It's not too late. Play Drive to the Finals Now!
By Rob Peterson
May 26 - Ah, much better.
After a paltry nine from Raja Bell on Wednesday, Richard Hamilton, our choice after much discussion on Thursday, put up a respectable 28 PRA in Game 2 against the Heat.
And frankly, after scoring 20 points in the first half, I thought we were on our way to at least a 40 PRA. Alas, that would have been Tayshaun Prince who approached that number with a 38, but we had used him for Game 1.
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With that out of the way, we have a dearth of studly players left out West. Don't get me wrong, Dirk, Nash, Marion will all play, we just can't choose to use them tonight, having long since chosen them.
With the pickins slim, to whom can we turn to put up the numbers we need, the numbers we crave?
Let's throw caution into the wind and go with a guy who had a 15.4 regular season PRA.
That's right, we're going with Devin Harris.
Wha?
Yes, Harris. Not only because he's a Wisconsinite Cheesehead, like two of the experts: your's truly and Jon Loomer, but also because we're thinking he could repeat his Game 1 performance of 30 points, two assists and two boards.
You don't think so? Really?
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"Yes! I've been picked!"
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Well, who will guard him? (Actually, will anyone guard anybody in this series?) Steve Nash? With all due respect to the two-time reigning MVP, he's not a defensive stopper.
Raja Bell? Whoops. He's out for Game 2, at least, after tearing his calf muscle.
Could Leandro Barbosa stop Harris? Possibly, but then do the Suns see Jason Terry as a bigger offensive threat?
So, see, this series will have more scoring than George Clooney and Brad Pitt at a sorority house. SI.com's Jack McCallum noted that the teams combined to score a whopping 146 of the game's 239 points in the paint. And neither team has a back-to-the-basket center who dominates.
That's simply amazing. Expect more drives through the lane tonight. Expect Harris to have his share. Expect the experts to be right.
Especially tonight.












May 25 -- 