Playoff Around The Rim: May 2
ESPN.com
So is it simply reverse psychology, or is Phil Jackson really angry?
We may never know, but how the Lakers come out in tonight's game at Sacramento may tell us a little. Jackson gave everyone the strong impression after the Kings beat the Lakers on Sunday that the loss was no big deal. Just a loss. There may be more, but not too many more. Jackson has been here before, and realizes that the pressure of going after 70 wins might jeopardize the big picture, and going after a perfect postseason, which has never been done, does the same. A loss is good, he convinced himself and some of the press, because it takes the pressure off.
But a loss tonight is not good, it's very, very bad. Phil does have a point here. When people ask us if the Lakers are as good as the Bulls teams were, it's a simple answer. The Lakers have won nothing. They've had one great regular season. Phil understands that. "The invincibility is not on our part, it's on your (the media's) part. You guys are the ones that have crowned us as champions before we even got off and running in the playoffs," he said. "We have to be tested and the mettle and the wherewithal that comes within this team to ride out tough things."
So basically, if the Lakers come out in Game 4 like the Pacers have in two of their four (really, three of four) games with Milwaukee, then Phil had a real good joke at everyone's expense.
In case you didn't read it elsewhere, here's some vital info coming out of the Lakers-Kings series. Rick Fox and wife Vanessa Williams welcomed Sasha Gabriella Fox into the world on Monday. She was born in New York and weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.
Speaking of babies, anyone else sick of Reggie Miller's act? The Pacers will probably (sorry, Bucks fans) go on and win Game 5 and then prepare to face Philly, which is the polar opposite of the Bucks when it comes to defense, but Miller's complaining is starting to annoy a lot of people. To briefly paraphrase, the Knicks always beat the Pacers because they're in a big market and the refs like them better. We can't get positive placement on TV because NBC doesn't like us and doesn't give us any respect. And then on Monday, the Bucks only beat us because our bench was abysmal. To paraphrase us, it's getting old.
One can make the case that the Lakers and Blazers could have -- or should have -- ended their first-round series with sweeps and are only playing on Tuesday because they didn't enter Game 3 with a sense of urgency. But if they lose Game 4, then it's no longer funny and quite serious. Some Lakers made it clear that they lost the Sunday game, the Kings really didn't win. The Blazers did the same thing, noting that it took a triple-double by Kevin Garnett, a near similar stat line from Terrell Brandon and next to nothing from Damon Stoudamire for that loss to happen.
Mr. Stoudamire writes a daily diary through the Blazers' beat reporter for the Oregonian, and it's very good. In his last diary, Stoudamire said he stunk up the gym on Sunday. That's a quote. He also said, "I never got into a flow. I don't think Terrell did anything different on me. I stopped myself." But as Damon also noted, the Blazers took the first two in Portland and remain in good shape.
Last season the 76ers were swept in four straight by the Pacers. While Philly's players might now say they'd love another shot at Reggie and the ol' boys, you can bet there will be some serious rooting for Milwaukee to win Game 5 in Philly on Thursday night.
Game of the night: Spurs at Suns
The last time a defending champion didn't make it out of the first round of the playoffs? Philly fans should remember it well. It happened to them. It could be happening to the Spurs if they don't figure out how to beat the Suns.
Forget about Tim Duncan and Jason Kidd for a minute. Neither are playing tonight. This one comes down to the same two people we are featuring in our One On One: Penny and Admiral. The thing is, if you're Gregg Popovich and you know that your only consistent scorer is David Robinson, do you continue to feed him constantly and hope his 30-plus points are enough? And with Penny Hardaway throwing triple doubles at you, who defends him. If Popovich can find someone else to get him 20 points, and if someone can match up better with the only Suns guard who matters, the series goes five.
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VIEW FROM THE ROAD
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By Mitch Lawrence
NEW YORK-- My thought is that the Knicks had about as good a first round as they could in closing out games vs. Toronto. The Raptors are talented but obviously lacking playoff experience -- from head coach down to the two main players. The Knicks defended Vince Carter as well as anyone can, and he learned it's a whole different world in the playoffs.
Now we move on. Knicks-Heat on paper isn't as close as previous years. Without a healthy Hardaway, and questions about Jamal Mashburn never having a good series vs. a good team, you have to wonder. The Heat will be prepared, give it all they have, but in the talent department, the Knicks have more guns.
Both teams said over the weekend that they are done with all the rhetoric. As Pat Riley said, everyone is tired of talk, we've been going at it for so long, and neither team has won anything. Miami is in no position to talk. There's a lot of pressure on them or they get broken up. I'd be surprused if there was any bulletin board material. Both teams just want to advance. There really is a healthy respect there by both teams. But no predictions or calling people out. Everyone is tired of it.
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VIEW FROM THE FANS
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The Kings surprised all of us on Sunday and actually won a game on NBC. Although they won't admit it I think the Kings streaky play scares the Lakers to death. If the Kings win tonight look for a close Game 5, where the Kings give the Lakers all they can handle. The Kings have played the Lakers closer than they would have liked all season and they were just lucky to catch the Kings on a down swing for Games 1 and 2. The Kings do have a heart and the fans at home provide an atmosphere like no other in the NBA.
Tom Pooler
Elk Grove, Calif.
I was at Game 4 of the Bucks/Pacers series last night and it continues to amaze me how audacious the Pacers and their fans are. After claiming that their team will sweep the Bucks, and that their confidence was soaring, the Bucks have laid another "L" on the Pacers. I'm not going to homerize this anymore, and I think the Pacers will take Game 5, but the Pacers are the worst top seed we've seen in years! Reggie can still talk, but the Pacers surely can't walk anymore.
Andrew Marris
West Allis, Wisc.
It is becoming more and more evident with each game that Kobe Bryant is the second-most dominant player in the league, behind only Shaq. He simply scores at will, leaving defenders with perplexed looks on their faces, his game is complete at both ends of the court and his intensity is seems unbreakable. Oh yeah, and he's only 21. Barring serious injury, we could be seeing the makings of true greatness on both team and individual merit.
Andrew Tavani
New York City
Although his team didn't perform as well as they could have, give a lot of credit to Derrick Coleman, who really elevated his game for the playoffs. He brought a new intensity with him for the entire series, especially on defense. Hopefully he's turned a corner in terms of his attitude and his goals, because if he sets his sights on winning, he can be a dominant player in this league -- finally worthy of a No. 1 pick in the draft almost a decade ago.
Brian Wilson
Annapolis, Md.
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HEROES AND GOATS (two of each)
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Aaron McKie
Sixers might have lost this one if McKie didn't hit those four consecutive threes in the fourth period. Add in 11 assists and people are wondering if Eric Snow should come off the bench next series. |
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Scott Williams
Maybe Reggie won't give him any credit, but we can. Williams had 20 points and eight boards and made Rik Smits look like he wasn't there. The Bucks match up well with Indy. Just one more game. |
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David Wesley
Granted, Anthony Mason really plays the point on offense, but Wesley struggled on both ends of the floor and shot 2-for-11. When your team has no bench, it catches up to you. |
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Mark Jackson
Sometimes, Cassell outplaying him isn't much of a big deal. Bird might want to consider starting Travis Best. Jackson has had a bad series and looks like he's at the end. |
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