Photo from Getty Images/Elsa.Winning on the road in the playoffs is hard -- just ask any team not named the Pistons (and even they're having trouble). But that doesn't mean the game's aren't competitive. Case in point: both games last night (Celtics-Cavs, Lakers-Jazz) were only decided by seven points and could've gone either way down the stretch. In both games the home team had established a solid, double-digit lead only to see the visitors roar back with good defense and timely buckets. But what was it that put the home team over the top? What derailed the comeback cause for both teams, as well as countless road teams in these playoffs?
Last night, it all came down to one thing, come crunch time: ill-advised three pointers early in the shot clock.
I'm going to spare you the pure aesthetics of wanting to hold the ball to create that moment of pure tension and drama. But yes, I've read Seven Seconds or Less, and I understand D'Antoni's philosophy. It makes sense to an extent -- theoretically, there should be absolutely no difference between an open three pointer with 20 on the shot clock or 2 on the shot clock. But somewhere between theory and execution it can go haywire, and no more apparent is that than when you're down three with a few minutes to go. There's a reason the Suns were better at taking these shots than anyone in the league, and that's because they practiced them. They were used to taking them. For one reason or another, this shot always seems like a bad idea late in games. Of course, one bounce the other way and I'm eating my words.
But looking at both games last night, both teams fell victim to the same fate. For the Cavs, Delonte West found an open Wally Szczerbiak for a three down six. For the Jazz, Deron took another three pointer after nailing one moments prior and his team only down three. This isn't the first time this has happened in the playoffs (see: Hidayet Turkoglu), and it probably won't be the last. Maybe this is incoherent whining about a missed shot that very well could have gone in. Both shots were open looks, and one of them was from a good shooter.
The bigger question is for the Cavs: why is Wally taking the big shot when LeBron is having one of his nights? Or better question, why is Wally taking that shot at all? If Gibson or West takes that shot, I'm fine with it. A good look from a good shooter. But Wally has been completely unable to demonstrate a consistent shooting touch since arriving in Cleveland. I'm not certain that he's the man you want taking big threes at the end of (possibly) series-deciding games.
Deron Williams is pretty much the opposite though: a guy who was having a great night when the next two offensive options were performing poorly. But after seeing Ronnie Brewer's layup and dunk show in the game's opening quarter, I think Deron probably could have taken advantage of an overrated [edit: read: weak] Lakers defense and found a good look for either himself or his teammates. Instead, the Jazz end up with nothing, Mehmet Okur flops on the other end trying to get a call, and Gasol gets a dunk. Game over.
But stay tuned! I'm sure these won't be the last two teams to launch a momentum-killing three pointer in a critical stretch of the game, and with a couple potential Game 7's coming up, get ready to start pointing fingers.
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In unrelated news, the Celtics resolved one of their three playoff weaknesses going forward last night. Rajon Rondo was ridiculous last night, displaying an array of drives and runners I didn't think he was capable of. Ray and Perk will still need to improve their play if this team wants a shot at beating Detroit.
2 comments:
How can the Lakers defense be overrated when it has been widely acknowledged as their weak point all year. The Lakers have won by by outscoring their competition this year. They have no consistent shot blocking in the starting lineup, the pg cannot stop penetration, Kobe gambles and Lamar, while great at times, has a habit of rotating late and leaving good three point shooters to triple team a guy who isn't in position to score. These faults have been commonly discussed. Who are you reading or listening to that says good things about the Lakers' D?
The way I wrote it was misleading. I intended for it to mean that because the Lakers are such a good team, a lot of casual fans expect them to be good defensively. But you're on the money, anon: people in the know acknowledge that it's a significant flaw.
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