Rajon' Cajon, and Big Baby Gets Bigger

Can you believe the nerve of Rajon Rondo?

Rondo came out of nowhere. A former Kentucky Wildcat, Rondo's in his third year in the league, and he's showing exactly why Doc Rivers loves him so much. He can do it all: He can assist, rebound, and now he's become an efficient and quick scorer, constantly driving down the lane like a bowling ball. And he's gotten so good in these three areas, last night he came close to his third triple-double in five games. In last night's thrilling finale, Rondo led his team in scoring with 28 points. With Ray Allen having fouled out, and Paul Pierce struggling from the field for most of the game, Rondo's become the go-to guy.

Luckily, Rondo isn't the only unexpected player to step up. Glen "Big Baby" Davis has taken the pacifier out for good. Finally becoming the toddler he was meant to become, Davis is standing on his own two feet, storming up and down the court and drenching the basket with mid-range jumpers. Pretty impressive, considering the former LSU Tiger was more effective as a post player.

Point is, if these two played the way they did with a Garnett, they would be simply unstoppable. So regardless if they lose in the Eastern Conference playoffs or the National Championship, or even end up winning it all, just imagine this team with another 6'10 energy boost, averaging 15+ and 10+ a game.

***

NBA PREDICTION UPDATE: Looks like the Blazers hit a bump in the road, but they managed to push the Rockets into a game 6 tonight. Watch out, Brandon Roy's looking hungry.

Enjoy the show!

-Davius "Heyward-Bey" Smith

Seeing Red: The Pistons And Bulls Story

Today made one thing clear, for the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls, one era is over, while one era is only beginning.

The Detroit Pistons were swept away by the Cavaliers in an easy four games. It's hard to believe that just last year, the Pistons were an Eastern powerhouse, according to most. The Pistons thought it would be addition through subtraction when it came to Flip Saunders, and they thought they found their Answer in Allen Iverson; but in reality, they gave up the two components that made up the glue--Flip and Mr. Big Shot--keeping the Pistons together.

Now, you can see how all over the place they are. Without Rip Hamilton having a 30 or 40-point game, the Pistons are rusted. Sad to see 'em fail, but until the Motor City turns it around and grows an optimistic disposition, it looks like their sports teams are doomed. Just a guess, but I'm pretty sure sports reflect the cities, and the other way around.

If that's the case, I might recommend moving to Chicago. The Bulls are looking up, doing twice in one year what the organization has never been able to do: Beat the Celtics in the playoffs.

Hand it to Derrick Rose for the much-needed burst of energy Chicago needed. Without him, Salmons or Gordon still wouldn't be enough to get this team over the hump. But thanks to their energetic point guard, Bulls fans finally have something to cheer about. It wasn't easy to get over Michael's departure, but it's good to see that this team is coming up.

After all, the success of teams comes in cycles. So in the future, maybe you'll see an NBA Final between the Chicago Bulls and the Portland Trail Blazers, two young teams that have the powerful parts they need; they just need experience. Hey, it won't be Jordan's Bulls versus those unbeatable Blazers of old, but it's definitely an interesting matchup.

The show the Bulls put on today was great (I might argue that the Celtics imploded, but hey, credit where credit's due), and the show that Detroit put on was equally telling. No matter how you slice it, both teams are mad. One with hunger for more, another wondering how their Answer could've been the wrong one after all.

- The Notorious D.A.V.

Rose Ain't No Bull...

...He's the real deal.

(See what I did with that?)

This weekend, Derrick Rose single-handedly showed everyone in Boston his ass, as he wiped it all over the Celtics defense, closing them out in their first playoff game on their home court.

OUCH. And you thought Garnett's absence hurt 'em.

But how 'bout them Bulls?

Even though the Bulls finished the regular season at .500, the Bulls have shown their moments of brilliance at times, especially in the hands of Ben "Out Of His" Gordon, Derrick "That Morning He" Rose, and new addition John "It's Sahllmons, not Salmons" Salmons.

They're young and they're not so flashy as the other teams, but this team's got drive. Joakim "Yes Ah" Noah has been surprisingly good on defense, blocking shots and pumping up his team. Sound familiar, Kevin Garnett fans?

And while the Celtics have tied up the series 1-1, you've still got to worry if you're a Celtic fan like me. They won because Ray Allen hit his shot from 3, but if you watched the game, you'd know that the Celtics must play their best to even do that. They're missing Garnett, they're missing Scalabrine (he went to USC, remember?), and now they're going to miss Powe like his name misses that 'R' at the end of it. In case you're too tired to go over that last riddle, Powe brought power to the team.

(See what I did there? Tell me you're not impressed.)

In any case, I feel that if the Celtics can discover a line-up that works for them, and maybe if Marbury gets out of this slump, they've got a chance to get to Round 2. And if the match-ups are right, maybe they'll go back to the finals. Maybe.

The Cavs are too good on their home court (even with a team of riled-up Pistons they wipe the floor with 'em), and the two teams with the only real shot at the Cavs, in my humble opinion, are the Magic and the 76ers (I'm an Iguodala fan). Unfortunately, only one of those teams will make it past this round. Tee hee.

Either way, looks like the playoffs are gearing up for some good fun. Like the NHL, some first day upsets, and a huge fan turnout. Looks like fun. Stay tuned ya'll.

-Dave "UConn Makes Good Players, and Connecticut Makes Good Insurance" Smith

NBA SPECIAL EDITION: Roses For Portland

Whatever you do, don't listen to NBA "analysts" on ESPN who think they know basketball. Trust me, instead. I'm unemployed.

So from my beggar hat, I pick the lottery winner, and that winner happens to be...

THE PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

That's right, kiddies. Not the Lakers, Cavs, Celtics or Magic. The Blazers.

And I've never supported them before this year, but here's why the Blazers will be bringing that shiny gold trophy back to the Rose Garden Arena.

The Portland Trailblazers (54-28 on the year) are hot, and they've only been heating up as the season's been coming to a close. This is a good sign for Portland.

Here are some facts that will make you sign up for the Portland bandwagon, when it rolls through College Park this Saturday:

• Portland has the most blow-out wins in the NBA this season. They're dangerous. Hot to the touch.
• The Rose Garden is LOUD. Oregon arenas and stadiums have a nasty effect on visitors (see: Oregon State vs. No. 1 USC)--just good craftsmanship, is all.
  
• Because of this, Portland has 33 wins out of their 38 games on their home court. Both times they played the Lakers at home, they won.
• Rudy Fernandez. The boy wonder set the NBA all-time record for amount of 3-pointers by a rookie in a season. He made 159 3's this year. So you can count on him to make at least 2 from the land down under.
• This team's got Mos Depth. Tonight against Denver's Nugnuts (No. 2 seed, btdubs), Portland's bench scored 72 of the game's 104 points. No starter had double figures. Tonight, Portland also had 29 total assists. As Boston showed everyone last year, helpers win championships.
• Portland swept the reigning champs of Boston this year (that was with Garnett playing). They lost both games to the Cavs, but you want to know the margin? One game by 6, another by 5 in overtime.
  
• Brandon Roy. Need I say more?

In the first round, Portland opens up against the Houston Rockets. If they use their speed, they can beat chop Yao, arrest Artest, and chew on Wafer. Portland has home-court advantage for this game, which could prove especially useful.

After that, should they get so far as to meet the Lakers, you can expect a great series. While Kobe will play his heart out (he will not be embarrassed again by the Eastern Conference), there's a good chance that Phil Jackson may overlook this team as a legitimate threat. It's always the team you least expect. Well don't forget, Phil, your Lakers got beaten in two very rough and tumultuous games in Portland this year. Portland will want to win as a point of contention. Watch yo'self.

Portland is one of those teams that has the ability, if they play well together, to beat any team in the NBA. They know the Lakers, they've beaten the Celtics, and they've made it close with the Cavs.

Watch out, these Portland stars look to blaze a trail straight to the playoffs. Better hope your team isn't first.

Sorry Houston.

Now to get myself a job...pirates are making a comeback, I hear.

-Dave "Tax Refund" Smith

Eastern Conference and the Electric Mayhem

Hope everyone's had an eccentric Easter and a passé Passover! I know I have.

To celebrate the final day of the Masters, I watched basketball!

We're getting near the playoffs folks, and while No. 1 and No. 2 in the East are locked, loaded, and ready to play (so there was nothing tremendous on the line), LeBron didn't get the memo. I swear, I'm gonna fire my memo guy. I'm pretty sure no one's getting my hundreds of memos.

LeBron's well-defined Calves faced off against Paul "Simon" Pierce, Ray "Garfunkel" Allen, and Rajon "Cajon" Rondo in Cleveland. Both Boston and Cleveland had their respective winning streaks--congratulations, gentlemen--and they hoped to use this game to build some steam before diving headfirst into the long, twisty, dark waterslide known as the NBA Playoffs.

So while the game would seem like another great game between the two titans of the East, LeBron literally force-fed each of the Celtics until they puked. I know I almost did. The score after the first quarter was 31-9. Boston was so manhandled that Samuel Adams felt it, right before he rolled over in his grave, reached into his mini cooler and popped open another cold one. (Wouldn't it be weird if Samuel Adams drank Coors? I think imagining him still alive in his grave is probably weirder.)

Like I said in my last post: No Garnett + No Powe = No Eastern Playoffs Championship = No Awesome Christmas Party at Danny Ainge's House Next Year. The best thing about the Celtics is that Marbury--like I mentioned in a previous blog post--has stepped up like I told him to. At least one guy gets my memos. But that's the bottom line of that. Moving on!

Is anyone paying attention to Dwayne Wade? This guy is the Rodney Dangerfield of basketball. Lovable, but still gets no respect.

In an attempt to wrangle some respect, he put up 55 points on the Knicks. While the Quest hasn't been the greatest of teams this year, this was the same Knick team that just took out the Orlando Magic on their home court, so they ain't just whistlin' dixie.

Dwayne "The Rock" Wade had 55 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and a block, but you know what? He'd probably average a triple double like LeBron if he had anybody to pass to. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Wade won't win the MVP race over LeBron, but he better get second place among voters, cause DAMN.

While this isn't what I should be talking about, just one note about the Masters. Angel's win is great, but this is his second major he's won because the leader blew it. Again, don't get me wrong, props to Angel, but it's terrible that Perry blew it, especially since he had so many chances to redeem himself.

-Dave Smith, "The Jewish Jay-Z"

Celtics Need Luck Of The Irish In Playoffs

I'm a Celtic fan.

One summer at camp, I remember playing an ice breaker with our basketball counselor. Say your name, where you're from, and your favorite basketball player.

"My name's Matt, I'm from Dobbs Ferry, NY, and my favorite player's Michael Jordan."
"My name's Alex, I'm from Westchester, NY, and my favorite player's Michael Jordan."
"My name's Dave, I'm from West Hartford, CT, and my favorite player's Paul Pierce."
"Who?"
"He plays for the Celtics. He's really good."

I was a smart little squirt. No one knew Pierce's name, and those who knew it dismissed it until last year, when Garnett, Allen, Posey and Rondo helped the Celtics win a championship, and end a decade of Celtic despair.

One year later, the Celtics must share their dominance with the Magic and the Cavs, but they've had to face more challenges than these two other games.

Sure, the Magic lost Jameer Nelson, arguably one of the country's best point guards, but at least they didn't lose Howard, the heart and soul of the team. This is the very role player that the Celtics lost in Kevin Garnett.

For awhile, it looked like the Celtics would be okay. Earlier this year, they played one day when Garnett had a bad flu and spread 20-point buttah on the opposition's bread. But that was a short leave for Garnett.

Now, we finally get to see what happens to the Celtics over months without their power player. They struggle against teams they used to blow out. It's not Garnett's play; Garnett averaged about 15 and 8, which isn't that important. But it was his presence. His energy. That's what plugged the Celtics into the NBA Finals.

But lately, every game is a struggle. A gauntlet to get through to the playoffs when their franchise player will return. I gotta admit, it's not like the team has become less entertaining. It's always fun to see which of the Different 3 will step up. Ray Allen one night, Glen Davis' bandaid another night, Rajon Rondo tonight.

But can they win a 7-game series against these East teams that will push them around without inside presence from Garnett, or even Powe? It's a troubling question for a Celtics fan like me. They'll need to reach deep to get that Pot o' Gold at the end of this playoffs rainbow. While three have stepped up, they need that extra person. If they only got someone in free agency...

...OH WAIT. THEY DID.

Maybe it's time that Stephon Marbury stepped his game up, and proved why he was the big deal he was this past year.

And if Marbury fails in that department, we've always got our man Pierce.

-Dave "Ladykiller, but I'm no Tom Hanks" Smith

Boston And Orlando Play Musical Chairs

Last night, the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats looked like equals. While that doesn't bode well for Beantown, at least Charlotte looks like one of those teams that could fight for a playoff spot in the near future.

Either way, it made for a great game.

D.J. Augustin, the former Texas star, said that Boston muscles you and tries to intimidate you, but if you don't show fear, they'll flop like Shaq against Howard.

Well, it took 2 overtimes to decide the see-saw battle between Jordan's 'Cats and Doc's Irish, but in the end, the Bobcats were tamed by veteran Celts Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Boston's rivals in the Sunshine State couldn't keep away the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors, who definitely seemed like a playoff team in the preseason, slathered mustard all over that Magic sandwich. But before the Raptors could make it to Quizno's to really toast that sub, the Magic bared their teeth and defensive prowess in the second half. But in the end, it was Olympian Gold Medalist Chris Bosh that long-jumped and pole vaulted the Magic, draining long shots like a girl celebrating her 21st birthday.

In the end, Toronto prevailed over Orlando (and not just because of their healthcare), and Boston won out against that Charlotte team, bolstered by sorely-missed Suns players Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. This puts Boston one game ahead of Orlando, removing the deadlock that kept these two teams attached at the hip. If Boston can hold onto that 2-spot, they might put themselves in a greater position without Garnett. Whoever gets lucky No. 3 will likely have to face off against the NBA's scoring leader, Dwayne "Doris Day" Wade. Good Luck.

-Dave "Paul" Piersmith

Howard Works His Magic

I love the music they play at Orlando home games nowadays. Big, epic, sweeping music from John Williams: the catchiest themes, featuring Star Wars and Superman among others.

Howard brought his Superman tonight, getting a double-double in the first quarter, throwing down some emphatic jams against the defending champion Celtics, who continue to suffer from injury-related issues.

While Leon Powe couldn't bring powe-r to the Celts, and Garnett's minutes limited his ability to get hot, the Celtics turned on the hot mustard to bring the game within a point in the last thirty seconds. Paul Pierce tried his MVP-best, but his magic couldn't outdo the home team's. One of the final plays of the game sums this sucker up: Pierce weaves among Magic defenders, goes for a leaning shot, and gets blocked by Howard. It was this momentum swing that brought down the Big Green.

Howard finished his fantastic game with 24 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks. He talked pre-game about how important this game was for his team, and he did not disappoint. He was on point the entire game, bringing energy to his team and his home crowd, especially with a sweet backwards alley-oop to finish out the half. Though he's out of the MVP race at this point between the King and his Wadeness, he's definitely be in talks for defensive MVP of the year, unless LeBron rains on that parade too.

Now, the Celtics and Magic are tied for second within the competitive Eastern Conference, and it looks like the second seed will come down to the wire like David Simon. No one can catch the calves of the Cavs, especially since no one has found an answer for LeBron and Mo "Nique" Williams, so second is the consolation prize.

Doc Rivers has said time and time again he'd rather have a seventh-seed with a healthy Garnett instead of the first-seed with an injured Garnett. I hope he's right. It looks like the Jameer Nelson-less Magic have got enough tricks up their sleeve to tie up the second spot.

Thoughts? Questions? Prayers? Bueller?

-Dave "Money" Maysmith