NBA Playoffs Blog 4/22-4/23

My random thoughts on the first weekend of the NBA playoffs plus my breakdown of the Suns-Lakers game:

Looks like Lebron was ready for the big time

At one point during the Cavs-Wizards game Hubie Brown said Caron Butler was the heart and soul of the Wizards. Hubie doesn’t make mistakes, so this must be true. Poor Gilbert Areans

Miami fans really gotta hope that Dwayne Wade getting injured in the playoffs does not become a trend

The Bulls are living pretty good. They play just like their coach, Scott Skiles, which means they always play you tough. They have a super exciting player in Ben Gordon, a good point guard in Hinirich, Tyson Chandler is finally contributing something to life, and Andres Nocioni plays an ugly game but he always seems to get something done. They have no shot of beating the Heat, but they have the Knicks next two draft picks UNPROTECTED. (insert Isaiah joke here)

Do we really have to play the Pistons-Bucks series? I guess we do but don’t expect me to watch

At one point during the Nets-Pacers game I saw Vince Carter pull up for 35 feet and air a three with plenty to time left on the shot clock. If Vince does not try in the playoffs, is he ever going to try?

Good to see Artest guarantee a championship then his team gets blown out by the Spurs and he gets suspended for game two of the series which virtually ends the 0.00001% chance they had of beating them in the first place. Bad things happen when you guarantee victory, let alone championships (unless your Rasheed Wallace or someone in a position to actually guarantee like Joe Namath) I would like to point out a forearm to Manu got him suspended, so I am glad it happened.

I was seriously shocked to see the Grizz starting ex-Sun Jake Tskalidis at center on Sunday night. Then their whole offense for the first half of the first quarter was him and Eddie Jones which caused me to ask Justin if they were the new Shaq and Kobe to which Justin replied, “They’re the exact same thing.”

Suns-Lakers-

Game One was pretty intense, hard fought, and really weird. Kobe tried to be a distributor and missed a lot of shots. Kwame Brown, Smush Parker and Luke Walton played out of their minds and Lamar Odom played really well. The Suns couldn’t get an offensive rebound or make shot during the 2^nd and 3^rd quarter. Bottom line is the Suns won with a killer three by Nash with 1:07 left. Just another in a long line of big playoff shots for Nash. Tim Thomas played out of his mind and he is playing for a new contract which means you know he is going to go balls to the wall this postseason. After game one the Tim Thomas contract watch is at $5 million (a year). You know Isaiah is watching.

I’ve read some things were the Lakers should be encouraged and whatever. I always say Ill give the opposing team confidence and I’ll take the win (Okay I haven’t always said that, everyone says that). Kobe won’t play as bad again but the Suns are going to play better too, because they did not play their best game. The series will be hard fought but I still think the Suns take it in five. Also it was good to see Smush Parker guarantee victory for the Lakers in the series, which pretty much guarantees the Suns victory in the series. Players like Smush Paker should be guaranteeing anything. Players that suck aren’t aloud to guarantee. After the game one loss Smush said that the Lakers are a better team and expect to beat the Suns. A better team? Where does he get this? The Lakers have lost 4 of 5 to the Suns this year and all 4 games Steve Nash has played in. Maybe Smush is bitter the Suns cut him last year.

While reading the paper today I came across the “At the Game Section” Let me cut and paste it for you: (courtesy of www.azcentral.com/sports)

At the game

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and ex-Suns player Jackson Vroman were sitting in the same vicinity near the baseline.

Police dogs and officers searched the arena's seats Sunday morning.

What a start studded event eh?

Hubie Brown is easily the best color man on the planet. His observations are so good its great to listen to. He never favors one team and he always point stuff out that actually enhances the viewing experience. He is the best and Doug Collins is the 2^nd best. The Worst (I only include national guys) probably Reggie Miller or Steve Kerr. I don’t know but while watching the Mavs-Grizz game last night Miller actually said someone “out beat him to the ball.” That’s right, out-beat, a phrase I am probably going to use 1,000 times for the course of the playoffs.

Peace out kids!