TRUE DAT! - 2nd May 2011

So here we are. The second round of the playoffs upon us.

8 down. Spurs, Blazers, Nuggets, Hornets, Pacers, Magic, Knicks and 76ers are goooooorn!

4 of the remaining bunch to be eliminated with the four series between Thunder/Grizzlies, Lakers/Mavs, Heat/Celtics and Bulls/Hawks.

Here is today's dose of TRUE DAT!

#1 Shaking the rust

There were three keys for the Celtics going into this series against the Heat. If the Celtics are successful they will need to limit turnovers, receive significant production from the bench and Rondo has to remain aggressive.

Well, yesterday, in Game 1, Rondo was unable to establish himself due to early foul trouble in which he was forced to the bench and ultimately played a minimal 32 minutes. The Celtics committed numerous turnovers in allowing the Heat easy points in transition. As for the bench, James Jones who came off the Miami bench outplayed them. The indiscernible Jones proved decisive as he hit 5 of 7 threes.

However, for as poorly as the Celtics played and as well as the Heat played (with a little help from the officials), the Celtics lost Game 1 by only 9 points. Boston made several runs in the second half after facing a 15-point deficit. The Celtics definitely looked a little rusty after a week off. But make no doubt about it; the Celtics will lift for Game 2.

True Dat!

#2 Gundy and Otis 

After a sudden exit from the playoffs, Dwight Howard posted the following comment on Facebook-

“I did my best out there. It’s hard to see us go. I love it here in Orlando but…”

After losing Game 6 against the Hawks, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy explained, choking up a bit, “A team that fights as hard as our guys did, and I couldn’t get them over the hump to win this series, that really is disappointing to me and the job that I did as a coach. I’m just disappointed not to be able to get my team over the hump”.

However, don’t pin this on Stan.

Orlando GM, Otis Smith is responsible for dealing half of the team who had made a deep push into last year’s playoffs. Trading Vince Carter and Marcin Gortat for Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu was absurd. Gortat had shown that he was capable of starting along Dwight. However, Smith preferred to start the inferior Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson who both struggled with consistency this season. Meanwhile Gortat has flourished in Phoenix. Furthermore, Turkapoo has certainly lived to his name by continuing to stink out the joint ever since he originally left Orlando.

Furthermore, Smith traded Rashard Lewis, who is currently a free agent, for Gilbert Arenas and his $111 million contract with 3 years remaining. Arenas averaged 16 minutes per game in the playoffs and did play due to a coach’s decision in Game 3.

If history repeats itself and the Magic lose another franchise big man, than either Gundy or Smith will be held responsible. For mine, a coach is only as good as the roster he is dealt.

True Dat!

#3 Lakers/Mavs

Who knows what to expect in this series? Surprisingly, for two teams that regularly feature in the postseason, this is the first time that Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant will face each other in the playoffs.

The Lakers easily accounted for the Mavs in their last matchup in April at the Staples Centre as they won 110-82. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol along with Lamar Odom created havoc in the interior. Jason Kidd also had difficulty defending Kobe.

It’s hard to see Dallas winning a best-of-seven series as the Lakers hold a significant size advantage. Chandler and Haywood are not big enough on their own to compete with the Lakers’ size and length.

Dirk will need to raise his game for the Mavs to have a chance at winning the series. He showed encouraging signs in leading the Mavs during the last series against the Blazers. It is imperative that Dirk uses his speed and agility against Gasol in order to create offense or drive to the rim and draw fouls.

That’s the key for the Mavs to win. Anytime a team possesses size, the best way to counter against the bigs, is to put them in foul trouble.

True Dat!