Closing Credits: End of Season Edition

by Josh Tucker on Apr 19, 2009 1:27 AM PDT Comment 26 comments

We're almost there, folks! The start of the Playoffs in Lakerland is just hours away. But before it all begins, there are some regular season and/or pre-playoffs links I want to make sure you've had a chance to see.

But first: In case you missed it, check the scoreboard... and find that Derrick Rose has led the Bulls to an overtime road win over the Celtics, stealing home court advantage from them. This kid is the real deal — and I don't mind the Celtics losing, either!

The Cavs stomped the Pistons, which was to be expected, and the Mavs beat the Spurs, also stealing home court — but I'm far from convinced that this will be an easy series for them. The Spurs are still the Spurs. And of course: Houston with a massive blowout of Portland. Yao perfect from the field and the line, and only needed for 24 minutes.

Now click on through for the links. Because it is way past my bedtime in this time zone, and there are still quite a few links to post, I'm going to change up the format a bit. Tonight's Closing Credits will be in the form of keywords. You can let me know in the comments which format you prefer.

LA Times: more Jordan Farmar
LA Daily News: championship wanted; many sacrifices made
Dwight Howard: dominate + smile + fun = very yes
Lakers Blog: deron williams = doesn't matter
Jones on the NBA: Nike talkin' trash
Sports Illustrated: Kobe = toughest ever
TrueHoop: someone told Kobe how to get to Sesame Street, + more
Kevin Ding: Kobe = DPOY candidate
TrueHoop: thoughts on KG injury
The Painted Area: how close is it in the West? 1 or 2 shots changed EVERYTHING
Mark Kreigel: Kobe legacy needs championship now
FB&G: Kupchack in retrospect; agree?
Phil Jackson: no thanks, LeBron
NBA.com: 10 playoff questions
An Ohio newspaper: already callin' it for Kobe
YouTube: Allan Houston on Kobe
TrueHoop: hot hand = nope; how do they explain 81 & 4x50+? more thoughts later
TrueHoop: Lakers feeling great, working hard; glad playoffs finally here
OC Register: Bynum = smarter than KG
FB&G: more thoughts on Jazz "O" vs. Lakers "D"
LA Times: duh?
HP: fantastic Lakers-Jazz preview
The Painted Area: callin' Lakers over Cavs already
Kevin Arnovitz: Derrick Rose = realo dealo, muy awesomo; steals Boston home court
Jazz: exciting, revolutionary approach to guarding Kobe
NYTimes: Wade MVP = sorry, nope
OC Reg: Lakers not worried about road
Ken Berger: Finals = Kobe > LeBron
Mike Freeman: Cleveland cursed

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Comments

I wonder where the Blazer fans are now?

by wondahbap on Apr 19, 2009 5:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We're still here!

But, I’m guessing that most of the louder annoying fans will stay away now… that game was brutal.

My stubbling is perfect...

by In Walks Rudy on Apr 19, 2009 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This was the game recap over on "The Dream Shake"

http://www.thedreamshake.com/

My stubbling is perfect...

by In Walks Rudy on Apr 19, 2009 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clever

by wondahbap on Apr 19, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Recognize your sig from Rudy’s “blog.” Love that blog.

by EmmaWK on Apr 19, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yep, its a good one... and your the first person to notice where my sig is from.

http://blogderudyfernandez.blogspot.com/

My stubbling is perfect...

by In Walks Rudy on Apr 19, 2009 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was the worst loss of the year -- and really the only blowout all year at home...

I knew the Rockets were going to be a tough matchup, but that was just nuts… Yao had 24 at the half on 9-for-9 shooting and could have had an easy 40 or 50 if they needed him to do that… Holy crap!!!

Przybilla said that there were two possible outcomes for this season’s Blazers team — “wetting the bed” or “something special.” So far, it’s looking like the former instead of the latter.

Lakers are indeed fortunate that one of those teams is going down in the first round.

I think Dallas is the other team to watch out for. They are peaking at the right moment and have depth.

Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...

by timbo on Apr 19, 2009 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

dont worry, its only game 1 after all. portland still has a chance

by intuitive on Apr 19, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But the problem with a loss like that is

Portland might come into Game 2 pressing. Remember this is their first go round, and they got smacked. This team plays their best when they are having fun and playing loose. Is that going to happen in Game 2? Will the focus and ability to play loose overlap? Last night’s loss was the worst kind for a team like this. If they’re too tight in the next game, and lose, this series is over. No way can they win 4 of 6 against the Rockets, with three more games in Houston. They needed homecourt.

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but experience is now a huge factor. Luckily for them, it’s the Rockets. all they need is a close game for the Rockets to implode when every man not named Yao tries to be the man. Then fail.

by wondahbap on Apr 19, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is where experience comes in

An inexperienced team is going to have a hard time reacting well to such a bad loss to start the series. They need to compartmentalize, forget about it, focus on one game at a time… can they do that? An experienced team learns to do that.

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 19, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rockets looked really sharp.

They cannot play that well again. If they could, they would be the #1 seed, not the #5 seed.

by MiledAnimal on Apr 19, 2009 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and Celtics fans blame every loss on the refs.

They’re all Tommy Heinsohn’s children.

by wondahbap on Apr 19, 2009 5:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Keywords are fine

Saves time, plus you’ll have to actually look at the link instead of just reading what you wrote.

By the way, are we there yet? I can’t sleep anymore due to the excitement, even though it’s a Sunday.

Another thing, I love Bennett Salvatore. Today, at least. He turned over what would have been a horrible call that was game changing (traveling on John Salmons) , and then he actually called a foul on Rondo who draped his arm all over Rose as he was fighting through a screen. And don’t forget, Salvatore is the one who called a jump ball as Walton fought with Nash in the 2006 playoffs.

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 19, 2009 8:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I prefer keywords too.

by olf on Apr 19, 2009 9:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Great day for the road teams.

Seriously, Dallas, Chicago, and Houston all won in dramatic fashion. Cleveland was the only home team to surivive opening day, but that’s really no surprise – they’ve been awesome at home all year, and it was the Pistons.

I loved the Boston / Chicago game, best game I’ve seen in a while. Derrick Rose man, that guy can play. Didn’t look like a rookie down the stretch at all, repeatedly silencing the Boston faithful with big plays.

Coming from a Lakers fan living in Portland, I was looking forward to their game last night. It was a bit disappointing, to say the least. Here’s hoping the Blazers regroup and somehow survive this first round, so we can get them in the semis.

by Lakeshow8909 on Apr 19, 2009 9:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd prefer the Rockets.

Houston is a better match-up for us. Not only that but, if the Blazers make it through to the 2nd round, then it means that they’re playing well. We’re a better team than them, but I’d prefer Houston, a team I think we’ve already seen max out, and it’s still not good enough, than a young talented team in Portland still improving. Plus, we suck in the Rose Garden.

Unless you want the Blazers so you can go to a game.

by wondahbap on Apr 19, 2009 10:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

l agree.

by intuitive on Apr 19, 2009 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

For that reason

I’d rather play the team that loses the series

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 19, 2009 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blazers would 'fucking love it" to play the Lakers

Because that would mean we survived the worst possible match up for our team. I would honestly rather play the Lakers, and give them homecourt, than play the Rockets.

"The Rockets broke the heart-shaped lock on our diary and read it. They know our shirt sizes AND our shoe sizes. They know our ballboy’s girlfriend’s nickname. They own us." - nightbluefruit

by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 20, 2009 12:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Watch the language

There’s no need for that. Try to be a bit more original, when you’re here.

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 20, 2009 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was a Kobe quote

But, my bad for not knowing the site rules.

"The Rockets broke the heart-shaped lock on our diary and read it. They know our shirt sizes AND our shoe sizes. They know our ballboy’s girlfriend’s nickname. They own us." - nightbluefruit

by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 20, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Touché

Kobe needs to be a bit more original, since he’s gonna be quoted here. ;-)

Strength & Honor

by Josh Tucker on Apr 20, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There were a lot of upsets last night, I thought for sure the Spurs and Celtics were going to win their first game. I figured Portland would lose Game 1.

by intuitive on Apr 19, 2009 11:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I prefer the links with more detailed descriptions; these are a bit inelegant IMO. But if you have to do it, I would prefer just using the actual article title. For instance, that “LA Times: duh?” line told me nothing, but if you had just used the actual article title, I could have come to the “duh” conclusion myself.

Re: last article
So sick of people calling Kobe “Ko-Me.” It’s 2009 — that’s not clever, cool, or even accurate anymore.

by EmmaWK on Apr 19, 2009 4:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs