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April 24, 2008 by editor.
Game 2 of this 7 game series started out the same way game 1 did. Phoenix took control early, building a double digit lead and clicking on all cylinders. You still had the feeling that San Antonio would come back and eventually take control of the game.
It was just a matter of time. What has to be recognized is that this is a bad match-up for the Suns. What Phoenix lacks, San Antonio excels in. Even without foul trouble, Phoenix was unable to effectively defend the paint against Parker and Ginobili.
Parker abused them for 32 points, and Ginobili took turns shooting 3’s and driving to the basket. When it mattered most, the Spurs turned up the heat defensively and completely shut down the Steve Nash and company in a way that seemed to stun the whole team.
The Suns are not built to do that. They are built to outscore their opponents, and play average to below average defense. If they can’t score consistently, they will not beat a good team like the Spurs. They don’t have the capability to turn it up a notch on defense.
When San Antonio needed a lift from someone other than Tim Duncan, Parker or Ginobili, they got it from Steve Finley. His eight points at the beginning of the 3rd quarter set the tone for the rest of the game.
Amare Stoudemire went cold in the 3rd period and couldn’t hit anything, and Nash was smothered by Bruce Bowen as the Suns committed one turnover after another. No one else stepped up for Pheonix. They needed a spark, but was unable to get one from Barbosa, Diaw, or Grant Hill, who is hurt and will not be a factor in this series.
If Stoudemire or Nash don’t score, you get the feeling that no one else will.
Shaquille O’Neal is a liability playing the pick-and -roll, and San Antonio will exploit that. The Spurs have had their lapses, but they do a much better job than the Suns.
When the Suns had control of the game, they couldn’t put the Spurs away. When San Antonio got control of the game, their defense kept Phoenix from over-taking them.
Few want to admit that this a bad match-up for Phoenix, but that is the case. They had better find some answers for Ginobili and company quickly, or they can book their tee times for early next week.
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April 20, 2008 by editor.
Phoenix lost a heart-breaker to the Spurs in the first game of their seven game series, 117 - 115. The Suns executed their game plan to perfection early and controlled the game well into the fourth quarter, but couldn’t put the Spurs away.
Their strategy to let Tim Duncan go one on one in the post and shut down everyone else backfired as Duncan put up 40 points and 15 rebounds. In the second half Phoenix played horribly against the pick and roll, and Tony Parker continually exploited them to the tune of 26 points.
Amare Stoudemire dominated the Spurs inside and outside, but fouled out in the first overtime. That was key because San Antonio had no answer for him defensively. His 33 points and 7 rebounds ended up not being enough.
Shaquille O’Neal was in foul trouble all game long and was not able to effectively defend the post, or the paint as the Spurs continually drove to the basket in the second half.
San Antonio won this game because of their toughness and strategy on offense. They made up their mind to attack the basket at every opportunity buy using the pick and roll, fast breaks, and by exploiting match-ups. They were relentless.
Even with that, Phoenix had a three point lead with 15 seconds left and needed one more stop to get the win. Mike D’Antoni’s defensive strategy was questionable at best as he had Barbosa guarding Michael Finley, who is much bigger, and they had a foul to give that they didn’t use.
Finley hit the three pointer and sent the game into overtime. The Suns were in the same position in the first overtime. One stop gives them the win, but they didn’t foul again and they left Tim Duncan wide open for an unlikely three pointer, his first on the year.
Steve Nash also played valiantly for Phoenix after Stoudemire fouled out in the first overtime. His three pointer tied the game in the second overtime and set the stage for Manu Ginobili’s heroics as he hit the game winner on a signature drive to the basket with less than 2 seconds left.
The big question is whether Phoenix can recover mentally after such a devastating loss where they controlled and led most of the game. Down the stretch San Antonio’s stars stepped up, and the Suns could not match their intensity.
Notes
Grant Hill was not a factor in this game and finished with 5 points. Manu Ginobili missed all 6 of his 3 point shots, but finished with 24 points. Kurt Thomas was a key for the Spurs as he played good defense and had 10 rebounds.
Both teams had problems defending the pick and roll. Expect a lot of defensive adjustments by both teams for game 2.
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April 19, 2008 by editor.
One of the most intriguing match-ups in the first round of the NBA playoffs features the 3rd seeded Spurs versus the 6th seeded Suns. Phoenix has added some muscle to their attack by acquiring Shaquille O’Neil, and San Antonio has added depth and experience by bringing in Kurt Thomas and Damon Stoudamire.
The Suns did win the season series three games to one, which would lead one to think that they are the favorites. At first glance Shaq does make a huge difference to a Phoenix team that lacked interior toughness in the middle, especially on defense, and this has made it a more difficult match-up for the Spurs.
We must not forget that San Antonio are the champions for a reason. They have been labeled as old, boring, and on the decline, but they continue to win. They have mastered the art of playoff series survival, which Phoenix has not.
They are really a throw-back type of team that will grind it out and get stops when they need to. In an era where the flash of run-and-gun basketball gets all the headlines and replays, disciplined and hardnosed play is what gets it done in the playoffs. Even the Suns realized that their style of play doesn’t win championships.
Each possession becomes more important, the whistles blow a little less, and the stress of finishing games late in the fourth quarter builds. The Spurs have already been there and done that. Phoenix is trying to get over that hump, but to have to do it against the defending champs in a grueling seven game series is too tall a task.
The Spurs go about their business with solid coaching, excellent defense, opportunistic offense, and a team-first mentality. Gregg Popovich always puts his team in the best position to win and they are prepared. He understands exactly what it will take for his team to prevail and has their trust.
Mike D’Antoni is a good coach as well, but Poppovich has proved that he is at the head of the pack with what he has done with the Spurs.
Key Match-Ups
Bruce Bowen vs. Steve Nash
Bowen’s assignment is key to the Spurs success. He must slow Nash down enough to make the rest of the Suns have to be a factor on offense for them to win. He won’t be able to completely shut down Nash, but he can slow him down a little.
Interestingly enough, Nash doesn’t have to do as much as he used to because Shaq is such a good passer out of the post. Pheonix can run some of their offense through him.
A. Stoudemire/O’Neil vs. Duncan/Oberto/Thomas
Even though they won’t be guarding each other all of the time, it is crucial that the Spurs limit the amount of damage that Stoudemire inflicts. He is a game changer, and if he gets loose he will open up everything else on the outside for Pheonix.
Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto, and Robert Horry will probably take turns trying to slow Stoudemire down. O’Neil will be a facilitator and must be kept off the offensive glass. San Antonio will play Shaq one on one and take their chances with that rather than leave openings for their sharp shooters.
Duncan is always a tough guard and he is capable of getting Stoudamire and Shaq in foul trouble. Winning the inside battle will go a long way in determining who will prevail in the series. I give the edge to the Suns here.
Finley/Parker vs. Hill/Bell
San Antonio has a slight advantage. When Finley and Parker are playing well they become a formidable offensive team. If they don’t in this series they are in trouble because Grant Hill is experienced and has had good games against them this year. Raja Bell can shoot the three, and is an excellent defender.
Parker is a one man fast break, and if the Suns don’t get back on defense they can be beaten at their own game.
Raja Bell is The Sun’s version of Bruce Bowen, and will be asked to shut down, in my view, the most important player on the Spurs, Manu Ginobili, when he is in the game. This is where I believe the series will be won. Ginobili has struggled against the Suns, and Raja Bell and been a big reason why.
Ginobili single-handedly won games for San Antonio when Parker was hurt and proved he could put the team on his back when needed, but he hasn’t been able to against the Suns in the regular season.
This is playoff time and I believe Ginobili will have to find a way to be effective for the Spurs to prevail.
Benches
Leonardo Barbosa and Manu Ginobili play vital roles as sixth men, and if things get tight in the 4th quarter they will both be in the game. As previously stated Ginobili is much more important to his team than Barbosa is to his.
The Spurs are deep with Brent Barry, Horry, and Damon Stoudamire at their disposal. The Suns counter with Boris Diaw and Brian Skinner off their bench.
San Antonio is the deeper team and that will come into play if they get into foul trouble.
The only weakness I see with San Antonio is that they sometimes struggle with their half-court offense. I don’t think this be a major factor in this series.
The Spurs will wear down the Suns over seven games. It will be a tough series, especially in light of how the playoffs ended last year for the Suns. They accused the Spurs of being dirty and Nash was bloodied.
They are looking for revenge and are better prepared this year, but will still fall short. Ginobili will come through and San Antonio will move on in defense of their title.
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April 8, 2008 by editor.
It was fitting that the college basketball season end this way. Two powerhouses playing for all the marbles. Kansas and Memphis both seemed like destiny’s darlings as they squared off in what will be remembered as one of the most thrilling championship games yet.
The Jayhawks hadn’t won an NCAA championship in 20 years. The Tigers have never won one. Two number 1 seeds, two stellar seasons, two dominant performances over the other number one seeds, two teams that score a lot, two teams that don’t give up points, and 2 teams with completely different approaches to the game.
It would make for a dramatic evening. What would take place no one could have predicted. Kansas came out looking prepared and disciplined as they executed their game plan by pounding the ball inside to Darrel Arthur, Darnell Jackson, and Sasha Kaun.
Dorsey and company looked over-matched and frustrated as they could not run and get easy transition baskets. Chris Douglas Roberts kept Memphis in the game by showing off his assortment of moves to Brandon Rush and carrying the scoring load as Derrick Rose let the game come to him.
As the game went on, both teams’ flaws became more and more evident. Memphis’ team defense failed at crucial times as they didn’t communicate with each other on screens and back picks, and they were late rotating over when Kansas went over the top with their bigs.
The Jayhawks couldn’t hit a three point shot if their life depended on it. Rush disappeared, and when the Tigers turned it up in the second half it was Kansas that seemed dazed and confused.
To Bill Self’s credit he tried everything, included gimmick zone defenses to stem the tide, but the game was slipping away. He decided to take CDR out of the equation by employing a box and one defense, but Rose and company exploited it. Memphis was set to win, and Rose was ready to become the Most Outstanding Player.
What transpired in the last 2 minutes of the game was down right strange. Kansas got motivated and dug deep within to pull off one of the most amazing comebacks in NCAA history. Make no mistake - Kansas snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
They stayed focused, disciplined, and they never believed they were out of the game. That is a testament to their coach.
I believe Memphis relaxed mentally and physically in the last two minutes of the game and took it for granted that they would win, coach included. That set off a series of events that would all add up to a loss. If one of those events didn’t happen, Memphis wins.
If Dorsey didn’t commit a needless foul on the perimeter, if Memphis didn’t mishandle an inbounds pass, if Roberts made one out of 4 free throws, and then there was the shot……. We could go on and on.
This was Kansas’ time and they deserve everything that comes with it. They were the team of destiny this year. Everything fell right for them in this game, and they took advantage of it. I will not say that Memphis choked. As a matter of fact I will congratulate them for a great season (38 wins, more than any other team in history) and a great NCAA tournament.
We should celebrate Kansas and their stubborn grit and determination and belief that they could do it, but we should also salute Memphis, because rather than fold after they got down, they came back. They have nothing to be ashamed of in my book. The Tigers are part of what made this game so special.
Many want to bury Memphis and John Calipari for not getting the job done, but only one team can say they did at the end of the day. Our student athletes at some point must come to grips with the disappointment of losing. In the long run of their lives it will actually help them and their development as people. This is not the last disappointment they will experience. This loss may go a long way toward them dealing with future circumstances that may not go their way.
We hold these kids to such lofty standards sometimes and lift them up so high, we forget they are kids, and the praise and encouragement we once had for them gets replaced by words like choke, fail, disappoint, and the like when they don’t perform how we feel they should.
Unequalled excellence is something that both teams sought in this game. 75-68 in overtime sounds like excellence to me. The 3 pointer to tie the game by Mario Chalmers will never be forgotten, and the Kansas fans are in heaven.
Memphis put forth an excellent effort as well, and I will not play the blame game. That is not good for anyone and it doesn’t set a good example for the players. If this experience causes the Memphis players and coaches alike to make sure this doesn’t happen to them again in basketball or in life, then they will have turned it into a positive.
Congratulations to both teams. Give yourselves a hand. Two great teams, two great seasons.
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April 6, 2008 by editor.
UCLA came into the Final Four looking to advance to the championship game after failing to do so in the previous 2 years. This was the worst possible match up for them. They had no answers as Memphis had their way with them 78 - 63.
Chris Douglas Roberts was a match-up nightmare for the UCLA guards as he beat them and shot over them all game long to the tune of 28 points. Derrick Rose did plenty of damage as well (25 points) as he kept the pace of the game at Memphis speed and got to the rim at will. Rose was a human highlight film as once again, he out-shined the opposing teams’ best guards.
When UCLA missed, Memphis was off to the races and there was little UCLA could do to defend. Collison continued his inconsistency and played timidly on the offensive end. On defense he couldn’t guard Rose or Roberts.
Kevin Love did his best, but wore down in the second half and finished with 12 points. His teammates didn’t get him the ball in the second half when the outcome was still in doubt, and he had nothing left in the last 4 minutes.
Russell Westbrook was the only Bruin that looked comfortable playing at Memphis’ pace. He finished with 22 points and kept them in the game. Joey Dorsey focused on the boards and was key as he had 15 rebounds and worked hard on Love all game.
Shawn Taggart contributed off the bench for the Tigers as well. Josh Shipp had a good start for UCLA, but disappeared for most of the game and wasn’t a factor.
This was a predictable outcome. You really don’t get a good idea of how fast Memphis plays and how good Derrick Rose is until you play against them. Antonio Anderson, Roberts and Rose over-matched Collison, Shipp and Westbrook in the open court.
The Tigers found the match-up they wanted and played the isolation game. In transition, they had no problems finishing. When things broke down in the half-court offense, they just beat their man off the dribble.
Three Final Four finishes in a row is a good result for UCLA. They were beaten by a better team.
The question is, will Kansas, winners over North Carolina, be able to slow down Memphis and exploit any weakness in their defense. The Jayhawks capitalized on their size and speed advantage against the Tarheels. If they can bottle up Rose, they deserve to win. He is the key to Memphis’ team.
I don’t think they will be able to do it for a whole game. Memphis wins this game and the national championship.
I don’t understand how Rose is only a 3rd team All American when he is obviously the best point guard in the country. He is what Memphis was missing the last couple of years. Rose sets the pace, scores at will in transition and in the half court sets, rebounds the ball, and raises his teammates’ level of play.
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April 6, 2008 by editor.
The American League Central will be pretty competitive this year. Let’s see how the teams shape up.
Cleveland Indians
Cleveland comes into this year looking to not only make the playoffs, but go deeper than they went last year. If that is to come to pass, they will have to do it on the backs of their pitching. They will need repeat performances from C.C. Sabathea, and Fausto Carmona, who were dominant last year. Even though they logged a lot of innings last season, they should be solid again.
The rest of the rotation is full of question marks. Jake Westbrook was injured last year and posted a 6-9 record and a 4.32 ERA, which is below his standards. He has been great this spring and I look for him to bounce back and really bolster the rotation.
Paul Byrd should be fine as a four in the rotation. He tends to be up and down. He can put together some dominant outings, but when he is bad, he is really bad.
Cleveland’s starting rotation has potential and should post good numbers. What I believe will put the Indians over the top is their bullpen. Joe Borowski led the American League in saves last year, and Raphael Bentancourt had a 1.47 ERA as the set-up man. It doesn’t end there either as left-hander Raphael Perez had an ERA under 2.00 in 44 appearances.
Their bullpen has a lot of depth and flexibility and if they pitch as they are capable of, there is no reason they can’t win the division.
The everyday lineup will be potent enough to give their pitchers plenty of run support. Travis Hafner will be looking to bounce back after a sub par season for him. He still drove in 100 runs but only hit 24 homers.
Grady Sizemore will provide his normal all star caliber play, and Victor Martinez will be counted on to anchor the middle of the lineup. Veteran Casey Blake will continue to supply his steady play and leadership.
Cleveland is very well balanced as a team. They can hit, the top of the rotation is excellent, and they have a solid bullpen with some young live arms. No weaknesses on this team.
Projected finish - 1st place.
Detroit Tigers
This division figures to be a two team race, and Detroit has made some off-season acquisitions that they think will put them over the top. Miguel Cabrera comes over from the Marlins, and gives them a murders row feel to their lineup. Dontrel Willis, also from the Marlins, will add depth to their starting pitching, and Edgar Renteria takes over at shortstop and brings his .332 average over from the Braves.
You have to believe that some of Willis’ struggles last year were due to playing on a team that had no chance of winning. I can’t see him posting an ERA of over 5 again with Detroit. He did struggle this spring, so it will be interesting to see how he does. If he continues to struggle there will be talk concerning whether he is done as a top to middle of the rotation pitcher.
The rest of their rotation is pretty set, with Justin Verlander, their ace, (18-6) last year and Kenny Rodgers, who is hoping to log more than the 63 innings he pitched last year, at the top of the rotation. Nate Robinson and Jeremy Bonderman had some pretty hefty ERA’s last year (4.76 and 5.01 respectively) so they will need every bit of the run support they will get from the hitters.
Todd Jones closes, but he is by no means automatic. He saved 38 games in 2007 but he had and ERA over 4.00. I count this as a weakness. They have young and untested arms in their bullpen as well. Yorman Barzado had an ERA of 2.28 last year, but he only pitched 23 innings. Bobby Seay and Zach Miller are the most consistent relievers they have that are healthy, but there is not much after that.
Denny Bautista will get a chance to be the set up man until Fernando Rodney comes back from injury, which is not a positive in my book. Joel Zumaya is also injured, recovering from shoulder surgery. Until then, it will be hit and miss with their bullpen. Edge, Cleveland.
If Dontrel Willis can be effective, it makes their rotation a very good one. I don’t think it is as good as Cleveland’s though.
Along with Cabrera and Renteria, Jacque Jones came over from the Cubs and has been under the radar. There are no easy outs in this lineup. Maglio Ordonez will try to duplicate his all star season of last year, while Carlos Guillen will be his usual productive self. Gary Sheffield’s challenge will be to stay healthy and play more than 133 games this season. Detroit has plenty of difference makers in the lineup, but that doesn’t always translate into playoff appearances.
To start the season, Detroit will be minus Curtis Granderson due to injury, but as their lineup is so stacked, they will not miss him.
At least starting out, Detroit’s bullpen will be their weak point. To the extent they overcome that, will determine how far they go this year.
Projected finish - 2nd place.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox will be looking to rebound from a disappointing 2007 season where they finished in 4th place in the division. They have made changes in the off-season in an attempt to sure up a leaky bullpen, and to inject life into a team that looked like they were sleepwalking last year.
Chicago added Octavio Dotel and Scott Linebrink to stabilize their bullpen. It remains to be seen what Dotel has left because of the myriad of injuries he has had the last couple of years. Linebrink has always been a steady performer out of the pen with Milwaukee and San Diego, and his addition will definitely help.
Orlando Cabrera comes over from the Angels and will make an immediate impact. He scored over a hundred runs and hit over .300 as well.
Jose Contreras needs to have a repeat performance of his 2006 year for this team to contend. He needs to be that solid number 2 behind Buehrle to make their starting rotation formidable.
They also need their young starters to pitch well in order to take the pressure off their bullpen. If John Danks and Gavin Floyd do well, then Chicago will be a factor in the division again. Closing games will not be a problem with Bobby Jenks around.
It remains to be seen whether or not the White Sox will be big run producers this year. They have power, but they will have to manufacture runs to win.. Alexi Ramirez will get the start in center-field as a rookie, Nick Swisher will be in left, Juan Uribe will start for now at second, and Joe Crede will start at the hot corner. How they perform will go a long way toward determining their sucess scoring runs.
The usual suspects, Paul Konerko, Jim Tome, and Jermaine Dye will be relied on heavily to drive in runs.
The White Sox have a chance to surprise this season and contend. I like their balance and I believe their starting pitching will be better than advertised. If their relievers hold up, there is a chance they could finish second in the division.
Projected finish - 3rd place.
Kansas City Royals
Even though Kansas City finished last in the division in 2007, there is still hope. Their rotation is actually pretty good and they do have an ace in Gil Meche. The question has always been whether he, and the other starters will get run support. Brian Bannister is a number 2-3 rotation guy when effective, and Zach Greinke pitched well last year.
The back side of their rotation has issues, but their top 3 pitchers should be good enough to compensate for that.
Joakim Soria will close. He had 17 saves in his rookie year (2007) with a 2.48 ERA. The Royals do have viable middle relievers in their bullpen. Ron Mahay pitched well in relief last year between Texas and Atlanta, posting ERA’s less than 3.00. Jimmy Gobble will be a factor as a set up man and has pitched well.
Leo Nunez adds depth, and they are looking for good things from Yasuhiko Yabuta, their right-handed import from Japan. His assortment of pitches and the way he attacks the strike zone has make Kansas City believe he will be special.
If that turns out to be true, then Kansas City’s bullpen will be the strength of their team and will keep them in a lot of games.
The question is whether or not they will score enough runs to compete. There is not much power in their lineup. Jose Guillen is one of the only true long ball threats they have. Here is where they will struggle.
What will help them is the fact that Minnesota is rebuilding and will not be much of a threat.
The Royals have a rookie manager, Trey Hillman, and a team that will have to manufacture runs without hitting home runs all the time. Even though the pitching should excel, they don’t have much margin for error. They may not win the division, but won’t be an easy out either.
Projected finish - 4th place.
Minnesota Twins
The Twins will be somewhat of a mystery this year as they enter their rebuilding mode after trading Johan Santana and losing Tori Hunter. Their staple over the years have been pitching and defense, which they will look to continue under Ron Gardenhire’s management.
The strongest part of the team will be their bullpen. That won’t be the case if they are over-used because the starters can’t go deep into games. They are led by their all star closer Joe Nathan (37 saves last year) who is almost a sure thing. Matt Guerrier was a workhorse last year and logged 88 innings with a 2.35 ERA. Pat Neshek pitched well in 2007 and Dennys Reyes adds additional depth.
The big question is their starting pitching. The Twins picked up Livan Hernandez and he is an innings eater. Other than Hernandez they don’t know what they will get from their young pitchers. Boof Bonser and Nick Blackburn will need to pitch well to solidify the rotation. If they don’t, it will be a long season for Minnesota.
Eventually their young pitchers will pay dividends, but probably not this year. Their offense will be anchored by veterans Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer. Carlos Gomez replaces Tori Hunter in center-field, and it will be a learning process as he tries to find his way at the plate and in the field. Mike Lamb comes over from Houston to man third base and provide leadership.
With so many young players, the Twins will have a better idea of where they are in the middle of the season. They need to find out who their future stars will be and let them get experience now so they can contend in the future.
Projected finish - 5th place.
The American League Central is shaping up to be a two team race, with the White Sox looking to crash the party.
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