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Now that the Finals are set, a few musings on what was and what is.

- LA was a better team in the half court than Denver, and that is why they won. When a team has players who collectively are on a page where they understand that (a). they must dictate tempo and (b). they can execute in the half court - and are playing against a more explosive, more potent team who thrives in transition, they can put themselves in a position to win. Whenever LA made the mistake of trying to run with LA, they got into trouble. Whenever they buckled down, got stops and walked the ball up the floor, they made things tough for the Nuggets. Translation: execution > explosion.

- I am leaving something important out from the above: Chauncey Billups played a horrible series and Carmelo Anthony mailed game 6 in. A lifeless performance by Melo that must have the Nuggets executives shaking their heads this summer. Billups was the best PG left in the postseason and couldn't do a thing against LA's three marginal PGs. Melo was walking around, and although he dropped 24, it was his lack of effort defensively that opened the doors to an easy at the office for LA.

- Orlando was a better coached team than Cleveland. All that jazz about Shaquille's 'master of panic' talk about Stan Van Gundy is garbage (although Shaquille is my favourite wordsmith in sports history). Van Gundy did a fantastic job of (a). making the lineup adjustments that allowed his team to score and defend the 1-4 offense, and (b). managing his bench. Mike Brown, bless him, should have trusted his team more, allowed James to rest a bit during games which in turn allows the James supporting cast to get into a 'sans-James' flow. This is paramount and we saw Jackson resting Kobe, we saw Van G resting Howard, we saw Karl resting Melo. James clearly ran out of gas.

- The 1-4 "James pounds, James looks, James shoots" offense is reminiscent of the pre-Jackson Bulls (sorry Doug Collins). And who would blame Mike Brown? But in the end, the ball MUST move from side to side. Just ask Greg Popovich and Larry Brown. And now Stan Van Gundy. When Cleveland establishes some ball movement, and an offense predicated on movement and 5 players getting touches, they will be ready to hang banners, I'm convinced it's just a matter of time.

- I love watching Orlando play. I love the open game and the simplicity of the drive and kick offense centred on a dominating, athletic big man. It's a live-or-die way to play basketball requiring shooting the 3 at a high percentage. I respect the way LA plays the game and they have the Finals moxie which gives them an edge here.

A whole column can be written dedicated to matchups between Orlando and LA. So I'll leave it. But I do think the best two teams are in the Finals after this postseason. Let's get ready for Pietrus vs Bryant (edge: LA) Odom vs Turkoglu (edge: EVEN), Ariza vs Lewis (edge: ORL), Alston vs Fisher (edge: EVEN), and Howard vs Gasol (edge: ORL).

Buckle up!

I ain't hungry. I have been eating humble pie for 2 straight days after playing it by feel. The most joyously unpredictable playoffs ever. I am not going to talk about next games anymore because for all my bball widsom, you just look silly when you call 'em wrong.

Here is what I do KNOW:

- Denver reminds me of the BAD BOYS Pistons teams. Back then, no one whined about physical plays. Blood was spilled on the court and a technical had to be earned. Not issued. I am trying to recall a more entertaining and physical front court than Nene, Birdman and KMart. It's hard.

- Denver is a more athletic team, they play better uptempo basketball than the Lake Show, and top to bottom, they are more physically gifted.

- Lake's got number 24 and a legitimate post threat. They have 1 very good defender after Bryant. And they have one of the most underrated utility bigs in the League (Odom). But they are only going to win if they can sloooooow things wayyyyy down. This ain't the Magic or Shaq's Lake Show.

- The triangle only works when you run it. Note to the two-four. Air Jordan figured this out, had less to work with and got 6 rings, 3 coming from the perimeter, 3 from posting up - all out of the triangle. That said, Jordan, Pippen, Grant, Pax, and Cartwright could all play. I just think that Ariza and Pippen play each other tough, Gasol murders Catrwright, Fish and Pax are about even, Ho Grant can't hang with Odom. Makes things pretty interesting.

- Naw, Bulls in 4!

- Last: this is Kobe's "no excuses" year. He has an all-star centre, a defensive minded 3 who can shoot, a 7 foot shotblocker coming off the bench, an incredibly savvy 4 man who can dribble, pass and shoot, and a trio of quick, role playing PGs who can all give you minutes.

- How this translates against the best medium range 3-man in basketball (Melo), the best PG left in these playoffs (Billups), 2 insanely athletic off guards who can shoot the lights out or shoot you into the ground (Smith and Jones), and a a bunch of goblins in the paint:

It's impossible to see what's coming next.
I love the postseason.

Musings on Denver/LA from Game 3

I have a sneaking suspicion that LA just took Denver's best shot, although I hope that isn't the case. Not that I am hating on LA; I just happen to enjoy Denver's brand of basketball more. A tad of wrecklessness, lots of youth and muscle, a PG who can dominate, and really the most athletic lineup in the League. Sort of how LA used to be.

But watching LA's poise and and playmaking on Sunday in handling Denver's 48 minutes of hell style, I am fairly convinced that the Lakers have arrived after a couple of mediocre series.

Everyone keeps talking about Trevor Ariza's so-called heroics (I would chalk them up as Denver failures and sheer opportunism as opposed to heroism) and Bryant's dagger three. The two most important possessions of the game for LA that really took the air out of Denver: with 4:50 left in the game, Chauncey hits a 3 and gets one from Bryant, and hots the ensuing foul shot to take an 89-86 lead. Fans going wild. Denver up and running. LA came back down and ran an isolation on the block for Pau Gasol. He hits a TOUGH turnaround from the left wing over Nene. Denver misses on their next possession. Lake show come down and go right back to Gasol, who hits another 15 foot turnaround in Denver's grill. Lake show up 1. Those two HUGE plays - both shots were about an "8" on a degree of difficulty of 10 in a fourth quarter of a huge game - took the pressure of Bryant for 2 possessions, breathed some air back into the gold and purple while in the perfect flow of the triangle, and brought the urgency back into the game for Denver. I really believe that if LA miss on those two possessions, we may have seen a different outcome. Those shots were that big.

Anyway, I didn't like Denver's collective body language at the end of the game. They appeared as if they had just given LA their best fight. I hope I am wrong.

Cleveland / Orlando Game 3

Imagine of the King had not made the miracle three in game 2. Orlando would be up 3-nil right now. I have to eat my words. I thought the Cavs would have come out raging today but Orlando are believers and, on paper, have a roster of weapons built for a serious run. In my May 7 entry I wrote:

"This, with the Cleveland offense looking very 1980's Bulls-like: in this case, James pounds ball, James surveys court, James shoots or goes to the hole. Chaz Barkley's halftime assessment was straight on point: it was awful to watch."

We have sort of come full circle and Jalen Rose was straight on point during the postgame of the Orlando game 3 win: when asked what Cleveland could do to adjust to the Orlando matchup for game 4, Rose simply said: "I don't know if there is anything they can do."

I completely disagree with the pundits that the fault lies with James' teammates for not stepping up to support the King. I think James is pounding the basketball too much. I think his coach is letting him pound the ball too much. And I think his teammates are ready to swing the ball from side to side and do what they do best: as soon as they get the opportunity.

Credit has to go to Orlando in two areas:
1. Stan VanG is a better coach than Mike Brown. And he has smarter, wilier players. He's just craftier in his ability to draw up matchup sequences for his guys to exploit and they are doing so to perfection. How's Dalonte West going to guard Rashard Lewis any day of the week?

2. My favourite subject: the three point shot. When a team has the ability to stack/spread 4 shooters outside the three line and have a dominant big man inside, it becomes a tough proposition. And when 2 of those shooters are 6'10" and can also post up AND get to the rack AND finish with anyone in the League, it's disruptive to a seemingly well oiled machine like the Cavs were. And as long as Orlando is shooting the ball efficiently, Cleveland is in for a big series.

Bottom line: no one from the Orlando Magic at this point is buying into the Kobe vs Lebron dream final.

Hey basketball fans. Apologies for the long layoff. I have found writing about basketball after Game 7 between Boston and Chicago very difficult. Despite the Celtics / Magic series and LA / Houston series both going to 7, I just wasn't feelin it. The Chicago / Boston series was just so full of subplots: generation next PGs; unconscious two-guards; role players stepping up; bench glory; and, most entertaining and fulfilling of all, the shotmaking. After watching that series of shotmaking of every sort by every type of player in every possible circumstance, returning to watch more series anchored by dominating one-man anchors/superstars doing a lot of pounding of the ball just didn't stack up - for me.

Enter game 2 of the Cleveland / Orlando series. The shotmaking at the end of the 4th by both teams was magical. There was a time about 7 years ago when I publicly (on ATV) questioned the mental toughness of the European forwards who were playing in the league. Manu Ginobili was the first to dispel my silly generalization - which stemmed from Sacramento's failures to make the NBA Finals with Peja and Hedo on the roster. Fast forward to 2009: I think Hedo has become one of the most fearless closers in all of basketball and in terms of 4th quarter aptitude and sheer guts, his name must be mentioned alongside of Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant when naming guys you don't want to touch the ball with 10 seconds left in the 4th quarter. I love watching this guy's carefree, poetic finesse play and then channeling his inner ninja when a game is on the line.

The only mistake Hedo made today was not letting the game clock wind down another few tenths of a second. James stepped out, caught and released in a split second and saved Cleveland's season. The addition of "game winning buzzer beater" to James' postseason resume under the circumstances seen today is important to note. Buzzer beater, season saver, and more: it resurrects a team teetering on the brink of panic and allows all of those players to understand that the man who is promising the promised land indeed is behind them.

I expect a whole new Cleveland team to emerge in Orlando. One which may erase any more opportunity to witness Mr Turkoglu's smooth 4th quarter heroics. Look out.

Orlando: looking apathetic and satisfied after a Game 1 win

A coach's worst nightmare: his team playing lethargic, unpassionate basketball following a strong, passionate performance that resulted in gaffling home court advantage from the NBA champs. Through 3 quarters, Boston is up 21 and Orlando is looking as if, collectively, they would prefer to be home soaking in the sun or playing video games.

A few musings:

- Make Dwight Howard beat you 1 on 1, lock down the 3 point line: the new game plan. What's Dwight going to do? Drop a hundred on you? I don't think so, and the way he played today (jump hook not working, absolutely no face up jump shot, inability to move the indefatiguable Kendrick Perkins, poor free throw shooting), he exposed himself as a player who you can make beat you by himself. Against a savvy team like the Celtics, it's rarely going to work.

- Rajon Rondo's 3rd quarter traffic jam. One of the highlights of the playoffs, and if there was ever any doubt that Rajon, who is averaging a triple double this playoffs, is the creme of the 'next generation' point guard crop, there should be none now. Elbows and head at rim. If he can somehow manage to fashion a reliable jumpshot, we are looking at the next Isaiah Thomas (my choice as greatest scoring PG ever).

- Rajon Rondo with a triple double through 2.5 quarters: I am now a believer. His entire offseason should be spent behind the 3 point line. If he can become a legit 40% shooter from 3, you will be looking at NBA MVP candidate in 2010.

- Eddie House: veteran moxie and a one-man wrecking crew (9-10 through three quarters with 22 points) - demoralising. He was the "closer" in the Bulls series, and he killed Orlando today as Orlando watched. He finished with 31 on 11-14 shooting. Most importantly, he is the reason Paul Pierce will be well rested in Orlando for Game 3.
- Paul Pierce has played 10 minutes and scored 3 points and the Celtics are up 20+ through 4. What's wrong with this picture, Orlando? A well-rested Pierce on a big stage in Florida with a shot to take back the home court? Not ideal for the Magic.

- Glen Davis is making me forget about KG. I'm just sayin'. Hits the medium range J, finishes around the basket, has quick feet and a high bball IQ, sets ridiculous screens, and defends well. He's not a shotblocker but he is an "intangibles" guy who, quite simply, is making Boston look more and more like a team that may have a shot to make an Eastern Conference Finals actually interesting.

- The epitome of the Orlando day was summed up after (yet another) Stephon Marbury miss (you almost feel sorry for the guy, but then you remember he's making $20mil) in the 4th, the ball bounced back to the free throw line between 2 Magic players, hit the floor, and Ray Allen swung in from the left wing to grab the ball before either of the 2 Magic players feebly attempted to corral it. There was no effort today from the Orlando magic and should the Celtics win this series, look no further than the Game 2 performance to partly understand why. Playoff series are not necessarily won and lost in game 7s. They are won and lost in Games 1 and 2.

James and Easy Company: Coasting

"Witness"ing this morning's "matchup" between Atlanta and the James crew, I couldn't shed the following two words: Too Easy. From the first possession, in which the newly-crowned NBA MVP took a left wing hand-off and like Walter Payton on 3rd and goal simply leapt over everyone en route two a 2 handed jam which pretty much will sum up the series (let's hope not!), and the almost teasing-like game-long Cleveland performance, to the fourth quarter when the game was all but decided and the Cleveland lead swelled into the 20s and then some, the Cavs were simply on cruise control.

James had 30 by the end of the third and the game was never in doubt. Just consider, at the end of the 1st quarter, the Hawks were shooting in the 60s and they were actually DOWN by 4 (25-21). This, with the Cleveland offense looking very 1980's Bulls-like: in this case, James pounds ball, James surveys court, James shoots or goes to the hole. Chaz Barkley's halftime assessment was straight on point: it was awful to watch. Yet they were up 4, and during the sideline interview with Mike Woodson after the 1st, he confirmed his satisfaction with the Hawks' performance and the overall tempo.

As much as Coach's words exuded a confidence and satisfaction, I couldn't help thinking there was more an echo of "whew!, we're able to play with these guys!" Sometimes this can be transmitted to players and instill a sense of belief, and at the end of the day, this series is far from over. But the Hawks, today, simply looked outmanned. They are playing against a team in Cleveland that is doing something that no other team is doing in these playoffs: having fun playing the game, and a superstar player in his 6th season who had an easy 34 points in an painless 34 minutes.

As an athlete, have you ever played against players and a team that was playing happy, having fun, celebrating every seemingly insignificant play as a 12-man unit, and all the while, playing with purpose yet in their execution seemingly toying with you?

In the end, the difference in the game was the turnover line: 17 for the Hawks, 7 for Cleveland. The Cavs took 16 more shots and won by 27. And it just looked so easy. During the Detroit era and "Jordan rules" era of the late 80s and early 90s, teams would floor Air Jordan and inflict physical suffering on him, effectively neutralising him in the end. I don't think that this will happen with LBJ. Atlanta has an incredibly tough task ahead of them.

Mile High: Denver is loaded

Whereas it appeared that a Cleveland-LA Finals was a foregone conclusion, along comes the Western conference's version of Cleveland - Denver is a team on a serious mile "high", playing freestyle basketball and having fun sharing the ball, guarding the ball, dunking the ball.

Geroge Karl finally has his "no excuses" team, stacked with an NBA champion point guard (Billups), the league's best, most versatile face-up small forward (Anthony), two intimidating enforcers (Birdman and K-Mart), a legitimate centre (Nene, 25 points today), the L's most dynamic bench player (JR Smith), and steady vets like Dahntay Jones, Anthony Carter and Linus Kleiza who don't mind to get down and dirty but who can also score the basketball. I have loved this team's athleticism and am now a believer in their newfound discipline. The way Denver moves the ball, makes you pay when you turn the ball over or miss with a long rebound is scary and the Dallas Mavericks, a well coached system-oriented team, is finding out that "system" sometimes runs into trouble against a freight train of power, speed, and stability.

Up 2-0 against an ailing Dallas team with a hobbling Josh Howard, old legs at the point (Kidd) and backups that will simply not do verses the explosiveness of the Denver back court. While Jason Terry and DIrk can give you 20-30 a game at any time, the rest of the lineup is hurting. Rick Carlisle may have to consider playing some zone against a team that loves the 3 but thrives on the medium range game, dribble penetration and kicks, and offensive rebounds and putbacks following missed penetration. But again, sometimes the game is easier, and it's the team that has fun playing the game that ultimately will prevail.

I would be hard pressed to recall a more entertaining, riveting, gut wrenching basketball game after the triple overtime gem between Boston and Chicago this morning. The game had it all - old school playoff fouls, gutsy shooting, mortality and immortality, three OTs and some coaching coming-of-age.
It also featured perhaps the greatest playoff scoring performance ever recorded. Sure, Ray Allen's 51 isn't a playoff record, but the true basketball aficionado understands that it was how he put the ball in the bucket that puts this virtuoso performance ahead of perhaps all others.
A few musings.

Chicago and a 10 point lead: not an ideal scenario

Game 5 was not lost on the Brad Miller missed foul shots, and game 6 did not need to go to three OTs. While Boston are the defending NBA champs, the Bulls are playing with more energy and flair but they are unconvincing when it comes to playing "possession basketball". Before the Nuggets historic game 5 dismantling of New Orleans, George Karl addressed the importance of making every possession count. In games 5 and 6, Chicago had numerous opportunities to turn these games into virtual blowouts in the late 3rd and early 4th quarters. Problem is, they are not cherishing the basketball, giving it away carelessly and allowing Boston to turn 10-12 point deficits into leads in a matter of minutes. Case in point: ahead 10 at the start of the 4th in Game 6, with Boston reserves in the game, Brad Miller turned the ball over twice in the span of 50 seconds. Miller, who finished with 23 and certainly played the part of the hero by scoring the final 5 points of regulation, wound up with 4 turnovers in the game. It was nothing that Boston did to create those unforced errors; instead, it was carelessness and lack of passion for possession that allowed Boston back in the game.
Chicago is playing a dangerous game by exhibiting a supreme focus only in the clutch - only when it perceives the possession as important - and not doing so when it has the opportunity to build on leads during the middle of games. Poor shot selection, careless turnovers and missed defensive assignments matter just as much when there are 10 minutes left in a game as they do when there are 30 seconds. If they are able to build a lead in Boston and they can clean up their unforced errors, Chicago could pull a stunner in Game 7.

Ray Allen: who's your Daddy?

Anyone who watched this game from buzzer to buzzer witnessed perhaps the greatest playoff shooting performance ever by perhaps the NBA's greatest shooter ever. There is a difference between a scorer and a shooter, mind you. Michael's 63 against Boston was a scoring performance, not as much a shooting performance. Allen dropped 51 almost exclusively from the perimeter, rarely without a hand in his grill, with only 6 free throws, and also in the clutch. Who would have thought that there would be any doubt as to the outcome with 30 seconds left and Boston without the services of Paul Pierce, Glen Davis, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins? But with Allen in the zone, it was not a foregone conclusion. Ray Allen's iconic 3 point display (9-18, tying his own record) in money situations was one that, although in a losing cause, may go down in history (for now) as THE vintage shooting performance in NBA playoff lore. The burning question: was his foot on the line with his final corner deuce over the outstretched arm of Joakim Noah?

Vinny of the Black: coming of age...

I am convinced of that this series should be over right now, with Chicago moving on, had the Bulls coaching staff learned from the first of Paul Pierce's game winning heroics of game 5 - the 15 fade off the spin move over John Salmons to send the game into OT. I don't mind them gambling once on Pierce, one of the top 5 medium range players in the NBA, in a one on one situation vs Salmons. But allowing him to go the entire OT without sending him a single double team, and thus gifting him 3 more right elbow jumpshots without so much as defensive switch - he made all 3 - was a failure of Jerry Sloanesque proportions (double team Jordan on the final play of the '98 championship and we might have a different view of Air's "last" shot, and Phil Jackson might have only 8 rings). Ahh, living in the realm of the hypothetical past!
Tonight, Vinny and team threw some good schemes at Pierce in the OTs (with the exception of allowing him to go one on one with Hinrich at the end of regulation), but his switching schemes down the stretch nearly upended their bid. I understand switching when there is a need, and the ageless Ray Allen certainly presented the Bulls with all kinds of problems as he tirelessly ran sideline to sideline, but the Bulls were switching small to big even before a significant screen was set. The call from the bench must have been "switch everything" but this can sometimes lead to lazy defense, with players switching on insignificant screens or even non-screens which cause serious mismatches. In the final 10 minutes of action, how many times did we see a Chicago guard switched onto Glen Davis - who did an excellent job of maneuvering around for 23 points. I'd question the execution of this scheme tonight. I would also say that judging from how well Chicago adjusted from Game 5 to 6 in other areas, they may get it right in Game 7, which is certain to be another gem in what may go down as truly one of the most unexpectedly great playoff series ever.

Last but not least...

Joakim Noah, coast to coast, one hand jam "and one" over Pierce: play of the day. Just one of those sequences that won't happen often, but which underscores the hidden talent and underrated mobility of a player whom many fans despise, but who was once the premiere big man in college basketball. Truth is, Noah is a coach's and teammate's dream, a relentless leaper, a Rodmanesque energy guy and a workaholic. He has tremendous potential and may just be an NBA mainstay after starting shakily as a rookie.
Rajon Rondo: 8 points, 9 rebounds and 19 assists. 4-17 from the floor. Take note, this player is putting together one of the greatest ever series' stat-wise, and his 4-17 performance was not as much of an egg as it may seem. Not looking to score for 4 quarters with hot hands all around, Rondo played a strong game from the point and was not in a scoring rhythm which contributed to some missed shots down the stretch. It happens with point guards. However, Rondo continued to show a ferocious grittiness and toughness, and is going to be THE X-factor in game 7. Containing Rajon Rondo in Boston will be the single greatest challenge for the Bulls this weekend.