thetickr:

Just in time for tonight’s games, a recap of the best and worst of the first weekend in the NBA playoffs.

stevenlebron:

Best and worst of first weekend

ESPN has a 5-on-5 segment in which they pose five basketball questions to five experts for their responses. Throughout the playoffs, I’m going to take their questions and give my own answers.

Today, it’s the “best and worst of first weekend”.

1. OK, you’re down 24 in the fourth quarter. Now what?

You mean as a fan? I left the game in the background on mute and stopped watching in the fourth quarter. Until I looked up, and suddenly Nick Young was on his way to a +28 for the game, hitting three in a row from downtown.

It was just downright disturbing to see how stunned the crowd was even as the Grizzlies were going for the winning basket on the final possession. Last time I remember a home crowd so catatonic in sports was Albert Pujols homering off Brad Lidge in the 2005 NLCS.

In a weekend that started with the Rose injury, it was a nice close to have something so randomly exhilarating happen if only to show us that the element of improbability indeed exists in the post-season, even if only in isolated moments.

2. Which win and which loss were most telling?

The Lakers win was the most telling because it showed the potential that this team has if Bynum transforms into a dominant player in the post-season. Harmony and consistency is very fleeting with this team, so still hard to expect them to put it together for 15 more wins. But the victory provides a measuring stick of what could’ve been going forward should things start to unravel.

As for the most telling loss, I’m going with the Mavericks. This is not the first time this year they’ve fallen victim to Kevin Durant at or near the buzzer, and I can’t help but think that Dallas might’ve let their chance at winning this series slip away by not holding on.

The loss was telling for two reasons: a reminder that Dirk Nowitzki in close game situations is still one of the scariest things in basketball, and that the margin of error is very narrow when the Thunder are not shooting the ball well.

3. What will you remember most from this past weekend?

In order: the Rose injury, Chris Duhon, and Nick Young being a +28 in 24 minutes.

4. Who needs to step it up?

Anyone in the Eastern Conference. Someone, please. It can’t possibly be this easy for Miami, can it?

Specifically, the following players are now under evaluation under further notice: Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Paul Pierce, Zach Randolph and Danny Granger.

5. Who was your MVP of the weekend?

Chris Webber’s genuine excitement and joy, Caron Butler’s ability to put on a suit with a broken hand, LeBron James, Josh Smith, @jose3030, Floyd Mayweather’s $1.8 million dollar bet on the Clippers +6, did I mention Nick Young was a +28, JaVale McGee’s premeditated attempt at dunking on Pau Gasol on his first ever playoff touch, Tony Parker and this New York Times profile of Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau if only because it revealed that Thibodeau dated two Debbies simultaneously in college, and called them D1 and D2.

Footnotes:

You can read all my 2012 NBA Playoff related posts by clicking here, and by following me on Twitter for in game musings and on Facebook for other great reads, videos and links throughout the post-season.

Neve turning off the tv again