We now know at least who the players will be in the NBA East. In what has been a lackluster effort so far in these playoffs overall (even though the whole LeBron mess was compelling theater and it appears to still be getting better), we finally have a chance to separate the wheat from the chaff. As previously noted, the NBA West semis could prove to be an extremely intriguing matchup of contrasts in styles, big names, and blinding action. Good ol' Phil Jackson has also helped stir the pot. The NBA East finals now give us a waking old giant with renewed vigor and confidence from the ouster of the King matched up against a high-octane machine that has not lost yet in the playoffs. Hopefully, things are about to get interesting.
NBA East Finals (Celtics already up 1-0)
Orlando Magic:
I was just fouled by Dwight Howard. Really, the only disappointing thing about the Magic this postseason is that Howard might have actually regressed offensively from the Finals last year where his only move was "HULK SMASH!" Of course, it becomes difficult to develop any low post moves in game situations when you get whistled for your third foul 8 minutes into the game. Howard is anointed as the most valuable member of this team, and certainly, the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year can be a difference maker on the defensive end. He can effectively erase possessions by either rejecting weak lay ups that his teammates syphon into him or alter shots so dramatically that they effectively become turnovers; and you are going to have a difficult time wrestling rebounds away from a man whose deltoids are larger than his head. So in that sense, he is the fulcrum of what this team has been able to do overall.
Offensively, however, Dwight Howard cannot carry the Magic. More importantly, I do not think Dwight Howard WANTS to carry the Magic. He still shoots free throws like that scrawny nerdy kid with glasses that nobody would pick on the playground, and he defers incessantly in the 4th quarter. The team has surrounded him with players who can all hit 3s with relative consistency, so it's tailor-made for his deferring, but you have to be somewhat concerned that he doesn't have that dominating gene yet. For that reason, this team is more or less a more athletic, less refined, blurry redux of the Olajuwon Rockets squads who snuck away with two rings while MJ was suspended for gambling.
Jameer Nelson was out last year when the Magic made their Finals run, so Hedo Turkoglu was the ball handler late in games. Let's just say this is an improvement this year...Nelson's been sublime so far, and allows me to further note that I was right when I told Brad Miller the Blazers were pathetic slobbering morons for drafting Sebastian Telfair over him (even though this meant we eventually traded Telfair for Brandon Roy--I was still right, Nelson was better that Telfair). He's perfect for this team, penetrating the perimeter and setting Howard up for monster alley oops and wide open dunks when teams are forced to converge on him. It seems like the better his game gets, the longer that tattoo becomes on his upper back....
Vinsanity is teasing us with some sort of rebirth. I thought this team was done after they replaced Hedo w/ Carter. For years, Vince has personified the fan malaise toward the NBA. He's been a mercenary; a true professional who has cared more about his bottom line than any passionate dedication to the game or its followers. The Vince Carter kids grew up loving died somewhere in Canada and was buried in the frozen tundra. The last time I remember seeing him was All Star weekend my freshman year in college. And now, here he is again. And I've moved on. This is....awkward. Every game seems like "turn back the clock" night for Vince. Who knows, maybe someone actually woke him out of his decade-long funk and pointed out to him this is his first/best shot at actually winning a championship and being athletically relevant. If Vince Carter stays on task, the Magic, with their assortment of shooters, ball handlers, and long, athletic swingmen like Air France and Matt "my wife has a tv show on Bravo" Barnes. Might be too much top to bottom for anyone. And it'd be neat to see Stan win a ring before Jeff.
Boston Celtics:
So it seems we may have been premature regarding KG. Granted, the Celts were a beneficiary of WHATEVER was going on with LBJ, and took delight in toying with the necrotic Mike Brown and the collection of stiffs surrounding LeBron; but they really did seem to jell as an impressive unit during their 3-0 march to close out the series. Ray Allen's shooting touch is still there and he's running people ragged off of screens. Paul Pierce was guarded by LeBron for much of the series, so it's hard to beat him up too badly about his putrid numbers.
Big Baby lives up to his name on a nightly basis by crying when the bench reproaches him for something stupid and by breast feeding on the sidelines; but aside from that, he's become a reliable bench scorer with a decent mid range game and an ability to use his flab as a powerful tool on the boards. Rasheed is good at yelling, fouling, and occasionally hitting 1 of 7 threes. Tony Allen provides energy, athleticism, and hustle in the 2nd unit--and perhaps most importantly, he can give either Pierce or Allen much needed breaks.
All that said though, the Celts will go only as far as Rajon Rondo's coming-out party will take them. Doc Rivers has done a masterful job of placing more and more of the team's fate in Rondo's hands, and so far Rondo has been spectacular. He demoralized Mo Williams so completely that he disappeared for 5.5 games of the Cleveland series. His weakside defense was instrumental in containing Dwyane Wade for much of Round 1. His matchup with Nelson and Jason Williams off the bench will largely indicate how serious of a threat the Celtics can present to the favored Magic.
The only thing Rondo can't do is shoot free throws. Which really shouldn't be an issue, since point guards don't often handle the basketball....
.............
Boston demonstrated in Game 1 that it didn't just come for the free food and drinks. The Celts will do whatever they can to frustrate the younger, stronger, more well-rested Magic, and they have given themselves a one-game cushion. I see them winning one more, probably at home in Game 4, but I think eventually Dwight Howard and his collective unit will regain their shooting form and get used to the screen sets deployed by Rivers for Ray Allen.
Magic in 6.
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