Links: Playoffs Diary Day 13
S.D. now stands for Sixers Dunzo.
OK, so yeah, I didn’t exactly break down last night’s Hawks/Celts game in the evening wrap-up. That’s because the game broke me down. I thought we had a chance, but as soon as Knick Bavetta whistled that early bogus charge on Joe Johnson to send him to the bench with two fouls, I knew we were dunzo (because Mike Woodson would seemingly rather chop a finger off than allow a player with two fouls to sniff the floor during the first half). Josh Smith seemed to allow reality to catch up with him as well, and without any major contributions from Joe or Josh, the Hawks can’t beat a team like Boston.
I tried to do my part to support the Hawks. Russ, Khalid and Pascal came over to my place to watch the game last night. Russ wore a JR Rider Hawks jersey, and I started the game in a Josh Smith jersey, though when that didn’t prove fruitful, I switched to a long-sleeved Hawks t-shirt. When that didn’t work, I went to a 1987 Dominique Wilkins jersey to open the fourth quarter, and the Hawks immediately cut it to an 8-point lead. And then Boston blew it open again before I could find my Lou Hudson jersey. Considering I wore a Hawks hoodie all day and had a throwback warm-up jacket in reserve, perhaps I could’ve handled my rotation better. Then again, I thought mishandling my rotation would be a nice homage to Mike Woodson.
As a result of their visit, I did stumble across a redeeming quality relating to, of all people, Isiah Thomas. Pascal left behind a bag of this stuff, which must be sprinkled with crack. I have been eating it for the last three hours and it is amazing. Nice work, Isiah.
Anyway, about tonight…even though they fought it all the way, the Sixers finally took their medicine. I flipped over to the game at the end of the first quarter and Detroit was ahead 30-12, and they went on to win it 100-77.
Philly surprised a lot of people this postseason, including me. I knew they were young and had only recently coalesced, but I didn’t expect them to win even one game, much less two. I think the interesting thing about them is as good as they are, they still don’t have a stud scorer guy who can get you a basket in crunch time. Andre Miller is their best player, but to me he’s still a hair below being a marquee player, and Andre Iguodala, as good as he is, isn’t that guy either.
Do you need a guy like that? Maybe not to be a good team, but to be a great team I think you absolutely need that, someone who can dictate defenses and bail you out in crunch time. The question now is, Where does Philly get that guy? They don’t just grow on trees, and I don’t think they’ll be able to find one in the middle of the first round. Maybe Thad Young develops into their franchise guy while Andre Miller still has some tread left, but either way, for Philly to take that next step, one guy has got to step up and fill that void.
Detroit also surprised a lot of people this postseason, although I was not one of the surprised people. I’ve said for a while now that I think they’re going to the Finals, because they’re just too diverse to be stopped by anyone in the East. Billups can beat you, Rip can beat you, and occasionally, when the moon is in the proper stage, Rasheed can beat you, too. And Prince is no joke, either. I don’t think the Pistons will win a title this season because they’re just so maddeningly insouciant, and Flip Saunders doesn’t seem to the be the person who can shake them out of that reverie.
That’s it for now. NBA Friday coming in a few hours…
65 Responses to “Links: Playoffs Diary Day 13”
May.2 at 1:40 am
niQ says:
nice run philly!
May.2 at 1:45 am
Tanny says:
I definitely agree with you on the point that you must have a cold-blooded scorer to bail your team out at the end of games, however I don’t think trading a part of their young nucleus would be a good idea. Then again, the Bulls looked like the real deal, and they really did not meet expectations this year after passing on the Kobe deal. And the Bulls were a lot better last year than Philly was this year.
May.2 at 1:46 am
Shu says:
really. nothin but respect for philly. I’ll appreciate them more if the Pistons keep the motivation up for rest of the playoffs.
May.2 at 1:49 am
Z says:
hows detroit better than boston and what has changed since bron had 30 straight on em?
May.2 at 2:00 am
Shu says:
Well the good news is, the Cavs and Boston play each other so we don’t have to deal with both of them. And don’t forget that Drew Gooden had one point during that run, so Lebron didn’t score EVERY point during that game… insouciant \in-SOO-see-uhnt\, adjective:
Marked by lighthearted unconcern or indifference; carefree; nonchalant. nicee…
May.2 at 2:02 am
detroit says:
Blame the two foul rule on Larry Brown. He was a strict enforcer of foul management even if that meant game seven against the spurs. He played prince on Duncan rather than break the rule. Sorry, pent up frustration.
May.2 at 2:04 am
d.Y. says:
Thanks to the Sixers for showing they belonged in the playoffs. Now (Khalid) it’s time to think about the draft. And free angency. And trades.
May.2 at 2:09 am
Shu says:
How about Iguodala for Iverson?? Aside from the fact that AI returning to philly might not be so welcome, Iggy is a stopper that Denver may want, Iverson’s a better scorer than anyone on PHI’s roster… He turned down $70mil before the season right?
May.2 at 2:40 am
Jason says:
I thought it was cool that Philly fought it out. Hopefully they can take their momentum into next season. But i’m not really big on “young teams”, because young teams aren’t the ones winning championships. Thats why I don’t ever understand when people put so much into “they are getting younger”? So? I always say they need a good mixture of ages on a roster, some vets along with some youngins’. I don’t want a team with a bunch of 19 and 20 year olds saying that “we are building for the future”…okay but the playoffs are NOW though. LOL!!!
May.2 at 2:49 am
Lang Whitaker says:
Iverson can become a free agent this summer, so conceivably they could sign both AIs.
May.2 at 4:15 am
Jason says:
I agree that the Sixers need a big time scorer to close things out in situations like this. That team could be deadly if they ever had a player like Allen Iverson or someone like that, oh wait…..
May.2 at 4:41 am
Tariq says:
“Insouciant” is right. “Lackadaisical” also works. “Bitchy” is probably most accurate.
May.2 at 4:42 am
Tariq says:
“Then again, I thought mishandling my rotation would be a nice homage to Mike Woodson.” I appreciate Lang’s sense of humor.
May.2 at 4:43 am
Tariq says:
Russ gained “major brownie points” for wearing a JR Rider jersey. I just recently discovered that phrase.
May.2 at 4:44 am
Tariq says:
Does Pascal work for SLAM?
May.2 at 4:46 am
Tariq says:
Lang: Instead of rotating your Hawks apparel, you should have worn a Spud Webb jersey throughout.
May.2 at 4:49 am
Ben Osborne says:
Re. my Finals pick: whew.
May.2 at 5:35 am
Tariq says:
Hey Ben, I am constantly amazed at the way you thumb your nose at man’s need for slumber.
May.2 at 5:45 am
Tariq says:
Oh…Kevin Durant is Rookie of the Year. I wonder when they announce the MVP.
May.2 at 6:14 am
FLUXLAND says:
Hey… my comment disappeared! Lang, are you on the Hawks training staff.. or is this just another case of separated at birth? Lang looks like Wally Blase: www(dot)daylife(dot)com/photo/0aHSecCcQb2A4
May.2 at 6:49 am
Hursty says:
i think we should just leave it as the sixers playing sh!t after (possibly) running out of gas after a longer and harder season than they expected.
May.2 at 7:57 am
adams says:
Tariq, you didn’t know what “brownie points” are? Now that’s ironic!
May.2 at 8:02 am
adams says:
Next up, Holly discovers the meaning of naivité and impressibleness. Haha, I love it!
May.2 at 8:27 am
Tariq says:
Hmm, adams, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or a diss, but I’m too bored to investigate further.
May.2 at 8:48 am
Eboy says:
T, “brownie points” must only be a stupid American saying. You know it’s hard to keep up with our fruity lingo.
May.2 at 9:34 am
BETCATS says:
fineto
May.2 at 9:34 am
BETCATS says:
fineto
May.2 at 9:36 am
BETCATS says:
how are the ‘beutiful’ people doing today?
May.2 at 9:38 am
BETCATS says:
?
May.2 at 9:39 am
BETCATS says:
30
May.2 at 9:44 am
AT THE END OF THE DAY says:
Orlando beats detroit..BOOK IT
May.2 at 9:51 am
TripleDouble says:
Tariq is too bored? . . . well, you bored the pants off me. . . No, you did. I’msleepingnow… but I will probably remember your name… sigh.
May.2 at 10:01 am
Tariq says:
Triple: I’ll probably forget yours. Wait… already have.
May.2 at 10:01 am
BETCATS says:
Boredom is a plauge, im infected
May.2 at 10:02 am
Tariq says:
Eboy: You realize that I’m VERY aware of American (pop) culture, whereas I know NOTHING about, say, British culture, right?
May.2 at 10:03 am
BETCATS says:
Tariq!
May.2 at 10:04 am
BETCATS says:
British pop cul’ture you s’ay
May.2 at 10:04 am
TripleDouble says:
Nah, you’ll remember it. Click, damn!
May.2 at 10:05 am
BETCATS says:
;
May.2 at 10:05 am
BETCATS says:
TrippleDouble, i am the most important poster on this here websilce.
May.2 at 10:06 am
Tariq says:
Wait, scratch that…I actually know two things about Briish pop culture: 1- I have an extensive knowledge of soccer (football). 2- I know that Catherine Tate is staggeringly unfunny.
May.2 at 10:06 am
BETCATS says:
if u need to remember any1, it is ME
May.2 at 10:06 am
BETCATS says:
3. Amy Whinehouse is semi-talented
May.2 at 10:07 am
BETCATS says:
Tariq, until you give up that Minute Made, i dont know what to say to you anymore. Long live Marcel Proust!! (who?)
May.2 at 10:08 am
BETCATS says:
sike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May.2 at 10:08 am
TripleDouble says:
Yep, she gains many a semi.
May.2 at 10:08 am
BETCATS says:
But James Joyce > Marcel ‘buttboy’ Proust
May.2 at 10:10 am
BETCATS says:
teacher tried to make read us Marcel Proust but i did my research and said ‘no, id rather not;..’and i got a 0. Oh well
May.2 at 10:12 am
BETCATS says:
?;.
May.2 at 10:14 am
BETCATS says:
where is every1ne?
May.2 at 10:15 am
BETCATS says:
did my literary conversation create a killd buzz?
May.2 at 10:19 am
BETCATS says:
??????????
May.2 at 10:26 am
TADOne says:
Pistons over Orlando in 6.
May.2 at 10:32 am
Nick says:
Tad: In 5. Playing against Dho will wake up the sheedmonster.
May.2 at 10:32 am
Nick says:
Tad: In 5. Playing against Dho will wake up the sheedmonster.
May.2 at 10:39 am
BETCATS says:
Orlando in 7
May.2 at 10:41 am
BETCATS says:
sh!t i am murderin posts today
May.2 at 11:18 am
Myung says:
Too many orange names. We need a black one. Go Hawks. Biggest game tonight… since 1999. Actually, that’s not entirely true. There have been some huge games we’ve needed to lose in the past 9 years, in order to get the most ping pong balls for the lottery. And sure enough, we lost the ones we needed to, which is like asking a person to get wet when he walks in a rain storm; it wasn’t that hard for us. But on the serious tip, Philips is going to be even LOUDER than last Sat and Mon… we have magically become Delta Center
‘98 and Oracle Arena ‘07 in a one week span. Amazing…
May.2 at 11:28 am
Myung says:
I’m not really in the prediction business, but I sort of envision a lot of tension tonight (i.e. pushing and shoving) and a big game by Mike Bibby.
May.2 at 11:37 am
peteb80 says:
Good luck to the Hawks! Will KG wear diapers or will he just let it drip on the floor?
May.2 at 11:43 am
Allenp says:
Big games by Mike Bibby don’t happen anymore. And I think Lang meant “magic brownie points” when he mentioned J.R. Rider.
May.2 at 12:13 pm
Tariq says:
I don’t understand how the Celtics can either lose or win by a trillion points. No single-digit Boston wins at all, including the regular season. So I guess it’s either gonna be a historic game (Atl win) or a completely unwatchable blowout like last night’s Dalembert slaughter. Oh, and BET, you never fail to impress me, but I have to disagree: Proust is the man and Joyce is a chump.
May.2 at 12:14 pm
TADOne says:
I’m rooting for the Hawks. Hopefully Lang wears the right jersey tonight.
May.2 at 12:17 pm
Tariq says:
Lang should wear a jersey with “Rights to Pau Gasol” printed across the back.
May.2 at 12:44 pm
The Cool says:
wtf