We’re looking at every NBA Playoff series through the eyes of both Free Darko. Here’s Free Darko’s look at the Cleveland Cavaliers-Washington Wizards series. Your author is Dr. Lawyer IndianChief.
Aaaaand (wiping the sweat off my brow), my pick to win the finals win the finals is still intact.
That was a close one. The Pistons nearly sleepwalked their way through their third playoffs in a row, the 76ers played with more guts than anyone else has shown all season, and in this topsy-turvy sports world of the Giants beating the Patriots and the Colorado Rockies playing in a World Series, “anything” almost happened. But then the Pistons became the Pistons began and made millions of Detroit citizens want to strangle a lamppost, with frustrations of, “WHY THE HELL CAN’T YOU GUYS ALWAYS PLAY LIKE THIS??”
An additional critical event occurred, though, which I must acknowledge. Flip Saunders actually made some adjustments — perhaps only inadvertently, but after
So, yeah, maybe Saunders has learned a thing or two about coaching, but when it comes down to it, the Pistons are really only as good as their Brahma of Hamilton, Prince, Billups, and Sheed. And as ostensible Pistons insider, Chris Webber, stated last week on Inside the NBA, when it comes down to it, the Pistons ultimately do not follow in Flip’s footsteps, but rather they take the character of team president Joe Dumars. Note the key term there: character. It’s a vague all-encompassing term that has to do with mettle and respect and toughness, but whatever it means, it’s what these playoffs are all about, and what they have been about since the dissolution of the Kobe/Shaq dynasty. For all the crap I talk about the Spurs, they are the ultimate character team, having won two of the last three titles simply off of integrity. When the Mavs went up 2-0 on the Heat two years ago, character prevailed and a scrappy Dwyane Wade floorburned his way to the championship. When Golden State beat Dallas in the first round last year, the Warriors had character oozing out of their pores.
And in the match-up of character, Orlando doesn’t stand a chance to Detroit. Talent, now that’s a whole different story. No doubt the Magic have in Dwight Howard the most talented player in the series, and probably a top 3 player of the remaining playoff teams (just behind Kobe and Chris Paul). This is not to mention that both Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu may be better pure scorers than anyone on the Detroit squad. However, there’s something just a little too synthetic about the Magic’s game. They seem like a bunch of guys who just fell off some alien tree; aside from Jameer Nelson I can’t imagine any of them having played in college. They’re too neon; I could never see them photographed in sepia tones. The Pistons on the other hand, are a team full of bearded, masked, future politicians — guys who play like they’re mentally 65 years old.
So in the end, it’s like comparing Brad Pitt to James Dean. Scientology to Taoism. Cheetos to Bavarian Pretzels. Converse to BAPEs. And so I’m rolling with what I know, which is Detroit, all earth and blood of them. The Magic will get their day once they add some depth and consistent PG play, but I think that Detroit in the first round received their scariest and last wake up call, and now they’re ready to go. The theme of this playoffs has been windows. Windows are opening for the Hornets, Sixers and Hawks for future success. On the flip, windows are slamming shut for the Mavericks, the Nuggets, the Suns, and sheeeit, maybe even the Celtics. And when it comes to Detroit, this is the moment of truth. Either play hard, with no lapses toward coasting, or else fingers are getting smashed. Louis Williams already showed you his fangs. Julian Wright wants to taste bone marrow. And Joe Johnson, well he might as well be the Unabomber. This is a different era. As Shaq and Kidd become dust to dust, the young-uns are realizing that their time is now, so be wary Detroit; this is your last chance.
The NBA Closer is written by Matt McHale, who forgot to write a new introductory paragraph yesterday and feels like a douche about it. When he’s not refreshing female genitalia, he can be found taking a siesta at Basketbawful. Enjoy!
Who knew Darius Songaila was so important? After the Cleveland Cavaliers eliminated the Washington Wizards from the playoffs — again — with a 105-88 blowout victory, Antonio Daniels was left thinking about what might have been. “Three times in a row. It’s tough. But who knows what happens if we have a healthy team? A healthy Gilbert Arenas? If we had Darius Songaila for Game 6 … who knows what happens?” I’m not a trained mathematologist, but I’m pretty sure Songaila’s 5 PPG and 3 RPG wouldn’t have made up that 17-point deficit. But whatever helps you sleep at night, Tony.
Speaking of mathematalogy, Zydrunas Ilgauskas used his mad number skillz to explain why Cleveland won the series. “We have LeBron on our team, and there are 30 other teams or 29 who don’t. and that’s the biggest difference.”
As for LeBron, well, you could say that he got his revenge. The King’s third career playoff triple-double (27 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists) and combined with some aggressive defense on Caron Butler (18 points, 6-for-14, a game-high 4 turnovers) went a long way toward redressing his failures at the end of Game 5. And it also put an end to the endless stream of trash talk. Said LeBron: “Cleveland is advancing. We won the series 4-2. That speaks louder than me saying anything about the fans here, anything about DeShawn Stevenson. Cleveland is advancing. That’s all that matters.”
It wasn’t all LeBron James, though, and that was the real reason the Cavs won going away. Wally Szczerbiak crawled out from under his playoff rock to hit six three-pointers and score a career playoff-high 26 points, and Boobie Gibson came off the bench to score 22 on 9-for-14 shooting. It just went to prove that when guys other than LeBron produce, the Cavaliers can be a scary team. Like, boogedy-boogedy scary.
And since LeBron got the last word in his personal duel against the Deshawn and the Wizards, he gets the last word here, too. “We had a lot of things go on besides basketball in this series, which was fun. But at the same time, we took care of business. Soulja Boy, DeShawn Stevenson, my big brother ‘J,’ myself, the crowd, ‘overrated.’ All that. It comes down to us winning a really gruesome series.”
Zaza Pachulia: “We’re going to Game 7! Woooooooooo!” Ric Flair would be proud. Anyway, the Hawks pulled off yet another improbably victory last night, beating the Celtics 103-100 to set up a decisive Game 7 in Boston. Total. Craziness. Like a bird-with-three-beaks crazy.
The Hawks did it with hard work, they did it with hustle, they did it with heart. And they did it with a little home cooking, too. And I’m not just talking about their 47-25 advantage in free throw attempts. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Hawks got an “And 1!” on a Josh Childress layup when Paul Pierce “fouled” Pachulia away from the ball. Now watch the play. Notice how Zaza puts his arm over Pierce’s head and shoves him back? But we’re supposed to believe that Pierce committed a foul after that. With all the physical play and jostling for position that there’s been in this series? Seriously?
So Pierce fouled out of the game and got a technical on top of it, and that one sequence ended with the Hawks up seven. Still, Boston kept it close and had a shot to tie or win it in the final 15 seconds, but Ray Allen took an off-balance three-pointer that didn’t come close. Joe Johnson grabbed the rebound and got fouled. He hit both foul shots. Kevin Garnett scored a quick hoop, then Bibby got fouled and hit one of two. The Celtics had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but Rajon Rondo had to fire up a prayer, and God either wasn’t listening or just laughed at it. Game over.
KG led the C’s with 22, Ray Allen had 20, and Paul Pierce added 17. The Hawks got a balanced scoring attack from Marvin Williams (18), Mike Bibby (17), Al Horford (16), Joe Johnson (15), Josh Childress (15), and Josh Smith (11).
Game 7 is Sunday. You’d better be watching.
T-Mac needs a big hug. Tracy McGrady has become the NBA’s most tragic figure since Dominique Wilkins. Dominique, you may remember, never won the big one and was accused of being a selfish gunner before being traded - during Atlanta’s best season since he had arrived — to the Los Angeles Clippers for 26 games worth of Danny Manning. The Clippers…what a kick to the balls, huh? Dominique then signed with Boston where he failed miserably to resurrect Celtic Pride, went overseas to win a Euroleague club championship, came back to lead the San Antonio Spurs in scoring during their “Tank to get Tim Duncan” campaign, went overseas again, and then finished his career as a mop-up player for the Orlando Magic. The double-turd topping to that poop sundae was getting left off of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players list and then failing to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
But at least he made it to the second round of the playoffs.
McGrady did everything he could — 40 points, 13-for-26, 10 rebounds, 5 assists — but he was one of only two Rockets in double-figures, whereas the Jazz had seven of them. Houston simply lost to a better team, and that’s hardly McGrady’s fault. But damn, it sure looks as though he feels like it’s his fault. Poor guy.
Mehmet Okur (19 points, 13 rebounds) and Carlos Boozer (15 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles, but Deron Williams was The Man for the Jazz. His numbers were good — 25 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists — but more important he put the finishing touches on a 20-5 third-quarter run with seven straight points and then hit back-to-back threes to give Utah an 18-point lead. The Jazz outscored the Rockets 27-11 in the third, and that was pretty much the game.
So T-Mac gets an early vacation and the Jazz get to play the Lakers. I’m not sure who got the better part of that deal.
I am interrupting your precious Friday night to bring you some breaking news (if you’re reading this on your blackberry’s rss prepared to not get laid… again). Kobe Bean Bryant has been declared the Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association for the first time in his all-encompassing 12-year career. Marvin Harrison was interviewed as part of the investigation
The career Laker edged out New Orleans’ Chris Paul and Boston’s Kevin Garnett for the leagure’s highest honor. LeBron James might have factored into the decision, but voters deemed his bitchy behavior as unbecoming of an MVP candidate. I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. I’m still a bit upset.
I hate to spoil it for all the readers in Houston watching on tape delay, but the Jazz will be the team facing Kobe’s Lakers in the second round. The Rockets put up a good fight, but then they got the shit kicked out of it. Come to think of it, their fight left something to be desired. Let’s try not to blame Tracy for this, he has enough on his plate.
We’re looking at every NBA Playoff series through the eyes of both Free Darko. Here’s Free Darko’s look at the Cleveland Cavaliers-Washington Wizards series. Your author is Dr. Lawyer IndianChief.
The NBA Closer is written by Matt McHale, who forgot to write a new introductory paragraph yesterday and feels like a douche about it. When he’s not refreshing female genitalia, he can be found taking a siesta at 
