Wednesday 5/9

Golden State v Utah (Jazz up 2-0) – News flash! If you’re not watching this series, you should be. The first two contests have been tremendously entertaining, with last night’s tilt being the first overtime game of the post season. Deron Williams was nails all night long (17 points & 14 assists) and hit the game tying shot with 2.3 seconds left in regulation. This was after Williams played only :59 seconds in the 1st quarter when he picked up two quick fouls defending Baron Davis. It’s D Wil time baby!

There were several solid performances from all over Utah’s roster, but team rebounding was once again the difference. The Jazz set a playoff record for most rebounds in a game with 60. That’s right, *six-zero*. The Warriors had only 32, bringing the totals after two games to a stunning 114 to 68 overall and 39 to 27 on the offensive glass. If people were wondering why I put so much emphasis on rebound differential, you need look no further than the fact that three out of the four series’ right now are being decided on the backboards.

(Sidebar: three of the four series’ have also been very competitive.)

GS was pretty soundly out played statistically speaking last night, but they still had a chance to win if they make some free throws (they missed six in the final 7:33 of the 4th quarter). What is keeping the Warriors alive is their 3-point shooting. GS hoisted 40 threes in Game 2, which was the second most attempts in a playoff game ever. Even though the percentages are even, the Warriors have made 12 more than Utah (27 to 15). That’s why GS is never out of a game. They can hit you with a flurry of threes, and before you know it a double-digit lead has evaporated in a matter of a minute or two or less.

As the series moves to Oakland I look for the crazies of Oracle Arena to make huge difference in the Warriors collective confidence. GS will play with more energy, drop some more threes, get a few additional calls and probably blow the Jazz out of at least one game. I expect Utah to have a chance in the other game, but it will come down to which squad plays smarter in crunch time. Overall, there’s a very good chance that we will be heading back to Salt Lake City tied 2-2.

I can’t type about the Jazz without mentioning my boy Andrei Kirilenko. AK-47 has 13 blocks through the first two games. Which is the most since Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon had 13 in the first two games of a first round series between the Rockets and Clippers in 1993.