Not really any games of note on the schedule last night....
Do you consider yourself a pessimist or an optimist? I feel like a great deal of the folks on this site fall into the optimist category so I want to hear from horrible pessimists such as myself. You know, the dudes who assume the worst at absolutely all times. For example, I sincerely think that the Suns are a better team than the Spurs, but this doesn't stop me from expecting the Spurs to roll off four straight wins. As for me personally, it's not even a matter of not being able to rationally look at a season or a series as a whole, for me it's more the game by game pessimism. Another example - before the Cardinals 2009 season I predicted they'd go 10-6 (they did), however if you added up my game by game predictions that I made each week on my old blog you'd find I picked the Cardinals to go 5-11. Oh sports, you'll never fail to mess with the rational part of my brain.
Wednesday May 5th Playoff Results:
Phoenix Los Suns 110 San Antonio Spurs 102 (Recap): OK that was just flat out fun. Coming off a big Game 1 win on Monday you knew San Antonio was going to come out and give the Suns their best punch. Well San Antonio had an 11 point lead in the second quarter, the Suns shot like shit, and the SCRAPPY Phoenix team held tight. The Suns tied the game at half and rallied from a 6 point deficit in the third quarter to win the game and hold serve in the Western Conference Semifinals. Phoenix shot just 42.4% for the game (San Antonio fired a 50.6% clip) and got just 12/31 shooting from two of their big 3 (Amar'e and J-Rich) but won with old fashioned hustle and rebounding (they held a 49-37 rebounding edge). Amar'e Stoudemire led the Suns with 23 points and 11 boards but made his real damage by getting to the free throw line for 13 attempts. Grant Hill (18 points and the Suns highest +/- rating at +14) was also pretty damn good but the game ball should be shared between Channing Frye and Jared Dudley. Frye hit 5 of his 6 three point attempts to finish with 15 points, while Dudz picked up three second quarter "And 1's" (though he missed 2 of the free throws) and hit the go-ahead three pointer with 9:55 remaining in the fourth that put the Suns ahead for good. Tim Duncan led San Antonio with 29 and 10. The teams will now head to San Antonio for Friday's Game 3 where the Suns can really take a stranglehold. Pessimist says they won't.
There wasn't a second game tonight so go ahead and watch some highlights.
Conference Semifinals Series Standings:
(1) Lakers v. (5) Jazz: 2-0 Lakers
(3) Suns v. (7) Spurs: 2-0 Suns
(1) Cavaliers v. (4) Celtics: 1-1 tie
(2) Magic v. (3) Hawks: 1-0 Magic
Thursday May 6th Playoff Game:
Game 2 - Hawks @ Magicians: Someone should inform Atlanta that their first round series with Orlando began the other day. I'm not sure if that news will help but after their utter destruction in a 43(!) point loss in Game 1 - it certainly can't hurt. As I keep saying with the Eastern Conference Playoffs - wake me when the Conference Finals start. There may as well not be a game tomorrow.