I’m not an NBA Coach. In fact I’m not a coach at all. And I respect Doc Rivers, his staff and the job they’ve done developing players (see Kendrick Perkins, Big Baby, and Rajon Rondo). I also respect the job Doc’s done on the sidelines where I think he is THE best at calling plays out of timeouts and as well as his tremendous job establishing and sticking to his rotation while installing confidence in each member of his team. That being said, you’re up three, 9 seconds left, and Salmons gets the ball with his back to the basket a little beyond the elbow. FOUL HIM. Someone, anyone, please please please tell me why you don’t foul Salmons in that situation. Anyone? Buehler… Buehler… Buehler…

We’ve had three overtimes, three games decided by less than five points, and Ben Gordon‘s own version of the big balls dance. Even without Al Horford screaming at Paul Pierce, this series has already one-upped last year’s first-round battle.

A lot of what happened during Bulls/Celtics we’d come to expect: Derrick Rose (23 pts, 11 rebs, 9 asts) and Rajon Rondo (25 pts, 11 rebs, 11 asts) putting on a duel PG clinic, Ray Allen hitting a clutch three in the final seconds, Tyrus Thomas making a bonehead play that almost cost his team the game, Brian Scalabrine looking like a Tool Academy booster with that headband, and Ben Gordon getting savage buckets even while lugging around 12-pound balls. But the game was decided by a couple things we didn’t expect: Read More »

Saturday was (mostly) about restoring order: Chris Paul reminded the Nuggets that their series isn’t going to be easy, Kobe Bryant reminded the Jazz that the worst time to catch him is after an off-game, and Dwyane Wade reminded everybody that he’s in the MVP conversation for a good reason … Read More »

Remember when the Magic were stumbling at the end of the regular season, but we all figured they were doing themselves a favor anyway by conceding a top-2 seed and avoiding the Pistons? Well, Dwight Howard‘s team wishes they were playing Detroit now. Orlando went down 2-1 to the Sixers last night, dropping Game 3 in Philly and joining the Spurs and Hornets in that “WTF, we’re supposed to be better than this!” semi-panic mode … Read More »

Forget that the nearby Blazers — led by hometown product Brandon Roy and “Mr. Sonic” Nate McMillan — are in the playoffs. Without the actual Sonics around and a distinct drop in general interest in the NBA in Seattle, the biggest sports stories in my city right now are the NFL Draft, and Ken Griffey Jr. coming back to the Mariners. Read More »

This has nothing to do with hoop, but it’s kind of amazing. It’s a short film called “Carousel,” and it is apparently some kind of ad for a new Philips TV. It is a one-shot, frozen-in-time shootout between cops and the bad guys that features lots bullet casings and things exploding. Other than the Sixers taking Game 3 tonight against the Magic, this will be the best thing you see all day.

Brandon Roy‘s NBA postseason baptism was harsh; a 30-point blowout loss at home. In his next game, though, Roy responded like the superstar he is, dropping 42 points and taking over the fourth quarter. With Blazers/Rocket tied at one game apiece, tonight Portland’s franchise player is under the microscope to deliver again. In our Dime #48 (on newsstands now) cover story, we explored Roy’s newfound status as one of the League’s VIPs.

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Kevin Love doesn’t subscribe to Ricky Bobby‘s school of thought: If you’re not first, you’re last. That’s why he’s speaking up about what he believes is a second snub for rookie recognition this season.

First, he didn’t make the cut for the rookie-sophomore game, and now he’s pissed that he didn’t finish higher in rookie of the year voting. Read More »

Just when it looked like Jerry Sloan was at the end of his rope and about to suit up John Stockton for Game 4 — try to tell us Stock didn’t look like he could get 10 points, six dimes and a steal right now — the Jazz showed some heart and made this Utah/L.A. series interesting, knocking off the Lakers last night thanks to their Big Two … How much of a problem was Carlos Boozer? Deron Williams said it all in the post-game interview with Pimpin’ Craig: “He’s a beast, man.” Read More »