It's been a long time since I felt this invested in the playoffs. Part of this is the champion feel to this Bulls team. We've had some playoff runs in the past few years, but never something like this where it would be a disappointment not to win it all. So that's a huge factor to be sure. And I'm also feeling it because I picked Dallas out of the West a few weeks before the playoffs began. Ask my Dad if you need proof. But I've never been this invested in the playoffs as a whole. The West has been incredibly entertaining from top to bottom every round. The top two seeds knocked off, the Lakers getting run out of town, vintage Chris Paul, Memphis forcing their way in, and a ridiculous Rose. We also saw the end of multiple dynasties. Phil Jackson is done. The Spurs, the Lakers, and the Celtics are all showing their years. Maybe they get back for one more year, but they're no longer the gatekeepers to the finals. We're going to be crashing up against the Heat for the next several years.
Anyway, I just saw the first Dallas v OKC game. Nowitzki put up 48 points on 15 shots. He didn't miss a single free throw and he took 24 of them, breaking the playoff record. And OKC was playing serious defense on him. It was one of the most epic performances I've ever seen, the rest of Dallas was playing well, and OKC still kept it close the entire game.
I hope not to miss any of the remaining games this year. This has been an almost World Cup sort of experience. We have a wide open field here. Let's see the Bulls make their mark.
Nice analysis and it is an exciting play-off run
ReplyDeleteTough game Wednesday night. So many missed shots, including a lot of missed shots in the paint. Rose was 7 of 23 but those weren't long range shots, they were drives and pull up 2 pointers that just wouldn't drop. And ten missed free throws. 16% from 3 point. We'll come back Sunday, I hope.
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