Tuesday 5/1
New Jersey v Toronto (Nets up 3-2) – After watching a near text book display of how to blow a big lead over the final three quarters, the Raptors avoided a major league choke job and held on to force a Game 6. Toronto has absolutely no clue how to close out a playoff game. None. They looked so flustered and tight out there it almost made me uncomfortable to watch. Anyway, Jose Calderon saved the Canadian’s bacon by blowing up for a career high 25 points on 12-20 shooting while dishing out 8 assists.
(Sidebar: NJ was down 2 and had possession with :14 seconds left and got the ball to Vince Carter. So what does VC do? He dribbles around the perimeter, plays hot potato with Jason Kidd a couple of times and then ends up passing to Boki Nachbar for the game winning attempt. Huh? I almost couldn’t believe my eyes and wondered if Vince realized that Juan Dixon was guarding him. JUAN DIXON! Call me crazy, but I’d like to see my “star” player take it to the hole in that situation.)
The big question for Friday’s game at Continental Airlines Arena is the status of Calderon (right ankle) and T.J. Ford (stinger). I know Darrick Martin is a veteran and all, but he is a colossal drop off from Jose and T.J. For the Raps to have any chance to win they are going to need Chris Bosh to play 40+ minutes and go for like 35 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks. Seriously, this is one of those career defining moments for the young Bosh. He can either stink for the fourth consecutive game and get a reputation as a non-playoff performer. Or he can come out and dominate like he did to open the series and be deemed one of the “next”.
T-Dot hasn’t shown anything that would lead me to believe they are capable of winning an elimination game on the road. Couple that with the Nets big game experience being the main difference between these two squads…and…well…you get my drift.
Golden State v Dallas (Warriors up 3-2) – So I wanna know, did Dirk Nowitzki finally play “big” enough for his critics? With the Mavericks down 9 with 3:06 left to play Dirk hit a three, blocked a shot and then hit another three. All in bang-bang-bang succession, and suddenly Dallas was down only 3. The Mavs closed the game on a 15-0 run in the final 3:06 and the Big German scored 12 of those points. Can we refer to him as the MVP again now?
Dallas was certainly on the brink but Josh Howard (23 points on 10-16, 8 rebounds, 5 assists & 3 steals) carried them early, Devin Harris (16 points on 6-11 with 7 assists) played big in the middle and Nowitzki (30 points on 7-15 FG & 14-15 FT with 12 rebounds) closed it out. Mavs coach Avery Johnson made what has to be the adjustment of the series thus far late in the 4th quarter when he decided to double team Baron Davis (27 points on 10-16 with 9 assists) as soon as he crossed half court. This threw GS off just the slightest bit and aided Dallas’ season saving finish. My only question is, what took Avery so long?
As the series shifts back to the Bay Thursday I have questions about both clubs collective psyches. How do the Warriors respond after having the second round in their grasp only to let it slip away? Will GS be able to handle the pressure (which strangely enough, I think *is* on them) of closing out a superior opponent at home to avoid a Game 7 on the road? For the Mavs, can they handle adversity in an atmosphere they know will be insanely raucous? These are the reasons I’m putting out the first “Must See TV” mandate of the post season to my readers. You have your instructions, and I expect you to follow them.
(Sidebar: NJ was down 2 and had possession with :14 seconds left and got the ball to Vince Carter. So what does VC do? He dribbles around the perimeter, plays hot potato with Jason Kidd a couple of times and then ends up passing to Boki Nachbar for the game winning attempt. Huh? I almost couldn’t believe my eyes and wondered if Vince realized that Juan Dixon was guarding him. JUAN DIXON! Call me crazy, but I’d like to see my “star” player take it to the hole in that situation.)
The big question for Friday’s game at Continental Airlines Arena is the status of Calderon (right ankle) and T.J. Ford (stinger). I know Darrick Martin is a veteran and all, but he is a colossal drop off from Jose and T.J. For the Raps to have any chance to win they are going to need Chris Bosh to play 40+ minutes and go for like 35 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks. Seriously, this is one of those career defining moments for the young Bosh. He can either stink for the fourth consecutive game and get a reputation as a non-playoff performer. Or he can come out and dominate like he did to open the series and be deemed one of the “next”.
T-Dot hasn’t shown anything that would lead me to believe they are capable of winning an elimination game on the road. Couple that with the Nets big game experience being the main difference between these two squads…and…well…you get my drift.
Golden State v Dallas (Warriors up 3-2) – So I wanna know, did Dirk Nowitzki finally play “big” enough for his critics? With the Mavericks down 9 with 3:06 left to play Dirk hit a three, blocked a shot and then hit another three. All in bang-bang-bang succession, and suddenly Dallas was down only 3. The Mavs closed the game on a 15-0 run in the final 3:06 and the Big German scored 12 of those points. Can we refer to him as the MVP again now?
Dallas was certainly on the brink but Josh Howard (23 points on 10-16, 8 rebounds, 5 assists & 3 steals) carried them early, Devin Harris (16 points on 6-11 with 7 assists) played big in the middle and Nowitzki (30 points on 7-15 FG & 14-15 FT with 12 rebounds) closed it out. Mavs coach Avery Johnson made what has to be the adjustment of the series thus far late in the 4th quarter when he decided to double team Baron Davis (27 points on 10-16 with 9 assists) as soon as he crossed half court. This threw GS off just the slightest bit and aided Dallas’ season saving finish. My only question is, what took Avery so long?
As the series shifts back to the Bay Thursday I have questions about both clubs collective psyches. How do the Warriors respond after having the second round in their grasp only to let it slip away? Will GS be able to handle the pressure (which strangely enough, I think *is* on them) of closing out a superior opponent at home to avoid a Game 7 on the road? For the Mavs, can they handle adversity in an atmosphere they know will be insanely raucous? These are the reasons I’m putting out the first “Must See TV” mandate of the post season to my readers. You have your instructions, and I expect you to follow them.
posted by D$ at 8:44 PM
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