For the first time I can remember, I actually stopped watching a playoff game, conceding defeat last night. Granted I turned the TV back on just a couple minutes later, but still. Only the most banal of porn stars have let out more "oh my god"s than I did during that game. The ticky tack fouls thirty feet from the hoop, the worst free throw shooter in the league doing his best Steve Nash, Ray Allen or Reggie Miller at the line...and freaking Hedo Turkoglu. But I was still there up until LeBron's two missed free throws followed by Alston's wide open three. One more ohmygod and to avoid breaking anything I just turned off the TV and walked away. I knew it was over.
As I said, I couldn't handle not knowing, so I turned the box back on, muted Marv and Doug and Orlando's fans, and watched to the end. Delonte's tech was a joke, and is just one more reason I'm back on the hockey wagon. It's pretty hard to overcome all those fouls, especially with Dwight actually sinking his free throws...but it all comes down to LeBron's teammates. Z was atrocious. If he's not making his jumpshots, he not only doesn't help the team, he makes them worse. He can't guard anyone, he can't pass, he can't create any kind of offense, he HAS to knock down his open jumpshots.
Mike Brown really looks like he's getting exposed in this series. When the Cavs match up well with someone, or the long jumpers are all going down, they're an offensive force and Brown looks like a genius. In a tough matchup like this, it actually takes clever coaching to overcome. Why, when Mo and Delonte are obviously overmatched on defense AND struggling offensively...does Wally not get in the game? Where are the designed plays that lead to an open jumper? Stan Van is getting everything he wants on offense, usually even with Dwight on the bench. I won't be surprised if Brown is the next in the long line of Coach of the Year's fired in a year or two's time.
It looks pretty bleak, but I still believe the Cavs are the better team, will win game 4, and be back in control of this series. There are too many facets to single out what "needs" to happen, but in my opinion, it starts with Mike Brown.
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I haven't been following enough of the hockey conference finals, but it doesn't look I'm missing much. I was one of the few Cristobal Huet believers during the season, but last night shows what I know about goaltending. Holy jeez.
For some reason Pens-Wings looks a lot less appealing this year than it did last, but I might have to make sure I don't miss a game. Malkin has been an absolute monster, and I'd love to see the trend of going to Detroit for a guaranteed Cup come to an end with Marian Hossa. Not that Detroit will have any kind of cap flexibility for the next 20 years or so anyway.
Do I think the Penguins can actually beat the Wings? Not really. The Hurricanes don't have a Lidstrom, or a Datsyuk, or anyone to stop either Malkin or Crosby. Detroit has the men to contain those two, and the pure depth and ability to outscore them. Should be a good series though.
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Finally, it's Memorial Day. I'll have my mlb.tv going, watching as much baseball as I can, highlighted by my Tribe taking on the phenom, David Price. Here's to making him the next Chien Ming Wang.
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