Survive and Advance

If this was done purposely, then Phil Jackson is a coaching GENIUS!! All of a sudden Kobe has morphed into a team player overnight. No more 40, 50 or 80 point outings. Just a consummate team leader, professional and NBA player star making his teammates around him play better.

No doubt the Suns must be slightly shocked after the Lakers handed them their 2nd loss of the series, with game 4 Sunday night in the Lakers (and Clippers) house. Mike D’Antoni (my choice for Coach of the Year), knows his team is in a must win situation come Sunday afternoon, as a loss will have the Suns fighting for play-off survival.

Props also goes out to Sacramento Kings, as the return of Ron Artest from a one game suspension, was enough to give them their first win in their match-up against the current defending World champs. The Kings are currently down 1-2 and they were unlucky not to be ahead 2-1. Holding a slim 3-point lead with 4 seconds left, SAC carelessly allowed an open look from Brent Barry in the corner for a 3-point shot which tied the game sending it into overtime. Remember if you are up 3……… DEFEND THE ARC!! I thought everyone knew that?!

Lebron however is on a mission, his performance in game 3; WOW……the boy got skillz (like you didn’t know)!!! The final play of the game for the CAVS, down by a point. King James used EVERY move he had to shake 3 defenders; including an unbelievable hang time move in the paint and a little help from the window to bank home what would be the game winning shot. Cleveland is now up 2-1 against the Wizards with game 4 on Sunday night in DC.

Must say this has been an entertaining opening round of the 2006 Play-offs. I would not be surprised if 3 of the match-ups go the entire 7 games. There just seems to be parity amongst the teams. This may be due to the way the teams were seeded this season. Or maybe teams aren’t willing to roll over this year?

To The Whole

Andre Alleyne