NBA Eastern Conference Rundown: Where _______ Happens
Atlanta Hawks: Where Shock the World Happens - When attending Game 3, I saw a guy with a posterboard sign that simply read “Shock the World.” Last night for Game 6, everyone who attended was given a shirt with the same words branded across the front. Nearly every ‘expert’ predicted a series sweep, especially when Boston handily won the first two games, but the Hawks surprised many by winning Game 3. They then adopted the mantra wholeheartedly and startled many when they won Game 4. Regardless of the outcome of the tomorrow’s impending Game 7, the Hawks lived up to their new playoff motto by shocking the world and forcing a Game 7 with a 103-100 win in Game 6. They should be an intriguing team for the next couple of seasons.
Boston Celtics: Where Disappearing Invincibility Happens - Everyone expected Boston to waltz through the playoffs without much of a challenge until possibly the conference finals, if not the championship round. It was supposed to be a breeze. Atlanta’s Highlight Factory was only supposed to see Celtics highlights. Instead, the lowly sub .500 Hawks have given Boston all they can handle when playing in Atlanta. The Cs have played passively, often settling for jump shots, and at times, have appeared to have tired legs. Instead of maintaining the contention of possibly being the best team in the league, there now are questions surfacing about whether Boston can win on the road and if Boston’s old age is catching up to them.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Where “Did Lebron Just Do That?” Happens - LeBron James had to battle through one of the most physical NBA series of recent memory. Especially considering almost every hard foul and all the extra-curricular activity were directed at James. He was unfazed — 29.8 pts, 9.5 rebs, 7.7 asts, 1.3 stls, 1.3 blks and just over 12.5 free throw attempts per game. And then there was the crazy alley-oop dunk he threw down in Game 1 that was behind his head. Throw in a Delonte West game winning three pointer, and the Cavs won the series 4-2 and will face the winner of Sunday’s Boston/Atlanta game in Round 2.
Detroit Pistons: Where Turn It On When We Want Happens - There was never any panic in the veteran Detroit squad. They fell behind Philadelphia 2-1 in the series, but besides Rasheed Wallace (who never does), said all the right things, stayed calm, cool, and collected (I don’t know if Richard Hamilton or Chauncey Billups know how to do anything else), and won the final three games of the series. Quietly, Hamilton seems to score 20-25 points every night on mid range jumpers set up by Billups. While the Pistons didn’t look great the first three games of the series, they looked like an eastern conference favorite in the final three.
Orlando Magic: Where 20/20 Happens - Dwight Howard is 22 years old. In his first playoff win, he grabbed one rebound for every year. He also posted 25 points in his first of three 20 point/20 rebound games against Toronto (the first to accomplish that feat since Wilt Chamberlain in 1972). The beast of a man averaged 22.6 points and is the NBA’s playoff leader in rebounds (18.2) and blocks (3.8) per game as the Magic advanced for the first time since 1996 with a 4-1 series win over Toronto. They now face the team that eliminated them last season, Detroit, in the second round.
Samuel Dalembert rocks out the fro-hawk in Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but it wasn’t enough as the Detroit Pistons won in 6 games (REUTERS/Rebecca Cook).
Philadelphia 76ers: Where The Most Intricate Fro-Hawk Ever Happens - Samuel Dalembert reminds me of an obscure character from the movie Bloodsport (which happens to be my favorite movie…yea yea…I know that’s probably not at the top of anyone else’s list), but you’ve got to give the man mad props for the hairstyle he rocked in Games 5 & 6. For Game 5, he had the fro-hawk with initials cutout on each side, and for Game 6, he added a single braid that zigzagged through the center of the hawk. Unfortunately for the young and energetic Sixers, who jumped out to a 2-1 series lead behind Dalembert’s 22 point, 16 rebound, 2 block performance in Philly’s Game 3 win, Dalembert couldn’t replicate his strong play the remainder of the series (with or without the fro-hawk).
Toronto Raptors: Where Outrebounded Happens - Toronto fell to Orlando in five games mainly because of some little guy named Dwight. In their four losses, they were outrebounded by 9.8, including being outrebounded 55-37 in the Magic’s Game 5 clincher. In the Raptors Game 3 victory, guess who won the rebounding battle? Jamario Moon led the Raptors with 10 boards, and collectively, they outrebounded Orlando 42-34 by allowing Howard only 12.
Washington Wizards: Where “They’re Trying to Hurt Me” Happens - Before the series against familiar playoff foe Cleveland began, the trash talking had. DeShawn Stevenson started it all by calling out LeBron James (something not recommended for any of the Cavs’ future opponents) saying James was “overrated.” Then after physical play in the first contests of the series, which included a number of flagrant fouls particularly against James, Brendan Haywood mimicked James whining about the physicality of the Wizards. There was jawing and physical play throughout the series as evidenced by the 13 technical fouls issued. The only problem was while the Wizards were talking, they evidently forgot to discuss how to stop LeBron, and for the third consecutive season, Washington is packing for vacations while Bron Bron and the Cavs are preparing for their next opponent.
Shotgun Spratling
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May 4th, 2008 at 10:33 am
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