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Anyway,  it was a nice game.  Atlanta was trailing by 2 points at halftime but then the Hawks outgunned the Magic 45-30.   You should see the 60 foot buzzer beater shot by Acie Law.  It was awesome.

By the end of the game,  Acie law has 20 points and Maurice Evans has 17.  A 118-101 victory by the Hawks over the host Orlando Magic.  Other notable scorers were Al Horford 13 points,  Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson and Zaza Pachulia all contributed 11 points.
Then of course I switched back to NFL TV to catch some more games.

There would come a series or a game that would make or break their character, their desire, their hunger and their will to win. Unfortunately for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, that ultimate test was the NBA Finals! And it they groped for form. No! Wait, they tried to grope for form, which they never did, for what they did was to blame each other for their demise. Some attribute it to not having Andrew Bynum, a legitimate post-presence and shot-blocker. Some blame softies Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. They were both outplayed and out-hustled by the Boston bigs.

And some judge Bryant as no-Michael Jordan, and will never be. A leader who failed to raise the bar, and lead his team to win. He bogged down, he faded. When the Lakers needed him the most, he was not there to show. And he constantly yelled at his teammates, a kind of motivation that may not apply to a young and inexperienced team. He should have scored more when he had to, break down the defense as he should, and provide the energy and inspiration so that his teammates will follow suit. When needed, Jordan would put up 45 or even 63 points to flame that desire in his teammates. Kobe never had any 40-point game. Hell, he did not even reach 35. He failed to show the way when it mattered most.

The real champions have no excuses. Jordan had none. He blamed no one but himself when they lost to Orlando in 1995. But he came back stronger than ever. He used all summer to train and rejuvenate his game. We never heard that Toni Kukoc or Scottie Pippen did not show up. He led and inspired. That’s why since he went to the NBA Finals, he gave it his all. He treated it like there was no tomorrow. He had no dominant or All-Star big man to rely on. He relied on himself and his teammates no matter what their games are. And when he lost some games, he had himself to blame. I’ll never forget how he willed himself to win that crucial Game Five against Utah in 1997. It did not matter to him that he was ill and was hampered by a stomach virus. He rose up to the occasion! He scored 38, including that clutch three.

Kobe should do that. He should instill within him that flame and drive to win, and should show up when it matters, when every chip is falling down, and when his teammates cowardly ducked behind him. He should take that responsibility to wipe that fear and cowardice. He should lead by example. He should start now! Start as early as now to train again and make his game better, and study why he faded against Boston.

Anyway, going back to my premise, Boston had that defining moment in the first two rounds. They were in trouble against Atlanta and Cleveland. They lost all their road games, and had to rely on their home floor to win. They had shaky moments, but Paul Pierce did a great job in inspiring and leading his team. Sure he had Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to help him. But both still struggled at times, especially Allen. But Pierce did was to feed off from its hunger, and fought back. They hurdled all obstacles and silenced the nay-sayers. A lot had doubts, but they never doubted themselves.

And when the chips were falling, their leader, Pierce was there to pick up the pieces. Pierce was there to score 36 a game after they lost at home against Detroit. Pierce was there and emotionally triumphed in using that hunger to make his teammates hustle. Pierce was there to elevate the Celtics game. And everyone thereafter followed him. Allen regained his deadly touch, Eddie House and James Posey were diving for loose balls, Kendrick Perkins and PJ Brown were rebounding. Leon Powe started driving to the basket uncontested. Yes, Pierce started it all! When that ultimate test challenged Boston most especially in the first two rounds and loosing the home-court advantage against Detroit, Pierce was there.

They never had it easy in the play-offs except the Finals. They were challenged all throughout the lesser talented Eastern Conference. And when the time came when they had to engage the best of the ever-competitive West, they were battle-tested. They were ready! And that is why, they deserve to be crowned as NBA Champions! (photos courtesy of yahoo nba)

We all know that Kerr and D’Antoni have their differences in their coaching philosophies. Steve, being the student of Greg Popovich and Phil Jackson, advocates defense, while Mike, having coached in Italy and more adept to the European style, prefers offense over defense to win games. We saw how the Suns run the floor and make the games exciting, shooting within the first seven seconds, and trading baskets with the opponents. They had the talent, but how long can they still run?

Steve Nash, Shaquille O’Neal and Grant Hill are nearing the twilight of their careers, and all three play major roles in Phoenix’s championship dream. The perfect coach that would jive well with Kerr’s defensive philosophies would be Jeff! Van Gundy has been an overachiever all his life. We know he preaches defense. His teams have been reputed to great defensive teams like the New York Knicks of the mid-90’s and the Houston Rockets a season ago.

He is enjoying himself commenting on games, but deep in his heart, he wants another chance to win that elusive title. Just one. At least one. Those bags under his eyes is a living proof that he works hard. Steve, let Mike go, and get Jeff. I don’t see any other candidate in the market right now.

Infusing a 36-year old 350-pound Shaquille O’Neal into a system entirely different from his orientation messed up the identity of Phoenix. You let go of a guy who fits perfectly into the run-and-gun style of play in Shawn Marion, and bring in the Big Cactus into the fold is much different from the letting-go of useless Kwame Brown, a rookie and future draft picks, then getting a dominant big man in Pau Gasol, which the Los Angeles Lakers did. The arrival of O’Neal totally needs an overhauling of the Suns system, and I believe this can be done. It just needs time. Time they don’t have. Like Raja Bell said during their 3-6 run upon Shaq’s arrival, “We are still in preseason form.” Yes, they were and still are, while the rest of the league have been warming-up for the post-season.

And beating the defending champions in the first round is too much to ask from these Suns who are still assimilating Shaq into the fold, and D’Antoni has to adapt and even change his system for his arrival. Sure, they appear to have incorporated the Diesel into the team’s system, but they still haven’t. The proof! They lost the big games.

They could have totally avoided the Spurs in the first round, if only, they have beaten Houston on April 11. Yes that game! They were beaten big-time, 90-101. They did beat Houston, the Rockets’ second defeat after going 22-0, but they needed to win that April 11 encounter more. That was the tie-breaker right there. They could have been fifth, not sixth, and it is much different to face San Antonio, than facing Utah. Yes, they may have beaten the Spurs thrice in four encounters, but that was the regular season. San Antonio is totally different team in the play-offs. They have lots of experience playing together, and they have semi-dominated this decade. Four titles in nine years. That’s a feat, and three titles with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Those three know how to win. And an identity-searching team like Phoenix is no match for them.

In a closely-fought and tight Western Conference, that single loss ended the season for the Suns. And fate was not on their side either. Duncan made a magical three, his first the whole season, in Game One. That forced a second overtime, and with Amare Stoudemire fouling out, they had the slimmest of chance. They were supposed to win it, but it was not theirs from the very start. The breaks all went San Antonio’s way. And champions as the Spurs are, they surely have awaken from a momentary slumber in Game Four. They have been here before. They know how to close out teams.

If only they won against Houston on that April 11 game. They should be facing Utah now. They should still be in the fight. Who knows it could be them in the second round, and facing the Lakers. And they would have been better, having to experience what it’s like to have Shaq in the playoffs. Not against the Spurs, it would have been better to experiment having Shaq around against the Jazz. If only they have beaten Houston, and not fall down to them 90-101. If only… (photos courtesy of yahoonba.com)

Bell went 5-for-7 from the three-point line, hit an amazing 8-of-11 from the field, and led the Suns with 27 points Sunday night! He more than offset the poor games of Amare Stoudemire and Nash. Amare only had seven points, and Nash had 15 points and just four assists.

Maybe, Bell was a bit relaxed in that game, feeling that there’s no tomorrow and that he had to show. The pressure of limiting Manu Ginobili, who has led the Spurs in scoring for two games, and shot that winning lay-up over Raja in that highly-contested double-overtime victory in Game One, was too much of a burden for Bell. He may been having nightmares about that shot.

I salute Mike D’Antoni for changing the game plan and making the much-needed adjustments. They looked for other options and Bell and Diaw delivered. San Antonio was surprised that Stoudemire and O’Neal weren’t getting the ball that much. It was a good ploy.

And they did great defensively. The game was won with their defense, ironically. Parker was harassed considerably, and when he passed thru Diaw, a myriad of bodies are waiting for him. He is good finisher, but a weak passer. Phoenix took that strength away from Parker. They also defended the pick-and-roll well. No more switches. It doesn’t matter if they were called for fouls as long as they did not go under the screen. The Spurs felt the Suns’ defense.

The problem though is Raja’s consistency in hitting those outside bombs, but it doesn’t really matter as long as they play well defensively. Raja, let those bombs loose. Shoot them. Then run on defense after. Win one more game. Just one more.

Every sports analyst thought that this series will go the distance, and the winner of this series will go to the NBA Finals. And the Spurs will definitely make it to the NBA Finals two years in a row.

Seeing how the Suns lost two commanding first half leads in San Antonio pains me. Most especially the first one, wherein Michael Finley and Tim Duncan hit two of the biggest threes to send the game into two overtimes. Then, it was Manu Ginobili who put the dagger into the heart of the Suns, with an off-balanced lay-up over Raja Bell.

Perhaps, San Antonio was just sleeping on the Suns in the first one-and-a-half games. They woke up from their slumber in the second half of Game Two, and completely dominated Phoenix from thereon.

Shaquille O’Neal is just all talk. He has become a complete liability. He is not dominating in offense and has no defense to speak of at all. In the just concluded Game Three, where the San Antonio thrashed Phoenix, 115-99, Shaq was exposed on not being able to defend the pick-and-roll.

Down 0-3, the Suns will go home early and loose to their play-off tormentors again. Before, I used to believe in them, that they will come back. But, I have realized they are not the same team. Steve Nash is tired, and O’Neal is old and nonsense. Those are their two leaders, the others feed off them. And both, well, they just don’t have the heart. (photo courtesy of yahoonba.com)

I hate the San Antonio Spurs. They do not compete fairly on the floor. Last year, they had the referees on their side. This year, they are flopping their way to the title. Whoever wins in this series has a good chance of making it to the NBA Finals. But please, calls should not be made on flops! Floppers should be penalized!!!

O’Neal could have made the game a lopsided one if that silly foul was not called him in the first quarter. The Suns led by as much as 16 in the first half, but with O’Neal riding the bench for most of the game, the momentum shifted to Spurs. Phoenix had control of the game 80-percent of the way. It was an unfair contest when a player of Shaq’s caliber, whom the Suns traded-for, was nowhere to be found in the contest because of a flop! Please!

The Spurs may win another the title. But they will never earn my respect. They are the biggest cowards in the NBA.

They have been winning one and loosing the next game for the past 14 contests. If only that trend were broken, if only they won that pivotal last game against the Denver Nuggets, then they would have the tie-breaker and their fate in their hands. Instead, they had to win all their remaining games, and hope that the Nuggets will lose against the lowly Memphis Grizzlies. Such a tall order.

The pain of almost making it is unbearable. They have worked so hard all season lang. Just a win could have a difference. They squeezed in last season, even upsetting title-faved Dallas, but in the most competitive Western Conference ever happening this year, squeezing-in wouldn’t be enough. This is the season where they would say that they almost made it in the play-offs. Yup! Almost, but not quite in it.