Talkin Bout Playoffs
The playoffs start today and I can’t recall ever being this pumped up about them. Most years, I’d largely ignore the 1st round as it’s usually just a minor inconvenience for good teams until the real matchups start. But this year, you have Utah vs. Denver, Kobe vs. Durant, Spurs vs. Mavs, Celtics vs. Heat, and a matchup of the 2 best defensive teams in the league in the Magic and the dangerous Bobcats. Any or all of the 1st round series could be amazing in the same way that the Celtics vs. the Bulls was last year. All this without mentioning Lebron or the Suns, who are always fun to watch no matter who they play. This is only the 1st round I’m talking about! The matchups and intensity will only get better as we progress through the rounds.
If you are a fan of basketball, you better be tuned in to this rare and most awesome occasion. In honor of what promises to be an epic year for NBA playoff basketball, I’m going to take the approach of Switzerland and Bonecrusher and rep every player, team, side, conference, and whatever else (except the Lakers of course).
East
Saturday
Bull @ Cavs, ABC 2:00 PM US-CST
Bucks @ Hawks, ESPN 4:30 PM
Heat @ Celtics, ESPN 7:00 PM
Sunday
Bobcats @ Magic, TNT 4:30 PM
Make sure to read Britt Robson’s Eastern Conference preview for SI.com
Scoop Jackson at espn.com has a great article on whether or not we’ve seen the last of KG as “Da Kid”
So the whispers are there. Some are about his age: He’s 32, finishing up his 15th season in the league. Some are about his health: He hyperextended his right knee earlier this year, missed the playoffs (same knee) last season. Others, more disturbing, are about the one thing Garnett has always had over damn near every player in the NBA: his confidence.
It’s fading, say the whispers.
I needed to not believe that. Not KG. But the signs are there. Could “The Kid” be gone?
-This article gives me hope that KG still has better days ahead of him. If you’re a big fan The Big Ticket, this article is well worth a read.
West
Saturday
Jazz @ Nuggets, ESPN 9:30 PM US-CST
Sunday
Thunder @ Lakers, ABC 2:00 PM
Spurs @ Mavericks, TNT 7:00 PM
Blazers @ Suns, TNT 9:30 PM
Britt Robson’s Western Conference preview
Read Bill Simmons’ latest article for a look at everything he’s learned from this past season and his take on the playoffs
Please Click “Read More” for a few bits of Wolves news and the Top 10 dunks of the season
Al’s going to be working on his game this offseason with Hakeem The Dream
A key part of Jefferson’s offseason agenda includes workout sessions in Houston with hall of fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, who was known for his excellent footwork in the post. Olajuwon has made himself available to work with NBA players. He spent time last summer with Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
“Olajuwon been one of my favorite players since I came into the league,” Jefferson said. “I’m hoping he can take my game, on offense and defense, to another level.”
Benjamin Polk at CityPages scans the Wolves horizon
If Ricky Rubio comes over in a year and is as good as advertised, if Flynn either settles into a more appropriate role (probably as a scorer off the bench) or gets traded for somebody good, and if Kahn can manage to shore up the team’s many other dire needs, the 2009 point guard orgy won’t have gone so badly (if not…). That last one is the key: the Wolves have three first-round draft picks, around $15 million in cap room, and lots of room to deal. Things need to happen now.
NBA.com’s 10 Best Dunks of the Year
Both Ryan Hollins and Corey Brewer made the Top 10
They failed big time by not including JR Smith’s insane 360 alley oop against the Wolves. How many players in the league even have the required athleticism to do what he did? How did that not make the Top 10? How was that not #1? It’s something that’s never been done before and is in my opinion one of the greatest in-game dunks of all time. There’s a lot of awesome dunks of that list, but for not including JR Smith, their list gets an F- grade from me. Yes, an F-, worse than failing.