I thought that the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers would have arranged their Eastern Finals showdown a little earlier. Instead, we see the Chicago Bulls and the New Jersey Nets rising from a seemingly-deep grave in brilliant fashion, challenging their respective nemesis.

The Pistons were an impressive 7-0 to start the postseason. They won it all, the first three against the young hapless Bulls. They won by an average of 18 points. Whoa! Those five veterans were impressive, playing like the champions they deserve to be. But for the past two games, they seemed to lose interest. Their average losing margin is 15.5. The Bulls were firing from all cylinders, winning by as much as 16 at Detroit!

Now, everyone is talking about the Chicago, and how this post-Jordan team will become the first in history to come back from a 0-3 deficit. For me though, it ain’t gonna happen. I believe Detroit will wake up from its slumber and finish this thing off in six. They are just too smart to realize that they should stop fooling around. They will wrap-up the series at the Windy City tomorrow.

As for the other series, the Nets have a chance to become the ninth team in NBA history to win a series being down 1-3. I have faith in New Jersey. Before the season began, the Nets were on top of my list. They have a big chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, after a three-year absence. Those first three quarters of Game Five proved that they can indeed dominate! The Cavs just don’t have the balls to finish a series. Not yet!

But last night, Nash and the Phoenix Suns stole away that spotlight from his best friend Dirk. As a huge Phoenix Suns fan (I love to say that a lot!), I could say it was the best game my Suns have played all season long, going toe-to-toe with the league-leaders, and beating them when it seems that the game was already over. It even toppled that classic Suns-Nets game.

Anyway, I had goosebumps as I watched that game. I know I predicted a so-it-seemed-impending Dallas victory, but I was just playing it safe since the Mavs had the depth and D (defense – 3rd in the league in limiting opponents’ field goals to a minimum). Well, the departure of Devin Harris due to injury and the non-availability of Devean George helped the cause, but still they should have the depth to compensate for their loss. I’m babbling here. The point is I was wrong. I lost trust in my own team. What a bad fan I am.

Going back to the game, the Suns were down by seven with just 55 seconds to go. If you have seen it, you would have thought that the Mavericks had that game already. But seeing what Nash can do, and how he did it against a tough New Jersey team earlier this season, I know something great was bound to happen. Guess what? With 55 ticks left, Nash scored the last ten Suns points, all ten, to force an overtime. He made all five of his free-throws, hit a lay-up over Josh Howard and Jason Terry, and shot that big three that sent the game into overtime, all in that stretch.

Well, what did Nowitzki do in that stretch? He missed two very crucial and most important free-throws..again! Why again? He also missed four against the Heat in last season’s NBA Finals, which cost them the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Nowitzki is a 91% free-throw shooter for the season, and Nash is just at 88%. But Nash knows when to hit, and he converts those that really matter.

Nowitzki had a great game. But Steve had the better game between the two MVP contenders. Other candidates like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant don’t matter anymore. It’s now down to these two best friends and one-time teammates. Who would have thought that it will get to this? Them, pitted against each other for the league’s highest individual award. But I know that they will want nothing more than the championship.

Wait, where was I? Oh, yes, Steve had the better game and made a strong case last night. Nowitzki had 30 points, 6 assists and 16 rebounds. But Nash had a near triple-double with 32 points, 8 rebounds and 16 assists. And those points, rebounds, the one crucial steal and assists came when they were most needed. And he got the win for his team when it seemed that Dallas already had it. He willed his team for that 129-127 double-overtime triumph! It was a classic, and I watched the replays. All of it!

All I am trying to say is Steve Nash is still the MVP, and you don’t need more proof than this!

Wade may delay the surgery till after the playoffs, and may opt for a continued rehabilitation of his shoulder. But this could be risky, and it might backfire. One bad fall, and Wade’s career may be in jeopardy. I suggest, same as what Lebron James suggested, that Wade sit out the rest of the season, and undergo surgery now.

With Wade coming down, so do the hopes of the Heat repeating as champions. Let it be remembered that the man called “The Flash” single-handedly brought back the team to life in the Finals against Dallas, he, by his lonesome, brought the first ever NBA Championship to the city of Miami. Currently, they are gunning for the eighth and final seed of the East, gutting it out against New Jersey, Orlando and even New York. With Miami struggling this season, and with Wade carrying most of the load, the chances of Miami defending their title are very very slim, so do their chances of carving a backdoor way to the postseason wars. If ever they make it, there is a big possibility that they will face Detroit in the first round, and the Pistons are tough opponents. Their starting five is easily one of the best in the NBA. And without Dwyane, Miami isn’t that dangerous anymore.

I hope Wade makes the right decision. Miami should not risk Wade’s grave injury. The Heat will have to do without their superstar, and salvage every chance of competing well in the playoffs. They still have an outside chance of making it to the top four as they are only down 3.5 games behind the Washington Wizards in the Southeast Division. The other players like Jason Williams, Jason Kapono, James Posey and Shaquille O’Neal must bring their game to the highest level possible to compensate for Dwyane’s loss. They should, or it will be an early summer vacation for them.

They are supposed to dominate the Atlantic Division, but currently, they share the top spot with the Toronto Raptors, a team that almost changed their whole roster in the off-season, with a 7-12 slate. The Nets have lost their last three games including a classic double-overtime setback to the Phoenix Suns Thursday night. And they lost once again last night to the also-struggling Boston Celtics.

Paul Pierce made a last second jumper over the outstretched arms of Kidd to lead the Celtics to a 92-90 decision. New Jersey scored the game’s first 18 points at 18-0, and even led by as much as 20, 22-2, in the first quarter. They wilted down in the second and were only three points ahead, 48-45, at halftime. It was the Nets ninth loss in 11 games.

One big reason why they have been giving away games is the lack of an intimidating force in the middle. Nenard Krstic is a decent big man, but he’s too soft to fill that role. It is not necessary for them to have a Duncan, a Shaq or a Garnett. They just need a guy who can respectably produce some numbers at the post, and swat shots at the defensive end. A guy who can assure them that the paint is safe from penetrations. Someone in the mold of a Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, Amare Stoudemire, or a Rasheed Wallace. But I doubt that these guys’ mother clubs will even release any of them.

The only way that they could acquire such bigs right now is definitely through trade. And Carter is the most tradable commodity in their roster. I hate to lash on Carter, but the guy isn’t just a winner. He has always been reluctant to lead his team to victory, and has a history of becoming disinterested. He wilted under pressure in Toronto, and begged to be sent to a team with good stars in it. This time around, after failing to reach past the second round once again in New Jersey, he has shown signs of backing away, and not playing his heart out. He is inconsistent in showing energy and enthusiasm in his games. He put big numbers in one or two games, then sagged down in the next three, missing a lot of field goals. He is, in my opinion, not a good player to build your franchise around.

I suggest that New Jersey trade their reluctant star for a future one. And Howard, Jefferson and Stoudemire are good athletes to acquire for an aging Carter if they want their season to be fruitful. These guys can certainly help this team rise up to expectations, and they will fill that missing void.

But if they opt not to trade Carter just yet, they may want to trade for energetic and effective up-and-coming big men in Andres Biedrins, Anderson Varejao, Jorge Garbajosa or Zaza Pachulia. They are a lot cheaper to acquire and the Nets have an abundance of good wing players to give up. (pic courtesy of yahoonba.com)

The Suns beat the New Jersey Nets, 161-157, in a classic match which featured two overtimes, 318 points, 34 lead changes, 21 ties, 27 three-pointers and a gigantic showdown between two former teammates, and perhaps two of the best All-time point guards in the game. It was the game for the ages and I expect this one to be featured as one of NBA’s Greatest Games which saw Suns two-time MVP guard Steve Nash and Nets Jason Kidd stamped their class in the history books.

Nash scored a career-high 42 points while dishing out a team-high 13 assists. And Kidd tied Wilt Chamberlain for 78 career triple-doubles. He had 38 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists.

New Jersey ran with Phoenix in this one as both teams raced up and down the court. The biggest lead for the Suns was a 10-point bubble in the first quarter, while the Nets led by as much as only five in the fourth. It was close from start to finish. The “high-tempoed” game showcased 224 shots, 27 three-pointers, 57 fouls and an astonishing low 29 total turnovers.

Vince Carter hit the last four points for New Jersey in regulation via a lay-up and the free-throw line to put the Nets ahead, 133-130 with 5.3 seconds remaining. Carter, who had 31 points on an impressive 13-for-17 shooting, fouled Suns forward Boris Diaw with 4.8 seconds remaining to prevent the Suns from hitting a three-pointer. The Suns shot 17 threes in this one. Nash and Raja Bell each had 6 treys.

Off a timeout, Nash then received the inbounds pass from Diaw, squared off for the shot and made it to tie the count at 133-all with just 2.1 remaining. Kidd’s half court heave completely missed the goal as time expired.

The Nets had a chance to close out the game in the first overtime, but Kidd’s fade-away jumper went in-and-out of the ring.

Nash then took over in the second overtime, scoring nine points and dishing out the killer pass to Diaw who scored the go-ahead basket with 14 seconds remaining, 159-157. Kidd committed the most crucial turnover as the ball hit his left foot off his dribble which was intercepted by Leandro Barbosa. Nash iced the game with two free-throws and knotted the final count.

Shawn Marion had 33 points, 9 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks for the Suns. Center Amare Stoudemire added 23 points and 11 rebounds. Boris Diaw had 16 points and 14 assists! Barbosa also had 16 points, 7 assists and three steals. And Bell also had a notable night, scoring 24 points, with six threes on 6-of-7 shooting for the Suns.

Aside from Kidd and Carter, five other New Jersey players scored in double figures. Richard Jefferson had 25 points, rookie Marcus Williams added 18, Mikki Moore, Eddie House and Nenard Krstic contributed 14, 12 and 10 respectively.

House, the former Phoenix Sun, had his best game of the season. He went 3-of-5 from the field including a perfect 2-of-2 from rainbow country. Before this game, he shot only 1-of-14 for the last two games after coming back from knee surgery. (pics courtesy of yahoonba.com)

The New Jersey Nets are struggling big time. They may lead the Atlantic Division at 7-10, but they are just a half game ahead of the Toronto Raptors. Just half a game over the Raptors, a lottery team ever since Vince Carter left for New Jersey. Ironic, isn’t it?

One of the biggest reasons why they are struggling is the non-productivity of their big men. Cliff Robinson was a big help last season in that department, and nobody seemed to fill the void. The big three can no longer sustain New Jersey. There are only three legitimate big men in the Nets’ rotation: Jason Collins, Nenard Krstic and Mikki Moore.

Collins has always been an abomination. He gets the minutes, but he has the same insignificant numbers each night. No matter how long he stays in the floor, he would only give you 5 points, 5 rebounds, an assist and less than a block on just 41 percent shooting. When Dallas thrashed New Jersey, Collins played 26 long minutes, had 5 points, 6 rebounds and four fouls! I had him in my fantasy leagues and he has always been a disappointment.

Mikki Moore is athletic, but he lacks the offensive firepower the Nets need from the post. He also is deficient from the defensive end. In that same game, he produced 8 points, 7 rebounds, no block in 21 minutes. Though much more decent than Collins’ I should say.

The lone bright spot belongs to Nenard Krstic. Krstic has been promising from his rookie year. And he has delivered to that promise. He is averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds this season. He scored 18 points, grabbed 12 caroms, added a steal and two blocks in 37 minutes against the Mavericks.

The only problem is Krstic is not a defensive big man. The Nets need an intimidating presence underneath the basket, but they just don’t have it. Lawrence Frank has at times adopted the Phoenix philosophy of playing small. But it has not work for them. Carter, Richard Jefferson and Jason Kidd have all become predictable. They need help, and they are not getting any right now. The front office needs to make some roster changes, and fast!

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – The Phoenix Suns almost lose another game earlier to the hapless New Jersey Nets. They almost blew a 22-point lead late in the game, narrowly escaping the Nets, 99-93.

The Nets are supposed to be the struggling team coming into the game. They have lost three in a row and have been weighed down in fourth quarters, averaging just 19 for the past three outings. But Coach Lawrence Frank’s second unit turned things around in the final canto, led by rookie Marcus Williams, who by his lonesome outscored Phoenix, 21-19. New Jersey scored 30 in this final quarter, and Williams had 21 of his 27 points in this same period. The Nets managed to cut down a once mighty 20-point fourth quarter lead to three at 93-96, after a Williams jumper with a minute remaining. Luckily, Steve Nash saved the day for the Suns by hitting three of his four free throws to ice the game in the dying seconds.

In each of the Suns six losses, Phoenix has blown huge leads, including a plus-19 advantage over the Lakers on opening night, and a 16-point fourth quarter bubble over the league-leading Utah Jazz last week. They have led almost the entire game in all those six setbacks, only to falter at the end.

And this one was no exception. The Suns seemed disinterested after erecting a gigantic lead. They just stopped playing defense. And what was humiliating was it was New Jersey’s second unit, led by the rookie Williams, who exposed the chink in the armor of the Suns starting five nonetheless.

There are two reasons as to why Phoenix could not sustain those advantages. First, they appeared overconfident and disinterested. They put their flag down and stopped playing defense. They were caught watching the Nets shooting jump shots, hitting lay-ups, grabbing offensive boards and making putbacks. And it seemed that building an enormous point-separation wore them out. They stopped playing defense (allow me to reiterate), and they were hitting blanks, even missing free throws. Shawn Marion missed two crucial ones in the dying seconds to the dismay of Coach Mike D’Antoni.

Secondly, the Suns bench players were (and are) plain momentum killers! No wonder the starting unit got tired come the pay-off period because the guys coming off the bench just didn’t exhibit the same energy. It is given that there is a talent disparity. But they gotta have energy. They are supposed to be the team’s energy boosters, “not booos-ters.”

Marcus Banks was a huge disappointment. He passed up on open shots, and took those that were well-guarded and ill-advised. They resulted into either misses or turnovers. Jalen Rose’s jump shots were flat! You’ve got to put your legs into your shots Jalen. They were all flat and short. And James Jones! Man, seriously, you call yourself a shooter. I can shoot better than you. You’ve been left wide open thrice, and all of them were bricks. You can’t even play defense. What the hell are you doing on the floor? Mister D’Antoni, maybe it’s time to let the other Jones play. I mean Jumaine sir. He had a career year with the Bobcats last season, not to mention leading the league in threes made. Think about it coach.

The bench was so dismal, they were outscored 10-39. That was just awful.

D’Antoni needs to find a way to get some production from his bench, or it will be a short season for them. They are dead last in the Pacific Division presently, with a 6-6 record. They may reach the postseason but not as deep as they have been the past two. The Suns’ starting unit can’t sustain leads all by themselves. It will tire them out, and bad for them as the season progresses. That’s why there are twelve players in a team’s roster. The others got to help. They’ve got the talent, but the motivation has to be pumped into each and every Sun, most especially the guys coming off the bench. (pics courtesy of yahoonba.com)