Player of the D.A.Y.
and the signing that could have been but wasn’t but now is
Last year the NBA Finals was San Antonio vs. Phoenix. Don’t argue otherwise, it just was. So on a night of the Finals rematch, the obvious big game of the night, I will turn to it to pick a winner. But first…
Isiah and the Knicks organization and team have had some embarrassing moments. The trial, the Celtics loss, losing two straight to Philly, lots of disgrace to go around. But giving up a career high to Mike Dunleavy Jr. on the grand stage, the cathedral of MSG? Oh the horror. Nice game L’il Dun, but I think Knicks opponents have reached ineligible for Player of the D.A.Y. status because it’s too easy.
LeBron went to double OT and played 50 minutes for his 31-8-5. Brandon Roy kept the Blazers shocking streak alive, taking them over .500 by getting the better of Chris Paul and the Hornets. Al Jefferson had 22 and 20 in a loss, but let’s get to the main event.
Phoenix won in San Antonio, though Tony Parker didn’t play. It was hollow regular season revenge, but the added element of this rivalry is Grant Hill. He is Player of the D.A.Y. for leading his team with 22 points and 7 boards in the biggest game of the night, but also for this larger thought: The Suns have added someone, another great - at this point let’s call him very good player - to help them get by the team they have to beat. Back in the days of Purple Reign, San Antonio needed an extra something or someone to get by the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. This scenario would never have happened because of injury, but there was talk that the younger, Hall of Fame level Grant Hill could have chosen the Spurs over the Magic and it would have worked out for a little less money. Imagine the Spurs-Lakers wars if a healthy Grant were involved. I know, he was hurt before he signed with Orlando.
But now… maybe that wrong has been righted. Maybe Grant Hill is the piece to get Phoenix past San Antonio. It could have been Kurt Thomas, but I guess not.
(By the way the Lakers run of titles ended when the Spurs got that extra push from… STEPHEN JACKSON! The guy is a winner.)
11 Responses to “Player of the D.A.Y.”
Dec.18 at 7:31 pm
The Cool says:
Lil Dun doing the damn thing. But watch this guy score like 3 points in his next game. I swear is there anybody consistent in the NBA today besides the regular superstars? I guess not but big ups to Grant Hill. This is the best offense for him to get his mojo going. play wit it.
Dec.18 at 7:33 pm
Joel O's says:
Yeahh. Big shot he hit last night.
Dec.18 at 7:34 pm
Joel O's says:
Anyway, I think a lot of people out there are underrating the Pacers. They’ve got some big wins over some very good teams already, their only problem is exactly that they’re hella inconsistent.
Dec.18 at 7:45 pm
Tenorca says:
Jack had a great night last night too. No quibble with the Player of the D.A.Y., but Jack put up 25 and 12 and, until this year, he was nearly allergic to rebounding. Even when Li’l Dun goes for 36, GS still fleeced Indiana last year.
Dec.18 at 8:16 pm
Reggie Evans says:
It’s the Finals only if Tony Parker is injured for the Finals.
Dec.19 at 12:06 am
LJ McKay says:
It’s the Finals ….. but we’ll say TP was suspended because Raja Bell checked TD into the courtside seats and TP threw a punch at Raja. Now we’re even!
Dec.19 at 12:11 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Poor Mike Dunleavy. Just for that I’m voting him for All-Star.
Dec.19 at 1:10 am
Struts says:
Grant was great to watch before the injuries. Fantastic mid-range which is so rare now days. He’ll be lethal against the Spurs if they meet up in the playoffs. Anyone ever notice the big holes left in the middle when the spurs play D?
Dec.19 at 5:05 am
whooo! says:
struts makes a real good pont. watching dallas play against san an, they were built to beat the spurs. their players take advantage of midrange shots, cuz the spurs are excellent at closing out 3s and funnelling ppl to the baseline where duncan lurks. their other big hole is guarding big guards/sf’s - where diaw SHOULD and hill could play a big role.
Dec.19 at 5:08 am
whooo! says:
they still gotta figure out whether they’re gonna even bother using up fouls on duncan or just resign that they can’t guard him. and while s.jax played awesome for the spurs, but i think a rookie ginobili had a bigger role in getting past the lakers.
Dec.19 at 6:34 am
h-wag says:
I don´t see how Grant Hill will help the Suns much come Play-Off-Time.
He played limited minutes even when he was healthy the last years and couldn´t make it through a whole season, and now he is back to very big minutes and has to help the Suns deep into the Play-Offs ?
I think he will be running out of gas at some point this season.
But he is playing great as of now, can´t complain there.