Saturday, April 21, 2007
NBA Playoffs; the West, Part II
Dallas-Golden State
All the pressure is on Dallas. Golden State will go small and likely win some games. Thanks to Don Nelson they know the Mavs style inside and out. And how’s about Nellie? The Clarion had left him for dead, again. And what about Baron Davis being a star. Jason Richardson? As for Steven Jackson we'll let Bill Simmons say it, "he caused the fading Pacers to make one of the worst deals of the decade because they were so desperate to dump him; he turned his career around by embracing NellieBall, even giving point guard a whirl for a few games (now that was a sight); and if that's not enough, the fact that he's living in Oakland doubles as the most dangerous running subplot in sports right now that doesn't involve Pacman Jones."
Golden State has done well against the Mavs head to head this year, 3 and 0. They will not win this series. There is too much talent in Dallas. Starting with Nowitski and Josh Howard. But Nellie and the aptly named battlers from NorCal will get a couple from his former employer Mark Cuban. Don’t understand why people are all over Nowitski for MVP, once again Bill Simmons says it best, "his 2007 stats ranked behind Larry Bird's best nine seasons, Charles Barkley's best 10 seasons and Karl Malone's best 11 seasons. Nowitzki's shooting percentages were remarkable (50 percent on field goals, 90 percent on free throws, 42 percent on 3-pointers), but his relevant averages (24.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists) look like a peak season from Tom Chambers. He can't affect games unless he's scoring, doesn't make his teammates better and plays decent defense at best. If you're giving the MVP to someone because of his offense, he'd better be a killer offensive player. You can't say that about the 2007 Dirk Nowitzki."
As for the
Phoenix Suns-LA Lakers
Kobe. Kobe. Kobe. So many points, Bob MacAdoo would be proud. But the other Lakers, they stand around and they watch Kobe. Odom and Walton have potential, but rarely get to show it. Unlike a brief midseason stretch where Los Angeles tried to execute the triangle offense, in this series the Clarion believes they will gawk as Kobe goes one on one. Kobe, he will have one 60 point plus game, and probably, one quarter where he pouts after getting criticized and doesn't shoot at all. This year the Suns have Amare Stoudemire. They also have Kurt Thomas, an underrated, hard nose player, with skills that once led the NCAA in scoring when he was a TCU Horned Frog. The Clarion is rooting for Nash to win the NBA championship this year. Aye, the wee Canadian, why not? Phil Jackson is an excellent coach and will devise a plan to make it tough on the Suns, but Phoenix has so many pieces that fit so well together. They will outscore the Lakers, who don’t have the big guys to match the pace of Stoudemire, Marion and Thomas. Suns in five.
The Clarion's early Finals pick: Phoenix versus Detroit; and an epic seven game series decided late in Game 7.
All the pressure is on Dallas. Golden State will go small and likely win some games. Thanks to Don Nelson they know the Mavs style inside and out. And how’s about Nellie? The Clarion had left him for dead, again. And what about Baron Davis being a star. Jason Richardson? As for Steven Jackson we'll let Bill Simmons say it, "he caused the fading Pacers to make one of the worst deals of the decade because they were so desperate to dump him; he turned his career around by embracing NellieBall, even giving point guard a whirl for a few games (now that was a sight); and if that's not enough, the fact that he's living in Oakland doubles as the most dangerous running subplot in sports right now that doesn't involve Pacman Jones."
Golden State has done well against the Mavs head to head this year, 3 and 0. They will not win this series. There is too much talent in Dallas. Starting with Nowitski and Josh Howard. But Nellie and the aptly named battlers from NorCal will get a couple from his former employer Mark Cuban. Don’t understand why people are all over Nowitski for MVP, once again Bill Simmons says it best, "his 2007 stats ranked behind Larry Bird's best nine seasons, Charles Barkley's best 10 seasons and Karl Malone's best 11 seasons. Nowitzki's shooting percentages were remarkable (50 percent on field goals, 90 percent on free throws, 42 percent on 3-pointers), but his relevant averages (24.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists) look like a peak season from Tom Chambers. He can't affect games unless he's scoring, doesn't make his teammates better and plays decent defense at best. If you're giving the MVP to someone because of his offense, he'd better be a killer offensive player. You can't say that about the 2007 Dirk Nowitzki."
As for the
Phoenix Suns-LA Lakers
Kobe. Kobe. Kobe. So many points, Bob MacAdoo would be proud. But the other Lakers, they stand around and they watch Kobe. Odom and Walton have potential, but rarely get to show it. Unlike a brief midseason stretch where Los Angeles tried to execute the triangle offense, in this series the Clarion believes they will gawk as Kobe goes one on one. Kobe, he will have one 60 point plus game, and probably, one quarter where he pouts after getting criticized and doesn't shoot at all. This year the Suns have Amare Stoudemire. They also have Kurt Thomas, an underrated, hard nose player, with skills that once led the NCAA in scoring when he was a TCU Horned Frog. The Clarion is rooting for Nash to win the NBA championship this year. Aye, the wee Canadian, why not? Phil Jackson is an excellent coach and will devise a plan to make it tough on the Suns, but Phoenix has so many pieces that fit so well together. They will outscore the Lakers, who don’t have the big guys to match the pace of Stoudemire, Marion and Thomas. Suns in five.
The Clarion's early Finals pick: Phoenix versus Detroit; and an epic seven game series decided late in Game 7.
Labels: NBA, Predictions, sports
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