t’s official.
The Los Angeles Lakers are not invincible. Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon
can put away their brooms. Magic Johnson can save his smile for another
day. Chick Hearn will call at least three more games. Spike Lee will (oops
.. wrong team).
What revealed the Lakers mortality was the 106-77 drubbing by the
Blazers in game two of the Western Conference Finals (series now tied
1-1). Not everybody believed the Lakers were going to walk all over
Portland. Then again, nobody would have believed that they would lose by
29 on their home court either.
Give credit to Portland coach Mike Dunleavy for realizing that his team
must concentrate on their own matchup advantages, and not the Lakers. On
Monday, the one that favored the Blazers most was Rasheed Wallace vs. The
Lakers power forward assembly (led by ageless AC Green). Wallace smoked LA
for 29 points and 12 rebounds (and no technicals). I’ve always believed
that Dunleavy was a poor judge of talent, and a guy who could only coach
thoroughbreds. Well, he’s got them in Portland.
Supplementing Wallace’s timely effort was intelligent, focused play
by his teammates. Scottie Pippen led the Blazer charge in the first half,
scoring 17 of his 21 points in the first 30 minutes. On defense, the
Blazers double-teamed Shaquille O’Neal to oblivion. Only 29 ticks
remained on the first-quarter clock before O’Neal scored a field goal.
When is the last time "that" happened? Some questioned Dunleavy’s
"Hack-A-Shaq strategy in Game One, but on this night, it was entirely
unnecessary.
Opinions vary on whether the Blazers should constantly double-team
Shaquille O’ Neal. With Pippen, Steve Smith, and the rest of the Blazer
backcourt holding the fort "above" the free throw line, I see no
reason to doubt Dunleavy if he chooses to blanket the big guy the entire
series. Arvydas Sabonis was in foul trouble all game, and will be for most
of the series. But the Blazer depth (which I wrote about earlier in the
season) can account for a sudden Sabonis benching.
The Blazers know that holding O’Neal far under his average was an
aberration. But even if Shaq returns to dominance, that might not be
enough if the Blazers trifecta of Pippen, Wallace, and Smith continue to
outplay the other Lakers.
If nothing else, at least we now know that no team will breeze through
these playoffs, not even Phil Jackson’s Lakers. He doesn’t have Jordan
anymore, so equality and parity will continue to make more than a cameo
appearance right up until the finals.
… Rush Limbaugh actually auditioned for the Monday Night Football
slot left vacant by Boomer Esiason. "Hey Howard. How many times have
you rolled around in your grave?"
… It’s early, but the Seattle Mariners hold a one-game lead in the
AL West. Any chance they’re more focused now that The Kid is gone?
… Atlanta Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone appeared on a Milwaukee
Sports Talk radio show on Wednesday. He mentioned that this was the first
time in almost ten years that he is without four (pitching) thoroughbreds
(Glavine, Maddux, and Millwood "minus" John Smoltz). Gee, how
may of us would pray for "one" of those guys for just one
season.
… Mark McGwire has started to run away with the home run race,
belting 19 to date. I’m not gonna project that number to the rest of the
season, but if you blink more than once, you might miss the next five or
six.
… My hearts and prayers go out to the family of Minnesota Timberwolf
forward Malik Sealy, who was killed in a car crash this past week. Sure
makes everything above this line seem miniscule, doesn’t it?
