Month: May 2006 (Page 14 of 20)

Detroit 97, Cleveland 91 (Pistons lead series, 2-0)
You see it so often in the NBA – a team is trailing by 20 points and, with their opponent on cruise control, they put on a furious late rally, only to fall short in the end. Such was the case with the Cavs last night, led by LeBron James, who finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Drew Gooden made an appearance, scoring 17 and grabbing eight boards for Cleveland. But the story continues to be the offensive absence of Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who were two key offseason signings. Ilgauskas averaged 15/8 during the regular season, but is only producing 10/6, while Hughes is averaging 11.3 points, 3.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds against season averages of 15.2/3.3/4.7. What’s more worrisome is his FG% – his percentage has dropped from 40.9% in the regular season to a miserable 31.8% in the playoffs. But the biggest problem for the Cavs is the Pistons. The squad continues to play efficient, team ball, getting double figure scoring from each of the five starters. Rasheed Wallace led the way with 29 points and nine boards, while Chauncey Billups had a good all-around game, finishing with 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Given the way Miami is playing, Detroit looks like a strong favorite to represent the East in the NBA Finals.

Dallas 113, San Antonio 91 (series tied, 1-1)
The Spurs probably have a little more talent, but their stars are banged up and they are playing a deep, hungry team in the Dallas Mavericks. The problem with Dallas has always been their competitive mindset. In the past, they have a history of folding when the game or series is on the line, but so far in these playoffs, the Mavs look like a different team. But the difference in the series might be the 2003 NBA Draft. That year, the Spurs picked #28 while the Mavs picked #29. A year after drafting Tony Parker at the end of the first round, the Spurs didn’t see anyone of that caliber available, although they were considering selecting the ACC Player of the Year Josh Howard, who had played at Wake Forest, Tim Duncan’s alma mater. Finally, they decided to make a pick for the Suns (Leandro Barbosa) in exchange for a future first round pick. In the NBA, draft picks are passed around like a groupie at a KISS concert, so it’s difficult to determine who the Spurs ended up with by trading away the pick. But the Mavs jumped on Howard, who has blossomed into a fine small forward. Howard went for 27/9 on Tuesday while Dirk Nowitzki played an efficient game, scoring 21 on 7-11 shooting. Tim Duncan continues to play his heart out (28/9 on 8-10 shooting) but isn’t getting much help from Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili, who combined for 28 points on 10-25 shooting. Ginobili hasn’t looked right all season and has missed considerable time due to injury. Parker strained his calf in Game 1 and it definitely caused him some problems in Game 2. If these injury woes continue, Dallas is going to be the team that advances.

The Maloofs have fired Rick Adelman.

Geoff Petrie, the Kings’ president of basketball operations, wouldn’t give any clear-cut reasons for the decision not to extend Adelman’s contract, which expires in September. But owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, apparently dissatisfied with Adelman for years, are widely thought to be behind the move.

“I came to the conclusion that continuing this way just wasn’t feasible,” said Petrie, who also hired Adelman — his former roommate from their playing days — when both worked in Portland. “The dynamic that needed to be there to help it move forward just wasn’t there.”

Things were looking grim after a 18-24 start, and they were going to miss their first playoffs in eight years. Then Petrie makes a blockbuster trade, sending Peja Stojakovic to Indiana for Ron Artest. What happens? Adelman and Artest lead the team to a 25-14 record after the trade, they make the playoffs, and they take the defending champs to six games. If not for an unfortunate bounce on a Brent Barry three at the end of Game 2, they probably would have beaten the Spurs.

You don’t see a positive dynamic, Geoff? Or are you just covering for the Maloofs?

I don’t know who the Kings are going to hire that is going to do a better job than Rick Adelman. Don Nelson? The guy who made Dallas a decent (but soft) team that couldn’t get anywhere in the playoffs? I think this is a bad, bad move.

This is what happens when people who don’t know anything about basketball take control of a NBA franchise.

New Jersey 100, Miami 88 (Nets lead series, 1-0)
Miami should take this loss seriously – very seriously. The Nets exposed the Heat throughout the entire first half en route to a 64-46 halftime lead. Miami shot the ball horribly (39%) and didn’t pass the ball very well (11 assists on 27 made baskets), while the Nets shot (49%) and passed (20 assists on 34 made baskets) very well. New Jersey has one of the best – if not the best – collections of talent at the PG, SG and SF positions in Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. If the Heat can’t keep Carter and Jefferson in front of them defensively, this is going to be a rough series for Miami. The Nets don’t have the talent up front to get past Detroit (assuming they beat the Cavs), but they can certainly knock off the Heat if Shaquille O’Neal continues to get into foul trouble. Dwayne Wade can’t do it all on his own.

Phoenix 130, LA Clippers 123 (Suns lead series, 1-0)
This one was as fun to watch as the score would indicate. Phoenix jumped out to an 11 point lead in the first quarter, but the Clippers battled back once Elton Brand got it going inside. The All-Star ended up with 40 points on a phenomenal 18 for 22 (82%) shooting, but a critical two minute stretch in the fourth quarter cost the Clippers the game. With Los Angeles down, 103-101, with 7:15 to play, Brand picked up his second foul and came out of the game. Over the next 101 seconds, the Suns went on a 9-2 run, giving them a nine point lead from which the Clippers would never recover. This series will come down to the Clippers’ ability to defend the perimeter, while the Suns have to find a way to slow down Brand and Chris Kaman inside. The Suns have to feel good about getting the win after allowing the Clippers to shoot 59% from the field. The Clippers can run when it’s there, but they need to limit the number of jump shots that they take on the break, because the misses just lead to easy points for the Suns. In short, they need to play efficient basketball and pound the ball inside whenever possible.

Surprise, surprise. Chris Paul is reportedly going to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award. Paul was head and shoulders above every other first-year player in the league and more than deserves the honor. The former Demon Deacon had fantastic numbers this season (16 points, 7.8 assists) for a point guard and helped the Hornets more than double their win total from last season. He led all rookies in most categories and even was the NBA league leader in steals. Paul’s Hornets were even fighting for a Western Conference playoff spot up until the last few weeks of the season.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better rookie season,” Paul said after the Hornets’ season ended in mid-April.

Paul’s a great young player and is going to turn into one of the best point guards in the league in a few years. As a point guard, it’s important to make your teammates better and that’s exactly what he did, especially with David West. Paul has all the tools to be a star for a long time.