NBA Playoff update

Last night the Jazz lost to the Lakers, giving the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the series. The Jazz actually played quite well, they just couldn't make the big plays down the stretch, most notably giving up and offensive rebound in the final minute that gave the Lakers a 5 point lead. Losing on the road to the Lakers isn't so bad, but considering Kobe was hampered by a bad back, and considering that if a game 7 is played, it will be in L.A. with a healthier Kobe, this loss really hurts. The Jazz had a tie game with a few minutes to go, and not closing it out will ultimately cost them the series and end their season. They made the Western Conference Finals last year--with a much easier path--so this season will all the more disappointing, regressing from a year ago even though they are a better team this year. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Lakers win game 6 in Utah--Kobe has a killer instinct like Jordan did--and if they do lose, I don't see them losing game 7 at home unless Kobe can't even suit up for the game.

Turning to the Celtics/Cavs series, Boston continued to play chameleon, winning at home to take a 3-2 series lead and improve to 7-0 at home this postseason. With game 6 in Cleveland, the Celtics need to turn their 0-5 road record into a 1-5 record, not because they wouldn't win a game 7 at home, but because they can't go into a series against the Pistons without a road playoff win. With the biggest turnaround in one season in NBA history, the Celtics aren't looking for moral victories like just making the Eastern Conference Finals, they are looking to win the Championship. Prior to the playoffs, I thought they would win it all, or worst case scenario, make the Finals and lose to the West--now, I don't see them beating the Pistons even if they finish off Cleveland on the road. Boston's deficiencies have shown up in the playoffs--a lack of athleticism, and little depth. With three superstars, it is surprising that they can't score at will, but none of the big 3 is overly athletic--Garnett is in a big man sense--making it imperative that they shoot well from the field, something that is hard to do with the intensified postseason defense they face.

As for the Hornets/Spurs series, I still don't see the Spurs losing the series. They have won 4 championships in the last 9 years, they are the defending champs, and they seem to catch the breaks and make the plays when they absolutely have to. I would love to see the Hornets win because I hate the Spurs--the ideal match up would be the Jazz vs. the Hornets, with Paul going against Williams, and New Orleans new team facing its old team--but I don't see that match up happening. Even if the Hornets knock off the Spurs, I don't see the Lakers losing, but a Hornets/Lakers match up would be pretty cool, with the MVP, Kobe, going against the runner up, Chris Paul.