April 29, 2007
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<A week in the Playoff>
I always wonder why the Jockey Club does not offer any betting opportunity on NBA. I mean, if there were some legal ways that i can bet for NBA Playoff results, i should have earned pretty good return, though not as profitable as in those crazy IPOs.
In retrospect, I think my views towards the first round are largely correct – Pistons just swept 4 – 0 the little Howard-Magic, Cavs three easy wins over Wizards, Bulls 4-0 over Heat (and more importantly Walker doesn’t get as many 3s as he wishes). My prediction : Cavs 4-1.
Golden State successfully stole one from Dallas (not surprising), Dirk sucked in Game 1, Golden State offensive shined etc. Dallas is so strong to come back in Game 2 (that’s why they won 60+ games). Golden State still have good chances of sending Mavs home, but i think , seriously, if they are to win the serious, they cannot have any of their offensive weapons being tossed anymore. In Game 2, both Baron Davis and S. Jackson were ejected. When you don’t have any defensive, you cannot lose any of your guns at the offensive end. This will be a tight series. Golden State in six or Mavs in Seven. Prediction, G.S, 3-1, G.S. 3-2, G.S. 4-2 evetually.
Rockets won 2 straight in a row and then lost 2 straight. Not really surprising. Another tight series, Mcgrady first will enter the second of Playoff in his career.
Another not surprise, Suns 3-1 Lakers. I bet Suns 4-1.
I watched Game 2 of Suns and Lakers yesterday. Instead of watching Kobe vs Bell (and i don’t think Bell himself can defend Kobe, honest), I enjoy the Marion vs Odom matchup. Versatile, long arms, well-rounded, seriously underrated all star. If choosing between being Jordan and being Pippen is possible (READ: there is no such choice), not many want to be Pippen. But Pippen does have a market. Pippen himself cannot lead any team, but if you put a superstar around him, he life himself to that superstar level (at least 80%).
I think both Marion and Odom do not want to be Pippen. But if they try to leave the team, it will be a complete disaster – Remember Joe Johnson? Three years ago, Joe was the most improved player in Suns (YES, exactly the first year Nash rejoined the Suns. You know why I love Nash so much). Unsatisfied for being the 3 or even 4th best player in a successful team (A. Stud was healthy, alongside Marion and Nash. Richardson broke the record of 3s make in Suns made by D. Majarie in that season), Joe opted for a lucrative contract and joined a lottery-bound team – Atlanta Hawks (In the sign-and-trade deal, Suns in return got Boris Diaw, the most improve player last year). I was really upset by Joe’s move. I am sure playing around Nash is really the funnies thing in playing basketball – in no less than 10 different games, i saw Sun players smiled while playing the game seriously. Joe is still good in Atlanta, but not as good as he is supposed to be. He is a good player, but not a great leader, which is an essential element in building a team.
