Well we are a couple of ballgames into the 2011 NBA Playoffs and I must say that it has been nothing short of outstanding thus far. Especially the slate of games that took place last Saturday and Sunday save for that Atlanta-Orlando game. Each series has played at least 2 games and in some cases 3 games and some questions have been answered and others still linger.
So, the following are my semi-coherent impressions on what has transpired thus far with the help of some indie rock paragraph headings endorsed (not really) by the Red Rocket, Matt Bonner
Now I am ready to start… - Arcade Fire
The team that has impressed me the most so far has been the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant and Westbrook took over in game 1, but it has been the Thunder’s physicality and play on the defensive end that has really impressed me. After a hot start early from the Nuggets the Thunder have made them take tough shots and of course it helps that Denver has a bunch guys willing to settle for jump shots and that’s even without JR Smith playing many minutes. I think OKC is really dangerous out West and can make a run past the Spurs.
Speaking of the Spurs… This Grizzlies match-up is just a nightmare for them. I think they will win the series, but it is going to take a lot of wind out of their sails. The Grizz have shown the potential to pound them in the paint harder than Tony Parker did Brent Barry’s… I’ll keep this PG, but you get the idea. I think this series is going 7 games and that means we get 5 more games of Tony Allen’s shenanigans, which is cool by me.
I am so bored… -Wavves
I have watched all of about 5 minutes of this Magic-Hawks series. From what I have seen in the box scores and what is being bantered about on the ‘net is that Dwight Howard is pretty good, but besides Jameer Nelson the Magic are bad. Plus, it helps that by all accounts Larry Drew has coached a terrible series so far for the Hawks. I love this game, but this series makes me want to watch the 2011 Chicago Cubs.
Angela Surf City… -The Walkmen
Playoff time in LA, which means the Lakers are going for a 3-peat and TNT, hammers us with gratuitous cross-promotion shots of George Lopez sitting courtside. It was a foregone conclusion going into this series was that Chris Paul was going to have a big series vs. the Lakers. The question was would that be enough for the Hornets to win one game. It was, but man were they bad in game 2? The shots the Hornets hit in game 1 were not falling in game 2. Somehow I do not think Aaron “White Panther” Gray will go 5 for 5 again in a game let alone have 5 more field goals. The Hornets played perfect in game 1 and well the Lakers played perfectly disinterested. A positive note for the Lakers was the play of Andrew Bynum in game 2 and the continued solid play of Lamar Odom, but I think this Lakers team could be in trouble.
Dance Anthem of the 80’s -Regina Spektor
I bring up the 80’s because that is what Carmelo Anthony's game 2 performance against Boston has reminded me of. Part shades of Bernard King in his Knick days and part MJ in ’86 at the Garden, Carmelo torched the Celts for 42 & 17 and almost pulled off the impossible: winning a playoff game with a roster that would struggle winning a game at an open gym. Between Amar’e in game 1 and Melo in game 2 it felt like the Knicks should have won a game in Boston. The reason they did not is pretty simple: Doc Rivers. Rivers is just ridiculous with coming up with offensive sets out of timeouts, whether it be a sideline lob or back-“trip”play to setup Ray Allen for a game-winning 3. Rivers is probably the best coach in the NBA out of timeouts and that has been the difference so far.
Walk in the Park… -Beach House
I knew this was a good match up for the Heat and outside of Thad Young’s fun game 1 performance it has been smooth sailing for the Miami Sound Machine as well as the Heat. This Miami team is very intriguing and I can not tell if this team is peaking or just taking advantage of a weak 76ers team. At some point I will have some extended thoughts on the Heat, but this series does not warrant that.
I think ur a Contra… -Vampire Weekend
Jason Kidd looking spry, Dirk’s love for all things Hasselhoff and an amusing Blazers group has made this series fun to watch. All three games have been close and we have seen a variety of players hit some big shots as well as Brandon Roy in tears because of playing time. Good times all around. The one thing that irks me about this series is JJ Barea, reserve Mavs guard, I do not know what it is but I hate Barea and find it difficult to enjoy the Mavs when he is on the floor. Other than that this series has been solid and will almost certainly go 7 games.
Closing Time… -Semisonic (yeah, I know what you are thinking)
Two things that go will with closing are coffee and Derrick Rose. All 3 Bulls-Pacers games have followed the same script with the same result every time. Indiana’s solid collection of role players gut out 45-46 minutes of solid basketball by hustling, making some tough shots and playing some decent defense, but then Derrick Rose swoops in and all that work goes to sh*t. Rose has crushed the hearts of the heartland and probably John Mellencamp as well by his clutch play. Some kudos also has to go out to Kyle Korver, who has knocked down some huge 3’s and jump shots late in the games as well. I am running out of mean things to say about Carlos Boozer by this point so I will just nothing at this point besides once a Duke guy always a Duke guy… I hope the Bulls can wrap this thing up tomorrow to get a nice little rest before the start of the 2nd round because it only gets tougher from here.
Save it for later… -The English Beat
I could go on and on about the NBA playoffs, but I need to get mentally focused for the Arcade Fire show tonight. It should be another fun weekend of games and I will probably have another post up on Monday with some more thoughts.
Till next time... RIP Gerard Smith of TV on the Radio
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