Good Confronts Evil in the NBA Playoffs

The first round series between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls was widely lauded as the greatest first round series in NBA history, and some even called it the greatest series in playoff history. But the second round tilt between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers has been the most compelling series of this year’s playoffs, an engaging and meandering skirmish between two foils who regard each other with disdain. We haven’t seen a good and evil juxtaposition of this lucidity in American sports since the famous 2004 Red Sox/Yankees ALCS, or perhaps any game the New England Patriots played during their 18-1 season two years ago.

The Boston/Chicago first round series was an entertaining seven-game affair between a wounded, staggering former champion and an alleged up and comer who lost as many games this season as they won. Four of the games were decided in overtime, including double and triple OT games, but ultimately we knew that the winner of the series was not going to compete for a championship this season. Watching the Cleveland Cavaliers sweep Detroit in four, the Lakers cruise past the Jazz without breaking a sweat, and the Denver Nuggets slap a 58-point road beating on the Hornets was like watching 1-seeds crush 16-seeds in the NCAA tournament. Watching the Celtics/Bulls series was like watching a quadruple-overtime first round 8/9 NCAA game. It was fun, everyone played hard, some money may have exchanged hands…but ultimately nothing happened to influence who will be the last standing when the dust settles in June.

The Lakers and Rockets, on the other hand, are Contenders. The Lakers were the obvious pick to represent the West in the Finals, right up until Houston strolled into the Staples Center last Monday, smacked the Lakers in the face with 48 minutes of physical, fearless ball, and emerged with a stunning road win to take a 1-0 lead and effectively wrest away the coveted homefield advantage. The Lakers responded with a predictable, muscular burst to take control early in game two, only to see the Rockets mount a shocking comeback. That barnburner went to the half tied at 57. The Lakers were able to put together a workmanlike second half and win going away, but not before five technical fouls had been administered, two players had been ejected, and Houston coach Rick Adelman had sent guard Von Wafer to the showers. LA point guard Derek Fisher, often cited as one of the NBA’s “good guys”, was suspended for this hit on Luis Scola.



LA won game three in Houston Friday night without too much trouble in the kind of performance that re-establishes a clear pecking order and puts upset talk to rest. The Rockets later learned oft-injured star 7’-6” center Yao Ming had a hairline fracture in his left foot and would have to miss the rest of the playoffs. All hope was lost.

But, lest we forget, the NBA Playoffs are Where Amazing Happens. The undermanned Rockets trounced LA in game four. Houston scampered to a 29-point lead after three quarters, embarrassing the Lakers Sunday afternoon and spontaneously hatching the first Double Ewing Theory. The anti-Lakers chants of the giddy Houston crowd grew louder and louder as the blowout’s shock dissipated and its severity swelled. The win was even more surprising considering Ron Artest, the closest thing to a “star” the Rockets have left, had just 8 points on 4-19 shooting.

The face of the Rockets since 2004, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, was lost for the season to microfracture surgery in February. It has been well-chronicled that McGrady has never been on a team that has won a playoff series. Of course, Houston dispatched the Portland Trail Blazers in round one in their first recent appearance without the services of McGrady. And now they are 1-0 without Yao.

Sunday’s stunner does not come as such a shocker when one considers the team’s history of overcoming adversity. Dealing with disadvantage is an area of expertise for these Rockets, both as a team and individually. Houston won 22 games in a row last season after Yao was injured, the second longest streak in NBA history.

Second-year forward Carl Landry, a key contributor to that 22-game streak, was shot in the leg on March 17 during an attempted carjacking of his SUV. Landry is an undersized power forward with an affinity for defense and rebounding. Another second year player, point guard Aaron Brooks, is one of the smallest players in the league – listed at 6’0, 160. Brooks scored 34 points on Sunday. Houston’s other point guard, Kyle Lowry, is also just 6’0, and can’t shoot all that well from long distance. He lives in the lane, and like most of his teammates, plays defense with passion. Chuck Hayes, who now starts due to the Yao injury, is another undersized, defensive-minded young player. Despite a stellar career at Kentucky, Hayes went undrafted and didn’t get a look in the NBA until after a stint in the D-League – which he led in rebounding. 29-year-old Luis Scola was a rookie last year, same as 20-year-old Kevin Durant. That’s the last you’ll hear Scola compared to Durant – Luis is an ungainly long-haired Argentine. By the way, none of these guys were lottery picks.

But the most likable of them all is Shane Battier, defensive specialist du jour, consummate team player, and all-around good guy. Like everyone else on the Rockets, Battier has a glaring weakness – his is a dearth of athleticism and offensive skill. But Battier plays with unmatched intellect and magnanimity, concentrating his efforts on the defensive end while aspiring to maximize offensive efficiency. Scoring outbursts have never been his forte, but he did step up with Yao out and Artest struggling to score 23 points on Sunday -15 in the decisive first half.

Battier often defends Lakers all-world superstar and despicable human Kobe Bryant, framing a vivid contrast between good and evil. It is a great pleasure to watch Battier go to work on Bryant, expending dogged effort, attention to detail, new age strategy, and a lot of heart. Kobe always gets his, but Battier often meddles with his efficiency. You can tell Battier is frustrating Bryant by the reactions Kobe has been making when he sinks a shot, by the taunts he flings out after a made basket. It is wonderful to watch Bryant’s jeers – these are signs of a bully being challenged, worried for the first time that his seat atop the mountain may come tumbling down.