Hey, maybe the Atlanta Hawks are on to something. They look good holding a 2-1 series lead over the Orlando Magic by virtue of a win in Game 3. The "let-Dwight-Howard-get-his-and-don't-let-the-other-guys-get-off" theory seems to be working. Orlando is shooting 40.7% from the floor in the series with a highlighted - or maybe it should be said low-lighted - 26% from behind the arc, a place where the Magic damaged many an opponent in the regular season.
The individual numbers are difficult to take for Magic fans. Jameer Nelson (38%), J.J. Redick (30%), Hedo Turkoglu (25%) and Jason Richardson (30%) aren't getting it done. It doesn't help Ryan Anderson has made an average of one shot per game. Atlanta's defensive game plan and execution both look good right now.
It got ugly toward the end of Game 3 when Dwight Howard was fouled by Zaza Pachulia and followed through with an elbow to the head of the Hawks centre. Jason Richardson stepped in to protect Howard (like he really needed back up, have you ever seen Howard in person?) and things escalated from there. By the way I wonder what size hat Pachulia wears? That is one of the biggest craniums in the league!
The officials did a great job, with the aid of replay, in meting out punishment. But it brings this to mind; if Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy was correct in his assertion that Howard hasn't been flagrantly fouled this year - he mentioned that back in February or March - then something is wrong. The NBA has tried to clamp down on hard fouls moving away from the days of the New York Knicks patrolling the lane with the likes of Anthony Mason and Charles Oakley acting like collectors for loan sharks.
Referees often consider things like windup, impact, follow through and where the contact is made on the body when assessing a Flagrant One Foul which is defined as "unnecessary contact". The league is lucky Howard, and for that matter back in his more dominant days Shaquille O'Neal, are such gentle giants and fun loving guys.
I know nobody cheers for Goliath, but you're telling me there isn't "unnecessary contact" or "unnecessary and excessive" contact (by definition a Flagrant Foul Two), when Howard is chopped on occasion? Just because he's big doesn't mean he should have to take it. In this series, he's already had 50 free throw attempts. Just asking?
That being said, Howard needs to ask his teammates if they can start making shots. If not, he'll soon be back in the Clark Kent garb and watching the playoffs from his sofa the rest of the way.
But let's focus on the Hawks for a bit. Jamal Crawford is their leading scorer in the series. Think hard, with the exception of Monta Ellis, for a guy who isn't overpowering like LeBron James, or a guy without a reputation for (ahem) getting calls like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Paul Pierce, Chris Paul, Kevin Durrant or the like, Crawford might be the most difficult guy to guard off the dribble in the entire NBA. His ball handling and the ability to move you laterally makes the NBA's all time leader in four-point plays a very tough cover.
So did you watch the Celtics Ray Allen put on a clinic in how to move without the ball by cutting hard and setting up screens to be truly effective in Boston's Game 3 win over the New York Knicks? If you didn't, you can get a look at it here. The subtleties of a step here, a change of speed or direction there, and sharp hard cuts is amazing to watch.
It didn't help the Knicks that Paul Pierce brought his wrecking tools, as he led Boston with 38 points. Rajon Rondo also notched his sixth career playoff triple double and became the first players since Magic Johnson to turn the trick with 20 assists. New York's lack of attention to detail defensively has hurt them as the Celtics are shooting 47% from the floor. Boston on the other hand continues to play great defence holding the Knicks to 40% from the floor and stifling Carmelo Anthony who is only hitting at a 36% clip during the series.
Just think New Yorkers, the last time the Knicks won a playoff game, and I saw it in person as it happened in Toronto against the Raptors, was ten years ago, By the way, they eventually lost that series too and every time I go to Madison Square Garden and see Raptor Director of Player Development, Alvin Williams standing in the corner across from the Toronto bench, it reminds me of him making a big jumper to put Toronto into the second round of the playoffs for the only time in club history. Unless there is a monumental comeback by the Knicks, and they may win Game 4, they will have to wait for next year to have a chance to see the second round.
While some underclassmen see the labour unrest in the NBA as a sign to stay in school, others, in particular Canadians Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph have declared for the June draft. Both Toronto area players have decided to enter, for now, without signing with an agent, which means they are "kicking the tires" and could return to school if things don't look as if they will work out they way they like. But with some top prospects already electing to go back to school, the chances of the two Canucks being drafted higher increases. Potential labour strife aside, it could mean more lucrative contracts depending on where they're selected if they remain as part of the 2011 draft class.
