Heels in the League 05/09/09 (NBA Playoffs)

05/09/09

After no games two days ago with a touch of carolina blue there are two games from yesterday that have ex Tar Heels on their roster, and that here on The Fifth Corner means only one thing, it’s time for “Heels in the League” (NBA Playoffs). Being a fan of the National Basketball Association because of the linkage it has to many ex Carolina players I have to say that the way that these playoff games go, with so much time in between games, turns me off quite a bit. However, watching certain players do what they do on the hardwoods is pretty special, and so I can console myself with that. But for now, what we can all console ourselves with is that it’s time to talk about the ex Heels that were in action on 05/09/09…

The early game of the day yesterday was the one between the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks, played at American Airlines Center in front of 20,620 fans (led by the Mavs’ owner, Mark Cuban). In the game, as has been the case for the whole year (more or less) Jerry Stackhouse is not on the floor. I have to say in a game like this, so close, a player with the talent as the ex UNC forward could have definitely been used by the Mavs. In the end, thanks to a very controversial play at the end of the game (which the NBA officials have admitted to making the wrong call), it was Denver beating Dallas by the final score of 106 to 105. As usual Talk Hoops Net has it’s recap of the game, while over at Slam Dunk Central Stephen Rhodes gives us his take on the nail biter. Over at Slam Magazine there is a great line by Joey Whelan, who says “a basketball game that features 61 fouls but is ultimately decided by a no-call in the final seconds“. Have to agree with that one! Finally the people over at “The Two Man Game” use a Mark Twain line to describe the game: “When angry, count to four. When very angry, swear.”

Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart

And here is a video about the controversial call and the game winning shot from Carmelo Anthony:

In the night cap game of the NBA playoffs it is the battle of the ex Heels, ex team mates, ex national champions and both named Williams, as Jawad Williams and the Cleveland Cavalier head down south to Philips Arena to take on Marvin Williams and the Atlanta Hawks. For the visiting Williams, he doesn’t see any action once again, which if you have been following this post of mine you know that this is nothing new for Jawad. On the other hand, for the Williams on the Hawks, he was back from an injury and getting some playing time off the bench. Marvin in all got 13 minutes, scoring four points on 2 for 5 shooting, while adding two assists and a steal in the game. In the end, in a game that was won in the third quarter, it’s Cleveland taking a 3-0 lead by defeating Atlanta by the final score of 97 to 82. The Cavs’ blog on SB Nation, Fear The Sword, says that “LeBron James is the Giant Peach“, and with 47 pts, 12 rebounds and 8 assists you can’t really argue that point, can you? At Slam Dunk Central Jeff Sack says “James gang shoots down the Hawks“, the worst part about that for Atlanta is that it’s a one man gang and they still can’t stop it. Over at AOL Fanhouse they entitle their post about this game in a way that a Tar Heel like me might not like it too much by saying “LeBron Entering MJ Territory and Beyond. Unfortunately it might true, but still, Jordan is the greatest! And lastly, looking at the game from the losing side, it’s the great blog Peachtree Hoops, who has the “Loser Dots“.

Box Score — Play-By-Play — Shot Chart

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