Shaq scored 11 points in the first 5 minutes and took only 2 shots in the second qtr. ROCKETS were practically using the Hack-a-Shaq on him everytime he got the ball in the second half, but otherwise he had a monster game and was the only reason we didn't get blown out along with Malone. Kobe just had one of those games where he couldnt get it going, and Gary should concentrate more on passing the ball than taking to the rim. He's trouble with drawing the foul. This game loss was everyone's fault. LAKERS had no energy, played NO perimeter defense and gave up too many offensive rebounds which was actually what I expected to happen. I'm saying the Lakes win the next 2 games and get these guys outta here.
But wait.
CRAP! Game 4 is a Sunday's afternoon game, and that too on road.
Lakers have a bad history on afternoon games especially on Sundays. I don't even remember when was the last time Lakers won the Sunday afternoon game. :(
The team will take the series whose backcourt is best at the end of day. At the moment, it's 50-50 for both ROCKETS and LAKERS.
Moving on to Game 4: If I were in PJ's shoes, I'd have bench Rick Fox and play George at SF, and give more time to Krush. But he's PJ. He ain't gonna change his style of basketball. Not even if the West Coast hits with 10.5 earthquake!
To other playoff series, PACERS, SPURS & NETS are their own way to sweeping the series. Boston doesn't have a depth, New Jersey is basically killing New York with fast break pts, alley-oops, layups and dunks. Not enough talent on New York's roster.
I expect huge heart game from GRIZZLIES but I don't think it's gonna stop them for sweeping. They gave up 21 offensive rebs, which basically killed them. Parker was throwing the floater over Gasol and Outlaw, which Hubie admitted in the post game, has pissed him off. Nice to see, there are great fans of Basketball down in Memphis. Liked the Elvis mascot. :D
MAVS are 36-5 at home in the regular season. If Dallas able to tied the series 2-game apiece against KINGS, there's a good chance we'll see this series going into 7 games.
HEAT had a very impressive win in Game 2 that received less airtime than the other play-off games.
The HEAT have done a great job of maximizing strengths and protecting their weaknesses. Athletic and versatile perimeter players. Preparation, teamwork, effort, intensity, ball movement, hard-nosed tough play, defense. It's SVG's team, but it has Riley's fingerprints all over it. The HEAT are not a deep team and are lacking in big men, but they do everything they can to make up for it. They're an easy team to root for.
I don't see them beating the Pacers in the 2nd round, but they'll put up a tough fight.
Many have doubt Detroit's offense but I disagree. They have a lot of weopans and really haven't a had a game like that where they just couldn't score in a long time. The guards all seemed really out of rhyhem and weren't moving the ball as well as they usually do.
This is the one area that would worry a PISTONS fan. They play terrific defense, with energy and toughness. And they have weapons. But the team execution problem persists, and they lack the 'true' point type who can make the right decisions under pressure.
Even before the PISTONS added Sheed, they had weapons on offense. Sheed just added one more, and turned a very good PISTONS' defense into an excellent one. However, the team didn't fix the main problem on offense. I thought the PISTONS would have benefitted more by picking up a 'true' point who could manage the offense. Billups is a scoring point, like an Arenas or Francis. At times, the PISTONS will be able to compensate for the deficiency; other times, they won't.
Having said that, I think the PISTONS will beat the BUCKS. After the 1st round, though, the PISTONS will be up against elite defenses (which the BUCKS aren't) who will attack the PISTONS team offensive execution problem. It'll be interesting to find out if their defense and pile-up of 'weapons' will be enough to compensate for their fundamental flaws.
The WOLVES were so cold in Game 2 that Kevin was missing layups and Sam Cassell was missing open midrange jumpers... bizarre. But the NUGGETS couldn't do anything. Carmelo Anthony has still not been a factor. I can't see how the NUGGETS are going to win anything. They play a lot better at home, but the WOLVES have been a great road team this season and they have three guys who are probably fantasizing right now about dealing the deathblow.
