Hawks-Jazz

Mustache is finally living up to his promise of covering Atlanta teams. After attending a Falcons, Hawks, and three Braves games, I am a fully integerated Atlanta sports denizen.

Anyway, I went with a small group of people to Phillips arena last night to catch the latest come-from-behind Jazz victory (although the margin was much smaller last night than in Florida). The arena is sort of connected to the CNN center, and in an indoor courtyard between the two is the world's best food court.

What makes it world class? They had enormous beers (I'm pretty sure they were 36 ounces) for like $8. Needless to say, we were a little late for the game.

Oh, did you want actually game commentary? Josh Smith didn't shoot threes very well, Joe Johnson is pretty good and Kirilenko of the Jazz gets a lot of rebounds.

Also, according to some kids in the elevator, the Falcons are going to the Superbowl.

After I got home I watched some of the Thunder-'Blazers game. Russell Westbrook for MVP.

Thursday Throwback Posterization: Pippen Over The Mailman

Apologies for missing last week's Throwback Posterization, but I'm back with another classic throwdown. This week's jam is from none other than Scottie Pippen, or as my dad liked to call him, Pottie Scippen. This dunk is from game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, which the Bulls would go onto win 90-88 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. The Bulls closed the series out in the next game in Chicago, winning their fifth title in seven years.

Pippen blows by Utah's Chris Morris, who apparently had been giving Scottie trouble on defense up until that point. No one comes to help after Pippen gets into the lane, which forces Malone to leave his man and contest the dunk. The Mailman's help defense was too little too late, as Pippen absorbs the contact and finishes strong at the rim. I love how Pippen is all business after the dunk, but I guess you have to be all business when you're trailing 14-25 on the road in a crucial game 5 of the Finals.

Thunder F*cked!

After the Thunder beat Boston last week, Kevin Garnett said that he "thought [the Celtics] were playing Michael fucking Jordan" with the way Kevin Durant was getting the whistle. This week, Durant got no call after being fouled in overtime by C.J. Miles on a potential game winning three-pointer against the Jazz. Normally KD is a pretty laid back, easy going guy, but after the no-call he was absolutely livid.

The NBA announced today that Durant was in fact fouled on the play by Miles, robbing the Thunder of a game that very much could have been theirs.

Needless to say, Teenage Mustache is busy writing an angry letter to David Stern.

Even though the officiating was less than ideal, this was still an instant classic. With a final score of 140-139, it was the most points scored in a game this season. Deron Williams and Kevin Durant both took their game to another level, with Williams finishing with a career-high 42 points and Durant finishing with a season-high 45 points.

After the Jazz seemed to have pulled away in the fourth, Durant went off for 12 points in the final three minutes. Jeff Green also made some key plays down the stretch, including a game-tying three-pointer to knot the game at 129 with 8.3 seconds left in regulation. In the end, Deron Williams would make the game winning shot with 1.1 seconds left off of a Boozer hand-off and screen. After watching this amazing game, I'm praying for a Thunder vs. Jazz matchup in the first round.

Playoff Picture: Top of the West

The Lakers currently sit atop the West with the Nuggets just three games behind them and the Mavericks three and a half. I expect LA to hang onto the top spot. Their schedule in March is pretty light besides games against the Spurs, Thunder, and Hawks, but only two of their nine games are at home. I think they can handle all three of those teams, though. April looks a bit more tough, with games against the Jazz, Spurs, Nuggets, and Blazers.

To defend their championship the Lakers will have to start functioning more as a unit. Since Kobe has returned from injury, they haven't appeared on the same page. Kobe has been trying to do too much on his own, Pau Gasol has looked frustrated and lost at times, and Artest has never really found his way in the triangle offense. Rumor has it that the Lakers might start to rely less on the triangle, so it will be interesting to see if this helps Artest adjust or throws the team off after having relied on it for so long. I think the key for the Lakers is getting into a rhythm in which everyone feels involved. Andrew Bynum should get some touches early in games, Gasol needs to get involved by hitting the offensive glass and getting easy buckets, and Lamar Odom needs to come off the bench and produce.

Projected Record: 60 - 22

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Portland Trail Blazers

Despite injuries, the Nuggets have been playing well and currently hold a 6-game winning streak. They could surpass the Lakers, but I think LA will turn it up to close the season out. The Nuggets also have some tough games down the stretch and will mostly be on the road this month. In March, they play the hot Bucks, the Celtics, Magic, and Mavericks. Their long road trip closes against Orlando and Dallas, so that will be a big test for them. In April, their toughest competition includes the Blazers, Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, and Suns. They also play the Grizzlies at the end of the season, who might be fighting to slip into the playoffs.

The Nuggets biggest concern heading into the playoffs is health. Kenyon Martin has been out with knee problems, and has opted to have blood injected into his knee (apparently this is a standard procedure) rather than have surgery. Martin is a great post defender, so it will be important for him to be on the floor. Rookie point guard Ty Lawson has also been out with a shoulder injury and probably won't be back for a while. His ability to come off the bench and change the game's pace could make a big impact in the playoffs. According to Basketball-Reference, Denver is 2nd in offense but only 15th in defense in the NBA. The Nuggets tend to play to their competition, so they will need to control the tempo of games to be successful. As I've mentioned before, if J.R. Smith can play to his potential throughout the playoffs, the Nuggets will be a tough out.

Projected Record: 56 - 26

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: San Antonio Spurs

The Mavericks 13-game winning streak came to an end last night... against the Knicks... by 34 points. What an embarrassing way to end such a good run. Give credit to New York though for bringing it. Dallas has a moderately difficult schedule to finish the season, but eight of their fifteen games are at home. This month, they have games against the Celtics, Blazers, and Nuggets. In April, they'll have the Magic, Thunder, Blazers, and the Spurs. They also face the Grizzlies twice more, who won't be an easy out.

The Mavericks trade deadline deal that sent out the inconsistent Josh Howard and brought in Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, and Brendan Haywood may have been the best trade this season. All three players bring a toughness that was lacking on past Mavericks teams. Although swingman Caron Butler was the biggest name in that trade, Stevenson and Haywood bring a lot to the table. Stevenson provides solid perimeter defense and Haywood gives them a much needed upgrade over center Eric Dampier, or as Shaq would say, "Erica" Dampier. With their championship window closing, success in the playoffs is crucial for Dallas. If they come up short again, Mark Cuban might have to start from scratch.

Projected Record: 55 - 27

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Phoenix Suns

The Jazz sit in the 4th seed with the hot Thunder dangerously close, just half a game back. The Thunder beat the Jazz last night, who have now dropped two straight. The rest of this month looks light, with their toughest games being against the Suns and Celtics. April will be tougher, as they face the Lakers, Thunder, and Suns. Eight of their fifteen remaining games are at home, which is significant because the Jazz fare much better at home than on the road.

The Jazz are currently dealing with several injuries, as Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Price all missed last night's game against the Thunder. Deron Williams has also struggled with injuries this year, most recently having problems with his shoulder. The Jazz will need Kirilenko to be healthy in the playoffs, as he has had a big season after a couple of disappointing years. And of course, Deron Williams needs to be healthy for them to succeed. Although the Jazz have shown signs that they're on the up this year, being in the top ten in both offensive and defensive ratings, they still have many issues that have plagued them over the years. They're still a pretty lousy team on the road, which is a big concern in the playoffs. If the Thunder finish ahead of them and they lose home court advantage in the first round, there'll be even more cause for concern.

Projected Record: 54 - 28

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Oklahoma City Thunder

SUNDIATA GAINES!!!!

Sorry Cavs fans, but I can't help myself from taking tremendous pleasure in seeing a player called up from the D-League's Idaho Stampede (yes, there's actually a sports team called the Idaho Stampede) hit a game winning shot to beat Cleveland. What a great story amidst a season that has been overshadowed by some idiot who brought guns into the locker room.

To give you some background, watch this video:



Now, back to last night's game. Deron Williams left the game in the 4th quarter after re-injuring his wrist, which set up an opportunity for the Jazz's D-League call-up Sundiata Gains, or Yatta, as his new teammates call him. The Jazz and Cavs would exchange runs in an absolutely insane 4th quarter. The highlights are worth watching, by the way. With the Jazz up thirteen with under five minutes to play, LeBron started to catch fire as he launched three-pointers that seemed like awful shots but somehow the ball found the basket time and time again. It appeared the Cavs were going to run away with it, but missed free throws down the stretch kept the Jazz's hopes alive. With seven seconds left, Utah's Kyle Korver hit a crazy Larry Bird-esque behind-the-basket shot to bring the Jazz within one. The Jazz would immediately foul Big Z, who hit one of two free throws. And then this happened:



This is some real hoop dreams come true type shit, and it just makes me feel so good inside. In the words of the great Charles Barkley, "That was awesome."

T-Wolves spoil Deron Williams' big night

After big wins last week against the Spurs, Lakers, and Magic, the Jazz fell to the Timberwolves for the second time this season. Despite the loss, Deron Williams posted a career high in points with 38 and he also dropped 13 dimes with only 1 turnover. He just couldn't manage to knock down the potential game winner.

I mainly wanted to do this post because of the slick move Deron pulls at the 0:16 mark on the above video. On a 2-on-2 fast break, Williams does a behind-the-back pass fake that Corey Brewer bites on just enough to give Williams room for a beautiful finger roll finish. Williams really doesn't get enough credit outside of true hoop fans. He's yet to make an All Star team, which is downright shameful. If he were in the East, I'm sure he'd have made multiple All Star teams by now. Unfortunately, the presence of point guards in the West like Chris Paul and Steve Nash could likely keep him from making it yet again this year.

Williams is also one of the best players in the league at the crossover. His lateral quickness is off the charts. Check these two videos from a recent game against the Lakers. You can find tons of more videos on youtube of Deron breaking ankles. I love them green throwback unis, by the way.

'Melo Posterizes Paul Milsap

I didn't watch this game too closely, so I'll spare you the details. The Jazz were looking pretty good (mainly Deron Williams), but the Nuggets looked just that much better. This steal and huge dunk by Carmelo Anthony on Paul Milsap kept the momentum with the Nuggets for good. The main point I want to make is that rookie point guard Ty Lawson out of UNC looked like a natural pro in his first game. He's looking to be a steal as the 18th pick in the draft.