Exams ended last week for me, bringing school to a close and leaving me with an ass-load of free time to catch the all the opening round playoff action. It’s been a funny first week and a bit this year; the two series everyone wrote off are knotted. Through all the stunning surprises, huge performances and thrilling contests, there’s much to be said about the teams vying for the Larry O and the players that lead them. Here’s some of the finer points that can be taken away from the playoffs so far:
You, Me and Your Mom Were Wrong About the Spurs
You, Me and Your Mom Were Wrong About the Spurs
This was supposed to be the year the wheels fell off in San Antonio; an even-digit year where the West was tougher than ever and the Spurs drew a first round bout with a dangerous contender who was chomping at the bit to avenge last year’s second-round theft, er…defeat. The Suns came out guns blazing, putting the Spurs in a double-digit hole early in Game 1, but they clawed back into it, won an epic opener and rode the ensuing confidence to a comfortable win in five. They controlled tempo, played frustrating defence and consistently made crucial plays down the stretch of close games; (painfully) reminding us why we all hate them, and why they should never be bet against.
Chris Paul is not Human 
I was very vocal in my concerns about Ason Kidd’s ability to guard this guy; I felt like Miss Cleo when, as I’d been telling anyone who’d listen for weeks, his disregard for Kidd’s dignity decided this series. Dude’s playoff debut was a 25-6-12 clinic; he played near flawless ball, hitting half his shots, playing his usual tough D and rocking a 10-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. No shit. Chris has essentially just sent a team that a month ago considered itself a contender back to the drawing board; Kobe’s still my MVP but knowing Paul has another decade of this calibre play left in him, I’m sure he’ll be getting a few of his own.
I was very vocal in my concerns about Ason Kidd’s ability to guard this guy; I felt like Miss Cleo when, as I’d been telling anyone who’d listen for weeks, his disregard for Kidd’s dignity decided this series. Dude’s playoff debut was a 25-6-12 clinic; he played near flawless ball, hitting half his shots, playing his usual tough D and rocking a 10-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. No shit. Chris has essentially just sent a team that a month ago considered itself a contender back to the drawing board; Kobe’s still my MVP but knowing Paul has another decade of this calibre play left in him, I’m sure he’ll be getting a few of his own.
Pissing Lebron Off Just Isn’t a Smart Move
Why not? Because he thrives off of naysayers. Even though Washington’s roster represents the comfortable majority of people who would ever put Lebron on blast, he’s been proving critics wrong his whole career. Earlier this season, he responded to jokes from Chris Bosh’s sideline-sitting girlfriend by dropping 24 on Toronto in a game-winning fourth quarter rally. He’s addressed the Wizards’ bashing by putting up his typical eye-popping stat lines en route to a 3-1 series lead. And in the highly unlikely event he doesn’t prove his point on the hardwood (like in that Game 3 aberration), Jay-Z’s down to diss you.
The Mavs, Suns and Raps are set to appear on 'Change of Heart'
There’s many cases to be made about why these teams haven’t performed in the playoffs and what pieces they’re missing. Maybe Dallas needs a low-post scorer. Maybe Phoenix needs mor
e bodies on D. Maybe Toronto needs to ditch their ball-dominating PG on a team full of spot-up shooters and get tougher inside. What’s obvious in all three cases is that moves need to be made. This will be a big offseason for all three franchises; the players, coaches and front office will all be under heavy scrutiny entering a summer of uncertainty as they try to break the cycle of promising seasons leading to prompt playoffs exits. (exhibit 1: the Mavs canning the Little General mere hours after I wrote this)The Detroit Pistons Could Power Your Thermometer
Mercurial: characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood
1mer·cu·ri·al
Pronunciation:
\(ˌ)mər-ˈkyu̇r-ē-əl\
Function:
adjective
Are the resident Eastern playoff threats really struggling to put away the upstart Sixers? Or are they just the textbook definition of a mood-swinging squad that plays on par with its competition? Bet on the latter. The Pistons have for years been accused of being complacent at times, but it was never more evident than Game 3 when they rolled over and let Philly put a 20-point ass-whupping on them, waiting until Game 4 to return the favour with their own comfortable win. They’ll likely end this series in six, but if they can’t stay consistent against the rawest team in the playoffs, I’m not optimistic about their title hopes.
‘Melo and Josh got 5 on It
It was evident throughout the first round exits
these young stars helped usher in through their general indifference that they’d rather be posted up on a plush couch with a ten-sack, a few Swishers and a How High DVD. After Melo shot 5-420 in Game 3, he accused his whole team of quitting (which, despite how obvious it was to everyone watching, should never be admitted to by a team’s ‘leader’) rather than accepting blame for being a marquee player who had repeatedly missed routine layups. His recent DUI (on the morning of his squad’s most important game this season), however unfortunately, only punctuates his character issues. Josh Howard hasn’t been any more of a model teammate, waxing about his offseason indulgence right before a serious dud in a must-win game for the Mavs. Well congrats, fellas. Thanks in part to your ineptitude, you’ve got an extra couple weeks to get high as fuck while your names are inevitably floated around in trade talks. Enjoy.It Really Isn’t Tracy’s Fault
Seriously people. Can we lay off the guy? He’s trying his hardest. For just as long, Kevin Garnett never won a playoff series. Rather than land on the butt end of everyone’s jokes, KG was subject to much sympathy; his teams were never good enough to get over the hump and Kevin McHale took the blame for not putting better players around him. Now, while I know T-Mac’s not the ass-busting, influential leader that Garnett is, for his career McGrady’s dropped 28,7,6 with over a steal and block/game in the playoffs. He’s been beset by injuries both to himself and valuable teammates and still managed to get the hobbling Rockets this far after everyone wrote them off when Yao went down. It seems fair at this point to say that factors beyond his control have led to his seemingly eternal first-round damnation. McGrady’s a much more mature player than the youngster who boldly forecast a victory over the Hornets in ’02, and if Yao can keep his feet under him next year he’ll get that playoff run he’s been waiting for.
It’s (still) Anyone’s Trophy
Among the things still undecided from the first round are consensus favourites in either conference. It’s anyone’s guess which of the West
titans will emerge from the upcoming clashes that could go down as instant classics. All three already-advanced teams were dominant in winning far easier than most would’ve thought. In the East, the two perceived powerhouses are having trouble closing out two of the wackest playoff teams we’ve seen in awhile and look increasingly susceptible to an upset (never underestimate the Lebron factor) their stamina and confidence both rattled by their surprising opposition. Either way, the conference semis and every ensuing round are sure to be highly-contested and (assuming either the Spurs or Jazz get bounced) exciting bouts that hold plenty of promise for the birth of new rivalries, superstars and even dynasties; maybe even enough to make up for last year’s “Finals”.
Among the things still undecided from the first round are consensus favourites in either conference. It’s anyone’s guess which of the West
titans will emerge from the upcoming clashes that could go down as instant classics. All three already-advanced teams were dominant in winning far easier than most would’ve thought. In the East, the two perceived powerhouses are having trouble closing out two of the wackest playoff teams we’ve seen in awhile and look increasingly susceptible to an upset (never underestimate the Lebron factor) their stamina and confidence both rattled by their surprising opposition. Either way, the conference semis and every ensuing round are sure to be highly-contested and (assuming either the Spurs or Jazz get bounced) exciting bouts that hold plenty of promise for the birth of new rivalries, superstars and even dynasties; maybe even enough to make up for last year’s “Finals”. 
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