NBA Playoffs: The Best Teams Won.

It doesn’t get much better than a playoff series that comes down to a Game Seven , no matter what the sport.  The players are sick of each other, tempers are frayed, and coaches are about all-strategized out. 

How many surprises and adjustments can there be?   You know the teams are pretty equal; if otherwise, why have they split the six games leading up to Game Seven?

A couple of days off while the press analyzes ad nauseum.  As game time approaches, fans get to a fever pitch, players get nervous and totally psyched up.  Anyone who has participated in a Game Seven will tell you that just entering the arena, there’s a different feeling.  You can literally feel the tenseness and excitement in the air. 

That’s where we were yesterday with two Game Sevens scheduled.  I sat down ready to watch two great games and what did I get?  Two blowouts.  How does that happen? 

Like I said earlier, if they weren’t pretty equal how did they get to a Game Seven?  It’s not like both teams aren’t going to be up for the game, both teams putting everything on the line. 

I don’t know the stats about this, but thinking back, there seems like there have been a disappropiate number of blowouts in Game Sevens, considering that the teams should be basically equal.

Lakers-Rockets

While watching this game, one thought was prominent in my mind.  How did this series ever get to a Game Seven?   LA was so clearly the better team, after Yao went down.  They were so much bigger and longer than the Rockets . 

It was like a college team versus a high school team, length wise.  Game Seven was no contest and that was with Kobe having just a so-so game.  LA made it so hard for the Rockets to score, and if LA was patient, it was almost impossible for the Rockets to stop them inside. 

What I got out of this game was such respect for the Rockets and their competitiveness.  If they weren’t so competitive, they never could have made it to a seventh game. 

At the same time, I gained a further appreciation for how good the Lakers can be.  When they are active, and into playing defense…with their length and depth…they are very, very good. 

Offensively, they can’t help but be good due to Kobe and their collective shooting abilities. If they are to reach their potential, it is all about defending for the Lakers.

Boston-Orlando

With Garnett out, I felt all along that Orlando was the better team.  But I thought with the home court in Game Seven, Boston had a good shot.  They did not and the better team won. 

Orlando is just better, and deeper with Turkoglu being the difference.  He was the best player on the floor.  He had 25 points and 12 assists, but more importantly, hit some big shots when they were needed. 

The Magic offense was basically directed by him and he had a very impressive game.  He also did  a nice job on Pierce, though he had a lot of help.  Howard, of course, was a force, but mainly on the defensive end.  His offense is pretty suspect, but give some credit to Perkins who was very physical with him. 

I think Howard needs to junk that running 13-foot hook shot…come on, Patrick Ewing,  you’re coaching him.  You didn’t take shots like that.  What is that shot about?

The Missing Piece, er Pierce.

Paul Pierce is getting a lot of flack about his lack of game in Game Seven.  In no way did he have a good game, and in fact, it was a disappointing game from him.  However, let’s give some credit to Orlando’s strategy of coming off of Rondo to double team Pierce. 

It appeared to me that that grew to be discouraging to Pierce, and finally, he  gave in to it.  He just did not look like he was into it as much as usual.  I think it would have been beneficial to Pierce if he could have come off some screens and quickly made a move, with his teammates moving. 

Instead, most of the time he would get the ball in an isolation type set, with his teammates in predictable areas so that after doubling him, the defensive adjustments were predictable.  I’m starting  to wonder who the Magic are going to come off of in order to double Lebron.

Lastly, let’s give some credit to Orlando’s front office, especially Otis Smith and Dave Twardzik, their basketball people.  They had done a nice job putting their roster together over the years. 

Good group of guys, and talented.  However, when Jameer Nelson went, down their season looked like it could be in jeopardy.  They went out and traded for a solid veteran point guard in Rafer Alston. 

It's not always easy to go get a veteran point guard, especially one who is starting for a playoff bound team, and they got him without giving up a great deal.  The magic arguably saved their season, without jeopardizing their future.  Excellent job, and they should be congratulated.

Now it’s on to the Conference Finals before we see the NBA Championship between LA and Cleveland.

Image Source: Boston.com