Welcome back friends!!! I’d like to thank you for joining me again. I’m a little ticked that none of you(with the exception of Jeff Goldblum) have left any comments for me!! Am I not doing enough??? Too much??? I need feedback people!! I don’t wanna feel like I’m talking to myself here, show me sum LOVE!! I’ll be okay though, I’m still gonna give you the correct dosage of sporting you need. This go round I’ve decided to focus on the NBA playoffs because there have been some very interesting storylines taking place. Oh yeah, and basketball is my favorite sport also 
strap on your seat belts and lets take a ride!!!
1.) Houston, we have a problem!
Well I don’t want to say that I told you so but…I TOLD YA SO!!! Please do not act like I didn’t tell you that Tracy McGrady and company were not going to get out of the first round of the playoffs. I called it from day one( scroll down if you think I’m joking). I said that the 22 game win streak didn’t mean a thing if they did not produce in the playoffs and guess what? Well you know the rest. Houston was put out of first round by the Utah Jazz after going 6 games. The Rockets gave it all they had but it wasn’t enough as Utah took the series 4-2. They’ll probably be better when Center Yao Ming returns from foot surgery over the off-season. Tracy McGrady was once again ousted from the first round after his team played remarkable in the regular season. I’m just sold that this guy is jinxed after he made a bold remark about beating The Milwaukee Bucks some years back in the first round. It’s been rough for him ever since. Well I guess its back to the drawing board, and some prayer may help too…
2.) Swept under the rug
In what was a huge surprise to me, the Denver Nuggets got swept by the Los Angeles Lakers. I mean c’mon people, I had them giving the Lakers a run for their money!! Yes, I know that their defense is atrocious but sweep?!!?!? That’s just a testament to all of my coaches growing up that told me that offense wins games, but defense wins championships. I truly expected more from the supporting cast, especially Marcus Camby who was virtually non-existent! One bright spot that stuck out to me was the play of J.R Smith who sparked some nice runs throughout the series. He did make one mistake though, he started running his mouth to the best gunslinger in the west…KOBE!! Not a good move man!! I understand the passion and the desire, but please do not bite the hand that will SMACK you!! I cannot forget the play of Linas Kleiza either. This guy definitely has a future with the nuggets. I think that in the off-season the nuggets need to focus on getting a more physical and offensively gifted front court. George Karl, hit me up!! My number is 612…actually leave me a comment and I’ll get back to you
3.) Green Gladiators
Wow. That’s all I can say about the series between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics!! In what was the hands down surprise of the playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks took the heavily favored Celtics to 7 games. I was a bit skeptical about how game 7 would turn out. I figured that it would more of a slower paced, strategic game…Wrong!! Boston showed the world why they shouldn’t have been written off as the savvyness of the vets came out clicking on ALL cylinders!! Paul Pierce led the way with 22pts and 8 rebs in a game that was virtually over by halftime. All games won were won by the home team, which shows how important that home cookin’ can be!! Many people like myself had the Celtics sweeping the young Hawks but the youngsters truly showed heart and poise! If nothing else, the Hawks garnered some well deserved respect and secured the job of head coach Mike Woodson. If the play of Atlanta is a sign of things to some, watch out world…
4.) Sent Packin’
Just two years removed from an NBA finals appearance, the Dallas Mavericks and Avery Johnson have parted ways. The pink slip was issued mostly due to 2 consecutive first round exits from the playoffs. This year, Dallas limped into the 7th slot in the conference playoffs where they endured a lashing at the hands of the New Orleans Hornets. It also didn’t help that they got upended last year by the Golden State Warriors, whom I thought would have been a better fit in the playoffs. I’m sure this isn’t the last we will see of Avery who does more winning than losing.
Word on the street has it that the Phoenix Suns have given coach Mike D’Antoni permission to speak with other teams. General Manager Steve Kerr stated that the organization wanted to keep D’Antoni, but I think that he’s beginning to feel a little pressure from his peers. While its not quite pink slip-ish, I think its a ploy to make it seem like that when D’Antoni leaves, its because he wanted to. Phoenix got SHALACKED by the defending champion San Antonio Spurs 4-1 because of their lack of defense. When will these coaches realize the importance of defense? I guess those “Blockbuster” trades didn’t do much now, did they??
5.) Still Tickin’!
Boy did LeBron James and the Cavaliers take a beating!!! In what was truly reminiscent of some throwback basketball a la Detroit circa ‘88-’91, the Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted a barrage of punches from the Washington Wizards. Some may say that it was like watching a wrestling match of sorts. I say it was like some good old fashioned blacktop basketball in the ol’ neighborhood! This was by far the most entertaining series not only because of what was happening on the court, but by the entertainment value that came along with it. You had LeBron comparing himself to Jay-Z and DeShawn Stevenson to Soulja Boy. Well low and behold Soulja Boy showed up to game 3 and had Stevenson’s back as Washington gave Cleveland the buisiness! But to top that one, DeShawn Stevenson was constantly making reference to the breakup of Roc-A-Fella records, which is ran by Jay-Z. So what was the retaliation to that u ask?? Jay-Z took it upon himself to rightfully stick up for himself and his Cleveland cohort by making a diss track…wow!! I won’t list the track title but do some searching and it wont be hard to find. BTW Cleveland won the series in six games 4-2. Next up for the Cavaliers, BOSTON!!
6.) UPDATES
San Antonio and New Orleans are tied 3-3
Detroit has eliminated Orlando 4-1
Los Angeles has eliminated Utah 4-2
Boston has eliminated Cleveland 4-3
Thats gonna do it 4 me today folks!!! But before I get outta here, go to www.getshook.net/roundballremix!! There are still plenty of spots available for your squad. Don’t get caught on the sidelines!! Also I wanna give a shout out to my guy F.I.C who just released a new mixtape with DJ Don Cannon called Forever In Control. The CD is available through itunes and 101distribution. Check out his myspace while you’re at it myspace.com/musicbyfic. Believe me when I say its FIRE!! Have a good one and Happy Cinco De Mayo!! Hasta Luegos Amigos!!
GETSHOOK Signature Sports…DEFENDERS OF THE UNIVERSE!!!!
In a series that closely emulated that of the Lakers-Spurs series, the beantown boys came out victorious 4-2. Detroit put up a great fight against the Celtics but the green machine was too much to handle for my motor city guys. Inconsistency was a major factor in this series as well. With a team loaded with firepower, you would expect your 5 starters to contribute double digits every night…not the case here. Detroit could not finish games like they usually would do in the past. Chauncy “Mr. Big Shot” Billups was not clutch as he normaly is, Tayshaun Prince would show up every other game, and Rasheed Wallace’s stats were based on how many 3 pointers he could make. That surely didn’t cut it in the eastern conference finals and that may be the reason why Joe Dumars got rid of head coach Flip Saunders immediately after the loss. While the Pistons didn’t play the way I expected, there were two bright spots, Rodney Stuckey and Jason Maxiell…remember those names!!!
