Ames Progressive

In the midst of a second round with three series very much in doubt, the idea of branding a team a certifiable success or disappointment might appear dated in a week. But every writer confident of his or her observations must avoid conventionality and embrace a daring demeanor. Well…almost.

The Celtics could turnaround their shoddy road play and demonstrate how they won 66 games with three of those coming during a Texas sweep of the Spurs, Mavs and Rockets, and eventually prove themselves a legitimate contender.

The Hornets could fail to show up in San Antonio for Game Six similarly to their disappearing act in Game Four, and then follow up their feeble performance with a whimpering last gasp at hom eagainst a championship team led by a legend in Tim Duncan who will pounce on a wounded victim.

The NBA’s most avid follower with a weak handle and flat j is here to say that those two possibilities could happen. Sh’ yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt.

To use another ‘90s pop culture phrase to describe the Celts right now: Could they play any worse? Sports Guy unveiled his obligatory, yet original, column bashing Doc Rivers. He covered a lot of ground in a creative piece. I cannot top his dream sequence featuring Rivers talking to his team before tonight’s Game Five but even though I do not have any ties to Boston, I am probably just as stunned with the C’s performance in the postseason thus far. Especially Game Four in Cleveland. The Cavs needed Game Three and adrenaline alone carried them to a home victory. But with the Pistons playing up to their potential and the specter of needing seven games to topple a mediocre teams sans LeBron, the Celts surely must have whipped out tape from the regular season and studied what made them so dominant before deciding to lay a smackdown on such notable expired talent as Ben Wallace and Wally Szczerbiak. The only excusable reason for defeat rested in the King’s hands but aside form his thunderous dunk the prodigy assaulted the boards with a ton of bricks.

Two observations stood out in that putrid display of basketball the other night:

1. The “Big Three” as they so comically are referred as, needed only one player to step up and pour in a string of clutch baskets. A uber-critic could easily pick apart Paul Pierce and Ray Allen but that’s similar to attacking Donald Rumsfield and Dick Cheney and tiring yourself out before going after the Head Fuck Up. For a millisecond I finally thought he picked it up. Like a novice strumming away at his six string for years before jamming along to Hendrix. He must have looked in the mirror before game time like Dirk Digler before a shoot and studied his 21st century body and with those focused eyes realized I am the future of basketball. I am that Superman that Nietzsche wrote about. I am quicker than Duncan, rangier than Shaq, sturdier than Ewing and tonight I will call for the ball on every play and elevate my team with points by the chockfull. Turns out that 13-point stat line in the second period proved deceptive as KG scored only 15 points for the game on just 13 shots.

2. I can only imagine Sports Guy watching the other night with Big Baby, P.J. Brown and Sam Cassel starting the fourth quarter. An important bench means plenty over the course of a postseason but for us Knick fans we recall Riley trimming the rotation to seven or eight guys, same with Phil and his Lakers. James Posey and Leon Powe deserve burn and their energy sparks the starters but the uncalled for generosity stifles a team that loses out on athleticism when going to a fossilized lineup that does not receive equilibrium if accompanied by a rookie. Hands down, of the eight coaches in the second round Rivers has the least postseason experience and that could spoil a much-needed breakout season for Boston.

In traversing to the other side of the spectrum, the Hornets have shed the sleeper identity quicker than David West blowing past an old Knick fave, Kurt Thomas. No one expected them to emerge as the No. 2 seed in the West and win inarguably the best division in the league. No one expected them to knock off the Mavs and, more so, not in only five games. But despite San Antonio’s impressive series against Phoenix, I changed my outlook concerning the nomadic Hornets, who played most of last season’s home games in Oklahoma City due to the aftermath of Katrina, which leads to an easy branch off for another scathing op-ed aimed at Bush but you guys know I enjoy traveling that high road.

A sampling of last night’s game convinces me that if San Antonio advances with consecutive victories they will come in a triumphant display of team basketball. The Hornets are not losing this series. The Spurs may win but CP3, West - who I suggest be called The Benefactor as a homage to what Paul means to his game, and the Hornets will put forth another well-executed game in an attempt to reach the Conference Finals.

Four things stood out in Nawlins’ Game Five victory”

1. West’s performance last night earns the accolade as best overall personal game of the postseason thus far. The numbers: 38 points, 14 boards, 5 blocks, 5 dimes and a pair of steals. A creeping sensation punctured my stomach last night as the Spurs opened up hot from three-point range and Peja continued to show his impetuous nature with a barrage of chucks. But West’s 22 first-half points kept the Hornets within four at the break. West continued his stellar play with three plays defining his night in the second half. West took Duncan baseline and scored with a reverse lay up as both Thomas and the Spurs other center, Fabricio Oberto, could not contain the little-known all-star forward. West then pinned a Duncan lay up to the glass by alertly coming over on help defense. And then just as us fans used to always marvel when Malone would feed Stockton, West zipped a pass in traffic toward a cutting Paul, adding mesmerizing pictures to go with those gaudy numbers.

2. CP3′S 10 third-quarter points contributed to another one-sided period for the Hornets at home. New Orleans has doubled up the Spurs in the third at home with a 93-46 advantage. Like another point drafted in ‘05 and dazzling in the postseason, Utah’s Deron Williams, Paul has the skill set to score at least 25 but the crafty pg makes a point to look for his teammates in the first half to involve them and in doing so creates rhythm and builds confidence. Following the break, Paul unleashes an exhibition of runners, floaters and j’s to fully accomplish a tested game plan.

3. Tyson Chandler fully understands the importance of avoiding early foul trouble as this allows the big man to stick Duncan one-on-one. Invariably though, Chandler usually picks up fouls or requires help defenders to limit Duncan’s output. One needs only to recall the Spurs/Suns series to appreciate how San Antonio’s offense works around the Big Fundamental clogging the middle. Duncan either totals over 30 points or begins a quick ring-around the perimeter that leads to an easy bucket. The Hornets lost a close Game Three due to poor rotation but last night the quicker and younger playoff neophytes outhustled an aging Spurs team and cut off Tony Parker from owning the lane and closed in with energy on open shooters down the stretch. Somehow the Nets let go of a budding coach in Byron Scott who led them to two finals appearance only because of a contentious relationship with J-Kidd. Scott continues to abuse the Spurs’ one Achilles as the Hornets utilize quickness and youth, at least at home.

4. To wrap up a column that examines the polarization of two emerging storylines in the postseason, I praise Scott who contrasts to Rivers’ approach. With Game Six set for San Antonio tomorrow night, Scott made no allusions about needing to win all four home games. Despite a double-digit lead for most of the fourth, Scott stayed with his starters as except Janeero Pargo, no New Orleans bench player showed much in the first half. Consequently, Chandler hurt his foot and West was shown grimacing on the bench with a sore back but Scott is fully aware the team will have three days off if they lose Game Six before returning home for Game Seven.

Plenty of dramatics left. Plenty of intrigue to unfold. But almost a month into the playoffs, the anticipated route for many continues to shoot off course. Hopefully the same unpredictability takes place next week in Jersey and the Knicks win the lottery before taking Derrick Rose. Let us pray in silence.