NBA Playoff update and Nats wrap-up [Edit]

I have beaten the latest Nats scandals into the ground in this blog. So for everyone's sake I will not say anything more until their next great embarrassing failure. As a wrap-up, everyone should check out the Washington Post Talking Points with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon. On the April 20th and 21st editions (especially the 21st) they go off and light up the Nationals in a way I wish I could. There, done.

On to the Association.

The NBA playoffs are well under way now and all of the series are two games deep. The Lakers, Nuggets, and Cavaliers are all up 2-0 in their respective series. That's not really a surprise considering they are the two one-seeds and a number two. All of the rest of the series are tied at 1-1.

The two series that have grabbed me are Celtics/Bulls and Spurs/Mavs. They both look like they are going to be long and hard fought.

The Celtics/Bulls series has been so much fun to watch, and I think the Celtics are in trouble. The Bulls are averaging 110 points a game in the series. In each game the Celts have let one Bull score over 35 points in each game (Derrick Rose in game one, Ben Gordon in game two). Paul Pierce isn't playing well. If it wasn't for Ray Allen having the second half of his life the Celtics would be down 0-2.
On the bad side for the Bulls, there is no excuse not to have a time-out at the end of each game. With the way Ben Gordon was shooting the ball at the end of game 2, he would have hit a 40-footer if he needed to, provided they had a time out to call a play and inbound the ball at half court. I know Vinny Del Negro is a rookie head coach and things slip, but he has Bernie Bickerstaff and Del Harris on his bench, two coaches who have been there before.

I think the Spurs/Mavs is shaping up to be a great back and forth and compelling series. That being said, Eric Dampier is a dope. What kind of idiot says he is going to keep Tony Parker on his back in the next game? Even if you think you need to knock Tony Parker on his ass, don't say it publicly. Say it in the locker room. Knock him down in the next game without saying anything. Or better yet, feel free to step in front of him and knock him down when he is busy running by your entire team on the way to scoring 38 points. The Mavs are not now, nor have they ever been tough. Now it looks like they are slow too. No one can keep up with Parker. If Manu Ginobili were in this series the Mavs would be toast.

- Gabe

EDIT: The Bulls and Spurs got smoked last night. So much for the competitive series.