As I write this...there are three NBA playoff series tied at 2-2. There have been some great individual performances in wins and loses in these series. When looking ahead to what is essentially three best-of-three series, what should we expect?
WILL THIS 'LET NASH SCORE' DEFENSE KEEP WORKING? I don't think so. That kind of defense is hard to keep up on the road...which Dallas will be facing in Game 5 [and 7]. Also, if D'Antoni is truly the coach of the year, he should be able to find ways to free up his other guys. But, that really isn't the Suns' problem. They did score 109 pts with Dallas making that adjustment. Their problem is defense and their bench. Scoring 109 pts on most nights equal a comfy win. Phoenix can't do that. Aside from Marion [who is doing a fine job on Dirk], no one on that team is a good defensive player. That is killing them. But, like I stated back in November [Solar Eclipse], the lack of a bench in Phoenix will be their demise. Their bench scored just 3 points on Sunday...and are hurting even more with Joe Johnson sidelined for, possibly, the rest of the series. They have SIX guys averaging at least 32 minutes [7th in minutes is averaging 13 pg]...and one of those guys is Johnson, who played in just 2 games. With such an up-and-down tempo....the question should be if these guys will hold up? I called this series in 7 games...and it looks as if it will end up that way.
IS THIS DEJA VU FOR SAN ANTONIO? Maybe. Last year, they won the first two games against the LA Lakers...only to lose Games 3 and 4 on the road, then Games 5 and 6. Can it happen again? It sure could. This will be a dogfight until someone is eliminated. And the sad thing for Spursfan is that this series could be in the bag if someone....anyone....could hit a shot in the closing minutes of Game 3. However, Seattle has not looked good in either game in Texas....and they may be without Rashad Lewis again. The SBC Center is a tough place to win a game....but the Sonics have the confidence to go in there and get it done. I predicted that the Spurs would win in 5 [which won't happen], but I have faith that they can come up with the next two games of this series.
ARE THE PACERS FOR REAL?? I think they are. Remember, the team that is on the floor now is neither the team the planned of fielding in October, nor is it the team that played most of the season. Due to the suspensions and injuries...the Pacers projected starting lineup played together ZERO games. I think most people, before the season started, who have bough the fact that these two teams would be in a tussle in the playoffs. And because of this...I keep earning so much respect for Rick Carlisle. We already know that these guys are mentally tough. But, they have guys that are willing to scrap to get a win [witness the ugly 79-74 game]. They've already won a road Game 7 in these playoffs...so who knows what else they are capable of? However, put a gun to my head and I still see Detroit walking away from this one. The problem is that they will go against a well rested Miami team that hasn't had to do too much to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
MIAMI MUST BE LOVING THIS, HUH? Not really. Yeah, the rest is nice. Shaq is nursing an injury and Wade had to exert himself to overcome Shaq's absense. However, Miami really hadn't looked "great" against Washington. They looked a tad rusty...yet still won the series. Detroit or Indiana won't open the doors for Miami to walk all over them...so they need to keep focus to reach their first NBA Finals.
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