BL's Take: Seems like the Raptors made it their game by going back to Toronto. The Raptors played a cohesive, team game which is the staple of their team, and they were able to prevent the sweep and get back into the game. While Toronto has underachieved all season long, it was a given that they would be able to be cohesive enough to get a win on their home floor. Both Jose Calderon and TJ Ford stole the show, each scoring in double figures, and Calderon handing out 13 assists for his ball club. The unselfishness was evident, as the Raptors had 31 total assists for the game. The question now is this: will Toronto be able to maintain this momentum going into game 4 at home?
Orlando's big three front court played well again, as all three (Lewis, Turkoglu, Howard) shot above 50% from the field. In this game, Orlando didn't get any production from it's starting backcourt of Maurice Evans and Jameer Nelson as it did the game before, and that was the main statistical breakdown for this team. Nelson (2-8 FG, 6 points, 5 fouls) was tore up by the PG tandem of TJ Ford and Jose Calderon, and for the Magic to steal said momentum back into their favor for game 4, they'll need another at least halfway decent game from him. Noteworthy to the Magic's cause is that they received some help from Keith Bogans (12 points, 4-11 FG), just not from anybody else on the Magic bench.
BL's Take: Now that's more like it! The Wizards came into tonight looking like scalded dogs, for lack of a better term, after being handily trounced by the Cavs in games 1 and 2. This was a much different Wizards team, as they shared the ball and executed their offensive game. One of the guys that has been doing all the talking for the Wizards, DeShawn Stevenson, came up big tonight with a highly efficient 19 points on 5-9 shooting, and going 4 for 4 from the line, in only 29 minutes of action on the floor. The Wizards had 5 players in double figures. The Wizards will now wait to see what happens with Gilbert Arenas, as he had to leave the game due to possibly severely re-injuring his knee. Arenas only played 10 minutes in this contest. Truth be told, I think that at this point, the Wizards play better basketball with Arenas out of the equation.
And to the Cavaliers…hah! You're paltry King James is nothing to the All-Star stature of Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler! You can only imagine to comparatively match-up with the super-awesome, very manly beard that DeShawn Stevenson has grown! It's very apparent that, the Cavaliers cannot be carried by LeBron and LeBron alone. Devin Brown's 2-8 FG, 10 points 8 rebounds night is not going to be sufficient. This is certainly a series now…hah!
BL's Take: The Jazz pissed this one away, as they had the lead at the end of the 3rd quarter. The first three quarters was filled with solid play for the most part, with Okur not shooting well (3-13…yuck), but getting to the line a few times (4-7 FT), and getting in the double-digit rebound column. The Jazz also got contributions from Ronnie Brewer and Matt Harpring on the wings, but during the final seconds of the game, and as Deron Williams tried hard to find a good shot for Carlos Boozer, it was not to be. Deron had to take a bad shot that was blocked from the weak side by Carl Landry, and it just didn't fall. Williams, however, had an excellent game, no doubt.
The Rockets played excellent defense and controlled the tempo in the 2nd half to get back into the game. McGrady had another outstanding game, and for the Rockets to step inside the Jazz' home court and steal a win, when the Jazz have only lost 4 games all year, is very impressive. Carl Landry (7 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks) played a critical defensive role with his weak side block on Deron Williams and with denying Carlos Boozer the ball in the last seconds of the game. Landry is the true hero, though the stat sheet will emphatically point toward McGrady and Rafer Alston. We knew there would not be any sweeps in the West, but can the Rockets get it done in Salt Lake City two games in a row? I seriously doubt it, but kudos to the Rockets for a job well done tonight.
That's all for me tonight. Don't forget to email with any feedback, I answer all of my emails, and am happy to do so! Also, Liquidating my comics collection: if you are missing any X-Men or X-Men-related issues, I'm sure we can come to some arrangement.
Yeah, it's a good thing the Wizards tied the series up! Oh... wait... they didn't... they still have to beat Cleveland 3 more times and they can not and will not do it.
Posted By: Jeremy (Guest) on April 25, 2008 at 07:01 PM
It looks like Phoenix is about to be swept, Steve Kerr is about to look like an idiot, and Phoenix is a franchise is going to be in salary cap hell for the next four years.
Posted By: Guest#9252 (Guest) on April 26, 2008 at 12:57 AM
