Links: Friday Night Wrap-Up
Could both ‘06 Finalists say good-bye in round one?
Well, I stayed up late last night to catch the NBA action and post post-game notes. Then, as soon as the game ended, I opened up my laptop to post these notes and…the internet went out. Just flickered back on, so I’m gonna post this as fast as I can and let you guys talk it out in the comments section.
I watched all of the Miami/Chicago game and the Dallas Golden State game.
Didn’t see any of the Nets/Raptors game, and I feel bad about that. I couldn’t even get out to lovely East Rutherford to catch the game in person because we had too much stuff going on at the SLAM Dome today. (And let’s be honest here: As good as the Nets and the Raptors are, the two big games tonight were the other two games.)
From the highlights I saw it looked like the Nets came to play tonight. This doesn’t happen often anymore, as the Nets are aging before our eyes. And by “the Nets,” I mean Jason Kidd. Talk all you want about Vince scoring and the Nets needing Richard Jefferson healthy, but without Kidd out there going full speed all the time, the Nets don’t have a chance from game to game. That’s a lot of pressure for one person, but Kidd is rock solid, even with all the divorce silliness swirling around him.
The Raptors are a good team that are going to become a great team in a year or two as they jell and add a player or two. But I can’t shake the feeling that the Nets are going to win this series. Kidd’s going to make sure of that.
I thought the most interesting thing about the Miami/Chicago game was when the fourth quarter came around and suddenly everyone in the arena affiliated with the Heat, both fans and players, seemed completely devoid of energy. It was almost as if kryptonite had been blasted through the air ducts, and the only protection was to wear a Bulls jersey.
The Bulls opened hot, but the Heat came roaring back in the second quarter as the Bulls couldn’t stop turning the ball over. The announcers kept praising Miami’s defense, though to me it seemed like the Bulls were just playing poorly, passing the ball directly to Miami players. The Heat, to their credit, took advantage of the turnovers and built a lead. Wade and Shaq in particular looked good. The Heat held the lead in the third, but the fourth happened and everything seemed to fall apart.
The Heat also were totally reliant on Dwyane Wade. Shaq had his moments, but down the stretch the Heat just kept running those isolations for Wade, over and over, and eventually seemed to just give up.
The Bulls generally play much better when they can get out and run. Miami kept them from running most of the night, and the Bulls couldn’t make a run to get the lead back. Then, in the fourth quarter, suddenly things started clicking for the Bulls in their halfcourt sets. It helped that the Heat seemed to be playing with their legs tied together. But could we have witnessed the maturation of a really good team into a great team tonight?
You couldn’t have picked a better contrast to the low-energy Miami fans than the raucous Golden State fans, all wearing their gold “WE BELIEVE” t-shirts. (Not sure I like the “WE BELIEVE” theme, because it’s almost like they’re admitting that the Warriors aren’t very good. “We believe in this streaking Warriors team, even though there’s no frigging way we can be seeing this!”)
The thing is, even when Dallas was down 20 with 16 minutes to go, I wasn’t totally convinced the Warriors were going to win. The Warriors played an incredible game last night, with almost every guy playing perfectly. How many times have you seen a team shoot something like 60 percent in the first half and then turn ice cold in the second?
Avery Johnson used a lot of his big men again last night, but it didn’t matter. The Warriors controlled the game all night. Dallas was whiny, looking for calls, and Golden State grabbed the game by the throat and wouldn’t relent. (Probably a bad analogy to use with Golden State involved. Sorry.) Golden State’s confidence was off the charts all night. As long as the Warriors don’t stop believing, they’ll stay hot. I’m very curious to see how far they can go.
Dirk was particularly terrible. Sure, he finished with 20 and 12, but when his team was down and looking for someone to take over, he didn’t have it in him to carry the Mavs. Then the Mavs totally unraveled, picking up Ts and losing their cool.
The TV highlight of the night was Jim Gray stumping David Stern. He got The Sternbot to stammer when he asked him about the Sonics moving to Vegas, and before Gray could put Stern on the spot again he did his old trick of talking about the broadcasters and joking around to change the subject. He looked to be about 5 seconds from strangling Jim Gray on live TV.
I also enjoyed watching Avery Johnson in HD. I don’t know what kind of gum he was chewing, but his tongue was the color of a Smurf.
Finally, I got a text message tonight from SLAM senior writer Bonsu Thompson that read, “Imagine both 06 finalists getting bumped first round.”
We may not have to imagine it for long.
56 Responses to “Links: Friday Night Wrap-Up”
Apr.28 at 3:25 pm
the brown guy says:
raptors = need bosh/bargnani to go crazy and parker to become evil, the heat are going going gone, and if the GSW win this series it would be the coolest thing ever, but the only deal is how much farther could they go then? could they beat either the rockets/jazz ?
IF that happens though, IF they advance, GSW vs the suns in the west finals could be more fun to watch then the mavs, SO much more fun. it would be game after game of run / gun / explosiveness, and maybe we can get sjackson and raja bell to fight
Apr.28 at 3:43 pm
2G40 says:
Damn is that crickets I hear…first! I told some of you guy’s earlier in the week that the bulls were a much better team then the heat, and I was told to shut the f__#$ up! All I heard (from guy’s like whitehot) was how Miami had so much playoff experience, and how Riley was a better coach. What say ye now BI…ATCH! the series is 3-0. Let me also say job well done to J Kidd, theres no body better when your on your game. Damn boy you took TJ Ford to school last night.
Apr.28 at 3:44 pm
2G40 says:
Well Second!
Apr.28 at 3:44 pm
A.C Green says:
There is a first time for every thing.
Apr.28 at 3:51 pm
2G40 says:
bg, I wouldn’t count the lakers out yet. Kobe’s had two forty pt. games, and I predict he’ll light Raja up today. If he get’s a little help from Odom who seem to play well against Phoenix, and Brown or Walton show up this series could be tied after today.
Apr.28 at 3:58 pm
JOE says:
GS VS THE SUNS? W.O.W.
Apr.28 at 4:15 pm
the brown guy says:
hey, i said IF
anything can happen when an IF is involved
Apr.28 at 4:32 pm
We Believe says:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/warriors/ci_5764491 Wong, owner and chef of the barbecue restaurant Hawaiian Drive Inn in Alameda, is the die-hard fan responsible for the “We Believe” campaign. It all started as a movement to get people to believe in the Warriors. Though they were seven games under .500 at the time, Wong sensed the Warriors had their swagger back after winning at Detroit on March 6.
Apr.28 at 4:38 pm
Simmy Sosa says:
I really think GS can win that series. They’ve proven to be the Kryptonyte to the Mavs, and they still haven’t made adjustments to prove otherwise. It just seems like the Mavs can’t match up with the Warriors, so what can they do? As well as the Warriors played last night, they still only shot 6-23 from three and 73 percent from the line. Barring another mental breakdown, I think the Warriors win this series. And you can stick a fork in Miami as well. They simply can’t keep up with the Bulls.
Apr.28 at 4:51 pm
martymcfly says:
nuggets over spurs>>>warriors over mavs>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>the east
Apr.28 at 4:58 pm
truce says:
this is the statement stern was talking about last nite. http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/bennett070427.html
Apr.28 at 5:16 pm
Max Airington says:
Someone really needs to remind me why Steve Nash is better than Jason Kidd…
Apr.28 at 5:29 pm
sefos says:
brown guy - after watching anthony parker closely for a few years, i can tell you that though AP is a very good player, who coulda been a semi-star in the L for a few years had he not stayed in europe, there’s one thing he doesn’t do, and that’s evil. what the raptors need is for chris bosh to wake up and realize he is being checked by mikki moore and collins the greater. an all-star and franchise player should destroy these guys (no disrespect to mikki moore…). that’ll give ‘em a shot.
Apr.28 at 5:37 pm
Young C says:
You said that as if Anthony Parker wasnt already in the league. Thats why he was in Europe because he didnt catch on in the league before. So if he would have been a star, he wouldnt have had to go to Europe in the first place.
Apr.28 at 5:58 pm
JON says:
i was thinking the same thing max
Apr.28 at 6:08 pm
J-Bird says:
Who said Nash was better than Kidd?
Apr.28 at 6:11 pm
Phil B. says:
Max, invite Kidd out to a farm, take a basketball, point to the barn — the answer should come to you pretty soon. If Kidd had Nash’s shot, then you would have an argument.
Apr.28 at 6:32 pm
Bay Life says:
I went to St. Joseph High School here in the Bay Area. Same High School as J. Kidd, he single handedly got the school 2 State Championships, BACK TO BACK. He did it with his assist magic. Guess what his name was back in high school, “Ason “. Why you may ask? He had no “J”. =)
Apr.28 at 6:32 pm
bobbo says:
On one hand you note Kidd had a 16, 16, 19 game and on the other you say he is aging before our eyes. You don’t see a cognitive disconnect there? Kidd did average almost a triple double this season, at 13, 9 and 8, someone only Oscar and Magic did in their PRIME. What he did to the Raptors–a triple double and a half–has only been accomplished twice in NBA playoff history. Isn’t time for everyone to accept that Kidd is not aging that rapidly…and note that at this point in John Stockton’s career, he hadn’t gone to the finals yet.
Apr.28 at 6:34 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
I don’t know what “cognitive disconnect” means.
Apr.28 at 6:42 pm
Phil B. says:
He likely meant “cognitive dissonance,” which is the unease a person feels when he holds two conflicting beliefs in his mind. The term is often misused by someone who just wants to say you’re contradicting yourself.
Apr.28 at 6:44 pm
Phil B. says:
I don’t see a problem with saying a guy is both playing great and getting older before our eyes. That sums up Nash pretty well, too.
Apr.28 at 6:48 pm
fabio says:
jason kidd…jason kidd…jason kidd
Apr.28 at 7:00 pm
8-Ball says:
the heat suck ass in the finals,gs better win this,sh*t i have nothing to do now cept play bball and watch it cuz my freaking 360 had to break down,monta and baron and warriors are like bread and butter,no one likes dallas, im sorry its true………..
Apr.28 at 7:34 pm
Joel O's says:
Agreed, Sefos. Bosh was 3 for 10 going into the final inconsequential minutes. If he can’t light up the likes of Mikki Moore and Collins then the Raps’re in deep trouble. Bosh needs a shooting-hand transplant from Kobe (a la Liquid Snake & Ocelot) so he gets possessed by the spirit of the Mamba and drops 50 on the Nets. And Jason Kidd nearly dropped a triple 20. Unbelievable.
Apr.28 at 8:29 pm
RPM says:
Why don’t ya’ll support something interesting, like Ronaldo on AC Milan, dominatin…
Apr.28 at 9:59 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Jason Kidd is amazing. He’s been the best player in the New York area since he got here.
Apr.28 at 10:34 pm
ALX8725 says:
hehehe btw Lang, do you still think the Warriors don’t play D? they’ve been playing great defense since game 1, since before game 1, And aside from the meltdown in game 2, I’d have to say Warriors have been playing some of the best defense during the playoffs. I was at the game in Oakland last night, the place was ROCKING. It was so loud at times the noise was deafening. I would try to talk to my friend during timeouts but he couldnt hear a single word I was saying. When Stern was presenting Monta with the MIP award the crowd was so loud and deafening that neither Stern or Monta didnt bother to adress the crowd because no one could hear them. Also during the national anthem, random poeple would shout “WAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRIORRSSS!!” and then large sections of the crowd would start cheering and drown out the national anthem. It was so loud I didnt even know there were 3 technicals called until I saw Baron/Jax shooting technical FTs. It seemed like the crowd was never sitting. I lost my voice by the end of the night and fell asleep as soon as I got home because I was so tired from cheering/booing/standing ovations all night long. And usually, during the seasons, during breaks in the game they give out free pizzas/tshirts to the craziest fans, on it gets pretty crazy during the season but last night no one seemed to give a shit, they were all saving their energy for the game. the atmosphere was awesome and the vibe was just off the hook. it was better than any college game could ever be.
Apr.28 at 10:37 pm
AC says:
The warriors are flat out playing streetball. The mavs are so used to playing structured ball that they have no idea how to respond on offence. Go Warriors…
Apr.28 at 10:40 pm
ALX8725 says:
oh yeah, and for being an MVP candidate…. Dirk has got to be the most non-imposing MVP candidate ever. even nash could take over a game when his team needs him to. Dirk could never impose his will on the game, never took over… he had a library-silent 20 points. if some newbie fan was watching the mavs for the first time were told to look for a player that was an MVP candidate type player on the Mavs, that fan probably wouldn’t been able to tell who it was. that fan probably would’ve picked out Jrich or Baron to be those MVP candidates. honestly, if you were a new fan to the game and knew nothing about the players, teams, records and watching the Warriors/Mavs game knowing nothing, and were told you were watching a 1 seed and an 8 seed, who do you think they would pick to be the no.1 seed?
Apr.28 at 10:45 pm
ALX8725 says:
btw the Warriors werent playing well, terrible shooting night. horrible 3pt shooting, and crappy ft shooting, and it was STILL a blowout. it just that the mavs were even more shitty.
Apr.28 at 10:45 pm
ALX8725 says:
hella Warriors turnovers too
Apr.28 at 10:48 pm
Smits says:
It is only a matter of time before somebody does
give Jim Gray the ole strangle hold during an interview. I wouldn’t have picked Sternbot, but wouldn’t that be fantastic TV.
Apr.28 at 10:57 pm
ALX8725 says:
Miami has an excuse for playing so shitty, but the Mavs?? They are just getting slapped around and dominated by the Warriors. Warriors are such a good team but no one is giving them any credit, its always Dallas-mistakes that resulted in the score, never any Warriors compliments.
Apr.28 at 11:00 pm
Tariq says:
The Heat are obviously done, but it’s still much too early to count out the Mavs. I would be thrilled to see GS in the 2nd round though.
Apr.28 at 11:51 pm
whooo! says:
ALX, i think it’s a big matter of matchups. i’ve felt dirk to was mvp last year and he probably deserves it this yr too. i’m also a spurs fan, and the way he plays against them is just crazy. and now, he’s completely bamboozled by the warriors and reverting back to the soft, non-leader dirk of a couple yrs ago. i think the biggest thing the warriors have done is complete shake the mavs’ confidence, and considering how weak and choke prone they are, i think you have it wrapped up.
Apr.28 at 11:57 pm
ALX8725 says:
i like to keep my hopes high by thinking that too, but i gotta stay logical, mavs are the best team in the nba right? for now, mavs in 7, but after game 4, i might have to take that back. we’ll see. im just terrified to play houston if the warriors advance, yao would just slaughter us in the post.
Apr.29 at 12:25 am
Bay Area Life says:
sum1 need post up that link of biedrins throwin down 1 handed
Apr.29 at 1:01 am
ALX8725 says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FBs0NviMOs
Apr.29 at 1:15 am
8-Ball says:
why is monta and davis still wearing reeboks and and1s fro their ballin shoes? yo at the end of the season mj better hook ‘em up or that wont go down to well with me,scratch that,the whole entire warriors need some jordans,starting with monta, he’ll get the spizikes and baron will get the 5s, jackson will get his custom IIs, and al harrigton will get…………………………………
Apr.29 at 5:02 am
fabio says:
about that mvp thing: dirk really shouldn’t get it. not only because of that warriors thing. the mavs and the suns are great squads and nash got his due already. pound for pound the best players in the league are lebron and kobe. i am maybe a bit traditional thinking that mvp should go to a guy whose team has some sucess, that’s why kobe is out for me. i’d put lebron for mvp and i don’t understand why he gets so little consideration. take him off the cavs and they’d hardly make the playoffs.
Apr.29 at 5:52 am
Brad says:
i’m really hoping the nets can go all the way in the east and the suns in the west so we can see nash and j kidd go at it in the finals. remember that double OT game back in decmber. DAMN
Apr.29 at 8:55 am
baby jordan says:
my pick: east-nets/bulls
west-warriors/suns
finals-nets/suns
Apr.29 at 9:00 am
fabio says:
i like this about kidd (they had it on ESPN): in the 25 years before kidd joined the nets, the played 29 postseason games. in the 6 years with kidd they played 69…talk about impact
as much as i love jason, no way the pistons won
‘t make it to the finals. i see a pistons-spurs matchup
Apr.29 at 9:01 am
seppo says:
Even though his numbers are still decent, Steve Nash has been in a slump for a while now. He seems slower than usual, his shot is off and his passes aren´t on point like they used to be. But unlike Dirk, Nash is mentally strong and I think he can bounce back. If not, the Lakers will tie up the series this afternoon. As for Dirk, Avery should have the courage to bench his “MVP”. He simply cannot be trusted anymore.
Apr.29 at 10:32 am
deestarbuckz says:
WOW! Bench Dirk… that’s a touch beyond EXTREME! He has not been horrible, he just has not been playng MVP caliber basketball. Dirk is still progressing in being “The Man,” it just shows alot more in the playoffs (year after year) that he has a lil’ ways to go.
Apr.29 at 12:16 pm
Sesa says:
I like the Stephen Jackson photo you put up.
He was like screaming “Whoo!” or “Thug Life!!!”
on the court. I hoped that he really embraced the “Whoo” nickname y’all gave him.
Apr.29 at 2:42 pm
Kadavour says:
Dirk is not the Most Valuable Player in the NBA. he’s not even in the league’s top 5 players at their respective positions. I’d take Duncan and KG over Dirk any day (you would too). stick a fork in Miami. Same for Dallas, cuz they’re going down 3-1 tonight. LA is gonna even up the series. and next year everyone is going to be talking about how Dirk is the worst MVP ever.
Apr.29 at 3:34 pm
Brian says:
You think instead of trying to be Shaq’s friend, someone from the media might ask him about losing to Ben Wallace’s team 3 out of the last 4 years?
Apr.29 at 4:36 pm
Esco says:
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep…bye bye miami
Apr.29 at 5:20 pm
Bigi says:
The Heat Is O…FFFFFFFFFFF!Summertime…Ice up Wade.
Apr.29 at 6:34 pm
seppo says:
The star of Dwyane Wade is fading fast. Before the injury he was arguably one of the top 5 players in the L. I hope he can turn things around but I think he will never be quite the same.
Apr.29 at 6:54 pm
Phil B. says:
23 dimes and he turned Magic into a teenager with a crush. Funny.
Apr.30 at 12:52 am
Russ Bengtson says:
BEE-a-drish?
Apr.30 at 5:37 am
Ian says:
The golden state series reminds me of the waterboy film ft adam sandler - avery johnson is coach klein, he just needs to get the playbook back from back when they worked together (and then imagine big don as a puppy / baby)
Apr.30 at 1:51 pm
» Links: The Bizarro NBA - SLAM ONLINE says:
[…] When I wrote the other night that there was a very real chance that both ‘06 Finalists could be sent home early, I was employing a bit of hyperbole — I didn’t really think that both Dallas and Miami could be sent home during round one of the Playoffs. And of the two teams, I especially didn’t think Dallas would lose. Miami, well, we all knew they had a tough season. And as old as they looked last season on their way to a title, they didn’t do anything to get younger this year, save for giving Jason Kapono a little more burn. Still, I figured after all the injuries they endured (from Shaq to Wade to even Pat Riley) this season, the Champs would find their footing, slow things down enough to turn the American Airlines Arena into a grindhouse and get past whoever they had to play in the first round. […]