlando shoots 40.5% from three-point range in its wins and 31.5% in its losses. While I don't believe their fortunes are inextricably tied to the three-point shot, it is indeed an important part of their offense, to say the least.
And it will be even more important in their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Orlando's biggest advantage over Philadelphia is its ability to bomb away from beyond the arc. In the regular season, Orlando averaged 10 made treys per game, while Philly averaged just 4. If those figures hold up in the postseason, the Sixers will have to make up for an 18-point deficit from the perimeter alone. That's a tall order, especially against Orlando's elite defense.
Roomofzen Note: Goddamit! The Celtics were supposed to get Philly. How did this all go so wrong?
Heat at Hawks
Peninsula is Mightier: "The Heat's interior defenders will need to be wary of the Hawks tendency of over-driving. They get to the foul line a fair amount (25.4 free throws/gm during the regular season), but shot only 73% as a team, good for 28th (3rd worse) in the NBA.
Staying on the subject, should the Hawks get into foul trouble, expect coach Mike Woodson to go to his bench quickly. Apparently, he has a deep fear of his players fouling out and will go to great lengths to avoid that at all costs.
The Hawks big guys (Al Horford and Josh Smith) can get into foul trouble, and the primary backup for them is Zaza Pachulia, who isn't as good a defender as his aforementioned teammates. Attacking the rim and getting to the foul line should be a key point on the Heat's dry-erase board at practice.
Dwyane Wade has never lost a 1st round series when healthy, and he is very healthy. I'm just sayin..."
Peachtree Hoops: Outside of Bibby and Marvin, the Hawks have a tendency to lock in on shooting. Whether it is methodical penetration by Joe or under control back down by Al or "I might as well be blind folded" drive by Josh or Zaza, the Hawks tend to get tunnel vision. Sometimes this is ok. It works for the Hawks. They can draw fouls. They can out athlete a lot of guys at the end. Of course, I wish there was more ball movement, more cutting to the basket, but that is not just going to start happening at this point in the season.
Which means the Dwayne Wade help block could come to the front and center of this series. Rarely is someone that athletic, that quick, also that good at blocking shots. He can slip down off his man in half a step. Hawks players cannot feel satisfied with simply beating their man. Dwayne Wade will be lurking.
Roomofzen Note: I'll be rooting for Miami. I picked them to win and the more Dwayne Wade I can see, the better.Beasley, don't make me look bad!
Hornets at Nuggets, 10:30
Hornets 24/7: "First, expect some cross matching in the backcourts as both teams prefer to keep their best defender on the opposing team's point guard. Dahntay Jones will open defensively on Chris Paul, while Billups slips over to handle Rasual Butler. Vice versa, Rasual Butler will open defensively on Billups, with Paul taking Dahntay.................................................One interesting thing to note is that Chauncey Billups is perfectly in Rasual Butler's wheelhouse defensively, being rather slow and easy to defend on the drive because of Butler's length. In four games this season against the Hornets, Butler has held Billups to 35% shooting from the field and 32% shooting from deep while Billups has only earned .5 free throws more per game due to the defensive pressure. Billups has also only managed 4.8 assists per game. I expect more of the same as Butler sticks to him like glue."
Pickaxe and Roll: Chris Paul is their team. Denver took to trapping him off screens and it has worked beautifully so far. Paul averages just 3 turnovers a game, but against the Nuggets he's averaged 5.3 turnovers a game and that's his highest rate of slip ups against any team. Paul has averaged 20.8 points and 11 assists against the Nuggets this season. He shoots 81% from the foul line and likes to get there any way he can. Paul will work the refs as much as he can and has a knack for being able to initiate contact and draw calls. If Denver can corral Paul in this series the Nuggets can win it in 5 games. If Paul has his way the Hornets will be almost impossible to beat.
Roomofzen Note: Who cares who wins, I just want it to go as long as possible.
I'll computerless until Tuesday, but will be in the Garden tomorrow night. Enjoy the games everyone.
As I did last year, I will be rooting wildly for the Hornets to advance as far as they possibly can. With Tyson Chandler making a successful return in their final regular season game, they have once again become must-see tv. I am going to have my DVR on standby to make sure I do not miss a second of their first round matchup with Denver. I suggest all of you do the same. New Orleans may not get out of round 1, and we all want to see as much of this as possible:
warning: if you experience an erection lasting longer than four hours, please seek immediate medical attention
First, a positive note. As many readers know, our apartment was robbed in late June. When we received the police report, in the victim's section, my build was listed as "heavy". The NBA playoffs had just ended, and lots of late night pizza and beer had gotten the best of me. At the same time, I was finishing up my graduate program and was not exercising. Since then, I have made a real effort to get to the gym regularly and eat better......
Last week, I was driving on Tremont Street. It was the afternoon, so the road was jam packed and things were moving slowly. Then, a bicycle swung around my car, caught his handlebar on the front of the car and fell. Everything was fine, but a police report was written nonetheless. Once again I appear in the victims section, but this time my build is given as "medium". That, followers, is progress.
I was surprised and excited to wake up this morning and see that Tyson Chandler was headed back to New Orleans after failing his physical in Oklahoma City. I'm still feeling a little confused. So, I think the best way to work this out is to work through my feelings before and after this news.
First, my anger over the original trade has been growing since I originally read it, and I need to get it out:
This trade crushed me, and frankly I still don't understand it. Tyson Chandler is 7 foot 1, is extremely explosive, and is one of the best post defenders in the NBA. Could the Hornets really be in such dire economic circumstances that it is worth moving a guy like that simply to avoid paying the luxury tax? Because, in the long term, this all seems ass-backwards to me.
Like most of the country, I was completely captivated by the Hornets in the playoffs last season. I had taken every advantage to see them whenever they played on national tv, but the opportunity to watch them every game in the post-season was fantastic. Chris Paul's offensive wizardry, Chandler's explosive finishes of Paul's feeds, and David West's offensive consistency all made this team incredibly exciting to watch. I won't pretend to have been excited about Peja Stojakovic, but he was there.....
........I can't even think of something funny to write here.
Anyways, this team was must-see tv in the playoffs. I can specifically remember leaving Fenway Park early so that I'd be to Gillian's in time to order a Jalapeno cheeseburger, and be ready to eat in time for the tipoff of game 1 against the Spurs. You could feel the energy in the arena whenever they played at home.
Now, this has been a down year because of injuries to major frontcourt players. However, this team is currently twelve games above .500, they are in fifth place in the West, and they just laid an asswhooping on Orlando last night. If Chandler is able to get healthy (which seems likely, since he's missed time with a sprained ankle), then we could all be in store for another electric playoff run. That's how you bring fans in. You need to build their trust over time.
Now, I'm all for clearing cap space when your team sucks. But, doing it when you have a contender is inexcusable. Even if Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox were able to come in and contribute, they'd be off the books after this season. Who the fuck is going to come see them then? This is just horrible on so many levels, and it seems incredibly shortsighted. These are tough economic times for everyone, but you have to field a winner to get something back.
There, that feels better. I've been waiting to get that out.
So, now we know that the trade is off. I was happy for a second, thinking that some higher power had stepped in on behalf of all NBA fans. But then, I transitioned to dismay. Chandler has not played in over a month because of his ankle, and if this physical revealed serious damage, then this would mean that the dream is dead and we would all be doomed to see Chris Paul's rare abilities underutilized in the playoffs. However, the latest report states that the trade was rejected because of concerns about Chandler's left big toe, which was operated on in April of 2007. In the report, the Thunder team doctor (who was the one operating on Chandler's toe) told Chandler "I have no doubt you can play on it. I'm just saying it could take a turn for the worse if you come down on somebody's foot or hyperextend it or something."
Well, that sounds like a go to me. So, for the time being, we're all just waiting on Chandler's ankle to heal and looking forward to another epic Hornets playoff run. Thank you, basketball gods.
Now, the Kings were a team that actually did need to shed salary. On the surface, the Bulls don't really seem like a team that could take on more. John Salmons is having a great year, but that backcourt is already incredibly expensive (they have to move Kirk Hinrich). Brad Miller is a great fit for Chicago. He will give a huge defensive boost, and will also allow the offense to function much more smoothly.
Finally, as we look as Chicago's cap situation, we see that Miller and Larry Hughes (26 million combined) will give the Bulls quite a bit of cap room heading into the most anticipated summer of free agency in history.
To be honest, I couldn't care less about this Chicago trade. I'm going to spend today holding my breath hoping that Cleveland doesn't pull anything off. I've heard some scary names thrown out in the last 24 hours......
The Tony Allen injury was a tough pill to swallow. Most of the reports indicate that he should be back in time for the post-season, but I feel like his basketball IQ (already lacking) is going to drop substantially in the mean time. Between now and then, the Celtics are pretty thin on the perimeter. I hear rumors about Raja Bell yesterday, but there's no way the Cs have the resources for that. Celticsblog seems optimistic about the team's chances of bringing in Marbury and Joe Smith after the deadline. That would be phenomenal. However, I don't like the sense of panic that I'm feeling from the fanbase right now. I think we will be able to bring in some help. However, if nothing happens, this is still a very good team. The reason there aren't any resources available to move is because WE ALREADY HAVE PAUL PIERCE, KEVIN GARNETT, AND RAY ALLEN!
Look, the Celtics did not play good basketball in the playoffs last season until the Pistons series. If the current team does that, they will not repeat. However, this team can beat anybody when they're on. I do think help will arrive, and I expect TA to be back and filling the defensive void that James Posey left. However, if these things don't happen, then this is just going to require a leap of faith on our part. What fan wouldn't kill for this team? Regardless of what happens, I feel good about this roster heading into the playoffs.
Truthfully, I never thought that I'd be this disappointed about a Western Conference playoff game. I wanted to watch this Hornets team play for as long as possible. I'm not sure why I have adopted them as my second team this post-season. I had to pick a West team to root for, and somehow they took over that role right from the start. Maybe it's because I wanted to root against the Mavs (I really think I'm going to hate them forever for that trade) and Spurs so badly. But, I think it has a lot more to do with the exciting style of basketball that New Orleans plays. Their style is so unpredictable and fun to watch, and yet you can see that Chris Paul is totally in control of the offense throughout the entire game. Unfortunately, their shooting was cold last night, and you need to have everything working if you want to beat the defending champs in an elimination game. I want to highlight the great effort from Jannero Pargo, who scored 16 in the fourth quarter to bring the Hornets within striking distance. In the end, it was not enough. But, I really enjoyed watching this New Orleans run. I am excited to see what pieces they add this offseason and I can't wait to watch them next year. Once I have a little more disposable income, I might even nab one of these yellow jerseys, because I think they are awesome.
I'll be blunt, the Spurs advancing is bad for the NBA. The Hornets wow-factor, combined with the fact that they are new on the playoff scene and they are from New Orleans, would have made for a much more exciting Western Conference finals matchup. The Spurs are like the Patriots. Yes, you respect how incredibly consistent they have been for so long. But, unless they're you're favorite team, you always want to see them lose. It's like this with any of the great dynasties.
Luckily, I don't think we will have to watch San Antonio in the finals again this year. I really like the way the Lakers match up with the Spurs. Pau Gasol will pay his biggest dividends in this series, as he has historically played Tim Duncan very well. Furthermore, as Sir Charles Barkley pointed out last night on TNT, Gasol and Lamar Odom will ensure that Tony Parker will not be able to attack the basket in this series like he did against New Orleans. There's nobody on that San Antonio team, not even Bruce Bowen, that can stop Kobe Bryant, and I believe that Bryant can stifle Manu on the defensive end. I think that these will be high scoring games, and that favors Los Angeles.
On this day last year, I wore a horseshow around my neck to work. Later on that evening, I stood in a tub with a jug of wine, and Bedell and I spent an hour performing witchcraft rituals that we had found to bring good luck. We chanted while facing all directions, we poured and drank the sacrament of Franzia, we crushed garlic cloves, and we rubbed the wine on pictures of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis. There were pictures of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant on either side of the living room. Then we sat and watched in horror as the Celtics wound up with the fifth pick in the draft.
I immediately phoned for a large pizza (Greek style, extra cheese), drove to pick it up, and ate the entire thing in the car on the ten minute drive home. At that time, I never even considered the possibility that the Celtics wouldn't be figuring prominently in today's lottery. And, I certainly never could have imagined in my wildest dreams that the lottery would be taking place before game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which would be taking place in Boston. So, I recommend taking the time to watch the lottery tonight (7:30). Word is that Jay-Z will be representing the Nets, so that should be exciting, and it will give us a preliminary idea of how the draft will play out. Plus, you'll have the chance to make comments like "Jesus, nothing ever works out for us! We can't catch a break!" and then start laughing. It's ok, you've earned it.
As far as the actual game tonight, I am very interested to see how each team responds to the circumstances of their past week. Many of the analysts that I have heard today (national analysts) are predicting that the Pistons will take the game tonight, because they are rested and the Celtics will have an emotional hangover from the game on Sunday. Certainly, I can see the reasoning for this prediction, particularly after the sloppy game 1 that the Cs played against the Cavs following an emotional game 7 evisceration of the Hawks. However, I don't believe that rest is always good for a team that's on a hot streak. The Pistons were playing great against Orlando, particularly in the final two games. In particular, they were getting more out of their bench guys than they had gotten all year. From a momentum standpoint, I think the best thing would have been for them to keep playing. There is no doubt that the rest was valuable for Chauncey Billups. But, as far as momentum is concerned, I think the Pistons' rest could work against them tonight. It will be interesting to see.
I am making my final public plea before this series begins to see Tony Allen. These games are going to be close, and we're going to need someone other than Rondo defending whoever is playing the point for Detroit. Billups, Stuckey, and Hunter all provide tough matchups for Rondo. Tony Allen has been a defensive stopper for this Celtics team all season long, and Doc is going to need to get him involved. He can't sit him on the bench for three and a half quarters, and then throw him out there for the last six minutes. He needs to use him in the regular rotation for the entire series.
It will also be interesting to see how Doc handles the point guard rotation. Eddie House was implemented far too late in the last series, and gave the Cs a great lift in games 6 and 7. I hate to think of Cassell being played over House on the offensive end in this series. However, as Casten wrote in his comment yesterday, Cassell might be the Celtics' best option defensively. He is a bigger point guard, and Chauncey won't be able to bully him down on the block like he does to Rondo. Sam plays that same game, and he will be more effective at defending it. Remember, all of these Pistons' point guards are slower than Daniel Gibson, who made Cassell look foolish in the last series.
As I said, there are emotional wildcards for both teams as we head into this game. How will the Pistons play after taking a week off? How will the Celtics respond after being taken the distance by LeBron and the Cavs? Regardless of how tonight turns out, I expect this series to be fucking awesome. Just like all of the regular season meetings between these teams, all three of which had a playoff vibe to them, I expect the series to be an all-out slugfest. All the games will be close, and tensions are going to run at an all-time high. I can't wait.
I can't figure out Craig Sager. Is he the man? Does he wear absurd looking suits because he's such a bad-ass? Is he a loser? Do the players like him? When they make fun of him, do they do it because they really don't like him or do they do it because they like him and they think he's funny? I have no idea.
Here's the best one. KG making fun of Sager after waxing the Knicks:
Baron Davis can't help laughing at Sager's outfit at halftime:
I'm going to be really bummed out when this Hornets/Spurs series is over. Even once the Hornets had a commanding lead last night, I couldn't stop watching. Before we get into the game, I just want to know whose idea it was to make this split face ad with Tony Parker and Peja Stojakovic? This is hideous. Dwight Howard and Chauncey, not so bad. KG and Ben Wallace, not so bad. KG and LeBron, pretty good. Shaq and Kobe, awesome. Even Zohan and Baron Davis is better than this. Take a look and tell me that you don't agree:
Now.....if we can move on......
The fact that the Hornets took this game over in the second half is no surprise. This was typical of their wins over Dallas, and of their other two wins over San Antonio. Today's Daily Dime tells us that during this series, in the third quarter of games in New Orleans (all of which they've won), the Hornets have outscored the Spurs 93-46. The Spurs led at halftime, and found themselves on the wrong end of a 22-point finish.
I know you probably expect me to lead with Chris Paul because I talk about him all the time, but the biggest story of this game was David West. 38 points, 14 boards, and 5 blocks. He kept the Hornets in this game during the first half, and he helped them seal it up at the end. I said in a Foil in the Oven last week that David West had really impressed me during this postseason. I knew his stats were good, but throughout the regular season I always viewed him as more of a product of Chris Paul. He has been spectacular throughout the entire playoffs. Last night, he was the best player on the floor in the most important game that his team has played all year. If the Hornets had lost last night, there was no way they could take this series. Now, I like their chances.
Chris Paul and Tim Duncan both struggled mightily in the first half. The guys on TNT at the half (and I think it was Magic that said it specifically) made it clear that whichever team saw their superstar step up in the second half would win the game. As you probably know from the outcome, Chris Paul answered the bell. Paul only had one basket in the first half, but he totally controlled play in the second half. The key moment came at the 8 minute mark of the third quarter, when Paul hit a 3-pointer (a shot he doesn't normally take) to put the Hornets up 55-51. From there on out, we had vintage Chris Paul, as you can see from this Alleyoop to Tyson Chandler, which was named the TNT Dunk of the Night Brought to You by Indiana Jones. The Spurs fell back to their old ways on defense on this play. They collapsed on Paul, and allowed Chandler access to the rim. As you can see, all Chandler has to do is jump.
I also just want to state for the record, and so as not to upset any Hornets fans, that what I said yesterday about Chandler was not meant to insult his game. He is a very good defender, a strong rebounder, and an outstanding finisher. He was also all of these things in Chicago before he played with Chris Paul. I just don't think he's a scorer, which is why you have to keep him off the rim.
The one thing about this game that made me uncomfortable was the whole Joey Crawford thing during the first half. I just don't want to hear anymore about feuds between referees and players or teams anymore. I'm paranoid ever since the Donaghy thing. I can live with (and have throughout these playoffs) poor refereeing. But, anything like last night that might indicate some bias on the surface makes me uneasy. I am glad that the NBA was able to rebound so well from the Donaghy scandal. I don't think last night was a problem. But, I don't understand why Crawford had to be put at that game. Can't they put him somewhere else? Honestly, can't we anticipate a little bit to make sure that people aren't questioning whether or not the referees on the floor are being objective? Is this too much to ask?
I don't care what people say about bandwagon fans that come out during playoff time. I'm happy for these New Orleans fans. They've obviously been through a lot, and I think that this team is going to give them something to cheer about for a long time. I think it's also great to see what happened to the fans in Atlanta. Look, the more teams that are able to be successful, and the more fanbases that get a sniff of the playoff atmosphere, the more fun and exciting the NBA is going to be. I think basketball is going to be popular in New Orleans for a long time. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Much like the Hornets last night, the Celtics find themselves with their backs to the wall tonight. While the series can't actually be won or lost in this game 5, I have no confidence that the Cs can win this series if they do not win tonight. I have a feeling that they will win, and that they will win pretty comfortably. However, it's hard to be too confident after having been let down so many times over the past couple of weeks.
I just want to state for the record that I'm still supremely confident that the Celtics will win this series. It may go 7 games, but that really shouldn't be surprising. Let's not forget that these are the defending Eastern Conference champs that we're playing against. Let's not forget that this guy who plays for them could very well end up being the greatest player of all time (if you take issue with that, let's also not forget that last season at age 22 he put that team on his back and dragged them to the Conference finals). Let's not forget that the Lakers and Hornets are also at 2-2 in their series right now. Detroit very well could be if not for Orlando choking away that game on Saturday (something I don't expect a LeBron James team to do). Really, this series is right where it should be. We're all so used to having the outcome already in hand with this team. That's not the way things work when we get down to the conference semis.
That being said, there is something different about the way this Celtics team is playing. I hate to point fingers, but I think that it really boils down to the role that Sam Cassell has been given. When Sam first arrived, he was adamant about accepting a lesser role and playing the Celtics' style of basketball. I believed him, and I still think that he meant that. But, I don't think hes wired that way. Watching him throughout these playoffs, it's clear that he's imposed his will on this coaching staff and this team. He's playing more minutes than I ever envisioned. At times during this post-season, it has seemed less like Cassell was being used to spell Rondo and more like these guys were splitting time. Rondo is the key to this offense running smoothly.
We got to this point playing a certain style that involves a lot of ball movement, Rondo driving and dishing, and working the ball inside. We need Rondo on the floor as often as possible. Cassell has simply refused to play the Celtics' style of basketball. Even if he's not saying that publicly, he shows it on the floor. He rarely tries to move the ball, he often takes ill-advised shots, and he gives very little effort on defense. The way that Daniel Gibson abused him at the start of the fourth quarter last night drove me crazy.
Meanwhile, the two players that didn't see time last night (Tony Allen and Eddie House) are the two guys that Roomofzen has been calling for since the Atlanta series. Both were integral parts to this team's success this season. Tony is a great defender and Eddie looked awesome in his limited time in game 3. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is perhaps no greater testament to Chris Paul's greatness than the adjustments that Greg Popovich made for games 3 and 4 in San Antonio. Popovich took a look at the tapes and realized that the success of Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic were almost completely due to the fact that his team was focusing on Chris Paul, who was able to get these guys perfect looks despite the tremendous defensive pressure he was facing. Popovich took Bruce Bowen, the team's best defender off of Paul and put him on Stojakovic. In doing so, he essentially conceded that Paul is unstoppable and his team would be better served by focusing on stopping everyone else, something that is more realistic.
Think about it. How many points do you remember Chandler scoring that didn't look like this:
or this:
or this:
or this:
They all look like that. Two-handed dunks that Chris Paul giftwraps for him. Sometimes he may have to give one dribble or two. But, usually he just has to jump up, raise his two hands, put the ball in, hang there for a while, swing his legs, do a few pull-ups, scream, let go, and get back on defense.
Popvich essentially conceded that the Spurs, one of the best defensive teams in the league, were incapable of stopping Paul from scoring and killing them with his dishing abilities. The Spurs won games 3 and 4 easily despite Paul's impressive stats. Paul had 35 points (and, for the record, still had 9 assists) in game 3, and the Spurs were happy with that. This guy is a special player. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can't make heads or tails of Mike D'Antoni's signing with the New York Knicks. First of all, I'd be terrified of joining that organization. As Babcock and Ted have pointed out, there's definitely something shady happening there. There's no other way to explain Isaiah Thomas still having a job(especially one that prevents him from doing anything). Did D'Antoni need to have his fingerprints erased? Did he have to sign some sort of document promising to protect and serve the New York Knicks for the rest of his life? Did he have to bend over and place his hands on hot coals while getting his ass paddled by a large man wearing an executioner's costume? Of course, we'll never know any of this stuff, which is probably a good thing.
D'Antoni comes to New York with a specific coaching identity. His Phoenix teams were known league-wide for their incredibly fast-paced style of basketball. It worked well with the personnel that he had, and it was fun to watch. However, it cannot work with this Knicks team. Eddy Curry? Zach Randolph? These guys are going to run and play up-tempo? I don't think so. Stephon Marbury? I might be incorrect here, but I'm pretty sure he was the first guy to leave Phoenix after D'Antoni arrived. So, one of two things is going to happen. Either, D'Antoni is going to adjust his coaching style to meet the profile of this roster (fat, slow, uninspired, uncoachable, etc.) or he's going to stand by and grit his teeth for the next two seasons while the Knicks put themselves in a position to rebuild. Once they can clear away some of that dead weight, they may be able to put together a team that D'Antoni can use. Let's also once again use this as an opportunity to point out that the Jazz have the Knicks 2010 first round pick. Just in case you had any doubt, the effects of Isaiah will still be felt two years from now.
The NFL power rankings came out yesterday, and I'm a little upset. The Patriots are number one. Now, I have some serious questions about their secondary. But, given their accomplishments of last season, their offensive firepower, and their easy division schedule, I don't have a problem with putting them on top.
I DO however have an issue with the World Champion New York Giants being listed as number 6. Let's take a look at what this team has done lately. They have won 7 of their last 9. One of those two losses, a close home loss to New England, was avenged in the biggest game of the season. They've beaten Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay on the road and beaten New England at a neutral site. I understand them not being one. The Patriots, Colts, and Chargers are all better than them. But, Dallas ahead of them? How the hell is Dallas ahead of them? If you read them on ESPN it says next to Dallas "Felix Jones should help the running game immediately." Really? We're putting them at number 4 because of Felix Jones? Felix Jones, the same guy that wasn't even the best running back on his college team and is yet to plan an NFL game? What about Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw? All I'm saying is, winning the Super Bowl should buy you a spot in the top 5.
One final Giants note: Kenny Phillips will be wearing number 21. Hopefully he can provide Big Blue with more toughness, leadership, and less ego than the last man who wore it.
When you get to the playoffs, winning is the only thing that matters. And, despite their poor play on the offensive end, the Celtics have something very valuable that they can take away from last night's victory: this was the first playoff win that did not come easily for them. The most disheartening thing about the series with the Hawks was not that it went seven games, not that the Celtics let Joe Johnson run all over them, or that they were unable to win on the road. The most disheartening thing about that series was that the Celtics showed us no evidence that they have what it takes to pull out close games. When everything's clicking for them and baskets are coming easy, they can blow out anybody. But, when things got a little tougher, they seemed like they didn't know what to do. Those games in Atlanta were all there for us to take, and we didn't. Not once.
Now, you can certainly argue that if LeBron James had made a couple of those layups last night and a couple of possessions had gone differently during the games in Atlanta that the results might have been different all across the board. But, again, this is the playoffs. At this point, we are only concerned with results. Great teams know how to win in close games. This Celtics team, and all of us (their fans), have gotten so used to 20 point blowouts that it seems like none of us know what to think when we see some adversity. Well, it's very possible that the Celtics might not win another game by more than 11 or 12 points for the rest of the postseason. We might not see any more games in which the outcome is already in hand during the third quarter. That's not what playoff basketball is about. Playoff basketball is about close games that go down to the wire. The teams that survive are the teams that are able to pull out close wins even when they aren't at their best. I didn't think that this team could do that before. Last night they showed us that they can. The significance of this cannot be understated.
All of that said, they need to play better in game 2. For starters, the pace of that game was WAY too slow. Doc Rivers talked about this when they interviewed him during the second half, and yet they were never able to speed things up. I am the same guy who said last week that they needed to slow the pace against Atlanta, but things are a little different now that we're dealing with Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Wally Szczerbiak. These guys can't run.
Second, I don't know what was going on at the offensive end last night, but it was ugly. Have you ever seen this team look more out of sync than they did in the second and third quarters? The turnover total was absurd. It goes without saying (but I'll say it anyways) that they need to take better care of the ball and shoot better on the offensive end.
Third, they did a great job on LeBron. Paul Pierce and James Posey were in his face all night, and he got very few clean runs at the basket. This needs to happen all series long. LeBron is going to come harder in game 2, you can bet your life on that, and the Celtics need to be ready.
I will state for the record (and my girlfriend can attest to this) that when Sam Cassell came in to the game in the third quarter I said out loud "You know what, this might actually be good. It's not like the offense is clicking. He can't come in and disrupt our rhythm because we don't have any. Maybe he can just hit some shots and help keep us in this." And, he did. He even hit some three pointers, which I wasn't expecting. Last night showed me, once again, that Cassell could prove valuable to us, particularly in games when our starting 5 aren't in sync on offense. Stay tuned for game 3 in Cleveland, when I will most likely flip-flop on him again and call for him to be benched for the rest of the series.
As my last note on this game, I just want to say that the referees have sucked throughout this entire postseason and last night was no exception. The flagrant foul that they called on Sam Cassell was totally absurd. To watch Rajon Rondo get hammered to the deck from behind TWO GAMES IN A ROW (4 and 5) and not have a foul called in the last series, and then to see a flagrant foul called when Cassell hits LeBron on the shoulder, is incredibly frustrating. Things did improve, and I was pleasantly surprised to the officials calling fouls AND traveling on LeBron. Hopefully this will continue.
The Hornets have made a believer out of me. I can't stop watching this team. The performances that they put on in games 1 and 2 were incredible. David West and Tyson Chandler are both better than I thought. All season long, I've heard people say "yeah, Chris Paul is sick, but remember that he has David West." I've kind of shrugged and said "yeah....but, you know man...." Well, fuck that. David West if legit. This team is for real. Watching Chris Paul run that team gives me an excitement that I've only gotten watching MJ and Kobe. He dominates all facets of the game. He makes his teammates shine. He steps up in every key moment. When you see those fans in New Orleans, who almost lost this team to Oklahoma City, totally pumped for playoff basketball and rocking that arena in their yellow playoff shirts, I don't know how you can think that this guy was not the MVP. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of seeing this team, tune in tomorrow night to see them attempt to take one in San Antonio. I think it's safe to say that I'm riding the Hornets bandwagon in the West. And, I'm pretty sure that David Stern is driving.
First, I would like to apologize to our loyal readers for my absence over the past few weeks. Between now and the end of April is an extremely busy time for me, but I promise that Foil in the Oven will be returning on a weekly basis as soon as the NFL Draft hits. Furthermore, we are planning a whole slew of new features to keep you updated on all NBA playoff, MLB, and NFL pre-season action this spring and summer. In fact, I expect ROOMOFZEN to be operating this May at a higher level than ever before. But, I'm sure you're not here to read about me, so let's get moving....
I can't say enough about the way the Celtics have been playing lately. There are a few key points I want to make here. First, I had the pleasure of attending last Friday night's game against New Orleans, and the atmosphere in the Garden was electric from the moment the teams began warming up. This playoff feel persisted throughout the entire game, even once the victory seemed to be secured. If the crowd can maintain that level of energy throughout the playoffs, I can't see any team coming into Boston and winning more than one game.
Second, I have been particularly impressed by the way our bench has been playing of late. Now, I have been saying this all year long. But, these guys have all taken their game to another level over the past few weeks. The resurgence of Leon Powe has been a great story, and the additions of PJ Brown and Sam Cassell have made this team so deep that I don't see how anybody can beat them over seven games. The Suns and Hornets both played the Celts tough for three quarters last week. But, this team now has the ability to out last anybody.
Third, let's all take a moment to acknowledge what a pleasure it has been to watch Paul Pierce play over the past few months. To see him out from under the huge weight that he used to carry for this team, and playing with such excitement on both ends of the floor has been amazing. This is probably the best we've ever seen from him, particularly on defense. We've always known Pierce was great, but he never got the exposure that he deserved. It's great to see him in the limelight for a change.
Fourth, Sean Grande made a great point on the radio the other night. The Celts could finish the season with an average double digit point margin of victory. There were only three other teams to do that......they were all Chicago Bulls teams that won championships.
Fifth, can we please stop comparing this team to the Patriots? Really, I hear this on WEEI everyday and it drives me insane. First of all, I'm a Giants fan, so let me explain to you that not all Celtics fans are having a bad sports year, and this whole idea makes no sense from the perspective of a non-Patriots fan. First of all, there have been stretches this season when the Celtics have looked very ordinary. There was a Wednesday night loss to Charlotte much earlier this season. There was a Friday night near-loss to Memphis that I attended in person in which Ray Allen only had two points. They have certainly been impressive, but they have gone through rough stretches, and they seem to have come out of it better than ever. Second of all, if I'm not mistaken, the only guys on this team that have won championships before are James Posey and Sam Cassell (please correct me if I'm wrong). This team is primarily composed of hungry players that have never been to the Finals. Finally, people didn't expect this to be a 60+ win team. Even after the Garnett trade, there were skeptics everywhere. I just don't see any parallells with the Patriots aside from the fact that both teams are very good, and I certainly can not come up with any rational reason that the Patriots Super Bowl loss would have any impact whatsoever on the Celtics.
Sixth, and finally, will this team win a championship? I don't know. I'm sticking to what I've been saying for months. This team will be a disappointment if it does not reach the Conference Finals. Clearly, they have the ability to win it all. They have an outstanding starting 5, a deep bench, home-court advantage throughout (not official yet, but they will), and they've beaten every team in the NBA. But, we have to remember three things. One, anything can happen. As impressive as this team has been at the start and end of the season, they went through an equally unimpressive stretch in the middle. Two, most of these guys had never played together before this year. Third, the playoffs brings the intensity to another level. The San Antonio and Detroit that we've seen this year will not be the same San Antonio and Detroit that we see in the post-season. Really, anything can happen once we reach the conference finals. Regardless of whether or not this Celtics team wins it all, I couldn't be more grateful for what has been the most enjoyable NBA season I can remember.
Next order of business: The MVP.
I change my mind every day. The fact that the race is so close says so much about what a great season it has been. Let's run down the list real quick:
1) Chris Paul: I saw him live last week, and the guy is incredible. When the Celtics collapsed on him, he always found the open man. When they didn't, he scored and usually also wound up on the line. He was sending bounce passes through three different people and hitting cutters right in stride. There is literally nothing I can say about why he shouldn't win. Who would have ever thought that the Hornets would be the best team in the West?
2) Kevin Garnett: I've been shying away from this pick lately, mostly because I'm really trying not to be biased. Forget about stats for a second. What this guy has done to the culture in the Celtics locker room has been incredible. He has totally changed the way this team plays defense, and he been the catalyst behind this all-time greatest turnaround. Also, for those people who talk about his stats being down from previous years, just remember that he's playing about 8 minutes less a night than he ever has before.
3) Kobe Bryant: I love to watch him. The guy is one of the all-time greats and the closest thing to Michael Jordan that I've ever seen. Should have been the MVP in 2006. Steve Nash winning over him was a joke. But, for me to cast my imaginary vote for him this year would be a make-up call in my mind.
4) LeBron James: Most people have set this up as a three-horse race. But, I have to throw King James into the mix, and frankly my gut feeling always leads me back to him whenever I throw this around in my mind. Look, the guy has taken his game to another level this year, and I think that he has passed Kobe as the best player in the NBA. He's shooting the ball better than he ever has, he's passing the ball better than he ever has, and he's even picked up his defense (although Kobe still bests him in this area). In previous seasons I have been awed by his athleticism, but also disappointed by the glaring holes in his game. I don't see those holes anymore (although he doesn't post people up. I look for him to develop a back to the basket fade-away like MJ did). He's been a pleasure to watch this year. The Cavs have been decimated by injuries (most notably Varejao, Pavlovic, and Gibson) and their move at the deadline totally changed the makeup at this team. Nevertheless, James has not missed a beat, and as long as he is healthy Cleveland is a serious threat to come out of the East.
THE VERDICT: My gut says LeBron, but my head says that CP3 should take home the hardware.
I want to end this edition of Foil in the Oven by talking about Jose Canseco. I'm sure many of you heard his interview on the Big Show yesterday (which ended abruptly when he hung up the phone). Now, I've always thought of Jose as being a despicable character, but I found this interview intriguing and frankly I don't know what to think about any of this anymore.
This is a day I'll never forget.
- First, the guy obviously has an axe to grind with Major League Baseball. This hurts his credibility, because you get the feeling that he'd do anything to take MLB down. Yet, at the same time, maybe this is just the kind of person that it takes to blow the cover off of this problem. I mean, if we're going to believe that this has been going on for a long time, most people have too much to lose by talking.
- Second, Jose certainly seems to have answers for every question. For example, it seems that he is treating Roger Clemens and Alex Rodriguez totally differently for no other reason than the fact that A-Rod may have slept with his wife. Furthermore, it seems like he has changed his story about Clemens rather abruptly. Yet, in the interview, he has clear sensible answers to account for all of this. He introduced A-Rod to a known steroid dealer, which is something he says he never did for Roger Clemens. And yet, some of his answers seem a little too good. It really feels more like he's trying to sell his book than help the game, how can I trust someone like this?
- Third, Canseco passed three polygraph tests in which he gives all of the information that he's given in both of his books. But, people can beat polygraphs, and I'd have to believe that he has connections to people that can teach him how. And, even if he did pass the polygraphs, the fact that he introduced A-Rod to a known steroid dealer is a far leap from A-Rod actually taking steroids.
- Fourth, this whole back-and-forth with he and Schilling. Now, people are obviously going to take Schilling's side here. But, Canseco made a valid point in the interview. If we are going to assume that this steroid problem was widespread throughout baseball and had been since the eighties, do we really believe what Schilling said before Congress when he said that the problem had been overstated? Doesn't this go against everything he had said before and after? Hasn't he been the most outspoken critic amongst players? But is Canseco any better for ratting people out? I just don't know.
- Fifth, Canseco was on the surreal life, and frankly I have a hard time taking anybody that has ever been on that show seriously (except Ron Jeremy). They all seem like they just float around in some kind of hazy alternate reality (except Ron Jeremy). I couldn't help but get that sense from Jose yesterday. He didn't even seem like he was just trying to sell his book. He seemed like he was trying to sell himself. The whole thing seemed strange, and while he was intriguing he also seemed like he was coming from a different reality than the rest of us (including Ron Jeremy). I don't know what to make of the guy.
- Finally, he was approached by Major League Baseball officials at a book signing this week and asked if he would help Major League Baseball look into these issues. This is interesting because he was basically run out of baseball and they have wanted nothing to do with him throughout this entire process. He says that he was never contacted once throughout the entire Mitchell Report, even though his book was one of the main reasons for the investigation in the first place. Perhaps MLB has decided it had better check out the A-Rod situation now so that they don't have to go through the Barry Bonds situation a second time.
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