Yeah, I know this is coming a little late, but the length of the Hawks-Celtics series, and the start of Round 2 threw my timing off.
I’m going to go backwards from least compelling matchup, to most compelling.
Los Angeles Lakers defeat Denver Nuggets 4-0
Is this that big a shock to everyone once people started realizing that Regular Season records don’t mean anything? Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasolsimply dominated the Nuggs.
The best quote I heard of the Denver Nuggets, “the Nuggets offense is based on movement, running, and speed. Allan Iverson and Carmelo Anothony are two of the biggest ball stoppersin the game. AI with his constant horizontal dribbling, Anthony with his incessant pump-fakes and iso plays.”
I hate to be an “intangibles” guy, because I don’t believe in it, but the Nuggets came out looking like they knew they couldn’t win these games. Look at what the Hawks did. They had faith in confidence and pushed it to 7-games with the Celtics. I wish there was a study of self-belief and success in sports.
Orlando Magic defeat Toronto Raptors 4-1
When 3 of the 5 games are televised on a channel that the majority of the country can’t watch, you know there isn’t going to be that much interest in the series.
Here’s what I think the impact of this series will have on coming years.
On paper it doesn’t seem like Toronto is as bad as they played. Chris Boshis a skilled player and they have a pretty good backcourt. But for whatever reason, they don’t have a team that plays with a whole bunch of chemistry. There’s two types of chemistry that teams build together. The first category are the “emotional” chemistry guys, who play their guts out together. Look at the Golden State Warriors, or what Philadelphia did. It’s even the reason why some teams can put it together for one series, then fall of the next. Then you have the “professionals”. San Antonio and Cleveland are quintessential examples of that. They go out and get the job done. Period.
By the way, I’d say emotions trumps professionalism, while professionalism is more consistent. The best example is last years Superbowl with the New England Patriots and New York Giants.
Toronto lacks both. Their emotional chemistry is fucked up because of TJ Ford’s incessant bitching, and they aren’t professional enough to get it done on that end either. And Andrei Bargnani sucks. Just had to throw that in.
Utah Jazz defeat Houston Rockets 4-2
If I were a Rockets fan I would be asking, “you’re a professional athlete Tracy McGrady and yet you get winded in the 4th quarter of a game? Either you have a congenital heart disease or you are seriously slacking on the conditioning.” How does an all-star athlete not have good enough conditioning to make it through the 4th quarter of games? I just don’t get it.
Utah’s mechanicalness is what defeats them. It’s the reason why Stockton and Malone never won a championship. Pick-n-rolls are great plays, but basing an ENTIRE offense off it… I just don’t know? I know Jerry Sloan is a Hall of Fame coach, but seriously… give just a little more flexibility and I think you really have something. It’s the reason why the Triangle Offense is so effective, it just flows.
San Antonio Spurs defeat Phoenix Suns 4-1
What a let down for Phoenix fans. Not only are the years of exciting, fan friendly basketball over, but your coach is leaving town, you have to eat the rest of Shaq’s monster contract, you’ll have to watch Steve Nash become a shadow of his former self AND you’ll have at least 5 years of rebuilding (shedding contracts and finding players).
Seriously, is there any promise for Phoenix after this? Is there ANYONE on the roster who will add to the future of your team? Look at the Miami Heat, that’s your new team. Congrats.
Detroit Pistons defeat Philadelphia 76ers 4-2
Philly sure made it interesting in the beginning of this series, eh? But sure enough Detroit proves once again… “they can turn it on and off”. God I hate that. It’s a mockery of sports, and it’s insulting to their fans. Ask any Oakland Raiders fan how they felt when Randy Moss said he only plays when he wants to.
Philly I love, but how are they any different then the Chicago Bulls? Andre Iguodala is nothing more then Luol Deng, and ask any Bulls fan if they think Deng can be the leader of a championship team. If they have a monumental collapse, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. If they somehow put things together even better, then that wouldn’t be surprising either. But if that’s the case, they’ll never make it past the first or second round of the playoffs, EVER.
God, which is worst? Having a team that perpetually teases you with “almost” getting there, or a team that just flat out sucks?
Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Washington Wizards 4-2
This series wasn’t that compelling for basketball reasons at all, but was there any other Round 1 matchup with worse blood than this? This series was pretty fucked up, including everything that the Wizdid to try to fuck with LeBron James. Beautiful work in sports mental warfare.
The Wiz mistake, though, was in their defensive approach. If they would have started Game 1 not playing lazy foul-driven defense, and instead played hard defense which leads to fouls, this series would have been completely different. Not to mention, leaving Gilbert Arenas for the bench the whole time. Jesus he kills their offense. If there was a way to trade him to Denver I would love to see it. That offense would be worse then something out of the 50’s.
New Orleans Hornets defeat Dallas Mavericks 4-1
Wow. Talk about totally underrating the Hornets. Sure, I have the benefit of this moment knowing that they’re up 2-0 on San Antonio, but either way, did anyone know that the Hornets were this good? I’m completely shocked.
The implications for Dallas are shocking as well. A team that last year looked invincible are now heading to rebuilding mode. I honestly never understood Dallas’ success. Besides Dirk Nowitzki, who else is a great player on that team? I completely don’t understand the whole Josh Howardthing either. I have never, once, seen him have a good game. He has never stood out to me in any way whatsoever. I know he gets the job done, but he’s spoken as being top-5 in his position. Of his 5 30+ point games this past season, only once did it come against a good defensive team (Utah), once against a decent team (Washington), and the last three against teams that either don’t give a shit about defense (Denver), one that doesn’t play defense as part of their game plan (Golden State Warriors), and against a flat out shitty team (Los Angeles Clippers).
Not to mention, someone who averages almost 20 points, only had 5 30+ point games in a season? Sure the consistency is nice, but don’t you need someone who can take over a game? Can Josh Howard even do that? I don’t think so.
Boston Celtics defeat Atlanta Hawks 4-3
How does this fall? The Hawks stepped up, or the Celtics played down?
You have to love the highlights of Zaza Pachulia getting in Kevin Garnett’s face, the hardcore boo’ing of Mike Bibby, or even the overall David versus Goliath theme going on.
The games honestly spoke for themselves, and I doubt the Hawks can replicate this next year. They’re such a volatile team, the pinnacle of basketball frustration. One game playing their hearts out, the next looking like scared little children at the TD Banknorth Garden. You have to give it to them at least for making this the most compelling series of round 1, minus the game 7 crapping in their pants.
Round 2 coming up soon…
