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![]() Sunday, April 28 Updated: April 29, 12:19 AM ET A wonderful Sunday By Jason Jackson Special to ESPN.com This was one of the best Sundays I can remember. We had three games on the docket -- all with sweep possibilities. Each team with an All-Star or two. However, my joy came to the surface on a very wet and dreary Sunday afternoon in Central Connecticut at a charity fund-raiser. The guest of honor was a wonderfully strong and warm woman who was made a widow on September 11, 2001. She is young (30), and still in pain, but she has to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams and carry on for two young sons (2 years old and 4 months) who will never really know their dad. So while people still wanted to know the score of the games every two minutes, and wanted to know things -- such as who will be the MVP? Kidd or Duncan? -- hearts and wallets were focused on repairing the foundation of a devastated family. For more information on the world of NBA Playoffs 2002, read on.
JaxTake The coach laid down the law, the fans fueled the fire, and the star came through. Allen Iverson talked about getting back to Philly and being energized by the Sixers fans. Well, I'll have what he's having. Iverson finished with 42 points, and the man came up big late in the would-be elimination game with 11 of the Sixers' final 15 points. Truth be told, if the Celtics would have ripped the rope from 3-point range in the second half (5-for-16) like they did in the first half (10-for-14), the Sixers would not have won the game. Couple that with 18 Celtics turnovers that turned into 25 Sixers points, and you realize Philadelphia could have taken Game 3 by a larger margin. The refs seemed to have a focus Sunday with 44 free throws for the Sixers compared to 18 for Boston. Kenny Anderson found the best way to describe the cavernous gap in calls saying, "You can't cry about it, but we didn't get the calls. It was just bogus."
Kevin Garnett scored, helped others score and cleaned the glass, but again it wasn't enough. Why? Because the Mavs bullets hurt more. Michael Finley and Dirk Nowitzki scored seven more points together than KG, Wally Szczerbiak and Anthony Peeler, who matched Finley's game-high four 3-pointers, combined. "They're a good team," Wolves coach Flip Saunders said. "Everybody was saying you've got to slow the game down, but what are you going to do -- tell (Steve) Nash, Nowitzki and Finley they're not allowed to shoot?" Nope, you get people who can either outshoot them or defend them. Dallas only shot the ball four time more than Minnesota in this game. Now the Mavs will continue to get more looks than the T'wolves, who are one and done in the postseason yet again.
Thanks for the broom sir, may I have another? Another year, and another first-round sweep for the Lakers over the Blazers. It was a draw in the first quarter. The Lakers tossed a hay-maker in the second. The Blazers came back with the right cross in the third quarter, but a familiar hero emerged in this series closing Game 3. Robert Horry has made the most 3-pointers without missing in a playoff game (seven in 1997). Bob Horry is tied for the most 3-pointers made in one quarter of a postseason game (five in 1996). Bobby Horry has knocked down 167 3-pointers in his postseason career. The last one broke the back of the Blazers, and started the march for perfection the Lakers would love to walk on their way to a third consecutive NBA title. As for the Blazers, I truly believe Mo Cheeks did a remarkable job in his rookie season. He basically did the same thing Mike Dunleavy did last season, but this was Cheeks' first as a head coach. I know Blazers fans hope this makes a new starting point -- not a stalling point.
Gamer/Goat Goat: Please tell Dale Davis this isn't personal. I know this is his second trip to the penalty box, but I can guarantee it will be his last. Davis fouled out again before making much of a contribution. We respect the eight rebounds (half on the offensive end), but no points in 23 minutes is too tough to ignore.
Bobby Jones Award
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Kings vs. Jazz - Game 4, Kings up 2-1
Jason Jackson is the host of ESPN's NBA Matchup, ESPN2's NBA 2night and ESPN Radio's GameDay with Jason Jackson. You can e-mail him at Jason.Jackson@espn.com. Please type JaxLine into the subject line of your email. |
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