Sorry for the no posts lately, but I just wrapped up my stay at Jon Gruden’s QB camp. And let me tell you something THAT GUY!!!! I must say it is no bueno for me to sit here on the last Saturday in April and have no NBA action on for the day. However, the 1st round was quite spectacular so at least we got that going for us.This post was interrupted yesterday by my attendance of a matinee of Fast Five, which I must say was quite spectacular.
And with the end of the 1st round we bid adieu to several quality and not so quality teams. So, let’s move on to some random thoughts as we head into the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs.
- Hopefully we have seen the last of Dick Stockton calling games. Look, Dick was once a great NBA announcer, but that was like in 1989. Now he is just a confused old soul that somehow gets stuck with games past his bedtime.
- For as great as Brandon Roy was in the 4th quarter of game 4 for the Blazers I think that somehow while saving that game for Portland ended up losing them the series. The Blazers seemed to rely on Roy being the go-to-guy from that point on instead of LaMarcus Aldridge. I felt that the Blazers played away from their strengths and the fact that Dallas struggled to guard Aldridge virtually all series. To me it just made no sense for the Blazers and I ultimately think it hurt them in the last two games, which were Mavs wins.
- I think it is perfect that the Orlando Magic play in the state of Florida because much like the state of Florida the Magic are very overrated. Sure you have your great big attraction in Dwight Howard (Disney World) and also you have a pretty solid go to option in Jameer Nelson (Miami), but when you surround that with mediocre or past their prime guys (locations) you are going to have problems and that’s no fun for anybody. Sure you can get quality time out of Hedo ( Ft. Myers), Gil Arenas (Ft. Lauderdale), JJ Redick (Key West) and Jason Richardson (Tampa), but overall those pieces (places) only bring so much to the table and do not offer much in the way of excitement. Not to mention any state that has Jacksonville as its most populated city is overrated by default.
- I think a bigger deal could have been made for the Grizzlies beating the Spurs, but after watching that series to me it seems the better team won. The Grizz took away the Spurs biggest weapon by limiting their good looks from beyond the arc and caused a number of uncharacteristic turnovers by the Spurs throughout the series. For the record I now think Lionel Hollins, Grizz coach, is a genius for tanking the last 2 games to draw the Spurs. Plus, Hollins sounds like a mix of Norman Dale and Pete Bell during timeouts, so it is hard not to like him or get up to play for him.
- I own an iPhone (we’re happy for you!!), but I wish Apple would stop airing those damn “Do you own an iPhone” commercials.
- It seems like forever since the Bulls have played, but that is a good thing. It gave them some time to rest and recover. I would say prepare for the Hawks, but that is impossible since Atlanta does not run anything and loves to hoist up 30 foot jumpers at the drop of a hat.
- So, I guess Kobe Bryant’s ankle is ok??
- Heat-Celtics has the potential to be the best 2nd round match-up we have seen in the last 10 years of the playoffs, but it will feel like watching Donald Trump vs. Jay Leno. In that I wish both could lose, but ultimately they will be all over our TV and unfortunately one of these teams will not be going away anytime soon.
- 2nd round predictions:
o Thunder over Grizzlies in 6 games
o Lakers over Mavs in 5 games
o Bulls over Hawks in 5 games
o Heat over Celtics in 7 games
This was real short and I hope I carve out a block of time for some extended thoughts in the upcoming week. As fun as it was to have on 3 games a night I am actually glad that the playoff schedule will be back to normal and all four of these series’ should be pretty entertaining.
Till next time…
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