11. Flopping is a problem and its the referees fault. You don't have to blow the whistle every time , you know?
9. End of Game execution...These are supposed to be the best players and coaches in the world so why does every end of game situation become a 1-4 iso with no player movement? Wouldn't get guys on the move instead everyone watching one guy make a lot more sense or is it just me? I mean just because you get the ball to your best players doesn't mean everyone else has to stand and watch.
8. Depth, Team Play, and Interchangeable parts are for the birds, give me star players. The Chicago Bulls season ended with a pick and roll run by CJ Watson and Omer Asik. The Denver Nuggets have a team of second and third options , they are now home after round one again. We can romanticize playing the right way but at the end of the day, its a stars league, always will be
7. ACL's can happen at anytime.........But this schedule didnt help matters. 66 games in 123 days is the biggest stat of this season and it came home to roost as Howard, Rose, Shumpert all missed the entire playoffs with leg and back injuries. Do me a favor NBA, next time you have a labor dispute just cancel the whole season and start over the following year...i'm not a doctor but the compressed scheduled helped no one
6. The Lakers are dangerous.......The two bigs on the inside when they are right (yes we have said this 1000912 times) are unguardable and they still have the most dangerous closer in the game in Kobe. if the now confident Steve Blake and the rebirth of Ron Artest continue to make contributions, LA making the finals would not be a shock
5. No one is under more pressure than the Heat... This might be stating the obvious but with the Rose injury wiping out the Bulls, and the Western Conference representative looking at having to play at least 6 games in each of its next two series just to get out of the conference, the Heat have a clearer path to finals than they did last season. The Bosh injury is a potential stumbling block but Heat shouldn't lose more than one game in each of the next two series giving one of the more healthy teams even more rest. This is their time, if it doesn't happen this year not only will the haters be at their loudest but it will be time for changes
4. I hate to call out players based on salary because after all who wouldnt like to be overpaid at their job. That being said: Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, Rudy Gay, , and Amare Stoudamire have to do better than that
3. Speaking of unwatchable (refer to point 12), ESPN ON ABC's studio team is the worst as a group in sports. Chris Broussard is much better in short stints on First Take where he can reply to the stupidity of Stephen A and Skip but has an instudio host having to pick his spots, its not a good look. To be fair , he isn't helped by having Jon Barry who provides no real insight and just a stream of "I dont like the way this team is playing". Mike Wilbon definitely should stick to columns and PTI. He is trying to be the "old angry black man" and it comes off as disingenuous. Magic Johnson clearly knows the game and provides good commentary but unlike his playing days, he can't make this group better
2. What do I think about the Bulls? Couldn't avoid it any longer. A team that struggles to score even with #1 at full strength was always going to have a short stray once his ACL went. They were exposed for what they are: a team of role players who aren't capable of doing anymore than what they are already asked. Hard decisions have to be made and not just getting rid of JL3 or White Mamba. What to do with a highly paid front court should be job #1? The Bulls need a real #2 option and #2 options don't come without parting ways with someone you like. If you can't find a sucker , I mean taker for Carlos Boozer, then either Deng or Noah has to go and considering both of their contracts that means taking a bad contract back in return. Rose could come back the same player, he may not. Either way, this can't be the same team
1. The "Not Walking Through That Door" List has been my favorite part of the playoffs. conjuring up old school , random (mostly bad) players or b-list celebs from eliminated teams has been as fun as the games themselves. From Jon Koncak to Johnny P, from 8ball and mjg to Michael Adams, its been highly entertaining on twitter and text. Have to find some fun in what was a drag of a first round. There are still some great storylines left, let's just hope the basketball is better
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