Ballin’: Dirk and Dallas are A-OK
NBA April 7th. 2008, 8:45am
Dallas 105, Phoenix 98: It was surprising to watch the Mavs, who couldn’t close a window all season, finish with a monster fourth quarter (27-9) on the road. Even though Phoenix was our pick to win it all at season’s start, and we’re going to pulling for them in the postseason, this team has become too predictable on offense – all Amare, all the time. Come on, fellas, get Grant Hill some more shots.
Seattle 151, Denver 147, 2 OT: All eight Nuggets that played reached double figures, but here’s what didn’t happen – defense on Kevin Durant at the end of regulation and OT. The rookie twice drilled clutch triples – the one at the end of OT was at least from 30-feet out (hey, it’s Snapper Jones!) – and the Sonics dropped the Nuggets into an 8th place tie with the Warriors in the West. Durant scored 37; fellow rookie Jeff Green had 35. Carmelo Anthony led everyone with 38.
New Orleans 108, Golden State 96: What did Matt Barnes do wrong? He’s getting no burn lately, and when you couple that with the Pietrus groin injury, the Warriors have no bench. Not good for a running team. Stack Jack’s last four games: 12-for-47. CP3’s 16 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds meant more than the 35 from Monta Ellis.
Los Angeles Lakers 114, Sacramento 92: Vlad Rad scored 21 points and took 14 rebounds, and now that the Suns are two games back in the Pacific, Lakers fans can turn their attention toward Andrew Bynum’s return, which won’t happen Tuesday, but perhaps shortly thereafter.
San Antonio 72, Portland 65: The Lakers have the injury issues, the Suns are still a work in progress, and the Hornets haven’t been tested in the postseason, which leaves the Spurs as the favorites this postseason. Yes, the same Spurs who scored 64 points in a road loss Friday, and 72 Sunday.
62 Responses to “Ballin’: Dirk and Dallas are A-OK”
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April 7th, 2008 at 8:54 am
dirk looked pretty healthy even tho theres no way he is.
durant was insane last night.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:56 am
… and the Rockets won
April 7th, 2008 at 9:02 am
i hope Denver doesnt make it into the playoffs. When is George Karl going to learn to teach some defense on that team. The Sonics of all teams putting up 151 on you
Knicks steamrolled the Magic last night. Dwight pretty much had the same shitty performance he had against Cleveland. But this time we got smoked in the garden.
anyone see that guy run on the floor last night during that game? Was he going for superman? any links
April 7th, 2008 at 9:03 am
cant believe the sonics put up 151 on them last night.. jesusssss… irish how bout your magic stomping the cavs this weekend? good shit brother..
dwight>lebron
but
wade 06 finals>>>>every1
April 7th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Rockets were all set to go in but they got bounced for the barnburner
April 7th, 2008 at 9:08 am
wade 06 finals + crooked refs > everyone
wade sucks now.
irish…ill give it to you, magic crushed my LeBrons. im close to giving up on them, they suck all sorts of fierce. i wanna use mike brown’s fucking fat head as a bowling ball.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:10 am
he does not suck now spencer.. he was never completley healthy this year.. i’d like to see him HEALTHY with beasley and marrion next year..
April 7th, 2008 at 9:10 am
@cortes- it was good to see the Magic pull off that road victory on Saturday without an impact from Dwight. Lebron wasnt 100% in that game, so i cant really talk that much junk to my favorite Cavs fans
i cant believe no one saw that guy run on the floor last night in the garden. He just ran the baseline but still, thats twice this year in MSG
April 7th, 2008 at 9:10 am
it was great to actually see the mavs close out a game for once. they’ve been so close on so many games lately. the key to the defense was that josh howard or devan george were guarding amare instead of dirk, that way, they could easily switch with kidd or be better at working around the pick and staying with him.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:16 am
cortes…he’s never going to be healthy. he’s an undersized combo guard who’s only asset is diving wildly into defenders to draw a foul. he’s going to be hurt every year and even with beasley, the lane is going to be that much more clogged without shaq.
i cant stand the fucker.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:23 am
that one’s interesting.. and that theory that he will be hurt every year has been regurgitated many times.. as a heat fan, i really hope not..though he can play a little banged up, the problem is the big injuries, like the dislocated shoulder.. but that play was a fluke play where he ran into shane battier on a screen, not because he drove into defenders, but i guess time will tell..
April 7th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Durant played sick — it had to happen at least once, right?
The Matt Barnes situation is baffling to me, also. He’s one of my favorite players.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:29 am
cortes…yea, i mean, i dont want the guy to get hurt, but it’s just the reality of him being undersized and the way he plays. and i dont hate him as much as i hate the refs handing the heat the NBA finals (aside from the cavs, the mavs are my fav team…they converted me when i lived in dallas. oh and that $200 i lost when i was pretty fuckin broke…gambling is bad).
but as long as pat riley is associated with the heat, i wish nothing good ever comes their way.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:42 am
LOL.. dont hate wade.. hate dirk.. fucking choker!
April 7th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Dirk had 29-15 in the win-or-go-fishin’ game, and he was the Boss in the series versus the Spurs that year.
The “Dirk as choker” tag doesn’t work for me.
I pin the loss on Avery. He’s been outclassed in his playoff series losses. Riley first, then Nellie last year.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:58 am
@nick- outclassed in the NBA finals, ill give you that nick. The series last year against the Warriors, Nellie knew exactly how to stop Dirk. And he did exactly that. Avery Johnson is a great coach, but its always the coaches fault.
So is it Mike Browns fault this year?
April 7th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Sonics/Nuggets last night was high quality TV, Kevin Durant looked like a beast, as did Jeff Green. Do the Sonics even have a center?
April 7th, 2008 at 10:00 am
well heres his stats from the 6 games, just makes to misses..
game 1:
dirk: 4 for 14
wade: 11 for 25
game2:
dirk: 8 for 16
wade: 6 for 19
game 3:
dirk: 9 for 20
wade: 14 for 26
game 4:
dirk: 2 of 14
wade: 13 of 23
game 5:
dirk: 8 of 19
wade: 11 of 28
game 6:
dirk: 10 of 22
wade: 10 of 18
hmm..
April 7th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Nick – How was Denver’s points per posession (useless stat) last night, or the night before when they gave up 118 at home to Sac?
Denver’s D = LeBron’s supporting cast
April 7th, 2008 at 10:34 am
yes.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Rockets clinch playoff spot, even though TBL predicted they might slide out all of 6 days ago.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:41 am
@spencer- did you see your boy Ben Wallace miss another wide open dunk on Saturday? hilarious
any autographs or anything from the game?
April 7th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Why does it matter if a national outlet predicts that your team might slide? Does it mean they don’t get the respect that they deserve? Isn’t respect earned on the court through action? Who gives a shit if TBL thought that a team might hit a cold spell and fall out of the playoffs if they didn’t?
/This rant brought to you by Johnson and Johnson “No Tears” Baby Shampoo
April 7th, 2008 at 10:45 am
@irish: It sucks that as soon as a guy joins your team, he’s “your boy.” There’s a bunch of guys on the Suns that I wish weren’t my boy, like Zarco Czbarcaba and Jake Voskohl. Spence, is Ben Wallace your boy yet?
April 7th, 2008 at 10:51 am
That should read: “lots of guys who have been on the suns…” Thank you for your patience.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:52 am
irish…no autographs, not my thing. i was close enough tho to see the cavs huddle…and mike brown has to be the worst coach in the NBA from a personnel management standpoint. none of the 5 starters paid a single iota of attention to him in the hudde, and the only guy who was focused on it was eric snow.
Hef…ben wallace is NOT my boy. Big Z is however.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:55 am
loved the “no tears” rant, i cant stand the rockets. That guy also says that Yao ming with a broken foot is better than my boy. I just love reminding that guy of why Yao gets voted to the All Star game, China voters.
JJ Redick is “my boy”. He is part of the “Make it Rain” crew in Orlando.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I miss Pat Burke, that goofy Irish, Mr. Clean Looking dude who played for the suns for two years. He was my boy.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am
sad to say, but Ricky Davis and D-Miles were legitimately “my boys” when they were here in cleveland.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Pat Burke for Congress!
April 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Will the Cavaliers hold on to the 4? 2 games ahead of the Wiz, with the following schedule: NJ, At Chicago, Miami, At Philly, Detroit
Wiz: Boston, At Detroit, Philly, Indy, at Orlando
Wiz have a much tougher schedule… but who plays in the Boston game, and what’s Detroit or Orlando playing for in those games (same with Detroit’s game against the Cavs).
April 7th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Posting this in here since I think all the people who were talking music last week are in this thread. Lollapalooza lineup just announced!!
Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead, Kanye, Wilco, Gnarls Barkley, Raconteurs, the National, Lupe Fiasco…
April 7th, 2008 at 11:07 am
orlando’s goal right now cursed is 50+ wins. Ron Jeremy said that last night after the blowout lose to NYK. Orlando plays Chicago twice, Min, ATL, and the wizards one more time.
Cleveland could play Orlando in the playoffs if they keep losing. I would love that
April 7th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Scalabrine… Not my boy.
KG… sure he’s my boy. Pierce, Allen, Rondo, Powe, and Posey, too.
Cassell… Not yet but he has potential to become my boy.
Spence – Don’t forget Ferry assembled those guys who don’t pay attention to Mike Brown.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Does anyone still listen to Wilco? They’re good, but they don’t get me excited anymore. “New Wilco Album Out Today!” Eh… Radiohead’s awesome though. I would buy tix just for them.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Damn Sports gal… For real? Rage w/ Zack? Radiohead? Etc… Sounds like a great show!
April 7th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Wade averaged something like 20 or 21 FTA in the 4 games that Miami won. That series was an abomination (channeling Jackie Chiles) from that perspective.
Everyone is too quick to anoint people as chokers. It drives me insane. Players just play.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Hasn’t Rage moved into Al Pacino/Robert De Niro levels of self parody? I can’t take rich musicians seriously when they rock out against inequality.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Hef, I’m with you, Wilco’s albums don’t really do it for me, but their live shows in Chicago are always AWESOME.
Check out the lineup, I only recognize the first 10-15 bands on the list!
http://www.lollapalooza.com/default.asp?fd=1
April 7th, 2008 at 11:22 am
i like the team on paper…but ferry hired the coach.
sportsgal…so is lollapalooza only a one stop festival like bonaroo now? thats kinda lame. OOO SOULIVE!!!
boo…soundtribe sector 9. fuckin lamest band ive ever seen.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Yao (career):
19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds. Oh, yeah, but he’s just an All Star because China likes him. Sure.
Yao v. D-Ho on 1/4/08?
Yao – 26 and 10
D-Ho – 16 and 8. And the “L”
April 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
@sportsgal: how do you not mention Bloc Party and Broken Social Scene? They’re both a good show to watch. Not to mention Okkervil River, who’s latest album was in the top 10 for 2007. Stephen Malkmus (formerly of Pavement) and Explosions in the Sky???? Too bad I don’t live in Chicago, this will be a great show.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
come back next year GrungeDave when he is healthy. There is no argument right now with him being out.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Soundtribe Sector 9 – Great drummer, average band, but their fans make me want to puke. I saw them in a small packed club and I was drunk and I yelled at one point. And this hippy-chick who was massaging her crystal tapped me on the shoulder and told me to be quiet! At a freaking Rock and Roll show!! Like she was having a meditative moment or some shit.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
@Spence – I’d compare Lolla to Coachella, it’s a destination music festival, but instead of being in the middle of a field, it’s downtown in Grant Park. You have to walk past Buckingham Fountain to get to the different stages.
@Hef, sorry for not mentioning BSS, I was just throwing a few bands out there! I don’t know Stephen Malkmus or Explosions in the Sky, guess I’ll have to do a little research and check them out.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Explosions in the Sky does the soundtrack for Friday Night Lights, amazingly beautiful, alyrical stuff. Try “Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live…” (or something like that) it’s amazing.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
@sportsgal: You’re unfamiliar with Pavement??? Stop everything, get in a time machine, and go back to 1995 when they were the funniest/best band around (subjective arguments abound).
April 7th, 2008 at 11:39 am
dude, EXACTLY. it’s so fucking annoying. a bunch of my buddies are pretty ‘hippy-ish’ but they act normal and we go to this show and there’s all these assholes in tye-dye doing these trance-dances. even tho i was high as a kite, i wanted to fucking light the place on fire.
yea, drummer was the best part, but i cant stand ’stoner’ music that is so fucking lazy. at least a lot of jam bands try and be musically adventerous, Sountribe just plays retarded shit for stoners to space out to. i hate lazy, ignorant music like that more than anything else.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:42 am
sportsgal…ah, urban bonaroo, lovely. just sucks that it’s gonna be harder to sneak weed in.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I guess someone who enjoys hip hop and R&B should stay out of this thread
April 7th, 2008 at 11:47 am
spence, they don’t do pat downs, they do a quick bag search and that’s it. It can’t be that difficult, I was practically getting a contact high in the crowd last year regardless of the band I was watching.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am
@cursed: don’t get persnickity. We welcome all types.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Yeah Spence. I can feel some jam-band stuff, and actually I drunkenly screamed at that show because I think it was at the end of a song that I liked. Or I was just happy that the 22-minute song finally ended. Either way I was “cheering”, if you will, not being an ass-hole. And this “holier-than-though” bitch who thinks she’s a hippy fucking tells me to shut up.
All in all though… definitely lazy music, with the exception of the drummer, who is like freaking Iverson on the kit.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:51 am
irish, there is always an argument to be made. Last time Howard saw Yao and “tried” to guard him… Superman fouled out. Just sayin’.
April 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Cursed… No man I like R&B and hip-hop just the same. That’s the same mentality of that hippy bitch at the Sector 9 show who told me not to cheer on the band. Fuckin’ “A”, music lovers are gettin as bad as dems and republicans. It’s all good!
April 7th, 2008 at 11:55 am
What’s funny is…you know for a fact I just double checked each and every one of these bands in youtube..
April 7th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
great analogy.
April 7th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Cursed – Hov should have never married Beyonce. She’s yesterday’s news…baggage.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
@grungedave- i am highly confident that if there was a poll done by the GM’s in the NBA, that 99% would choose Dwight Howard at center over anyone else. Yao is 1999, Dwight is the future of the league at that position. If you want to judge by one game, than go ahead. I didnt want to get into this about Yao vs Howard, for one YAo is hurt. But if you want to keep yapping about a player that will have no effect on your favorite team come crunch time, by all means go ahead.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Yao was drafted in 2002… thanks for playing though.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
my bad, that is when he was pressured into the draft.
keep coming back dave. one day at a time
April 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
@Cortes:
If the Heat have the #1 pick, they are taking Rose, not Beasley. From Spoelstra’s mouth to my ears.