24 HOURS ON HARDWOOD 2.29.08

by HP, Hardwood Paroxysm

Nothing Personal, Kidd, Just Business.: Another Spurs Day, another Spurs crushing defeat of a Western Conference rival. This time the Mavericks played the part of the victim as the Spurs grabbed another one from in front of the Mavs' face, 97-94. It was a tight game throughout, everything a matchup of that proportion should have been. Duncan had 31 and 15, despite missing a layup and two free throws in crunch time. Dirk Nowitski was Dirk, which means, of course, he scored 28 points and then missed the game tying shot. Twice. Avery Johnson benched Jason Kidd for Jerry Stackhouse on the last possession, which ended with Jason Terry driving, not getting the foul called, not getting the foul called, and not getting the foul called, before Bruce Bowen blocked him into the night. I'm sure this is just what Kidd imagined when he approved the trade to Dallas.

The Lake, Lake Show: After the drama and suspense of the Dallas-San Antonio slugfest we were treated with... Miami versus LA. I want you to just imagine how this one went. Yup. That's pretty much in. Throw in one of the most amazing plays I've ever seen from Kobe Bryant (no look, half court, over the back pass to Walton, who then no look behind the back dished to a driving Odom for a dunk), and that's your ballgame. The scoreboard might as well have been "LA: A Lot, Miami: A Little."

Don't Matter The Zipcode, Speed Is Speed: Devin Harris scored 16 in the first half, leading a 7-0 lead off the bench in the first quarter to help the Nets to a 120-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Nets are really not that bad without Kidd. They may even be better. The young interior players are starting to gel, and Harris gives them a huge boost. Also, the YES announcers make me want to vomit. Try focusing more on the game and lesson Phil Collins' "The Air In The Night." Thanks.

Sam I Am Not A Clipper: Cassell got bought out. And he's going to sign with the Celtics on Monday. I know. Shocking. Also? Brent Barry's going to sign with the Spurs. Please. Try and contain your shock. It's not manly. Or womanly. Or personly.