Dragon Slaying

The Lakers, Spurs, Blazers, Nuggets, Jazz, Suns and Mavs have all been staples of the Western Conference playoffs the last decade or so. This lack of diversity in the Playoff gene pool has led to some great playoff games, great meltdowns and a great set up for this year. The late 90's proved to be the same kind of scenario in the Eastern Conference with the Knicks, Bulls, Pacers, and Heat. Coming from those series were a number of great Jordan moments, Reggie's theatrics and heroics versus the Knicks, and the Playoffs best announcer, Jeff Van Gundy, clinging to Alonzo Mourning's leg. It seemed that every year a Heat/Knicks matchup was inevitable, because it was. From 1997-2000, they met every year in the Playoffs and played the maximum number of games each series, with the clinching game of the series being decided in the closing moments of the game. Miami only beat the Knicks in one of those four series, the first one in 1997. After that, the Knicks became Miami's dragon; the naturally sworn enemy and inevitable matchup for the Heat, a matchup they could never overcome.

The Heat went through another stretch, although much shorter and less dramatic, when a matchup with the Detroit Pistons seemed destined every year. This may have had more to do with the Pistons versus Shaquille O'Neal (dating back to their upset of the Shaq/Malone/Kobe Lakers), but it was the Heat's dragon to slay if they wanted to win a championship. This year, the west is full of such destined matchups. Mavs/Spurs. Jazz/Nuggets. Suns/Spurs. Jazz/Lakers (potential). Suns/Lakers (potential). Lakers/Spurs (potential). Jazz/Spurs (potential). Its almost a paper/rock/scissors set up. Spurs own the Suns, Lakers own the Jazz, Spurs own the Lakers, Lakers own the Suns, and for the sake of the analogy lets just say the Jazz own the Suns. Each team seems to have a date with destiny, a passage though fire, or any other cliched hero/dating reference. Somebody is going to have to slay their team's figurative dragon.

Who wins in all this melee? We do. The way the first round has gone, we can almost assume that round two will be turned up to 11. I'm still hoping that Kevin Durant walks on water for the next two games of the Lakers/Thunder series, but if not it doesn't mean that the best basketball is behind us. Rather, its yet to come.

Spurned

If we were going to track the workmanlike predictability and consistency of the Spurs (like we said in our ambitious 910 Preview), then last night would be a big red (or in the Jazz's throwback case, green and yellow) anomaly.

Why?

During Pop's tenure, the Jazz had never swept the season series with the Spurs. Never. In fact, November's win at San Antonio was the first Jazz@Spurs win in, what, forever?

But there it was. Compliments of double doubles by D-Will and Boozer. Compliments of a big all-around (especially on offense) game by Kirilenko. And gutsy play by the benchguys- Milsap, even my love/hate whipping boy Ronnie Price. And maybe compliments of some reffing that seemed- even to a Jazz fan- to be out for Timmy's scalp like he were a nazi and the refs were the Basterds. He must've done his trademark Wide Eyed Glare one too many times.

What else was anomalous? (Is that a word? Do I care? Do you get what I'm getting at? OK.)

Duncan denied a milestone. One of the most consistent, come-through players of all time. And he stopped one short of the point milestone.

What I love about Duncan: he didn't care at all about it. He would've been embarrassed by any stoppage of play, any confetti or recognition; even postgame questions would've been an annoyance. He just wanted the W. And that's why he's one of (if not THE) greatest PF in history.

Wow. And to think I'm a Jazz fan.

Win Watch (the morning after)

Well, that was quick:

one back spasm, a Pau-less night, and a date with the Spurs later and the Lake Show are 29-9.

Bill Simmons (whose Book of Basketball I am devouring right now, much to the neglected chagrin of my wife) put the Bulls 72-win season as one of the unbreakable records and- with two very stacked, very motivated teams going for it and failing this season- I think he might be right.

Maybe we should call this Loss Watch instead. Because, for the Lakers, we just have to watch for a couple more.

Spurned

We knew there would be some deviations from the typical Spur's season this year, but what has happened in the first 10 games has been a complete aberration.



A home loss to the Jazz. This is something that every team has experienced. But not the Spurs. Not now, not in this century.
This was Gregg Popovich this morning after he woke up for the first time in his own bed after a loss to the Jazz.

If the playoffs started today...Vol. III

Yes its getting to be that time of the year. The time when nobody pays attention to the NBA for a couple weekends and things start to change. So in order to help you not feel left out when you pick back up with the Association, here are some of the current match-ups if the playoffs started today.

Orlando Magic vs. we are so scared to draw Detroit in the first round that we might have to tank a few games to stay at the 3 seed but will probably get beaten by Philly anyway

Its no secret that the Magic have laid a big ol' goose egg against Detroit this year. Considering the teams fragile psyche and relative inexperience, Detroit is the last team they want to match up with. So while Sacramento, Washington and Memphis are intentionally losing games for a chance at Blake "I got body slammed" Griffen, look for Orlando to be dropping some to stay at the third seed only to have Detroit jump up to the 6th spot in the last week.

Cleveland LeBron's vs. Me being able to be critical of Mr. James

Its also no secret that there is a lack of butt kissing for LeBron here at the Black Converse as opposed to the rest of the televisioned world. But I am finding it harder and harder to find the holes in anything he does lately. In March, thus far, he is averaging 30 pts. 9 assists 9 rebounds nearly 2 steals and shooting 48%. Plus his team has only lost to Boston this month. So keep playing hard in the regular season boys. I'm sure you'll give me plenty of chances in the playoffs to be critical.

San Antonio vs. the switch
While the Spurs are rotating everyone in and out of the injured list to rest up their weary bones, it is getting closer and closer to the time when they need to flip the switch. Good thing it doesn't look like they will lose the 2nd seed.

D-League Playoff Format vs. BCS vs. Eastern Conference
No doubt will we here Shaq make some comment about his team having a better record than 2 or 3 Eastern Conference teams who make the playoffs. Then we will get some reseeding suggestions. Then one of those lower seeds in the East (Detroit/Philly) will knock off one of those higher seeds (Orlando) and Stern will be smiling bigger than the commissioner of the Big East.
Amongst all this, nobody will mention the new D-League format where the top 8 teams make it and starting with the team with the best record, they pick their opponents. Talk about giving the underdog motivation. Imagine Orlando (the easiest to pick on today) having to choose between Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia and Detroit for their first round match-up. I bet at that point Van Gundy would rather "spend more time with his family" and Howard would rather be playing PlayStation with Sir Charles.

THE DAVID BRACKET: B

5 San Antonio vs. 12 Golden State


Following a Game 1 loss to the Warriors in which Popovich is forced to play his 11th and 12th men searching for fresh legs, Game 2 has the Spurs only running back up the court every other possession by Golden State. Pop manages to successfully out-crazy Nellie and the Spurs win the next three games. Not to be outdone, Nelson tricks the Warriors into playing defense, leading them to three straight victories, sowing up the series in San Antonio. In true crazy fashion, they promptly parade down the river walk like they have just won the title, and fail to win another game the rest of the post season.


4 New Orleans vs. 13 Cleveland

Is there anybody else who thinks the trade Cleveland made earlier in the season made absolutely no difference? This series proved it.
CP3 had the best statistical First Round Game 1 by a point guard in 30 years followed by the best statistical First Round Game 2 by a point guard in 30 years followed by the best statistical First Round Game 3 by a point guard in 20 years followed by the best statistical First Round Game 4 by any player in 40 years. Cleveland still wins in 5 games and nobody notices that LeBron averages a triple double 26-14-10. Did I mention Chris Paul had the best statistical Game 5 by a point guard in 30 years? Stephen A. still can’t believe it.