Playoff Around The Rim: April 28
ESPN.com
So this is the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference?
Much of this season we've tried to downplay the difference between the East and West, saying that while the West does have better teams, the East is somewhat dangerous because it has more depth. Another example: The East had only one brutal team, the West had several for the big boys to fatten up on.
But after seeing the way the playoff juggernaut Milwaukee Bucks destroyed the Pacers -- and make no mistake, it was bad -- we're wondering again. The Bucks led by 27 in the first half and the biggest margin was 31. You think the Lakers would ever, ever trail by that much in a game at home? Maybe that's not fair. How about the No. 4 or 5 seeds, the Spurs and Suns. You expect them to get outplayed by that much at home? No way, and those teams are missing their best players.
Sure, the Bucks shot a blistering 71 percent from the floor in the opening quarter, but the Pacers also had something to do with that. Or make it had very little to do with it. Championship teams are built on defense. This is why the Knicks could afford to lose Patrick Ewing but still make it to the Finals last year. This is why the Spurs will be a threat but nobody believes in the Suns. That's why the Lakers, with the same personnel, were so much better this year. It's all defense. The Pacers forgot how to play it against a jump shooting team in disarray that hadn't won a playoff game in more than a decade and had lost eight of its last nine on the Pacers' court.
Don't blame the phantom Rik Smits ejection either. The game was over by that point. It sure didn't look like he threw a punch, but he sure got that elbow up there in Ervin Johnson's face.
If the Pacers want to complain about the officiating, like they did all year, and that they don't get the breaks the big market teams get, like they did all year, they should look in the mirror at why few consider them a worthy challenger to winning something. Thursday night is why.
There are many fine quotes that came out of this game, we personally like this one from Jalen Rose: "This will show the character of the team. Are we going to be men and respond to it, or will we be punks and roll over?"
Precisely our question.
To be fair, let's praise the Bucks as well. They made the shots and they played defense. They took it to the Pacers in what they felt was a must game. Here's a reader looking for Bucks praise.
So typical that the post-game focus after Game 2 of Pacers-Bucks is on what's wrong with the Pacers, rather than what's right with the Bucks. Could it be that the Bucks can just be a lot better than they showed at times during the course of the season? The fact is, they suddenly seem to want to play defense, which makes them scary. For my money, the Bucks happen to be a pretty good eighth seed. I was mystified that people predicted an easy win for the Pacers in this series. If the Bucks play the way they're capable, they're no worse than the sixth-best team in the conference. Don't be surprised if they're still playing for quite a while.
--Bill Katt, Washington, D.C.
For some reason Blazers fans feel like we've robbed them of their props for a 59-win season and what looks like a first-round win over the Wolves. This is one of many e-mails we've gotten recently on the subject.
I've been surfing the site, reading the magazine, watching the networks, and listening to the radio, but the ESPN empire has been strangely silent regarding the Blazers/Wolves series. Might that be because, like virtually every sports news outlet in the business, you guys went with the fashionable prediction that Portland would lose? Shame on all of you. You don't win 59 games by being a bad team. Portland in four (at the most). Blazermania is alive and well in the new millenium.
--Joe Santos, Plymouth, Conn.
To deal with Joe's concerns, the reason why so many people are down on the Blazers is they closed the season by going 14-12. Sure, they finished with 59 wins, but people remember how things end. It was absolutely the fashionable prediction to go with the Wolves, a team that has yet to win a playoff series, a team that was playing so well. But we're not really on that bandwagon. In our final Power Rankings of the season we selected the Blazers No. 2, and we still think the Lakers and Blazers will play a hard-fought series of six or more games.
If the Blazers want favorable play, they need to just win ballgames and give the Lakers a run in the West finals. That would end all this negative Blazer talk.
Game of the Night: Hornets at Sixers
This one isn't only the Game of the Night, it's the only game of the night. It's the first time in these drawn out playoffs that the NBA scheduled only one game to be played. Strange, isn't it? Aren't Friday nights supposed to be good for watching hoop?
This may be the most evenly matched series around. Both games already were winnable by either team late. With Eric Snow either hobbled by a chip fracture in his right ankle or just on the sideline, it's pretty much up to Allen Iverson which team wins the series. If Iverson, who has had three full days to recover from his myriad injuries, has his shot working, like he did when he scored 40 in Game 1, Philly's in good shape. If he shoots another stinker, Philly then needs herculean efforts to win, which almost happened in Game 2. Don't forget that Snow, who averages about seven points a night, drained some threes and had 19 that night despite his injury. Philly's much better off not needing performances like that.
Final thought here: Iverson practiced Thursday and said the inflammation in his elbow got worse overnight. But he plans to play.
"The only way I won't play is if the doctor amputated it."
Now that's what we want to hear.
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VIEW FROM THE FANS
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I couldn't agree with you more about how Malik Sealy and Dee Brown took the big shots at the end of playoff games (Around The Rim, April 27). Not to sound mean, but if I'm the coach, neither of those guys are even IN the game. Brown hadn't played minutes all year, and none during Game 2 until the fourth quarter. Their lineup should have been Carter, McGrady, Bogues, Davis and Oakley. Go with the guys who got you there! And with Minnesota: If they needed a three how was Sealy in the game and not Anthony Peeler? Very confusing. Well, I guess that coaching makes up a big part of this, and Flip Saunders and Butch Carter hurt their respective teams' chances at victory this week.
Michael Levine
Livingston, NJ
The Blazers should feel fortunate to be up 2-0. The highest paid team (by far) could have easily lost both games. Look for the Wolves to take their two home games and force a Game 5 in Portland. The Wolves just made poor choices down the stretch, that will change under Flip Saunders. Home cookin' will get them back in it, then we'll see how easy it is for the Blazers to make jump shots with their hands on their own collective throats.
John Yazbeck
Somerville, NJ
How about some respect for the Bucks now. They just knocked
off the East top seed at home and are the only team to win
twice at Conseco Fieldhouse so far. Only a handful of teams
have even won once! Rather than claiming that the Pacers
are bad and washed up, how about acknowledging that the
Bucks are a dangerous, up-and-coming team?
Nate Gleason
Princeton, NJ
Why is everybody overlooking the Spurs? They are still the defending champs! With or without Duncan, the Spurs will remove the Suns from the playoffs. Then, with a healthy Duncan, the Lakers will be in for a battle. Nobody can beat Shaq in the paint, but if I had my choice, I would choose two towers vs. one.
Rene Perez
Nampa, Idaho
Everyone is dissing Carter and Garnett for being superstars and not winning. I remember that it took MJ quite a long time to get his first ring. During this time it was argued (over and over) that MJ was nothing more than a flashy player (dunks do not win games). Eventually the Bulls added depth (Pippen, Rodman, Grant, Paxson, Harper, Wennington, Longley, Levingston and others). Do not evaluate these players because of the playoffs. The wins will come. Then everyone will forget what was said about these players and especially in this column.
Michael Rowe
Somerset, Ky.
Once again, the Knicks have responded during the playoffs. After dropping three of four to the Raptors this regular season, they have impressively defeated the Raptors in close fourth-quarter games. They have shown that they, as always, play their best ball during playoff time. And the best part about it is that the Knicks don't rely on one man. In Game 1, Childs hit a critical 3-pointer, and Ewing helped down the stretch. In Game 2, LJ brought the Knicks to life before fouling out, and then Spree carried them to victory. The Knicks are the ultimate playoff team, and this could be the year.
Michael Fitzsimmons
New Haven, Conn.
Mark my words: The Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat won't reach the Eastern Conference finals. I've never seen two top seeds play so complacent and lethargic as these two. Gone were the days when being the No.1 or 2 seed virtually means a no-sweat march to the second round. Instead, they have to claw their way and struggle real hard against their lower-seeded opponents. The Heat, in particular, has best exemplified this in recent years, suddenly turning playoff-cold. The Knicks and the winner of the Hornets-76ers will reach the Eastern finals, cause they show heart and grit when it's playoff time.
Eric Ranon
Davao City, Philippines
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HEROES AND GOATS (two of each)
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Sam Cassell
Set the tone with a big first half, making shots and getting the ball where it belongs. And when he was knocked down, he got right back up. |
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Reggie Miller
Others had worse shooting nights, but Reggie is the leader and must do better. He was 4-for-12 and his attempt to fire up his team after halftime didn't work. |
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Kobe Bryant
Again, this game was over quickly. Kobe had 22 by halftime and finished with 32. Shaq had 23, 19 and six assists. Is it all Lakers, or are the Kings even trying? |
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Nick Anderson
Take your pick. Jason Williams had only one meager assist, but Nick made only one field goal and was lit up on defense. |
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