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That means the first round of the NBA playoffs is complete, and we are now down to eight teams.
While the Hawks suffered a big loss (99-65 and over before halftime) to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the team showed why the NBA playoffs are exciting. Or at least worth watching highlights of.
Atlanta came into the postseason as the worst team, record-wise, but pushed the Celtics to the only Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs. Nobody picked Atlanta to win the series, but it was one upset away from sending Kevin Garnett and company to a historic, and tear invoking disappointment.
Teams packing their bags and already thinking of next season are the Rockets and Mavericks. Dallas fired Avery Johnson this week, and look to be hiring former Indiana and Detroit coach Rick Carlisle. Johnson has a NBA’s coach of the year on his resume, but two first round losses in a row has him searching for a new job.
Let’s just hope it isn’t as an announcer or analyst. Think of the horrors of Stephen A. Smith and Johnson together talking basketball. That’s about enough to make one switch over to VERSUS and start watching the NHL playoffs.
Dallas’ problem isn’t its coach though, and the team could be in free fall. Sure they’ll win in the regular season, but with an aging point guard, Jason Kidd, and without an inside presence to help Dirk Nowitzki the Maverick fans may just have to settle for exciting regular seasons and short postseasons.
While it’s hard to pinpoint why Dallas is out again this season, the Rockets have a built-in excuse with the injury of Yao Ming. There’s no guarantee that Ming and McGrady can ever play a complete season, but if it ever happens the Rockets look to be a strong team for years to come.
The Celtics are moving on though, as are the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Hornets. The two Western Conference teams have started their second round series, with the Hornets picking up a 101-82 win on Saturday.
San Antonio has the experience and should be able to overcome the Hornets’ momentum. New Orleans is led by Chris Paul, and is in the midst of one of the most surprising seasons in recent memory. Paul has his team clicking and David West has the capability to combat Spurs players like Robert Horry, Tim Duncan and Kurt Thomas.
New Orleans is younger and more athletic, but the Spurs have the advantage of experience. The Spurs have been experienced for a while now, which ultimately leads to a younger, more athletic team taking over.
The question is whether this is the year, and whether the Hornets have enough to do it.
Wes Bloomquist is a sports writer at the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6509 or wbloomquist@vicad.com.