Again, the Raptors and Timberwolves had a chance to win their games in the closing seconds, and again they couldn't get it done. So who's to blame? There's always someone to blame, though you have to give credit to guys like Latrell Sprewell and Scottie Pippen for knowing how to win and getting it done.
Since the league went to a best-of-five format in 1984, only four teams have dug their way out of a 0-2 deficit to win the series (Warriors in 1987, Knicks in 1990, Suns in 1993 and Nuggets in 1994).
The Wolves were within a three-pointer from tying it and the ball was in Malik Sealy's hands. Now there's nothing wrong with Sealy, but he's not the first choice to take the big shot. We don't know if a play was called for Sealy, but Kevin Garnett needs to assert himself and play bigger down the stretch than he has in the first two games. He's a superstar, and he ultimately will be the one saddled with a fourth straight first-round playoff defeat, not a guy like Sealy. Terrell Brandon and maybe Wally Szczerbiak would have been solid choices as well. Sealy made 10 three-pointers during the regular season, tied for seventh on the team. Garnett made 30, Brandon, who passed the ball to Sealy, made 53.
For the Raptors, it's the same thing with Vince Carter. There wasn't a great deal of time left when Vince was past the top of the key staring at Sprewell, and sure, Dee Brown was open. But you don't want Brown, who shot all of 36 percent this season, taking the last shot. Carter passed up the final shot and Brown clanked it. Surely Carter could have tried to drive past Spree or pulled up himself. And by the way, Vince's three-pointer with 25 seconds left was ill-advised, since someone was in his face and there were still 13 seconds left on the shotclock. Remember, the Raps didn't need a three at the end, they were down one. How 'bout dumping it inside rather than an ill-advised three?
Michael Jordan didn't win all his NBA titles by himself. But he had helpers in the proper roles, and that included when it was time for the final shot. Dee Brown is not John Paxson or Steve Kerr, a pair of Bulls who were very accurate from long range. Also, Phil Jackson wouldn't just drop those guys into a ballgame for the final 10 seconds. Sarcastic kudos to Butch Carter for putting Brown in the game in that situation.
Vince Carter and KG are legit superstars. However, they are never going to be mentioned in the same breath with MJ by NBA experts until they win something. And they certainly have a better chance to win something if they are the ones taking the final shots, not Malik Sealy and Dee Brown.
The Bucks don't appear to be a good fit with playoff competition. That had better change or George Karl's team won't make it through the weekend. The Bucks have been in the playoffs 21 of the last 32 years (who can forget those Don Nelson years?) but they haven't had much success lately. The Bucks have lost eight straight in the postseason and 14 of 15 dating back to 1989. Gotta hand it to Darvin Ham for putting things in perspective.
"Anyone can make the playoffs," he said. "Don't get me wrong, you have to fight like hell to get there. But once you get there and you don't do anything, you might as well stay home. You can't build on that. We have to do something."
Think having a three-day break after your first playoff game is a drag. If the Lakers sweep the Kings, which is likely, they would then get a six-day break before facing the Suns-Spurs winner. And those teams are hardly healthy nor playing well. The Suns have scored 142 points combined in two games, winning one. The Lakers lit up Sac for 117 in Game 1.
Based on the complaints of a few coaches on good teams (Phil Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy), these layoffs stink, making for lethargic practices because there's little pressure. Have a bad practice, well top it tomorrow. You know there won't be a game.
"I'd like to go 15-0," Jackson said. "The less you have to play, the better off you are in the playoffs. The more you have to play, the more chance of injury, the more excruciating it becomes."
By the way, note that Jackson's Bulls dominated early series and Pat Riley's Lakers swept all six first-round series they played in.
Game of the night: Bucks at Pacers
We have a feeling there could be an upset here. The Bucks are talented, make no mistake, and if Glenn Robinson shoots a little better than 3-for-17 the Game 1 result might be different. As it was, the Pacers only won by three. And the Pacers seem like a team that could get complacent.
The Pacers, for all their success this season, were only 21-16 in games when playing teams they defeated in the previous game. According to coach Bird, the Pacers always look a little lackadaisacal coming off a day off and too much time in between games, which is strange. This isn't a young team.
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VIEW FROM THE ROAD
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By Mitch Lawrence
MIAMI -- It looks like this series is over. Without Grant Hill, the Pistons were 2-6 this year, including a 22-point loss to Miami. But Miami is not a great team. They had poroblems on the road, and Tim Hardaway is out for the forseeable future. This would be the first sweep of the Riley era. I wouldn't put it past them if they stumbled. Detroit has played them tough. They play the last half on Tuesday night without Hill and they came back and made Miami sweat. Miami still has to find a way to close things out. Riley was 18-0 in first-round games with the Lakers, but never swept an opening-round series with the Heat or Knicks.
The talk down here is still about the Cuban ballplayers on the Marlins, not a lot of talk about the Heat. They will be hot when the Knicks are in town, then they will sell out. But because of the track record and past disappointment, bombing out the last two years, why would anyone have faith in them. And it's a Detroit team, not a sexy opponent. The Heat get good play in the papers, but I don't hear a whole lot of talk about them. People want the Heat to show them they're a serious playoff contender before they expend emotional energy. And face it, the Heat are still a distant second to the Dolphins down here.
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VIEW FROM THE FANS
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As far as I am concerned, the Eastern Conference Finals
is actually the Philadelphia/Charlotte series. They are the
two hottest teams entering the playoffs, and the intensity
of the play in Games 1 and 2 surpasses that of any other
playoff series. For anyone who wants to blast Iverson for
his Game 2 performance, just remember that the Hornets
would be up 2-0 if it wasn't for Allen's 40. After defenses
make adjustments, it makes things a little more difficult.
If you played basketball at a high level you would all understand
that.
Brad Hess
Reading, Pa.
Hey, I don't hear anyone talking about the Knicks. They have proven time and again they can win big games in crunch time. Any one of their starters (except point guard) can lead them down the stretch on any given night. Write them in for the Finals once again.
Jordan
Philadelphia
You want to know what wins in the playoffs? It isn't that you can dunk from the charity stripe, or soar above any defense. It's that you can step up to the occasion and assume a leadership role in a dominating fashion. That's why LJ and the Knicks went to Finals last year: And that's why they're going back this year.
Anthony Tarantino
Patchogue, NY
Portland's up 2-0... I imagine a lot of people are shocked. Well, they shouldn't be. A ton of people in the media want the Blazers to fail, but they have too much veteran experience to lose tight games. Minnesota had a good season, but this has been a two-horse race all along. David Stern should save everybody a lot of time and energy and just put the Lakers and Blazers in a series right now for the championship. Just disregard any posers from the East, that's a total waste of time. And to all the people that make that ridiculous claim that Portland needs a "go-to guy", take a look at that roster and try to find one player that you wouldn't feel confident in them taking the game-winning shot.
Reed Richards
South Korea
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