In Sketches, we'll be taking you on a quick trip through the NBA blogosphere to get our finger on the pulse of all of the key happenings and storylines in the L each day.
EYE ON BASKETBALL: In basketball, saying you scrapped for loose balls is often synonymous with the college athlete diving out of bounds to try and save a possession. That so rarely happens in the NBA, and it's due to the gap in athleticism and ability. Players can much more easily swoop in and collect the ball, springing the outlet pass and scoring, rather than needlessly diving. This is mistaken for a lack of effort in the NBA but, in reality, it's just a knowledge of what you can and cannot collect. But that's not what the Grizzlies have done in this series. They have actually scrapped for every loose ball, in the sense that, in that moment, that rare time span in between the release and catch of the ball, the Grizzlies attacked every single one. The Grizzlies dove into passing lanes, swiped at the catch to prevent possession (negating the foul), then immediately hawked.
3 SHADES OF BLUE: The mouthpiece-dart that McDyess threw. WOW. The importance of this simply cannot be overstated. One small event symbolic of an entire series vibe. The Spurs have been many things over their reign at-and-or-near the top, but sore losers has rarely been a term that applied-but that mini-tantrum Antonio threw really screamed it. The middling Grizzlies getting into the heads of the mighty Spurs? If the Duncan free throw airball to open game three didn't convince you, the flying mouthpiece must.
48 Minutes of Hell: Give Memphis credit—which they deserve ten times over—for forcing San Antonio into turnovers. It’s hard to describe Memphis’ defense, except to say it’s an incredible bother and lovely to watch. The Grizzlies play defense like the Spurs would like to. Tough. Physical. Disciplined. Passionate. The Grizzlies clog the lane and swarm the ball. Watching Tony Parker survive the Grizzlies is like watching a China Cabinet survive an earthquake. It’s inevitable. Stuff goes sideways. Simply put, when the Grizzlies D-Up, Tony Parker doesn’t know what to do.
MAVS MONEYBALL: The Mavericks did a good job of getting to the line, as well as breaking up Portland’s plays and taking the ball strong on the other end. And who do you think spent the most time behind the charity stripe? That’s right, Mr. Nowitzki took it hard to the hoop and drew the contact time and time again, helping the Mavs pull away. Also helping the cause was the rarely seen but sorely needed offensive rebound. Dallas crashed the offensive boards to excellent results- second chance points. Heading into the final period, the Mavericks built up a comfortable lead with the game’s momentum on their side.
BLAZER'S EDGE: Gerald Wallace scored 16 with 9 rebounds but don't be fooled...plenty of those came after the game was long decided. His meaningful production was slight. He was often hanging around the rim for those defensive rebounds but didn't seem to get many of the contested ones. He got 2 steals and 2 blocks and looked brilliant as always on the run but this was not a good game for him. It hasn't been the expected series from him, really. For better or worse, in control or out, Wallace is supposed to dominate. It's been the other way around.
DENVER STIFFS: Gallinari bounced back from his 0 point first half to score 11 points in the third quarter. The third belonged to the Italian kid and his herky-jerky style. Gallo scored on wild drives to the rim, hit some contested jumpers, and buried a key three-pointer as well. On the night he finished 6-13 from the field (3-4 from deep and 3-5 from the foul line) for 18 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, had 4 assists, 1 steal, and just 1 turnover. His offensive spark was just what the Nuggets needed and was something we hadn't seen for a few games. New York fans tried to warn us that Gallo was a streaky player and perhaps he's coming around at just the right time. I was worried the playoffs lights were shining too bright in his first post-season trip, but perhaps they are starting to turn into more of a spotlight for Danilo.
DAILY THUNDER: Everyone is talking about Westbrook and his 30 shots. Talking about the forced 3-pointer that was all air with OKC down 3 in the final seconds. Talking about the fact Durant didn’t see the ball on two of the Thunder’s biggest possessions late. And how can I argue with the logic? KD is the team’s best player. Westbrook is not. Therefore, give the ball to Durant. I agree. It’s obvious. It makes sense. However, I’m not going to dog Westbrook for it that much. I blame him more for the way the first half went than anything else. The ball rarely moved, the team didn’t appear focused and the Thunder blew a good opportunity to be up at least two possessions heading to the break. The tone was set early on. This was a Russell Westbrook night.
SILVER SCREEN AND ROLL: Every season, they insist on putting us through this. Every year there's one overmatched playoff opponent they should quickly euthanize but instead, thanks to their default mode of not giving a damn until they absolutely must, allow to squirm and kick and drag them into a long series. Last season it was the Thunder. The year before that, the Rockets. Count me as taken aback that the Hornets have forced us into this tiresome dance yet again, but perhaps I'm the one at fault here. For giving the Lakers too much credit. For thinking they'd learned something from the past. No one, it appears, will ever go broke overestimating the champs' ability to make things harder than they need to be.
ESPN CHICAGO: Nobody, including Joakim Noah's grandfather from Cameroon, questions Derrick Rose's will to win. We've seen it enough times, and if we haven't, we've seen enough replays to remind us that as a closer, he's right there with Mariano Rivera. But as Rose hobbled out of the gym in his shower shoes Monday -- albeit with little visible swelling in his sprained left ankle after sitting out of practice -- you had to wonder what kind of a team the Bulls will be Tuesday night in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers, or in any game that Rose is not 100 percent.
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