in The Lebanon Reporter
Remember that guy who always called bogus fouls during pick-up games? You know the type. He waits to see if his shot goes in before calling a cheap foul and, if he in fact misses, wants to make everyone start over again? Before this year’s NBA playoffs I had always pictured this guy as a 50 something bathed in Ben-Gay wearing Rec-Specs, wobbling around on artificial knees in a pair of shorts so tight Paris Hilton would need a shoe horn and some bicycle grease just to squeeze into them; but after games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs I’m now picturing Derrick Rose instead.
Rose attempted 21 free throws in Game 1 alone. With 13 attempts, Game 2 wasn’t much better. Now don’t get me wrong. Rose is awesome. He’s the league Most Valuable Player. He’s also one of the NBA’s rising stars. But he gets a ton of calls. More calls than Snooki might field after a spurned ex-boyfriend has had time to hit every rest area stall on the Jersey Turnpike. More calls than Joe Biden’s Press Secretary likely received while his boss was sleeping (in the shot) on national television during one of President Obama’s recent speeches.
The commentators hype Rose as the next Michael Jordan: “he’s got the same above rim game, he commands the same double teams, he’s great at finding the open man just like Mike…” want to know where the comparison between D Rose and MJ begins and ends? See’ the foul line’.
In this series Rose has feasted on free throws. It’s no secret Jordan did the same during his Playoff runs. And apparently, after Rose scored 19 points during Game 1 from the foul line, Director of NBA Officials Bernie Fryer made the “let’s don’t make screwing Indiana out of the playoffs that obvious “ call to the Game 2 crew thus the reduced number of foul calls.
Still, if anything, the Pacers have opened some eyes to their full potential. This is a talented group of guys who are finally playing as if they were truly hungry. Hungry for not only a playoff win but hungry for respect as well. TNT Analyst Charles Barkley gave a teaspoon to them at halftime Monday night saying the Pacers had basically surprised him at how talented they were.
Through two games we’ve seen flashes of what we already knew. Hibbert is, at times, dominant. As North Carolina’s all time leading scorer, Hansbrough is a big who can defend and make shots. Darren Collison is evolving into a very crafty point guard and Paul George is going to be really good. But to put it all together in one game? Heck, to put it all together for two games. That’s what we haven’t seen enough of. That’s the frustration that allowed the turnstiles at Conseco to gather rust over the last few years.
Still the facts are evident. With the Bulls firmly in control of the series (and by firmly here I mean having been outscored 4 of 8 quarters and playing from behind most of the time) so many unanswered questions remain. Can the Pacers force this series back to Chicago? If so, will a 60 win team actually give the Pacers another opportunity to win on the road after blowing two previous chances? And, as long as they remain competitive in the series, what does it all mean for the future of Frank Vogel?
One thing’s for sure, it will take an 11th hour city ordinance against whistle blowing in public to keep Rose off the foul line tonight.
© 2011 Eric Walker Williams
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