Day 1 of the NBA playoffs featured three road wins, including one helluva "I am here" moment for Derrick Rose and an absolute destruction of the hot Blazers in Portland.With the second day of the postseason match the first's in surprises? Will Michael Beasley come up major? We set up the day, after the jump.
Utah at L.A. Lakers, 3 PM ET, ABC
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With the West's 1-8 series widely predicted to be the biggest mismatch of the first round, the Jazz enter L.A. with almost no outside expectation for success. Utah has played awful on the road against good teams this season, and L.A. has been one of the tougher home teams in the league. (Well, the Lakers have been one of the tougher teams in the league no matter where you play them.)
Carlos Boozer hasn't been himself, Mehmet Okur isn't healthy, and the Kobe-Pau-Bynum attack has hummed since Andrew came back from injury. The Lakers would have frightened all if Bynum sat out the season as in 2008; adding him to this smooth mix just deepens opponent trepidation.
As was the case Saturday with point guards (Rose, Rajon Rondo, Aaron Brooks, J.J. Barea) stealing the show, Deron Williams will be the player to keep two eyes on. The Lakers can be beat at the point guard positon, and Deron is fond of doing the beating.
Philadelphia at Orlando, 5:30 PM ET, TNT
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That Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis have been dinged up late this season has remained relatively quiet. Stan Van Gundy assured reporters Saturday that Turk and Shard looked good in practice, but it leaves an observer to wonder just how muted the Magic swingers would need to be for Philadelphia to have a legit shot in this series.
As has been well-documented, Philadelphia's offense relies on turnover creation. The Sixers can't shoot and (without Elton Brand) have no scorer to demand a double-team in order to create soft openings. The Magic defense has been incredible this year, anchored by Dwight Howard of course but relying on steady effort by Lewis, Turkoglu, Courtney Lee and (now) Rafer Alston. If the injuries to Lewis and Turkoglu affect their lateral quickness, or take enough out of them so that chasing Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala respectively, then Philadelphia could have an easier than expected effort on offense.
As Chicago set the tone of its series by shocking Boston, there's pressure for Philadelphia to do the same. Allowing Orlando to affirm its lofty expectations early can only mean trouble.
Miami at Atlanta, 8 PM ET, TNT
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Joe Johnson is quiet as Dwyane Wade is loud. It will (of course) be incredibly interesting to see how J.J. responds to Wade's electricity (which will be present, for better or worse but most likely for better). Last season, J.J. dealt with Ray Allen, more of a shooter than a firefly. Johnson handled Allen well over the course of the seven-game series. Atlanta's hope depend on him doing the same to Wade, or at least making the Heat sweat on the other end.
New Orleans at Denver, 10:30 PM ET, TNT
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Again with the point guards! Rose deserves every commendation he receives, but let's not forget that in his playoff debut last season Chris Paul had 35/10. If anyone can grab the headlines in the 6'3-or-under category, it's Paul ... unless Chauncey Billups has something to say about it.
Latest NBA Playoff Photos
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 19: Carlos Boozer #5 of the Utah Jazz goes up for a shot between Lamar Odom #7 and Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carlos Boozer;Lamar Odom;Pau Gasol
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 19: Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers moves the ball as he is covered by Matt Harpring #15 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom;Matt Harpring
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 19: (L-R) C.J. Miles #34 and Andrei Kirilenko #47 of the Utah Jazz react in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** C.J. Miles;Andrei Kirilenko
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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Jarron Collins #31 of the Utah Jazz boxes out against Trevor Ariza #3 of Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jarron Collins;Trevor Ariza
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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Deron Williams #8 of the Utah Jazz attempts a shot between Kobe Bryant #24 and Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Deron Williams;Kobe Bryant;Pau Gasol
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot between Paul Millsap #24 and Andrei Kirilenko #47 of the Utah Jazz in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kobe Bryant;Paul Millsap;Andrei Kirilenko
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Utah Jazz in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pau Gasol
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Actor Jack Nicholson watches a game from courtside between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jack Nicholson
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Carlos Boozer #5 of the Utah Jazz goes up for a shot against Pau Gasol #16 of Los Angeles Lakers in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carlos Boozer;Pau Gasol
NBAE/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES - APRIL 19: Shannon Brown #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers puts up a shot against the Utah Jazz in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shannon Brown
NBAE/Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-19-2009 @ 5:58PM
Sally said...
Anyone ADMIRING K Bryant ... please wikipedia Kobe Bryant.....and read about his 'morals' as he commits adultrous sex acts with motel employee and 'settles' court case and buys his wife expensive gifts... He should not be allowed to represent the NBA or Lakers in my opinion
Reply
4-20-2009 @ 3:20AM
SimbaDogg said...
just storing my password, dont mind me
Reply