By Paul Gotham
Eastern Conference
Boston vs. Orlando
Party crashers unite when the Celts and Magic take the court. Madison Avenue types will have to wait another year for the Kobe-LeBron finals match-up. Looks like the marionette doll advertising slogan might prove better than the actual characters.
The Magic knocked out the Cavaliers last year. The Celts did the deed this year. Somehow, LeBron becomes a sympathetic character. More on that at a later date.
When it comes to these two teams, it’s about defense, defense and some more defense. When they win, opposing teams score less than 100 points.
Orlando is 8-0 in the playoffs. The Magic swept the Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks to get to this point. Four times the Magic held those opponents to 84 points or less. Orlando’s defense starts inside and fans out. When he stays out of foul trouble, Dwight Howard makes opponents think twice about driving the lane. The staying out of foul trouble is the key. Can the Magic accomplish this against an experienced team?
On offense, the Magic spread the floor and let it fly with a flurry of three-point attempts. When opponents extend their defense, the Magic dump it to Howard in the post.
In their four wins over Cleveland, the Celts held the Cavs to 88 or fewer points. Boston ganged up on LeBron and left the star begging for no more. Boston will have to focus on more weapons in this series.
Intriguing match-ups abound in this series. Jameer Nelson and Rajon Rondo are two of the best young point guards in the league. Can Nelson get hot from outside against Rondo? Can Rondo get in the paint versus Nelson? Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis will play their own version of hide and go seek. The two guards will expend significant energy running off perimeter screens. Paul Pierce and Vince Carter should be an old-school, asphalt, trash-talking throw down. We will see if Kendrick Perkins recovered from the body slam (and subsequent crotch to the face) he received from Shaq. How will the Celts double Howard? Rasheed Wallace (I can’t believe I am going to say this say) has the potential for tipping the series in Boston’s favor. Given Howard’s penchant for emotional outbursts, ‘Sheed might be the one to push Dwight over the limit.
Did I mention Kevin Garnett?
Oh yeah, almost forgot… will the Magic have enough left over to keep Tony Allen in check?
Western Conference
Phoenix vs. Los Angeles
One month ago this series was a wash. But this isn’t April. This is May. Since April, Goran Dragic emerged for the Suns; Channing Frye looks like an NBA player, and the Suns have cohesion. So much so that the Zen Master coach of the Lakers, Phil Jackson, felt a need to try and gain an advantage in the media. The Lakers might need that advantage and more.
Phoenix used the pick and roll to sweep San Antonio. The irony of the previous statement is off the charts. A team out-dueled THE pick and roll artists.
This whole series might come down to the match-up between Steve Nash and Derek Fisher. Saying Nash is a defensive liability conveys a firm grasp of the obvious. Here’s the thing. Is L.A. willing to roll the dice with Fisher and let him take over the game? That’s quite a quandary for the Buddhist one. Fisher has been taking a little more than eight shots per game in the playoffs. Will that number increase?
Remember the Lakers-Rockets series last year? Remember how Shane Battier neutralized Kobe for long stretches? Grant Hill is craftier than Battier. And Hill’s 37-year-old legs have less wear and tear than Kobe’s 31-year-old limbs.
On cannot forget L.A.’s advantage in the paint. Is Andrew Bynum going to continue playing like the tin man? Or is he going to get a heart? Which Amare Stoudmire will we see and for how long? Is Stoudmire going to play like the guy who fouled a three-point shooter (a la George Hill at the end of game 4) for a four-point play? Or is he going to play like the seven-year veteran that he is? Can Frye bother Gasol?
Can the Lakers keep up with Phoenix’s bench?
Got any comments? Post them here.
Is this Tony Allen’s contract year?
If the NBA gave an award for The Least Improved Player of the Year, Rashard Lewis would win.
Early nominee for POTW – the rim that blocked four consecutive free throws from Kendrick Perkins.
Tony Allen has been absolutely huge for the C’s in these playoffs. When I was living in Boston, he occasionally displayed flashes of what we are seeing right now. However he has been injury prone including a couple of ACL tears. All of it seems to have set him back big time – but he is certainly picking the right time to peak.
I hope Kevin Durant took lessons from Steve Nash. Phil Jackson tried the same mental games with Nash and I give Nash for not taking the bait. In fact his response was great. When asked about Jackson comments about Nash traveling, he replied to the effect of, ” I am not sure about it – the best coach in the NBA, Greg Poppovich didn’t have a problem with it. ” Kevin – you are superstar in the making, these are the lessons you need to learn. Pay attention! Professor Nash is teaching.
Safe to say that Orland hasn’t seen a defense like the C’s D, the entire playoffs.
Somebody should tell the Magic that the playoffs have started. Helloooooo … anybody home????
I’m liking this rumored Lebron-to-the-Bulls possibility. Can’t happen soon enough.
Deng! Luol can’t seem to stay healthy 😉
They need more than LeBron to win the chan’ ship.
Yes, but at least they instantly become a Top 4 team in the East … maybe better. Would they be better than, same as, or worse than the current Cavs … if they added Lebron and nobody else??
Haha – yes they would be better than the Cavs for the simple reason that Derrick Rose is better than Mo Williams – wow, do I have a firm grasp of the obvious.
On another note – back to what Smitty was saying about the magic not seeing a defense like the Celtics – I have seen all 16 of the playoff teams play at least once, probably twice. There is not a team that collectively closes out like Boston. Holy Crap! They did an amazing job packing it into the paint and then moving to challenge the outside shots. Don’t know if they can keep it up, but that was a text book performance by Boston.
Right … so I would just be delighted as a Bulls fan to see the team contend for something … ANYTHING … as opposed to struggling to even make the 8th seed and even if we do, it’s one and done. Adding a superstar like Lebron is critical 1st step.
Agree with folk’s sentiments on the Celtics defense. Now, can they keep those old legs moving long enough to win the title??? Plus, Pierce has to be a major offensive weapon like he used to be.
Can we just stop the charade and get on with Celtics vs Lakers??? It’s gonna happen anyway and that’s what everyone is waiting for. It’d be a shame to diminish that series with an injury or two in what are now meaningless conference finals. I say end it now and lets get started today with Celtics v Lakers
Haha – sad but true.
Does Amare Stoudmire feel obligated to make at least three stupid plays per game? Did you see the offensive foul he was called for last night? Running down the court and not looking where he was going – he just plowed into Fisher. I could not help but laugh out loud.
Physically talented, mentally challenged. Good thing for him that he can play hoops.