Post by slash on Aug 18, 2010 10:21:58 GMT -5
Topsy Turvy Playoffs: By Bill Simmons
The #7 Spurs defeated the #2 Nuggets, then felled the #3 Trailblazers.
The #8 Hornets pummeled the top-ranked Raptors, then swept a listless Bulls squad.
The #6 Bucks ousted #2 76ers in the 2nd Round.
What the hell is going on?!
This has been a topsy-turvy playofffs, ladies and gents, one that has been unlike any other in recent memory.
And now, rumor has it that Shaquille O'Neal will be out for possibly the entire playoffs with a scratched cornea. "It's only a flesh wound," O'neal joked. But it ain't a joke. If you can't see, you can't play. The ruptured blood vessel does make O'Neal look like a zombie. "It's Halloween in May for me! Plus. Chicks dig the bloody eye." His spirits are high, but Lakers fans' hopes might be dashed.
This is a shocking--perhaps exciting time in the playoffs. The only problem is ultimately financial: without the Big Diesel, without Karl Malone chasing immortality, without the roughrider Trailblazers, without Mighty Mouse, Dirk, and high-flying Vince Carter, who is there to cheer for in the playoffs? Who will draw in the crowd?
Granted, the Lakers still tout a young gunner in Kobe Bryant and an aging star in Patrick Ewing (who, like Malone, is ringless), but even this team isn't a given without Shaq.
But there is one hope--one that Christian scriptures says does not disappoint: "Jesus", aka Ray Allen. The star of the film He Got Game has been transcendent, even incandescent. Under Allen's leadership, the Bucks rolled off four straight to oust the 76ers, thereby eliminating one of the Eastern Conference's biggest markets.
Though Allen hails from Milwaukee, he has cultivated quite a following among the East for his otherworldly play. Can Allen be the Messiah for the Wisconsin faithful? Even Brett Favre, the adopted son of the Cheeseheads, is cheering for Allen. Favre, having experienced the taste of a championship, had some sound advice for Allen: "Use everything as fuel, don't rest on your laurels. Trust your teammates and play as you have all year. Don't change a thing."
The increase in attention certainly hasn't gotten to Allen's head. "We've got a strong team, and we're only going to accomplish this together. It's not about any one player," said Allen to a crowd of reporters.
This led teammate Glenn Robinson to quip, "This is what I love about Ray. He won't say its about him cuz he knows it's about me and David (Wesley)."
Back to the topic at hand. It looks like the Bucks should be able to overcome the Hornets, but only if they stay away from Charlotte's three-headed defensive monster: Elden Campbell, Robert Traylor, and Chris Andersen. Although rebirth is gone, he should probably be happy that he backed out of the deal with the Knicks to send Elden for scrubs. Elden has provided a physical brand of defensive basketball that has given the Hornets an identity, and it shows.
Twice, the Hornets held the Raptors to under 70 points in Round 1--and without committing many fouls to boot. They greeted every Vince Carter drive with some forearms, elbows, and shoulders, and this really affected the soft Carter, who will shy away from the rim when challenged. They neutralized Dirk Nowitzki enough that he too would not play inside.
The Bulls were simply overmatched, but the pit bull-like defense was on full display against this squad anyway. In the deciding game Chris Andersen had five blocks--all in the 4th quarter. Timely defense.
The Bucks are primarily a shooting squad, so as long as they can drive and kick the ball out, they should be able to neutralize the effectiveness of Campbell, Andersen, and Robert Traylor.
Out West, even without Shaq, the Lakers should be able to defeat the Spurs. The Spurs are a hardnosed squad, but they simply don't have the talent to take over a game. Tracy McGrady has the makings of a superstar, but he's not there yet. But they'll give the Lakers a run for their money nonetheless. Cuttino Mobley has had some big games this playoffs, and he probably has a few more up his sleeve.
A wildcard here is how Michael Redd can be used. Three point shooting can be a major difference maker in the playoffs, and Redd, though largely ignored by his previous GM, has the talent to turn into a lethal shooter and solid scoring option.
McGrady and Bo Outlaw will most likely be paired off against the dynamic Kobe Bryant, who has shown tremendous versatility. But who will cover Joe Dumars then? The Lakers have more options and experience than the Spurs, so I think the Lakers will ultimately come out the victors in this series. The Lakers and their new rally towels--which I think is a double entendre for Patrick Ewing's profuse sweating. Next giveaway might be a "Rally Mop."
Whether they will win it all is the bigger question. And the Spurs and Hornets, unlikely contenders though they are, could possibly add another upset.
Snippets:
Chris Dudley has expressed interest in entering politics when his career is over. The Knicks reserve graduated from Yale with a degree in political science and economics, and has occasionally been seen reading books while riding the bench for the Knicks. He's a fan favorite in New York for his goofy shot, awkward play, and solid defense and rebounding... When did Ricky Davis learn to play defense? One scout argues that his defensive rating is misleading. "All he does is prey on errant passes. He's a good ball-hawk and adept at knocking the ball away from the carrier, but that's about it. He's pretty uninterested defensively otherwise." ... After their surprise upset, Raptors center Charles Oakley was rather candid about his opinion of young star Vince Carter. "This kid's a diva. He doesn't work out enough. He doesn't handle contact well. he likes to jack up threes. We're lucky he makes a lot of his shots, because this guy hates physicality. You can't be a star and avoid it. It's stupid. He needs to grow up." Oakley has been tough on the Raptors young players, but in general, it is paying off. He has helped Dirk Nowitzki with his offensive game, and Dirk has learned to play tougher in the post... This time next year, the Dallas Mavericks will be a scary, scary team. Wait and see.
The #7 Spurs defeated the #2 Nuggets, then felled the #3 Trailblazers.
The #8 Hornets pummeled the top-ranked Raptors, then swept a listless Bulls squad.
The #6 Bucks ousted #2 76ers in the 2nd Round.
What the hell is going on?!
This has been a topsy-turvy playofffs, ladies and gents, one that has been unlike any other in recent memory.
And now, rumor has it that Shaquille O'Neal will be out for possibly the entire playoffs with a scratched cornea. "It's only a flesh wound," O'neal joked. But it ain't a joke. If you can't see, you can't play. The ruptured blood vessel does make O'Neal look like a zombie. "It's Halloween in May for me! Plus. Chicks dig the bloody eye." His spirits are high, but Lakers fans' hopes might be dashed.
This is a shocking--perhaps exciting time in the playoffs. The only problem is ultimately financial: without the Big Diesel, without Karl Malone chasing immortality, without the roughrider Trailblazers, without Mighty Mouse, Dirk, and high-flying Vince Carter, who is there to cheer for in the playoffs? Who will draw in the crowd?
Granted, the Lakers still tout a young gunner in Kobe Bryant and an aging star in Patrick Ewing (who, like Malone, is ringless), but even this team isn't a given without Shaq.
But there is one hope--one that Christian scriptures says does not disappoint: "Jesus", aka Ray Allen. The star of the film He Got Game has been transcendent, even incandescent. Under Allen's leadership, the Bucks rolled off four straight to oust the 76ers, thereby eliminating one of the Eastern Conference's biggest markets.
Though Allen hails from Milwaukee, he has cultivated quite a following among the East for his otherworldly play. Can Allen be the Messiah for the Wisconsin faithful? Even Brett Favre, the adopted son of the Cheeseheads, is cheering for Allen. Favre, having experienced the taste of a championship, had some sound advice for Allen: "Use everything as fuel, don't rest on your laurels. Trust your teammates and play as you have all year. Don't change a thing."
The increase in attention certainly hasn't gotten to Allen's head. "We've got a strong team, and we're only going to accomplish this together. It's not about any one player," said Allen to a crowd of reporters.
This led teammate Glenn Robinson to quip, "This is what I love about Ray. He won't say its about him cuz he knows it's about me and David (Wesley)."
Back to the topic at hand. It looks like the Bucks should be able to overcome the Hornets, but only if they stay away from Charlotte's three-headed defensive monster: Elden Campbell, Robert Traylor, and Chris Andersen. Although rebirth is gone, he should probably be happy that he backed out of the deal with the Knicks to send Elden for scrubs. Elden has provided a physical brand of defensive basketball that has given the Hornets an identity, and it shows.
Twice, the Hornets held the Raptors to under 70 points in Round 1--and without committing many fouls to boot. They greeted every Vince Carter drive with some forearms, elbows, and shoulders, and this really affected the soft Carter, who will shy away from the rim when challenged. They neutralized Dirk Nowitzki enough that he too would not play inside.
The Bulls were simply overmatched, but the pit bull-like defense was on full display against this squad anyway. In the deciding game Chris Andersen had five blocks--all in the 4th quarter. Timely defense.
The Bucks are primarily a shooting squad, so as long as they can drive and kick the ball out, they should be able to neutralize the effectiveness of Campbell, Andersen, and Robert Traylor.
Out West, even without Shaq, the Lakers should be able to defeat the Spurs. The Spurs are a hardnosed squad, but they simply don't have the talent to take over a game. Tracy McGrady has the makings of a superstar, but he's not there yet. But they'll give the Lakers a run for their money nonetheless. Cuttino Mobley has had some big games this playoffs, and he probably has a few more up his sleeve.
A wildcard here is how Michael Redd can be used. Three point shooting can be a major difference maker in the playoffs, and Redd, though largely ignored by his previous GM, has the talent to turn into a lethal shooter and solid scoring option.
McGrady and Bo Outlaw will most likely be paired off against the dynamic Kobe Bryant, who has shown tremendous versatility. But who will cover Joe Dumars then? The Lakers have more options and experience than the Spurs, so I think the Lakers will ultimately come out the victors in this series. The Lakers and their new rally towels--which I think is a double entendre for Patrick Ewing's profuse sweating. Next giveaway might be a "Rally Mop."
Whether they will win it all is the bigger question. And the Spurs and Hornets, unlikely contenders though they are, could possibly add another upset.
Snippets:
Chris Dudley has expressed interest in entering politics when his career is over. The Knicks reserve graduated from Yale with a degree in political science and economics, and has occasionally been seen reading books while riding the bench for the Knicks. He's a fan favorite in New York for his goofy shot, awkward play, and solid defense and rebounding... When did Ricky Davis learn to play defense? One scout argues that his defensive rating is misleading. "All he does is prey on errant passes. He's a good ball-hawk and adept at knocking the ball away from the carrier, but that's about it. He's pretty uninterested defensively otherwise." ... After their surprise upset, Raptors center Charles Oakley was rather candid about his opinion of young star Vince Carter. "This kid's a diva. He doesn't work out enough. He doesn't handle contact well. he likes to jack up threes. We're lucky he makes a lot of his shots, because this guy hates physicality. You can't be a star and avoid it. It's stupid. He needs to grow up." Oakley has been tough on the Raptors young players, but in general, it is paying off. He has helped Dirk Nowitzki with his offensive game, and Dirk has learned to play tougher in the post... This time next year, the Dallas Mavericks will be a scary, scary team. Wait and see.
