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Free NBA PLAYOFF Picks- (covers.com): Are Warriors primed
to continue Dallas domination?
The Golden State Warriors didn’t just upset the Dallas Mavericks Sunday night – they made
them look like a No. 8 seed rather than the NBA’s best team.
The Warriors controlled the pace of Game 1 the entire way. Tied at the half, Golden State
outscored Dallas 34-28 in the third quarter and put the Mavericks away with a 25-19 fourth
quarter. Golden State won 97-85 as a 10 ½-point underdog.
The Warriors’ success against the Mavs is now well-publicized. They have won and covered
six straight meetings dating back to March of last season, with five of the six wins coming
as an underdog of 7 ½ points or more (the other came as a 10-point favorite last week when
Dallas had nothing left to play for).
Oddsmakers made Golden State a 9 ½-point underdog for Game 2 tonight. This strays from the
popular “zigzag theory” usually used to set lines in the playoffs. Under the theory, the
losing team will typically give an extra point or two on the line for the next game because
they have more motivation to win.
Oddsmaker Pete Korner actually lowered the line for the game, putting the Warriors at +8 ½,
after watching Golden State’s performance in Game 1.
“Usually we would give Dallas a couple extra points (from the previous game’s line),” says
Korner. “But this is a case where you have to think Golden State has a lot of confidence
given their success against Dallas.”
It was actually the Mavericks that adjusted to the Warriors style of play. Dallas
implemented its “small lineup” to start Game 1. The lineup put forward Devean George on the
floor to start rather than center Erick Dampier, who played just 2:21 after averaging 25
minutes per game during the regular season.
“(Mavs coach) Avery Johnson got caught trying to play chess with (Warriors coach) Don
Nelson in Game 1,” says Korner. “The problem is, I don’t think he knows what the right
adjustment is. The Warriors will just run them up and down the court if the Mavericks go
big.”
Dirk Nowitzki scored just 14 points on 4-for-16 shooting while playing at center for most
of the game. The Mavericks outscored the Warriors by 11 points in the nine minutes he was
off the court, and were outscored by 23 in the 39 minutes he was on.
Nowitzki’s play was heavily criticized after the game. GoldenStateOfMind.com called his
play “soft” and said he had “little aggression, fire, and a complete inability to lead his
team.”
ESPN.com's Kiki Vandweghe said Nowitzki’s poor play was a function of how well Nelson, who
coached Dallas from 1997-2005, knows his former player. This is a point Korner agrees with.
“Nelson knows the tendencies of these players and is certainly using that to his
advantage,” says Korner, noting the Warriors have the players to capitalize.
“Golden State has the best five athletes on the floor of any team in the playoffs. This is
no sure thing for Dallas – they are going to have to outplay Golden State to win this
series.”
NBA PLAYOFFS- (covers.com): unders looking good in raptors vs nets series.
Anthony Parker scored 26 points, Chris Bosh added 25 points and 13 rebounds, and the
Toronto Raptors beat the New Jersey Nets 89-83 on Tuesday night.
The game was a push and the final score hit the under.
New Jersey's Bostjan Nachbar missed a 3-pointer from the corner that would have tied the
game with 8 seconds to play, allowing the Raptors to level their first-round series at a
game apiece. Game 3 is Friday night in New Jersey.
Toronto got its first playoff victory since a 94-84 home win over Detroit on April 27,
2002.
T.J. Ford scored 13 points for the Raptors, including four key free throws in the final
minute.
Vince Carter had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who also got 14 points and 11
boards from Jason Kidd. Nachbar finished with 17 points for the Nets.
Richard Jefferson, whose 28-point performance led the Nets to victory in Game 1, was held
scoreless in the first half and finished with 13 points.
NBA PLAYOFFS- (covers.com): odds to win nba championship.
Dallas +200
Phoenix +350
Detroit +500
San Antonio +500
Houston +700
Chicago +1500
Cleveland +1500
Denver +2000
Miami +3000
Golden State +4000
Toronto +5000
New Jersey +8000
Utah +10000
L.A. Lakers +15000
Washington +40000
Orlando +40000
NBA PLAYOFFS- (asociated press): raptors mitchell named coach of the year.
Sam Mitchell remembers the advice he got from Bill Fitch when he was cut by the Houston
Rockets in 1985.
Fitch told him to persevere, regardless of what others say.
Mitchell did just that, as a player and a coach. On Tuesday, he was honored as NBA coach of
the year after leading the Toronto Raptors to a franchise record-tying 47 victories and
their first Atlantic Division title.
The Raptors won Game 2 against the Nets 89-83 but failed to cover as a 6-point favorite.
The game played under the 193 1/2-point total.
It floors you, Mitchell said. You're thankful. Words just can't express it.
Mitchell won the Red Auerbach Trophy in a decisive vote over Utah's Jerry Sloan. He picked
up 49 first-place votes for a total of 394 points in balloting by 128 basketball writers
and broadcasters. Sloan had 301 points, followed by Dallas' Avery Johnson with 268.
We're very proud of what has transpired this season, Raptors general manager Bryan
Colangelo said. Sam winning this award is a major indication of just how far we've
come.
Mitchell's colleagues were equally impressed.
He did a tremendous job, Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said. Well deserved, very well
deserved.
The sixth coach in Raptors' history, Mitchell guided Toronto to an NBA-best 20-game
improvement over the 2005-06 season. Toronto trailed New Jersey 1-0 entering Game 2 of the
first-round series Tuesday night.
We recognized him for it this morning, forward Chris Bosh said. But the thing I love
about him is he said it was a team effort.
Mitchell was the last cut on the Rockets in 1985. Fitch, a two-time NBA coach of the year,
insisted he not give up.
I had tears in my eyes when he called me into the room, Mitchell recalled. He asked
did I think I belonged in the NBA and I said, 'Obviously not, because you cut me.' He said,
'Who am I to tell you what you can and can't do? There's a lot of reasons that you're not
going to be on this team, but it's not because you're not good enough.'He was like, 'If you want something, you've just got to keep your head down, stay focused
and go get it. Don't let me or anyone else tell you what you can and can't do.' After you
get over the hurt of not achieving what you want to achieve, I sat back and appreciated
those words, because maybe without those words I wouldn't be here now.
Mitchell played three years in the CBA and two seasons in France before returning to the
NBA and joining the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989.
He ended up playing 13 years and was regarded around the league as a student of the game.
Following two seasons as an assistant, Mitchell was hired as the Raptors' coach in June
2004.
I thought Sam has done an unbelievable job when you look at where that team came from,
said Pistons coach Flip Saunders, who coached Mitchell in Minnesota. He was basically a
coach for me when he played, and I asked him to stay on with us, but he thought it was best
to go out because he was so close to our players - (Kevin) Garnett and those guys. He got a
great opportunity in Toronto and he's made the most of it.
Guard Anthony Parker praised Mitchell for building unity on a team that added nine new
faces before the season.
His focus was trying to get us all in and get the chemistry going early, Parker said.
Throughout the course of the season we seemed to come together pretty nicely. Sam
obviously was a huge part of that.
Bosh pointed to a change in Mitchell's approach.
The year before last he tended to get a little emotional and let his emotions get the
best of him, Bosh said. Now he's a little bit more composed, he takes his time and he
handles a lot of situations better.
The Raptors went 33-49 in Mitchell's first season but slumped last season, starting 1-15
before finishing 27-55.
Publicly, when I was out and about, I kept my head up. You're never going to show people
that you're struggling with things on the inside, Mitchell said. But when you're
sitting in your office by yourself and you've lost three or four in a row and people come
by and say kind words, you remember those times.
Mitchell held onto his job even after the Raptors stumbled out of the gate again this
season, losing eight of their first 10 games.
We went through some difficult times early on and we talked about the direction of the
team, Colangelo said. Any time you get off to a 2-8 start you're on edge and the red
flags go up, but there was never a point where I felt like (firing Mitchell) was even
remotely close.
Last April, an informal poll of NBA players by Sports Illustrated deemed Mitchell the NBA's
worst coach. Mitchell said the hardest part was how that affected his children,
particularly his young daughter.
They don't want to hear their father talked about like that, he said. I just
explained to her it's just part of what I do, that criticism comes with my job.
Mitchell, whose contract expires after the season, felt embarrassed to be singled out for
the coaching honor.
I feel like the whole organization should be behind me, the players, the front office
people, the equipment managers, he said. There's so much work that goes into us being
successful.
Mitchell has been talked about as a candidate for jobs in Charlotte and Indiana, but
Colangelo said he'll try to keep him in Toronto.
We're going to do everything we can, Colangelo said. It's our intention to bring him
back. I am saying Sam is right for this organization and we're going to try and make it
happen.
NBA PLAYOFFS- (associated press): toronto trying to recover in series.
Orlando's Dwight Howard felt considerably better Tuesday, recovering from a daylong
illness that sapped his energy against the Detroit Pistons.
Now the Magic need Howard's game to respond the same way.
The team's All-Star forward and leading scorer has eight baskets and 21 points in two games
against the Pistons, one reason Orlando trails 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is
Thursday night in Orlando.
Sportsbook.com lists the Magic as +3000 underdogs to win their series with the Pistons.
Howard, making his first appearance in the postseason, has been off in each of the first
two games.
He had 13 points, 19 rebounds and three blocked shots in the series opener Saturday. But he
added six turnovers and went 3-of-11 from the free throw line.
Howard hoped to improve in Game 2, but something he ate for lunch disagreed with his
stomach. He was sick the rest of the day, unable to eat or drink and eventually lacked
strength and stamina during the game.
He clearly was not himself, Magic coach Brian Hill said.
The third-year player had eight points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes. Maybe more telling,
he finished with no blocked shots and went to the free throw line just three times.
After shootaround, I went back to the hotel and my stomach started hurting real bad,
Howard said. I tried to work out before the game, but I couldn't really stand up and
shoot or whatever. After that, it just went downhill from there.
The Pistons contributed to his woes.
They double teamed him constantly, surrounding him with bodies, putting arms and hands in
his face, slapping at the ball and trying to prevent the player who led the league in dunks
this season from getting to the basket.
It worked to perfection.
In fact, the Pistons are so accustomed to flustering opponents with their defense they
didn't even notice Howard was sick.
I couldn't see anything wrong with him, Tayshaun Prince said. I thought he might have
gotten a little frustrated early on because (we) knocked the ball out of his hands when he
made good post moves. Sometimes when you make a good move and you have an easy opportunity,
and you get the ball knocked out of your hands, it takes the momentum away from you.
Howard blamed his problems solely on the illness.
It started hurting me a little bit more during the game, running and getting hit,
Howard said. I just tried to play through it. I didn't really have a lot of energy out
there. I just tried to play as hard as I could and try to do all I could for my team.
It wasn't enough. The Magic trailed by 15 points early in the fourth quarter and lost 98-90
- falling to 0-6 against the Pistons this season.
Howard said he felt a lot better Tuesday, but Hill said he was still reeling from what
the Magic believe may have been food poisoning.
I still think there's some lingering effects from whatever it is, but hopefully by game
time, he'll be fine, Hill said.
The Magic need Howard to play better to get back in the series.
Of the 80 NBA teams that have had home-court advantage and won the first two games of a
seven-game series, 76 of them (95 percent) eventually won the series.
So Orlando knows the task is tough, especially since the Pistons tied a team record with 27
road wins this season. Detroit was the best road team in the Eastern Conference and third
best in the league.
We've been a great road team and we have to continue that, Prince said. Obviously,
with the guys we have, when you hear the boos and the negative things ... from the fans,
that just gives us an extra boost.
The Magic hope to get an extra boost from playing at home.
They also hope to change the tempo of the game, getting up and down the floor more. And
having Howard healthy again should help.
The more we run, the more tired they'll get, Howard said. They're an older team.
They're going to wear down sooner or later. We're just going to keep running.
NBA PLAYOFFS- (associated press): lebron skips practice.
LeBron James didn't practice. He did promise to play.
Resting his sprained left ankle for another day, James was kept out of Tuesday's workouts
as the Cleveland Cavaliers prepared for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference series against
the Washington Wizards.
I'll be ready, James said.
During the 15-minute segment of practice open to the media, James stood on the baseline and
watched as his teammates took jump shots. He did try a few free throws, but that was it.
James twisted his ankle in Game 1 on Sunday when he stepped on the foot of Wizards center
Etan Thomas on a third-quarter drive. Although he was in serious pain, James stayed on the
floor and finished with 23 points in Cleveland's 97-82 win. Game 2 is Wednesday at
Cleveland.
He sustained a Grade 2 sprain - on a scale of 1 to 3, with 3 being the worst - but said
this sprain wasn't as bad as others he's had.
James was slowed earlier this season by a sprained big toe and he has battled tendinitis in
his knee. He was beginning to feel completely healthy when he got hurt again.
I'm about 85 percent, maybe, he said. Not where I want to be.
James twisted his ankle while wearing a new style of sneaker, the latest model in his
sponsor's line that he unveiled for the playoffs. He's not thinking of switching sneakers,
and can only wonder what would have happened had he been wearing the shoes of a rival
company.
I probably would have broken my ankle, he said.
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