Larry Ness Free Nba Pick April 20 2009
Larry Ness’ 7* Playoff Showdown (Chi/Bos)
Everyone saw what happened in Game 1. The Bulls “took it to” the defending champs, led by a rookie PG (Rose). Rose scored 36 points (matching Kareem’s rookie scoring mark in a playoff debut) and added 11 assists, as Chicago won 105-103 in OT. The Celtics are without Garnett very likely for the entire playoffs, although Boston’s ’stay’ may not last very long, if the Celtics are not able to get a win here.
Boston center Kendrick Perkins said of Rose, “Everybody has their night. I know it won’t happen again. He’ll never have another game like that against us.” We’ll see. All four of Chicago’s other starters scored in double digits in Game 1, led by Gordon (20 points) and Noah (11 points / 17 rebounds). However, the Chicago bench contributed just 10 points. As for Boston, the Celtics shot only 39.4 percent from the floor (4-of-16 on threes). Ray Allen was an abysmal 1-of-12 from the floor and yet, if Pierce makes BOTH free throws at the end of regulation, the Celtics would be up 1-0. As well as Rose played, Boston PG Rondo (29-9-7) was almost as good plus look for Pierce and Allen to be MUCH better this time around. The Bulls are NOT a good defensive team (allowed 102.5 PPG in the regular season) and the Celtics shot 48.6 percent as a team, a far cry from the 39 percent they shot in Game 1. Yes, Garnett’s absence is HUGE on defense but the Celtics finished with the third-best scoring defense in the league (93.4) plus the league’s top-ranked defensive FG percentage (43.1) and that wasn’t ALL about Kevin. The Celtics are a ‘wounded’ champion and that makes them very dangerous. Let’s not forget, the Bulls ‘earned’ their 13-28 SU road record this year, the WORST of any team which qualified for the postseason.
7* Boston Celtics
Larry Ness’ 7* Playoff Showdown (Dal/SA)
The Mavs were just 18-23 on the road this season, including winning just two of their final eight regular season games, entering the playoffs. Dallas entered its opening round series with the hated Spurs, having last won a road playoff game back on June 3, 2006, when it beat the Suns in Phoenix to advance to that franchise’s lone NBA Finals. Dallas lost all three road games in that series to the Heat and followed that with thee road losses at Oakland in the ‘07 playoffs and three road losses in New Orleans in the ‘08 playoffs, for NINE consecutive playoff defeats away from home. So what happened on Saturday night? The Mavs won 105-97 at San Antonio, ’stealing’ the home court advantage from the Spurs. Nowitzki failed to reach the 20-point mark (had 19) for the first time in 25 games but six players scored in double digits, led by Josh Howard’s 25 (Dampier had a surprising double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds). The Spurs started quickly but faded in the second half, getting outscored 60-48. Parker had 24 points and eight assists while Duncan added 27 points and nine rebounds but the Dallas bench outscored San Antonio’s, 39-14. So what about Game 2? Gregg Popovich is one of the league’s premier coaches (owns four titles) and expect him to make make adjustments. Backup PG Berea hurt San Antonio but expect a much better job stopping his penetration tonight. I also expect the Spurs to change some of their defensive assignments, a Popovich staple. The Spurs are still capable of playing great defense (93.3 PPG ranked them No. 2 in the leaguethis regular season) and do not expect the Mavs to shoot 54 percent from the floor again.
7* SA Spurs.
