General

BSTFWNHO: Last Night in NBA Playoffs

Apr 30, 2008, 1:40 PM UTC

Every weekday, Shoals recounts playoff action in terms of the seven categories that govern the universe.â†µ

â†µâ†µBig: Chris Paul, with the triple-double, for the 4-1 series win. Forget about a PG battle, this was the generational chasm yawning with all its might. More on that later.â†µ

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â†µâ†µSmall: Mavs, Mavs, Mavs. I know Dirk isn't soft. Avery will be coaching in this league for a while. But that's two decisive first-round exits in a row, and the 2004-05 Finals weren't just a product of Dwyane Wade love.â†µ

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â†µâ†µTrue: I'm sorry, but there's no way around it: Dallas and Phoenix, your big gambles didn't pay off. Maybe they drew tough first-round foes, but it's not like they went seven games. Actually, if there had just been a Devin Harris et al./Shawn Marion swap, both teams would be alive today.â†µ

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â†µâ†µFalse: The Rockets won big tonight, at home. Now they need two more in a row, including one at the dreaded Energy Solutions. Not sure that's quite yet momentum.â†µ

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â†µâ†µWide: Kidd was lousy, that's well-known. I also don't think Steve Nash quite looked himself, though that could be all Shaq's fault. Going forward, the point guard positions are all about Paul and Williams. The torch hath been passed.â†µ

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â†µâ†µNarrow: Detroit over Philly by 17, the kind of thing that should've been happening all along. This first round will be but a hiccup for the Pistons, who always have some sort of drama. Better it happen early and they get a chance to use it for motivation.â†µ

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â†µâ†µObama/Hillary: Talk to me after Hawks/Celtics.â†µ

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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.

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