Ray Allen plays again like he did today and you may get your wish. He was totally uninspired. Great PG matchup in this one with Rose and Rondo giving each other some business. Rondo didn't have a single turnover until a crucial moment in the OT. Too bad.Originally Posted by TeamSelig
When all is said and done more is said than done.
Whats up with these games on TV? It said NBA basketball on ESPN earlier but it was showing some Madden tournament (who would want to watch people play Xbox on tv?)
Well, Dallas and Houston answered the bell--and then some.
The Maverick bench, led by Jose Barea, who looks like he should be delivering your paper, did their job.
If you are Popovich, do you consider starting Bowen to help lock down Josh Howard early?
I think you have to consider it. That way, Finley will help the second unit actually put points on the board.
As for Portland, you cannot just chalk it up to lack of experience. The Blazers weren't even able to exploit their supposed bench advantage.
Still, as tough as the West is, imagine how tough it would be with a healthy Ginobili, McGrady and Tyson Chandler.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...red_issue.html
Tony Parker has been telling his friends he's been feeling tired lately, and Saturday night he told J.J. Barea.
“I could tell by looking at him,” the Mavericks' backup point guard said.
Head down, hands on hips. The same Parker who had been shredding the league — especially these Mavericks — looked precisely like someone who has been asked to do too much.
When?
He could have used his own Barea.
The Spurs have been looking for help for Parker since 2003, when Speedy Claxton left. They've gone through several candidates, using two first-round picks along the way, and George Hill was supposed to be that as recently as March.
But he was a DNP again Saturday as Roger Mason Jr. again played out of position. When the Spurs stalled, Parker would come back in, dribbling and sprinting for over 41 minutes.
That's just part of the equation that finds the Spurs starting another postseason with a loss. They've come back to win titles from 0-1, but this isn't the same team.
The defense, for one, isn't the same. The Mavericks went for 60 points in the second half. So it didn't matter that the Spurs threw in 11 of their first 12 3-pointers, or that Tim Duncan's bank shot was going. There were flaws, bigger than anything they had in 2003, 2005 or 2007, and Matt Bonner chasing Dirk Nowitzki was one.
Another flaw has seemingly been around forever, and that's the backup point position. Especially now, without Manu Ginobili around, Parker has been asked to create most of what the Spurs do.
At times he has, which is why the Spurs think he deserves MVP votes. Barea has been impressed, too.
“I'm a big fan,” he said.
The kid said this Saturday night between two large teammates, looking like, well, a kid. The Mavericks list him at six feet, but he appears closer to 5-foot-10.
That's a reason he wasn't drafted. But Avery Johnson always saw something in Barea when no one else did. Johnson always saw himself.
Little, tough, with an edge — couldn't J.J. become another AJ with time?
The Spurs have been known for doing this at other positions, and perhaps Hill eventually develops. Barea, after all, is in his third season.
Still, it doesn't matter if the coaching staff is spot on when it comes to evaluating Hill's current status. This is true today: The Mavericks have the kind of player the Spurs have failed to develop.
What Barea did Saturday was no fluke. He's had four fourth quarters this season of at least 10 points, and he's responsible for at least four wins.
Or, he kept the Mavericks out of the eighth seed.
The Spurs getting only 14 points from their bench on Saturday was no fluke, either. In March, in Dallas, they got seven.
So there was Parker, feeling fresh, speeding into the lane to lead the Spurs to an early 13-point lead. And here came Barea off the bench, having scored only eight points in his playoff career before Saturday night, adding 13.
Parker's stats appeared far more impressive, with 24 points and eight assists. But he also had five turnovers, sometimes out of exhaustion, sometimes when running into Barea.
The number that defined Barea: When he was on the floor, the Mavericks had a 19-point advantage.
Brandon Bass would have the game's second highest plus-minus number, but the Dallas subs didn't do this alone. Josh Howard put in 25 points in less than 30 minutes.
Still, nothing changed the game more than when Barea bothered Parker. He made Parker play defense, and he made AJ look like a genius, and he made the Spurs wonder.
Shouldn't they have found someone like this by now?
I think that Houston is the one team that can give the Lakers some problems. They have size in Yao, two guys that can hound Kobe, and they are getting solid PG play from Brooks.
Variatio delectat - Cicero
Wow! Iggy just hit a tough shot to put the Sixers up 2 over Orlando with 2.2 seconds remaining.
I don't expect Philly or Chicago to win their series, however, the thought of a Philly Chicago 2nd round matchup is certainly a possiblity. I think the Magic are overrated, and the Celtics without KG are way vulnerable.
I agree that both Orlando and Boston should win their first round series, but they are both vulnerable. Orlando relies so heavily on their outside shooting, that if they go cold they are a very beatable squad as they are not a great defensive team. As for Boston, they should be able to handle the Bulls with or without KG. They have been playing some selfish basketball lately and it has biten them. Also, Pierce and Allen need to live up to the hype of being part of the "Big Three" and lead the team in the absence of KG...not sure if it is possible, but they should handle the Bulls. The Bulls are a year or two away from being the Cavaliers prime rival for supremacy in the East
What a come back by the Sixers being down by 18 points!
gosixers2
Here is the XM Radio NBA schedule if needed.
http://www.xmradio.com/schedule/spor...sub_cat_id=190
Last edited by goreds2; 04-20-2009 at 04:11 AM.
* Attended the 1990 and 2010 Reds Division clinchers *
Go 76ers, Go Steelers and Go Bucks
very impressed with Derrick Rose, he was unstoppable and the coaching was excellent for CHicago, in the OT they went to Thomas and Gordan while the Celtics doubled Rose, great job.
Congratulations to Cleveland Head Coach Mike Brown for winning the Coach of the Year award...very deserving
55 first place votes, wow! next closest was Nate McMillan with 15
Last edited by MasonBuzz3; 04-20-2009 at 01:42 PM.
I wonder how many times the COY also had the league MVP on his team.
Well it really doesn't apply this year since Phil Jackson didn't win COY.
"I know a lot about the law and various other lawyerings."
Hitters who avoid outs are the funnest.
Ha..ha
Right...but seriously
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