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| The Cavs finally jumped back into form, finding an impressive 108-84 win in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals over the Boston Celtics while LeBron James finally found a worthy running mate. PG Delonte West went 7-of-11 from the field, an impressive 4-of-6 from the three-point stripe, and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line to match LeBron with 21 points, adding five rebound, seven assists, and a steal to the stat line. |
Our View: If West can show like this every time on the floor, the Cavs could be as dangerous as any team in the east. Chances of him pulling that off? Slim and none.
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| The Celtics suffered their first loss of the Eastern Conference semifinals as the Cleveland Cavaliers took Game 3, 108-84. None of the members of the starting lineup did much to rave about, but guard Ray Allen was especially atrocious, going 4-of-12 from the floor, a pathetic 0-of-5 from the three-point line, and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe to finish with 10 points. |
Our View: If Ray-Ray doesn't improve, the Cavs could easily jump right back into this series. Garnett can't do it all on his own, and Allen (not to mention Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo) need to step it up or suffer the consequences.
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| With the end coming all too close for view, the Cleveland Cavaliers put their foot on the gas and put an impressive win on the board, taking Boston to task 108-84. Of course, forward LeBron James was the catalyst for the charge, going 5-of-16 from the floor, 3-of-5 from the three-point line, and 8-of-12 from the free-throw line to score 21 points. James also added five rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and three blocked shots to the stat line. |
Our View: All things told, it was a sub-par evening for LeBron, but his teammates (namely Delonte West) stepped it up and the team effort prevailed.
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| Contrary to initial reports, Cleveland forward Ben Wallace is in the starting lineup this evening and will be contributing to the cause for the Cavaliers as they face the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. |
Our View: Wallace was originally reported as "unlikely to play" after suffering a mild blackout due to an ear infection and allergy symptoms in Game 2. Wallace reports he is feeling fine and will be 100% for tonight's battle with the Celts.
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| The Detroit Pistons found their defense to be as effective as needed, putting the clamps on team leader Dwight Howard . The Orlando center shot just 3-of-12 from the field and garnered just one trip to the free-throw line (going 2-for-2) to score a paltry 8 points, dropping in a hard-fought 90-89 loss to the Detroit Pistons. |
Our View: Howard added 12 rebounds, but the story is the decisive 3-1 series lead the Pistons now hold in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Howard is the crutch of this team. Scoring eight is unacceptable.
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| The Detroit Pistons fought through a strong surge in the 4th quarter to emerge victorious, 90-89, over the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series. The Pistons, fighting to overcome the loss of PG Chauncey Billups, would have been lost and forgotten without the outstanding efforts of Richard Hamilton . Rip went 12-of-24 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe to score 32 points, adding six rebounds, three assists, and two steals to the stat line. |
Our View: Now the Pistons move to Game 5 with a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, but getting Billups back healthy may be concern #1.
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| Rick Carlisle has accepted an agreement to become the new coach of the Dallas Mavericks, according to the Sports Network. |
Our View: The four-year contract for Carlisle was announced by the team's website late on Friday night. Carlisle replaces the recently-fired Avery Johnson and will now attempt to formulate a new sense of urgency for a team that has consistently played as one of the best in the regular season only to fall short in the playoffs. In six seasons as a coach, Carlisle has compiled a record of 281-211, winning NBA Coach of the Year in 2002 with the Detroit Pistons.
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| Updating an earlier report, Detroit guard Chauncey Billups will not be playing for the Pistons as they face the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of their playoff series this evening, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: This could be troublesome news for Detroit. They managed to suffer their first loss to the Magic in Game 3 after Billups was lost, suffering a pulled hamstring after slipping under the hoop. The team leader and pace setter on offense is a key ingredient, giving the Magic reason for optimism.
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| Mike D'Antoni has agreed to coach the New York Knicks, according to Fox Sports. The deal is reportedly for four years at around $6 million per season. |
Our View: D'Antoni has led the Suns to three Pacific Division titles and two trips to the Western Conference finals in his four full seasons as coach. He has compiled a 232-96 record, including 55-27 last season. He likes to employ an exciting run-and-gun style, which should satisfy the home crowd at Madison Square Garden, especiallly if the Knicks start to win.
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| Rafer Alston underwent surgery on Friday to repair ligament and tendon damage in his right ankle, according to the AP. |
Our View: He is expected to be ready to play when Houston opens training camp in the fall. Alston averaged 13.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals over 74 games this season.
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| Shane Battier underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs in his left ankle, according to the AP. |
Our View: Team doctor Tom Clanton said Battier will be ready to play when the Rockets open training camp in the fall. Battier averaged 9.3 points, 5.1 boards, and 1.1 blocks over 80 games this season.
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| Trevor Ariza will seek a third opinion on his broken right foot, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Ariza has been sidelined since January, and CT scans on his foot revealed he's not entirely healed. However, it's possible that Ariza could return in time to play at some point in the series against Utah. Coach Phil Jackson said, "I still have optimism. The second round is a long way from being over. We can only hope we had the same kind of success in the last round, but we certainly can't count on that." |
Our View: Ariza only averaged 5.5 points over 15.7 minutes per game this season, and the Lakers will be fine without him if he ultimately cannot play.
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| Ben Wallace left Thursday's game with Boston in the first quarter after experiencing dizziness and is doubtful to play in Game 3, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. He said, "I got light-headed. My head started spinning. There was smoke in the first quarter. You can't play basketball with your head spinning like that."
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Our View: Doctors diagnosed Wallace with allergies and a viral inner-ear infection. Anderson Varejao is likely to fill Wallace's shoes tonight in Cleveland. Boston leads the series 2-0, and Wallace's rebounding will be missed against the physical Celtics, namely Kevin Garnett.
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| Deron Williams suffered a bruised and sore right hand and wrist during battle with the Lakers on Friday, according to the Deseret News. X-rays were negative and he is said to be good to go for Game 4. |
Our View: He scored 18 points with 12 assists in Friday's win for Utah, and he is needed in Game 4 as Utah still trails 2-1 in the series with LA.
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| Chauncey Billups will be a game-time decision for today's battle with Orlando, according to the Detroit Free Press. Billups is feeling better, but said, "It's still tough to say because it's a soft-tissue injury. It's very restrictive. Even when I try to walk kind of fast, it's restrictive. It's tough. You have to be careful." He is being slowed by a strained right hamstring.
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Our View: He is really needed for pivotal Game 4 in Orlando, as Detroit holds a 2-1 lead in the series.
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| Mehmet Okur scored 22 points in Friday's 104-99 win over the Lakers in Game 3. He also chipped in seven boards, two assists, two steals, and a block. The Lakers lead the series 2-1, and that was a big win for Utah. |
Our View: He is averaging 19.6 points through the series with Los Angeles. He hauled in 19 boards back in Game 1 as well.
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| Lamar Odom recorded a double-double in Friday's 104-99 loss to Utah in Game 3. Odom scored 13 points with 12 boards, along with one assist, one steal, and two blocks. The Lakers still lead the series 2-1. |
Our View: That was his second double-double of the series with Utah, and his fourth of the playoffs.
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