NBA BeatDown Fastbreak 04.27.08: Lakers get Nuggets Down 3-0, Hawks Win A Game Vs. Celts, Orlando and Utah take 3-1 Leads
Posted by BL Anderson on 04.27.2008
The Hawks winning that game tonight is like getting the mint on your pillow at a fine hotel...it's complimentary, but doesn't mean crap!
NBA BeatDown FastBreak 04.27.08
Hello everyone I'm BL Anderson and this is the BeatDown Fastbreak, covering all of Saturday's first round playoff action in the NBA. Before I start, I want to briefly promote the NBA BeatDown coming this Wednesday (What?! Another Stupid Column from this guy Anderson?! Whatta dope...), which will have a super awesome Q & A with Wayne007 from the forums, and you certainly won't want to miss that!
And also, this is a couple of hours late...I was off tonight (work nights for now) and thought I might be able to go to sleep...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! 'Sad Clown Face'
BL's Take: This is just about and open and shut series now that Orlando has won both of their first home games, and then one on the road. Toronto was able to prevent the sweep by winning the pivotal game three, but was unable to capitalize on the momentum that was built by winning that game. Toronto's star, Chris Bosh, certainly knew what would happen if they were to lose this game at home, and showed that by producing a great game, much higher than his normal production, in order to try to carry the Raptors on his shoulders. But this is playoff basketball, and you need other players besides your superstar to contribute mightily if you are to win these basketball games. Once again, Bosh got nothing out of 2006 #1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani (1-7 FG 5 points, 2 rebounds), and a surprisingly bad game out of Jose Calderon (1-7 FG 2 points, 5 assists). The hope in Toronto is that they can steal game five in Orlando, but I fear that this underachieving bunch will be out of the playoffs on that fateful night; another first round exit for the Raptors, who looked so promising and had high hopes prior to the beginning of the season.
Orlando smell blood - period. Rashard Lewis came out and earned his big ol' $116 Million contract, but scoring the ball and rebounding like a champion. Dwight Howard gave his usual dominant effort on the inside, despite being outplayed in this one by Bosh, but Howard had plenty more help. Jameer Nelson decided to lace his shoes appropriately in this contest, and it turned out the better for Orlando. All they need to do is go back to Orlando this week, and close this series out, so they can move on to face the winner of the Piston-Sixers series, which is certainly in doubt now. The Magic won this game on the back of 38% from beyond the arc (11-29 Lewis had 3, Nelson had 3, Keith Bogans had 3).
BL's Take: Just terrible. I don't even think I need to write two whole paragraphs about this sumbitch. Because the Nuggets can't hang; I bet you George Karl gets fired, because they have a huge payroll, the perimeter players don't play any defense hardly, and Carmelo just keeps on chucking that shit up there, praying that it's going to go in. How much does he get paid again? Iverson always tries, but he just can't carry the team - especially when they are all playing like it's the regular season.These Nuggets have to grow up. Meanwhile, Kobe is Kobe, Pau is Pau, and the Lakers are looking awfully dominant at both ends of the floor. Man I said there weren't going to be any sweeps, but I may have to eat that shit once the Spurs knock out the Suns later today, and this nonsense comes to a close later in the week. Just...pitiful. NEXT!
BL's Take: This was definitely the Celtics game to lose, but the Hawks game out with Great defensive pressure and intensity, which I am not sure that the Celtics were expecting. Josh Smith took over this game like it owed him money, and destroyed the Celtics on penetrations and transitions, and had a ton of big plays. Kudos to Smith for shining in his first home playoff game ever! Also, all five Hawks starters were in double figures, and a big thumbs up to Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby for being veteran leaders for this squad tonight.
The Celtics will win the next two games, and it'll be goodbye Hawks...the Celtics will certainly be bringing their A game for game 4 in Atlanta, which I fully expect them to win. KG and P-Squared did everything they could just about, but they weren't cohesive enough to beat the much hungrier Hawks (at least for this game). I expect that to change next game. Regardless, the Celts gave up their game 3, like I figured they would. Now I suspect game 4 will not be a positive experience for the Hawks. But I do think that Mike Woodson's job should be spared BASED ON this game.
BL's Take: The Rockets came out needing to tie this series up in order to have a chance, but were unable to do so. The game played to both team's tempo, but it came down to this: who had more guns? The Rockets had a big one in Tracy McGrady and a more-reliable-by-the-day gun in Rafer Alston, but at the end of the day...the Rockets had 3 All-stars, one picking up after they other, and got another gutsy win. Carl Landry stepped up and played his role for Houston off the bench, causing Boozer more trouble than he'd like, but as a limited talent due to his rookie-ness, the Jazz prevailed.
Meanwhile, while Boozer shot horribly, he made every free throw he took, and Mehmet Okur put in another reliable performance. Deron Williams did what Deron Williams does in 46 big time minutes of action. Kyle Korver came off the bench for 10 points, but didn't hit one single shot from beyond the 3-points line tonight. This year is shaping up to be Lakers-Jazz in the 2nd round.
And that's all for me for tonight. I'll be back tomorrow night with all of Sunday's Action! Don't forget to send feedback if you want, I am certainly appreciative of it. Also, If you want to buy comics...email me! I got lots of X-Men and recent Avengers and Captain America and Spider-Man...I got all that shit. What've you got to lose?! You know you want them.
