NBA Playoff Banter

Good morning once again, everyone...Predictable night in the NBA Playoffs last night as both defending conference champions bounced back in convincing fashion. I liked what I saw out of the Lakers (don't mistake that with 'I like the Lakers'); Kobe was incredible. When he flips that switch, he is unstoppable. Shane Battier was defending him perfectly and it absolutely didn't matter.

Of course Kobe's performance is not particularly what I liked...It was the fact that they were actually MORE physical than a team who has reached this point by winning the physical battles. Houston is not the most explosive offensive team in the postseason, they win games by beating up the opposition and frustrating them. Something that the Lakers have been unable to do in the past (which has usually led to their demise) is win the games that took on any other personality than their own. When teams have gotten physical with them, and the tempo slowed, they struggled.

Winning this series would be huge for the Lakers in more ways than the mere fact that they will advance deeper into the postseason. Quite frankly, every other team that is still alive (excluding Dallas who is pretty much on life support) plays hard defense (yes even Denver surprisingly, thanks to Chauncey for putting the 'D' back in Denver, recently known as 'enver' which to the dyslexic may have read 'Never'), plays physical, and thrives in the half court game (though the Nuggets can excel at both).

Point is, if LA wants to fulfill what is expected of them, them Euro dudes are gonna have to man up....that bench is gonna have to man up....and when the defense gets frustrating and the calls ain't coming...Kobe will have to man up. They will need to encapsulate their performance last night, in every facet, and bring that intensity every night. That's the only way they'll take control of this series...that's the only way they'll beat Denver...that's the ONLY way they can be champions.

I'm still picking Cleveland though!

As for Boston, I have to talk about Rondo. How good is this kid? I mean he is sustaining an absurd level of play this post season, and I get a sense that NBA fans still don't give him his due respect. Not even I do honestly. Today I have to give it to him...tying Larry Bird for most playoff triple-doubles as a Celtic?! How old is he? What round is it? It's time to pay attention to this kid.

Most of all he is one of the best defenders in the NBA. Anyone who has played ball knows, it is VERY difficult to sustain 100% intensity on both ends of the court and be as active as Rondo is, AND be successful at both. He is kinda reminding me of 'The Glove' Gary Payton back in his Seattle (regular season) days. Only difference is, this kid excels when it counts. No knock on Payton, but Seattle was often a disappointment in the Western Conference playoffs after very strong regular seasons.

As for Boston's chances, I don't like them without KG. I am not sure if they are holding him off as long as they can, or if he's really not an option for this post season. I hope he comes back though. I am not a C's fan, but I hate to see a defending champ lose its crown without having the chance to defend its crown with a full roster. It kinda takes away from it. I am sure LeBron and/or Kobe would relish the opportunity to send them home...all of them...no excuses. And let's face it, that's what we want to see. We want to see epic clashes of the juggernauts.

Who knows what's gonna happen, maybe they fall behind 3-1 to the Magic and KG comes sprinting out of the locker room for Game 5...After all Paul Pierce did get carried off the court, only to come back in the same game miraculously...Luck of the Irish? To quote KG himself..."ANYTHING'S POSIBOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"