This picture was too good to pass up!
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#2 Orlando - #3 Atlanta (Orlando leads 3-0)
Stan Van flashing some gang signs!
Atlanta is just not impressive in these playoffs. There really isn't any other way to spin it. I even heard Dominique Wilkens on the Stephen A. Smith show this morning, and he didn't really have an answer. The average margin of victory in 29 points! 'Nique, like I, thinks that they are displaying a real lack of confidence after Orlando came out and punched 'em in the mouth in game 1. A real playoff team would have found a way to bounce back after that. You may say Orlando is just too good, and that may be, but I still think Atlanta should be able to steal a game or two with the talent they have.
On the Orlando side, they seem to be the best team in the playoffs thus far, certainly the most consistent, as they're on the verge of sweeping their way into the conference finals.
#1 Cleveland - #4 Boston (Series tied 2-2)
If Lebron really wants to be "King James" he's gonna have to find a way to lift his team out of this series with more game 3-like preformances. In actuality, he really should turn in more performances of that nature. He is faster, stronger, bigger and more athletic than just about anyone on the court at any moment. Why he settles for jumpers continues to dumbfound me. Perhaps it is that terrible FT shooting, or maybe the fact that everyone questions his shooting and he wants to prove them wrong. I don't know the answer, and only he does. All I do know is that for the moment Boston has the momentum, as the C's, unlike the Hawks, found a way to bounce back after their franchise-worst playoff loss.
I think they do need to put James on Rondo, if for nothing else than to keep him from the paint. Make the C's beat you with Pierce who hasn't really shown up and hope that Ray Allen doesn't get hot if Rondo is more pressured.
As I was driving in to work this morning I was thinking about this series, and about LBJ more specifically.
Here's my thoughts: I think James is more Tiger Woods than he is Michael Jordan (and not the aspect of Tiger Woods you might expect). No, not the sex scandal part, though who really knows? I think Lebron is too concerned with his image. Yes, Jordan controlled and built his brand better than anyone we've seen, but he also built that brand behind the idea that he would be the greatest Champion of all time.
Lebron does not have that killer instinct. Tiger had it, but he doesn't have it right now. Tiger's image is gi-normous, and rivals that of Jordan, but currently he is more image than performance. No one's image is more media-controlled than Tiger. But Lebron is close. LBJ does not consistently dominate games, not even to a Kobe level. He has had moments, and maybe it is too early to judge. All I know is that late in a game when Kobe has the ball I am pretty confident that it is going in the bucket. When Lebron has it, I'm pretty confident he'll find the open shooter. Is that what I really want? No. Ask yourself this, if you need one player in a game 7 who are you taking? Kobe or Lebron? I'm taking Kobe all day long.
But back to my point. Would Jordan ever have had to be asked to check Rondo in that game or in game 5? Hell no.
Most likely, he would have told whoever was guarding him to get the fuck out of the way and he would have stepped up and done his damndest to shut him down. Lebron said after the game that it "might be an option." Might be an option? Dude! You're the best player on the planet, and you're always complaining that your D doesn't get enough respect, yet a 6'3'' guard just torched you guys for 29,18,13 and you didn't even try checking him? I have a problem with that.
This might be Lebron's best shot at a title for a long time if he ends up elsewhere. He might want to put the shoe commercials and all the other crap on the backburner and let a ring start to cement his legacy and build his brand. I think he's scared. Afraid of failure. Failure and the abiltiy to overcome it is what made Jordan great.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
#3 Phoenix - #7 San Antonio
Sweep! Phoenix shocked everyone and blew the doors off of the Spurs in round 2. They took a commanding lead by beating the Spurs on Friday night on the road, and I think most figured they'd mail it in and clinch in Game 5 at home. But, Phoenix wanted to take no chances and closed it out on Sunday. The Spurs have been their nemesis, much like the Yankees were for the Sox in the pre-2004 era (OK, maybe not that bad). This was a huge win for Phoenix, and people here are believing that their verastile play gives them a great shot against LA.
Phoenix got two tremendous performances to win each game in San Antonio. In game 3, Goran Dragic, the heir-apparent to Steve Nash, went off for 23 4th quarter points! The Dragon was on fire on Friday night draining just about everything he put up. He gives the Suns a huge boost being able to rest Nash until late in the 4th.
The Dragon!
In game 4 it was Nash, who came back, like a true Canadian, after getting stitches over his right eye which was basically swollen shut. In the 4th quarter, with one eye, he made big play after big play to help Phoenix clinch the series.
Interestingly enough, these semifinals could see 3 sweeps if Orlando and LA can join Phoenix.
#1 Los Angeles - #5 Utah
LA lucked out again and I think they all have shamrocks stuck up their asses.
Deron Williams last second shot rimmed out and Boozer missed a point-blank game winning tip in. It was LA taking a commanding 3-0 lead, and though I think Utah may squeak one out, the Lakers will clinch at home in game 5.
I still don't get it.
The Lakers have looked really good, and unbeatable in stretches, but they've also looked very vulnerable at times. I'm curious to see what happens when they meet Phoenix, a team with multiple legit options. Conventional wisdom says you can't just flip a switch, but I'm not willing to doubt them yet. And their length puts Phoenix at a huge disadvantage, especially if Lopez can not come back.
TONIGHT!
Orlando at Atlanta @ 8:00 pm EST on TNT
Los Angeles at Utah @ 10:30 pm EST on TNT
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