Paul Pierce’s turn to take over
Paul Pierce, Dime #5
The best series of the first round just keeps getting better. After missing that huge free throw in Game 1, then getting locked up in some crunch-time moments of Game 4, Paul Pierce took over last night’s Game 5 and made it his own. After Ray Allen fouled out late in the fourth, it was on Pierce to prevent the Celtics from going down 3-2 in their own gym. After Ben Gordon and his sore hamstring (tell him that) gave Chicago the lead with a tough leaner over Stephon Marbury with 20 seconds left, Pierce (26 pts, 7 rebs) came back on the other end with a pull-up J over Derrick Rose to force overtime. The C’s were up three with 30 seconds left in OT when Gordon (26 pts, 6-21 FG) drew a three-shot foul on Tony Allen (somewhere Chauncey Billups was laughing) and tied it up … So if you’re Vinny Del Negro and you know Boston has one possession to go for the win, what’s your defensive strategy? Would you let Pierce work on John Salmons 1-on-1 without running a double team at him? Eddie House, Rajon Rondo (28 pts, 8 rebs, 11 asts), Tony Allen and Kendrick Perkins (16 pts, 19 rebs, 7 blks) were the other four options on the court; if Pierce’s hands had started melting mid-play he’d still have his mind locked on taking that shot, but you have to take your chances and try to get him to pass it up and make somebody else beat you. Del Negro didn’t send the double, though, and Pierce buried a jumper in Salmons’ grill with 3.4 seconds left that proved to be the game-winner … Brad Miller needs more playing time because the Bulls are clearly better whenever he’s on the court, but he just blew it at the end of the game. After Pierce’s shot, Miller took the inbounds and got fouled on his way to the rim. He bricked the first free throw badly, and when he tried to miss the second on purpose, fired it off the backboard without hitting rim. Game over. Maybe Miller was still loopy from the foul, ’cause he did get kinda Dee-Bo‘d … Best celebrity sighting of the whole postseason so far: McLovin in the Boston crowd … Tuesday felt like the end of an era with the Spurs bowing out in the first round for the first time since 2000 and the first time ever with Tim Duncan on the court. (He was hurt in the 2000 playoffs and never played.) And the Spurs didn’t just lose; they got kinda dominated by a team they should have been able to beat … Duncan (30 pts) and Tony Parker (26 pts, 12 asts) did everything again, but 2-on-5 just can’t cut it at this level. All five of Dallas’ starters hit for double figures, led by Dirk’s 31 points, and Jason Terry added 19 off the bench. With both sides firing on all cylinders right now, it’s looking like we’re gonna get an insanely entertaining Mavs/Nuggets series …
Dwight Howard (photo. Mannion)
Without the Suns’ fans around, we’ve been way overdue for that one playoff game where everyone ends up spinning conspiracy theories and talking more about the refs than the players. Magic/Sixers Game 5 was that game. As our biggest in-house Sixers fan wrote during: “It’s not enough that the Sixers barely understand the rules of basketball, but they also have to play 5-on-8 tonight so that the NBA can get Dwight Howard into the second round. Howard is throwing people around like it’s WWE Hell in a Cell in the paint with no whistles, while Philly is getting hit with ridiculous ticky-tack nonsense out on the perimeter.” Dwight’s Undertaker style was good for 24 points, 24 boards and four blocks in Orlando’s win, plus he clobbered teammate Courtney Lee with an elbow to the head after almost jumping over Courtney to block a shot, putting Lee out of commission for the game … Sixers coach Tony DiLeo also had issue with what the refs let Dwight get away with. “Dwight Howard had a great game, and he’s a great player, but he just lives in the 3-second lane on offense and defense,” DiLeo said. “I’m just saying he’s standing in the 3-second lane on offense and defense. He’s a great player, and he doesn’t need any advantages.” … And then that got Stan Van Gundy started: “Am I supposed to come up here and talk about the game, or am I supposed to come up here and lobby for the calls I want the next game?” Van Gundy said. “Is that what it’s about now? We’re supposed to lobby for the calls we want the next game? Let’s just play the games.” That’s hilarious coming from a guy who was mentored by Pat Riley, one of the great ref lobbyists of all-time, and also convenient how SVG is all about talking smack to another coach, but he backed off his Shaq-baiting comments real quick a couple months ago … Brandon Roy has his Flu Game, dropping 25 points on the Rockets and getting clutch buckets in the fourth quarter to keep the Blazers alive in the series. All this despite Roy being sick and having to get IV fluids before the game … Is it just us or has Luis Scola grown a lot more hair in the last couple weeks? Dude looks like a lion right now. Scola was torching the Blazers early with his offensive arsenal that is glaringly simple yet effective, finishing with 21 points. Sign in the Portland crowd: “Luis, Take a Shower!” … Tonight’s playoff schedule includes Heat/Hawks and Hornets/Nuggets. Keep and eye on the dynamic between Chris Paul, his teammates, and Byron Scott. The Hornets whole house of cards seems to be on the verge of crashing, with in-fighting perhaps right around the corner … We’re out like the Spurs …
April 29th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Marci says:
Dwight is the man! 24/24!
April 29th, 2009 at 7:16 am
S Paynter says:
1st? no way??
April 29th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Al says:
Biggest whiners? Philly. This conspiracy theory crap always comes from some loser team with an inferiority complex. Don’t worry, we’ll be sending the Andres back to the golf course soon.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Sambuu says:
I guess Manu is good…
April 29th, 2009 at 7:27 am
that's whats up says:
no, the Spurs are just bad.
Mason, Bonner and Bowen = 2 for 9 from the field for 6 points.
Disgraceful.
Congratulations Mavericks – good luck with Denver next week.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:29 am
rick773 says:
Bulls still let the game slip away so I need to give the celts props for battling. But with that said Brad Miller has to make the free throw. Even though I probably couldn’t concentrate either after taking a running lariat and getting stitched up. Obviously I’m biased and think it should’ve been a flagrant but I’m curious to see what other people thought of it.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:40 am
that's whats up says:
Well, since Rondo is relatively small and Brad Miller is kinda huge, that slap in the face didn’t look as bad as it could have – which would have drawn a flagrant.
It’s like when you’re in high school and you gotta go back to middle school and handle some business for your little brother. You end up getting smacked around by ten little dudes, yet you barely feel anything and you don’t hit the ground.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:45 am
IGP says:
That inbounds play by Del Negro was fucking genius. Miller just blew it. If that was me (in NBA Live) I would have dunked that and got the foul.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:48 am
mules says:
@rick773
definitely should have been a flagrant, no play on the ball whatsoever…Rondo shoulda been gonzo. Dwight’s elbow on Dalembert should been a flagrant too.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Soopa says:
The block Dwight had, the one where he clobbered Lee, he kinda lifted himself with his offhand using the glass. Is there a rule against that? I mean having one hand on the glass and then blocking a shot seems like an unfair advantage. Its easier to keep your balance and avoid contact with the offensive player.
Any thoughts?
April 29th, 2009 at 7:51 am
rick773 says:
Yeah if STAT got suspended for stepping his pinky toe on the court after Horry Hip checked Nash into the scoring table Dwight is definetly out for game 6
April 29th, 2009 at 7:51 am
sh!tfaced says:
Boston and Chicago series is the shiznit!!!
April 29th, 2009 at 7:52 am
tommyheinsohn says:
that definitely should have been a flagrant…Miller tried to bite Rondo’s hand.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:56 am
josh tha roc says:
I say next year the magic (if they lose Hedo….maybe even if they keep him) Start Marcin at C and Dwight PF. that is a beast combo and Marciin has looked legit when on the court. That could give them a style of play to win playoff basketball, when things get a little tougher.
April 29th, 2009 at 7:58 am
rangerjohn says:
well all i can say is congrats to the mavs, nobody thought you could do it but you did. congrats.
spurs have some issues that need adressing and they have some extra time now to work on that. something to consider, this is the most rest tim has gotten in nearly 10 yrs. next year should be interesting. missing manu was a huge part but it was not everything, i mean when was the last time tony took 4 three point shots in 1 game? oh wait he went 2-5 in game 4. and 3-14 in the series. i mean is was averaging .9 per game all season and shooting 51% fg so why would he jump to almost 3 per game? HE WAS TRYING TO HARD TO DO TO MUCH.
the spurs have a lot of decissions to make this off season.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:19 am
SJ says:
Def a flagrant on Rondo as you could see his hand move to slap Miller in the face. Hopefully there will be some video of that popping up here.
Flagrant on Howard, too. Granted, Dalembert should be called out for trying to charge through the back of Howard, but the elbow was too much. I’m thinking the league might suspend both, especially if they review the entire game (they were going at it!).
April 29th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Metropolitan's finest says:
I’m glad the Spurs are out…Now just time for LeBron to lose and it’s all Kobe vs Paul P again
April 29th, 2009 at 8:35 am
POPPI GEE says:
Houston Up!
I like Dwight and all but even he knows he should be suspended.
Granted like ^^ said Dalembert was trying to go through his back, still though the quick vicious elbow has to be on hold during the playoffs.
Young mistake. Don’t care how frustrated you are, he has to think.
Philly better take advantage when he sits out.
Spurs were classy. they got overwhelmed.
Nuggs/Mavs should be like that cause they mirror each other. I expect a fight in that one.
Houston has to really bring it Thur. or I fear Portland will be advancing.
Chi/Boston should be best of 13 lol. Great series!
April 29th, 2009 at 8:38 am
djKianoosh says:
that no-call on Rondo for that flagrant foul was damn near criminal. rondo completely wacked dude in the face. no attempt at the ball.
refs blew that one.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:54 am
QQ says:
All my homies taking swipes at Dwight: Chill out. You have a point, but it’s not like he wrecked the backboard and smashed it at Dalembert. The game is intense, cats are playing hard, and emotions are flaring. ALL of you who plays ball understand this. Adrenaline is flowing when you’re on the court. Sometimes, you do things you shouldn’t have done because you let the intensity take over. What Dwight did is CLEARLY NOT RIGHT, but I’m sure murdering Dalembert with an elbow on his cranium is NOT what Dwight is trying to do. So chill.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:55 am
jzsmoove says:
I expect D-Ho to get a fine for now, wouldnt put it pass the NBA office to come thru like jerks.
The Spurs were so thin as has been pointed out. How exactly did they manage to win that many games with this flawed lineup? Thats a testament to how good Pop, Tim and Parker is, but eventually it aint enough when the stakes are higher. Mavs/Nuggets WILL be crazy!! Stakes/Emotions will be high we will probably ejections from Kmart/Anderson or Dampier/Hollins. Billups will lead the Nuggets to the next round further inducing pain into the Piston fan’s collective hearts.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:00 am
POPPI GEE says:
dj I agree but even if they had got the call right I doubt it would have mattered?
With the way Brad Miller shot those free throws would it have been better to him to sit out and let Doc choose who shoots?
The game should have been over, if that dummy wouldn’t have fouled Ben Gordon shooting a three. If the Celtics would have lost after that, you have to think the guys would have put bars of soap in pillow cases and beat the crap out of dude.
So are Dwight’s elbows the new Deke’s? A little passin of the ol torch there?
How many times does Paul Pierce have to burn ya in the middle before you put the double on him and get the ball out his hands and make one of them “I will sit here at the three point line all day because I can’t create a shot” dudes shoot it?
Kinda need to see something other than trying to get to the hole from D. Rose in late game situations. Not saying don’t do it at all, but mix that ish up. Don’t he got a jumper or somethin?
Atl Hoe!
April 29th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Chauncey says:
Genius coaching move by Doc Rivers. No layups. Hit him in the face. Because if he can’t take those free throws after getting bloodied and stitched up, Rivers gets to pick who shoots. What a friggin joke.
Miller had a clear path to the basket. Rondo came from behind and did nothing but take a shot at his head. And no foul…c’mon.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:06 am
rick773 says:
@ Poppi Gee you asked the same question Bulls fans have asked millions of times over. As many good calls he makes as a coach he makes bad ones too
April 29th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Chauncey says:
excuse me…no flagrant.
If it were Kobe or Lebron getting stitched, Stern would be having an fit.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:13 am
iannyb says:
Big yup Paul Pierce coming from a Lakers fan he was clutch and is the most likeable player on the Celtics side.Bigups
April 29th, 2009 at 9:15 am
POPPI GEE says:
Yea rick773 I kept waiting and waiting thinking…surely they not gonna…OOOOOHHHH!
April 29th, 2009 at 9:20 am
michael lee says:
http://www.annelok.com/Toronto/Ontario/Homes/CoxwellDanforth/Agent/Listing_1939323.html
awesome
April 29th, 2009 at 9:21 am
rodnets says:
Brad Miller was flopping, didn´t you see the fake blood on his mouth? That call was awful.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:21 am
YOUNGFED says:
The only way to be a beast is to play like one. D-Ho Murda Show. Where im from its go hard or go home. If only Sheed played half as hard. Oh well guess since we didn’t go hard we went home.
Also is it me or am I the only one who thinks Bynum should be starting over Stuckey.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:34 am
YOUNGFED says:
BTW Paul Pierce is a snaggle tooth byatch, Ray Ray still looks like a Ninja Turtle (can you say shellshocked) and Rondo looks like a burnt UltraMan (lmao) aka Johnny Socko. Ok I done venting my hatred for the Celtics.
Heres something for yall to get your grown man on with, while at work.
YOUNGFEDS BANGER OF THE DAY: Mark de Clive-Lowe
http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2009/03/what_can_you_do_with_this_mark_de_clive-lowe_beat.php
April 29th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Detroit Sucks says:
LOL it’s the return of the Wanksta Youngfed
April 29th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Chitown 23/33 says:
Yes it was a flagrant and yes I’m biased!lol But the rule is you have to make a play on the ball, and Rondo was nowhere near it. If Miller smashed Rondo in the face like that he’d be suspended. But Del Negro had a lot to do with this loss..how many times in a row does PP have to drill Salmons before you make a switch. Since they were making offense/defense subs anyway, why not throw Ty Thomas on him..Thats who they use to guard Lebron.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:49 am
comon sense just aint comon says:
man.. i said that a couple of days back.. bynum should be starting.. hes much more of a threat and pound for pound is the best player on detroit..
April 29th, 2009 at 9:51 am
knock knock says:
question is if rondo gave that foul to RUDY FERNANDEZ..it woulda been career-ending. rondo straight clothelined miller which is why he airballed that shot. of course he shoulda made the freethrows but what a dirty play. anyone else see rondos interview where he said he was tryna make a play on the ball? hilarious considering that the ball was 3 feet away and miller is 7ft and was extremely slow going to the rim hence 3 celtics already being there.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Sho-Nuff says:
Brad Miller must run a 10.0 40 yd dash. I’ve seen icebergs that move faster than him.
I dont’ think it was a flagrant, but something tells me Miller was 50/50 on that layup.
April 29th, 2009 at 9:56 am
playboy says:
RONDOS KARATE CHOP WAS CRAAAAAAZY. f*** yeah basketball needs sum tae kwon do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
April 29th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Soopa says:
FED: I agree with Bynum starting over Stuckey. But Ive got im pretty sure we then would say “Stuckey needs to be starting”, ‘cos they’re both sparkplugs who are the most effective coming off the bench – just like Ben Gorden.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:00 am
YOUNGFED says:
^^^Yeah your probably right but Bynum seems like more of aa true point.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:01 am
dk says:
Im calling absolute BS! The fucking in the lane hacks the entire fourth quarter and OT were utterly apauling*! Then to OJ Miller on the final play was unbelievable! Whats it take to get a F2 staples?!
April 29th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Metropolitan's Finest says:
It’s a shame that the Bulls / Celtics weren’t in the Conference Finals…
If so you know this would be guaranteed to be the best matchup/entertaining series of all time,
as far as the Eastern Conference of course
April 29th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Gnasche says:
Spurs just didn’t play playoff basketball (other than Tony and occasionally Timmy). The Mavs elevated their game and played with a ton of energy. I don’t think it’s the end of an era, yet, because T&T are still dominant, but it’ll be the same thing next year if they don’t add some interior defense (shot blockers!).
April 29th, 2009 at 10:39 am
isotope says:
Y’all are sleeping on the rockets/blazers big time. Last night’s game was off the charts. I might be biased but I think the refs gave this one to the home team. The rockets took the lead when they finally started giving the ball to Yao. When will they learn they can’t live and die by the three, they live and die by Yao. Back to the refs, Roy was held to 9 points in the 1st half but it was like the refs considered that unacceptable and started sending him to the freethrow line. I mean the rockets were over the foul limit with like about 8 minutes left in the 4th. Made me sick!
Ref or no ref, Aldridge had his coming out game in the playoffs last night. Dude was making Landry re-consider shooting himself in the leg.
Me and my buddies were talking after the game and agreed that if a healthy aggressive TMac was playing, no way he let a 7 point deficit that late in the game become a loss.
Rockets need both TMac and Artest next year!
Where’s Ian?
April 29th, 2009 at 10:48 am
QQ says:
If a healthy aggressive TMac is playing, you’ll also see flying elephants and singing trees outside your house because YOU’RE DREAMING.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:48 am
liukz says:
“After Pierce’s shot, Miller took the inbounds and got fouled on his way to the rim.”
so everybody its officialy acting like RONDO didnt hit miller in the FACE for no reason cause CLEARLY the ball WASNT there
NO SPORT PAGE its talking about a Flagrant foul,its a shame!
if it was miller fouling that way on rondo im pretty shure he’ll be suspended by now
April 29th, 2009 at 10:55 am
pairnaz suns says:
whatever us suns fans don’t believe the conspiracy theories we just believe in the ways we have been screwed i.e dounaghy, luke walton being out of bounds, the list goes on and onnnn. but whatever im just happy the spurs and their old asses got kicked outta the playoffs
April 29th, 2009 at 10:55 am
LakeShow84 says:
If BARGNANI or any other soft ass player would’ve hit Rondo like that he would laid out on the floor for five seconds and gotten the flagrant call FORSHO.. but thats probably why Miller got screwed, he didnt act like a pin up doll and fall on the floor and play possum..
That shit was a flagrant plain and simple.. So what does Perkins have to say about the refs now?? cuz they sure as shit helped them on that one..
i thought the key was being able to make a play on the ball?? before Rondo even jumped i bet he knew he had no shot at that.. Ahhhhhhhh gotta love the Celtics..
April 29th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Ian says:
Iso my man how u doing? Good luck with game 6.
Good series by the mavs.
Can the manu haters remind me how hes easily replaceable.
How the hell did the spurs end with that high a seed and
No love for pop with coy.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:11 am
quest??? says:
this is an odd year huh? well fuck the spurs….roger mason? fuck roger mason jajajjajajajajajajaj
April 29th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Ian says:
Quest wheres iverson???
Howard has to be suspended and rondohad to be given a tec
April 29th, 2009 at 11:42 am
BERN BROGDEN says:
THANK YOU Bulls and Celts – I LOVE YOU!
By the way…
MILLER aint no angel.
GO RONDO!
DIRK. JET. JOSH.
KID WETTIN 3′S!?!
BASS AND WRIGHT AND lil’ RUDY — Props to Dallas.
They had it going on! Crazy, just a month ago they looked hitty-say.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:45 am
rangerjohn says:
lmao quest is hispanic? what country? only hispanics us jajajajaajaj
nothing wrong with that just curious
iso, the rockets need tracy like they need another 1st round exit. like they need anotuher bullet through landrys leg.
how about bandwaggon tracy over there on the bench in game 4, hasnt been seen in months and all the sudden he shows up on the bench? will he be out there celebrating like he hit the game winner on thursday when the rockets eleminate the blazers?
April 29th, 2009 at 11:50 am
dk says:
I forgot to add I cant believe the fact the fucking Bulls coaching staff allowed PP to take free throw after motherfucking free throw from the elbow! Can we get a double fucking team?
April 29th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Go LAKE SHOW! says:
BOOO Ranger John is a racially oriented person …. BOOOO
April 29th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Go_LAKE_SHOW says:
@ 41 – Metropolitan’s
You are soooo right man, this Bulls VS Celts series is hands down the best in all of the Eastern Conference history
IMO
April 29th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
isotope says:
Ian, the spurs should have lost that season finale to the hornets. That definitely would have kept them from having to play the Mavs.
Ranger, really? So you’d rather have Artest dribbling and bricking shots trying to convince the world he’s better than Lebron? TMac would have demanded the ball down the stretch. The same way Roy was doing for the blazers. The rockets need a player like that. The obvious candidate is Yao but it looks like the coaching staff can’t convince the team to keep going to him.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
BERN BROGDEN says:
DK — uhhh, that’s his SWEET SPOT…he’ll make it 9 times outta 10 no matter who or how many’s on him.
PIERCE ALWAYZ MAKES THAT JOINT.
just my $0.02
April 29th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Sam I Am says:
anyone else getting some weird comment message when they post something
April 29th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Metropolitan's Finest says:
@ 41….
YOU ARE SOOOO RIGHT MAN>>>>> Bulls VS Celtics is the best Eastern Conference matchup in the history of the L
April 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
rangerjohn says:
iso,
no i dont like artest the scorer(or thinking he is one) but tracy “demanding” the ball is a joke, tracy is less clutch then dirk and we all know how un-clutch i think dirk is (is that even a word? un-clutch)
artest is here for defense period, that said tracy is mentally weak, physicly past his prime, and his team trusts him less then they do yao. i expect he will be in houston next season because he is damaged goods but he will never get another contract for more then 10 mil a yr. (he should not have one as big as it is now)
April 29th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
G says:
RAJON RONDO IS AVERAGING A TRIPLE DOUBLE IN THE PLAYOFFS.
PLEASE TALK ABOUT THIS.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Ian says:
ranger sorry but heat fans can call dirk unclutch and golden state fans can call him a choker but we as spurs fans cant call him shit. he was awesome last night and he was great in that game 7 win in 06.
isotope i rather have missed the playoffs
April 29th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
playboy says:
RAJON RONDO KARATE CHOPPED BRAD MILLER TO THE FACE FROM BEHIND
PLEASE TALK ABOUT THIS..
April 29th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
rick 773 says:
@ 58 no doubt believe me I’m not taking anything from the rondo and the Celts because we shouldn’t have choked away the lead. But I just wanted to know if people saw what I saw. I mean on espn the cover pic is rondo going Mr. Miyagi on Miller and the ball is nowhere in the Pic
April 29th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
POPPI GEE says:
iso I am with you.
Rockets are missing “that dude” that will enforce his will upon his team and the other squad when needed.
Healthy and even somewhat healthy to a degree (not the one now, but hopefully he will be better after surgery) was able to go inside, out, draw the double, create for himself and others and there was a feeling of security knowing you had a player that could do those things in the crunch.
Now it’s like hold ya breath during the crunch time cause:
-Ron is not the best at creating his own shot and will do some w.t.f. ish often.
-Brooks can create his own shot but he is very inconsistent and like Ron will try to do to much sometimes.
-Yao can’t get position without a foul being called on him if he goes to hard, so he doesn’t fight for it like he should. Also if he doesn’t get it almost perfect you risk turnover.
-Von tries to hard sometime.
With Tracy (healthy now) I felt like the saftey percentages of things going well were way better.
Course that is just GEE
April 29th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
rangerjohn says:
ian, so dirk had 1 ” good game” one “OK game” and 3 so-so/terrible games this time
April 29th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Ian says:
well ranger he had it in the closeout game and the whole series back in 06 dude is not bad dont trash him like that.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
isotope says:
its funny, last night after missing TMac I started to miss Jeff Van Gundy. Yao’s strength is in the post, no dbout, but he can do other things. Pick and roll anybody? He can still knock down that 10-17 footer. I know they do that with Scola but why not Yao? For one, it’ll draw the shot blockers out of the paint. I get so aggravated with the rockets try to give Yao the ball for like 3 seconds and then give up and try something lame.
ranger, you used to be a spurs fan right? I know you can’t be calling TMac “unclutch”.
Gee, right. Down the stretch, Tracy would not outrun the ball and turn it over like Artest and Brooks do. He might miss, but he aint turning it over.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
rangerjohn says:
while i am not knocking the mavs, dirk is the mentally weakest player in the league IMO.
he has a decent game last night no doubt, his team played very well as a whole. the only reason he had as good a game as he did is because of the other playerso n his team, he didnt “impose his will” the spurs tried to concentrate on the rest of the players scoring which makes things more easy for dirk . the spurs concentrated on terry and howard (howard being the one who was killing them all series) and this leaves dirk available to shoot.
dont get me wrong, he is a good player, he is just not a leader, he is not a closer (ask terry who was hitting teh 4th quarter 3 pointers). hell dirk mad 3 shots, 1 turnover and 2 FTs in the 4th, terry had 4 shots (including 2 three pointers), 3 assistsw and 2 rebounds.
why do you think the ball goes through terry in teh 4th every game, why do you think the mavs sucked bad when terry was out injured. same with howard
April 29th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
rangerjohn says:
iso
i am still a spurs fan, i just happen to live in houston. and your “sly” reference to the 13 in 31 or what ever, i mean come on it was one game and we had DEVIN BROWN guarding him. you cant be a “clutch player” and never make it out of the 1st round.
it is funny how everyone says “oh teh regular season doesnt mater” and then procede to use regular season as a point of reference.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
BERN BROGDEN says:
DIRK
Game 1: 7/15 FGS *8 BOARDS *2 HELPERS *1 PICK *1 BLOCK – 19 POINTS
Game 2: 3/14 FGS *8 BOARDS *3 HELPERS *2 PICKS — 14 POINTS
Game 3: 8/12 FGS *7 BOARDS *2 HELPERS *1 BLOCK – 20 POINTS
Game 4: 4/9 FGS *13 BOARDS *1 DIME *1 STEAL *1 BLOCK – 12 POINTS
Game 5: 11/17 FGS 1/1 3FGS 8/8 FTS *9 REBOUNDS *3 ASSISTS *1 STEAL – 31 POINTS
He went 33 for 67 in the series…that’s good for a cool 49% clip and he canned 29 out 31 freebies, good for 94%.
Say what you want – Dirk was BALLIN’
And so was his squad.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
BERN BROGDEN says:
YAO can’t advance the ball into the paint…just like DWIGHT.
When they start messin’ around and get thier pockets picked…you’ll know why thier teams don’t give it to them outside the box.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Ian says:
iso that was a fluke game it happened once give me some postseason tmac moments
ranger just because terry gets the crunch time plays doesnt mean dirk cant handle them remember its not duncan or parker for us in crunch time its usually manu but yeay dirk isnt a leader ill give u that.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
dk says:
@57
No shit. My point is that rose shouldnt be guarding him and he wouldnt be getting that shot off with a double team. After 27 straight its time for another guy to make a shot….
April 29th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
BERN BROGDEN says:
DK – I said, “he’ll make it 9 times outta 10 no matter who or HOW MANY’S on him.”
You just said “no sh&*”!
Tben you dropped a doozy and said this:
“he wouldn’t be getting that shot off with a double team.”
If you let Paul get to his spot (he has about 3 or 4 of them) he’s gonna bust a nut in your face.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
rangerjohn says:
bern,
now go back and take out the 1 good game, and the one ok game and 3 out of 5 games he played like crap! where he went 14-38 for a cool 36.8%
April 29th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
doc says:
What happen to Roger Mason and Bonner being good?Pop aint no fucking magician and Timmy and Tony got that ass handed to them.If Dirk is the mentally weakest player last night your guys was mentally retarded because they got that ass whipped and he was the main reason.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
quest??? says:
@ rangerjohn i am from the island that jj barea came from.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
BERN BROGDEN says:
Ok Dirk’s FG percentages were VERY DECENT in this series.
I remember last night he was giving the Spurs business every chance he could. Anyways,
GAME 1 47%
GAME 2 21%
GAME 3 67%
GAME 4 44%
GAME 5 65%
Nah RANGERJOHN, I think either you’re manipulating stats or GAME 2 really dropped his percentages (which I doubt it)
He had 4 good games ONE bad one.
And even on a “bad” night or “mediocre” night, he gave the SPURS a DOUBLE DOUBLE.
So, it wasn’t like he took the night off just because his shot did.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
rangerjohn says:
quest,
puerto rico is cool, been there a couple times. we ussually stay over close to luquillo area. last time we stayed at a place across the highway from el yunque rainforest. nice place.
bren, you are apparently blind, dirk had one double double and that was last nights game. now again, if you take out last nights game (by far his best) and game 3 (his OK game the game in which he played about 10 minutes against the spurs back-ups since pop didnt play the starters for almost all of the second half) then you have the 3 more acurate games (game 5 being an aberation and pour defense, game 3 playing agisnt 2-3rd stringers) and you find he went 14-38 for 36.8%. in other words he played so-so to terrible for the majority of the games played.
see i can take the stats and manipulate them just like you
doc, dirk had a big game, that doesnt make him strong of mind, and it doesnt make the spurs weak of mind. consider tony sliced and diced all series long, tim (injured) didnt have a good series at all and yet he at worst matched the output of dirk. (taking away tims singular bad outing where he played less then 16 minutes he had a decent series.)
April 29th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
BERN BROGDEN says:
Nah RANGERJOHN, Dallas IS the BETTER team apparently.
DIRK had a DECENT series.
TONY wasn’t enough for your boys.
It is what it is. THEY SUCKED.
SPURS SUCKED SUPER HARD. Wow, who would’ve thought they’d get HAMMERED by Dallas. Dallas?
Damn – don’t tell me your whole squad relies on an injured 6th man! Wow! That was crazy how they just couldn’t BE BETTER than Dallas. Wow.
Oh, and Dirk – HE ROCKED.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
the cynic says:
the spurs look old, Parker was overhandling all series(not that i blame him), and Manu really is that good. Spurs need to ditch half the roster and get back to having ball movement on offense, not a bunch of isolations
Ben Gordon is playing like he wants a fat contract; which he won’t get
April 29th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Ian says:
Bern the spurs didnt play that bad dallas did play great. Cynic u r right
April 29th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
dagwaller says:
“…they got kinda dominated by a team they should have been able to beat…”
Ummm…why did anyone think that the Spurs would win? They were only a few games better during the regular season, and the Mavs were peaking at the right time. The Spurs didn’t have Manu, either. Dime, you know I love you, but your basketball credibility went from 100 percent to 99 percent in my mind after that statement.
Is this the year in which TD and KG pass the torch to Dirk as the best PF in the league? Granted, it’s not like Dirk got so much bigger and badder this year. Yea, he was 4th in the league in scoring, but he didn’t change anything.
It’s more that the other two are older, and Dirk’s just the best left at the position.
April 30th, 2009 at 1:34 am
quest?? says:
@ranger john..yea man ive been there, that hotel is awesome, its one of the best we have, i think its called the west in riomar or the wyndham something..but yea it is an excellent hotel.