Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at 9:01 am  |  138 responses

Post Up: Mason Saves Spurs

While Hinrich steps in for Rose.

by Holly MacKenzie

Okay, back to the daily grind we go.

Thanks for being patient with that one day hiatus! Appreciate it. Even though my plan to go to bed early and wake up late became foiled as news of Bosh’s baby-drama hit the wires. I had heard about this story awhile back and all I will say is I’ve heard some other things that lead me to believe that we’ve heard only one side of this story. I’m not implying that I know the truth, only reminding everyone that they don’t either. I’m sure the entirety of this story will unfold in a court where it belongs. In my opinion, there is no need for this to populate sports blogs and television shows

Maybe that’s just my opinion though. I don’t know. I do know that it is almost the end of March already. Not sure how that happened.

We had a pretty quiet night for a Tuesday and there wasn’t a lot of excitement besides that Spurs/Warriors game that -of course- the Spurs won, 107-106. This one was close throughout and while Tony Parker led the way for the Spurs with 30 points, it was a jumper from Roger Mason with 23.9 seconds remaining that gave the Spurs the lead for good. San Antonio didn’t exactly close out the game properly. After Mason’s jumper, Kurt Thomas went to the line and missed two free throws, giving Monta Ellis a chance to take the last shot of the game, running upcourt and launching a last-second three that didn’t make it. Parker had 10 assists to go with his 30 while Mason scored 24 points and Tim Duncan added 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Warriors were led by Ellis and his 27 points while Stephen Jackson added 18 points and 8 rebounds and Anthony Randolph added 13 points and 9 boards off of the bench.

The Lakers rolled over the Thunder, 107-89. This one was basically over before it began as the Lakers led 37-20 at the end of the first quarter. LA led 62-38 at the half and things didn’t get any better for Oklahoma City. There were six Lakers in double-figures, led by Pau Gasol’s 14-point, 14-rebound performance as Kobe Bryant finished with 19 points and Lamar Odom added 18. Kevin Durant had 24 points for the Thunder, Jeff Green added 12 points and Nenad Krstic added 11 points and 7 boards.

Without Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich shone for the Bulls as they took down a Detroit team that was without Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton, 99-91. Close in the first half, Chicago pulled away in the third quarter as the short-handed Pistons couldn’t keep up and were outscored 32-25 to give the Bulls a 75-68 lead going into the fourth. From there, Chicago laid it on, going up by as many as 19 points before the Pistons made the final score more acceptable in the final minutes. Hinrich led the way for Chicago with his 24 points as Tyrus Thomas scored 18 points to go with 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Joakim Noah scored 15 points to go with 10 rebounds and Ben Gordon added 19 points. The Pistons had 20-point performances from Tayshaun Prince and Will Bynum and 16 points and 8 rebounds from Antonio McDyess.

The Utah Jazz used a strong second half to get a W against the surging Houston Rockets. Taking the 99-86 victory, Utah was up only three at the break, needing a 15-4 run in the third to get some breathing space from the Rockets and go into the fourth leading 75-67. While Houston would cut the Utah lead to only one, they would not be able to go ahead and the Jazz took care of things from there. Deron Williams led the way with 19 points and 12 assists, Ronnie Brewer scored 17 and Paul Millsap added 15 points and 9 rebounds off of the bench. Aaron Brooks had 20 points for the Rockets, Shane Battier scored 18 and Ron Artest added 13 points and 11 rebounds.

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  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    If you guys haven’t checked it out yet, there’s a whole slew of new “Where Will Amazing Happen?” ads on youtube, and they’re really good.

  • https://twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    James the balla is a disgrace to Canadians.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    mcgill or con u?

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ RV

    yeah Houston and Jazz are matched up right now, NO is with denver….

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    tad, the hawks might not want to face the heat but they sure as hell would not prefer playing orl, bos or cle! i’m thinking hawks in 6. mia is not ready for this. wade will win 2 games by himself just because he can but that’s about it.

  • Lz – Cphfinest3

    In a Heat-ATL series Wade will average a lot of blocks.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Hmm TAD, good point about the Sixers-Orlando series. It’s gonna be a competitive one – the Sixers’ athleticism against the Magic’s finesse and shooting. The Sixers have a definite advantage on the break; if they can run and gun, this may be the most compelling 1st round matchup in the east…

  • https://twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    These days, I’m thinking Iverson’s nickname of “The Answer” means that he’ll get you a better draft pick.
    AI: chillin’ in the first round since 2005.

  • matt the jazz fan

    université de montréal – h.e.c. business school

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @James: I feel you, man. And it’s good you’re not one of those who, after watching the Fox segment, have felt enmity toward Americans in general. Canadians are tired of fighting – but so are the US troops, and I wouldn’t think there’s anything but gratitude and camaraderie between the US and Canadian soldiers themselves. It’s sickening and extremely disrespectful to both our armed forces, because the people behind Fox’s distasteful, ignorant remarks will never have sons and daughters suffer in the frontlines, and have likely filled their coffers with war profits…

  • https://twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    I’d like to see a Laker/Rockets playoff series. Maybe without TMac the team can get their mind right, I’m thinking it would be a great series.
    Then the winner is to face the Pistons(circa 2008) of the west: Spurs.
    Seeing as how the Spurs have more to lose and much more to prove, I’m hoping they’ll play it to death. Oh yes, there will be blood.

  • matt the jazz fan

    weather: rain exceptionally some sunshone but don’t count on it. +/- 15 degrees celcius

  • matt

    jazz have played houston the last two years in the 1st round of the playoffs with the jazz being the road team both times. home court hasn’t mattered either time. the way things are now it’ll happen again, and the results won’t be any different. i can’t wait.

  • http://twentythreenine.blogspot.com Russ Bengtson

    As a Bulls fan it hurts to not even be proud of that win. The ’89 Pistons would have put up a better fight–and I mean the ’89 Pistons had they played yesterday. In semi-related news, is the bloom off the Amir Johnson?

  • matt the jazz fan

    wow, another matt who cares about the jazz!

  • http://twentythreenine.blogspot.com Russ Bengtson

    I was pretty happy with Tyrus Thomas’s performance, though.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    I’m sure that is my cue to respond. Yeah, the Pistons played pretty horrible yesterday and I wasn’t even that upset while watching it. It could be the injuries or just the fact i’m kind of over this season already. The Pistons are just too damn perplexing for me to take prcious time out of my day to figure them out. And yeah, the bloom has been off Amir Johnson as far as i’m concerned.

  • https://twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    Tad – do you know if Iverson, Sheed, or Rip are playing on Thursday? Otherwise your dream of not making the playoffs goes full throttle.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Does it matter? They are playing the Lakers.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    What happens to T-Mac if the Rockets get out of the first round without him? I have a feeling that will shatter his already breaking-at-the-seams self confidence to smithereens. They definitely have a shot against a regressed Hornets team, but the Jazz seem to have their number. Then again, Ron Artest is the ultimate wild card, he could prove to be a tenbagger before June. By all accounts, he’s gotten along fine with the Rockets, played well and stayed scandal-free all year… if he leads them to a coupla playoff wins, is it safe to say that his tenure in Houston is a success?

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    TAD, I’d bet big that if Rip and Sheed find their way into the lineup tomorrow….they’re going to beat the Lakers. Guareensheed.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    And that’s not meant to be funny….i think they need that type of battle to get them playing on cylinders (pardon the pun).

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    *all cylinders

  • https://twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    Tad, I don’t mean to be a dick, but remember when they first played them early in the season? Facing an undefeated Laker team on the road, literally made no mistakes the whole game, everyone got theirs…*sigh*
    Pepperidge Farm remembers.

  • http://twentythreenine.blogspot.com Russ Bengtson

    Wasn’t trying to get a rise out of you or anything. It just seems weird–a late-season win over the Pistons with playoff implications and I’m more disappointed than anything. Detroit’s not the only team that’d be better off with a lottery pick than a Cavectomy.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Oh, and know that. Like I said, i’m done with getting upset about this season. I don’t necessarily call it rebuilding, just reloading. It’s not like the Pistons don’t have pieces in place, they just need to find their new identities. Stuckey, Rip, Tay, Maxiell, and Afflalo figure to be around for awhile. I suppose Amir does as well, but I was listing positives.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    E and Anton- Man, i’m not even sure i’d get much of a rush out of beating the Lakers right now. Honestly, a 10 point win or a 20 point loss wouldn’t surprise me much one way or another. I think what i’m saying is that I don’t have a finger on the pulse of this team anymore.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ Moose

    Hi everyone.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    What’s up Mooseknuckle?

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Oh, and if anyone cares, I won’t even be watching the Lakers/Pistons game on Thursday. I’ll be watching Nova/Duke and Mizzou/Memphis.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    TAD…..the announcers made good points last night though…..if they get a playoff spot (they will) and have a relativley healthy squad going in (they should) and Allen plays the role we think he can off the bench (he’ll have too) they WILL be dangerous. I don’t give a fu*k about how poorly their season has been….they’re not a team anybody will want to deal with.

  • https://twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    You know when Tad says he’s not watching, that should be a wrap for everyone else. I thought he’d be going down with the ship, but he just took the lifeboat out into college land.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    I was actually being facetitious. E knows me well enought to know i’ll be catching glimpses of this game if i’m not completely watching it. I’ll always watch college at this time of year.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    And yeah E, I heard all of what they were saying. Keep in mind that Reggie was one of those announcers and he is a tool. He said a lot of dumb sh*t last night, but I guess that is just par for the course with him anymore. Did you see where he compared Ben Gordon to Andrew Toney? I just shook my head.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Roger Mason = Young Big Shot Rob

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Also, BJ Mullens sucks.

  • http://ittakesanationofmillionstoholdthissac.blogspot.com ciolkstar

    Damn. I missed the one day of legit hoops related discourse on the post up in the last few weeks.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Um, i’m not sure about that ciol. I was mainly venting.

  • http://ittakesanationofmillionstoholdthissac.blogspot.com ciolkstar

    I was happy for Will Bynum playing so well in front of his home crowd in the Chi, even if the Pistons got crushed. Also, I’m a little worried about the Spurs, I want Manu to get healthy but I worry about whether we’ll have any rythym going into what should be a very tough first round matchup. Hopefully, the fact that the key parts of this team have been together for a while (except Mason, who has fit in really well all season)makes a difference. This team just lacks atheleticism in the front court SO bad, and Gooden doesn’t really proviode that as much as I’d hoped.

  • http://ittakesanationofmillionstoholdthissac.blogspot.com ciolkstar

    I was referering to the playoff seeding/matchups discussion, and the Pistons/Bulls talk. Even mixed in a little hypothetical “Bron vs Kobe” in Dancing with the stars…

  • http://neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com Caleb

    @DJR – since when did the Jazz get swept in the semfinals last year? It was a six game series.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Oh, I had forgotten about that. Only like three people responded to the playoff seedings talk I tried to spark up.

  • http://slamonline.com Russ Bengtson

    When Reggie said Tyrus should be close to averaging a triple-double with blocks and then loudly defended it for what seemed like six hours, I wanted to throw the TV out the window. Also, I can’t believe the Bulls are on TNT AGAIN this week. Hopefully Rose playes this time.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    no sh!t matt, i just assumed that you didn’t speak french. im doing my masters in law at université de mtl too.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Yeah Russ, that was pretty ridiculous. However, I guess Del Negro didn’t help when he told Sager that Tyrus could get 10 blocks easily if he just applied himself.

  • http://www.manutd.com Z

    Okay, not related but Curry’s younger brother dedided to transfer from Liberty and this is what his coach had to say: “I don’t fault Seth for his decision to pursue a school in a higher-profile conference. At the same time, I am really excited with what God is doing with our program and I know Liberty basketball will continue to prosper.” You Americans are scary lol. I have as much faith as the next man but God is doing exciting things for Liberty’s basketball program?

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Z, a lot of coaches and players include God in most things they mention in the States. No real surprise.

  • http://lastknickstanding.blogspot.com Bryan

    Is reggie the worst announcer of all time? Like literally? Kevin harlan is up there. Even in nba 2k9 he’s aggravating ” WADE!!!! with the pass” what the f*ck…

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s35kBpvxfsc&feature=related James the balla

    Hey Anton … GTFOH!

  • http://sfdjilf.com Jukai

    Z: It was God who injured Michael Redd and ended his season, ya know.

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