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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
Sixers defeat Celtics, 108-103, Celtics up 2-1
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."
Mavericks def. Timberwolves, 115-102, Mavs win the series 3-0
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.
Lakers defeat Blazers, 92-91, Lakers win the series 3-0
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.
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| Davis |
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| Nowitzki |
Gamer/Goat
Gamer: If Diggler does this again Jack, I will need a 20. Dirk Nowitzki has helped in providing cause for a "boogie night" in Dallas. Nowitzki wasted little time getting to work. Twenty-eight of his game-high 39 were in the book before halftime. If you combine his field goal and free throw attempts, Nowitzki shot the ball 33 times Sunday. He missed only eight of those attempts.
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.
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| Horry |
Bobby Jones Award
Robert Horry has four rings so I don't know how unsung he is, but the man doesn't get top billing, therefore he qualifies. It is tough to get the image of Horry tossing the towel in the face of his then-head coach Danny Ainge in Phoenix, but he's doing his best erase job by continuing to come up big with 3-pointers. Matching his ring count (for now), Horry's fourth 3-pointer was the only one he made in the game.
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| O'Neal |
In Case You Missed It
Just in case the Spurs or the Sonics want to employ the almost extinct Hack-a-Shaq method of dealing with the Daddy, they should know the odds are swinging in the other direction. Shaquille O'Neal hit 23 of his 35 free throw attempts, 66 percent, in the first round. O'Neal hit 56 percent from the line during the season.
Next!
Detroit vs. Toronto -- Game 4, Pistons up 2-1
Elimination game two for this series. It is hard to believe Jerry Stackhouse will fall nearly 10 points short of his current playoff scoring average again. The margin of victory in Game 3 was 10 points. Antonio Davis, Keon Clark and Alvin Williams unveiled a nice three-punch combination that feed off the excitement of a very proud and energetic Raptors fan base, but that will wear off, and the better team will win. Look for the Pistons to wrap the series up.
Kings vs. Jazz - Game 4, Kings up 2-1
I can't call it. I'm not ashamed to write it. You can try to pick it if you want, but I see a series that should be over -- in favor of both sides. If the Kings can weather the geriatric storm one more time, they will advance. The Kings have made one thing clear in this series -- they just aren't ready for the Lakers. Then again who is right now.
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THE SACK
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Hey Jason,
It's now official, the T'wolves have lost again in the first round. All week the reporters have been all over Kevin Garnett for not doing enough for his team to win. It needs to be pointed out to those reporters the Timberwolves were always the lower seed and have played teams loaded with stars. This list includes: Duncan/Robinson (twice), Payton, Finley/Nowitzki/Nash, Pippen/Wallace, Olajuwon/Barkley/Drexler. That list might contain up to 11 Hall-of-Famers. Just as KG is expected to win, so are the stars he is facing. With this pointed out, do you think KG still should be expected to do more for his team to advance in the future.
Thanks,
Nathan
Libertyville, IL
Nathan,
KG did all he could in Games 2 and 3. In Game 1, I think the criticisms were justified. He passed out of too many situations in which he should have scored.
Your point is well taken though. He needs a Robin to his Batman, and Wally might be that guy in the long term, but right now it would be nice if that guy was the point guard or a center. Time to trade up and get Jason Williams or Yao Ming. What would you have to give up to make that move? Probably Garnett himself.
Jason!
You owe Motown a big one, Jason. Maybe the guy who mugged you whacked you over the head and jarred a few
memory cells loose ... it's GREENfield Village! Not Deerfield! Greenfield. I think we need to bring you
back to Detroit to build you some positive memories so you'll stop ragging on the place.
Peace and go Pistons!
Brendan C.
Brendan,
I think I morphed a few visits to the Henry Ford Museum with my trips to Greenfield Village. We always stayed in Dearborn, just east of the Village. Now that I am straight, if the Pistons make the Finals I will do all I can to embrace the Motor City. I will also do all I can not to cross the River over to Windsor. I did that in college a few times ... ah, the memories of visits to Canada. Fun and pain rolled into one road trip.
Hey JJ
Just reading through your threads on ESPN.com, and I just wanted to say you are one great entertainer, especially on the NBA2night. Your quotes and cliches are the sauce that makes the show better. Beats Inside the NBA bar none; no disrespect to Sir Charles. My roommates and I love it when you hook up with DA or Dr. Fred and do your thing. I think the Kings have their hands full with the Jazz, and the Kings aren't a great road team. What do you think we can expect in Salt Lake?
Peace.
Le Shang Lin
El Cerrito, Calif.
Le,
Thanks for the love. Do me a favor. Call me anything but JJ. It's a Good Times (the sitcom) complex I have. I think our friends at Turner Sports put on a wonderful show. I want to congratulate Ernie Johnson and the entire Inside the NBA crew for their 2002 Sports Emmy Awards.
The Kings really improved this season on the road. They had the third best road record in the West this season at 25-16. If the Kings don't get caught up in Chris Webber's foul issues, and concentrate defensively on the Jazz during their entire possession, the series will be over Monday night.
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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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