Never mind that Kevin Garnett has been committing illegal screens since 1995. Never mind that since he came to Boston in 2007, I’ve nearly come to blows with a dozen Celtic fans who completely overlook this. Never mind that this was an obvious foul as KG went all Jonathan Ogden on us and freed up Paul Pierce for a potential game-tying three-pointer with a foul.

What I want to know is should the refs have made this call with 10 seconds left in a one-possession game? Read More »

The Lakers were pretty much done by the opening minutes of the third quarter, and by the end of the third frame, OKC had disposed of the bodies in a covered ditch. A 15-2 run spanning the end of the second quarter to the start of the second half, which was punctuated by a Russell Westbrook lob and then a pull-up transition triple from Kevin Durant, put the home team up by 22 and it only got worse from there. In Game 1 of perhaps the most hyped series of the playoffs so far, the Thunder strangled L.A., 119-90. In a way it was shocking. But then again, it wasn’t, even if Metta World Peace was shocked enough to leave center stage with nearly an entire quarter to go and head back to the locker room. Read More »

As broken down in Sunday’s Smack, the Sixers lost a hard fought Game 1 against the Celtics Saturday night. Although fingers can be pointed at Lou Williams for his poor shot selection and also at Doug Collins for his poor clock management and substitutions, the Sixers may have actually lost the game because their biggest fan was ejected in the first quarter. Read More »

As long as Rajon Rondo doesn’t have to shoot with the game on the line, he’s good money. We’ve constantly heard that the Celtics’ point guard is the John Nash – the genius – of the NBA. Maybe he just really is that smart. The dude fouls the Sixers up three, and then watches as Lou Williams botches it by making both instead of missing the second. Then, Doc draws up a spectacular play and Rondo runs into the backcourt all alone for a touchdown. Evan Turner couldn’t catch him for a foul, and that was that. Rondo bamboozled Philly’s whole team; Game 1 to Boston, 92-91. Read More »

The good and bad of Rajon Rondo surfaced in the final 10 seconds of Atlanta’s 87-86 Game 5 win against Boston. With Boston down one, the point stole the inbounds pass and came racing up court with a chance to win. Off a switch, he was matched up with Al Horford, dribbled in place for a few seconds, tried to go baseline, lost the ball, and then threw it to Kevin Garnett even as the buzzer sounded. Rondo never even got a shot off, and thus all he did (13 points, 12 assists, five steals) won’t be remembered. Read More »

The Philadelphia 76ers debuted this new starting lineup intro video and fireworks display at home this past weekend during their series with the Bulls. If you’re a Philly fan, this will get you fired up. Read More »

Is this the end of the No. 1-seed Bulls as we know it? It was Jrue Holiday who finally mopped up Philly’s Sunday Game 4 win over Chicago. With Philly up just one, Holiday came down on back-to-back sets and hit two straight dagger triples. That ended a run where Holiday made six of his previous eight shots, turning it around after starting the afternoon 1-for-14. One-for-14. But those threes made a one-point lead become seven, and a one-game lead become two. It follows then that Chicago’s doubt without D-Rose has become a full-blown migraine. Holiday had 20 on the night, second to Spencer Hawes‘ 22 for the Sixers. Read More »

It took a couple of hours, but Rajon Rondo finally found his groove in the fourth quarter of Boston’s overtime 90-84 mercy win over ailing Atlanta. With the Hawks down to throwing anyone they could find into the game outside of the security guys along the bench, this was very nearly a must-win for the Celtics. Losing to this pickup squad from Atlanta wouldn’t fly. The Hawks had more talent on their bench in street clothes than they did on the court. They had to start Jason Collins, who proceeded to somehow score one-on-one against Kevin Garnett, and yet still is so bad offensively that he makes Greg Ostertag look like a once-upon-a-time low post beast. Read More »

In the third quarter of the Sixers’ win last night in Chicago, Philly ran off four dunks in a span of about two minutes. This one from Andre Iguodala – plus the foul – was the best one. Sometimes I feel like Iggy doesn’t always dunk the way he used to; He is a 28-year-old in his eighth season. But the he goes and does something like this… Read More »