Two predictable results for today (unless you really are a big believer in the losing teams), along with a great game from one of the most exciting series (imo) in these Playoffs! The Cavs and Lakers bested their lowest-seeded opponents, while the young Portland Trailblazers rebounded from a humiliating opening loss to the Houston Rockets.
Eastern Conference:
Detroit Pistons 82 - Cleveland Cavaliers 94
- If there was any team in the playoffs who I believed could flip a switch on and make noise in the playoffs, it was the Pistons. And guess what, they did! For a couple of minutes, anyway. The Pistons were down by 27 points entering the 4th quarter, but managed to close within 7 points of the Cavs with a 27-5 run by its bench players. Unfortunately for them, it was too late. LeBron and the rest of the starters finished the job they started.
- If there was any weakness that the Pistons were able to pierce in this game, it was the lack of dependability from the Cavs’ bench. Cleveland has often been derisively called “The Cleveland LeBrons” for being a one-man show before, but this season, its starters (along with the addition of Mo Williams and the dependable but overlooked Zydrunas Ilgauskas) have improved. Unfortunately, it seems their bench can still be quite spotty. Daniel “Boobie” Gibson still hasn’t regained the form that he showed a couple of years ago when he torched the Pistons in the Eastern finals, and the other players other show negative signs of their age (too old, or too young) too often.
- It remains to be seen how Pistons coach Michael Curry and the Detroit starters will adjust to Cleveland (if you can adjust to a force such as LeBron). So far, everything they’ve done has been countered, but let’s wait and see what they can do on their home court before calling this series for the Cavs.
*****
Western Conference:
Utah Jazz 109 - Los Angeles Lakers 119
- Kobe and the Lakers showed that they are still the team to beat in the Western conference with another pounding of the Utah Jazz. The usual productive games for the Lakers, ho-hum. A Laker that may be overlooked is third year guard Shannon Brown, who has cracked the rotation and is turning in solid performances from the bench (he’s shot 5-for-6 from long range in the two games in this series). Of course, the only downside to his emergence is less of Slamma Jamma Bing Bong from The Machine.
- Deron Williams scored a playoff career-high 35 points, but accounted for 7 turnovers for the Jazz in this painful loss. Despite coach Jerry Sloan made statements about his team needing to be nastier, and the team playing better overall, they couldn’t mark their win column just yet. The Jazz shot better from the field compared to game 1, and outrebounded the Lakers this time, but it still wasn’t enough. However, they still played without center Memo Okur, so if he returns for the two games at Utah, it’ll be a different look for them.
Houston Rockets 103 - Portland Trailblazers 109
- You’ve got Ron Artest and Shane Battier, two players known for their defensive prowess, and the opponent’s star guard scores 42 points. Which is not a very good sign, in general. Brandon Roy’s tremendous effort led the Blazers to their first win in the postseason in six years, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 27 points and 12 rebounds. The Blazers used a strategy of playing their two 7-footers, Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla, on Rockets center Yao Ming. Yao was limited to 11 points, and took only 6 shots, as Przybilla fronted him instead of played behind him. In addition to that, Rockets guard Aaron Brooks, who is branded as more shoot-first than pass-first, could not find the right angles to get the ball to Yao.
- Despite solid performances from guards Brooks (23 points, 4 treys) and Von Wafer (21 points), the Rockets weren’t able to pull off a sweep on the road. Ron Artest also couldn’t make many open shots, and shot only 8-for-20 from the field. However, the Blazers have to be careful - Houston will definitely adjust, and while the series is now tied, the young Blazers must win at least one game in Houston to gain back their home court advantage. I doubt that Artest and Battier will allow any Blazers swingman to score that many points again, and finding a counter to the defense employed on Yao will be top on the to-do list of the Rockets. I still think that this series is Houston’s to lose, but the Blazers won’t go away without a fight. Regardless of who you’re rooting for, you’ve gotta agree that this is one of the best series in these playoffs.
- PS: I feel sad for Dikembe Mutombo, who said his career “is over” after injuring his knee in the game. He will be missed.
Well the Blazers played like as if thet have nothing to loose. That was their main factor in helping them winning Game 2. Much of the attention was stolen by the Rockets after that blow out win from Game 1.
Yao was in foul trouble. Much of the burden was rest upon Artest and Scola. Clearly tonight he was not at his best. Aldridge out played him this time.
But I still feel that the Rocktes still has what it takes to win this series. Remember the Blazers must steal one game from Houston and that is not as easy one may think. I’m hoping for them to recover for the next two games and utilize their home court status.
Oh yes, your though on tonight game, please.