A Can’t Miss Pass
LBJ threaded the needle with one of the most jaw-droppingly sweet passes I’ve ever seen executed. Even if you care nothing for basketball, you have to see this pass, simply because you won’t believe he actually got it past the defender and through to his man.
Go to this page and press “Highlights”. The awesomeness happens at 54 seconds.
While you’re at it, check out a sweet cross-over, spin-move with which Caron Butler destroys LeBron James, making him look like a cross-eyed matador who’s just walked off of a merry-go-round. Mess occurs at 25 seconds.
Hell, while you’re still at it, check out the game winning shot by James at 1:40. It’s an awesome shot and all, but I would’ve sworn he moved his pivot foot before taking it. In fact, it seems so obvious that I’m mildly shocked it wasn’ t called. Does anyone else share in my lukewarm shock?
Lebron’s pass is 90% incredibe and 10% lucky. His game winning shot was definitely illegal, which is probably why the refs didn’t give him the and-one.
Butler’s spin move is the highlight of the playoffs.
I agree with all of those statements, but most emphatically with the Butler move … Lebron who.
Daniel, your boy Shaun Livingston is finally killing. I look for him to be one of the hottest prospects in next year’s fantasy draft –
One of the more interesting emerging stories around the Clippers is 20-year-old Shaun Livingston, the spindly 6-foot-7 point guard they drafted out of Peoria (Ill.) Richwoods High School with the fourth overall pick in 2004. He averaged 5.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 61 games during the regular season. But he got progressively better in each playoff game after having just two points, three assists and one rebound in Game 1 and five points, three assists and three rebounds in Game 2. Over the last three games, he’s averaged 10.3 points, 8.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds, including a whopping 14 assists in the conclusive Game 5.
Livingston will be three times as good once he can shoot like Nash, post-up smaller guards like Q Richardson, and play some kind of defense other than foul-defense. I love watching him pass the ball. Do you know if the Clippers are keeping Cassell for next season?
Is anybody not going for the Lakers to beat those whinin’ Suns? I’m finally an NBA convert, though it’d be sweeter if I had cable and could actually watch the games.
I don’t love the Suns like I did last year, but I still like them way more than the Lakers, who come across as punks. Kobe should have been suspended for pushing over that pile of guys in game 3. It has been a great series with so much adrenaline. I’m banking on Suns 4-3. The Suns should be up 3-2 right now, but the refs made the wrong call at the end of game 2. Did you see Kobe’s monster dunk over Steve Nash at the end of that game? It should have been a charge, not a blocking foul.
The Cavs v. Wizards series might even be better. Did you see last night’s game? I think the biggest lead by either team going into the 4th quarter was three or four points. The Cavs pulled away in the 4th, but then went cold in the closing moments and the Wizards scored the last seven in the last 90 seconds to send it to overtime. Arenas gave Washington a 1 point lead with two free throws with 3.6 seconds left. Lebron took the inbound pass, beat his man on the baseline, sliced in between two other defenders and softly laid the ball into the net to win the game 121-120.
I’m sure they would like to keep him if Sterling is willing to pay the money, but Sam is becoming like the Larry Brown of players, going somewhere for a couple of years, doing well, burning out, then moving on… I’ve heard he’s even looking to move this summer if he can get a good multi-year contract somewhere else… I personally think he has one more solid year with the Clippers, with Livingston getting more minutes as an apprentice in preparation for 07-08 — but I’m speaking as a Clippers fan, not a Sam Cassell’s checking account’s fan.
O M G — this Suns - Lakers series is AWESOME. First of all, I did see “The Tightrope” last night by LBJ and feel like it’s impossible to tell who’s more offensively gifted — James or Bryant. Both are just ridiculous. It’s as if Bryant was trying to outdo James tonight with his awesome spin fade-away rainbow nothing-but-netter over Shawn Marion’s Matrix-ass arms. Regardless, let’s get to a couple of issues here –
1. What do you think of Nash repeating as MVP this year (as has been reported)? I certainly have no problem with him winning it, since he’s the best at making his teammates better, but I think Kobe is the best at DESTROYING another team, which is an equally compelling reason for being considered “most valuable”. Since Nash won last year, and Kobe has had such an awesome year this year (in an MVP-less career in which he’s been a Top 5 player every year this decade)(62 points in 3 quarters, 81 in 4?), and, from this series at least, both seem to have equally good teams, I’d vote for Kobe, though I don’t like him personally nearly as much. (plus — he’s a much better defender)
2. Are the Suns going to officially be THE SWEETEST TEAM EVER next year? I’m assuming they can keep their core (which now includes Diaw and Bell). They’re so damn entertaining — the system, D’Antoni, and Nash just seem to make 20 ppg scorers out of anybody they wish. I mean, c’mon, I like Tim Thomas and all, but the guy was playing YMCA ball four months ago. Next year, with enforcers like Stoudamire and Thomas on board, they should be legit contenders AND possibly averaging 135 ppg over the regular season. Diaw is key here - if he can improve a bit shooting-wise and keep up his efficient all-around game in reduced minutes, the Sun’s O will be BLAZING. Nash could average 14 assists per game.
All I know is that I am undoubtedly seeing them when they play in Memphis.
3. I’m having a Suns-Lakers Game 7 watch party Saturday. All are invited! ; ) While I have a feeling the Suns will win, I wouldn’t mind seeing a Lakers-Clippers conf. semifinals. I feel my newly-beloved Clips have a better chance against them anyway…
My MVP vote is for Nash. I think he’s clearly the most valuable offensive player in the league. His ability to get the most out of his teammates, his passing skills, and his understanding of defensive strategies are tops. He could average 30 ppg if he wanted to. I even think his defense is way too underrated. I love watching Nash play D. Considering his obvious physical limitations, the guy is as good as he can be on D. He is great at controlling their ball movement, anticipating the passing lanes and forcing players to keep the ball, helping at just the right time, keeping PGs from penetrating, reading plays, and even rebounding. He doesn’t get that many rebounds, but he often could get rebounds but chooses to box out so his teammates can get the rebounds. What he does better than anyone else is when a player picks up his dribble too far from the basket, he will leave him and double team the guy he is likely to pass to. Nash can’t shutdown Iverson, Kobe, Lebron, or any PG with a good shake-n-bake jump shot, and he doesn’t get many blocks or steals, but the dude is a valuable cog in his team’s defense. I’ve never seen Mike pull Nash out of a game to put in a better defender.
Have you noticed that now that the playoffs are here, Kobe is playing more like Nash than regular-season-Kobe. He’s playing more PG, passing, getting his teammates involved, etc. I think we’re all surprised at how well the Lakers are playing, and surely it’s because Kobe knows his regular season playing style is less conducive to winning the series as the Nash-Kobe style he’s employing.
I can’t wait for the Cavs-Wizards game tonight. I want the Cavs to win the series (and the playoffs), but who can turn down a seventh game?
HOw ’bout them Cavs? While I felt bad about Arenas missing those shots, I am glad the Cavs won this game and didn’t risk losing a game 7. Washington-Detroit would have been disgusting. Even though Cleveland will lose, it will be a tremendous learning experience for LeBron and co. next year…
Three Observations –
1) Cleveland’s off-season acquisitions REALLY came through in the clutch tonight. Marshall had a season-high 28 while Damon Jones walked off the street with a Big Gulp in his hand, checked into the game, and calmly knocked down the biggest three in the last 15 years of Cavaliers basketball.
2. I just heard this on ESPN, but Washington, in losing tonight, became the first team to EVER have three consecutive losses (not necessarily in consecutive games) by 1 point. I’d hate to be a Wiz fan tonight.
3. Is what LeBron did to Arenas before he shot the free throws legal? Evidently it is. I can’t believe you can just walk up to the guy about to shoot a free throw and put your hand on him. Hell, why aren’t people doing this all the time?!
Arenas’ 35 foot three pointer to force OT was one hell of a spectacular play for one hell of a cocky player.
Cavs over Pistons in 7.
Yeah, unbelievably smooth for that distance — and he’s not even that big of a guy. Cocky, but amicable as hell too! aCtually, that guy’s REALLY quicky. I remember reading once that he eats jellybeans before games and only sleeps 3-4 hours a night.
Pistons over Cavs in 5… and I’d love it if I was wrong…
From Slam sports:
The turnover gave the Wizards the ball, but Arenas failed to capitalize by missing both free throws when he was fouled with 15 seconds left. He might have been thrown off by James, who engaged in a bit of gamesmanship by talking to Arenas between the two attempts.
“I told him if he missed both of those free throws, the game was over,” James said.
Arenas’ account was a little different. He said James told him: “If you miss this, you know who’s hitting the game-winner.”
Daniel: Now it’s not so surprising that he missed those two free throws.
in the light of last night’s game, i’m changing my prediction on the cavs-detroit series: pistons in 3