Smack / Apr 20, 2011 / 3:03 am

Boston Wins Despite Carmelo’s 42; Dwight Evens The Series With ATL

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony

For all the upset goodness that this past weekend’s first round left us with, Tuesday night went exactly as planned with each of the higher seeds claiming Ws. The Magic took care of the Hawks 88-82, Boston closed out New York 96-93 and the Mavs were able pull away from Rip City in the fourth, 101-89. But what Tuesday lacked in underdog victory, it sure as hell made up for in dramatic endings. And in New York’s case, even with Carmelo Anthony going off the reservation for 42 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, and with a new song in their iPod, everything came down to their other late-season acquisition, Jared Jeffries. This is how the final sequence went down … Jeffries first hits the go-ahead basket to give the Knicks a one-point lead with around 20 seconds to go. On the ensuing Boston possession, Jeffries was then manhandled by KG for a little baby-J to put the C’s back up one. Then, on the game’s final possession, Jeffries was given the rock under the basket from a double-teamed ‘Melo, promptly turns around and passes it directly into the Big Ticket’s outreached palms. Yeah, we know … The thing is, if J.J. pivots baseline, he probably has the winning layup in hand. Instead, the Knicks are left reeling down 2-0 in the series as it heads back to Madison Square Garden. Needless to say, the late game dramatics left fans in a social media tizzy after the game. Dime’s Aron Phillips summed it up like this afterwards: “Why is this night different from all other nights? Tonight, Jared Jeffries found the afikoman.” And an extended member of the Dime fam had this to say: “The only way to redeem that loss for me would be if in his press conference Mike D’Antoni said, “Timofey Mozgof ain’t walking through that door” … More importantly, is there anyone that has gotten more camera time this year than Ray Allen‘s mom? She’s definitely been on more than Jack, Spike and Eddy Curry … In Central Floridian news, Dwight Howard has once again proved he is a beast of a human being. While we’re not quite sold on his new found facial hair (Stan Van Gundy still runs the team’s stache game), Howard was on point most of the night. Sure the big fella logged seven turnovers, but his 33-point and 19-board performance netted Orlando the much-needed win (Series now tied 1-1) … Oh, and did you see Jamal Crawford’s three bomb at the first quarter buzzer? That was some straight T.J. Sorrentine flossing for ya … In the night’s final game, Dallas tried to silence any hope of a Portland upset in the Lone Star State with another pair of beastly performances from Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki. And while we’re on the subject, who the hell projected J-Kidd to have lit up the Blazers for 24 and 18, respectively, in the first two games? And we’re not talking assists. Mad respect … Even a Marcus Camby deep ball (his first three-pointer in two years and as a Blazer) wasn’t enough to overcome the surging Mavs … Lakers forward Lamar Odom also took home some shiny new hardware with the NBA Sixth Man Award on Tuesday. We can only hope there will be a forthcoming commercial as amazing as his last one to celebrate … According to Sports Media World, former Houston front man Rick Adelman had this to say about his Rockets’ departure: “I came here to coach Yao and Tracy and ended up with Luis and Chuck.” Yeah, the Ouch … Speaking of Yao, apparently BMW got a little help from the Houston Rockets center as he made a surprise appearance to launch an electric concept car at the Shanghai auto show. We’re glad to see that after playing five games this season (the last being Nov. 10) that the current free agent has his priorities straight … We’re out like the Sixth Man’s Unbreakable.

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  • LakeShow84

    # 48 post was meant in general.. thats not referring to ANYTHING Kobe related..

    @ AB

    I remember that article.. good read.. and to point something about ur feeling of spittin stuff out..

    “I’ve personally asked those questions, and seen several players spit out ‘Kobe’ as if it’s reflex. And from some of them I caught a sense that although they didn’t truly believe that answer, that’s what they were sticking to.”

    I think the feeling the players were displaying were RELUCTANCE in even admitting it.. dude is not liked by other players so no one owes him anything.. when they have to admit shit like that im sure it bothers them..

    Like admitting ur older brother got game after he macked ur, now, ex girlfriend lol

  • LakeShow84

    @ AB

    Calm down it was an example lol

    But then again no its not lol like i said ever since Jordan people EXPECT the superstars to take the last shot and, ultimately, make them.. this has been the steez for a while now..

    U remember Jordan TWO dishes u named or his game winners more?? which did he have WAY MORE of????

    NOW (could just be me) since we’ve seen Lebrons willingness to pass the ball to someone else for the LAST SHOT (which is what im talkin about not under 1 minute) we have more and more talk of “well the correct basketball play shouldve been”

    BLAH FUCKING BLAH lol like i said its a different animal in the end of a game.. calm and even RULES are thrown out the window.. all thats left is will and composure..

    I may have been a little harsh in saying he aint got the balls lol but still he is afraid of those moments.. u can see it on his face..

    The Heat stretch where they 1-18 shows this

    and Lebrons own BUZZER BEATER record shows this.. Dude has had TWO in a EIGHT YEAR CAREER..

    Ur boy AINT someone even in the top 5 for giving the last shot..

    Id go Kobe, Melo, Wade, Dirk and Ginobli

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    @LakeShow84 — So if you’re going to put the 1-for-18 stat all on LeBron, I guess you’re saying D-Wade has nothing to do with that?

    Anyway, buzzer-beaters are completely circumstantial. If LeBron’s Cleveland teams were winning (or losing) a majority of their games by comfortable enough margins, he wouldn’t even have the opportunity to make a buzzer-beater. If he makes the game-winning shot with 20 seconds left, or 10 seconds left, or even 1.5 seconds left, those aren’t considered “buzzer-beaters.” But they’re still clutch shots, right?

    Some of our most memorable “clutch” moments don’t involve the superstar making a buzzer-beater: Isiah’s 16 points in 90 seconds; Jordan’s last shot for Chicago; Bird’s steal and dish to DJ; Reggie’s 25 points in the 4th; Reggie’s 8 points in 9 seconds; T-Mac’s 13 points in 33 seconds; LeBron’s 25 straight vs Detroit, etc. Not to mention entire clutch games from Magic, Jordan, Kobe, Bird, LeBron, etc. that don’t involve buzzer-beaters.

  • LMNOP

    @Jay, I’m not asking for a chip from Mike, especially not with that roster. Im just saying, he is a good coach. He gets alot out of his team offensively, and if a coach can get alot out of his players on any end of the court that alone makes him good.

  • http://dimemag.com/2011/04/boston-wins-despite-carmelos-42-dwight-evens-the-series-with-atl/ Mike

    Did anybody read Bill Simmon’s twitter “Great win. It’s a little scary to say that after my team won a home game against Carmelo and the Austin Toros. But still.” LMAO

  • LakeShow84

    @ AB

    Lol well they showed a solid 5 straight games where ur boy went left and came up empty lol I knew u were going to go that direction.. Lebron HIMSELF had over 10 attempts of that 18 i believe.. what broke that stretch for Miami?? oh yeah Wade going HAM on us lol

    But my opinion isnt circumstantial when ive watched the man play.. he STILL bricks 1/2 his CRUCIAL FT’s and he still has the same move.. which, to quote our old friend EYES, is the Cannonball

    Me personally

    I dont consider Lebron a clutch player.. i think his athleticism (cannonball) and passing (I.E. willingness to dump the ball) cover a lot of that up.. Thats why when it comes to jumpers and FT’s dude usually falters somehow..

    I feel what ur saying tho buzzer beaters arent the FULL BASIS of being clutch but still..

    2??? TWO??? forget select clutch moments in history.. You talkin 2 for a guy who was the FIRST and LAST option for putting up that last second shot for a solid 7 years.. well shouldve been.. until he dished it off lol

  • LakeShow84

    Shaqs out for the rest of the playoffs???

    So long Boston.. Miami or Chicago will be in the Finals now..

    Danny Ainge is a MORON for putting his eggs in Shaqs basket.. Another team for Shaq another playoff exit for said team..

  • LakeShow84

    This actually made me like Perk.. ive always respected him but i actually like dude now..

    http://deadspin.com/#!5793919/how-these-two-white-guys-wound-up-in-this-kendrick-perkins-family-photo

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    Question for Boston fans: If you’re among those who blame the Perkins trade for killing your season/title hopes, what about the first 3 months of the season when Perkins was sidelined and the Celtics were still #1 in the East? They’ve proven they can win without Perkins, so why all the panic now? Just want to get your opinions…

  • UncheckedAggression

    This is hilarious how nuts you’ve gone on this subject. Goes to show how irrational you are when it comes to discussing Kobe. Where the hell do you get this stuff, LakeShow?

    “the percentage where the RIGHT PASS actually turns into something good is below %30..”

    Is anyone gonna back you up on that? Does it even make any sense?

    And yes, the reason Kobe is so predictable is because he will take the shot, not matter how ill-advised it is. He’d be so much more dangerous if he recognized what the optimal play is and made that instead of taking a fade-away three over a double-team. I’m not saying that other players know what the optimal play is and make the right choice every time. I’m just saying that Kobe chooses to go the optimal route less than any other big player in the league. And guess what? The numbers reflect that.

  • LakeShow84

    @ Unchecked

    Well Melo had a couple of clutch plays this year.. did anyone get an assist of those??? ANYONE???

    Come on now im not a stat guy i dont live by stats and try to use them to back everything i say up.. shit i wanted to say LESS than 20-30% lol

    And your off base pal.. that whole statement had less to do with Kobe and had more to do with people acting like superstars should pass the ball more when ONLY the franchise is riding on they shoulders..

    Once again a FAN of the game talking about the OPTIMAL PLAY, the correct basketball play.. listen bruh WE DONT KNOW, the game is played at warp speed at their level.. 10 seconds feels like 4 seconds when its all going down..

  • LakeShow84

    Ironically Melo been lights out clutch with NO HELP, no assisting, no passing..

    The ONE time he goes to pass it dude fumbles.. LMAO how ironic to my point..

  • UncheckedAggression

    Dude, I figured that’s what you meant. And it still doesn’t make sense. Where do you get those numbers, man? You really think that making the right pass turns into something good less than 30% of the time? I honestly wonder if any sane person with basketball knowledge would support that view.

    Not sure how I was off-base. You brought up the voting and Kobe, commenting on articles that were written and I was just pointing out that you missed the point of those articles. Perception is not reality. That’s it. Those votes only reinforce what we already know–people assume Kobe is the best player at the end of games for irrational reasons.

    What I am implying is that basketball players should try to make the best decisions that they can. Kobe is a perfect example of a player that, no matter what he is faced with at the end of games, will force a bad shot. It’s not a good decision, period.

    So what exactly are you saying about Melo? He has been a very good clutch shooter, but there are plenty of reasons that can be the case. One being that he creates better shots for himself (this might have something to do with Kobe’s age). Regardless, Melo certainly has some of the same problems that Kobe has. I was surprised by that pass last night, just as Jeffries appeared to be. I do think it was a good play though. It’s just one instance where it didn’t work out.

  • LakeShow84

    @ AB

    Shaq played in a good couple of those games i think.. THINK.. im not sure tho..

    @ Unchecked

    My point is that it is still a sport and when u have 5 seconds left u cant think

    “oh well maybe i can drag the defense this way and this will open up-” BUZZZZZZ END OF GAME

    Thats my point.. the shit happens so fast sometimes you pay certain players to take that shit.. either they make it or they dont.. but id rather have Melo taking the last shot of a game over Jared Jeffries REGARDLESS of the situation..

    Unless its a triple team lol

  • LakeShow84

    And its BEEN like that as far as Superstars go but ever since a certain someone started passing the ball in those situations we have more and more basketball FANS talking about the “right basketball” play..

    Was it a good basketball play when Jordan pushed off on Russell??

    Was it a good basketball play when Lebron crab dribbled to the hole on Washington??

    Kobes running banker on Wade???

    Nah but those superstars did what they had to do.. Fuck everyone and they opinion on “the correct basketball play” like they Red Auerbach lol

  • K Dizzle

    @ Unchecked

    all good points….except Melo shoulda taken that shot. Dude was killin double teams all night, then at crunch time, when they need a bucket most, Jared Jeffries???
    I partially blame D’Antoni fo gettin completely outcoached.
    You know they gonna double team Melo, set up some screens, get it into Toney Douglas’s hands, run a play…

    I agree with Lakeshow. We act like the right basketball play involves the “right pass” everytime. Phuck that. Kobe and Mike hittin the baseline fade over two defenders is how legends are made. If Steve Kerr was so good, Mike woulda hit him with the kickout more than once.
    I can list 20 examples of Kobe dishin to his teammates and having them fail. Average fan doesn’t remember those. They remember the makes and misses.
    I remember Kobe passin to Artest in Memphis last season, and Ron chokin on it, so next time in Memphis, Kobe had tunnel vision and he killed the Grizzlies with the j.

    I’ll finish up with an extreme example. When Mike had Byron Russell on iso for one of the greatest shots in history, he had Scottie Pippen, future certified Hall of Famer, open on the wing, wiiiiide open, but Mike gave Russ a lil push and hit one of the greatest shots of all-time.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdPQ3QxDZ1s

    Was it the best basketball play? Only if your name is Jordan, Bryant, Bird or West…and apparently Chris Paul in game 1. Point is, Kobe is an all-timer in the Clutchness hall of fame. Laker fans take the good with the bad. 5 rings in 15 seasons? I’ll take it

  • LakeShow84

    “I remember Kobe passin to Artest in Memphis last season, and Ron chokin on it, so next time in Memphis, Kobe had tunnel vision and he killed the Grizzlies with the j.”

    OOOOOO good example i remember that game Artest bit it on.. wide open too.. Made up for it in game 7 tho lol ten fold..

  • LakeShow84

    Ill be damed in NO comes out that hot again tonight..

    Paul carried them but EVERYONE from Ariza to Bellinelli to Gray was hittin TOUGH shots.. Bellinelli a spot up 3 shooter hittin left handed runners???

    Like i said ill be damned lol

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    Question for Lakers fans: If money didn’t matter, how many active NBA centers would you trade Bynum for straight-up?

  • K Dizzle

    @ A.B.

    Only one.
    Dwight Howard….that’s it.
    If Bynum ever stayed healthy, he’d be at worst, the 2nd best center in the l.

  • jdizzle

    @LakeShow84

    U take that Boston vs. LA rivalry to heart huh? Lol. U got Ginobili in your top 5 but not Paul Pierce? I might be the only one that peeped that snub.

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    OK, so if we’re doing the “If he could stay healthy” thing, would you trade a healthy Bynum for a healthy Yao? What about healthy Bynum for healthy Oden?

  • K Dizzle

    Nope. Don’t forget Bynum’s like 23. His offense and experience is so far ahead of Oden that I wouldn’t do that deal and even if Yao was healthy, he’s gonna be 31 next season.

    Who are even the top centers right now regardless of health?
    Howard, Bogut, Bynum, Camby, Kaman, Yao, Oden, Hibbert, Noah, Perkins, Chandler, Okafor, Nene, Lopez, Marc Gasol ?

    Seriously, some of the best centers are just power forwards masqueradin as centers:
    Horford, Jefferson, Love, Amare, Duncan, Gasol, Dirk etc.

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    Numbers-wise, Okafor give you equal or better than Bynum, and he rarely misses games.

  • LakeShow84

    Same here only Howard straight up..

    Not even a healthy Oden..

    @ JDizzle

    Seriously bruh i give u mad props.. i even thought of Ray Allen and said fuck that lmao

  • LakeShow84

    Thats Okafors number while playing solid minutes..

    Bynum has been playing with limited minutes.. and is longer.. plus ive witnessed dude beast Okafor lol

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    Is Bynum really that much better (or better at all) than Bogut, Lopez, Noah or Horford?

  • http://www.dimemag.com Austin Burton

    @LakeShow84 — “Thats Okafors number while playing solid minutes. Bynum has been playing with limited minutes.”

    So when is Bynum going to start playing solid minutes? If his problems staying on the court are health and/or foul trouble, at what point will those improve? We’re six years into his career now.

  • K Dizzle

    @ AB – Okafor’s peaked. This is as good as he gets. Bynum’s the Laker’s 4th option. 3rd at best. All I know is he’s had a 42 point 14 board game. Once Kobe’s done, Bynum’s gonna explode….if he stays healthy

  • K Dizzle

    That blown layup by Perk was classic lol
    You can take the boy off the Celts but you can’t take dunk missin and layup blowin off the boy…

  • ctkennedy

    @AB…the only one he better than is Lopez …Bogut n Horford r top 30players in the league period…Noah i trust him better to be a role player without worryin about touches

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