Still warming up
So where was that great NBA playoffs we all were talking about and expecting?
As everyone packed up and headed for new destinations after everyone finished two games Wednesday night, there were seven series at 2-0 and an eighth, the Pistons and 76ers at 1-1, and you know the 76ers have no chance unless ‘Sheed spends the weekend at Pat’s eating cheesesteaks and asking for extra cheese. Anyone who’s been to Pat’s-and if you’ve been to Philly you have been to Pat’s-knows if you want extra cheese they yell at you, and you know how sensitive ‘Sheed can be.
Though I disgress.
The first round is supposed to be like this. The best playoff teams play the worst playoff teams, and the best are supposed to win. Oh, sure, sometimes George Karl gets so nervous he can’t go to the bathroom and his teams end up stinking. And, of course, Tracy McGrady gets to go home quickly since his travel agent says he gets the best fares in early May.
Poor McGrady. We keep picking on him. Yes, Yao and Rafer Alston are out, so the Jazz is better and should win. Though you hate to hear McGrady saying he was gassed at the end of Game 2 (zero for seven shooting in the fourth quarters of Games 1 and 2) and had nothing left.
He probably was tired. The Jazz did what all smart teams do in the playoffs. You take the ball out of the hands of the No. 1 option or ballhandler (if you can, Dallas) by pressuring and doubling him. But if you are the star, even if you are tired, and especially if you are McGrady, who is a nice young man who has a reputation around the NBA as somewhat less forceful than General Patton, then perhaps you don’t readily admit how exhausted you were after your team lost again and you appeared headed out of the playoffs in the first round for the seventh consecutive time. Yes, you usually were the underdog, but at least fake it. You know, like a presidential candidate.
Here’s the issue with McGrady. He has star talent, but he doesn’t want to be a star, or, at least, the star. He is more comfortable being the No. 2 guy, deferring to someone like Yao. As we like to say in the NBA now, he is who he is and it is what it is.
And, by the way, while I’m rambling, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gets my coveted Coach of the First Two Playoff Games award. Popovich was terrific in setting his team up to attack every Suns weakness, exploiting Steve Nash on defense, which really is no great innovation. But also mixing up his screens at different angles, doing just enough subtle things to win a possession or two, enough in Game 1 to draw up that brilliant Tim Duncan three. Who’d have thought of that. Hopefully, not Popovich.
I admit, intentionally fouling Shaq helped in Game 1 when the Suns took Shaq out, then had to double Duncan and Michael Finley got open for some big threes. But I hate seeing someone as good as Popovich resort to that. Nellie, OK. He likes to mess with the game. Though Phil Jackson pretty much invented the hack-a-Shaq with his three headed center monster (well, maybe not quite monster) of Luc Longley, Bill Wennington and John Salley. OK, Dennis Rodman was in there somewhere.
But that’s not manning up. Play defense! Fouling like that is not part of the game. Yes, yes, just make the free throws and they’ll stop. It’s just not basketball, though. The game should transcend any tactic within any particular game.
So, what else?
That Kobe guy. He’s not Michael, but he sure is close. Closer than anyone’s ever been. That 49-pointer was terrific Wednesday night (did the net even rustle on most of those shots), though the Nuggets certainly win the award for the playoffs’ most undisciplined team.
If only Karl hadn’t retired before the playoffs.
What, he’s there?
You can tell Karl has given up. Karl is a fiery guy, a good coach and one who appreciates ball movement and fundamental play even if he never cared much for defense. He once wrote a book titled, “This Game’s the Best. So why don’t they quit screwing with it?”
It sounds like it’s the story of his Nuggets.
No one passes to anyone. The shots are crazy, almost like an old Seinfeld show of trying to do the opposite every time. Karl sits there with a perplexed look on his face. They seem to have overdosed him on drugs to just get him through the games with these players. And, yes, this will be Carmelo Anthony’s fifth straight first round exit as he makes a run at Tracy McGrady and is now a Pau-like 3-18 in playoff games in his career.
Bryant’s the best player in the playoffs. The best player in these playoffs has been Chris Paul. Sorry, Dwight Howard is playing against Rasho Nesterovic. Well, at least some of the time. Paul’s play against the Mavericks has been the individual story of the first week, though it also has Deron Williams now officially replacing David West as the most underrated player. West gets mentioned as underrated so often now I think he may be overrated.
Williams, who generally outplays Paul every time they go head to head, or head fake to head fake, is quietly carrying the Jazz through the Rockets. Paul’s play has been special, especially doing it against Jason Kidd. One general manager told me he believes Paul is now a top five overall player and first team all-NBA. I responded, Duh.
So we get to see what the kids now do on the road, the Hornets in Dallas where they’ve lost just about every game since Truck Robinson’s last charge. The same with the Orlando Magic, who have been good on the road this season. Yes, Howard has been fabulous with his perfect vision games—yes, 20/20’s. But the difference has been Jameer Nelson, averaging more than 20 points. If that keeps up, the Raptors are extinct. Sorry, you deserve better clichés than that.
The Cavs have not been a particularly good on the road, or particularly good anywhere other than LeBron James. Washington’s problem is Gilbert Arenas. He’s back with plenty of excuses: Coming off surgery, wrist sprain, his mouse is stuck and his blog is slow. You have to take a look at Arenas. But he takes away from the defensive edge and team play that has Washington surprising all season. I thought the Wizards could win the series. But you begin to wonder the overall effect Arenas’ act is having on his teammates.
I also am not counting out the Suns yet. I expect Mike D’Antoni to come out for his pregame media session before Game 3 in a coffin and sit up and say, “We ain’t dead yet.”
The Suns have been a resilient team through major playoff disappointments and the NBA taking the Spurs series away from them last season. They should have won Game 1 and got on CBA rules would have won two points for quarters in Game 2. Yes, Tony Parker overran Steve Nash. But Shaq has been good and the Suns won’t give up.
And, of yeah, the Celtics still look like the best team.
But we’ve had just two games. Is that all?
Len White Said,
April 24, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
To expand on Gilbert Arenas. He grew up BEING the offense and it seems, he never learned to work WITHIN an offensive scheme. Too bad because the Wizards really worked their butts off to get to this point. Unless he understands this situation and lets the offense come to him, the Wizards are doomed.
Dj Akura-C Said,
April 24, 2008 @ 9:13 pm
Great article/blog.
“I expect Mike D’Antoni to come out for his pregame media session before Game 3 in a coffin and sit up and say, “We ain’t dead yet.””
Funniest line of the this year’s playoffs by far!!
Zane Said,
April 24, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
I’m tired of all these analysts saying that the Suns/Wiz/Raps/Mavs are done. Being 2 down coming back HOME is what you would EXPECT! You can’t count out any of these teams being on the road then coming back home, I still expect all of these series to go 7 games…
Popp needs to stop going to the Hack-a-Shaq. I know its within the rules and all that but its just plain bad for the game, and may wreck a great series to watch…
enrique Said,
April 24, 2008 @ 11:29 pm
Man did you see kobe, what about the ally oop from luke to odomn the end of the 4th quarter…….smells like showtime.
Lakers vs Celtics FINALS
jeff Said,
April 24, 2008 @ 11:51 pm
Zane is correct. I expect the Suns, Mavs, and Wizards to all knot their series in game 4.
Melvin Said,
April 25, 2008 @ 8:05 am
and man the raptorS is not going to pass the first round either
http://basketballnonsense.blogspot.com/2008/04/forget-about-raptors-this-playoff.html
John Said,
April 25, 2008 @ 8:31 am
Nice to see the pen is still swinging-
What’s wrong with Shaq? Yikes, its like he’s taking the same stuff as Karl.
al Said,
April 25, 2008 @ 11:26 am
The NBA took the Spurs series from the Suns last year?
I thought the Suns broke clearly defined game rules that put THEMSELVES in an unfavorable position. Then the Suns cried to the League to have them bend the rules for their benefit.
I guess the league could change the rules, but it seems like a fair and straight forward one.
Zane Said,
April 25, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
Lakers have some serious chemistry going on right now… they are going to be tough to stop
rc Said,
April 26, 2008 @ 12:28 am
by the way.. suns are down 3-0.. and last time I checked, rockets got 1 from utah.. philly leads 2-1.. lolz
Ishmael Said,
April 26, 2008 @ 11:49 am
That George Karl joke sounds like a prostate cancer joke, and if so, it’s tasteless.
Mike D'Antoni Said,
April 26, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
Zzzzzzzzz……
When do the playoffs start?
Oh crap!! What?
Max S from Missouri Said,
April 27, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
Wow…. Did Sam “I can’t write two lines about a team Shaq is on without tearing into the diesel” Smith just write that Shaq has been good?
I’m absolutely flabbergasted, but thrilled to hear an honest opinion from a man (while amongst the top of the people in his profession) who seems to inexplicabley have a personal grudge against Mr. O’Neal.
In full disclosure, I am a life long Shaq fan and have done everything I could to watch the man perform since 1993, while living in the NBA wasteland know as Missouri. I’ve followed his every move/stat/quirky quote. But this has left me baffled….
Why do you have something positive to say about Shaq now? I’m not unhappy, but still in shock! You must just be more open to reality now that you are employed on neutral ground
Regardless of if I’m agreeing with you or if you are making me feel the urge to put my fist through the monitor, I’m going to continue to read your columns because they are interesting and you seem to be pretty intelligent (except when you’re dissing Shaq, haha).
Keep up the good work, Sam!
Anyway we could find out about the juicy details of your departune from the Trib though?
Max S from Missouri Said,
April 27, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
Oh, one more quick comment…..
That ridiculous loophole in the rules that allows for the “hack-a-shaq” and the flopping problem in the NBA…..any chance either of those basketball atrocities is addressed before the Diesel’s contract is up in 2010?
al Said,
April 28, 2008 @ 9:12 am
I enjoyed the playoffs all weekend.
However, if I ever see another Dwyane Wade commericial, it will be far too soon.
Omar Aberilla Said,
April 29, 2008 @ 2:16 am
I know you all don’t like hearing this, but Garnett is not and was never a pressure player. He aint’ clutch. He’s a defensive stud alright, but at the end of the day basketball is still about whose team makes more shots especially in the endgame.
You know what they say about the loudest people usually being the weakest. That’s what’s behind that scowl and trash talking that Garnett usually exhibits. Because inside of him, he’s afraid of taking responsibility of making or even attempting the shots that truly matter. Then again, it’s not just about him. However, there’s not one player you can rely on from that Celtics squad who’s capable of taking over games except maybe for Paul Pierce. There’s a difference between merely filling out the stat sheet from that of making an impact or being the catalyst down the stretch in close games.
The Hawks not only tied the series, but they seem poised to win it. It would have to be the first surprise to evolve from this year’s playoffs and a grand one at that. I hope I’m wrong though because the reemergence of the Celtics winning tradition is great for basketball. A first round disaster would definitely overshadow what had been an unbelievable regular season. This version of the Celtic big three are all Mchale’s and Parish’s, no Larry Bird’s.
P Lewis James Said,
April 29, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
About these NBA playoffs. The eventual champion will once again come from the western conference. (no Lebron) not this year either! The Boston Celtics had the best record in the East with sixty plus wins.I ask,how many wins would they have had in the west! David Stern take note! The league is flawed when a team with thirty-nine wins (Atlanta) is in the playoffs and Golden State who won forty-eight is sitting at home! Mr. Stern you must address this. Take the best sixteen teams into the playoffs irregardless of conference. This will result in a true champion and reduce the possibilty of first round upsets. And finally to all you giddy fans have you ever asked yourself why professional players struggle on the road, and play so much better at home? And why the so called superstars are allowed to flaunt the rules of the game ;palming violations, traveling, and phanthom fouls.
After all, who are we going to believe, the NBA or our lying eyes.
Zane Said,
April 30, 2008 @ 8:32 am
WIZARDS OUGHTA SHUT THE F**K UP!!!!
They got 3 all-stars versus 1 and Lebron is just killing them and still they can’t learn to shut up! Haywoods taunts p*****d me off big time, him and Stevenson should go get some game before they talk that sh*t.
LBJ just torched you in your own house so shut up. Every time you trash him he torches you - shut up. You’re about to get taken out of the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row by LBJ, so shut the f**k up!
They’re commiting flagrants and pushing him in mid-air which could cause a horrific injury - this team is a bunch of low-life, dirty punks with no game to back up a bunch of big mouths…..
GO HOME WIZARDS YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING IN THE PLAYOFFS
Mp3 Players Music Notes Songs Said,
June 18, 2008 @ 12:11 am
Mp3 Players Music Notes Songs…
I didn’t agree with you first, but last paragraph makes sense for me…