Sports Talk with MC

by MC

We’ve finally reached the conference finals. Thank goodness. I was beginning to gnaw at my straw to the point that I had begun to push “beyond recognition” too far.

Ladies and gents, your final 4:

*Utah Jazz- Surprise. The Jazz are still alive. Steady play from slowly emerging star Deron Williams, along with power play from Mehment Okur and Carlos Boozer have made Salt Lake City folks buzz in May for the first time since 1998. Boozer and Williams could very well be the Stockton and Malone of the future, and veterans like Derek Fisher and Matt Harpring provide the grit and experience, two things that the team the Jazz beat in round 2, the Golden State Warriors, lacked when the heat was on. On a more personal note- I love Paul Millsap. He reminds me of a young, Robert Horry-type player. He brings boundless energy and hustle to the floor every time he’s plugged into the lineup. Can this group of upstarts beat San Antonio? I think not, but hey, this should be the first of many forays deep into the postseason for Booze and Williams. Things can only get better, should the philosophies in play stay intact.

*San Antonio Spurs- I really lost respect for the Spurs after the Nash incidents from the West semis. Bruce Bowen is an all-NBA defender, but because of the stunts he’s pulled over the years, he is also quite the thug, and I think he relishes the idea of him being a villain. Robert Horry pulled a Hannibal Lector on us all and took it to Steve Nash. That was uncalled for. A “playoff foul”, says Gregg Poppovich? Well, if that was a playoff foul, then perhaps we ought to ask guys like Pat Burke and Eric Piatowski to sick on Tim Duncan. Let’s see who ends up crying foul after that.

Despite their “ethical” issues, the Spurs are, probably, the toughest team to defeat in the quartet that remains in the 2007 NBA Playoffs. They have size upfront in Elson, Oberto, and Duncan, speed and savvy in the backcourt in Parker and Manu, and veterans like Jacque Vaughn and Michael Finley who play solid D. This is a team that can adjust to almost any defensive/offensive style, and possess something that their fellow flexible Texas brother, Dallas, did not have in these playoffs- the ability to churn out clutch plays down the stretch.

Is it safe to say that all roads lead to the Alamo when it comes to the Larry O’Brien trophy? Maybe so, but the Spurs getting their clammy hands on the gold won’t be a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination.

*Cleveland Cavaliers- These fellows took the relatively “easy” path to the Eastern Conference finals. They trounced a Washington Wizards team that had been sapped of its superstars. They busted a New Jersey team incapable of cranking it up on the offensive glass.

Easy or not, they are on the big stage now. The main query now is- can they survive?

I think that as good as Lebron James is, and as good as maybe Larry Hughes or Zydrunas Ilgauskas can be, they don’t seem worthy, or ready, to win it all just yet. The Cavs go on offensive droughts that could make George W. Bush answer everything that’s gone wrong with America in the last few years, and when that happens, the Cavs tend to lead too hard on their 22 year old phenom. Once James is pushed, he tries to do too much, and they falter.

After mustering a 10 point effort on just 10 shots (talk about denying a superstar the ball) in Game 1 of the Eastern Finals, it can be said that the Pistons seem to be on their way to making their mark on destiny at the expense of a very young (and overworked) King.

As a sidenote, I’d just like to say that Sasha Pavlovic has quite the bright future ahead of him. Keep your eyes on that guy.

*Detroit Pistons-Detroit is the East. It has been for the last 5 years. Yeah, Miami won the title last year, but it made it to the finals and won the big one because of one man and not, strictly, a team effort. Over the last 5 seasons, the Pistons have tweaked here and there, and have played a hard-nosed brand of ball that has gone unmatched, for the most part, in their conference.

Chauncey Billups is a hardwood surgeon, and coupled with Rip and Rasheed, he becomes a maestro of mayhem, whether it be via hitting big threes down the stretch or setting up his fellow star teammates for easy hoops. Then, there’s Tayshaun Prince, whose quiet effectiveness defines the Motor City squad- a group of guys that pride themselves on getting their hands dirty accomplishing feat after feat, and not resembling “the greatest show on Earth”, but winning zilch. Chris Webber’s inconspicuously turned out to be the biggest sleeper free agent off of the 2006-2007 regular campaign. He’s given the Pistons formidable offense upfront, along with great passing and playoff experience.

Epilogue:

*If the proverbial balls bounce as expected, then we should be in for a Pistons-Spurs final. Whoever wins that series will need to scrape their knees (maybe literally) on the way to the top.

It’s been an interesting playoff campaign, filled with stories of surprise (Dallas’ early exit, Golden State’s cinderella story, Utah’s emergence, etc.), disappointment (Nowitzki’s marred MVP win, TMac’s first round failure, etc.), and “conclusions” (Grant Hill’s fate, the firing of Jeff Van Gundy, Kobe Bryant’s call for moves, etc.). It hasn’t been the best postseason per se, but it has certainly had enough drama, controversy, and pride infused into it such that we, the fans, can remain enthralled.

Now if only Joey Crawford were allowed to referee games in the ‘07 playoffs. The Spurs would be gone for sure.

=)

by MC

The Pistons eliminated the Chicago Bulls from the playoff picture today. Surprising?

Not really.

As good as the Bulls have been, in stretches, this year, they’re still basically a perimeter oriented team, one the crumbles once their jumpshots starting “clanking” and not “swishing”. Ben Wallace is a decent inside presence, but he’s not a low post scorer. Big Ben won a title with Detroit, but down there, he had guys like Rasheed Wallace, steadies like Rip and Chauncey, plus a do-it-all forward in Tayshaun Prince, to help him anchor the middle. The Bulls have Nocioni, and Deng, plus perhaps Tyrus Thomas. All are physical players, but noe quite have the poise, experience, and defensive prowess of the Piston 5.

Not even the heady Kirk Hinrich.

I say that the Pistons will make the NBA finals irregardless of whether they play Cleveland or New Jersey. Both teams can be floozies on offense, and once Detroit sees inconsistencies in your offense, they pounce on it like sharks that smell blood. Couple that defense with the ability to run or slow the game down (much like what the Spurs can do), and what you have is a formidable squad capable of beating anybody.

Well, maybe not the Spurs or the Suns (many a Pistons fan will shoot me for this comment), but I digress.

I predict a Spurs-Pistons finals rematch. Anyone agree?

What’s more, I predict the Spurs to win it all (hey, it’s an alternate year) for 2007.

PS- Bowen and Horry should be ashamed of themselves for their actions against Phoenix guard Steve Nash. They’ve proven that whatever they do statistically, it doesn’t change the fact that deep inside, they’re pretty much a bunch of thugs who don’t play the game with enough class to make them worth mentioning…more than once. =p

by MC

All’s done but the popping of the bubbly.

According to reports, Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player plum for 2006-2007.

As important as it is to note the Dirk is the first European-born cager to win the award, and the man who has managed to break Steve Nash’s two year reign as MVP, is the fact that Nowitzki’s triumph, in this case, will probably be a “tainted” one in the eyes of many a basketball fan.

He did melt under the pressure of the klieg lights in the Mavs’ first round loss to the overachieving Golden State Warriors after all.

He did pull a 2-13 shooting performance in Game 6 of the Warriors-Mavs tiff, after all.

He did lay down to Stephen Jackson, after all.

One must also recall, though, that no one series, or game, should, and can, fully, define a player.

Scottie Pippen was heavily criticized for refusing to enter a playoff in its dying moments. Moses Malone got flack for winning MVP, but not winning a playoff series 25 years ago. As much as these instances signified low points in their careers, it can be said that a player cannot be fully defined by his performance in one game, or one series, or one season. Moses retired an NBA champion. Pippen is, without a doubt, one of the most versatile players to ever lace up sneakers, and, by hook or by crook, a 6-time NBA champion. Dirk will get his chances in the future. Whether or not his destiny will take a turn for the better, is entirely up to the effort and belief he is able to muster amidst the most overwhelming of odds and harshest bits of criticism.

Before you all hate on number 41, remember that the MVP trophy does not count for nothing, and that a collapse such as the Mavericks had isn’t wholly telling of the character of a franchise, or a franchise’s star. These things happen. People outplay other people at certain junctures. It’s just that simple.

When he gets his trophy, people still ought to stand up and clap. Nowitzki has helped revolutionize the game at the 4 spot after all, and has paved the way for the European born players of the time to be. One other thing I do know about Dirk is that he’ll be back swinging come next season, and, if the 2006 finals and 2007 playoffs have served as any sort of painful lesson, then we should see a more poised German bomber in a couple of months’ time.

People forget that maybe, just maybe, there’s more of a sense of similarity between Bird and Dirk than the picture perfect jumper.

Who knows, maybe the intensity, the will to win, is there inside the Mavericks cager too.

Perhaps all it’s needed is a wake up call.

If such is the case, then we should be in for quite a “day” ahead.

~0~

By MC

2-13, 8 points, and a whole lot of jump shots taken in place of aggressive moves to the rim.

The statline above pretty much describes what Dirk Nowitzki was like during the Mavs’ first round series against the Golden State Warriors.

Because of the would-be MVP’s inconsistency, Dallas, winners of 67 regular season games, bowed out of the post season courtesy of a team that barely qualified for the playoffs (the Warriors finished the 2006-2007 regular season with a 42-40 record).

Earlier today, the Utah Jazz, thanks to strong play from Carlos Boozer (35 points, 5 assists, 14 rebounds), advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a 103-99 victory of the Houston Rockets. The Jazz win was not just noteworthy because it gave Jerry Sloan and his guys a ticket to round 2, but also because it marked Tracy McGrady’s 6th consecutive first-round playoff series loss.

What do these two news items have in common? The common denominator between the two can be said to be, ultimately, a story of legacy.

What is to become of the legacies of superstars like Nowitzki and McGrady after yet another setback in their storied careers? What is to become of the organizations they represent, moving forward? Should the two all-stars mentioned try to find new homes, or should the higher ups that run the two Texas based squads simply work to find several more pieces to try and complete their NBA Title puzzle?

Dirk has said that he plans to take a month off, then continue working on his game along with preparing for the European Championships, and then, NBA training camp. TMac, on the other hand, told ESPN.COM analyst Stephen A. Smith at the start of the Rockets’ series with the Jazz that if the former didn’t advance, the blame ought to be put, squarely, on his shoulders. Well Tracy, the worst has come. Time to face the music.

If you asked me, Dallas needs to do some wheeling and dealing in the offseason not only to beef up and inject athleticism and speed into it’s 1, 3, 4, and 5 positions, but it also needs to find a way to repair the psyche of its players, management, coaching staff, and fans after 2 fatal postseason blows. Houston, on the other hand, needs to get younger, and quicker, on the perimeter. Mutombo ought to call it quits before he gets hurt. Juwan Howard ought to go to a contender like San Antonio or Detroit (reuniting him with Webber and Rasheed Wallace would make for an interesting story). Rafer Alston needs help from a REAL point guard.

Whatever is bound to happen after the playoffs are a done deal, the two all-stars, and teams, mentioned, should act fast, and well, act boldly, lest they “stick to convention” and get crushing blows landed to them again halfway up the proverbial “mountain”.

Pointing fingers, in this case, will not do any good.

Pro-active analysis in lieu of blame- why can’t we all just adhere to that instead of engaging in senseless bickering/discussion?

I guess it’s because the latter is easier on the hands, and because the latter is more “controversial” (sports and showbusiness are first cousins) that just quietly reflecting, then moving on.

“I speak softly, but carry a big stick.”

You get the picture, right? Good.

~0~

 by MC

We’re on the cusp of Game 5 of the Mavericks-Warriors series. Logically, we might be in the midst of the most tremendous upset in NBA Playoff history.

I’ve been reading a lot of sports articles over the last day or two. A lot of the said pieces have focused on what Dallas has been doing wrong, and what the Warriors have been doing correctly. Quite a few have been purely about Dirk bashing. A number have questioned the Mavs’ poise during crunch time.

Do I think the league’s number one team record wise still has a shot at rallying back and squeaking out an improbable series win? The answer would be a resounding, “No.”

Honestly, saying that Dallas will still win this series despite being down 3-1 at this point is exactly what Nellie and co. would like to hear from the media at this stage. The Warriors have never really touted themselves as favorites since the start of the postseason, so, hyping up the fact that they’re the underdogs would only work in allowing their confidence to skyrocket even further. Baron Davis is playing, arguably, the best playoff basketball of his career, and expected league MVP Dirk Nowitzki is wilting under the pressure of having been under the microscope for 86 games in 2006-2007 up until now.

What do the defending Western Conference champions need to do to make this look more than an NBA vs. High School varsity team tiff? First off, they could play a little looser, and perhaps, they could be more assertive on offense, with regards to getting to the rim. Nowitzki needs to get himself close to the goal so that he can work off chip shots in and around the paint. No need to be jump shot happy. Josh Howard, at this point, needs to help set the tone for Dallas by digging the knife into the Warriors’ suddenly tight defense. Dampier and Diop need to make it hellishly difficult for people like Baron Davis to cut into the lane, and need to control the boards off misses. A lot of the onus for Game 5 will also rest on the shoulders of Mavs’ coach Avery Johnson, with regards to whether he can motivate his men to make enough of an effort to play solild defense from the outside going in. You cannot outscore the Warriors when the air in their world is this thin, so, the only way to win is for you to grab them by the neck and make sure there isn’t any oxygen to ingest to begin with. No fastbreaks, no easy baskets. More of a killer instinct, less lucky and game breaking shots.  

Actually, I think that the time for talking strategy is done. Is damn if you do, and damn if you don’t. Dallas and Golden State, in my view, each know what they have to do to win big. For me, any NBA playoff series remains up for grabs until one team notches 4 wins, no matter how uneven the win-loss ratios between two clubs may be. For Avery Johnson and his Mavs, it’s time to face up to being the “hunted” and quit crying over spilled milk and “fitting in”. For the Warriors, it’s a question of whether they can make enough of a push towards making their date with destiny occur now and not a second later, lest they lose steam and remember that they’re number 8, and not number 1.

Whatever happens later today, we should all be in for a game of epic proportions…

…and in all likelihood, a whole lot of shouting, courtesy of Mark Cuban, regardless of how the 48 on-court minutes pan out.

~0~ 

by MC

The Mavs are down 3-1. I repeat- the Mavs are down 3-1.

67 wins in the regular season. An all-star spot garnered by wingman Josh Howard. Dirk Nowitzki looking like a man on a mission to win an NBA championship and dispel thoughts of him and his team being a ragtag bunch of floozies after last season’s collapse against Miami.

Against the Golden State Warriors, Avery co. have looked more like the Atlanta Hawks rather than the mighty Dallas Mavericks.

Esteban Batista, is that you at forward?

Many sports articles written all over the internet have already talked about how Golden State has dissected Dallas’ defense with quick hits. Allow me, then, to take on a different angle in discussing this affair.

I think it’s about time Mark Cuban made major roster changes. Yes, you heard me right. It’s time to do some spring cleaning.

Option 1: Make a bid for Kevin Garnett or Jermaine O’Neal.

-Maybe they should join the “overhaul my team” bandwagon. As much as possible, though, they should try and get another established star without giving up BOTH Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki. Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse seem expendable, at this point. Dallas ought to get a real, pass first, point guard, perhaps someone in the Steve Blake or Mo Williams mould. What’s more, they need more depth in the four spot whether or not they get an all-star back from any sort of deal, perhaps someone similar to a Drew Gooden, Nene, or a Darko Millicic.

*Projected, ideal, starting five–> C- Diop, PF- Garnett/ONeal, SF- Nowitzki, SG- Harris, PG-Blake

It’s obvious at this point that Dirk cannot do it alone. Hence, maybe it’s high time we got him some help.

Option 2: Trade Dirk.

As painful as this may sound for Mavericks fans, maybe it’s high time Nowitzki was treated to a change of scenery. With his salary, and market value, Dallas should be able to get a franchise player back, or at least, should be able to get a host of solid players and cap space. In my view, Josh Howard is good enough to become the focal point of a franchise, and so, maybe, just maybe, they should consider trading Dirk, if and when teams like Seattle (Rashard Lewis and others?), Minnesota (KG?), and Memphis (Gasol?) come knocking.

Option 3: Trade Howard, Stack, Terry, and maybe even Devin Harris

Retaining Nowitzki, and giving up Stack, Howard, and Terry could give Dallas a star player plus a few solid roles. This might work for the Texans too.

If the Mavs can become a more athletic and speed driven team, while still hanging it’s hat on defense, then perhaps that would manage to get them over the top.

Please, do not acquire Vince Carter from free agency. Chauncey Billups, though, is another story altogether. He’s clutch. He’d fit right in.

Whatever happens to the Mavericks after tomorrow, after this round, and after this season, one thing’s for sure- owner Mark Cuban will probably shake things up in a big way, that is, if he doesn’t think of selling his stock first. Fans of the Bavarian Bomber and co. could have a long summer ahead whether or not Dallas eeks by the Warriors. Trigger fingers have been itchy all season long, and aren’t going to get any less settled anytime soon, not after witnessing pressure totally devour the number one team in the league for 2006-2007 once the odds were stacked way high.

Tomorrow will be a day wherein everyone associated with the Dallas Mavericks- the fans, Cuban, the coaching staff, the players, the citizens of Dallas, the trainers, etc., should take a page out of Golden State and Nellie’s playbook, for application on the hardwood and in life:

“Once in a while, it might not hurt to be loosey-goosey. Being so might make daunting tasks seem oh so easy to conquer, as opposed to making them seem exactly as they are- absolutely intimidating. Nothing to lose, nothing to prove, all the room in the world to simply express, the leave as you came.”

What’s in the number 67, people? Thanks to attitudes, and levels of passion, we’re all even.

~0~

by MC

In the NBA Today:

-The Pistons have finally managed to dispatch the Orlando Magic. The Motor City crew defeated the inexperienced Floridians, 97-93, thereby the first team to earn the first ticket to the second round of the playoffs. Interesting to note that former Pistons Darko Millicic and Grant Hill both scored in double digits and had decent games, but there efforts, coupled with those of Dwight Howard, who has been erratic in the postseason (not to mention terrible from the charity stripe; Howard’s free throw shooting percentage has indeed been a CHARITY CASE), were just not enough to overcome the veteran poise of the men from Detroit. If things continue going down the road we’re seeing footprints on now, then we’re set to see a Bulls-Pistons tiff come round 2. Boy oh boy, will the Ben Wallace factor be a story there. Oh yes, I hope that the game I woke up at 3am to see wasn’t the last NBA contest Grant Hill will ever be participating in. His maturity, and overall athletic ability, is something that the league has benefitted from, really, for over a decade now. I’d hate to see him walk away from the game not having won a title.

-The Spurs took a 2-1 series lead over the pesky Nuggets today. Guess who took center stage for the Spurs? Robert Horry and Michael Finley. Why even attempt to teach old dogs new tricks when old dogs’ habits are just oh so fun to watch, and beneficial to your collective success?

-We could very well be on the eve of the dethroning of the Miami Heat. Is that a good thing? Perhaps. No one wants to see defending champions fight too hard while on crutches. I mean, as exciting as Wade can be, and as dominating Shaquille can still be on some nights, they’ve been caught, this year, winning and losing by putting medicated patches onto gaping wounds. Hand the hardware to a healthier, hungrier, younger, group. Zo’s had his time, and so have J-Will, Walker, and the Glove. Phoenix, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, Utah, Cleveland, Houston, San Antonio (I’d hardly call them whippersnappers, but hey, they are downright scary and respectably unflustered by big game situations when “making things happen” matters the most)and maybe even Toronto and New Jersey, are standing by (sorry Denver and Washington, I don’t think you’re quite ready for the big show yet, with or without Agent Zero, and with or without AI, Camby, and ‘Melo; too much inconsistency here). I’ll have more on this one come tomorrow.

-Utah and Houston are tied at 2 games apiece. The Jazz got solid contributions on the ‘O end from Mehmet Okur, Matt Harpring, Boozer, and Williams, and managed to swarm Yao Ming and TMac with enough zone ‘D to force them into bad shooting nights. Next game is in Houston. I still feel that it’s anybody’s series at this point, but Yao Ming, and especially, McGrady, seem more driven at this point. Rockets, in my mind, seem poised to move on, but it’ll be very, very, close. Besides, Sloan deserves another day in the sun more than Jeff Van Gundy. Why? Anyone beaten up as much as Sloan has by Michael Jordan and co. deserve another crack at the big one not because he and his club weren’t part of the NBA’s elite. It’s just that, well, Michael, on the court, was god. No man in a dapper suit can beat god. Really.

Randoms quips:

-I really hope Toronto manages to come back in their series. I’ve always been a fan of European players and players who have experience playing in Europe, plus, I think Bargnani has a legit chance to become the next Dirk, with time. Moreover, Anthony Parker rocks!!! Hehe. Who’s laughing now?

-If Rick Carlisle wants history to repeat itself, he should coach in Sacto next year. Hey Ron Ron, remember me? =)

-Sebastian Telfair is incredibly careless, and stupid. Period. What a waste of remarkable athletic talent. =(

~0~

by MC

The Mavericks are on the cusp of being eliminated by the eighth seed Golden State Warriors in round 1 of the Western Conference playoffs.

A bluff? Watch ESPN and you’ll know I’m not joking.

After an 18 point drubbing at the hands of the speedsters from Oakland, the Mavericks fan and basketball pundit in me is inevitably led to ask- is Dallas done? Are the Mavericks overrated? Is there truth behind the notion that maybe, just maybe, Mark Cuban could have gotten a more polished low post scorer instead of spending money on Kevin Willis? Is Dirk’s generally soft spoken demeanor rubbing off too much on his on-court persona in these playoffs? Is Dallas about to wilt under the stress yet again?

  Who is to blame here? Who was to blame for the collapse against Miami in the 2006 finals (consequently, Miami is on the verge of elimination against the Bulls). I would hate to just go out and put all the blame on Nowitzki, or on Avery, or on Cuban. I think that right now, the Warriors are the better team, and their running Dallas out of the building night in and night out is evidence of it. It comes as no consequence that Don Nelson is the the man running the show in the Bay Area. Nelson guided Dirk as he rose to that place with thin air we call the NBA stratosphere. He helped the Mavericks franchise emerge from amongst the NBA’s worst to amongst the NBA’s best.

Perhaps Dallas STILL being a perimeter oriented team has something to do with their propensity to stall, at times. Maybe the 67 wins has placed so much pressure on them to the point that they can’t wear their heads on straight. The Mavs have always been a team capable of adapting, but in this case, has their former “master” pushed all the right buttons, such that Dirk and co. have been caught on top of the heap, but in way over their heads with regards to dealing with all the speed, and fury, involved in making it to the top of the mountain, with the thought of it having to be a “repeat” performance of sorts, no less? Are Dirk and Josh Howard players who need a hardwood maestro like Steve Nash, to help them reach levels beyond their full potential? Is Golden State on it’s way to pulling off perhaps the most stunning postseason upset the NBA has ever seen? 

Maybe some assertions are accurate, maybe some are downright ridiculous, and maybe others teeter from certain to unmerited every 5 minutes. However this all plays out, we’ll sure to be witness to the cementing of legacies, and the placing in doubt, of others. Moreover, we may just get to see something not everyone who follows basketball, or sports, for that matter, gets to lay their eyes on- the exposure of a very real humanity behind the jersey numbers, the uniforms, and the team emblems. Amidst all the bright lights, it can become easy to forget just how much being vulnerable, like people are, can hold water in a contest dictated by always robotic efficiency.

Feel for your team. Consider that maybe, just maybe, it may not be a lack of skill. It might just be a lack of will.

My personal observation is that, beyond the stat sheets, the Mavericks, after being caught off-guard, are feeling more worn down by the latter.

I can see it in their eyes. Very vividly so.

~0~

by MC

The Mavericks have fought quick sparks with a slow burning flame.

The series is even, ladies and gentlemen.

Golden State and Dallas went head-to-head in game 2 of their series today. The battle was tightly contested for most of the first half and the beginning of quarter number 3. The Mavericks pulled away midway in the 3rd salvo going into the fourth.

One thing I noticed about the Mavs’ strategy for the second game was Avery Johnson going back to what brought him to the dance- a big lineup primed to bump and grind its way to triumph. The presence of Dampier and Diop in the paint allowed Dallas to defend penetrations better, and to control the boards more effectively. If the defending Western Conference Champions want to get past the Bay Area boys in this series, though, they need to be more mindful of their turnovers. Jason Terry himself quipped about the abundance of TO’s in a halftime interview. That’s got to change, if the Texans intend to make survival in the postseason a priority.

Additionally, I think that Nowitzki has to go to work more on the block. In case he’s doubled down low (expect more of the doubles from Nelson), at least he’ll have a better chance at a higher percentage shot, not to mention, offensive rebounds, if he were nearer the hoop? I think that Dirk would be better served driving down the lane rather than settling for 20 foot jump shots over guys shorter than he is.

Josh Howard has been doing the right thing in attacking the hoop relentlessly. The same goes for Devin Harris.

Game 3 is in Oakland on the 27th of April. That should be a doozy.

A hostile, postseason starved, crowd.

Tensions are high (Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis were ejected from Game 2 due to jawjacking with the officials too much).

The chess match between Johnson and Nellie should continue as scheduled. Nellie should continue trying to push the tempo, while Avery should continue in trying to get his Mavericks to weather the storm and exploit mismatches.

And oh,  I don’t think Dirk can be judged on a subpar game or two. He (and Steve Nash, for that matter) is way to good a baller to be written off because of one or two games on the mend. Dallas needs him to be more aggressive, though, if they want to end the series soon. In a deep Western Conference (San Antonio, Phoenix, and Houston are still lurking about), conditioning in the playoffs could spell the difference between winning and losing.

Just ask Phoenix.

~0~

by MC

Andrei Kirilenko is a poor fit for the Utah Jazz at this point.

That is a very sad little thing to note.

The other day, AK47 talked to reporters, teary eyed, pouring his heart out about playing time. The man’s got a large contract, so, he might be tough to trade.

Utah picks and rolls now. The floor isn’t as spread out as it used to be. That’s a bad thing for Kirilenko, who is used to going to the basket aggressively instead of being a stand-still jump shooter.

The Jazz are down 2-0 in their series with Houston. Perhaps it’s about time the Jazz got a 3rd scorer (preferably a 3), for Andrei. They can’t afford not to bank on AK’s talent- in any way- while his market value is still relatively high.

Let him go. Save yourself the regret (and money).

Prove the title of this post, in reference to Kirilenko, otherwise. We’ve seen what AK can do in the proper system.

Play some smooth Jazz. No Godforsaken “pop”, please.

=)