Yes, I’m aware that the photo contrasts with the headline… but it was far too interesting for me to pass up. I would’ve posted it later on, but as you’ll find out, all the photo space is going to be used for another purpose.
So, first of all, I’m going to have to keep this relatively brief because I’ve actually got to work at my job today. Working at my job… I know, it’s a tough break. Hopefully it won’t become the usual routine.
Anyway, both Conference Finals are tied at one game a piece as venues are set to change, and something I advised Scott Brooks to do about midway through the Memphis series helped to make it that way: he benched Russell Westbrook… for the entire fourth quarter. The straw that finally broke the camel’s back was yet another turnover–his fourth of the game–with 28 seconds left to go in the third period. Jason Kidd ripped him, and Westbrook sent him to the stripe for two. Brooks finally decided he’d had enough of Russell’s shenanigans, and inserted Eric Maynor. Dallas led 76-73 at that point, but James Harden was about to change that with a four-point play. That four-point play apparently activated his beast-mode, because from that point on he made everything he tossed at the rim with the exception of a three and a freethrow. He accounted for 10 points in the fourth, and hit this ridonkulous jumper…
…the Youtuber described that play as Harden “showing his handles.” I feel like “showing that bad shots go in from time to time” probably would’ve been a more appropriate title. I mean, his handles didn’t really get him anywhere; he just made a ridiculously difficult shot after dribbling in place for seven seconds. I’m not knocking Mr. Harden… this is the NBA, these are the best basketball players in the world, and they make a tough shot from time to time. Sometimes these are simply the kind of shots that need to be made to win an NBA game in the middle of May. In game one, Dirk made them (Serge Ibaka was all up in his mug throughout that fourth quarter). In game two, a combination of Thunder players including James Harden and Kevin Durant made them. Durant bottomed a bonkers fall-away jumper in the face of my main man DeShawn Stevenson with about six minutes left… Daequan Cook nailed a triple with five minutes left… hell, even Kendrick Perkins made a jumpshot in the second half. The majority of the Thunder roster simply had it going on offensively; they shot 56 percent from the field, and I think it had more to do with them making shots than it did with Dallas’ defense. Seriously, it was kind of like game one, except the other way around and minus all the freethrows. Dallas was good, but OKC was better. Dirk was really good (dude had 16 of his 29 points in the fourth), as Durant was in game one, but a combination of Thunder players simply hit all the necessary buckets to stay on top, as Dallas did in game one (yeah, it was mostly Dirk, but Terry nailed the dagger). JJ Berea was productive off the bench once again with 11 on 4-8, but Eric Maynor bested him with 13 of his own. One guy who didn’t contribute his usual numbers was Jason Terry… he was uncharacteristically quiet with eight points on 3-9. Throw in the fact that his counterpart (Harden) went for 23, and you’ve come up with one major difference in this game.
Like I said, Nowitzki was excellent down the stretch with 16 points in the fourth. He was the only reason Dallas had a chance to make it a one-possession game with 36 seconds left, but he picked an awfully bad time to miss his first freethrow of the series. In fact, he’d knocked down 39 in a row until the second of three attempts in what was then a 104-99 game. I guess he was due for a misfire, and waaaay overdue to become a victim of the broadcaster jinx (I figured he’d clunk one at the end of game one as the commentators constantly rambled about the record he had set).
Back to the Russell Westbrook thing for just a moment… even though I thought it was pretty clear that a statement had to be made regarding his decision making down the stretch, I want to give a lot of credit to Scott Brooks for actually making it happen. It’s easier to call for the benching of an all-star PG in favor of Eric Maynor from my recliner than it is to actually put such a bold plan into action… especially with a trip to the NBA finals and your professional reputation hanging in the balance. So, big ups to Scott Brooks for making such a bold move, even if it may have happened a little late. Had he not made the decision he made, I have a funny feeling James Harden doesn’t score all those points down the stretch, and Dirk’s 16 fourth-quarter points may be enough to get the Mavs over the hump.
Random note that I couldn’t seem to work into the post: I think the Mavericks played better defense than the Thunder in this game. How the hell can I possibly say that about a team that gave up 57 percent shooting? Well, like I said, OKC made tough shots, and a lot of Dallas’ makes… weren’t so tough, especially in the first half. I wasn’t counting, but Tyson Chandler must have burned them on cuts or simply beaten them down the floor for a lob at least three times before the half. Dirk certainly didn’t have any trouble… his 29 on 10-17 were nearly as efficient as Harden’s 23, it’s just that his game one was so ridiculous that anything other than another 40-pointer would make it seem as if he didn’t do much. Basically, the Thunder’s offense carried the load in this one… but I feel like Dallas is the better offensive team, so if the Thunder ultimately want to advance, they’re going to have to play better defense than they did last night.
NBA247365.COM hero DeShawn Stevenson went just 1-6 in this game, but his SWAG was 100 percent. Three-point SWAG:
Get the crowd hype SWAG:
Heisman Trophy SWAG:
SWAG.
