The Night Watch
By Coup
Madonna is the baddest senior citizen on the face of the earth. I don’t care what you say you know you would.
New Orleans 101, San Antonio 82
Chris Paul’s performance might have saved someone’s job tonight.
Ok probably not and I’m sure someone is getting a severance package because of the fire extinguisher incident, but damnit if he wasn’t excellent.
I use the word excellent because despite being shackled up in the first half…he controlled the pace of the game. He kept being Chris Paul. San Antonio showed their cards early and gave him the bait. “Shoot, Chris…..shoot the ball. We will let you have 30 just shoot the damn ball.” I think he took one jumper, missed it and didn’t take another one for a while. Instead it was Peja forgetting he was in the playoffs and dropping a smooth 22. It was David West playing the X-Factor role and dominating with 30. He is going to give the Spurs fits. They can’t but Timmy on him because he could get in foul trouble. He’s quicker than Kurt Thomas and he’s everything than Oberto. Tyson Chandler was dangerous on the O-boards and Bonzi Wells gave the ma nice lift. The final 2 minutes need to go on CP3’s personal highlight tape. I’m convinced that he might make Bowen retire after this series.
The Spurs…I was convinced they were winning this game at halftime. They had the lead and Bruce Bowen was their leading scorer. Bowen was so shocked that he looked like he had no clue how to answer the halftime questions. Not that he didn’t sound smart, it just sounded like answers you give at the end of the game aka when he is usually interview. Generally a lead with Bowen as your leading scorer would be a good sign. Except for the fact that Tim Duncan pulled a complete no-show. For all the times I’ve called him the greatest player on the planet, I must call him out for tonight. 5 points and 3 rebounds…can’t do that Tim. When you’re getting outrebounded by Jannero Pargo you’re having a bad night. Phoenix Suns fans are probably vomiting watching the way he played tonight.
Spurs are going to have to make an adjustment and make a decision. I’d be more concerned with locking up David West and Peja. In the Hornets wins over the Spurs, West averages 30. Tonight he got 30…NO won. Also, the Spurs got nothing from their bench. I don’t count Manu as a bench player, he just happens to come off the bench…it makes sense trust me.
I think we’re still in for a beautiful series because the first half was great back and forth basketball. Except for the Hugo incident. I think that was karma. How so? Why on earth would you have your fans stand up and wait for YOUR team to score so they can sit down? I’ve never understood that. You’re supposed to celebrate your team scoring, generally by standing and cheering. I’d understand standing up and screaming until the opposing team scores, but it just seems a bit ass-backwards to me. And it’s karma for just blatantly using Ric Flair’s ‘WHOO’ for Chris Paul even though there is no connection between the two like when BD used it in Charlotte. By the way….that wasn’t worse than what happened in Portland, when some trampoline dunker threw up in his mask and it went all over. Google it.
Detroit 91, Orlando 72 (DET 1-0)
Time to sound like a broken record. Actually screw it, I’m going to have fun with it. The real Pistons showed up on a mission to give out ass-kickings and bubble gum, except they were all out of bubble gum. Told you I was going to have fun with it.
Seriously though, the Pistons did show up and they did everything they needed to do. They locked up Dwight Howard. They beat him up, bullied him, flustered him, whatever you want to call it. Superman was presented what could be his kryptonite. Oh….gosh shoot me. That’s so lame. 12 points, 8 rebounds is what Dwight put up. Those are also the same numbers that Tayshaun Prince put up. Ow.
Even worse…that thumb. I’m not sure how he hurt it on that replay, but if it’s a serious issue Magic fans should just go cry. Get it out of your system now.
They had no one to guard Chauncey who had a smooth 19 and 7. Kudos to Jason Maxiell for knocking down shots. I mean I haven’t given credit to Flip Saunders since 1998 and that’s because I was 11 and didn’t know any better. And I’m not going to give him credit here, instead I’ll give credit to whoever broke McDyess’ nose and gave Maxiell the opportunity to let his confidence grow. His making those jumpers is paramount for the Magic’s success. If he becomes a third guy who can pull Dwight from the bucket…uh-oh.
I think a scary thing for Magic fans to think about is….where is the scoring going to come from. It’s going to be hard for Dwight to get 20 in this series. Hedo and Rashard may be showing their playoff ceilings at around 18 or 20 a piece. One of them is going to have to get 26-28 for the Magic to have a chance at winning. The days of Jameer Nelson scoring 15-19 points are toast. One of those guys has to elevate his offensive game and a Bogans or Evans are going to have to knock down threes for them to have a chance.
It’s funny, all it took was one night for the Pistons to show their dominance. They’ll fall asleep and give the Magic a couple games but they are definitely in control.