Playoff Around The Rim: April 26
ESPN.com
The key to the Knicks-Raptors series? It might not be Vince Carter recovering from his brutal 3-for-20 shooting in Game 1. It might not be Patrick Ewing asserting himself more and owning the boards. And it certainly isn't the silly lawsuit that Butch Carter filed and then pulled back on Marcus Camby.
The key could be the shortest guy on the court.
Perhaps horrified by the quick and off-line shot that Doug Christie fired late in Game 1, Muggsy Bogues will start at the point for the Raps on Wednesday night. No player in NBA history is as short as Bogues. But obviously Butch Carter feels this is a move that has to be made now to change the series. During the regular season, Muggsy played in 80 games, but started only five times. His assist-turnover ratio is among the best in history, and it was better than 5-to-1 this season.
"When Muggsy was starting, we got off to great starts," coach Carter said. "Muggsy is a small guy, It's hard to press him It's hard to take the ball away from him, and we're also playing a team that doesn't have a post-up point guard."
Sure enough, the Knicks seemingly had the Raps dead and buried a few minutes into Game 1, before the young guys came back and almost won it. The Knicks had a 19-point lead in that first quarter, and what Carter says about the Knicks' point guards is correct. Muggsy would've started a lot more games if the Raps weren't worried about him being schooled on defense by taller guys. Charlie Ward and Chris Childs aren't much of a threat.
Meanwhile, you'd think from reading comments from Knicks coach Jeff Van Grumpy, um, Van Gundy, that the Knicks were down 1-0. After New York's practice on Tuesday, Van Gundy had some cross words for his team. The full story can be seen here.
We all know that the Wolves have been to the playoffs four straight years now. In the first three series, they lost Game 1. In the last two Game 2s, however, they came up big. Remember, the Wolves won in San Antonio in Game 2 last season.
Hard to believe that the Spurs can hold a team to 70 points without Tim Duncan, but when Duncan's replacement blocks eight shots (nice work, Samaki Walker) it erases other mistakes.
You may not realize it because nobody has written much about it (the Philadelphia Inquirer mentioned it in passing), but point guard Eric Snow suffered a chip fracture in his right ankle in the Game 2 loss to Charlotte. He's expected to play on Friday. Good thing there's so much time between games. You won't hear Larry Brown complaining. By the way, isn't it odd that none of the coaches with injured players (Spurs, Heat, Suns) are whining about the drawn-out series anymore?
Anyone think the Sonics had a false sense of security going into the Jazz series because they won in Sacramento to cement the No. 7 seed the final week of the season? Insiders say that the Sonics are imploding right before our eyes. Paul Westphal was believed to be very much on the hot seat early in the season if Seattle didn't succeed. However, the team had a great start. Could Westphal be in trouble if the Sonics don't take a game from the Jazz?
Game of the night: Raptors at Knicks
The Knicks won Game 1, but it feels like the Raptors have the momentum because they made the big comeback. We don't put a whole lot of weight in home court in this series. Even if the Raptors take Game 2, look for the proceedings to last until Game 5. These teams really are that evenly matched. By the way, can TNT avoid discussing this lawsuit? It has nothing to do with the games. Didn't think so.
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VIEW FROM THE FANS
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I don't know what Jazz fans Frank Hughes has been talking to, but
I think that he is mistaken (Tuesday's Around The Rim). The Jazz are now in true playoff form
and show more than just flashes of the team that went to the
NBA finals two staight years. When the Jazz are playing their
best basketball, they can beat anyone in the NBA (including
the Lakers and the Blazers).
Brandon Patterson
Salt Lake City
Don't count the Spurs out just yet. After their performance in Game 2, they can probably compete with just about anyone. Never underestimate someone with championship experience.
Krish Iyer
Des Moines, Iowa
To Allen Iverson: Want to be "treated like a franchise player?" Play like one in big playoff games.
Saurabh Desai
Horsham, Pa.
The Lakers are looking better now than ever! I thought at the beginning of the season that Portland would take it all, but now I am convinced that Shaq will take it home. But if Scottie Pippen keeps playing the way he did on Sunday, Portland will give the Lakers a run for their money.
Raul Nunes
Richmond, Va.
Why is it that all everyone is talking about is the injury to Tim Duncan in the Spurs/Suns matchup and overlook the fact that Phoenix is missing three valuable pieces. The whole team has stepped their game up, especially Penny. It's kinda funny how the critics have been very quiet as he now is finally healthy and playing like an All-Star once again? I believe the Suns are underrated. What other team in the league can survive what they've been through and still be a factor in the postseason.
Chris
Round Rock, Texas
The "real" games (the regular season was just a formality) have started and the Lakers and Jazz look awesome. Forget the East, Miami, Indiana are good teams but no way in the world will they win the Finals. The winner will definitely come from the West. The Jazz have made the Sonics look like high-schoolers, and the Lakers just have too much. Miami and Indiana are struggling with teams that they should blow out.
Peter Low
Fremont, Calif.
Do you want to make your feelings on these playoffs known? Just click here and tell us what you think of our Playoff Around The Rim or anything NBA playoffs.
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HEROES AND GOATS (two of each)
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David Robinson
Admiral made sure with a huge first half (21 and 13 boards) that the Spurs would split at home. Even without Duncan, Spurs still are dangerous. And kudos to Samaki Walker as well. |
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Jamal Mashburn
Taking nothing away from Mash, who is finally stepping up in the playoffs after years of ineptitude, but the guy covering him half the time can't walk. |
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Christian Laettner
The Vin Baker of the Eastern Conference continues to show virtually nothing when the team needs him most. Remember when Laettner was good? |
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Clifford Robinson
Suns shot .326 from the field, and Cliffy had a bunch to do with that, hitting only 3-of-17. How many of them did Walker block? |
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