Biggest Surprises of the Playoffs So Far
Posted by Joey Mills on April 26, 2009
Derrick Rose
Mostly everyone was determined that Derrick Rose would wilt under the immense pressure of playing in his first playoff game, especially against the defending champion Boston Celtics. But Rose did just the opposite. He defied all odds and led him team to the Game 1 upset, while tying Kareem Abdul Jabbar for most points by a rookie in their first playoff game with 36 points. He also backed that up with 11 dimes.
The Boston Celtics
The Celtics are just the opposite of Rose. They have been underachieving this postseason. They have allowed the 7th seeded Bulls to win in Boston, while also being tied in the series, 2-2. The main reason for Boston’s struggles are their numerous injuries. Leon Powe, and more importantly, Kevin Garnett are both said to be out for the entire playoffs. Without their two best power fowards, the Celtics are lost. Their once spectacular defense is now average. Although they did blow out the Bulls in Game 3, 107-86, they are not playing like a #2 seed should.
Rajon Rondo
Rondo has been playing out of his mind this postseason. He is averaging a triple-double through the first 4 games of this series. It is safe to say that Rajon Rondo has been the Celtics best player this series, which is incredible considering that he is teammates with future hall of famers, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Most likely Rondo won’t be able to keep up this torrid pace, but he has already cemented himself has one of the elite point guards in the league.
Philadelphia 76ers – Orlando Magic Series
I for one did not expect the Sixers to put up a fight against the Magic, in fact, it was the one series I didn’t find interesting at all. That was, until I saw the end of Game 1 and Andre Igoudala’s game winner. Not only did the Sixers win that game, but after losing game 2 they took the first game in Philly. Although Hedo Turkoglu’s game winner in Game 4 tied the series, they are still in excellent position to pull the upset.
The Pistons Lack of Heart
The Detroit Pistons were a franchise accustomed to making it to the conference finals every year, until Joe Dumars pulled the trigger on the Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson deal. The sound of the electrifying Allen Iverson combined with scoring machine Rip Hamilton, up-and-coming point guard Rodney Stuckey, volatile Rasheed Wallace, and Mr. Everything Tayshaun Prince seemed like instant success, but that was not the case. In Iverson’s first game as a Piston, they lost to the defending champion Boston Celtics, but it just got worse from there. After their 6-0 start with Mr. Big Shot, the Pistons tumbled to a sub-.500 team. And that 6-0 start is the only reason that they made the playoffs. But in the first round they were going up against the heavily-favorited Cleveland Cavaliers, who were coming off of a 66-win season. Although the odds were against them, the Pistons had a chance to possibly pull an upset, or at least extend the series to 7-games. But instead they rolled over and died. The Cavaliers easily dispatched them in 4-games, all in blowout fashion.
Ryan Drescher said
The Pistons had no interest in playing this series. Nearly every single player on the roster had their bags packed for vacation. I know the Pistons made the Iverson deal for cap reasons, but it was one of the worst trades in the last five years in the NBA. Iverson is a scorer and not a true point guard. Trying to play him with Rip was a mistake, as was benching Rip when it wasn’t working. AI should have been benched, but then again he never should have been wearing a Pistons uniform. Joe Dumars has a lot of work to do this season, and it may be time to blow this team up. Iverson and Rasheed Wallace are gone, and it may be time to let go of Prince as well. The Eastern Conference Finals days are clearly over.