Special Victims Unit
J-Kidd (photo. Jordan Hollander)Sometime during the end stages of the Mavs joining the Dub Club (a.k.a getting 20-pieced) in New Orleans, this e-mail came through from one of the Dime crew: “Chris Paul, you’re under arrest for the murder of Jason Kidd.” That was cold, but you saw the numbers: 32 points and 17 assists for CP, 7 points and 8 dimes for Kidd, and a 24-point Hornets win. Yeah, it was that bad. We’re not saying J-Kidd is washed up — far from it, as he still posted THIRTEEN triple-doubles this season alone — but in this case he’s pretty much property of Chris Paul. After keeping CP in check for the first half of Game 1, it’s been savagery ever since; for a while yesterday the Mavs even tried to stick Jason Terry on Paul, who was just slicing their defense to shreds … At this point, the number of people questioning the Kidd trade is only going to grow. Do you think Dallas would be better off in this series with Devin Harris running the point and guarding CP? You tell us … Aside from just the point guard matchup, though, the Mavs as a unit didn’t come with it. How disheartening is it if you’re following this team that Brandon Bass (19 pts, 8 rebs) was the only guy who showed up? Dirk dropped 27 points, but in a game where Dallas could have shot their way back in (or at least tried), their best player only took 11 shots. This is the thing people would always get on Kevin Garnett about. Playing the game the right way is admirable and all, but there are those times when the franchise player needs to get selfish and make it happen on his own … Do you think Kirk Hinrich is ever sitting there watching Tyson Chandler dunk all over the rest of the world and wondering what could have been? … Going over the Mavs/Hornets highlights, Kenny Smith screamed, “C.R.E.A.M.! Cash Rules Everything Around Me!” while Peja (22 pts, 5 threes) was raining from beyond the arc. After a beat, Charles Barkley deadpanned, “You gettin’ on my damn nerves.” … There’s no point in even watching the first half of a Spurs playoff game anymore, is there? (Although if you were doing something else during Spurs/Suns Game 2, you missed Amare crushing one on Tim Duncan something serious, Duncan dropping Boris Diaw on a crossover, and Tony Parker getting Amare on a trampoline with a head-fake before scoring on a layup.) Anyway, even if the Spurs are behind after the first 24 minutes, as long as the deficit isn’t out of control, you know they’re gonna rally back in the second half. Last night they came back from a 7-point deficit at the break by locking Amare and Shaq in a box defensively and getting some huge buckets from Mike “Horry 2.0″ Finley during a stretch where they took a 9-point lead going into the fourth … After pouring in 25 in the first half, Amare got a Krispy Kreme in the third quarter while Shaq got bottled up by Kurt Thomas. Remember how 90% of the basketball world killed Phoenix for making the Shaq deal because he supposedly had nothing left? (Not to brag, but most of the Dime team thought it was a great move.) But then Shaq was a beast in the last month of the regular season, and the Suns were running a lot of their offense through him last night. The Spurs had to start Thomas in the second half just to deal with Diesel (19 pts, 14 rebs), and ultimately won the game because Thomas did his job while the San Antonio offense got rolling. The layups and dunks Phoenix was getting in the first half ceased to exist, while Parker (32 pts, 7 asts) and Manu Ginobili (29 pts) were getting into the lane at will and doing whatever they wanted once they got there … And when did the Suns make their inevitable comeback to try and get back in it? With four minutes left in the fourth, right after Thomas fouled out. What do we always say: You NEED players like Kurt Thomas if you’re going to win a championship. Who is that guy for the Suns: Grant Hill? Boris Diaw? … Telling sequence: At the start of the fourth, they showed Shaq huddling the Suns and imploring them to, among other things, “Shut the f*** up and play!” A minute or two later, with the Spurs continuing to turn the screws in, you saw Steve Nash and Gordan Giricek yapping at the refs. After the ensuing commercial break, Mike D’Antoni was screaming on the bench with his voice cracking like a 14-year-old, and Amare (33 pts) took to trying to flop himself and not playing his game. Not exactly the picture of a group that’s keeping it together … On the flip side, when San Antonio was ahead by 16 well into the fourth quarter and gave up a wide-open three to Nash, Gregg Popovich called timeout while giving Bruce Bowen the death stare. He then ripped into the rest of the team for slacking on D … Nash (23 pts, 10 asts) willed Phoenix back into it, cutting the lead to five with about 2:45 to go, but Manu, Parker and Duncan (18 pts, 17 rebs, 3 blks) made all the plays down the stretch to ice it … How creepy were David Aldridge and Dick Stockton after the game when all Tony Parker said was “My wife will take care of me”? They blew that up way too much, and Stockton was almost audibly leering at Eva Longoria … Remember the other day when the KIA Motors guy gave Manu the Sixth Man of the Year trophy and then took it back? Apparently it was so he could formally present it to Manu yesterday before tip-off … KG picked up the Defensive Player of the Year award Tuesday, getting 90 of the 124 first-place votes. Marcus Camby finished second, followed by Shane Battier, Bruce Bowen, Kobe Bryant, Josh Smith, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Duncan and Tayshaun Prince … With his team in dire straights, is this the time Shaq will try some of his famous psychological warfare by trash-talking through the media? On DimeMag.com we looked at the League’s biggest trash-talkers on the court — guys like Kobe, KG and Sam Cassell. Who is the new Gary Payton? Check it out HERE … Either Dwight Howard is choosing to forget that his playoff debut (against Detroit last year) never happened, or he’s using that sweep as motivation to seek and destroy anything in his path. Too bad no one outside of Orlando and Toronto seems to care about this series – the game wasn’t even on national TV as Dwight posted a 29-point, 20-rebound line … Carlos Delfino (perhaps upset that he didn’t get any Sixth Man of the Year votes) and Jose Calderon got buckets in the fourth quarter to give Toronto the lead late, but Hedo Turkoglu (12 pts, 9 rebs) made a tough layup to put Orlando up by one, then knocked down some free throws to extend the lead to three. Delfino got a layup while Orlando was defending the three, Toronto got the ball right back after Keyon Dooling committed an offensive foul on the inbounds, but then Chris Bosh (29 pts) bricked a jumper that would have been the game-winner … If you picked up Dime #39 (the Kobe cover) you know we got up with Rajon Rondo for our fashion feature. Come back to DimeMag.com later this morning, where we’ll be posting the behind-the-scenes video from that photo shoot, when he went up to the Celtics’ facility in Waltham, Mass., and Rondo showed off some of his favorite outfits … In other fashion-related news, over on the Bounce site yesterday, sneaker icon Bobbito Garcia (one of Bounce’s co-founders) gives a tutorial on how to customize your kicks; something Bob pretty much invented back in the day … We’re out like Hinrich …
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April 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 am
Duke says:
Damn. Gotta feel sorry for the Suns right now.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 am
kowtz says:
Said it before, and I still stick with it… Last year was the sun’s last chance…
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 am
bill says:
come on wizards and suns!!!!!!!!
2008 final
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 am
SooperDaug says:
Second!!!
Devin Harris is surely smiling from ear-to-ear right now somewhere in NJ. He’s on top of the world right now! He knows that he can ride with CP3 better than JKidd but more importantly, he doesn’t have to worry about VC’s antics ’til Novemeber.:D
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 am
Borgs says:
I care intensely about every series (hey, there’ll be no NBA at all in several weeks), but the truth is that there is no eventual champion coming from the Orlando-Toronto match-up, though it became even more interesting today. Man, juvenile Raptors’ fans are smashing each other and their team on one particular NBA forum in the Game Two aftermath. Lighten up, guys! I expect a 2-2 series going back to Orlando.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 am
2 Easy says:
Well thats 2 games the Suns and Raptors blew. It just goes to show wat happens when u cant get stops and u dont get big plays down the stretch. I dont kno wat it is but I swear since STAT came back Diaw’s been worthless. He was killin Dallas that year and hes been missing easy layups ever since. The Raptors/Magic series has actually been entartaining wit D12 constantly flexing and scaring every man woman and child within eyesight he’ll kill while smiling, dangerous. The Mavs let me down terribly, I couldnt watch that series after the 2nd half of Game 1, it was painful. Game 2, i needed a Tums. I kno NO’s really good but their just gettin embarrassed and the worst part is Kidd’s finally hittin those 3′s that he didnt want to take but no one cares
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:29 am
2 Easy says:
O and Duncan droppin Diaw too? Now I honestly think that Ive seen everything in the playoffs wtf?
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 am
Duke says:
It’s the playoffs: You shouldn’t be surprised by the Mavericks getting smacked around.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:40 am
bill says:
phoenix need good offensive and defensive structure. San Antonio system is a great lesson for all
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 am
kb24! says:
wizards and suns? HAHA thats a joke right?
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 am
2 Easy says:
Ever since Dwade went superhuman on them when Cuban was busy plannin the parade they havent been the same. Imma still ride wit my Mavs but I dont kno how their gonna turn it around. NO’s a great road team and if their not careful they may get swept
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 am
shoot the j says:
Couple Questions:
1) Who guards CP3 the best in the league?
2) Where’s Horry at? Chillin with DJ Jazzy Jeff?
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:10 am
YOUNGFED says:
NICKNAME OF THE YEAR: Half Man/Half Game…..T-Mac
From Yesterday’s Smack
LMAO, Sorry Gee but thats funny as hell.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:25 am
YOUNGFED says:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Mike Bibby
Leave it up to Mike Bibby to light the fire with the Boston fans. The Hawks point guard lit into Celtics’ fans before practice Tuesday, calling them “bandwagon jumpers.” bandwagon jumpers trying to get on this now. I played here last year, too. And I didn’t see three fourths of them. They’re for the team now and they might get a little rowdy but that’s about it.” SI.com
@CeltsFan
Damn Bibby Hoed Yall
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:29 am
weng santos says:
Even though I’m a Nuggs fan, I’m really interested in the PHX-SAS series. I’m enamored with how well the Spurs execute.
Both teams, actually, are playing well. Just shows you don’t have to be selfish to win.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:30 am
GayforRudy says:
Wow a RONDO fashion shoot? I bet all those beaners are stroking themselves in anticipation!
Anybody else love seeing Parker get smashed to the floor by Shaquille? Eva Longoria Parker is a skank!
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 am
Kobeef says:
@Dime
Are you saying you are proud of the fact that you liked the Shaq Trade for PHX? HAve you noticed it’s not working out that well? Did you notice PHX is has Shaq signed for longer than Nash? (two more years)
Both the Dallas and the PHX trades are looking like busts so far. Cleveland was also but with Lebron you could put a bunch of Middle-School girls on the floor and he’d still carry you in crunch time.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 am
QQ says:
Everyones talking garbage bout the Suns, but come on, it’s not like the Spurs have won by 40 points each game. Every game so far has been a battle, and it’s everything we hardcore fans of the game have hoped for. The series in now goin’ to the desert, and NOW, it really gets exciting.
Suns in 7
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 am
KL says:
What I would love to see is the Raptors be the first team to fire a coach in the playoffs. It was clear Mitchell was lost with him staring all doe eyed into thin air. Once it came to the final timeout, I just knew Mitchell would mess it up. I only hoped for a broken play. How do you not use the hottest hands in the gym with Kopono and Calderone?
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:25 am
Smitty313 says:
I don’t think Devin Harris completely stops CP3. But it would not be this bad. J-Kidd has been getting demolished since he’s been in Dallas. Deron, Nash, Paul, and the list of point gaurds go on of who’s been murdering Kidd. Mark Cuban is about to give Avery the boot, when it’s fault for this in the first place. Kidd should have been traded to Cleveland.
Raja Bell’s defense is garbage. He’s only known for playing physical d on Kobe. Not stopping or even contaning Kobe just playing physica. He gets murdered alot.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 am
NB says:
I’m not so sure that CP3 is unguardable, but Dallas has a history of not being able to stop guards. Kobe, D Wade, Baron Davis, and now Chris Paul. That’s a trend that is not so good. And correct me if I’m wrong, but Devin Harris couldn’t stop any of those guys either. That team was an embarrassment to watch last night. Did Josh Howard even play in the second half? One sequence, Terry brought the ball up court, Dirk was open with his hand out for the ball, and Terry throws it cross court to Stack who throws it to Howard, who then dribbles the ball until the shot clock ran out. Seriously, did they forget how to play? Or do they just not care anymore? Unless they turn it around in Dallas, I’m pretty sure Cuban will fire Avery. Which I hope happens anyway.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 am
rangerjohn says:
think about this, last night the suns scored 11 points in the 3rd, 5 of those points came from hack a shaq. thats 2 three pointers (both by nash i believe). 2 field goals in a quarter? thats got to be a record!
as for the shaq trade, the suns play better with him off the floor. game one he played 4+ minutes and they went up by 17 points, game 2 down by 18 with shaq on the floor, no shaq to speak of in the 4th (due to hack a shaq) and the suns rally back to within 5.
spurs want to limit him offensive/defensively but they would ultimately rather have him in the game.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:43 am
YOUNGFED says:
Question of the Day:
If you had to choose between Shaq or Timmy D in their prime who would it be?
Shaq gets my vote dude was the most dominant player ever in his prime.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 am
Amar says:
For Austin, or other people all up on T-mac:
http://thedreamshake.blogspot.com/2008/04/follow-up-to-daves-follow-up.html
btw, for those who don’t know, thedreamshake is one of the best (if not the best) H-town bball blogs out there.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 am
BALLZ says:
I need to vent. I have an irrational loathing of the Spurs. I do not live in Phoenix. Tim Duncan has never impregnated my sister. But I hate them. More than any other team in the history of sports. I respect them almost to a fault. Manu Ginobli may be the most underrated player on the planet, but looking at him makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit, kinda like John Doe in Seven when that dude is just talking to him about the weather. I could write poems about how ugly I think Tony Parker is. The other night, I punched myself in the testicles just so I would be hurting badly enough to not look at my screen when Duncan was doing the Duncan face. I view Suns-Spurs as nothing less than a showdown between the forces of good and evil, with the Spurs continually proving that true evil does exist in this world.
On a lighter note, I wish Steve effing Nash would shoot more instead of force feeding Amare until it’s desperation time. He’s autofuckinmatic. Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Barbosa are killing me. Killing me. Diaw couldn’t get buckets last night with Gargamel guarding him in the post, Barbosa is giving them nothing and Bell couldn’t throw a three point shot into the Pacific Ocean. If Stoudemire and Nash have to continue to make 90% of the plays on offense, the Suns are done.
If you truly exist God, prove it, make the Spurs lose 4 straight. Amen.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
Korady says:
I’m just glad NBA TV is doing it’s free for all thing right now, which meant I did get to watch Orlando/Toronto yesterday. My 2 year old now knows Dwight Howard as “beast”
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 am
QQ says:
@ Amar
Good read you have there.
And to all those cats asking why we hatin’ on bitch ass TMac so much, read the blog. Those are HOUSTON fans, for crying out loud. That’s how bad TMac is. Even his homies hate him.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:06 am
Suciniac says:
CP3 for MVP.You take out CP3 and Kidd out of their teams and NO gets swept.CP3 is the difference between being on the receiving end of a potential sweep and giving the other team a 20 piecing.Now that’s a MVP but of course that’s not going to happen because everybody has all ready given Kobe the trophy anyway.
Real surprised though that Garnett got what he deserved.For once voters looked beyond the stats and acknowledged a great player.
From now on I am not going to look at Houston,Dallas and Phoenix as Contenders, ever.Houston is running out of excuses,Dallas is perfecting the art of Choking and Phoenix is never getting past the Spurs.Whatever happened to the TOUGH WESTERN CONF PLAYOFFS???Thats 3 series that are 2-0(fourth is on the way).I want my roller coaster,cliff hanging,on the edge of my seats action dammit.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 am
ZXoom says:
Deron Williams guards CP3 the best. He is the only guy who owns CP3.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 am
Suciniac says:
@BALLZ
LOL.Would really like to read on of your poems.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 am
Bobby stew says:
I’m sure Dallas would like to have Devin Harris right now. He is quick enough to irritate Pual a little on defense and his jumpshot is no worse than Kidd’s. But the real problem is that New Orleans is playing with heart and Dallas is playing with their mind. Heart always wins.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 am
rangerjohn says:
@ ballz,
you write poems? about parker? hmmmmmm
@ youngfed,
i would say it doesnt mater which of those 2 you take in their prime, it would be a wash. they do different things but they do those things equally well. that being said, i take duncan for a couple reasons, 1) i am from SA, 2)he doesnt make stupid comments, he doesnt give himself stupid nicknames, and he doesnt tell everyone how great he is 3) well you know i cant take the same guy as you, that would be just wrong.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 am
Jim says:
I am from Austin, so maybe I have 4% more perspective than Rangerjohn, but I think it’s a tossup also. I say most dominant, obviously it’s Shaq.
But for building a team and franchise around, I don’t know how you go against Timmy. Ask the Magic, or Heat, or even the Lakers. Tim will retire on on the Spurs and has NEVER been an embarrassment or a distraction. He came off the bench off of injury, he has no problem sharing the spotlight, he never badmouths anyone, etc. etc. He has made SA into a good free agent destination…South Texas is nice, but it’s obviously not seen like Miami or LA or even PHO (how?) are. And while Tim had great support, Shaq had an absolute superstar for his titles, and the amazing collapsing Mavericks.
But for one series, in their prime, it’s Shaq.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:21 am
djKianoosh says:
@ballz that was hilarious. extra credit for using “gargamel” LOL
how fun is it for the three Spurs superstars to play with each other and their surrounding cast? nobody panics. they share the ball. TP pushes the ball up the court to get easy buckets (allowing the other guys a few seconds of rest every once in a while). Manu slashes and creates for others. Duncan consumes defenses no matter what’s thrown at him. the other shooters make most of their shots cause they’re open. they play solid help defense and got each others backs all the time. role players like Oberto and Thomas do the dirty work and take no credit. damn, man, it’s a coaches dream. sign me up for the clinic.
maybe Isaiah Thomas should get a crash course.
anyway, I still think it will be a close series. the Suns role players play better at home and their scoring runs will run longer than they did in SA.
Would looove to see a Dwight Howard – Lebron matchup, but that probably won’t happen this year. KG-Howard would be effing dope too. is this postseason Dwight Howard’s coming out party? like lebron from last year?
oh, btw, Amare still commits stupid fouls. but at least he didn’t get in foul trouble cause he didn’t have to guard Duncan all game. that’s a big plus for PHX.
Chris Paul is sensational. He convinced me during the season when I saw him for the first time in a full game. He played great against Detroit’s D.
Lakers need to take care of business, cause the Spurs, Hornets and Jazz are taking care of theirs. which team will step up and close their series out sooner?
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:30 am
YOUNGFED says:
GOOD POINTS ALL AROUND JIM
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
BALLZ says:
“Evil Spurs,” a Haiku, by Ballz.
Tony Parker’s face
Looks like Gargamel’s I think
Spurs make me throw up.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Dave says:
The great thing about the emergence of Chris Paul is that D Will is at the very least equal, and anyone who has seen all of the New Orleans/Utah games the past 3 years knows that D Will OWNS CP head to head.
Even though Stern and the network boys don’t want it to happen, CP and DWill in the conference finals would be the start of an epic rivalry, much better than a Kobe/Duncan conference finals.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
Austin Burton says:
@Amar — I still think it’s silly to blame T-Mac when he produced more points than anyone (Rockets or Jazz) on the court in Game 2.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Mo says:
CP3 still averaged 30ppg and 12 assists against the Mavs when Devin Harris was there so he did little to contain him this season as well. Deron gives him a little bit more trouble than most but Jeff Malone gave Michael Jordan trouble too. So what. It sure didn’t mean he was better than Jordan. LMAO! There’s always going to be someone that’s going to know your game.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 am
alex says:
Question of the Day:
If you had to choose between Shaq or Timmy D in their prime who would it be?
I guess it depends on who the supporting cast would be. Shaq would be the choice for 1 year, and 1 year only – if there was another “closer” on the team. Someone like Manu or even Brandon Roy.
But for building a team from the ground up and for the long haul, it has to be the greatest center-masquerading-as-power-forward in the game TD21.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:49 am
GayforRudy says:
Austin,
At what point will you stop professing your man love for Captian Lazy Eye? We get it…you like him.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
Mo says:
Oh yeah and don’t forget the 1st meeting of the season between Paul/Williams when Williams was in foul trouble and Hart and Price had to bail him out. He doesn’t “own” CP every game. The game after the All-Stars was announced Deron owned Paul and the entire Hornets team though. He had a chip on his shoulder of course. He “gets up” for CP3 probably moreso than he does for any other point guard. So why isn’t anyone crowning Deron the best point guard in the league?
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:51 am
Dave says:
DWill head to head normally owns CP, Nash, and Kidd but can’t deal with Tony Parker.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Austin Burton says:
…says “GayforRudy.”
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
SWAT says:
@BALLZ wow that pretty much summed up everything i wanted to say!! LOL! But real talk was i the only 1 besides Doug Collins who thought that the hack a shaq was dirty last nite? I mean damn Shaq still in the backcourt, away from the ball getting fouled…I’ve seen the hackashaq in the game while dude was tryn 2 score or driving or something but never away from the ball. That pretty much sums up Spurs basketball though. And i must admit it felt good to finally see a game with minimal flopping, from both squads. No excuses though suns just didn’t execute in the 3rd. So a loss is a loss.
@ cats that are still posting shit bout Mac get over it kids. He didn’t even play yesterday. Or better yet get a life. Every city, every team has watered down fans, especially after a loss. Just as much as they also have true fans, like me, who still believe we have a chance. Ranger said it the other day, it’s about being realistic. I like my fanatsy world where my rockets would pull it out, will it actually happen…we will see. But they don’t play til thurs so jump off boys!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
Dave says:
Partly it’s because DWill’s in Utah that he gets no pub. Remember last spring when the Jazz were rolling through the playoffs, everyone was calling him the best point guard in the league, including Mark Jackson on the network broadcasts. I think Jackson gave Tony Parker enough motivation that he was up for DWill. And no doubt DWill gets up differently for CP and other top point guards than normal. If the Jazz get further than the Hornets the talk will all go back to DWill again because he’s actually done something in the playoffs.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
2-SHAY Austin! hahahah
How about the suns going in to the post to Diaw 4 straight times last night and he couldnt score once on Ginobili and Parker!?! Pathetic!
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
control says:
@ballz – great post.
Does Amare think he has to dunk everything? The guy is 6 feet from the basket, and instead of just popping the easy jumper he has to try to dunk on 3 people and get a stupid charging foul, because he advertizes it WAY in advance.
Why is everyone writing off the Suns already? They have lost the two games on the road, and they weren’t even blown out at all. They lost game 1 in 2nd OT and Tim Duncan of all people had to come through with a crazy three to get it…it’s not like they were dominated or anything. If they realized that Manu ALWAYS drives left, they would have won.
The only teams that should be worried right now are Houston and Washington. Houston lost two home games to a HORRIBLE road team, and are now on the road against the best home team in the league…they are done. Washington is going to have that worthless piece of shit Soulja Boy at their games…I hope they get blown out by 50 and have the fans riot and burn the city to the ground (killing Soulja boy in the process…hopefully).
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 am
rangerjohn says:
@ swat
how is it “dirty” to hack a shaq regardless where he is on the floor.
the thing about it is, if he could hit a free throw then no team would use hack a shaq. the league doesnt need to change the rules, shaq needs to learn how to shoot the ball outside of about 6 feet from the basket including free throws.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 am
Dave says:
if DWills numbers were less than CP’s and his team wasn’t as good I could see an arguement, but DWill does what he does against everyone just like CP, but beats him head to head 7 of 9 times and has only had one game where CP outplayed him.
To compare CP and DWill to Jordan and Jeff Malone isn’t close….it’s more like comparing Bird and Magic.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 am
SWAT says:
It’s dirty cuz dude was nowhere near the ball. Like i said TNT dudes were evensaying that the rules need to change. I can understand if dude is driving or in the paint at least but he didn’t even get to cross halfcourt.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
DaPro says:
It’s not just that J-Kidd can’t guard CP3, it’s that no one on Dallas aside from Stackhouse will put CP3 on his ass 1 good time. He needs a hard foul to make him rethink taking it to the rack.
He gets in the paint but Dallas “D” collapses so much that they leave shooters wide open. Avery needs to make a fucking adjustment. He’s getting my guy Kidd murked out there. Where is Howard? Dude has disappeared and can’t stay with peja. This series isn’t about the J-Kidd trade. He gets them easy buckets but no one seems to know how to make them or when to take them except for Bass. Sad state of affairs for those in big D. I grew up watching Mike put in work throughout the years here in Chicago but now that the Bulls mailed in the season I need my throwback players from the 90′s to hold me down. Seeing CP3 go to work on Kidd like that makes me feel old as hell. I need a drink!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Mo says:
Expect Deron Williams to put up about 20 assists tonight. The Jazz outplays the Hornets. It’s not just about Paul/Williams.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Dave says:
hey control:
the Jazz aren’t a horrible road team, they just get up when they need to…..like the playoffs for example.
On the road this season they’ve beaten:
Detroit
Boston by 20
New Orleans by 20
Phoenix
Dallas
Denver, twice
Golden State
Houston, too many to count
and every playoff team in the east except Cle and Orl.
horrible? come on now, what will you say when the beat the Lakers the first weekend in LA?
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
control says:
BTW, am I the only person who has some unexplained disgust watching Manu play? He wasn’t doing anything stupid and there wasn’t really anything to trigger it, but I just feel some sort of weird hate everytime the cameras were on him. Guy has to be the most polarizing player in the league, by far.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 am
GEE..Pimpiiiiiiiiiiiin! (Money Mike) says:
Houston up as always!
I did not imagine Dallas was going to be getting whipped like a mule so far.
I honestly thought they would be doing better especially with the parts they have on their squad.
I am going to put this out there and I ALREADY know many will disagree. I have to think you give Tracy Dirk’s squad and you have closer games. Not necessarily W’s but certainly closer games and most def. w’s at home. That is just GEE though.
The Suns and Spurs has been really enjoyable thus far. Say what you want (I am included) but the Spurs have the formula. To bad they don’t have a habit of repeating championships back to back.
Manu is just showing his Argey a$&. I can’t stand and detest the flopping, but dude can straight up play aside from that.
I was so hoping Houston was going to try to lure him. I was feeling like Manu and Tracy could have been a tight combo with Yao.
Anyway I will say that Stat was getting fouled a great deal and they didn’t call from time to time. Refs got to be on it in the playoffs.
I saw a Jose Calderon for 3 sighting last night. The All-star snub scores!
Taking nothing away from CP at all. Just wondering if Dallas really needs to switch something up in containing dude. Cause he is running free and wild. Just all over the floor. They (Dallas) are not trying to drive him certain ways or cut off lanes. I have to think Denver, dare I say, is showing better “pick up” basketball D than Dallas.
Not a good look at all for Avery!
Dwight is getting money! Plain and simple. Hedo! I have really enjoyed his play this year. He has been doing work.
Will N.O. sweep Dallas? Nahhhh, then again…..??
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:11 am
SWAT says:
@mo…Rockets don’t play til’ tomorrow son.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 am
PALakerFan says:
Obviously a diehard Laker fan, but I’d take Duncan over Shaq in their prime. Duncan is the more complete player, better teammate, and respects the game more by always being prepared and in shape. Shaq got his on talent. Duncan got his on hard work. Hakeem was better than Shaq too.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:13 am
rangerjohn says:
swat
i understand what your saying but why change the rules because 1 player cant hit his foul shots. people have been using hack a shaq since he ame into the league, no mater where he is on the floor he gets fouls because teams know he cant hit shots (sorta like the opening of that stupid movie with him in the dungeon with dr phil)
if he could hit a shot they would not do it (notice pop stoped because he went 5 of 6) teams do it to ben wallace too. that is why the league has the rules you cant do it in the last 2 minutes.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:13 am
control says:
Dave,
Utah is 37-4 at home and they are 17-24 on the road. The contrast in records indicates they aren’t as comfortable on the road as they are at home. When comparing home vs road, they are a horrible road team.
I know there are a few other teams with the same road record, but the difference between home and road is the greater for the Jazz than anyone else. Eitherway Houston is in trouble.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Austin Burton says:
On the road, the Jazz also lost to:
New York
Indiana
New Jersey
Chicago
Minnesota (twice)
LA Clippers
Sacramento (twice)
Portland (by 14)
Miami
Charlotte
Atlanta
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
Amar says:
Austin — if you want your STAR play, max money boi to score 1 FT in the 4th quarter of a close playoff game AT HOME (in two games, btw) then I want to GM against you.
Any other guy on his level (LeBron, Kobe, Wade, Melo, VC, AI, CP3, KG, Nash, etc) as a franchise player and multiple All-Star STARTER would score at LEAST a bucket in each game. He hasn’t even done that in the 4th of either.
It’s a close series so far, expect that guy you love is doing as much on the floor in the 4th as I am, sitting on my couch watching the Jazz go 2-0.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
Amar says:
Austin — it’s a fucking shame the jazz aren’t going to see the Knicks, Pacers, Nets, Bulls, Twolves, Clips, Kings, Heat, Bobcats and Hawks in the playoffs then.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Austin Burton says:
Amar — If T-Mac was sitting on the couch he wouldn’t be drawing double-teams and having Sloan design his defense to stop him. I never said he’s played well in the 4th quarter of Game 1 or 2. He obviously wore down towards the end of Game 2. But these games wouldn’t even be somewhat close if he wasn’t producing in quarters 1-3. I just don’t get why all the Rockets hate is directed at the only guy who’s even keeping them somewhat competitive. No one’s talking about Adelman, no one’s talking about their role players not filling their role, and no one’s talking about the fact that they’re missing an All-NBA center. When the Wizards were missing Arenas and Butler in last year’s playoffs, no one was like, “Antawn Jamison sucks and he’s a pussy.”
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
rangerjohn says:
um i am in houston and i forgot DID HOUSTON PLAY YESTERDAY? if so then i just dropped $400 on 2 seats to a game i didnt go to.
was it just me or did anyone else see shaq hip-check parker horry style last night and just get a foul. since someone mentioned the fouls on amare,and the hack a shaq, how about the 3 fouls taken on manu in the last couple of minutes, nash fouled manu 2 times on inbounds passes (burning 1 time out) with no call, those should have been shooting fouls by league rule, and then bell smacking manu in the head should have been a flagrant 1 had manu been labron. manu went to the line 1 time on those 3 fouls.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Dave says:
Austin, thanks for the reminder it was the most frustrating thing to watch the Jazz lose to teams they should’ve beaten. In nearly every loss Boozer’s guy had a career night, it was pathetic. Utah would beat Boston, then lose to Chicago. If it wasn’t for a miracle the Jazz would’ve lost at Milwuakee too.
If you look at the overall picture their 17-24 road record looks terrible, but you have to see who they beat to say whether or not they are horrible on the road. Houston is definitely in trouble, but it has nothing to do with the Jazz having a poor road record, just the fact that the Jazz are a better team.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
Jules says:
Honestly though, how many times can you dump it down low to Diaw and come up empty. That guy is garbage.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 am
Amar says:
Well, as for Yao ming (who is not criticised in the media, eventhough he should be) — Houston won 22 games in a row without him. But *NOW* it’s a problem? That is very selective and wishy-washy. Either come out and say that the Rox suck, and have a fluke record because of the schedule — or — that Ming didn’t make that much difference, as he was punked by Okur on defense in the playoffs last season. (Okur shouldn’t be blocking shots and stealing the ball off of a HOF center, but he was last season)
You are just making excuses. 1 FT in two 4th quarters = weak. That is an empirical fact. Do people get upset that Rony Turiaf isn’t as good as Gasol when Kobe is going to the FT line 8 times in the 4th quarter of close games? No.
But we must coddle Tmac because you like him. I’m sure he’s a great guy, but his talent level (and pay scale) deserves more than just 1 FT and 0 buckets in the 4th quarter of TWO playoff games in a row AT home.
Yeah, without Yao they were good enough to have a better record than Utah, Dallas and Phoenix — but the fact that he isn’t there = handy excuse when they actually play in the playoffs.
Rafer is good and all, but seriously, Deron would have abused him too.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
Amar says:
…while being defended by Kyle Korver…
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
SWAT says:
Dog the damn Rockets did not play yesterday and don’t play until Thurs. DAMN DUDES JUMP OFF THE DAMN JOCK STRAP ALREADY!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Austin Burton says:
Amar — I get the feeling you think I’m taking something away from the Jazz, otherwise you wouldn’t be so upset. I’m not taking anything away from your team. But again, I think it’s silly for all the blame for the Rockets’ 0-2 deficit to come down on the one guy who’s out there producing. Yes, the Rockets won 22 straight without Yao, but that doesn’t mean they’re better without him. And as much as Okur “punked” Yao in last year’s series, Yao still averaged 20-something points in that series that Houston isn’t getting from anyone else this year. I know you’re watching these games, and therefore you should be able to see how T-Mac’s presence on the court is keeping Houston in the game (Game 2, at least) even when he isn’t scoring.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
GEE..Pimpiiiiiiiiiiiin! (Money Mike) says:
“I’m yo huckleberry”
Amar
6 quarters a guy has been phenomenal. Your Jazz make it their goal to make sure he doesn’t get off in the 4th. Instead of downing a guy who is carrying a squad you should just focus on that your Jazz have excuted extremely well.
You are basically saying at no point and time should a guy carrying his team get tired. That is crazy. It’s funny how various fans are degrading T-Mac cause his 4th quarters were not so hot, yet stars former and current of the NBA and even players on the Jazz are giving dude his due.
Amar you should also know that the playoffs are a totally different beast than the regular season. So it’s not that people are wishy washy, but it does make a big difference when Yao is not there for the playoffs. As far as the record, sure it’s inflated due to scheduling but you should go find Sterny and whoever makes the schedule and take that up with them. It’s not like players were asking please let us play 22 teams and have an easy schedule.
Punked by Okur. That is cool. In the same token lets not act like MJ hasn’t had the ball stolen from him or his shot blocked. Various players have success against stars. Again don’t play that so much on how bad Yao is but more on Okur doing well.
T’s talent level and pay scale certainly equal to him carrying a team. Houston has relatively been in the games with Utah and that is mostly if not all due to T-Mac. Meanwhile you have Dallas who has way better players and they are getting blown out. Washinton gets blown out and they have 3 excellent stars. So how is it that T gets ished on, when he has his squad of roll players with at least a chance to win, and meanwhile teams with 2 and 3 stars are getting done up. Is that on Utah? Do we start ishing on Utah for not blowing out Houston. No we don’t.
This is people again magnifying the little in difference to the whole. No T in these games and it’s not even a discussion. Don’t bash dude just salute your team for doing well.
It’s like you wanted T to go off in the 4th and beat your squad money??? I don’t understand. 1 point in a 4th, so what. His legend is not diminished, it is just better for carrying those who can’t fufill their rolls.
I will say Deron would have more than likely given Skip the work too. Deron is just awesome.
Hey Amar….Got Championships?
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:18 am
DaPro says:
@ Gee
That last line was cold money….but necessary
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Gee
That’s “I’ll be Ya Huckleberry” – Tombstone, Doc Holliday
@Gee and Austin
Yall gotta understand everybodies just saying dude ain’t showing up when it counts and keep’s poppin’ off with excuses
“Lebron gets doubled, and triple teamed all the time, sometimes more” Dan Patrick, SI.Com
@Austin
GayforRudy kinda HOE’d you but good comeback son.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 am
Brown says:
The Kurt Thomas like player on the Suns is…well, it was Kurt Thomas until they sent two first round picks to Seattle so they would take him off their hands just so he wouldn’t have to pay the luxury tax. I honestly hope the Suns lose this series, Robert Sarver is the reason this team won’t win a chip. It’s too bad shit runs downhill, cuz he’s the one person in the organization who should be held responsible for their lack of success. He should fire himself.
When you’re a billionaire, WTF is another $20 million? Oh yeah, that’s a chance at a championship, something Sarver obviously doesn’t consider a priority.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Jim says:
Yeah, I really don’t understand the Jazz fans going negative at this point in the campaign. You are moving on; that’s pretty obvious and was before the series started. Why the animosity? Save it for Kobe (and not for Fish, damn).
Fans of 2 certain Western Conference franchises always want to bitch and fight. Someday you’ll win a chip, and then you can all relax.
And you’d think Jazz fans of all people would be sensitive of 6’9 superstars who struggle in the 4th quarter. I’m just saying!
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
Austin Burton says:
Boozer: 4 points in the 4th quarter of Game 2. I’m not hating on the guy, because I’m a fan of his, but he wasn’t exactly Michael Jordan in Space Jam there.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 am
sad but true says:
Tim Duncan is 32 years old (this Friday) and has been in his prime for 11 years, with 5 more to come.
Shaq is thirty-fat and there is a fork in his ass because he is done.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:40 am
SAS Sizzle says:
To be fair I hijacked and modified the TMAC nickname yesterday, from what I recall I saw something where the Nuggets players were laughing and calling him “Half Man, Half A Season” which sounds more like the classic “Half Man, Half Amazing” that the streetballer cat and Vince Carter go by.
I just kind of updated that to reflect the recent playoff struggles so “HALF MAN, HALF A GAME” sounded about right. No offense if that is your guy, I take plenty of grief for being a Manu fan so you guys can handle that little jab I think.
I don’t know why but it is hard for me to consider TMAC an absolute Superstar anymore. He carries his team to be certain, but then sure enough he wears down and looks like a jacker, even though he gets some dimes. Maybe if he didn’t command superstar salary he would have more help. I would rather have a guy like Caron Butler to be honest.
I haven’t seen him just blow my mind since “The Comeback” in that regular season game against the Spurs. And I’ll never forget the Shawn Bradley CROWNING in the playoffs, I was so happy he practically retired his ass with that one!
GO SPURS GO
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:42 am
Austin Burton says:
“the Nuggets players were laughing and calling him ‘Half Man, Half A Season’”
Considering the source, that is hilarious.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
K Dizzle says:
Quote of the day: ” If i played for the suns…or the nuggets, I’d be a stopper” – Chuck Barkley
SWAT
the haq-a-shaq strategy wasn’t really dirty, it was just more gutless and weak, but props to shaq for goin 5-6 and Pop was squirmin whenever the cameras panned on him. Damn, even the arena was silent. You never saw Houston, Detroit use that when they were beatin Shaq’s finals teams.Anyways….
Youngfed
shaq’s got 3 teams into the finals and they both got 4 rings, but I’m takin Shaq in his prime. Shaq needs a slasher, just like Tim, but Shaq got 3 in a row so Shaq(99-02) over Tim whenever and you know i rep my Lakers so I don’t even see it any other way lol
Gee
The T-mac hate is gettin ridiculous and you know i hate that whole fam, but I think the issue was that he actually said shit. Everyone watchin the game knew that Mac was gettin triple and quad-teamed, but you can’t come out and say it. You gotta throw out the “We lost to the better team”, “we didn’t hit the shots we shoulda”, just whatever, but when you come out and say you were tired and kirilenko bottled you up, we know it, but nobody wants to hear that. It comes across as weak. Lebron never says a word, Jamison was quiet last year, even Kobe waited for the summer to have his meltdown. If Mac wanna be a superstar, then he knows the rules of the game. He is catchin too much junk cuz he don’t got anybody who could even get minutes for the jazz right now, but still…
Bargnani has gotta be the most frustratin dude in the league. he don’t do jack for 30 minutes then in a 5 minute span, blocks shots, boards, hits a midrange pull-up, hits a step back 3 and attacks the rim like a bull, then he dissapears again. If dude ever feels like puts it all together, that team would sizzle
Lakers, Sixers tonight.
KB24 = MVP, no split, peace
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 am
doc says:
cP3 is the new breed Zeke. Get ready for the Sixers tonight.That sweep coming.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
K Dizzle says:
youngfed
it is “I’m yo huckleberry”
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 am
GEE..Pimpiiiiiiiiiiiin! (Money Mike) says:
K Dizz I can except that point of view in regards that he could have said something else. Still it’s a comment though. I guess others are just looking for something more. I am content.
Young I was close enough lol. You got the point.
SAS I heard that was the Detroit team who did the whole “Half man/ Half a season” deal. You can guess who it was I am sure.
I think I will just change my outlook on this as people are clearly caught up in T. Cause considering there are 15 other teams also going for the chip and some of the other stars are not catching half the drama T is getting. I will just look at is as more of a compliment to his legend.
I think it was Katt Williams who said you are suppose to have haters. It seems that T-Mac is accumulating even more haters so he must be on it.
It will be a testament to his greatness from this point forward. Please proceed in hating.
Anyway you all try this on for size. As of now how would you stop the Spurs, Lakers, N.O. and Boston?
What formula would you use.
Spurs- I think you have to bottle Manu. and keep Duncan to 20.
Lakers – Contain Kobe, shut down Pau best you can and force it to LO and crew.
N.O. – Contain CP and by all means not let West shoot jumpers till his soul is content.
Boston – Wow. Um first pray lol and then contain P dub and have to make Ray have an off night, and force it all on K.G.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
SAS Sizzle says:
Good call GEE, it may half been Detroit. I have faulty short-term memory for some reason…
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Alright I out peeps until Sunday so if the Pistons lose don’t hate to tough. Holla!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
GayforRudy says:
Good point Austin. However I’ve never said a word on here about Rudy… Much less 7 or 8 posts per day defending him. People got tired of Garnett not being able to get his team out of the first round a few years back and people are tired of Tracy being a hyped up “superstar” that isn’t good enough to get his team out of the first round.
Whether it’s fair that Tracy plays in the West or not there are players that are the ONLY good player on their team that manage to get their team to a second round game.
And his lazy eye is annoying
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Austin Burton says:
I wouldn’t have to defend T-Mac if people didn’t come on here firing shots at him daily. I’m also a Zach Randolph fan, but I hardly ever post about him because no one mentions him.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
girlybballluver says:
GayforRudy:
Austin,
At what point will you stop professing your man love for Captian Lazy Eye? We get it…you like him.
Captain lazy eye???? That’s just wrong, but I couldn’t stop laughing when I read it. ROFLOL.
CP3 makes J Kidd look old…well older.
Thank God for NBA TV…that Magic game was pretty good. Especially the 4th quarter when the Raptors made a pretty good run at it. Everyone in the arena was praying Bosh’s shot didn’t go in. The magics would’ve been kicking themselves if it had because they shouldn’t have let them come back.
I think Tony P has a stealth mode…I’m telling you it’s like defenders really don’t see him sometimes until after he scores.
Spurs smothered the suns defensively in the 2nd half.
I’ve been saying all along, Nash is overrated…now everyone else sees why. He should learn from TP. Tony played hard on both ends of the court last night. Great game for him.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Amar says:
Austin – you’re not taking anything from the jazz. Their road record is what it is, but it is also heavily skewed because of multiple losses to shit-tastic teams. (hence my comment @ #63) The jazz are a young team without a strong vet presence like Fisher, and hence, don’t get up for games vs. shit teams. They have a winning road record since the Korver trade, iirc.
I agree completely, though, that T-Mac is the only reason why these games aren’t blowouts. But as it would be silly to heap all of the blame for the losses on him, it would be equally silly to absolve ANY blame for them based, primarily, on T-Mac’s production. The game is, correct me if I’m wrong, 48 mins long, right? T-Mac is doing well for 36 mins / game. It’s the playoffs. Everything is on the line. He is at home. His team is injured. You know what? Scoring less than 25 a night on a piss-poor, Iverson-like percentage is EXACTLY what the Jazz want him to do.
He’s a superstar. In order to win he will have to have a flurry on the offensive end, not unlike in the first game of the season between these two teams. When Kareem when down, Magic took over. We’ve seen it in the playoffs. LeBron, last season, had a worse roster than what T-Mac is running with now – and he took over in that Detroit game and willed his team to victory.
T-Mac’s excuse is other people missing shots? Well, why don’t YOU take shots / go to the hole then? We’ve read a lot of opinion about the Scola foul on Kirilenko, as Andrei was closing out on T-Mac. What’s great about that happens to be the fact that T-Mac wasn’t even going to shoot that, he passed it up. Even John Stockton used to take (and make) shots in the 4th quarter of the playoffs . . . and he was always pass-first. T-Mac needs to assert himself with the game on the line, not before halftime.
Setting your team mates up is one thing, but if you’ve already thrown them under the bus, like T-Mac has in post-game comments, then he should be proactive and shoot the ball and make buckets in the 4th.
Yao vs. Okur last season in the playoffs: Yao killed the jazz in the regular season. Last season the jazz dealt with Yao by single teaming him with a slow Turkish guy who doesn’t play in the paint. Yao then scored -3.4 ppg (-8.8 fg%), -2.2 rpg, -2.3 bpg and had +1.2 topg. T-Mac had to do it all himself last year to while Yao got a pass, and T-Mac got all the hate.
I want T-Mac to do well, I want him to redeem himself. I think he is a good guy who honestly cares for the game more than a lot of guys in the L. By playing passively and by not producing in the 4th quarter of games he is solidifying his legacy.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Amar says:
Gee – I’m happy that my team is winning, but I think T-Mac is better than he is playing, and he is missing some opportunities to earn some playoff cred. He’s allowed to get tired, but even tired guys gut it out and drive to the basket and attempt shots close, instead of shooting fade aways from 20 ft, in the 4th quarter in the playoffs at home. (especially on the next game after LOSING while scoring ZERO in the 4th)
I don’t want to focus on what Utah is doing well, because in my mind I have high expectations for them. I also have high expectations for T-Mac. I think he has been getting dogged while Yao gets a free plane ticket to China. T-Mac has a great chance to prove that he’s more important than Yao, but by not producing in the 4th he is giving people more ammo.
I would rather have played the rockets at full strength, that would have been a better series, but since that’s not happening, I’d rather have T-Mac going off on the jazz for 30 or 40 points. Scoring in the low 20’s does not give his team a chance to win, and thus, makes any wins the jazz get very hollow. I want my team to do well against healthy teams with their best player’s playing great. Utah playing and winning against an injured Houston team when their most talented guy doesn’t have enough in the tank to get more 4th quarter points than Kyle Korver, is not pleasing to me.
I think that Dekembe needs more time, he was killing Utah in the time he’s been in there. I want this to be a good series and not a sweep.
As for championships – well, we’re working on that. Lol !
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Amar says:
Jim – that was a good post. I think that to be a jazz fan means that you can never, ever be truly happy. Beating Houston is good, but I’d rather have the jazz beat Houston with Tracy going off on the Jazz, showing – without a doubt – that he’s a prime time player who can be counted on the wreck shit in the 4th quarter of playoff games. Hopefully then will people start to hate on Yao Ming who is the legit reason why Houston has lost in the playoffs. The hate on T-Mac is undeserved, however he is not doing enough (in my mind at least) when the game counts to prove people wrong.
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Amar says:
Austin @ 77 – Boozer is sucking pretty hard these last few weeks. If he doesn’t have a good Game 3 then he is not living up to his expectations. He’s one of the nicest people off the court, I would like to see him go for 30 on Scola and crew, because if he keeps playing like a bench guy, he’s going to get taken to school by the Lakers.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
ben says:
Sam Mitchell is getting @$$ raped in the coaching battle by Van Gundy. There isn’t even any lube involved. Why exactly is Ford still starting? Or playing at all for that matter? I would rather have Delfino split time bringing the ball up than see another 20 point Orlando lead in the first quarter, after Ford turns the ball over approximately 324543543 times. Even when he doesn’t turn the ball over, he just dribbles the shot clock down to 10, then makes some lateral pass that helps noone.
Oh, and great final play you drew up there Mitchell. Ignore the hot hands of Kapono and Calderon, and give it to Bosh who clearly cannot beat Rashard when he catches the ball outside of 15 feet.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
GEE..Pimpiiiiiiiiiiiin! (Money Mike) says:
Ok Amare well put. (And I said I was going to discuss this anymore lol) Think of this though. For the sake of “If “If” was a fifth we would all be drunk”, then let us wonder what would have happened if T-Mac does “gut it out”.
Mind you he has carried a team for 3 quarters so he is tired. I am sorry, check his stat line and anyone doing that is going to be tired, especially with the good D Utah was providing. Anyway a tired T-Mac decides to pull up for 3 covered by two players and bricks it. He then goes for another base line fade away with two players on him and misses. At this point (mind you the Jazz still score every now and then and their lead is increasing) he decides let me try to drive. So he does drive successfully and gets fouled. He is still tired, and has free throw problems to a degree anyway and misses 1 out 2. Utah scores and their lead still increases.
Get my point. Either way they are losing. Then if T does try to take over and gut it out and take the L, then the world comes down on him because he should have been passing out of double teams and knocking down free throws.
If anyone has ever been in a no win situation unless they win type of problem it’s T-Mac.
The only way he apparently can please many is if he wins. Unfortunately that against a full and strong Utah team, and his very weak team is hard to do.
He was tired and really had the players (Utah) in on him during the 4th (smart on their part) so he opts to pass out of double teams and try to create for his team and hope they hit shots.
Bobby Jackson’s three is recalled, outside of that it almost worked. I have no problem with what T decided to do. Cause if he takes the other way and loses he still gets ished on.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
control says:
@88: You are the only Zach Randolph fan in the world…even his mom hates him and is scared that he will mistake her for a doughnut and eat her. Liking him is like cheering for Godzilla as he’s eating your town, sort of like that abused wife’s syndrome.
@94: Bosh can beat Rashard, but ignoring Kapono, who is only one of the best shooters in the league is fucked up. I can see Mitchell giving it to Bosh because he is the franchise man…but still, it’s not like Kobe or MJ took EVERY single game winner. Someone on the Raps has to Tonya Harding TJ’s knee or something, get that fucker out of the game. The guy sees only the basket, teammates are just pylons for him to run around.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Keith says:
Shaq has certainly changed the way you have to play against Phoenix. I haven’t seen stats, but watching Shaq play in this series he appears to shoot about 80% inside the paint, and about 25% outside it. The way to play Shaq from my perspective is:
Strength is the #1 trait that your defender must have, because Shaq’s offensive output is all about position. I don’t care if your strongest guy only has a 3″ vertical, he’s still your best guy to put on Shaq.
If he sets up in the paint, put extreme pressure on the ball to prevent them from feeding the low post for 3 seconds.
If Shaq does get the ball in the paint, the defender should just put his hands up and not pick up a weak foul. You would have to foul him to prevent him from getting the bucket.
If Shaq gets the ball outside the paint, play him hard one-on-one, but only double-team if he backs down to get in front of the basket. Don’t double if he turns baseline.
When a rebound is coming, just box him out of the paint. Don’t let up pressure on him to go for the rebound yourself.
On offense, it’s obvious that you just run pick-and-roll with Shaq’s man.
Hopefully your strongest guy isn’t your best defender, because you’re gonna need your best defender on Amare.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
rangerjohn says:
keith,
interesting points, i really only disagree with the needing the best defender on amare, the spurs showed in the 3rd they dont need to defend hard on him as long as they can keep nash from his patented pick and roll. the spurs figured the suns roll out and it was OVER. thing was, the spurs never put a post defender on him at that point, it was all about the guards deneying him the ball, or getting him a deflected pass where he cant create any thing. even oberto defended that well.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Brown says:
I don’t get all the T-Mac hate. I’m not even a T-Mac fan, but it’s not his fault that Utah is just a better team than Houston. Even with Yao, Utah is better. Their players fit their system perfectly, and Jerry Sloan gets the most out of all of them.
People need to lay off T-Mac, he’s doing the best he can, but he can’t carry that team by himself, at least not in a playoff series against a tough opponent like the Jazz.
The only way he gets out of the first round is if they make some roster moves to improve the team, unless we see a significant drop-off in the top teams out west, which I doubt is gonna happen anytime soon.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Ian says:
youngfed
duncan is the pick easy
better teammate by far
doesn talk shit
doesn care if he scores
and when u make your team if u dont have another superstar that can carry his fat ass shaq is going to pretend to be injured and demand a trade
btw did i mention that duncan is better on defense can score from more than 6 feet away from the basket
someone mentioned it the man is 32 and still plays the same level he did 5 years ago
shaq wellllllllll
shaq needs another big name superstar to win kobe , wade
duncan has dont it with good players not superstars.
shaq looks stupid
lets c wat else jummmm……
loyalty to your team and shaq cant hit game tying threes like timmeh
so yeah idd take timmy for 8-10 seasons over shaq
and not to mention that if u say careers NOBODY can pick shaq with a straight face
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
djKianoosh says:
it’s pretty simple between duncan and shaq. duncan has had the more consistent career and been the better teammate. but if we’re talking one season, one series, then it’s Shaq that year he destroyed the sixers in the finals and that laker team that only lost that 1 game in all the playoffs. That was Shaq at his absolute best. and there has never been anyone more dominant than that in a single playoff run (excluding the Wilt/Russell era which I’m too young to have seen).
I’ll take Duncan for his whole career, but it just depends on what you’re comparing. their careers, or each guy at his peak.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Dave says:
Sloan should be getting some love, he’s the one calling the shots for the Jazz D making TMac look bad in the first place. George karl or Phyllis Jackson wouldn’t have figured that out by now.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
DaPro says:
@ Dave
Phil’s has 9 nine rings homie, pump the brakes. He knows how to win don’t put him and George Karl in the same sentence.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Amar says:
Dave — Phil would have had a pretty good plan for stopping TMac — either put Pippen or Kobe on him. Additionally, everyone in the L respects Jerry Sloan. What more love does he need? Better yet, why would he want any, he just wants to win. He’s got over 1k wins and is, I think, 4th all-time.
He doesn’t want to win COY, heck, Sam Mitchell won that last year, didn’t he? COY doesn’t really mean anything — but if it does, then it’s a good thing that Jerry Sloan’s first assistant (Phil Johnson) has a COY from his time coaching the Kings.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
rangerjohn says:
@ dapro,
i am not agreeing with dave, and i am not saying phil is not great BUT phil jackson did have a player by the name of mike jordan, and then a couple of other players, named shaq and kobe. take those players and give him any of the jazz teams slone has coached and ask yourself, does he take them to 9 titles? NO WAY. jackson is a great coach but he had help, just like pop has duncan and david and manu and tony, phil had mike and pippin, and then shaq and kobe.
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Amar says:
which coaches under achieved with good talent?
which coaches over achieved with crappy talent?
I’d have to say that Fratello under achieved in Atlanta with Nique and crew, but over achieved in Cleveland with Ty Hill. I’d say that Adleman and Sloan could — at different points in their careers — over achieved and underachieved.
Guys like the “zenmaster” will never give a good chance for us to see how well he does when he’s not coaching one of the top guys in the League.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:47 pm
What is this!? says:
I forgot to come in here and gloat about game 1 of the Spurs/Suns series when my Timmy was in the game doing damage…so I’ll gloat now…the Spurs are the truth, people can hate if they want but if anyone wants to go anywhere in the West…they have to go through the Spurs first. Now i’m not saying its over for the Suns, because a series doesn’t start untill a team wins on the opposing teams court…but the Suns better step it up, because they were looking lost lastnight.
CP3 is not playin’ with ya’ll. LOL! I think this series is over even though they still have to go on the Mavs homecourt. I don’t know, the MAVS just look like they are sleep walking. I just feel like they took a step back when they traded for J-Kidd…but we shall see, still plenty more games left to be played.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
daquest?on says:
I HATE THE SPURSSS…CARLOS ARROYO SIGHTING LAST NIGHT… NUGGETS GONNA WIN THIS ONE GOO NUGGETS AND IVERSN