Friday 4/6
> We’ll start off the daily recap in Charlotte where Indiana got a much needed win against a surging Bobcats club that had won four of it’s last five before last night. The win was just the Pacers fifth since the All-Star break (first on the road) and kept them within one loss of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
> I’m probably stating the obvious here, but Miami looks shaky closing games/finishing teams off without Dwyane Wade.
> New York is teetering on the post season precipice after their sixth straight loss at home to a squad with a losing record. The “streak” includes such luminaries as Seattle, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, Portland, Orlando, Philadelphia and now Minnesota. That’s not exactly how you make the playoffs when five of your last seven are on the road.
> Speaking of New Orleans/Oklahoma City (I’m so glad to almost be done typing that), they are officially *done*. With Desmond Mason needing season ending surgery on his broken nose, Chris Paul’s sore left foot, Tyson Chandler’s sore left big toe and Peja Stojakovic’s slow recovery from back surgery, they have just one opening night starter left standing. Well, there’s always next year.
> Golden State continues to roll and put pressure on Denver and the Los Angeles teams to keep winning. There are a few things for the Warriors to worry about though. One, Baron Davis took a nasty ass spill in Memphis, landing straight on his back after a dunk late in the 4th quarter. I wouldn’t be surprised if his quickness is limited for a few days. Two, Al Harrington decided that now is a good time to say he doesn’t like playing center. Even though GS has won four in a row since he moved to the pivot. Typical Al.
> It was an uneventful night in the bottom half of the Western playoff races. First Houston lost at home to Portland without Tracy McGrady & Yao Ming (sore backs). Then Utah was outscored 58-43 in the second half to lose by four in Sacramento. Wash.
Next up was Denver taking advantage of a poor Dallas shooting night and holding on for a four point victory at Pepsi Center. The Lakers followed that up by barely beating the SuperSonics in Seattle. Wash #2.
Warning, Laker rant ahoy. Smush Parker did not play in the 4th quarter for the second straight game, and deservedly so. Even Kevin Calabro & Lenny Wilkens (Seattle’s announcing tandem), both of whom are big time Sonic homers, said that Parker was killing LA with his turnovers (5 in 24 minutes) and lack of defensive intensity.
I’m liking coach Phil Jackson’s new closing five of Jordan Farmar, Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf. They are a bit undersized in the paint on defense, and don’t always rebound well, but beggars can’t be choosers at this time of the year.
> Two more teams were officially eliminated from post season contention Friday (Milwaukee & Seattle) bringing the total to four.
> Games of note tonight…
- Washington at New Jersey
- Golden State at San Antonio
- Denver at Clippers
> I’m probably stating the obvious here, but Miami looks shaky closing games/finishing teams off without Dwyane Wade.
> New York is teetering on the post season precipice after their sixth straight loss at home to a squad with a losing record. The “streak” includes such luminaries as Seattle, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, Portland, Orlando, Philadelphia and now Minnesota. That’s not exactly how you make the playoffs when five of your last seven are on the road.
> Speaking of New Orleans/Oklahoma City (I’m so glad to almost be done typing that), they are officially *done*. With Desmond Mason needing season ending surgery on his broken nose, Chris Paul’s sore left foot, Tyson Chandler’s sore left big toe and Peja Stojakovic’s slow recovery from back surgery, they have just one opening night starter left standing. Well, there’s always next year.
> Golden State continues to roll and put pressure on Denver and the Los Angeles teams to keep winning. There are a few things for the Warriors to worry about though. One, Baron Davis took a nasty ass spill in Memphis, landing straight on his back after a dunk late in the 4th quarter. I wouldn’t be surprised if his quickness is limited for a few days. Two, Al Harrington decided that now is a good time to say he doesn’t like playing center. Even though GS has won four in a row since he moved to the pivot. Typical Al.
> It was an uneventful night in the bottom half of the Western playoff races. First Houston lost at home to Portland without Tracy McGrady & Yao Ming (sore backs). Then Utah was outscored 58-43 in the second half to lose by four in Sacramento. Wash.
Next up was Denver taking advantage of a poor Dallas shooting night and holding on for a four point victory at Pepsi Center. The Lakers followed that up by barely beating the SuperSonics in Seattle. Wash #2.
Warning, Laker rant ahoy. Smush Parker did not play in the 4th quarter for the second straight game, and deservedly so. Even Kevin Calabro & Lenny Wilkens (Seattle’s announcing tandem), both of whom are big time Sonic homers, said that Parker was killing LA with his turnovers (5 in 24 minutes) and lack of defensive intensity.
I’m liking coach Phil Jackson’s new closing five of Jordan Farmar, Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom and Ronny Turiaf. They are a bit undersized in the paint on defense, and don’t always rebound well, but beggars can’t be choosers at this time of the year.
> Two more teams were officially eliminated from post season contention Friday (Milwaukee & Seattle) bringing the total to four.
> Games of note tonight…
- Washington at New Jersey
- Golden State at San Antonio
- Denver at Clippers
posted by D$ at 9:42 AM
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