- Biggest surprise, Russell Westbrook goes down with meniscus tear and is lost for the playoffs. Tito, er, Reggie Jackson will fill in, but this is starting to look more like the Durant 5.
- Hard work outplays talent, when talent doesn't work hard- yada yada yada, Bulls beat Nets and continue to over-achieve based on the guys they're running out there. Inspired basketball.
- Steph Curry transcended everyone's notions of his ceiling. He's gotten white hot for whole quarters at a time. (Usually, the 3rd)
- The Knicks devolved into a mess of half court isolations and off court distractions, narrowly slipping by the undermanned and aging Celtics in 6. Unfortunately, they haven't left their stagnant isolation heavy offense in Boston. Move the ball fellas.
- The Spurs thoroughly outplayed the Lakers in their 4 game sweep, winning 13 of the 16 quarters of play. The Heat matched San Antonio's quarter dominance in their sweep of the Bucks. I mention this because it shows that neither team is prone to lengthy droughts on offense or prolonged runs by the opposition. It shows consistency over the course of a game, and series. Oh yea, the Spurs 3 quarter losses were by a combined 3 points.
- Mike Conley Jr. can start going by Mike Conley Sr., he's earned it... Some people (me) suggested if Conley matched or kept the match up close with Chris Paul, the Grizzlies could get by the Clips. He did, the Grizz prevailed. Personally, I think he outplayed the oft-lauded Paul.
- Speaking of the Zeppelin that is the Los Angeles Clippers: let's consider contributory playoff dismissal variables. Vinny Del Negro Doing Vinny Del Negro Things + Blake Griffin Being Hurt and Looking Sad + Too Many Players, Not Enough Minutes + A Neutralized CP3 = Debacle. 2 years in a row now, we've seen an implosion of sorts from within the Clips ranks. Clips problems aside, Memphis was very good; to win 4 straight against a team as talented as the Clippers certainly deserves a dap.
- New York Knicks Fashion Sense: Cart.... Horse.
- Denver suffered from what detractors had pointed to as their 'achilles' all season - lack of an alpha scorer in the games most important moments. In juxtaposition, Steph Curry filled the role in spades for the Warriors.
- Obligatory joke about I forgot the forgettable series between Indiana and Atlanta. Sincere remark where I say that in all honesty, it really was a terrible series. All games with 10+ point spreads. Paul George is good. That's it. Nothing to see here, Move along.
- Every generation must have a team that defines insanity, continually having the same look and feel with the same results, yet they endure - always losing in the first round of the playoffs. The Atlanta Hawks have been this team for some time.
- David Lee's muscle memory looked pretty good the other night, eh Derrick. Ah geez.
- Duncan wins games with his head, Curry his hands and Joakim Noah his heart, guts, nuts and just about anything else that is humanly possible to summon into his being when he is out there on the basketball court, an inspiring motor hardly says it.
- Tom Thibodeau > P.J Carlisemo & Just about every other NBA coach. (Save an arguable handful.) Outmatched at nearly every position. Thibodeau motivated the hurt, the sick, and the dismissed. I'm getting dramatic, but, it was dramatic.
- Denver still makes me shake my head a little, whatever happened George?
- Manu Ginobili has no conscious, at all. After all it is, "what he does", for clarification watch Gregg Popovich's in his press conference following Game 1. Go to the 3:00min mark for the sound bite.
- Acknowledging adjustments: Unlike the regular season, the playoffs are more specifically a game of adjustments, over the course of a 7 game series in which 2 sides are trading blows and the advantage is continually shifting. A team's chances hinge on a coaches ability to adapt and adjust his team's schemes and game-plan. Golden State's small ball since the loss of Lee has been the adjustment of the playoffs, Thibbs is continually making adjustments to give his undermanned Bulls a fighting chance, the Heat have increased Norris Cole's role as they've needed him to limit Nate Robinson's quickness and penetration, The Thunder need to find a way to increase the tempo, slowing it down in the half court favours the size of the Grizz. This is the time of year when coaches earn their pay. Could Mark Jackson out coach Greg Popovich? Wouldn't that be a bigger upset than Warriors over Spurs?
- I donno how to fix the Knicks, but I'd start by increasing the number of pick and rolls Felton runs and I'd try to get Hibbert away from the basket and involved in as many of those pick and rolls as possible. Knick attackers have got to get their shots over Hibbert and on the rim, Chandler needs to gobble those up, he's not been a story on the offensive glass and he needs to be if Hibbert is contesting the Knicks drives like he has been. I'd try and have Melo catching the ball with a defender coming at him, as opposed to 5 defenders standing there, with him coming at them. Strangely, standing around and taking contested shots doesn't seem to be getting it done at the moment.
- The Great Wall of Hibbert has been erected in NBA paints stretching from Indiana all the way to the Eastern Seaboard. He's single-handedly controlled the paint in this series, on both end of the floor. If Hibbert continues to be the most impactful player on the court, you can bet you'll see the Pacers in the next round.
- Will the real Serge Ibaka please stand up?! Ibaka has followed up his season long ascension, with what has been a playoff long regression. The Thunder's scenario called upon Ibaka to increase his impact, instead the returns have been diminished. Until the regular season version of Ibaka shows himself the Thunder are going to be hard pressed to advance. Leaving the Thunder's brass with an extended off season to consider whether the Ibaka over Harden gamble was the right decision. Of course it doesn't help that they could use a Harden-like skill set more than ever right about now.
- Could will.i.am be any more annoying. No.
- Dwayne Wade is not quite right, and subsequently the Miami Heat are not quite right. Good enough to get out of the East maybe, but they'll need Wade before it's all said and done.
- Did I not say Derrick Rose would be one of the most talked about storylines of the playoffs, this what-if doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.
- I could not have been more wrong about the Golden State Warriors v. San Antonio Spurs series, which I figured to be cake walk for the veteran Spurs. The Warriors ability to go small and put pressure on perimeter defenders continues to be a talking point in what has been the most exciting series of the playoffs.
- LeBron human? I'm just saying it's been nearly a month since LeBron has reminded me he's from another planet, he's due for something celestial. That said he is averaging nearly as many points in the 4th quarter, as he is in the other quarters quarters combined.
- Oklahoma needs to find a new identity and find it quick. Their lighting quick attacking style isn't the same since Westbrook went down, and the thought of playing BIG with Perkins and Ibaka doesn't seem like the answer either; the Grizz's own identity lies in it's superior BIG line-ups.
- Jimmy Butler has proved to be incredibly durable and versatile in the small sample size thus far since the epic 3 OT game that knocked both Deng and Hinrich out of the Bulls rotation. In the 6 games since, Butler has played the full 48 minutes in 4 contests, 45 in another and he rested plenty in Miami's Game 2 blowout victory. Butler's emergence has to be seen as one the silver linings for the 2013 Bulls, but how much longer can the Bulls demand this kind of durability from the young swingman.
- Despite all of the Knicks woes, it seems Shumpert is finally back to form.
Of course I jinxed my man, and he has since been seen resting his knees alongside Coach Woodson. Turns out there has been some inflammation and bruising in his knee since his return from ACL surgery. Derrick Rose apologists rejoice.
Loser #5 - NBA Fans - There's been a dark injury cloud looming for much of the 2013 campaign and it's lingered into the postseason, with Kobe, DRose, and now Westbrook out. I would have liked to see Kobe get a chance to finish what he started, after keeping the Lakers season afloat by sheer will for much of the season. I think I speak for every basketball fan on the planet when I say, I miss watching Derrick Rose revolutionize the point guard position. And I'm genuinely disappointed I can't see a rematch of last year's highly competitive championship series. Not to say the Thunder can't make it, but a Thunder team without Westbrook and Harden, that's not what I had in mind. That's 3 of the NBA's top 10 players, and arguably it's two most athletic guards. Not to mention Deng, Hinrich, Lee, Amare, Granger, and now it seems Wade too, has been banged up. A lot of what-ifs.
Winner #5 - Paul George - Paul George has unquestionably been the Pacer's best player throughout the 2013 season. Without much fan fare George has catapulted himself into the discussion of the playoffs elite performers thus far. A tenacious wing defender with above average length and athleticism, George has taken on an increased load on the offensive end, while remaining the staunch defender the Pacers have counted on him to be. His ability to contain Carmelo on the defensive end and his increased production on the offensive end both as a scorer and creator has the Pacers playing their best basketball of the year, poised to knock off the Knicks and advance to the Eastern Conference Championship.Loser #4 - JR Smith - I'm one of Smith's biggest supporters but the last two weeks have been abysmal for the recently crowned 6th man. But what have you done for me lately. Following his ill intended elbow/bicep thrust at the melon of Jason Terry, JR Smith has gone ice cold in a most telling display of karma? Though perhaps, we shouldn't be surprised, often Smith's shots are of a high degree of difficulty, almost assuring slumps and streaks at a semi regular occurrence. If you check Smith's game log for the season I'm sure there have other poor shooting skids, but this one just happens to be under the microscope of the playoffs. . Smith's absence as Carmelo's wingman has been a telling storyline from round 2. It seemed Smith had turned the corner in 2013, yet his playoffs have been marred by poor judgement and poor performance. Being a free agent in the coming off season, Smith would like nothing more than to remind everyone why he was the leagues most electric weapon off the bench this season, but unless he turns things around quick the playoffs have only served to decrease his value in my opinion, and that bums me out.
Winner(s) #4 - Jarrett Jack/Harrison Barnes - On the flip side another pending free agent, Jarrett Jack, has seized his opportunity, shining bright in the absence of the "injured' David Lee. Jack has been a vital part of the small ball, 3 guard attack employed by the Warriors. Jack's mid range pull up game has been deadly and he continues to show a knack for taking, and more importantly making, big shots in the 4th quarter. Despite some mistakes with the ball and some questionable shot selection, I'd say that Jack has done well in selling himself as a reliable scoring combo guard in the era of small ball, stretch 4 lineups that I think we're heading towards. Barnes deserves mention as well, the UNC product has blossomed in the role of 'undersized 4', stretching the defensive helping bigs away from the hoop, and punishing small guards (Parker) who match up with him in the post as well.
More Upcoming Free Agents - Let's consider a couple other winning and losing free agents based on their performances thus far in the post season.
Winners #3 - Nate Robinson - Nate has yet again (thought he was good in Boston) proven himself to be a viable scoring option with loads of energy. Is it possible Robinson has gone from overrated to underrated? He'll invariably become overrated again, very soon, I could see someone spending on Nate as a change of pace scoring option off the bench like Smith, Barea, Crawford. While he may not be in their class he has certainly increased his value this post season. Matt Barnes - As bat-shit crazy as Matt Barnes appeared throughout the Clippers series with the Grizzlies, he seemingly always backed up his chatter with quality play. While Vinny Del Negro frantically shuffled line ups in and out, one of the constants was Matt Barnes. Barnes will be a sought after free agent; he plays with the physicality necessary for a small 4, and the athleticism to match up with some of the leagues elite perimeter players. David West - I don't know how much David West can improve his stock at this point, a long time vet, he pretty much is what he is. That said, he is undeniably a winner. West brings a no-nonsense leadership mentality, I think he could greatly help a young team on the cusp, this playoffs have proven it. Losers #3 - Josh Smith - Did Josh Smith do enough in the post season to be considered a max contract player? I don't think so. With his athleticism and skill set he should be a max guy but he shoots a poor percentage and makes poor decisions with the ball. Said someone in 2007. 6 years later the red flags are the same. Kevin Martin - Martin was the big chip headed to Oklahoma City in the Harden trade, in the regular season he filled his role (scoring lift off the bench) impeccably well. So much so that some teams may have been tempted to offer some cash Martin's way as a number 2 scoring option. However, since Westbrook has gone down it has been glaring just how much Martin is not Harden. Martin has not filled the role of number 2 scoring option with enough consistency or success for me to think that he's improved his value, instead he's validated himself as a 3rd or 4th banana in my opinion. Lamar Odom - Aside from Vinny Del Negro, is anyone else interested in paying for Lamar's aging line drive jumper? Lamar was brutal and he's a long way removed from his glory years in Los Angeles.
Winner #2 - Mark Jackson & Steph Curry - Steph Curry may not be the
BEST player in the playoffs thus far (Durant), but he's certainly raised
his level of play the most. Lifting the Warriors with him. Curry has
created for both himself and his teammates as his ascension has really
been something to watch. Since becoming the alpha dog, the team has
seemingly taken on Curry's personality. A big part of that has been
coach Mark Jackson's adjustments to his line up in the wake of David Lee
going down. The Warriors are playing a small, fast exciting brand of
basketball, headed by their 3 guard attack of Curry, Thompson, and Jack.
Bogut has been solid in the middle and Barnes has been the perfect
compliment at the 4. Many were quick to dismiss the Warriors when Lee,
their lone All Star, went down. Instead the 6th seeded Warriors upset
the favoured Nuggets and are now giving the vaunted Spurs all they can
handle. Maybe necessity was the mother of invention in this case,
regardless Jackson ability to transition his squad's identity so quickly
under the circumstances has been impressive.Loser #2 - Los Angeles Clippers - Shit was all good just a week ago, and then it shit the fan. Big time. Just May 1st, the Clippers seemed poised to roll past the Grizz again in round 1, with the loss of Westbrook for the Thunder, the Clippers road was seemingly clear. Perhaps they looked past the Grizz, perhaps Vinny Del Negro decided to start coaching, either way shit happened and instead of marching into Oklahoma City poised to take their place amongst the NBA's elite, the Clippers are left wondering if VDN should be back, if CP3 will be back. A lot can change in a week in L.A.
My Biggest Loser of the playoffs so far, Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers. - Way passed misunderstood, Dwight cannot help making himself come off as a loser in the post season. This time selfishly sabotaging his Laker teammates, seemingly begging for two technical fouls and a quick dismissal. An appropriate ending to a season that was mired in a series of ill fated Howard dramatics since day one. He won't lose in the financial sense, but he'll certainly suffer from a personal legacy standpoint. A career as a Los Angeles Laker could have solidified him as one of the greats down the line, he may have blown that opportunity this year. The once proud and mighty Los Angeles Lakers have experienced a humbling of sorts throughout the 2012-13 season, their steady and well publicized fall from grace reached it's culmination with their embarrassing dismissal from the playoffs at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. To worsen matters the team's obvious lack of chemistry and limited numbered of tangible successes, notably in the playoffs, can't provide encouragement to the Lakers going forward. With a so much invested in a roster that has already proven in cannot win, the Lakers are easily the most disappointing team of the 2012-13 season. A bull in a china shop the whole while, hardly carrying themselves with anywhere near, the class and effort that the Celtics did.
My Biggest Winner of the playoffs so far is again, NBA Fans. Yeah, I did that. Contradictory as it may seem, while we may have missed out on some interesting hypotheticals, there has still been plenty to celebrate. Following a slow start, the first few weeks have provided some very interesting match ups, most notably the Spurs v.Warriors series. (We've already seen 3 periods of overtime play through the first 4 games.) The back court match up of Green/ Ginobili/ Parker v. Curry/ Thompson/ Jack has been top notch, old and stubborn v. young and impatient. Memphis v. Oklahoma City has been highly competitive as well. We've been given the chance to see how truly great Durant can be on his own, despite this not being what we meant by Westbrook sacrificing his looks. The West is now truly wide open and the Heat may not be a sure thing as long as Wade isn't 100 percent. We've seen efficient and impressive team efforts (Heat, Pacers), other gutsy, yet equally impressive team efforts (Bulls), some remarkable individual performances (Curry, Robinson), intense rivals (Bulls/Heat), and late dramatics. (Ginobili, Durant) Hip Hop 2.0 - On The Way.
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