Boston 99, Atlanta 89
Sam Cassell is the freakin’ man. 20 points on the night, 14 of those coming in the 4th quarter, including scoring 9 of the C’s last 11 points. His swagger is absolutely nuts and just by being out there he makes the C’s 10 times better. This is the backup point guard people. Just unbelievable. He had a stretch where he made three jumpers in a row late in the 4th to extend the lead. The first was a two-pointer with a mini ‘Big Balls’ dance as he entered the huddle for he timeout. The last was a three ball in which he turned around, did the Big Balls dance and ended it with an old-school, DX, ‘suck it’ crotch chop. Probably the most unreal/badass thing I’ve seen in a while.
Bad news for the rest of the conference: Boston’s second unit is playing well and gaining confidence. The entire fourth quarter the C’s went with Cassell, Tony Allen, Posey, PJ Brown and Big Baby. They outscored the Hawks 25-15 and held the Hawks to about 7 minutes without a bucket. I’m not sure about you but that cannot be a confidence builder at all for the Hawks when they are getting shut down by a second unit.
Boston pretty much sent the message that the Mavs should have sent to the Warriors late last year. There is almost zero chance that the Hawks could walk out of tonight thinking they can actually beat the Celtics. They looked pretty deflated at the end of the that one.
It was weird to actually see people in the stands, hear crowd noise and watch a meaningful game in Atlanta in April. I did not know it was legal to make noise at a Hawks game.
Speaking of Atlanta…they really intrigue me. They have everything you could possibly want yet they seem to constantly underachieve. Maybe it is the youth or them just needing to mesh, but what are they missing (besides a bench)? They’ve got a PG (Bibby), they have wing scorers (Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams), they have a legit big man (Horford) and a guy who can do a little bit of everything (Josh Smith). How are they not better then the Sixers. Coaching. Yeah that’s it. For some reason when I watch this team I get a bit of that same feeling I had when I was watching the old Clippers team that had Brand, Odom, D-Miles, Richardson and Maggette and just scratching my head as to why they were always so much better in video games than in real life.
Back to Horford…he has been the utility man especially tonight in the third and fourth quarter. He was grabbing offensive rebounds and was involved with almost everything. His emotion and activity was quite impressive until that 7 minute lull where the Hawks died. I truly believe he is the ROY people, I’m sorry I’ll take the guy getting double-doubles in his first year going to the playoffs over the guy getting 22 points on 20 shots and losing by 20.
At the end of the day..I could watch a Boston/Atlanta series. Just wanted to throw that out there.
Portland 108, Dallas 105
Lost in the shuffle of the Wild Wild West has been this Blazer teams. Yes they faded from the playoff race as expected…but dang let me just tell you this has been a fun team to watch. I would be lying if I said this was the most fun I have had as a Blazer fan, but darnit I would not be lying that much. We swept Dallas at home, which to the majority of people may not be a big deal but it just one of those things us Blazer fans can check off of our mental checklists and look forward to a future that includes a certain big man, a certain Spaniard and a certain lottery pick. That’s always fun.
B-Roy had himself a game tonight….9/14, 23 points and 6 assists. I wish more people had the opportunity to recognize how well he is playing. Credit to LMA down the stretch tonight, he made some big plays. When Dallas made their run he got to the line and found ways to score, and his block on Terry was huge. All in all just a night that makes you sad there is only two more Blazer games but gets you excited for the future.
Come on now, bear with me it’s been a while since I’ve shown my boys some love.
Utah 124, Denver 97
Well…things just got a little more interesting.
You had to see this coming. The combination of Denver’s big win on Thursday, plus their abysmal road record and Utah’s dominance at home spelled doom for the Nuggets. I will credit Denver for taking Utah’s big punch (40-25 at the end of the first) and responding but cutting the lead to 3 at halftime. I wouldn’t put much money on Denver having heart like that…but they proved me wrong.
Utah as usual is unstoppable in Salt Lake. I know Coup laughed me off when I said this last year, but I just always feel like the Jazz are going to win in that building. Dating all the way back to Mark Eaton and just through the 90’s the Jazz have just been so tough to beat at home it is ridiculous. Whoever their first round opponent ends up being has a tough task, an even tougher task if Mehmet Okur keeps this up. I do think if a team can steal one in Salt Lake that the Jazz are toast because their road record is pretty stankonia.
Back to the battle for 8th…Denver and Golden State are currently tied with two games left in the season. The Warriors either need to win out and watch Denver lose one or win one and watch Denver lose two. Melo’s crew finishes up with two games at home, vs. Houston and vs. Memphis. If I was a betting man (I’m not) I would keep my money on Denver taking that #8 spot. It just leans in their favor. The key comes down to if the Nuggets can beat the Rockets, because we all know they are going to beat the Grizzlies. Denver is a completely different team at home than they are on the road, so they have that going in their favor. Even if Denver loses to Houston I feel that at home, with everything on the line this team wouldn’t lay an egg against the horrible Grizzlies. Plus I just don’t think the Warriors can win in Phoenix.
Golden State 122, Clippers 116
Speaking of the Warriors they are completely lucking out because of the dire straits Western Conference teams find themselves in. Any ‘normal’ season and the Warriors would probably me poop out of luck because the Rockets would rest their guys against Denver. However with seeding and division titles on the line, Houston will more than likely take a business as usual approach. And just as it works in their favor, it works against them as they have to travel to Phoenix. You have to love the West.
You know Golden State plays no D when Smush Parker found a way to throw 9 assists. I forgot the guy played basketball to be honest with you. Is Elton Brand’s beastiness an underrated story? I mean the guy tore his Achilles’, machined his way back before the season and looks like the same guy. I feel like he should get more respect that’s all.
Sacramento 97, New Orleans 94
I’m not going to lie to you people I’m happy the Kings won this game. I’m sorry but the Hornets just would have been one of the worst #1 seeds of all time. My kids would have been flipping their NBA Encyclopedia and scratching their heads at how New Orleans was a #1 seed in the West. I just feel it would have tainted how great this season has been that’s all.
Chris Paul: 14 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 6 steals. He stuffs box scores like it is nothing. And yes I was totally about to use a Santa Claus reference but thought it would be too ridiculous.
What is almost as amazing as CP-3’s play is the fact that John Salmons played a good game and Ron Artest wasn’t hurt. Unbelievable, it makes me feel better at night knowing that is possible. Because seriously, people we were on the verge of the sabotage of a career if this Artest/Salmons dynamic had continued. Maybe Ronny threatened John’s life, who knows.
Charlotte 107, Indiana 103
Poor Pacer fans. They had to have been ecstatic after last night’s win in Philly.
You can’t blame them, they had just beaten the Hawks, beat the Sixers and were now about to gain ground because the Hawks were playing the best team in the league and they were getting the Bobcats at home.
Except they didn’t beat the Bobcats at home. No matter how hard the Bobcats tried to give it to them at the end they just could not get it done.
So can we come to a consensus and feel bad for Pacer fans for their horrific fall from grace or just tell them they have to go through this for making the playoffs all those years. Because that’s what people told Blazer fans. And no I’m not bitter at all.
Danny Granger is nice though. It’s just too bad that with 1:30 left in the game and Earl Boykins somehow guarding him, he ends up settling for a three. Can’t argue with 37 points though.
Pacers simply did not deserve to win and it showed when Granger, the guy having the career night ends up taking only 3 shots in the final 3:38. To put that in perspective, Marquis Daniels shot 2 in that same time span.
Worry not Pacer fans…Fan Appreciation Night is this Wednesday as you get the privilege to watch the New York Knicks.
Now that’s just cruel.
Washington 109, Philly 93
Washington is definitely that playoff team that is starting to click at the right time. It would be silly to say they can make it to the Conference Finals or anything like that, but do not sleep on them getting past Cleveland. I like a Washington team getting healthy at the right time with three bonafide superstars over a Cleveland team that is getting carried by LeBron. By the way, Agent Zero pretty much might as well have sent a basket full of muffins to The Q with a message that said ‘I’m back, let’s have some fun next week’. 20 points on the night, more importantly 12 of those coming in the fourth quarter. That’s Gilbert Arenas right there. I like how Eddie Jordan is using Gilbert. Too many times in the NBA (or just basketball in general) do we see a starter just rushed back into the starting lineup after coming off an injury. Washington is now not only keeping their chemistry from this year, but also allowing Gilbert to come in and gel with guys and give them a spark off the bench.
I know neither of them will get much publicity but both Eddie Jordan and Maurice Cheeks have done excellent jobs coaching their respective squads this year. Nothing but props to Jordan for taking the hits of Caron and Gilbert’s injuries and not only making it work, but guiding this team to the #5 spot in the East. Same props go to Mo for taking this Sixers team that everyone pretty much pooped on and sneaking them in the playoffs. It’s too bad because I have a feeling people are going to give the credit to Stefanski for not making any moves.
Also, Wizards physicians might want to give Antawn Jamison a physical after what Iggy did to him. *shudder*
Minnesota 114, Memphis 105
New Jersey 111, Milwaukee 98
Just meaningless games. Kirk Snyder had 22 points for Minnesota in the win. Kwame Brown’s career has fallen so far that Andre Brown gets the nod to start over him when Darko went out. So can we have the argument…whose the worse #1 pick of all time? Kwame or Olowokandi? It is one of those two hands down. Good to see Brewer and Conley show those flashes we all talked about over the summer.
All that needs to be said about the Milwaukee game is that Dan Gadzuric started and Jake Voshkuhl played 17 minutes.
Yeah.