A rather predictable night, all told

Z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z.

Oh, sorry, just woke up. Were there playoff games last night?

Right, there were. Entirely boring, no? Kind of predictable, too?

But tonight? Tonight might be a doozy. The only thing I fear is that, eventually, one of these six teams is going to have one of those nights where nothing goes right and they get killed. So far it hasn’t happened but you wonder how long a young team like Chicago or Portland or even Philly can keep the intensity up.

One more night, we hope. And we’ll be here (or maybe in some local establishment depending on whether I win the Survivor vs. “Not Another Night of Basketball” discussion concerning the big TV. But I digress. From wherever I am, we’ll start just before 7 and see how the night unfolds.

And now, ta-da!

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About Last Night

A game of attrition

WILFREDO LEE/AP

Do you really think he's going to take this lying down?

Wade’s hurt, O’Neal gets hurt, Moon’s had an operation, the Miami Heat bench makes Toronto’s look like the second coming of John Havlicek and Vinny Johnson and all I can think of is: Why is anyone surprised that Atlanta won easily.

I don’t know if the Heat can summon enough energy to win at home tomorrow (I think they’ve got a good chance to get the game at the slow pace they prefer) but I’m also not sure about Atlanta’s ability (with its youth and precociousness and, yes, immaturity) to close out a series on the road.

I don’t know Wade all that well personally but I have heard enough about his personality that getting blown out in Game 6 and watching the Hawks dunk up 20 or so in the final three minutes is going to tick him off incredibly.

And even if his back’s sore, I can see him getting 35 in a Miami win.

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What to do in Denver when you're not dead

No one knows how much money the Nuggets are going to make from hosting more playoff games but whatever it is, the owners ought to give half – at least – to Chauncey Billups.

I didn’t watch much of another dismantling of the woeful Hornets last night (one car wreck of a game in a single series is enough for me) but trying to say with clarity what Billups has meant to the Nuggets is nearly impossible.

This is a team of excitable players to say the least, of J.R. Smiths and Kenyon Martins and Carmelo Anthonys and a coach who seems to invite confrontation every now and then but every time they even think about sliding off the rails, he comes the calm hand of Chauncey to settle them down.

Their whole manner during the New Orleans series was that of a team simply taking care of business. They had some flash but they also had a quiet confidence that came from their leader.

There was a good reason the Nuggets hadn’t been out of the first round in eons, they weren’t grown up enough to succeed. Now, they are.

A Denver-Dallas series, with Billups vs. Kidd has got to be a good one.

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What now, Hornets?

Remember a year ago? Everyone loved New Orleans. Chris Paul was a serious MVP candidate, David West was going to be a perennial all-star, Tyson Chandler dunked every time he touched the ball and it was Mardi Gras all the time.

Now? Not so much and I can see big change coming.

Byron Scott’s coaching tenure is in question – but having a year left on his deal could get him into next season; they’ve already tried to deal Chandler away – a pure salary dump that they’ll likely re-visit this summer; and I guarantee you Paul is having second thoughts about his long-term future in New Orleans.

Things can change rather quickly, no? Here’s how they buried the Hornets in the paper today.

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Okay, before we get to anything too NBA-centric, you have to check out Randy Starkman's Olympic blog right here.

A bunch of you will remember this kid from halftime of Raptors games this year, a bunch of you will come away pretty impressed, I say.

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What’s coming up? Maybe a quiet night or two.

After tonight’s three games (Boston-Chicago, Portland-Houston at 7 on The Score and Orlando-Philly at 7:30 on The Score RaptorsTV) there’s only one game tomorrow, thanks to Denver. It’ll be Game 6 of Miami-Atlanta at 8 p.m. on RaptorsTV).

Saturday has endless possibilities, though. There could be three Game 7s depending on what happens tonight or there might be nothing if all the series end tonight.

Sunday’s got a 1 p.m. doubleheader, either Game 1 of Cleveland-Atlanta or Game 7 of Atlanta-Miami followed by Denver-Dallas.

Nothing in a Laker vs. Portland-Houston western semi or a Boston-Chicago vs. Orlando-Philly eastern semi until Monday night, regardless of what happens tonight.

Plan your lives accordingly.

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So, Dwight Howard gets the one-game suspension we all figured he would and it leaves just one question:

What if the refs hadn’t blown the original call? If they’d got it right and either assessed him a Flagrant 1 and then upgraded it to a Flagrant 2 and thrown him out when he took the shot at Dalembert, how would that have changed Game 5.

Well, considering Howard went on to get 24 and 24 and dominate, I think you could make the case that Philly might be going home leading 3-2 instead of trailing.

And we’d be thinking a whole lot different about the series, wouldn’t we?

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Simple question, simple answer from a rather (at the moment) barebones mailbag:

Q: Hey Doug, here's a simple one for you. After the first round, the NHL re-seeds the remaining teams. But the NBA does a bracket system like the NCAA tournament. I think they are the only league that doesn't re-seed after the first round. Should the NBA start re-seeding teams?

Simon S-G, Toronto

A: No.

First off, if a No. 8 seed upsets a No. 1 seed, I think a case can be made that they deserve some kind of “reward” of meeting the 4 or 5 instead of the two.

And, since I’m an inveterate TV watcher for the first series and at least the start of the second, I love the fact one series blends into the next, there always seems to be a doubleheader every night and there aren’t long stretches of days without games.

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Speaking of the Raptors (oh, wait, there’s nothing to speak of about them, is there?), the big shots are over in Berlin for the EuroLeague Final Four that goes tomorrow and Sunday.

We’ll have lots more on this here tomorrow (I’ve got to have some conversations with people who know more about than I do) but you can watch it if you like.

RaptorsTV will tape-delay tomorrow’s semifinals and show them Saturday starting at noon and Sunday’s championship game will be shown Monday.

(Why do I feel like a TV Guide today?).

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I somehow get the feeling that Ben Gordon, he of the sore hamstring, is being treated as a cross between Willis Reed and Wheelchair Paul Pierce. But it even took a backseat to the fallout from Game 5 asK.C. scribbled today.

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Here’s the difference between Brad Miller and Erick Dampier.

The Dallas centre, as we all recall, went very public – very stupidly – with thinly-veiled threats about knocking down San Antonio’s Tony Parker and got himself in a wee bit of hot water with the big poobahs at NBA Central. Silly idea.

Miller, on the other hand, hasn’t said anything about Rajon Rondo and I can only think actions will speak louder than words tonight.

Speaking of Rondo, in Boston they were wondering what all the fuss was about with him slapping Miller in the head on that final drive the other night.

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What the heck, let’s finish off with a Raptor question:

Q: I know you do not always like speculating on players and where they may go and not go, but I am very curious about Raymond Felton. Do the Raps have any interest? And if so, what would it take to get him here? And if not the Raps, do you see him staying or going off somewhere else?

Zack B, Kuwait City

A: At the right price, I’m sure the Raptors, and likely a dozen or so other teams, would have interest in Felton. However, I’m not sure what that price is. I don’t see, however, how he fits in Charlotte and he may be one of those bargain free agents teams can pick up on the relative cheap this summer.

Comments

[chili]

I like your use of the movie title 'What to do in Denver when you're not dead'.
It's a good movie.

[sherry]

??
After tonight’s three games (Boston-Chicago, Portland-Houston at 7 on The Score and Orlando-Philly at 7:30 on The Score)

Blogger's note: Ooops, Philly-Orlando on RaptorsTV, will fix

[Pharaoh]

Doug, after a full season of watching the Raps, I'm losing most of the "what shall we watch tonight" discussions these days, and as a result, I've only caught bits and pieces of the playoffs thus far. But I'm surprised that you have the same problem - after all, it IS your job (I'd love to be able to use that excuse!) How is it that a guy like you doesn't have his own private screening room? Surely you could make a case to the boss that The Star should pick up the costs.

[erc]

Connecting a couple of dots from today's blog -- Raymond Felton as a Rap? What about Bruce Bowen?
He could fill the vet leadership role as a guy who's 'been there', more than once. He could bring perimeter defense to a team that badly needs some. Or could he, at this stage of his career?
Is his contract to weighty to fill an elder statesman role of the Raps? Is he worth picking up, if available, for the final year of his contract?

[Atode]

Hi Doug. Is Billups part of any MVP talks this year? I can't see anyone ( including Bron Bron, Kobe or Wade ) who's made that much of an impact to their teams and brought success to their franchises. Who did you vote for by the way?
Thanks and love your column.

Blogger's note: I voted for LeBron; I'd be shocked if Chauncey made it to the top five after James, Bryant, Wade, Howard and Tony Parker or Chris Paul

[jet]

Hey doug heard you on the fan this morning. Good job. How do you deal with those puckheads. Those two seem to have no interest in any sport other then hockey?

[Paul]

Blech. Bruce Bowen? If he's a Raptor I'm pawning off my tickets. Blech.

[doug]

I like what you said about Chauncey...he's a prime example of "you don't know what you had until it's gone"....he was obviously the "glue" guy in Detroit and is now that guy with the Nuggets....Dumars really misread what he meant to the Pistons and that's surprising, I thought he was a better GM then that, or rather president of b-ball operations...he's made some bad choices such as drafting Darko, now this move, be interesting to see what he does with all this "cash" he has...having it and spending it wisely are two different entities...if he fails he will be following , or should follow Matt Millen out of town, the Lions ex-president of football operations...

[doug]

i never saw the Rondo-Miller incident as i was out of town on a business trip, but from the highlights and the articles I have read, i am just left with the impression that the NBA blew another one...I think the Bulls have a genuine beef as you have a 80% free throw shooter who was dazed and confused on the line..if he couldn't shoot the Celts could have chosen the shooter, if it was a flagrant the Bulls could have picked....I lost faith in the NBA after many , many years as a fan in the way they handled the Suns-Spurs incident, Nash gets hammered too the floor, Stoudemire reacts as any good teammate would, but by crossing the restraining line by what 2 feet is suspended, totally bogus and wrong.....this is wrong as well maybe not as clear cut but it is wrong it sets a bad precedent, if your playing Orlando just totally slam Howard in the last 5 seconds or whatever and send him to the line, clobber him....the precedent has been set, now tonight there is talk of retribution etc, the league and officials will be expecting it, so a flagrant will be called in a important game. It not only takes away from the game but the integrity of the game...that rule about who gets to choose the free-throw has to be changed, my solution is this, of the 5 players on the floor the one who has/had the most similar free throw shooting stats during the regular season takes the shots....how is it fair that a 80% FT shooter suddenly becomes a 50% FT shooter if the opposing coach chooses, there are computers courtside it can be checked in a second...they review plays, take a second and instill some integrity into the game at least pick the right guy and keep these decisions out of Stu Jacksons hands as he is not consistent...

[Darko]

I was amased by Brad Miller's restraint, the other night. Good for him. Can not wait tonight to see who will give a love tap to Rondo, to teach punk a lesson on respect of your fellow player and game of basketball. And than we'll see what is all the fuss about in Boston. Worst is Doc R. " great playoff foul..."
Idiot. This is not the ol' times where he and the Knicks would beat you up every night either on the scoreboard or on the floor or both.
Same applies for D. Howard. My money would be on Reggie Evans.
I am not proponent of crap like that, but since those two jokes
(Stu and biggest one of them all Stern) will not protect the players, than ...
Doug made a good point, on same suspension for Howard and Amare
on that tackle by Horry. Best is, Rondo got nothing.
Granted, I only caught last few minutes and OT, but how dumb is Vinnie DelNegro. Pierce made like 5 shots in a row from the same spot, and no double team, especialy with Ray out. One time they made him give up the ball, Steph did Kapono trick and passed up open shot for Rondo air ball. Smitch is Red A. for Vinnie.
Thanks for the info on Euroleague final four, god forbid that they televise it live given the time difference.

[erc]

Paul, Before you pawn your tickets, or maybe before Bowen has a snowball's chance in Atlanta of becoming a Raptor -- would he be a catalyst or a cancer?
He is a pest. Isn't well liked by other teams -- an anti-Raptor. Just seems to me that this team needs someone who isn't particularly nice, knows how to win, can still play a bit and has slipped far enough that they won't cost a starting sg to sign.
If not Bowen, who fills the bill?

[Dave in BG]

Agreed ERC.

Unless Sean Avery can play ball, this is the direction the Raps need to go in. Its amazing how the others will play tougher once you get someone (even just one) teammate who plays tough.

With a little of that kind of support, you will see Jose, Chris even Andrea play "bigger" than they do now.

[Dave in BG]

Regarding the Hornets, they are just a year behind the Raps and are following the script nicely.

Playing Sam Mitchell - Byron Scott
Playing TJ Ford - Raymond Chandler
Playing Chris Bosh - Chris Paul (freaky first name coincidence LOL)

I doubt the Hornets GM will be able to find a better solution than BC did this year.......

Blogger's note: Good points but I'll say this before someone else does (all in good fun, of course): Raymond Chander was a good writer and actor but he couldn't hold a candle to Tyson Chandler on a basketball court.

[DH]

Thanks Doug "Playing TJ Ford - Raymond Chandler" I was wondering if New Orleans signed someone before the end of last night's game. But there's a difference between the Raptors and Hornets they have 2 legitimate All Stars to the Raptors 1. Paul may have had a bad series ditto for West. The Nuggets were a bad matchup for them. Denver has gotten through the ego issues (thanks to Chauncey why did we ever let him go instead of Doug Christie), now they are letting their talent step forward.

As for Raymond Felton would be a nice pickup (Ty Lawson would be a good one too) but no way he's coming to Toronto. Even if he thinks TO is a great city, he's not coming here and backing up Calderon. Why would he? He can start for lots of NBA teams.