Scanning the blogs and beats following the Jazz’s 90-84 win over the Rockets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals …

My Utah Jazz: "I
feel bad for the fans in Houston, McGrady was flat out killing it for
three quarters and then he put a dress on for the 4th. Two games in a
row now
with no field goals in crunch is not going to get it done. Can we quit
calling this guy a superstar now? I need to give a ton of credit to AK
here as well. AK was smothering him for the last six minutes of the
game
and that was the best performance I have seen from him defensively all
year. In fact, AK was the X-factor for the Jazz all night. It seemed
like whenever the Jazz needed a big play he was involved somehow with
a rebound, steal, block or deflection. Have you ever seen a better game
while only scoring three points? How SWEEP it is!!"

Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle:
"The Jazz had a simple defensive approach. They don’t believe the
Rockets can win without a monster game from McGrady. So the Jazz again
ran two and three defenders at him and gambled he’d be worn out down
the stretch. He was. He played magnificently most of the evening,
finishing with 23 points, 13 boards, nine assists and three steals.
Just one of those 23 points came in the fourth quarter. He’s 0-for-7 in
the fourth quarter of this series."

Michael Murphy, Houston Chronicle:
"I tried to do everything I could to get us going, energy-wise,
execution-wise, rebounding and making them (his teammates) better,"
McGrady said. "But come the fourth quarter, I didn’t have enough
(left). I had no legs. I was on empty." As were the Rockets, who, minus
McGrady’s shooting and passing, shot only 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from
the floor in the final period."

The Dream Shake (PG-13):
"That’s it. I am done with you, Tracy McGrady. No more T-Mac. It’s like
Anakin Sywalker has complete morphed into Darth Vader. Except that you
are not a Nubian God and you aren’t the least bit scary anymore. You
have devolved into a giant choking machine. You are far worse than the
Cowardly Lion, because at least the Lion knew what a giant [James
Posey] he was and tried to find courage. You … well, not even the
Wizard could help you I think."

Tim Buckley, Deseret News: "The Jazz had Kirilenko to thank for his work on Houston’s preceding possession, which ended with a foul on Rockets forward Luis Scola which negated a 3-pointer from guard Bobby Jackson that would have tied the game at 85. "It wasn’t that huge (of a) foul, but Scola is holding me. I created a little bit more than it looks, but it was foul," Kirilenko said. "Let’s say 50-50, but it was foul. In this situation, that’s the right call. Because I was trying to get to McGrady in the corner, and Scola was just holding me." Rockets coach Adelman, to say the least, was a bit miffed."

Ross Siler, Salt Lake Tribune:
"As soon as the whistle blew, I couldn’t believe you would call an
offensive foul in the last minute. Watching the replay, it looked like
Scola did clear out Kirilenko with a shove. Kirilenko hasn’t been a
flopper this season and I don’t think he was acting. Referee Tony
Brothers was standing only steps away and must have felt like it was
the right call. Another question you can ask is why Brothers was
working a playoff game in the first place. He’s definitely not in the
same class of referee as Bennett Salvatore and Mike Callahan, who made
up the rest of the crew Monday. One of my old colleagues in Los Angeles
would argue that Brothers was the NBA’s worst ref."

Brad Rock, Deseret News:
"With the series returning to Salt Lake, the Rockets would need
something as special as ‘94, or 1995 when they fell behind 0-2 and 1-3
to the Suns, yet still managed to win the series and go on to a second
championship. But that was then and this is McNow. With superstar guard
Tracy McGrady having gone 16-43 from the field in two games — thanks
largely to the Jazz’s relentless defense — their chances are remote."

Kurt Kragthorpe, Salt Lake Tribune:
"The Jazz took a nine-point lead into Monday’s second quarter, so in
six playoff games in Houston over two years, the Rockets have faced
second-period deficits of seven, nine (twice), 10, 13 and 16 points."

Read full article…

Scanning the blogs and beats following the Cavaliers’ 116-86 win over the Wizards in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals …

Cavalier Attitude: "Once again, the Washington Witnesses prove to be all bark and no bite. Down 15 in the third quarter, Witness #33 (aka Brendan Haywood) decided to spear LeBron in mid-air (video) without even making an effort to go to for the ball. James looked like a wide receiver going over the middle and being hung out to dry by his quarterback as Witness #33 played the role of a safety with the sole intention of knocking LB to the ground. Unfortunately for Witness #33, he wasn’t invited to try out for the Redskins, and this is basketball. And contrary to Reggie Miller, who was calling the game for TNT with Marv Albert, Witness #33 got what he deserved: a Flagrant Two and an automatic ejection."

Michael Wilbon, The Washington Post: "Get this: LeBron, all by himself, outscored Washington’s three all-stars 30-28. None of the three scored as many points as Wally Szczerbiak. None scored as many as Daniel Gibson. The Wizards ought to be ashamed of themselves to get into the playoffs and come up this small. As great as LeBron is, the Cavaliers should never dominate the Wizards to such an extent in a playoff game. The Cavs aren’t the Celtics or Lakers; they’re not even as good as they were last year. Not close. Plus, the Wizards are supposed to be better than they were a year ago. Yet, last year’s team, short Arenas and Butler, who were hurt, gave a much greater effort in all four of those games than they did in Game 2."

Brian Windhorst, Akron Beacon-Journal:
"This was the most complete game the Cavs have played since the trade,
which was two months ago today by the way. It may have been the most
complete game they have played all season. While the Wizards talk very
confidently, I think they are actually playing very tentative while the
Cavs have executed their game plan with sharp focus. Gilbert Arenas is
limited by his knee, Caron Butler does not look 100 percent, DeShawn
Stevenson is not dealing with the extra pressure, and Brendan Haywood
has not been the same player since the confrontation with LeBron in
Game 1. Eddie Jordan said he did a "horrible job trying to keep our
guys in an organized fashion." Antawn Jamison said as a captain he has
done a bad job of "controlling this team."

Ivan Carter, The Washington Post: "Obviously, emotions are high because of what happened in Game 1," Antonio Daniels said. "LeBron took off and Brendan obviously didn’t want him to finish it. . . . No one in this locker room or in that locker room fouls anybody with the intention of hurting anybody. That’s not the way the NBA is, that’s not how it’s played. But, we all get knocked to the floor. That’s playoff basketball. When you drive, you should expect to be hit."

Terry Pluto, Plain Dealer:
"The NBA wisely sent Danny Crawford, one of its best refs, to work this
game. He clearly took charge of the game, calling some close fouls,
nailing Arenas with a technical, a flagrant foul on Anderson Varejao
and later ejecting the Wizards’ Brendan Haywood for decking James on a
drive to the basket. Washington can complain about special treatment
for James, but the Wizards put the microscope on themselves by boasting
about shutting down and trying to manhandle James. The league doesn’t
want any of its players injured intentionally, especially a star."

Tom Knott, The Washington Times: "It helped the Cavaliers that Gilbert Arenas has not adjusted to being a glorified spot-up shooter after undergoing two surgeries to his left knee. He wants to be the Arenas of old — his competitive instincts demand it — but he lacks the explosion and lift to be that person. He wants to take LeBron James off the dribble but can’t. So he tries a 3-pointer with James in his face. Air ball. Arenas missed six shots in the first half, and not a one was a high-percentage shot."

Gregg Kanner, Les Bullez: "What can I say? Charles Barkley, at this point in time, is right. The Wizards are the stupidest team in the history of mankind. Or, they
are just not that good. What a disgrace they were in Game 2. The entire team should be
embarrassed in their effort and play. If you are going to open your
mouths, at least show up! I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in my
team."

Bullets Forever (liveblog): "Gil gets a foul called on him while trying to set a pick with his back to Delonte West … stupid. He’s gonna injure his knee again doing that. The camera goes to the bench … Andray Blatche is chewing his fingers off. There’s 4:16 left in the 3rd and the Wizards on the bench have the ’bout to be a 3 seed upset by a 14 seed in the NCAA tournament" face.’"

Patrick McManamon, Akron Beacon-Journal: "Stevenson’s signature move is to wave his hand in front of his face, but doing it when his team is getting shellacked was as amateur as it comes. The same guy who called James overrated has shot 14-for-62 in playoff games against the Cavaliers — 22.6 percent on your radio dial. His team has lost eight in a row to the Cavs. And he’s going to wave his hand in front of his face to James?"

Video update, via Awful Announcing: Marv Albert does the Soulja Boy …

Read full article…

Utah
90, Houston 84

Perhaps I
was a bit harsh on this one’s prospects heading into Game 2, I’ll fully cop
to that, but you can’t blame me - Utah has a supremely solid offense, but was
going up against a devastating defense that has held it in relative check; and
while Utah isn’t great shakes defensively, the only way the Rockets have been
able to score against them is by getting to the line.

Pointless hacks and resultant free throws versus contested
everything. Not my typical cup of Irish Breakfast.

But it was a fine game, a great game in parts, and
professionalism exuded. Utah refuses to get
flustered with a withering defensive attack from the Rockets, while Houston continues to move
the ball and hope that Tracy McGrady (23 points on 22 shots, 13 rebounds, nine
assists, five turnovers, two blocks, three steals) could keep it up for four
quarters.

He couldn’t, and TNT’s
postgame fawning over his all-around play was a bit much for me. T-Mac was
absolutely brilliant until he sat for the first part of the fourth quarter, and
while he may have been incredibly tired in that final frame, he didn’t do
himself any favors by launching perimeter bomb after perimeter bomb while the
Jazz pulled away on the other end.

Just because the man was tired, it doesn’t make him immune
to criticism, nor does it force him into bad decisions - and those fourth
quarter shots were all bad decisions.

McGrady, for the bulk of his career, has
been borderline unstoppable in the triple-threat position at the low post
extended. Give him the ball down there without exhausting his dribble, and he
can drive, shoot, or put the ball on the floor for a post up.

Instead, in the fourth quarter of Game 2, he tried to take
over with a series of 21-footers that didn’t have a chance. And it’s not like
those shots were going in over the game’s first three quarters, because all his
misses came off poorly-conceived jumpers even before his legs left him.

The heart isn’t in question, no flippin’ way. It’s the decision-making.
That’s always been my issue with him. And this is coming from someone who spits
invective at PTI every time they bring up McGrady’s first round failures: ask
yourself, since Tracy
first hit the playoffs with the Raptors back in 2000, have his teams fallen to
an inferior opponent?

No. Not once. And, over the last two Game 7 defeats, the
Rockets were losing to a superior team from Dallas,
and a far superior team from Utah.
It’s not McGrady’s fault.

And tonight’s Houston
loss wasn’t McGrady’s fault, but it doesn’t mean he shouldn’t take a huge chunk
of the blame.

(Utah is a championship-caliber team that deserves most of
my word count for pulling out two wins on the road, but I don’t have much time
left to talk about the Rockets, so sue me if I Houston too long …)

After the game, McGrady prattled on about how Houston’s defense had let
them down, and about how he wasn’t worried about offense. It’s a classic NBA
cop-out, designed to feed a series of reporters who want to offer pointless
platitudes about how defense wins championships, and that the team in question
just didn’t have the grit to pull out a win.

And it’s wrong. Defense and
offense wins championships, not sure if you heard, and while the Jazz executed
quite well at times down the stretch, there’s no way in hell a Houston defense
that held the Jazz to a pro-rated 104.7 points per 100 possessions (after the
team averaged a league-best 117.6 per 100 in the regular season) let themselves
down in any way.

As you guess, it was the ten missed free throws, the 4-19
shooting from long range, and the 41.6 percent shooting from the floor that
probably downed the Rockets. But McGrady doesn’t want that blame, he doesn’t
want that focus, and he’s afraid to call out his batch of defensive-minded teammates
who have been put into scoring situations that they’re not used to.

Tracy’s
a good bloke for doing so, and you have to give him credit, but he’s still
wrong.

Cleveland
116, Washington 86

There’s so much going on this series that I’m just going to
have go notes-style. Dig:

*Two game sample size, I know, but Cleveland’s defense is back. The Cavs have
held the Wizards to 95 points per 100 possessions over the first two games of
the series, a sharp downturn from the 110.4 it averaged during the regular
season, an 82-game run played without Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler for a
combined 93 games.

The Turner crew was worried over Gilbert Arenas’ weak knee
(and less, curiously, about his bum wrist), and how he wasn’t able to put a
little strength on his shot, and they were right. But in the right system, this
guy can still hit flat-footed bombs. He just couldn’t muster the space enough
to get (good) shots off (2-10 from the floor on Monday).

Meanwhile, Butler
and Antawn Jamison: 8-26 from the floor. That’s not a slump. That’s Mike
Brown’s exacting defensive system returning to where it was this time last
year.

*LeBron James is the MVP, and though this game does nothing
to change what is a regular season vote, it should be noted that this guy just
put down 30 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds, two blocks, a steal, and one
turnover in a 90 possession game.

Seamheads: which would you consider to be the more dominant
performance?

A pitcher striking out 11 hitters in five innings of work
(lifted for arbitrary reasons), or a moundsmen (any of you guys ever use that
one?) striking out 13 hitters in eight innings work? Possessions are important.

*Practice skirmishes with Etan Thomas aside, Brendan Haywood
is a good guy (sings real
pur’dy too), and I’m sure the last thing he wanted to do was send LeBron to
the floor as he did.

But it doesn’t mean that you don’t punish the sort of
stupidity and lack of clarity that leads to someone sending a two-armed shove
James’ way as he reaching the apex of his jump toward the hoop. It was a lazy,
moronic foul that deserves a Game 3 suspension. I say that with no joy. I want
to see both these teams at full strength.

*16 points and nine rebounds in just 24 minutes for Zydrunas
Ilgauskas, who is having a terrific series. 49-34 rebounding edge for Cleveland.

*Washington
deserved every inch of this loss, and the lack of immediacy and understanding
about just how important each possession is was apparent early on as Ben
Wallace got several close looks at the bucket.

This is a man that needs to be
fouled, and even if Haywood takes a whiff with foul trouble on his mind
(Brendan didn’t want two first quarter whistles), then the wings need to get
down and wrap Wallace up.

Two or three trips to the charity stripe don’t make or break
things in a 30-point loss, but that first quarter was pretty revealing. Everything
counts, now. The Wizards downed a Eddy Curry and Luol Deng-less Bulls team in
2005, complained (rightly or wrongly) about the refs in 2006, and had the
injury excuse in 2007.

What’s lacking this time around?

Read full article…

Washington
at Cleveland, Game 2

Even if the Wizards lose tonight, I don’t think the team’s
playoff run is any worse off.

It would be nice to take a game in Cleveland, and while winning both games in Washington isn’t a lock
for the Wiz, the team’s best chance at grabbing home court advantage would in a
Game 5 that would take place nine
days from now.

Cleveland
has to keep the hammer down, and LeBron can’t get back into the style of play
that has cost his team more than a few playoff losses over the last few years -
floating, perimeter oriented, one hard dribble and pull-up jumper/Jamal
Crawford sort of stuff.

No kid grows up telling himself that he wants to pull
off some "Jamal Crawford sort of stuff"
when he gets older. Unless that kid is Rashad McCants.

Get to the rim, LBJ. Then pull off your Ronnie James Dio
impersonation. Ride the tiger!

Utah
at Houston, Game 2

Strictly for the junkies. Utah’s
offense is usually a lovely sight to behold, but not against a defense like Houston’s.

The Rockets, meanwhile, somehow make 18-point quarters seem
like an offensive breakthrough. With Deron Williams still a little gimpy
(here’s how good he is: 20 points and ten assists while obviously injured on
Saturday), this might be Houston’s
best chance to grab a win.

That said, I wouldn’t blame you if you were tucked in bed by
10 tonight.

Read full article…

A look around the league and the web that covers it. It’s also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren’t always listed in order of importance. That’s for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: The Association. Dirk’s deodorant: "Strong enough for an MVP, pH balanced for a first round exit."
PF: NBA. Manu wins the Sixth Man award with 123 of a possible 124 first-place votes. (OK, who voted for LB?)
SF: Sports Media Watch. Great news: All four playoff games on Saturday saw increases of at least 32%.
SG: Brew Hoop. Scott Skiles is on the verge of signing with the Bucks. But is it a step in the right direction?
PG: X’s and O’s. A look at two critical offensive sequences that really hurt the Pistons last night.
6th: Windhorst. Gil had his sprained right wrist wrapped in practice, but he sounds just fine launching 30-footers.
7th: Channing Frye Blog. Channing lists his favorite places to eat and shop in the Portland area.
8th: Talking Points. Baron Davis looks like he’ll play out his final year as a Warrior.
9th: Straight Cash Homey. A good ol’ Dan Majerle Suns jersey … at the beach.
10th: Globetrotter. "It’s not disappointing that McGrady didn’t make any shots in the 4th, it’s that he didn’t take any (only 3 FGs). In fact, he rarely touched the ball. At times he looked like he didn’t want it."

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