Perhaps this is just a bump in the road. Maybe the challenge isn’t really much of a challenge at all. It seems as if ever sports outlet is proclaiming how badly the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to smash the Atlanta Hawks in their playoff match up.
Not so fast.
I’m not ready to call the upset but I can confidently give 3 reasons why the Hawks will compete.
Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, and Flip Murray can score against the Cleveland back court.
Mo Williams, Daniel Gibson, and Delonte West will never be mistaken for Gary Payton or Mookie Blaylock as perimeter defenders. They’ll score points but they’ll also give up points.
Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Zaza Pachulia have the size and athleticism to challenge Lebron at the rim.
If this front court triumvirate can successfully defend the rim and keep Lebron from scoring at the basket at will then half of the defensive battle is won. It’s way too much to ask of Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, or Mo Evans to defend James one on one so the help has to be consistent.
Atlanta’s home court advantage is as formidable as Cleveland’s.
Atlanta will give Cleveland everything they want at Phillips Arena. I expect games the caliber of last year’s Boston series in terms of quality of play and excitement. Atlanta is an elite team at home and has played like it this year.
There you have it. Cleveland looked like the best team in the league for stretches this year. Remember though, a less talented, less experienced Hawks team pushed a more complete and equally dominate Boston squad to seven last year.
Sure Cleveland has the MVP. Sure Mo Williams gave Atlanta fits this season. Yes Cleveland plays more consistent defense. That being said the Hawks aren’t afraid and they’ll bring the fight.
Sometimes not being afraid only hastens the knockout blow. Other times it makes for an epic battle.
Cavs in 7.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Who's Next?
Atlanta is a star obsessed city. When Fortune 500 CEO’s, Hip Hop and R&B royalty, and numerous athlete’s across the sports spectrum call a city home the residents become numb to celebrity. That being the case, it takes the biggest, brightest and most amazing to bring Atlanta’s influential out of seclusion and into daylight’s gleam. Dwyane Wade is a star. There was a fair number of Miami Heat #3’s in the crowd, and for good reason. The Olympian, All Star, and MVP candidate is one of the premier players in the league and he flashed that talent many times over. This game, and ultimately this series however, belonged to someone else.
Joe Johnson claimed his spot amongst the league’s elite this Sunday afternoon and showcased a skill set that makes him the kind of singular talent teams long for. He showed basketball nation that Atlanta has regained her status as an NBA town. He made it apparent that the lineage of Atlanta Hawk All – Stars like Lenny Wilkens, Lou Hudson, Zelmo Beaty and Dominique Wilkins is alive and well. He put himself on center stage and performed with grace and distinction.
When travelling from one place to another, there must be a goal. The voyage would be pointless without the benefit of a destination whereby progress could be measured. These Atlanta Hawks named securing home court advantage for the playoffs and advancing past the first round as goals before this season started.
The season long direction of PG Mike Bibby did wonders for this team. Coach Mike Woodson and Joe Johnson raved about the Arizona product and NBA veteran.
MW: “Mike’s a huge difference maker for this team. He’s our quarterback out there and he makes us go. He just does so many good things for us from an offensive standpoint. He promised me that he would be in great shape for training camp and he’s been excellent for this team from the beginning of the season until now.”
JJ: “He’s been great. From training camp to now in the playoffs he’s leading us. He’s a great teammate and a great friend.”
The exponential growth and maturation of Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford cannot be understated. The off season acquisitions of Flip Murray and Mo Evans also made a world of difference in the bench play (Murray) and defensive identity (Evans) of the squad. The seasoning of the Coach Woodson and his staff bears mentioning as well. I asked Woodson to comment on the growth of this team.
MW: “First I want to give credit to every player in that locker room because we’ve grown as a team. I go back to the Boston series last year because they taught us how to play playoff basketball. We had a bitter taste in our mouths after losing Game 7 in Boston last year and we knew that if we got another chance this year that anything was possible. This team set goals and they came true. That’s huge for this team.”
As important as those factors are, this voyage from obscurity to the second round of the playoff does not happen without the leadership of Joe Johnson. I asked Joe to comment on this series in retrospect. He went on to address a great number of positives for this team.
JW: “You guys won a first round series; you won on the road and played very well at home. What did you learn about your team from these games?
JJ: “Well to me it means we grew as a team. We responded when our backs were against the wall. Even when they won a game here we were able to go down to Miami and get a win to regain home court and then close it out here in Game 7.”
JW: “Joe you played like a star defensively. What does this kind of performance mean to you?”
JJ: “It means a lot. It’s tough guarding a guy like Dwyane because he put so much heat on us the entire series. I just tried to be aggressive with him and make him take a lot of tough shots. I was able to do that and get some steals and get the crowd into it. That also helped us.”
For all of the credit Atlanta deserves for progressing to the second round, the Miami Heat deserve just as much credit for being a worthy foe. Coach Eric Spoelstra expressed optimism for this team’s future in spite of the disappointing loss.
ES: “This series will only benefit our team. It will help the young guys. We start a rookie point guard (Mario Chalmers) and he just got better month to month. Michael (Beasley) as well. The fact that we were able to turn around a 15 win team and win 43 games this season says a lot about the guys in that locker room.”
No player has done more to command the respect and admiration of a fan base this season than Dwyane Wade. From the Olympics, to an MVP caliber season, to a grueling first round playoff series, Wade has repeatedly showcased his immense physical skills. He re-established himself a bona fide superstar. Don’t call it a comeback people; he’s been here for years. Wade talked about his ridiculously lengthy 2008 – 2009 season in retrospect.
DW:“It’s definitely been a long season. This week makes a year that I started working out for Beijing (and the 2008 Olympic Games). I’ve been going strong since then, first, trying to win a gold medal and then to exceed the expectations that people had for me and for my team. We’re very encouraged by this season. We won 15 games last season and we came back to win 43 games and took Atlanta to seven games. We definitely have something to build on.”
The second round brings none other than Lebron James and the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers. As one MVP candidate retreats back to South Beach, another waits on the shores of Lake Erie. The Hawks are aware of the challenge that awaits them and they welcome it. From Boston last year in seven, to Miami this year in seven, the Atlanta Hawks have proven that they will not back down from a challenge. Instead they have shown the propensity to rise up and be counted. Success is sweet but exceeding expectations are what people remember. I think Joe Johnson’s words express it best.
JJ: “I envisioned that we’d be playing in front of a packed house and the crowd would be going crazy (when I signed to play here). I wanted this when I came here and it’s good to see it happen.”
Do not doubt these Hawks. They have a star and when you have a star you have a chance.
Joe Johnson claimed his spot amongst the league’s elite this Sunday afternoon and showcased a skill set that makes him the kind of singular talent teams long for. He showed basketball nation that Atlanta has regained her status as an NBA town. He made it apparent that the lineage of Atlanta Hawk All – Stars like Lenny Wilkens, Lou Hudson, Zelmo Beaty and Dominique Wilkins is alive and well. He put himself on center stage and performed with grace and distinction.
When travelling from one place to another, there must be a goal. The voyage would be pointless without the benefit of a destination whereby progress could be measured. These Atlanta Hawks named securing home court advantage for the playoffs and advancing past the first round as goals before this season started.
The season long direction of PG Mike Bibby did wonders for this team. Coach Mike Woodson and Joe Johnson raved about the Arizona product and NBA veteran.
MW: “Mike’s a huge difference maker for this team. He’s our quarterback out there and he makes us go. He just does so many good things for us from an offensive standpoint. He promised me that he would be in great shape for training camp and he’s been excellent for this team from the beginning of the season until now.”
JJ: “He’s been great. From training camp to now in the playoffs he’s leading us. He’s a great teammate and a great friend.”
The exponential growth and maturation of Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford cannot be understated. The off season acquisitions of Flip Murray and Mo Evans also made a world of difference in the bench play (Murray) and defensive identity (Evans) of the squad. The seasoning of the Coach Woodson and his staff bears mentioning as well. I asked Woodson to comment on the growth of this team.
MW: “First I want to give credit to every player in that locker room because we’ve grown as a team. I go back to the Boston series last year because they taught us how to play playoff basketball. We had a bitter taste in our mouths after losing Game 7 in Boston last year and we knew that if we got another chance this year that anything was possible. This team set goals and they came true. That’s huge for this team.”
As important as those factors are, this voyage from obscurity to the second round of the playoff does not happen without the leadership of Joe Johnson. I asked Joe to comment on this series in retrospect. He went on to address a great number of positives for this team.
JW: “You guys won a first round series; you won on the road and played very well at home. What did you learn about your team from these games?
JJ: “Well to me it means we grew as a team. We responded when our backs were against the wall. Even when they won a game here we were able to go down to Miami and get a win to regain home court and then close it out here in Game 7.”
JW: “Joe you played like a star defensively. What does this kind of performance mean to you?”
JJ: “It means a lot. It’s tough guarding a guy like Dwyane because he put so much heat on us the entire series. I just tried to be aggressive with him and make him take a lot of tough shots. I was able to do that and get some steals and get the crowd into it. That also helped us.”
For all of the credit Atlanta deserves for progressing to the second round, the Miami Heat deserve just as much credit for being a worthy foe. Coach Eric Spoelstra expressed optimism for this team’s future in spite of the disappointing loss.
ES: “This series will only benefit our team. It will help the young guys. We start a rookie point guard (Mario Chalmers) and he just got better month to month. Michael (Beasley) as well. The fact that we were able to turn around a 15 win team and win 43 games this season says a lot about the guys in that locker room.”
No player has done more to command the respect and admiration of a fan base this season than Dwyane Wade. From the Olympics, to an MVP caliber season, to a grueling first round playoff series, Wade has repeatedly showcased his immense physical skills. He re-established himself a bona fide superstar. Don’t call it a comeback people; he’s been here for years. Wade talked about his ridiculously lengthy 2008 – 2009 season in retrospect.
DW:“It’s definitely been a long season. This week makes a year that I started working out for Beijing (and the 2008 Olympic Games). I’ve been going strong since then, first, trying to win a gold medal and then to exceed the expectations that people had for me and for my team. We’re very encouraged by this season. We won 15 games last season and we came back to win 43 games and took Atlanta to seven games. We definitely have something to build on.”
The second round brings none other than Lebron James and the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers. As one MVP candidate retreats back to South Beach, another waits on the shores of Lake Erie. The Hawks are aware of the challenge that awaits them and they welcome it. From Boston last year in seven, to Miami this year in seven, the Atlanta Hawks have proven that they will not back down from a challenge. Instead they have shown the propensity to rise up and be counted. Success is sweet but exceeding expectations are what people remember. I think Joe Johnson’s words express it best.
JJ: “I envisioned that we’d be playing in front of a packed house and the crowd would be going crazy (when I signed to play here). I wanted this when I came here and it’s good to see it happen.”
Do not doubt these Hawks. They have a star and when you have a star you have a chance.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Game 5 Triumph
The Atlanta Hawks are transforming before our eyes. They are becoming aware of themselves. With that knowledge of self performances like the Thursday’s 106-91 thrashing of the Miami Heat will become more commonplace. The words of Nelson Mandela ring true here, “ Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, it that we are powerful beyond measure.” These young Hawks are realizing just how powerful they are.
Like all of the other games in this series this contest ended early. Atlanta was able to wrestle control of this game away from the Heat early as a result of Mike Bibby’s hot shooting hand (17 points) and Dwyane Wade’s relative absence (6 first half points). A combination of stingy Hawks defense and a stiff back rendered Wade a mere mortal and allowed Atlanta to play their particular brand of suffocating man to man defense. I asked Joe Johnson about the effort on Wade in the first half.
JW: “You guys, combined with the injuries, held D. Wade to 6 first half points. Talk about your defensive effort against him.“
JJ: “We were aggressive with him. It’s important for us to look to make plays out there. That’s on both ends of the court. We tried to keep a hand in his face and give a complete team effort against him. He (Wade) puts pressure on our defense because he’s also a good passer. Limiting him is always the plan.”
Flip Murray (23 points) and Joe Johnson (25 points) provided much of the offensive firepower that turned this game into a route and led the Hawks scoring attack. The effectiveness of the bench players for both teams is usually an indicator of success. Flip Murray converted on his first six field goals and seemed to answer ever Heat mini run with a bucket. His presence in this game was enormous. I asked Flip about his Game 5 performance.
JW: “Flip, you converted on your first six shots. Talk about your spark tonight and your role with this team.”
FM: “As a team we kept the ball moving side to side to find our shooters. We attacked their rotations and got into the paint to create shots for ourselves and each other.” (In reference to his role with the team) “I have to be aggressive. Coach (Mike Woodson) doesn’t want me passive out there.”
For all of the weaknesses that the Atlanta Hawks harbor (inconsistency, immaturity, lack of discipline) their strengths so overshadow them that, at times, we forget they exist. The thing that makes this team so formidable is their incredible capacity to absorb the energy from the home crowd and sustain it for long periods of time. They are a walking time bomb waiting for a spark, any spark, to ignite them.
On this night that spark came in the form of a few hard fouls during the second quarter. Solomon Jones applied one to Dwyane Wade and the ensuing gathering of players seemed to jostle the embers of the capacity crowd. Wade’s hard foul on Mo Evans nearly set fire to Philips Arena and the young Hawks were certainly ignited thereafter. Not even a stellar second half by Wade, who finished with 29 points, could derail the Hawks on this night.
Coach Eric Spoelstra talked about the Hawks frenzied home crowd and overall performance.
ES: “They (the Atlanta Hawks) did what they had to do tonight. They defended home court. They embarrassed us and pretty much turned the end of the game into a highlight show. One good thing about this is that we have that same opportunity (to defend home court). We’re very confident and we look forward to going back to Miami.”
To their credit, the Heat certainly do not look at this game as a sign of things to come. They seemed almost excited about getting the opportunity to take this series back to Southern Florida. I asked Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers what they would do to get their confidence back for game six.
JW: “How will you look to get back on track after this loss?”
MC: “First of all, our confidence is not shaken. We know they will make runs. We have to get stops. Also, we have to keep our momentum when we get going offensively. We have to match their intensity.”
DW: “The Hawks play with alot of energy at home. They feed off of the crowd, so will we. We have to do the same thing at home. I can’t wait to get back to Miami. It will be a blackout (for the game Friday). I can’t wait.”
The Hawks appear to be one of the leagues elite; capable of holding court with any team on any given night. At times they look unbeatable. They may not be an elite team like a healthy Lakers, Cavaliers or Celtics squad but is there any doubt that this group of men can contend with the 2nd tier teams like Orlando, Denver, or Houston? I think not.
There are those that feel it’s better to let sleeping dogs lay. Some critics would contend that the Hawks youthful exuberance and willingness to rub the Heat’s collective face in the dirt late in the game was uncalled for. Right or wrong isn’t my argument here. Instead I contend that the Hawks have crashed the party and although they may seem a little out of place at times, they are partying just the same.
Like all of the other games in this series this contest ended early. Atlanta was able to wrestle control of this game away from the Heat early as a result of Mike Bibby’s hot shooting hand (17 points) and Dwyane Wade’s relative absence (6 first half points). A combination of stingy Hawks defense and a stiff back rendered Wade a mere mortal and allowed Atlanta to play their particular brand of suffocating man to man defense. I asked Joe Johnson about the effort on Wade in the first half.
JW: “You guys, combined with the injuries, held D. Wade to 6 first half points. Talk about your defensive effort against him.“
JJ: “We were aggressive with him. It’s important for us to look to make plays out there. That’s on both ends of the court. We tried to keep a hand in his face and give a complete team effort against him. He (Wade) puts pressure on our defense because he’s also a good passer. Limiting him is always the plan.”
Flip Murray (23 points) and Joe Johnson (25 points) provided much of the offensive firepower that turned this game into a route and led the Hawks scoring attack. The effectiveness of the bench players for both teams is usually an indicator of success. Flip Murray converted on his first six field goals and seemed to answer ever Heat mini run with a bucket. His presence in this game was enormous. I asked Flip about his Game 5 performance.
JW: “Flip, you converted on your first six shots. Talk about your spark tonight and your role with this team.”
FM: “As a team we kept the ball moving side to side to find our shooters. We attacked their rotations and got into the paint to create shots for ourselves and each other.” (In reference to his role with the team) “I have to be aggressive. Coach (Mike Woodson) doesn’t want me passive out there.”
For all of the weaknesses that the Atlanta Hawks harbor (inconsistency, immaturity, lack of discipline) their strengths so overshadow them that, at times, we forget they exist. The thing that makes this team so formidable is their incredible capacity to absorb the energy from the home crowd and sustain it for long periods of time. They are a walking time bomb waiting for a spark, any spark, to ignite them.
On this night that spark came in the form of a few hard fouls during the second quarter. Solomon Jones applied one to Dwyane Wade and the ensuing gathering of players seemed to jostle the embers of the capacity crowd. Wade’s hard foul on Mo Evans nearly set fire to Philips Arena and the young Hawks were certainly ignited thereafter. Not even a stellar second half by Wade, who finished with 29 points, could derail the Hawks on this night.
Coach Eric Spoelstra talked about the Hawks frenzied home crowd and overall performance.
ES: “They (the Atlanta Hawks) did what they had to do tonight. They defended home court. They embarrassed us and pretty much turned the end of the game into a highlight show. One good thing about this is that we have that same opportunity (to defend home court). We’re very confident and we look forward to going back to Miami.”
To their credit, the Heat certainly do not look at this game as a sign of things to come. They seemed almost excited about getting the opportunity to take this series back to Southern Florida. I asked Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers what they would do to get their confidence back for game six.
JW: “How will you look to get back on track after this loss?”
MC: “First of all, our confidence is not shaken. We know they will make runs. We have to get stops. Also, we have to keep our momentum when we get going offensively. We have to match their intensity.”
DW: “The Hawks play with alot of energy at home. They feed off of the crowd, so will we. We have to do the same thing at home. I can’t wait to get back to Miami. It will be a blackout (for the game Friday). I can’t wait.”
The Hawks appear to be one of the leagues elite; capable of holding court with any team on any given night. At times they look unbeatable. They may not be an elite team like a healthy Lakers, Cavaliers or Celtics squad but is there any doubt that this group of men can contend with the 2nd tier teams like Orlando, Denver, or Houston? I think not.
There are those that feel it’s better to let sleeping dogs lay. Some critics would contend that the Hawks youthful exuberance and willingness to rub the Heat’s collective face in the dirt late in the game was uncalled for. Right or wrong isn’t my argument here. Instead I contend that the Hawks have crashed the party and although they may seem a little out of place at times, they are partying just the same.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Atlanta Falls Short in Game 2
Game 2 of the best of 7 series between Atlanta and Miami quickly turned into the Dwyane Wade show and a Hawks loss. Atlanta will look to bounce back for game 3 in Miami.
The most difficult aspect of success lies in the attempts to replicate it. Once I’ve succeeded, I have to do it again. The mental toughness needed to beat a team twice in 4 days is not innate. It is learned. It is developed. The young Atlanta Hawks stubbed their collective toe on this night and there is a great lesson to be learned from it.
The atmosphere at Phillips Arena was more jubilant than that of the first game. Casual fans shed their “fashionably late” routines and filled thier seats in anticipation of another Hawks victory. Every early basket elicited roars and every early Heat possession the requisite boos. That friskiness soon turned to concern as the Hawks fell behind by as much as 18 points. The team that dominated on Sunday did not take the court and neither did the team that they so completely manhandled. This would turn out to be a whole different ball game.
The types of things that Atlanta thrives on: energy from the home crowd, emotional highs from alley oop dunks or power slams, backbreaking three point bombs, were far too few on this night. The visitors from Miami were able to take the air out of the ball, dictate a slower, more methodical tempo and thus stymie the high flying offense of Joe Johnson (16 points on 5-13 shooting with 4 turnovers), Mike Bibby (18 points and 4 assists) and Josh Smith (17 points and 10 rebounds).
I asked Miami Heat Head Coach Eric Spoelstra to comment on the differences in approach from Game 1 to Game 2.
Jerold Wells Jr., TSF: “The turnaround from Game 1 was immediate. How did you slow the Hawks down?”
Coach Spoelstra: “Our spacing, execution, and shooting all improved this game. Jermaine O’Neal also played a big part in what we did tonight as well. He was patient, made good decisions with the ball and trusted his teammates. We were able to control tempo and pace by playing through him and making some shots.” “We played our normal pace. I think in Game 1 we may have been too juiced and got out rhythm, even on defense. And, again, we made shots tonight and that helps our fast break defense.”
I also asked Coach Spoelstra about the job his defense did against Joe Johnson and Josh Smith.
JW: “The defense on Joe and Josh was much better. How did you approach them differently?”
ES: “We have a guy on our roster (Dwyane Wade) that was 3rd in the DPOY voting. I think he’s a good choice to guard any perimeter player in this league. We made a decision to spend the majority of the minutes with our best player on thier best player and I think he rose to the challenge. Some late foul trouble interrupted that but Jamario (Moon) filled in very nicely after that.”
The referees (Dan Crawford, Jason Phillips and Ken Mauer) were very much involved in the game, blowing their whistles early and often. As a result both Joe Johnson and Dwyane Wade found themselves in foul trouble but only the Hawks would feel the bite of playing without thier best player. Wade would score enough points while he was one the floor to offset any potential Hawks advantage while he sat. The foul situation also helped keep the game at what seemed to be a snail’s pace. Whenever Atlanta did find a spark, Miami would answer right back; more times than not those sparks were doused by Dwyane Wade.
I also asked Dwyane to talk about the turnaround from Game 1 to Game 2.
DW: “We got into the fight early. We were physical. Udonis and Jermaine did a good job getting rebounds and playing tough. At one point I think someone even dove on the floor.” “Also, our offense helped our defense. We limited turnovers and made some shots tonight. I personnally focused on making the shots that they gave me in the first game.”
The Miami Heat took a step in the right direction. Falling is nothing. Getting back up is difficult. Game 2 presented an opportunity for the Heat to correct wrongs, start new, and revisit the strengths that carried them to the postseason. They met that challenge and passed with flying colors.
Coach Eric Spoelstra spoke a great deal after Game One about the ways his team needed to improve before the nest contest. He talked about patient offense, more support from shooters and posts, and better team defense. After Game 2 those words seemed almost prophetic.
It also helps when you have a player capable of raising his game and leading his teammates. Dwyane Wade’s supreme confidence and permeates this entire team. Jermaine O’Neal played well, Deaquan Cook made six three pointers, and Udonis Haslem made his presence felt in this contest. Coach Spoelstra gives instruction, Wade translates, and this team follows. As he goes, they go.
If this contest shows anything it shows us that nothing is guarenteed. Each game of this series is going to be a battle of wills. Both teams have players capable of erupting for large scoring, rebounding or assist totals. Both teams have the ability to lock in defensively and completely befuddle the other. Entertainment is certain for the duration of the series. I asked Wade to give me one thing that they would take home to build off of after this win.
JW: “Give me one thing you would like to carry over into the next two games in Miami.”
DW: “Our start. We do well as a team when we start well, play smart and play with energy. We have to have passion and fight also. There are no guarentees (because of home court). We have to play hard and earn those wins.”
The most difficult aspect of success lies in the attempts to replicate it. Once I’ve succeeded, I have to do it again. The mental toughness needed to beat a team twice in 4 days is not innate. It is learned. It is developed. The young Atlanta Hawks stubbed their collective toe on this night and there is a great lesson to be learned from it.
The atmosphere at Phillips Arena was more jubilant than that of the first game. Casual fans shed their “fashionably late” routines and filled thier seats in anticipation of another Hawks victory. Every early basket elicited roars and every early Heat possession the requisite boos. That friskiness soon turned to concern as the Hawks fell behind by as much as 18 points. The team that dominated on Sunday did not take the court and neither did the team that they so completely manhandled. This would turn out to be a whole different ball game.
The types of things that Atlanta thrives on: energy from the home crowd, emotional highs from alley oop dunks or power slams, backbreaking three point bombs, were far too few on this night. The visitors from Miami were able to take the air out of the ball, dictate a slower, more methodical tempo and thus stymie the high flying offense of Joe Johnson (16 points on 5-13 shooting with 4 turnovers), Mike Bibby (18 points and 4 assists) and Josh Smith (17 points and 10 rebounds).
I asked Miami Heat Head Coach Eric Spoelstra to comment on the differences in approach from Game 1 to Game 2.
Jerold Wells Jr., TSF: “The turnaround from Game 1 was immediate. How did you slow the Hawks down?”
Coach Spoelstra: “Our spacing, execution, and shooting all improved this game. Jermaine O’Neal also played a big part in what we did tonight as well. He was patient, made good decisions with the ball and trusted his teammates. We were able to control tempo and pace by playing through him and making some shots.” “We played our normal pace. I think in Game 1 we may have been too juiced and got out rhythm, even on defense. And, again, we made shots tonight and that helps our fast break defense.”
I also asked Coach Spoelstra about the job his defense did against Joe Johnson and Josh Smith.
JW: “The defense on Joe and Josh was much better. How did you approach them differently?”
ES: “We have a guy on our roster (Dwyane Wade) that was 3rd in the DPOY voting. I think he’s a good choice to guard any perimeter player in this league. We made a decision to spend the majority of the minutes with our best player on thier best player and I think he rose to the challenge. Some late foul trouble interrupted that but Jamario (Moon) filled in very nicely after that.”
The referees (Dan Crawford, Jason Phillips and Ken Mauer) were very much involved in the game, blowing their whistles early and often. As a result both Joe Johnson and Dwyane Wade found themselves in foul trouble but only the Hawks would feel the bite of playing without thier best player. Wade would score enough points while he was one the floor to offset any potential Hawks advantage while he sat. The foul situation also helped keep the game at what seemed to be a snail’s pace. Whenever Atlanta did find a spark, Miami would answer right back; more times than not those sparks were doused by Dwyane Wade.
I also asked Dwyane to talk about the turnaround from Game 1 to Game 2.
DW: “We got into the fight early. We were physical. Udonis and Jermaine did a good job getting rebounds and playing tough. At one point I think someone even dove on the floor.” “Also, our offense helped our defense. We limited turnovers and made some shots tonight. I personnally focused on making the shots that they gave me in the first game.”
The Miami Heat took a step in the right direction. Falling is nothing. Getting back up is difficult. Game 2 presented an opportunity for the Heat to correct wrongs, start new, and revisit the strengths that carried them to the postseason. They met that challenge and passed with flying colors.
Coach Eric Spoelstra spoke a great deal after Game One about the ways his team needed to improve before the nest contest. He talked about patient offense, more support from shooters and posts, and better team defense. After Game 2 those words seemed almost prophetic.
It also helps when you have a player capable of raising his game and leading his teammates. Dwyane Wade’s supreme confidence and permeates this entire team. Jermaine O’Neal played well, Deaquan Cook made six three pointers, and Udonis Haslem made his presence felt in this contest. Coach Spoelstra gives instruction, Wade translates, and this team follows. As he goes, they go.
If this contest shows anything it shows us that nothing is guarenteed. Each game of this series is going to be a battle of wills. Both teams have players capable of erupting for large scoring, rebounding or assist totals. Both teams have the ability to lock in defensively and completely befuddle the other. Entertainment is certain for the duration of the series. I asked Wade to give me one thing that they would take home to build off of after this win.
JW: “Give me one thing you would like to carry over into the next two games in Miami.”
DW: “Our start. We do well as a team when we start well, play smart and play with energy. We have to have passion and fight also. There are no guarentees (because of home court). We have to play hard and earn those wins.”
Monday, April 20, 2009
Hawks/Heat, Game 1
I had the privelege of covering Game 1 of the Atlanta Hawks/ Miami Heat first round playoff series. Here's the recap.
One extremely impressive win does not define this season. One win does not guarantee this series. In the grand scheme of things this wins means very little. It is a means to an end. Advancing to the next round is the goal. This victory is merely a stepping stone.
The leaders of this Atlanta Hawks team are cautious. They understand that while the victory is huge, Game Two presents a different set of challenges. The mood following Atlanta’s 90 – 64 thrashing of the Miami Heat was a reserved one. It is clear to this bunch that there is still plenty of work to be done.
I asked Coach Mike Woodson to talk about the Game 1 performance.
Jerold Wells, TSF: “You couldn’t have had a better start to this series. Talk about your performance offensively and defensively. What did you see in practice and on film that made you and your team so confident?”
Head Coach Mike Woodson: “We expected to play well but I didn’t know it would turn out this well. Our focus was there tonight. Our defense was there. We shared the ball and made shots.” (In reference to preparation and team confidence) “We have guys that are hungry. They are playing for something. The Boston series last year taught us how to play playoff basketball. I told the guys that if we give consistent defensive effort and don’t take possessions off that we’d give ourselves a chance to win.”
Atlanta executed their offensive and defensive plans to perfection in the first half. Offensively, the Hawks practically lived in the paint and scored on a variety of lay ups, dunks, short jumpers and put backs. Joe Johnson (15 points) and Mike Bibby (10 points, 9 assists) facilitated the offensive sets effectively and the Hawks transition game was nothing short of spectacular. Josh Smith (23 points, 10 rebounds) was especially effective in transition, scoring on a variety of alley-oop dunks, put back dunks and fastbreak jams.
I posed the same question to Josh Smith as I did to Coach Woodson but I added a 2nd part about the team’s hot start, the contributions of Marvin Williams specifically, and their aggressiveness offensively to start the game.
Josh Smith: “Marvin means alot to this team. Having him makes us better and you could see that tonight. He was aggressive and it definately spread through the whole team.” (In reference to gameplan and focus for this game.) “We were definately focused tonight. We still feel as though nobody is giving us a shot to win. We just focused on leaving all the distractions behind and ignoring the critics. We feel that if we play together we can beat anybody.”
Neither team looked terribly interested in playing any defense in the early going. The 7:30 mark of the 2nd quarter proved to be a key moment for the Hawks defensive momentum. Marvin Williams forced a Daequan Cook turnover off of an attempted inbounds pass and the proverbial flood gates were opened. Atlanta used the spark from that play to stifle the Heat and essentially put the game out of reach in the first half.
The home team was also successful when it came to slowing down Dwyane Wade. The MVP candidate finished with 19 points on 8-21 shooting. He also contributed 5 rebounds and 5 assists but his 8 turnovers were the most telling sign of the Hawks defensive effectiveness. Wade never really found a groove in this game and without his normal input the Heat lacked the firepower to compete.
I also asked Coach Woodson about that impressive accomplishment.
JW: “Talk a little about the defensive job you did on Dwyane Wade.”
MW: “Our gameplan was to keep bodies in front of him at all times. We focused on getting back in transition and keeping a wall of bodies in front of him at all times. Our personnel also allows us to switch when he’s in pick and roll situations. I told the guys to take pride in defending when you’re on the ball. I think they did that tonight.”
Game 2 of this series should be much more competitive. Atlanta will look to carry over their positives and defend home court. Miami will look to bounce back from a disappointing showing.
I asked Miami Head Coach Eric Spoelstra what went wrong and how they would improve for the next contest.
JW: “How was Atlanta able to bottle up your offense tonight?”
ES: “Atlanta’s athleticism and size bothered us tonight. Also, we didn’t show the patience to get the results we wanted offensively. Our energy wasn’t there and our spacing on offense wasn’t consistently where it needed to be.”
JW: “Wade didn’t have a good game but I think we’re all pretty sure he’ll bounce back. Where will you look for scoring outside of Wade going forward?”
ES: “We’ll look the same places we did all year. Our 3 point shooting will have to improve (the Heat shot 4-23 for the game) and we’ll need some inside scoring as well from Jermaine (5 points), Udonis (6 points) and Michael (10 points). Also, a faster pace and more energy will help us a lot as well.”
Whatever the case, we should anticipate two teams with something to prove. We should be certain tha neither squad will be thinking about this contest. The next game is simply the opportunity to move closer to the ultimate goal.
One extremely impressive win does not define this season. One win does not guarantee this series. In the grand scheme of things this wins means very little. It is a means to an end. Advancing to the next round is the goal. This victory is merely a stepping stone.
The leaders of this Atlanta Hawks team are cautious. They understand that while the victory is huge, Game Two presents a different set of challenges. The mood following Atlanta’s 90 – 64 thrashing of the Miami Heat was a reserved one. It is clear to this bunch that there is still plenty of work to be done.
I asked Coach Mike Woodson to talk about the Game 1 performance.
Jerold Wells, TSF: “You couldn’t have had a better start to this series. Talk about your performance offensively and defensively. What did you see in practice and on film that made you and your team so confident?”
Head Coach Mike Woodson: “We expected to play well but I didn’t know it would turn out this well. Our focus was there tonight. Our defense was there. We shared the ball and made shots.” (In reference to preparation and team confidence) “We have guys that are hungry. They are playing for something. The Boston series last year taught us how to play playoff basketball. I told the guys that if we give consistent defensive effort and don’t take possessions off that we’d give ourselves a chance to win.”
Atlanta executed their offensive and defensive plans to perfection in the first half. Offensively, the Hawks practically lived in the paint and scored on a variety of lay ups, dunks, short jumpers and put backs. Joe Johnson (15 points) and Mike Bibby (10 points, 9 assists) facilitated the offensive sets effectively and the Hawks transition game was nothing short of spectacular. Josh Smith (23 points, 10 rebounds) was especially effective in transition, scoring on a variety of alley-oop dunks, put back dunks and fastbreak jams.
I posed the same question to Josh Smith as I did to Coach Woodson but I added a 2nd part about the team’s hot start, the contributions of Marvin Williams specifically, and their aggressiveness offensively to start the game.
Josh Smith: “Marvin means alot to this team. Having him makes us better and you could see that tonight. He was aggressive and it definately spread through the whole team.” (In reference to gameplan and focus for this game.) “We were definately focused tonight. We still feel as though nobody is giving us a shot to win. We just focused on leaving all the distractions behind and ignoring the critics. We feel that if we play together we can beat anybody.”
Neither team looked terribly interested in playing any defense in the early going. The 7:30 mark of the 2nd quarter proved to be a key moment for the Hawks defensive momentum. Marvin Williams forced a Daequan Cook turnover off of an attempted inbounds pass and the proverbial flood gates were opened. Atlanta used the spark from that play to stifle the Heat and essentially put the game out of reach in the first half.
The home team was also successful when it came to slowing down Dwyane Wade. The MVP candidate finished with 19 points on 8-21 shooting. He also contributed 5 rebounds and 5 assists but his 8 turnovers were the most telling sign of the Hawks defensive effectiveness. Wade never really found a groove in this game and without his normal input the Heat lacked the firepower to compete.
I also asked Coach Woodson about that impressive accomplishment.
JW: “Talk a little about the defensive job you did on Dwyane Wade.”
MW: “Our gameplan was to keep bodies in front of him at all times. We focused on getting back in transition and keeping a wall of bodies in front of him at all times. Our personnel also allows us to switch when he’s in pick and roll situations. I told the guys to take pride in defending when you’re on the ball. I think they did that tonight.”
Game 2 of this series should be much more competitive. Atlanta will look to carry over their positives and defend home court. Miami will look to bounce back from a disappointing showing.
I asked Miami Head Coach Eric Spoelstra what went wrong and how they would improve for the next contest.
JW: “How was Atlanta able to bottle up your offense tonight?”
ES: “Atlanta’s athleticism and size bothered us tonight. Also, we didn’t show the patience to get the results we wanted offensively. Our energy wasn’t there and our spacing on offense wasn’t consistently where it needed to be.”
JW: “Wade didn’t have a good game but I think we’re all pretty sure he’ll bounce back. Where will you look for scoring outside of Wade going forward?”
ES: “We’ll look the same places we did all year. Our 3 point shooting will have to improve (the Heat shot 4-23 for the game) and we’ll need some inside scoring as well from Jermaine (5 points), Udonis (6 points) and Michael (10 points). Also, a faster pace and more energy will help us a lot as well.”
Whatever the case, we should anticipate two teams with something to prove. We should be certain tha neither squad will be thinking about this contest. The next game is simply the opportunity to move closer to the ultimate goal.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Post Season Awards
Here are my choices for the NBA Postseason Awards.
Enjoy.
MVP: Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers
To me this is an easy choice. It's Kobe Bryant. (26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.9 apg) The (much deserved) clamour seems to be about Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. Both have put forth excellent seasons and neither would be a bad choice. Both are top tier talents and the trio comprises the cream of the NBA crop. My argument would be that as James and Wade stake their claim to be king of the mountain, they should follow the tracks that Kobe walked to get there.
Dwyane Wade (30.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.5 apg) did an awesome job taking his team from oblivion to 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. His on court improvements (increased 3 pt accuracy, more assists, fewer turnovers, team leading block total) mirror his overall return to prominence. The road from injury riddled former Finals MVP to league MVP candidate (by way of an Olympic Gold Medal) is an amazing one. Some called Wade a has been, a quick flame out, a product of Shaq’s last hurrah in Miami. He’s proven that the Heat are his team and that with him they are a contender. That’s an admirable performance. Trouble is we’ve watched that film before.
Kobe was the star of that film.
Lebron James (28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.2 apg) did yeoman’s work in supplanting the Boston Celtics as the #1 seed in the East. His Cavaliers are a vicious bunch at home and took the battle for the top overall seed in the league into the final moments of the regular season. Thier rise into the league's elite is a testament to the will and drive of Lebron James, as well as, how he transfers that energy to his teammates. This is nothing short of incredible; but again this script is familiar.
Kobe did that too.
What we're seeing are various renditions of the brilliance that is Kobe Bryant. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade both bring unique qualities to the court in the way that they play the game. They are both stars in their own right. They will probably win MVP awards in the future. This year though, I say Kobe.
ROY: Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls
One of the most difficult things in sports is to play in your hometown. Very few can handle the burden of being as great as people think you are. Derrick Rose (16.8 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3.9 rpg) has handled it and shown flashes of brilliance. He also led his team to the playoffs. Give the young man this award already.
COY: Rick Adelman, Head Coach, Houston Rockets
A combination of injuries (Carl Landry, Yao, Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest) could have eliminated this team from contention in the West. Instead they've played unbelievably consistent basketball and finished as the #5 seed in their Conference. He keeps that team steady and he's the reason they are a playoff team.
Sixth Man: Flip Murray, SG, Atlanta Hawks
Flip Murray (12.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.0 apg) is instant offense and a stabilizing force off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. He's the solitary reason that the Hawks have any scoring punch off the bench. The biggest difference between last year's team and this years version is the ability of the second unit to keep them in games. Flip is a major par of that. He may not be a glamour pick like some other favorites for the award but he's a major contributor for a playoff team. I think that makes him more than worthy.
DPOY: Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic
I think the most impressive thing about Dwight Howard's (13.8 rpg, 2.9 bpg) game is his commitment to rebounding and blocking shots. There are plenty of players in the league that have comparable physical tools (quickness, jumping ability, etc) and they do much less with them. Rebounding is the forgotten element of defense. Howard ends countless possession by blocking shots but he ends so many more by rebounding missed shots. He's a game changer in this regard.
Most Improved: Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers
Danny Granger (25.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.7apg) took the leap from good player to All-Star this season. He's become the type of player you have to game-plan for. He also guards his position which, often times, matches up with some of the league's elite perimeter players. Granger was pretty much the lone bright spot for the Pacers this season and gives them a rock to build on in the future.
Enjoy.
MVP: Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers
To me this is an easy choice. It's Kobe Bryant. (26.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.9 apg) The (much deserved) clamour seems to be about Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. Both have put forth excellent seasons and neither would be a bad choice. Both are top tier talents and the trio comprises the cream of the NBA crop. My argument would be that as James and Wade stake their claim to be king of the mountain, they should follow the tracks that Kobe walked to get there.
Dwyane Wade (30.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.5 apg) did an awesome job taking his team from oblivion to 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. His on court improvements (increased 3 pt accuracy, more assists, fewer turnovers, team leading block total) mirror his overall return to prominence. The road from injury riddled former Finals MVP to league MVP candidate (by way of an Olympic Gold Medal) is an amazing one. Some called Wade a has been, a quick flame out, a product of Shaq’s last hurrah in Miami. He’s proven that the Heat are his team and that with him they are a contender. That’s an admirable performance. Trouble is we’ve watched that film before.
Kobe was the star of that film.
Lebron James (28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.2 apg) did yeoman’s work in supplanting the Boston Celtics as the #1 seed in the East. His Cavaliers are a vicious bunch at home and took the battle for the top overall seed in the league into the final moments of the regular season. Thier rise into the league's elite is a testament to the will and drive of Lebron James, as well as, how he transfers that energy to his teammates. This is nothing short of incredible; but again this script is familiar.
Kobe did that too.
What we're seeing are various renditions of the brilliance that is Kobe Bryant. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade both bring unique qualities to the court in the way that they play the game. They are both stars in their own right. They will probably win MVP awards in the future. This year though, I say Kobe.
ROY: Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls
One of the most difficult things in sports is to play in your hometown. Very few can handle the burden of being as great as people think you are. Derrick Rose (16.8 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3.9 rpg) has handled it and shown flashes of brilliance. He also led his team to the playoffs. Give the young man this award already.
COY: Rick Adelman, Head Coach, Houston Rockets
A combination of injuries (Carl Landry, Yao, Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest) could have eliminated this team from contention in the West. Instead they've played unbelievably consistent basketball and finished as the #5 seed in their Conference. He keeps that team steady and he's the reason they are a playoff team.
Sixth Man: Flip Murray, SG, Atlanta Hawks
Flip Murray (12.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.0 apg) is instant offense and a stabilizing force off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. He's the solitary reason that the Hawks have any scoring punch off the bench. The biggest difference between last year's team and this years version is the ability of the second unit to keep them in games. Flip is a major par of that. He may not be a glamour pick like some other favorites for the award but he's a major contributor for a playoff team. I think that makes him more than worthy.
DPOY: Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic
I think the most impressive thing about Dwight Howard's (13.8 rpg, 2.9 bpg) game is his commitment to rebounding and blocking shots. There are plenty of players in the league that have comparable physical tools (quickness, jumping ability, etc) and they do much less with them. Rebounding is the forgotten element of defense. Howard ends countless possession by blocking shots but he ends so many more by rebounding missed shots. He's a game changer in this regard.
Most Improved: Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers
Danny Granger (25.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.7apg) took the leap from good player to All-Star this season. He's become the type of player you have to game-plan for. He also guards his position which, often times, matches up with some of the league's elite perimeter players. Granger was pretty much the lone bright spot for the Pacers this season and gives them a rock to build on in the future.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Hawks/Pacers Game Story
I had the privelege of seeing the Atlanta Hawks clinch the fourth seed and home court advantage for the first round of this years playoffs. The following is my game story. Enjoy.
Like it's 1999....
Growth is measured in many ways. Kitchen walls accross the country are tick marked by youngsters who cannot wait to increase another inch or two. Maturity in spirit and mind enable people to withstand the trails and tribulations life presents. Pronouncing and praising a person’s inward expansion, saying that they did better, is an outstanding compliment. On Friday night, the Atlanta Hawks (46-34) secured homecourt advantage for the first round of the ’09 playoffs with a thrilling 122-118 victory over the Indiana Pacers (34-45). The night’s performance showed the results of growth and development. Last year’s cinderella slippers no longer fit this team. These are no longer the city of Atlanta’s ugly stepchildren. Call them kin to T.I.
They’re Kings.
The territory these Hawks are flying through is foreign and uncertain. They remain a youthful team and while the taste of last year’s playoff run is still fresh, the second round lies beyond the realm of thier collective imaginations. As a franchise, the Hawks have not advanced to the Conference semi-finals since the strike shortened ’98-’99 season. This is ten years in the making.
Some pundits wrote last year’s success off as an accident. They said that abnormalities may occur when the five (5) through eight (8) seeds in the east tend to be average at best. Sometimes a team can emerge and play well for a two month stretch after being average for the first part of the season. Last year’s Hawks were described as a glitch in the matrix. Experts predicted a return to futility, dispair and disapointment. Yet, instead of folding and falling back into the crowd, this group separated themselves from the conference cellar dwellars and proved to be a contender in the East. The road from bottom feeder to contender was completed. The win loss record shows this much.
As the end of the regular season approaches, Atlanta is habitually showing why they are a top tier team in the Eastern Conference. They possess a dependable All Star performer in Joe Johnson and backcourt mate Mike Bibby has been brilliant all season. They have a nucleus of young talent in Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford. The bench is strong with Flip Murray, Mo Evans and Zaza Pachulia. They can certainly score the basketball, but they also rebound and defend well enough to compete with any team on any given night.
This game is microcosm of what has to happen for Atlanta to win a playoff series and make good on the promise that homecourt advantage provides. Joe Johnson (24 points) is the heart and soul of this team. He is the defacto leader, and has shown a propensity to show up big in big games. A number of his shots over the course of this game came in response to an Indiana basket, or stopped a Pacer hot streak. Whether attacking via dribble drive, shooting the 3 point shot or backing opponents down on the block, Johnson is as dangerous as any other guard in the league within the confines of Phillips Arena. I asked Joe to compare his previous playoff experiences with what he sees in this team.
JW: “You’ve been on playoff teams.” “What do you like about this team that gives your confidence for advancing into the second round.”
JJ: “We’re a young team but at the same time we’re experienced.” “The guys know what to expect because of what we did last year against Boston.” “We understand how to win playoff games and we know that we have to protect this house.”
Flip Murray (15 points) continued his season long habit of bringing offense off the bench. Murray gives the aggressiveness and proven shot making ability as a sixth man that was absent last year. He is a tremendous boost for this team. I posed the same question to Murray.
FM: “The record speaks for itself, we got the 4th seed tonight.” “We have home court.” “That’s big for us because as a team (at home) we’re very confident.”
Mike Bibby (15 points, 9 assists) and Josh Smith (30 points, 10 rebounds) showed an incredible feel for each other over the course of this game. I counted five passes from Bibby to Smith that led directly to baskets, either by means of alley oop or nifty bounce passes after screens. Understand folks: these were easy, pure point guard type passes that almost invite the player recieving the pass to score. Mike Bibby is still cold blooded people. He ended the first half with a pull up jumper that almost seemed too easy.
This connection is definately worth watching because there are not many players as physically gifted as Josh Smith. When points are being spoon fed to him the way they were in this game, combined with his offensive rebounding ability, he can be a game changer. Head Coach Mike Woodson spoke about the duo in glowing terms when I asked him about thier effectiveness.
JW: “Mike Bibby and Josh Smith were huge tonight.” “Talk about that connection.”
MW: “Smooth’s (Josh Smith) been consistent for us down the stretch. I’m happy with his progress.”
“Bibby runs this ship for me.” “He gets guys in position on the court and finds guys when they’re open.” “The impact of those two shows directly in the wins and losses.”
Al Horford (22 points, 15 rebounds) showed why he is one of the premier young power forwards in the game. His offensive skill set has progressed nicely from last year and he showcased nice touch facing up from 10 feet as well as a nifty jump hook. Even more, he runs the floor like a man possessed. Al routinely beat the Pacer’s bigs downcourt and finished when he touched the ball in the paint. Horford also connected on 6 of 7 free throws. Such accuracy bodes well for any big man in the NBA. Al also spoke about Bibby in glowing terms.
AH: “It’s great to have a point guard that can score and distribute.” “It really helps this team and makes our jobs easier.”
Homecourt advantage does not guarentee anything. Until the game ball goes up and wins are earned, this accomplishment is nothing. Right now, all of the delight and bliss are carefully reserved. This is for the longsuffering fans of a once proud franchise. I asked hometown products Randolph Morris and Josh Smith about what it means to them personally having a home series in Atlanta.
JW: “With you being from this area, what does homecourt advantage mean to you personally?”
RM: “It means alot.” “Family and friends will be a nice boost against whoever we play in the first round.” “I think we match up well against Philly and Miami (potential first round opponents), but being here at home will definately help.”
JS: “We know what we can do at home.” “The Boston series showed us how good we can be.” “Plus, it’s great for the city and the people who have supported us from day one.” “It gives the city something to brag about.”
Good times are back again.
Game Notes:
It’s uncanny how bad things happen to bad teams. Indiana’s point guard play was spotty in the playmaking department. TJ Ford and Jarrett Jack took turns looking pretty bad distributing the ball. Unforced errors, missed layups, and the inability to get good looks at the end of the shot clock pretty much cost Indiana this game.
On the bright side, Danny Granger is a monster. He scored 35 and should have had more. He’s the best player on the team and yet the Pacers went long stretched without him touching the ball. His free throw line jumper was a thing of beauty in the second half. One dribble pull ups, off screens, off the pick and roll, he was money.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
