Once Again Worth the Price of Admission
The Warriors-Jazz series is rapidly becoming one of my favorite playoff series of all time. And that list would shock you. I try to limit my homer-ness (inventing new words by the minute) by adding such thrilling series as the Houston Rockets-San Antonio Spurs series in the mid-90’s. You know the one I’m talking about. The series where we were witness to a barrage of ‘Dream Shakes’ when Hakeem took (the Defensive Player of the Year) took out his anger on David Robinson (the League MVP). At the time, I was too young to fully appreciate what Hakeem did, but I will admit that I was in the driveway practicing up-and-under, and ‘Dream Shake” moves everyday after that series.
Well, right now, that series is light years behind what we have been lucky enough to see from Utah and Golden State. These two teams have been attacking each other at both ends of the court. Utah’s toughness is amazing, and Golden State just will not go away. Last night, after the Jazz stretched their lead to the biggest of the night (twelve points) in the third quarter, Golden State just buried four straight threes to get back into the game. Then, the J-Rich step-back three to take the lead was outrageous.
Sure, Golden State choked at the end of regulation by missing some key free throws, but Utah took advantage of those misses by knocking down clutch jumpers. Memo’s two from the corner was ridiculous. It was an anti-Dirk jumper that had no business going in the basket. Utah has been able to run with Golden State, yet they have still been able to use their size, strength, and Jerry Sloan-influence to be incredibly physical with the Warriors’ smaller lineup. And, the refs are letting them play, which is a great thing. This series will only get more chippy as the games progress and the tension increases.
I do not see Golden State losing at home. The only game that they could lose at home would be Game 4, simply because they will (possibly) be running on fumes at that point. Adding Derek Fisher to the mix will really help the Jazz because he is an extremely physical defender on the ball (read, he fouls a ton, but it doesn’t get called), and might be the only player to limit Baron Davis in the playoffs.
Speaking of Fisher, I have never liked him. He’s from the State of Arkansas. I’m a Texan and obligated to dislike all things Arkansas, and if you have driven through that state as many times as I have you would probably feel the same way. He was a Laker. He hit the back-breaking .6 second jumper against San Antonio that cost the Spurs the series and probable title in 2002. He flops and whines a lot (in my opinion, more than any Spur). He is considered a solid defender, yet he hammers players. I don’t like the look of his three point shot, and I have had the misfortune to see it a lot. And now, he plays for the Jazz. On my list of disliked teams, the Jazz finish tied for fourth with Houston, behind the Lakers, Mavericks, and Knicks. I mean, that is a lot of stuff to dislike. But last night showed me a lot about the guy. He is a good person, which says a lot this day in age. I just hope that his daughter fully recovers, and Fish is able to help out other children with his fame and money. Sure, I will not root for him, per se, but I will not openly root against him anymore. I think that says something about an Arkansas native who is a former Laker-Jazz(er?).
Sidebar: Quick rant on Bomani Jones of Page 2: How can you say that the Playoffs need LeBron to save them? Have you watched any of the Western Conference playoffs? Did you see what GSW did to Dallas? Do me a favor, get out the clips of Baron Davis so far, review them, realize he is doing more than any other player thus far, and then compare his work to that of Deron Williams in the Utah-Golden State series. Deron is on the verge of making the leap to a star. Then tune into Game 3 of the San Antonio-Phoenix series, so you can watch San Antonio battle with a suddenly tougher Phoenix team (thanks to Kurt Thomas’ increase in minutes). After all of that, get ready for an awesome Western Conference Finals, no matter who is playing. So far, I think the playoffs have seriously salvaged a lackluster regular season. It is a shame that you have missed them, because you continue to wait for LeBron to go one-on-five against the Nets.
While I’m here: Is Vince Carter the anti-LeBron James or vice-versa?
Did you ever think that Ivan Drago would be able to block so many shots simply by shedding 50 lbs. of muscle?
There is no way Stephen Jackson drew as much contact in the shooting incident as he has in the first two games against Utah, which is impressive because Jax has been relatively calm.
Who has crazier eyes, Kurt Thomas or Reche Caldwell?
When do the Eastern Conference Playoffs start?
