On the Verge
Joe Johnson (photo. Zach Wolfe)The ‘94 Nuggets. The ‘07 Warriors. The ‘08 Hawks? A monumental playoff upset can do a lot to legitimize a franchise and its star player, which is why Joe Johnson (or Josh Smith) is one game away from putting himself on the mainstream map, just like Baron Davis did last year and Dikembe Mutombo did back in the day. Yesterday’s Game Six showed that, unless you’re Dwyane Wade going to the rack, reputations don’t count for much in the postseason; you couldn’t tell which team was supposed to be the overwhelmed youngsters and which was supposed to have all the poised playoff veterans. That was the most surprising part, that Atlanta out-executed Boston offensively down the stretch AND locked them down defensively, which are supposed to be the C’s calling cards … No one dominated for the Hawks. Johnson (15 pts, 4-for-13 FGA) struggled with his shot all night, Smith (11 pts, 6 rebs, 3 blks) was more AK-47 than Dominique, and Al Horford (16 pts) had a mere five rebounds. Instead, it was a total group effort, with guys like Josh Childress and Marvin Williams making huge crunch-time plays and banding together to make stops. Atlanta went on a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to take the lead, Johnson hit a ridiculous three — fading away over two guys with the shot clock expiring — and made his free throws to maintain it, and on the last play of the game the Celtics had no clue what to do and ended up with Rajon Rondo air-balling a 30-footer when Ray Allen and Sam Cassell couldn’t get open on the perimeter … Mike Bibby is really riding that “clutch shooter” reputation into the ground, isn’t he? He was jacking all during the fourth quarter and not hitting. When Atlanta was down by one point and on the verge of stealing all the momentum, Bibby brought the ball up and fired a three without even thinking of passing. Luckily for him, Williams was there for the putback that gave ATL the lead. Then a few possessions later, Bibby (17 pts, 6-for-17 FGA) hoisted another deep three early into the shot clock that bricked. Then he did it again when the Hawks were trying to protect a four-point lead with two minutes left. And then, naturally, when Atlanta actually needed him to go for his with the shot clock about to run out on a crucial possession, Bibby drove the lane and passed up a shot right before the refs gave him a bail-out foul call … People talk about the Spurs, but the C’s definitely had some whiny-face tactics going on, especially Ray and Paul Pierce (and of course Cassell, who’s worse than Duncan sometimes). Pierce took it a step further, earning a technical when he tossed his headband after fouling out. After seemingly hitting his stride in Game Five, Pierce looked tired last night. A couple times down the stretch he hit the deck and just stayed on the floor, trying to get as much rest as possible … Ray (20 pts, 8-for-19 FGA, 1-for-8 3PA) also had a frustrating night that culminated in a Charles Smith moment, when he missed a corner three, got his own rebound, missed a layup, kept on the glass and missed one or two more putback attempts in a row … And was that Big Dog Robinson congratulating JJ in the tunnel right after the game? … Tale of two halves in Game Six of Jazz/Rockets: Tracy McGrady owned the first half, dropping 28 points by halftime, but then Deron Williams went nutso in the second half to send Mac home again without a second-round playoff series to his name … After T-Mac murked everyone in his path (Kirilenko, Brewer, Harpring, Boozer, Korver, etc.) and cut a 19-point Utah lead down to four at the break, Deron was out for blood when he felt th game slipping away. He made four threes in the third quarter, giving Bobby Jackson a few step-backs, and then when Aaron Brooks tried his luck (Rafer Alston hurt his ankle in the second quarter and didn’t return), Deron immediately served him a pull-up trey. Going back down the court after that one, Deron (25 pts, 9 asts) laughed and said something along the lines of “Don’t come at me with that bulls***, boy!” Houston had to take a timeout after that one, and you could see C.J. Miles convulsing in laughter on the Utah bench … It’s unavoidable, but we really don’t wanna hear everyone blaming McGrady (40 pts, 10 rebs, 5 asts) for last night’s loss, or the entire series for that matter. 22-game win streak aside — which not to take anything away from the Rockets, but everyone knows had a lot to do with fortunate scheduling and opponents’ injuries — Houston just isn’t that good without Yao Ming. They ran into a better team in this series, and T-Mac was carrying them as best he could, but not enough guys stepped up to help him out in the games they lost. He had FORTY points last night! What else do you want him to do? But Mac makes the big bucks and he’s got the first-round losing streak, so it will all fall on him … We polled the DimeMag.com readers on which of the remaining first-round series going into Friday was most likely to go to a Game Seven, and most respondents picked Cavs/Wizards. LeBron wasn’t allowing that to happen, though. He put up 27 points, 13 boards and 13 assists in what turned into a rout for the Cavs. Zydrunas Ilgauskas told reporters afterwards, “We have LeBron on our team, and there are 29 other teams who don’t, and that’s the biggest difference.” … Actually, the difference yesterday was that ‘Bron had an effective group of players around him. Wally Szczerbiak came out of hibernation and dropped 26 points on six threes, Daniel Gibson scored 22 on four triples, and Big Z had 12 points and 7 boards while giving Brendan Haywood slow-mo buckets … Was Darius Songaila suspended or imprisoned? Gilbert Arenas held up Songaila’s #9 jersey before the game and then laid it down on the bench, and fans in the crowd had signs reading “Free Darius.” That was a little much … The L.A. Times reported late last night that Kobe is going to be named MVP whenever it’s time to announce the award. The Lakers didn’t confirm the report, though, so nothing is official. Yesterday we asked you guys to make your MVP pick between Kobe and Chris Paul. Read the responses HERE and leave your own if you haven’t already … We’re out like T-Mac …
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 am
Duke says:
The hawks are fucking raw!! If the hawks win, I’m laughing at the Celtics.
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 am
Amar says:
It’s not T-mac’s fault. He scored 11 in the 4th quarter — which for the record is more points than every other team mate scored during the entire game save one (Scola).
Stop fearing the red dragon and start blaming Yao. Man up Yao, play for the club that pays you, and don’t take half the season off so that you’re nice and healthy for the Olympic torch ceremony. (Don’t even know why China has the olympics, lots of human rights violations in China and the whole genocide of the Tibetan people, whatever, Yao’s health seems to be ‘made in china’, meaning it’s cheap and prone to breaking)
Lakers/Jazz will be a good series if Deron can continue to have “NBA JAM ‘he’s on fire’ mode” activated. (also Okur with 5 double doubles in 6 games is pretty under-valued)
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:05 am
Amar says:
also, how can you not root for the hawks!
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:10 am
Duke says:
It’s never “really” T-Mac’s fault, but all the pundits will say it is. he’s a damn good player but seriously, if you had to remember T-Mac in one way it would probably be that he never got out of the first round.
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 am
JHov says:
I’m already laughing @ the Celtics! This was supposed to be their yr. and they are pushed to seven against (record wise) the worst team in the playoffs?!?!? Hawks are one player and a consistent Bibby/M. Williams from being a legit title contender! Congrats to KB24 on his first MVP!!!
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 am
Tek says:
I don’t know… it seemed like T-Mac was looking for his own so much in the first half that by the time he cooled off/got tired, the rest of his teammates were just cold. T-Mac is good but is there evidence that he actually makes his team mates better? Or is he only good at getting his? Just putting it out there. But hey, I’m from Australia so maybe I’m not seeing stuff that you guys can see.
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:41 am
daquest?on says:
wow could u imagine if the hawks win the next game..that would be the biggest upset in sports history bigger than the glden state one…. this is nice i come back home from partying to find the newest smackkk
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 am
bill says:
realistically hawks get beaten by 10-20.
If it was at Atlanta, they MAY have a chance but at Boston…………..no.
That said, GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:51 am
What is this!? says:
The Hawks should get props just for fighting and staying in the series this long, everyone thought they were going to get swept…and here they are still fighting, that team has heart.
I already know the T-Mac haters are going to be coming full force on this site in the morning. LOL! Keep your head up T!
And Washington should be embarrassed for talking all that stuff and losing this series. I wonder if they are going to keep Gilbert.. Caron Butler has stepped his game up big time in Gilberts absence. They probably will keep Gilbert but it seems like that team plays better without him at times. Anyhow..NEXT!!
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:51 am
ya boy says:
Fisrt off . I aint mad at the Hawks. Do ya gaddam thag ya dig.Isn’t it funny how nobody (except celtic fans)wanted the ball in Bibby’s hands unless he was wide the fluck open lol.And Bibby is officially not clutch. There’s no defending his late game “heroics”. Love the big ticket and i would hate to see him get Mcgradyed n shyt . at least get beat in the 2nd round you know.With that being said wouldn’t mind if the hawks won. BUT if they win only to get royally asswhupped in the 2nd round. Imma really be pissed. By the way joe johnson just repoed bibby’s clutch card.That was a big balls three if i ever saw one.As for t-mac - sometimes life just shyts on you.No matter what you try…so there. Move on.
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:53 am
Yoooooooo says:
If the birds win, does Doc Rivers get fired??? David Stern may have him removed, personally. The celtics need as much rest as possible between series due to their age. So even if this win, this series is definitely gonna take a toll on them.
Congrats to the boy Kobe. Jersey is out the building…
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:53 am
What is this!? says:
If the Hawks won game 7…I would LMFAO! I wouldn’t even want to wish that on my man K.G.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:05 am
marcus says:
i won’t be surprised if ATL upsets BOS in game 7… the way things went, BOS deserves to lose…
…ATL / NOH, Finals 08…
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:45 am
Jim says:
Also, how silly do Mike Woodson’s title posters seem now? You have to dream, good on them.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 am
bill says:
clock ticks down, celtics up by 2, Johnson launches a 3 just before the buzzer sounds…………………………………………..whoosh
Absolute silence……………………………………………………………………………….
Hawks Win, Hawks Win
OR *in nasal voice and to paraphrase an ancient celtics commentator
There is a steal by Williams, underneath to JJ who lays it in……….
Hawks win!
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:22 am
word says:
well let me be the first to say I was wrong and yall at dime were right. I fully believed the Hawks would not be a problem and the series wouldn’t get past 5 games. Damn was I wrong but I thought yall said Stern would never let this happen and calls would be made in Celts favor. Well I dunno but I’m mighty nervous. If they lose I will have no one to root for and it will be the same bullshit as last year. Well I guess I still got Detroit. Regardless, the game is fucked up right now! And I knew Lebron would unleash that revengful animal who is mad he had to play an extra game knowing they shoulda won last time. Hes a beast! I will never doubt that man again in my life. And at least the rockets didn’t get swept. They had less talent than the nuggs and still managed to win 2 games.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:22 am
word says:
by the way that picture of johnson is ill
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:27 am
word says:
and on a final note did yall know Lofton had cancer and played through all that, I read that shit on espn and it was kinda serious. He found out by doing a random drug test and it came back positive, not for drugs, but for teste cancer. Damn thats some shit to go through, him and nene both, they too young for that shit, but at the same time that random test saved his life. is he going to the draft?
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 am
kobeef says:
The Celtics are channeling the Patriots.
Remember in the fall when all the writers were talking about how Boston could win NBA,NFL and MLB titles this year? Don’t count your chickens boys………..
I’ve been suggesting the Hawks were a legit team this year since they drafted Horford and I can’t even believe this. The team is punching way above its weight class in this series…..I mean your starting froncourt is all under 22 and they are taking out Hall of Fame players!
I’m out like Boston’s hopes for a Title Town.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:49 am
the_don_mega says:
aint a big C’s fan…
but i aint countin’ ‘em out just yet…
they could still win it…
the thing is…
win or lose…
it just cements the legacy of their Big 3 as big-game chokers…
its like playoff tragedy x3…
on the other hand…
ATL would cement their claim as a legit team for the east…
btw…
no luv 4 the Cavs here???
where the f**k u at now soulja stevenson???
im out like soulja boy…
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:01 am
Ian says:
so i guess kevin garnett brought his winning ways to boston.
what a loser.
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:19 am
Easy W says:
“Also, how silly do Mike Woodson’s title posters seem now? You have to dream, good on them.”
No sh-t… I thought the same thing when i had seen they won. Mike BrownWood’s gotta dream big with both his teams.
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:28 am
What is this!? says:
@word
Even though the Nuggets have all that talent, they got swept because besides Iverson, Kenyon and maybe JR Smith…the majority of the rest of the players on that team has no heart.
Add that to the fact that they seem to have no offensive and defensive sets, just no structure (it seems like a free-for-all), and there you go. I read somewhere that Coach Karl said he is going to be a “tougher Coach” next year and he’s going to do things “his way”, LMAO!! Isn’t it a little too late for that? He better step his game up. Or Iverson should opt-out, because he deserves better.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:21 am
K Dizzle - My Joe Johnson jersey is in the mail says:
Kleiza showed big heart. I taped the game cuz I was busy and somehow made it home to scope the scene. DAMN!!!Durant over Horford for ROY is starin to look like Robinson over Olajuwon for MVP. My apologies to the eastern conference; they kept me awake when the west was layin down all around
Congrats KB24 - MVP
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:03 am
Mister Sun says:
just heard that the mavs will name rick carlisle their head coach…
here comes the most boring and most restricited offense ever
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:05 am
Suciniac says:
No one saw that coming in a million years….Celtics/Hawks game 7???If you are a Celtics fan or a Garnett fan you better start praying or bring out them green I/We believe towels because this is looking very scary for the Celtics.A young,fearless team with momentum on their side against a team of veteran who suddenly look clueless.
What’s up with KG?How did he go from leading the league in rebounding for years to not being able to average 10?Also, how come everybody is playing too unselfishly.One of the big three has got to take charge and drop 40 in the next game and get their swagger back because it’s not looking good even if they get past Hawks and into the 2nd round.
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:16 am
Mister Sun says:
yeah, how come kg isn’t rebounding now? he played less in the regular so that could explain worse rebounding numbers. but now? i don’t think he he declined that fast. remember him having 20-20 games in the playoffs aganist sactown, even if that was 4 years ago…
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 am
Bodzilla says:
Of course it’s not T-Mac’s fault. Just like it wasn’t his fault in Orlando or Toronto in the weaker East. Don’t “great” players make everybody around them better?
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Rockets says:
Hey Bodzilla, are you trying to say that T-Mac doesn’t make his teammates better? Look at the roster. I bet you couldn’t tell me who was Houston’s 2nd best player in that series. You look at that roster and wonder how the hell did this team win 22 straight games, 12 straight without Yao. He’s playing with a 41 year old, 3 late round rookies, d-league players and old vets that nobody wants. I think its safe to say that T-Mac made his teammates better and did more than any could with this roster. I doubt Kobe or Chris Paul could do what T-Mac has done with this team.
@ Amar, blame Yao for what? Being as injured prone as T-Mac? Have you ever had a stress fracture? If Yao could play, he would have. Nobody on the Rockets works has hard on his game than Yao. Did you not see the look on his face sitting on the bench while his team was losing? Also, if our own players had as much passion as Yao does for playing for his home country, the USA would still be winning gold medals.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 am
foscheezeeee says:
Everyone talking all that noise about how much better the Wiz are w/o Gil need to fall back. They put up 33pts in the 2nd and 3 quarter combined! Shoot 39% for the game and 23% from 3pt. As much as I respect Caron and Antwan, I don’t think that is enough offense and Caron was invisible for a large part of the game (really until the game was decided). The offense was stagnant because Jamison was really the only one in attack mode. I think you have to have an explosive guard in this league to be successful. I think in the back of his mind Gil had to be thinking $$$$$.
With ATL I think Childress and Marvin W. make them go by doing all of the scrappy work, and Horford can be put in that category too he makes all the hustle play including that switch out on Ray Allen with 10 seconds left to get a hand in the face. He just seems to be in the right place and making the right plays, and you can’t put a value on that. He gonna be an All Star real soon when he start getting a more effective post game.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 am
Duke says:
Gil is the one who needs to fall back and stop jacking shots like it’s his last game.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
len-e says:
WTF? ray allen drunk and sam in some kind of alien-daze for desperately wanting to NOT get open on the last possession?
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:41 am
Amar says:
@ Rockets — we’re not talking about international competition here, we’re talking the nba playoffs. tmac played (and was tired at the end of games), yao was chillin’ in what looks like armani, but more likely is a blame deflection suit of armor.
does the chinese gov’t give yao millions of dollars a year to play a game? the rockets do. so don’t take half the season off, wear a boot, and then go running up and down the courts of beijing with yi and crew AGAINST nba players when your chinese ass didn’t in the playoffs.
apparently no one here likes steve nash, but he knows where his bread is buttered — he doesn’t run in int’l comps no more because he knows that phx pays his ass. canada loves him anyway. doesn’t yao get enough love in china that he doesn’t have to ruin his professional career in order to secure his Godhood?
rockets are tough. they play the best defense in the west. tmac plays his heart out this series (like last series), but his muthafucking All-Star Starting Center for Life is out walking around in a boot — that he wouldn’t be wearing if the olympics starter last night.
also scola was the 2nd best player for the rockets in that series. it should have been yao, but China wasn’t having that. Yao should grow some dumplings and play 82 for houston next season while going around spreading the mantra of ‘free tibet’. effing China.
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
foscheezeeee says:
Gil was not 100% though, so you can’t judge him on this year. If you think the Wiz gonna make it with what they have, then you foolin yourself playboy
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 am
the_don_mega says:
@Amar-
“but he knows where his bread is buttered…”
that line said it all…
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
QQ says:
Hey, where’s Celts fan?
Honestly, where you at brother? Defend your team.
On a totally unrelated note, GO ORLANDO!
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:36 am
GEE...Jam........ooooohhh Jam! says:
For the last time this season.
Houston up!
I have nothing but congrats for Utah’s whole orginization.
In my view Houston got beat all around. The biggest difference is GM’s. If there was a mismatch that was it. You have a team that toooootally fits their coaches system, while on the other team you really have, with injuries, about 3 people that can score and 1 (Novack) doesn’t get any burn.
Houston needs to make some big offseason moves. As much as I like Skip, we need a more steady offensive and defensive pg. Can’t trust Yao so you need a very decent back up who can rebound and score. I love Deke but all he can do is rebound and block shots.
At this point outside of Mac, Yao, Landry, Scola and Novack I am ready to get rid of allll the rest of the squad.
I have never seen a more consistently injured team either, they all need to drink more milk lol.
Anyway that is still my squad so here is to next year.
Utah was just outstanding. Williams knew he had a clear advantage on Brooks, Jackson and Luther. He took it out on em too. Utah should keep dude forever!
I still will be rooting for the Lakers though coming up!
T-Mac was crazy, and made me go back to how awesome he was before allllllllllll the injuries.
….still hurts though!
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Amar says:
Gee is classy, respect man.
I’m happy that this 1st round match up was a ’series’ and not a sweep. Houston is the best defensive team in the West. If Yao heals up good and is able to do some Valde stuff in Adleman’s system (with guys like Tmac cutting to the rim) then the Rockets will be amazing — as usual.
Rafer this season grew out of the ’streetball’ form into a true NBA starter. Props to him.
You guys have a plethora of Millsap clones, so that’s always a good thing. I wouldn’t completely blow it up, but I wouldn’t be against trading Yao for 2 really good starters. (Kevin Martin, Artest with a Spencer Hawes thrown in)
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 am
Amar says:
that’s the dumbest trade ever . . . where’s the edit button, Dime?
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 am
Chuck says:
Can’t blame T-Mac for this one. He played out of his mind last night. Getting rebounds and going coast to coast. He did all he could.
My boy Bron stepped up last night and put the wizards to bed. I was elated to see that.
Atlanta beating Boston had me sitting there with my mouth open after the game was over for like 10 minutes.
But this won’t be a golden state vs Dallas upset.
Boston will dismantle Atlanta tommorrow and go to the next round a little shaken up and they may not be as confident as they were before this series.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 am
Max says:
How can you leave out the 99 knicks when talkin about 8 over 1 upsets
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Bodzilla says:
Tmac dissapeared in the 4th quarter when the series really mattered, early on. The series was essentially over at 3-1.
We are not asking TMac to “will his team” to a championship, but merely “will his team” past an opponent that had an inferior record. He has never shown this ability.
No denying his talent, but we’ve all seen much lessor talents take over and win a first/second round series.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Gerard says:
Hawks fans should show up in that fresh Joe Johnson Celtics jersey.
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
Austin Burton says:
@Max — That was a 50-game season; the Knicks weren’t as much of a “true” 8-seed to me.
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Dank says:
KOBE GOT HIS 1ST MVP!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Mister Sun says:
@ Amar
“yao was chillin’”
he is INJURED. you don’t seem to understand that he just can’t play. of course he plays in the olympics, because they are MONTHS away and he is healthy by then.
and if i look at how important these games are for every chinese, i wouldn’t fault him for playing at less than 100%
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Ian says:
max
the knicks werent far from the heat in the standings
and with a team
of
ewing
camby
spree
houston
ward
childs
u r no 8th seed
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
djKianoosh says:
childress was boarding like a madman down the stretch. i dare say he was a difference maker late in the game. most of the civilized world will be pulling for the hawks, but the celtics can’t possibly lose in the first round. can they?
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Jerry says:
@ Amar
Your logic is totally idiotic, according to you then Arenas shouldn’t just CHILL on the bench for game 6, Bynum should come out of his relaxation party with Brand.
What part of the word INJURY do you not understand?
There should be no question about Yao’s comittment to the Rockets, he’s not guaranteed to make the Olympics if he doesn’t heal in time, please be more thoughtful if you are to put down a player that works as hard as Yao.
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
94by50 says:
All due respect, but the Warriors’ win last year isn’t in the same class as the Nuggets or (possibly) Hawks upsets. There were people last year actually picking the Warriors to win, or picking Dallas in seven. It wasn’t an ordinary 1-8 matchup.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
DaPro says:
I damn near shed a tear for T-Mac last night (really for myself, I bet allot of money that it was going 7) damn!!!!
Mac is still the truth. He was on point this entire series and the season.
If you don’t think Mac makes his teammates better, watch 48 minutes of a Rockets game and you’ll understand his worth. He needs a legitimate shooter to take the pressure off.
Boston-WTF. I was pissed, I damn near went D’Antoni last night watching the game. My whinny face was in full mode watching Ray not box out, Pierce loss control, KG not calm him team down, and Doc try to coach.
Boston wins Sunday but the scary thing is Boston looks rattled. I saw fear in their eyes last night. I’m disappointed, to say the least.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Amar says:
@ Jerry & Mister Sun — Kobe is injured, he’s playing. Deron is injured, he’s playing. Areanas did play, but he was hurting his team. Rafer came back and played. Marvin Williams got injured last night, and he played in the 4th quarter with the game on the line. Don’t let me stop you from treating Yao with the kid gloves. If Yao Ming is a guy that pops in your head when you think of ‘work ethic’ than I suggest you get some new heroes. He didn’t work hard enough to get a handful of crucial defensive boards last playoffs that all went to the jazz on his Homecourt. Actually, scratch that, his homecourt is in Shanghai, and unfortunately for rox fans, it always will be. People always *either* play with an injury and suck it up for what’s individually important to them, or they don’t. Obviously the Rockets and the playoffs aren’t important to Yao Ming. It’s not like he was super mobile when healthy anyway. There ain’t no way that Yao is hurting more than Deke is, Deke’s body has seen a lot more wars than Yao’s has.
I understand a heck of a lot about what an injury is, thanks guys. I’m in my PM&R residency, and I’m aiming for a sports medicine fellowship.
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Amar says:
I also understand a heck of a lot about what heart looks like. T-mac has heart and played with it. Yao? Let’s just say that he left his heart in a country with more human rights violations than Iraq under Saddam, and has evil expansionist ways that continue to go unchecked. (e.g. Tibet genocide and assimilation)
If you’re a fan of yao you support that. I’m not fan of him. Why is it always tmac’s fault? oh yeah, all criticism of him is obstructed like a mongol invasion due to his (political) great wall.
Fuck him, get some boards next playoffs yao. Oh wait . . . Yao don’t need no playoffs.
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Dave says:
it was nice to see the Jazz play a decent offensive game. DWill looked strong and the Jazz were active.
Props to the Rockets, especially Adelman, he probably should have been COY. As bad as Scola is to look at, he plays with heart and I’d take him on the Jazz.
Now BRING ON THE LAKERS!!! Can’t wait to hear all the laker whiners cry about the mean, noisy, rude crowd in Utah. Grow a pair lakers. I can already hear Phillip whining about it being too loud, that the Bear isn’t friendly, that the crowd says mean words,…..
so to you who will surely begin the whining soon, I called it and will laugh at you when the Jazz win in 6!!!
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
What is this!? says:
Oh yeah “Kdizzle” I forgot about Klieza…yeah he got heart to.
@fochezeeeeee,
Gilbert jacks up shots even when he’s healthy, so him being injured has nothing to do with that. When he is out of the game it seems like the Wizards ball movement is better. Gilbert would help his team out a hell of a lot more if he would just step up only when need be..instead of trying to go for 50 pts every game. If he could do that he, would be even more of an asset. During his absense both Caron and Jamison have shown they can carry their own. That team would be more dangerous if they shared the wealth and spread the scoring around.
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Dave — Didn’t the Jazz get swept by the Lakers in the regular season? Weren’t all of those losses by double-digits? So where did you gather that L.A. is worried about the Utah crowd?
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
dank says:
Utah is a JOKE!!!!!!!
bahahaha ncie one dave. if you cant stop one kobe and he sweeps your ass in the regular season, wat makes you think your gonna stop a suddenly sexually aroused Lamar Odom from dominating the Jazz on the boards, not to mention Pau will destroy Memo. bahaha, i love it your talking about people crying. wasnt AK crying on National TV last year? thats right he was. im gunna love it, Kobe walking around the whole court, pumping his chest, grabbing his jersey, pointing at the laker logo. the best logo in the league. haha the Jazz? what a joke. someone PLEASE bring on the magic for the Finals (lets skip the WCF, that wont be a challenge either)
May 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Jerry says:
Amar, Yao has a fracture in his foot, how do u expect him to run and jump? once again you make no sense, Kobe’s injury is to his pinky, hmm, gee he can still run can’t he? Donl’t need to tell me, he’s by favorite player. And leave the politics out of discussion of players, you’re only making yourself sound foolish in areas you know nothing about, your xenophobic attempts are sophmoric at best.
It’s fine if you hate on Yao, but leave your troll politics out of it.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Mister Sun says:
@amar
i’m not a fan of yao, but i try to understand you and your logic, which is impssible for every human being.
are you comparing rafer and derons strains and kobes PINKIE to a BROKEN foot?
please, i hope you are smarter than that. i really do
May 4th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Amar says:
@ Austin — Dave is a homer, don’t mind him, but for the record, Utah beat LA when Okur and Boozer were injured
@ Jerry — when was the last time Yao jumped in a game when he was healthy? obviously he is ‘injured’, that’s what the Chinese gov’t says. Btw, I may sound foolish, but don’t attempt to guess or assume what I do and do not know. First of all, i’m Asian. I’ve also lived in Asia, not just an Asian who was born in the USA or something. If words like xenophobic and sophmoric are big words for you, then good job. I’m far from a xenophobe, and while I joke around here @ Dime, my compaints about China are far from sophmoric. It’s not a politics troll, read Jerry. Learn about how “great” China is. You ever been to China? I have.
@ Mister Sun — Sure, the injuries are incomparable, Kobe, Rafer and Deron don’t have broken feet, or oppressive governments that invade nations that don’t even have a standing army — aka Tibet. I’m not explaining myself to my best ability, but hey, that’s okay.
May 4th, 2008 at 1:38 am
Amar says:
@ Dank — Ak was crying after a practice or shoot around. it wasn’t on TV at all, nice facts buddy.
May 4th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Jerry says:
Well Amar congradulations for futher stuffing your foot in your mouth, your revelations make it even more disappointing for me. Unfortunately we have alot in common, as i like you am also Asian, i’ve lived in HK, and yes i’ve been to China, back in the 80’s even when it was still super Communist.
According to your flawed logic, we should view all players according to their countries deeds, well then should we view all American players according to U.S. foreign/domestic policy? Do you see how idiotic that is? For example, should Kobe be despised because of previous treatment of American Indians? I didn’t think so, even you should be able to understand that.
Anyways, i’m done, i want to talk about b-ball not have a political discussion with a troll. And yes, you don’t make much sense or explain yourself well, at least you know that much, just stick to sports next time.
GO LAKERS
May 4th, 2008 at 8:00 am
Derrick says:
The last comment on T mac that aint even funny! bottom line every one wants to give the MVP to this guy that raped a women, cry baby of the league when things aint going his way (wanting to get out of LA at the beggining of the season, you didnt hear that from Chris Paul who didnt make the playoffs last year )is going to get MVP and if he didnt get Poa Gasol they would of never made the playoffs and deffinately not 1st in the West would of been more like 7th… The Mvp should go to some one that hasn’t got that much help all year turned his franchise around with no major stars on his team in Chris Paul the only reason why Kobe is getting it over him is for the plain simple fact he’s been in the league longer that shouldn’t be the case it should go to the better player!!!
May 4th, 2008 at 9:47 am
mavyric says:
Well guess what, Kobe IS the better player…..
Not have much help?
So that’s how you think of David West and Tyson Chandler…and Peja Stojakovic?
Guess what, Kobe and the Lakers were a winning team BEFORE they got Gasol…
David vs. Kwame Brown and Peja vs. Fisher
Who are you gonna choose?
May 4th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Austin Burton says:
Why do I have to keep reminding people that, after Kobe, the Lakers’ entire roster has a combined ONE All-Star appearance? (Gasol a few years ago.) Meanwhile, the Hornets, after CP, have Peja (3-4 All-Star appearances) and David West (All-Star this year). And again, CP didn’t make Tyson Chandler grab 12-14 rebounds a night and block 2-3 shots.