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Tuesday, May 7
Updated:
May 7, 6:44 AM ET
Rockin' in Round 2
By Jason Jackson
Special to ESPN.com
|  | | Ben Wallace got it done in Game 1 against the Celtics. |
It is time for Round 2 -- the conference semifinals, the Elite Eight for the professionals -- to start heating up. While only two steps remain for the survivors of the first round, we are talking about cavernous steps.
It should be noted that I told you, in the Western Conference preview edition of the "NBA 2Night" and in the first edition of The JaxLine, that the top seeds would win their series. Did some say clean sweep? For those of you who listen to ESPN Radio's "GameDay with Jason Jackson," you understand what a phenomenal event I am enjoying.
Here's what else should be noted:
The Nets showed me something on Sunday by coming out after the half, trailing by six and hitting the accelerator. It would be nice to see a consistent 15-20 points from Keith Van Horn and Kenyon Martin, but Jason Kidd is on a mission, so he's picking up the slack. Kidd seems hell-bent on legitimizing the Nets' regular-season run at the same time he sheds his perceived playoff failures.
All season, I have sung the gospel of the Pistons' wonderful team defense, but I didn't know it was that good. In Game 1 against Boston, Detroit collected 10 blocked shots -- five coming from the swat of All-NBA third-teamer and NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace. Just as the Celtics were outrebounding the Pistons 42-36, Wallace and friends were holding the C's to 37.5 percent shooting from the floor. The Pistons hit half of their shots on their way to the early series lead.
Due to my participation in the Sixth Sean Salisbury Celebrity Golf Classic in San Diego, I missed Game 1 of the Mavs-Kings series, but I knew exactly what ailed Dallas after I was told the score. Without looking at one box score, I said, "The Mavs hit less than 40 percent didn't they?" The Kings were all over them and the Mavericks finished with a shooting percentage of 39 percent, including 26 percent from three-point range. Dallas' only shot in this series is to hit shots and get Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, the threat to the inside game they don't have, in trouble. When they do both, they will dominate. When they get Webber and Divac on the pine, they have the edge. If they don't make shots, Dallas will lose.
Game 1 of the Spurs-Lakers series was ugly. The score was weak. The shooting percentages were weak. The Lakers still won. Why? After two title runs, they have learned how to close. The two-time defending champs trailed after the half, but they ran the motor on high in the fourth quarter, outscoring the David Robinson-less Spurs by 10. San Antonio has no idea when Robinson will be ready to go at full-speed (he's not ruled out for Game 2), so their dreams of avenging last year's sweep out of the Western Conference finals might turn into a nightmare on South Figueroa Street.
JaxTake
Mavs def. Kings 110-102 (series is knotted at 1)
This series will be easy to figure out. If the Mavericks make shots, they will win games. The Kings can rip the net as well. I'd never disrespect their ability to dare an opponent to outshoot them, but I think Dallas is different. On a good night, the Kings will have four guys really torch you (Webber, Peja, Bibby and Jackson off the bench), while the Mavs have 5-7 (Nash, Finley, Nowitzki, Van Exel, LaFrentz, if not more). So each night will be measured by shooting percentages, because the defensive stops will be rare.
I'm not mad about it, but I hope this series doesn't turn into a see-you-in-the-fourth-quarter experience. Those who find everything wrong with the NBA will try to harp on the up and down nature of a shootout. Those who can find a silver lining in realize the joy in a run-and-gun format over bump-and-grind.
The real drama will come in a Game 7 in Arco Arena, if this series keeps rocking back and forth. Will the lack of playoff experience rattle the Mavs into forcing shots up early and often -- resulting in a shooting percentage under 40? Return to the opening section for my theory on games in which Dallas dips below that mark.
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| Christie |
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| Nash |
Gamer and Goat
Gamer: Steve Nash caught a lion's share of the blame for Dallas' Game 1 loss. So he took a nap, recharged the engines, and led the Mavs to a big road win in Arco Arena. If the Mavericks are going to win this series, they will need to keep the score over 110 points, just short of their playoff leading average of right around 112 points. Nash starts that party. If he is on, the others seem to find their grove easier. Rather than shrink under the pressure of criticism, Nash rang his own cowbell in Sacramento. It was one that sang, "I am ready for prime time, even if I hit a flat note from time to time."
Goat: To be honest, if there was one person I thought I'd never goat, it was Doug Christie. Nevertheless, all the Kings starters have the amazing burden of producing in each game of this series because of Dallas' firepower. Four turnovers, no trips to the free throw line and zero production from the three-point line isn't going to get it done. But it will get the goat.
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| Van Exel |
Bobby Jones Award
There was a day that Nick Van Exel wasn't eligible for the BJA, but due to his roll outside of the three-headed monster in Dallas, we give him the nod. Let's say if he keeps up Monday's assistance of nearly 20 points off the folding chair, there will be more of the spotlight available for him.
In Case You Missed It
The Charlotte Hornets were rightfully praised for their superior regular-season road record, in comparison to its de facto home record this season. Well, after Sunday's Game 1 loss in New Jersey, the Hornets playoff road record is 8-17 all-time. No better time than the present to change history.
Next!
Hornets vs. Nets, Game 2 (Nets up 1-nil)
If the Hornets want to win this series, they will have to disrupt the Nets' balance. When Jason Kidd is hitting for 21, pulling down seven and dishing off seven, he and the Nets will tend to be in control, because everyone will probably get an opportunity to contribute. Kidd was one of seven Nets to score in double figures.
How about head coach Byron Scott going 10 deep in Game 1? As long as the "other" five keep hitting 11-of-19 from the floor (Sunday's total) and playing mistake free (careful Jason Collins with four turnovers in your 11 minutes), their run should continue.
Spurs vs. Lakers, Game 2 (Lakers up 1-nil)
Mark Bryant and Malik Rose have no shot at stopping Shaquille O'Neal. There's no shame there, as most front line NBA centers can't do a thing with No. 34 either. So unless David Robinson can come back with some fire in those legs, which are now affected by the bad back, the Spurs have little hope.
If Sunday's performance was any indication of things to come from San Antonio, Tim Duncan can drop 30 a game, and the Spurs will still lose. The Lakers played a sloppy game, plus Shaq and Kobe missed time in the second half with injuries, but the Spurs still came up short. The return of a healthy David Robinson might slow the flow, but it wouldn't stop it.
The Sack
My sack runs over! I will return to your questions in Wednesday's edition.
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 e-mail.
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Dallas vs. Sacramento
Steve Nash and the Mavs start to pull away after being tied at 93 with under four minutes to play.
Standard | Cable Modem
 Wanted Man
Kobe Bryant knows that there is too much at stake to sit out with minor injuries.
RealAudio
Filling the Void
Jason Kidd felt the next to "do something" to help his team late in the game.
RealAudio
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