 | |||||||||
RUNNING OV-ER THE BULLS
Posted by Jeff Dengate on May 5, 2005 1 p.m. ET
ARENAS, WIZARDS DELIVER DEVASTATING BLOW Did you catch the exciting finish to the Wizards-Bulls game last night? Or did you, assuming the game was a rout, flip over to watch the end of CSI:NY?
If so, then you probably already
know what you missed.
The Bulls made an incredible comeback, with Jannero Pargo nearly playing role of hero, tying the ballgame at 110 with five ticks on the clock.
It was a gutty performance by the Bulls, who clawed their way back in the second half despite playing through pain.
But you kind of got the sense from the beginning that this game belonged to the Wizards. Despite the fact Gilbert Arenas couldn't throw the ball in Lake Michigan in the early going, he had no troubles as a playmaker. On one particularly smooth play in the first quarter, Arenas collared a Bulls' turnover with one hand, wheeled and fired a perfect strike to a streaking Larry Hughes, a seemingly effortless move the likes of which you'll not witness at any other level of hoops. Arenas could easily have been Derek Jeter, turning a bare-handed grab at shortstop to throw out a baserunner at first.
But on the hardwood Arenas saved his best for last, a shot Bulls' fans had seen before, only from a slightly different perspective.
The buzzer-beater delivered the Bulls a third straight defeat and you now must wonder about the team's chances to recover and win the series. If you're like this writer, you're pretty sure their chances are slim and narrow.
The Bulls know it won't be easy to win at the MCI Center.
Which could spell their first opening-round playoff series loss since 1987.
After Gilbert's heroics, Antawn Jamison was heard saying, "It's over." He quickly corrected himself and said he meant the game, not the series. So, while the players aren't saying it, that doesn't mean the ink slingers aren't.
WIN OR GO HOME Win or go home: It doesn't get any more simple than that for the Rockets and Celtics. Both teams find themselves down 3-2 in their first round series, facing elimination tonight.
While the Celtics are in a do-or-die situation, Paul Pierce says it's no time to panic.
But really, the Celtics know this is no position to find yourself.
It's anybody's guess what will happen in Game 6.
Those in Indy are calling for an end to this series so the Pacers can advance for a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Finals matchup. Meanwhile out west, the Rockets are hoping to catch a break on their home court and extend their first-round series with Dallas to seven games.
Houston is focusing on the task at hand, but in truth, the team is looking forward to playing Saturday in Dallas.
Forcing a Game 7 will not be easy, however, as the Mavericks are playing with a must-win mentality.
The Mavericks seem to have found trust in each other just in time, looking to stave off a first-round disappointment and become only the third team in NBA history to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first two games at home.
BULL-IED IN WASHINGTON
Posted by Jeff Dengate on May 4, 2005 1 p.m. ET
SERIES SHIFTS TO CHICAGO, CAN BULLS RECOVER? After taking two straight beatings on the road at the hands of the Wizards, the Bulls are hoping a return to the United Center brings back a little of the magic the team displayed in the first two games of the series.
Chicago averaged 108 points per game in those first two contests, both victories, as the Wizards looked overmatched.
But when the series shifted to Washington, the Bulls looked, well, not so lively.
If you're a Bulls' fan, there's no need to panic yet.
Take solace in the fact that the home team has claimed victory in every game of the series.
But, as coach Skiles knows: To succeed in the playoffs, you must be able to win on the road. So, how can the Bulls make sure Washington isn't the first team to win a road game in this series?
Maybe by hoping Ben Gordon's shot is as sharp as his suit and smile was Tuesday when he was presented with the NBA's Sixth Man award.
While Gordon isn't beating himself up over the 1-for-13 performance he turned in on Monday, the same can't be said for his teammate.
Bad games aside, one Chicago scribe believes the Bulls will lose the series anyway because the truth is the Wizards are "much better" than the Bulls.
Meanwhile, another Chicago writer dropped even more brutal truth on the Bulls about the uninspired effort put forth in the nation's captial.
If the Bulls want to make a date with the Miami Heat in the second round, tonight's game is the time to stop the wave of momentum the Wizards are riding.
DENVER DONE? The Spurs expect the Nuggets to come out fighting in their elimination game tonight in San Antonio. -- [Denver Post]
But one complete player stands in Denver's way of a monumental coomeback.
As do all-world backcourt mates.
CLOSE-OUTS
Posted by Jeff Dengate on May 3, 2005 12 p.m. ET
PISTONS, SONICS CAN ADVANCE Down 3-1. That's no place to be if you have designs on advancing further in the NBA Playoffs. Yet, it's the reality the Sixers and Kings awoke to this morning, each down 3-1 in their opening series against the Pistons and Sonics, respectively.
The Sixers have the unfortunate disadvantage of playing the defending champs who are unwilling to make a return trip to Philly.
The Sonics, too, aren't planning on extending their series any further than five games, but they're not getting ahead of themselves.
With a win tonight in Detroit, the Pistons can give some much needed rest to the Prince's ailing ankle.
Ever-durable, Tayshaun has not missed a game due to injury in the NBA or in four years at Kentucky, and Detroit is counting on his contributions during its Championship defense.
And while we're talking about defense, Big Ben strikes three.
Is the clock running out on the Sixers? After all, only seven teams have ever recovered to win a best-of-seven series after trailing 3-1.
This Sixers team is unlikely to become the eighth because, as one outspoken Philly resident is beginning to see, it seems the Pistons are on track to repeat.
The Sonics, meanwhile, don't need a repeat of Ray Allen's 45-point outburst to close out the Kings tonight ...
... but it would help if rookie Nick Collison kept hitting the deck.
Or Jerome James puts up at least 17-and-8 like he has in every game of the series thus far.
Take all of the above and mix in a little physical play down low from old friends.
And the Sonics are slated to move on to the second round for the first time since 1998.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT Eddie Jordan keeps faith; Juan Dixon delivers. -- [Washington Post, Reg. req'd]
Remember Tim Duncan, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and 2003 NBA Finals MVP? Looks like he's back.
Finally, somebody sends the home fans away happy.
WEEK ONE DOWN
Posted by Jeff Dengate on May 2, 2005 1 p.m. ET
HOME WOES Will somebody please give the home fans something to cheer about? With their opening-round series shifting back north to Dallas, the Mavericks are hoping homecourt really does provide an advantage. But does such a thing exist in the state of Texas? In the 1995 Western Conference Finals, San Antonio held homecourt advantage over Houston. Or so they thought. The road team went on to tie an NBA-record, winning the first five games of the series before the Rockets finally wrapped up the series at home in Game 6.
Dallas is vowing not to form a Texas tie-angle in the record book, as Mavericks players predict a victory tonight at American Airlines Center.
Avery Johnson believes the home fans will rise to the occasion.
And should Dallas win tonight to back the Rockets into a corner, Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy will look especially prophetic. After all, it was Van Gundy who warned his team of the Clutch City moniker after the Rockets took the first two games on the road and started thinking about a sweep. That 1994 team was one of only two in history to lose the first two games at home and go on to win the series.
To avoid a third straight loss at home, the Mavericks must hope their small-ball lineup comes up big again.
And their defense focuses on putting a stop to the aging marksmen.
Win or lose tonight, the two victories in Houston have many now eating their words.
WEEKEND WRAP Note to Heat: Tougher opponents await in the East and you'll need the Big Fella if you're to make a trip west in June. -- [New York Post]
Like the East's top team, the West's best gets a little well deserved R & R before the next round.
Ray shot the lights out Sunday ... and dimmed the hopes of the Kings in the process
How to celebrate a Game 4 victory in Indy? White Castle, of course.
Gilbert gives Washington a long-awaited win, a fan a jersey.
It's understandable how witnessing Manu come off the bench for 32 in 31 minutes is difficult to watch.
AND FINALLY... Manu's not the only Ginobili in the playoffs. -- [San Antonio Express-News, Reg. req'd]
|
|
||||||||
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
| ||
 | ||
|
|
|
 | ||
| ||
 | ||
|
 Make the Finals your own with a screensaver and wallpapers, free and exclusively for Fan Center members. |
|
| ||
| |||||||
