HoopsHype.com Columns

Thoughts about the first round
by Eddie Johnson / April 28, 2006

It's only the first week of the playoffs and we already have plenty of stories developing.

- How can I start an article without mentioning Ron Artest, the man who successfully destroyed his team the last two years? Why is his luck and timing so bad? I am hearing from a lot of people that Artest is really a great guy. I am tired of wondering every year what it would have been like to see him play with his team when his team really needed him. We are left to wonder if he could have been the difference. Well, here we are again. Because of his elbow to the head of Manu Ginobili and the subsequent suspension, he couldn't avoid the Kings' meltdown in Game 2 against the Spurs.

I can see that pass by Ginobili along the baseline being picked off by his quick hands before it got to Brent Barry for the three-pointer that sent the game to overtime. And better yet, I could see him actually doing what over 90 percent of the armchair coaches in the country said after witnessing that play... Foul him!

I really like Rick Adelman, but Adelman has made some coaching moves during the playoffs for a number of years that are very suspect.

Think about it... You have a three-point lead and the Spurs are one of the worst free-throw shooting teams in the league. You are playing without your top player and your hottest hand (Bonzi Wells) has fouled out. Brad Miller is playing like Phyllis Diller and your bench has no experience. You have to be honest with yourself and say, "no way can we win in overtime."

So what do you do? You foul – especially considering the man with the ball, Manu Ginobili, has just missed two crucial free throws.

Let’s say he makes both. You are up by one with the ball with about five seconds left. They foul and now you defend with a lead of one, two or three points. This time, they only have three or four seconds to score. I will take my chances on that before I allow Brent Barry, Robert Horry or Ginobili to take a three knowing they have time to comfortably get it off.

If the Kings had won Game 2, this series would have gone the distance. But now vacation awaits in four or five games.

- The Clippers are for real! I am convinced now after seeing them dismantle the Nuggets the first two games. Elton Brand is a new millennium Karl Malone. He has the bulk and the touch that makes him unguardable from 15 feet on in. Add Chris Kaman and this makes the Clippers one of the biggest and most physical teams in the league. They are just too much for the unhappy Nuggets.

- Denver looked like a streetball team after the first two games. Doesn't it bother you when Carmelo Anthony smiles when he has three fouls in two minutes and his team is down 20? I know this could be a nervous energy reaction. But Melo, do me a favor, that Phil Mickelson grin does not work. I can put up with Phil’s grin now that he has won three majors.

- What’s up with Kenyon Martin? Now don’t be surprised to see Kenyon explode. George Karl has a way of making at least one of his players want to grab him and throw him across a room. I know I did one time in Seattle, but I was smart. I just didn’t go to practice the next day. When I showed up the following day, Karl confronted me and asked why I missed practice without an excuse. I told him he should be glad I did because had I come to practice, he might not be there to ask that question. He just laughed and walked away.

I guess that’s the difference between old school and the new millennium player. Old school walks away. New school man’s up and goes on a profanity-laced tirade during Game 2 of the playoffs and gets suspended indefinitely. I guess Kenyon is smart in one way – he waited till he was paid for the season to get suspended. That move should only cost him his share of playoff money. He has nothing to worry about because the playoffs will probably end for the Nuggets in five games.

- Avery Johnson is the most well-liked basketball player (and now coach) in the history of the league. Is it the voice? Is it the smile? Or is it because he is real? Like in real honest, approachable, loving and – most importantly – a very good coach. I say all of the above and that is why he won Coach of the Year over my favorite – Mike Dunleavy. Avery showed that he could take a good team and make it even better. We saw Flip Saunders do the same thing in Detroit this year taking over for Larry Brown.

Avery has turned the Mavericks into a title contender in less than a year. The Mavs have lost a number of quality players over the last few years – Steve Nash, Michael Finley, Antawn Jamison, Antoine Walker, etcetera – but they have still found a way to stay above board led by Dirk Nowitzki and the Little General.

The Mavericks will dispose of the Grizzlies in five games and get ready for the Spurs. That will be a war!

- Steve Nash has unofficially won his second MVP in successive years and I can’t wait for the naysayers to get started. That’s another story in my article, but let’s talks about all this prognosticators picking the Lakers to beat the Suns in the first round. I love Greg Anthony on ESPN. He does a wonderful job. But Greg, what was your reasoning when you picked L.A. to get rid of Phoenix? The Suns have beaten the Lakers 10 out of the last 12 and Nash and Raja Bell did not play in one of the games they lost.

The Lakers do not have enough firepower. Granted, they slowed the Suns down in Game 1 and 2, but I have not seen a team other than the Spurs slow the Suns down on a consistent basis in the last two years.

Now remember, Greg. We are talking about expecting the Lakers role players to continue having out-of-body experiences like they did in Game 1 and 2 and Kwame Brown finally realizing that his body should strike fear in opponents and not make them feel like it's cardboard.

Lamar Odom is the real deal, but not the type of real deal Scottie Pippen was for Michael Jordan in that triangle offense.

That’s why Kobe looked out of sort in Game 1 trying to be unselfish, but found his rhythm in the Game 2 win. Kobe is just like Jordan. He needs shots and Odom is not adept at keeping the other players involved while still allowing Kobe to be super-aggressive. That responsibility falls on Kobe and it’s hard for him to fight double- and triple-teams and still concentrate on whether he is keeping Luke Walton in rhythm.

That was the beauty of Pippen. And Odom is not at that level yet for this version of Jordan – Kobe Bryant.

Suns will win in six and score a lot of points doing it. Just call them Team Track Meet.

- The Milwaukee Bucks are wondering if the lottery wasn't a better choice than playing the Detroit Pistons. I second that thought. They are overmatched and seem intimidated. Let’s hope they save some pride at home and pull out at least one victory.

- The Miami Heat was my pick to win it all before the season and I am not wavering. I really believe if Alonzo Mourning comes back from that calf tear at the defensive level he did before the injury, the Heat will win it all.

- Udonis Haslem was suspended for throwing his mouthguard at Joey Crawford. He should have been fined on top of that by the Heat. Every player in the league knows you don’t even smile at Joey or he will T you up.

- Let’s give the Chicago Bulls credit. They have played the Heat very well. They abused the Heat and exposed their lack of quickness in Game 3. They have excellent outside shooters. But they have no closer inside that can get them a high-percentage basket in crunch time and that will eliminate them in five

- I have total respect for the NBA channel. No, I really do. I love watching the highlights, shows and, most importantly, the classic games. But the Pacers and the Nets must really be beside themselves with the disrespect their series has gotten. To make it even worse, their game is on at the same time as the national TV game.

- Maybe it's just me, but it seems like Vince Carter celebrates after every basket he scores. Message to Vince: We know you can score so save that excess energy after every basket and maybe we might see you drive and broad jump over three players for a game-winning dunk instead of having to shoot a fadeaway three-point shot for a game-winner.

The fans might lose out because this series will go to Game 7 and become a war. I think the Pacers will win because they always seem to overcome adversity.

- I know everyone seems to stare and ogle over every thing LeBron James does on the court and I admit I catch myself watching and being amazed as well, but take some time and watch Gilbert Arenas too. He can flat out play. Arenas has flown under a radar all year, but he has had an unbelievable season. Remember this is coming from a player that did not even get drafted in the first round.

- LeBron came down to earth in Game 2. I guess he thought this playoff game stuff was easy. Well, the Wizards toughened up and made life hard for King James. But don’t fret, James fans. This guy is off the charts. I have never seen anything like him at his age.

James will get back on track and the Cavaliers will scratch and claw to get a victory in Washington and advance after seven games.

- The MVP race is over. The Arizona Republic reported that Steve Nash has won his second consecutive Most Valuable Player Award.

I know the debate will really get heated once it is officially announced.

This is my take. If an MVP who led his team to 62 wins the prior year comes back and loses three key players – Joe Johnson, Quentin Richardson and Amare Stoudemire – and leads a new cast of players to career-high numbers while winning the Pacific Division with 54 Ws, I guess it should be an easy choice. What Nash did again this year is unbelievable. No one gave the Suns a chance to come close to 54 wins when Amare went down to injury. He stepped up his game and proved that last year was no fluke. I wouldn't have been disappointed if LeBron James had won. But let’s face it – he will win at least four or five times before his career is over.

Eddie Johnson is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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