General

Shanoff’s W.U.C.: Rose, Hawks, Billups, Jays

Apr 20, 2009, 12:02 PM UTC

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Today’s Calls: Derrick Rose vs. the Celtics, Josh Smith vs. Chauncey Billups, Marlins vs. the Field, Jays vs. Rays, Randy Johnson vs. Jon Lester, Percy Harvin vs. Derrick Williams, Matt Millen vs. Stephen A. Smith and More. â†µâ†µThe Opening Pitch: “He’ll never have another game like that against us.”â†µ

â†µâ†µGiven that it’s “Derrick Rose 1, Boston Celtics 0,” that’s some big talk from Kendrick Perkins. I think the point is that with Saturday’s jaw-dropping playoff debut, Rose vaulted himself into that rarest of superstar status — MUST-SEE.â†µ

â†µâ†µEven if you think the Lakers and Cavs have taken all the drama out of their respective conference playoff tournaments — and even if you know the Celtics are doomed to fall short of successfully defending their title — the NBA playoffs are so good for unexpectedly awesome moments like Saturday with Rose.â†µ

â†µâ†µRose and Chauncey Billups (36 pts, 8-for-9 3-pt) provided thrilling bookends to the Game 1 opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs. Both players felt unstoppable — you got the sense the Celtics and Hornets felt that way, too.â†µ

â†µâ†µAnd so heading into tonight’s Game 2 in Boston, Perkins’ guarantee reads a bit like the Celtics’ playoff hopes right now — desperate.â†µ

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â†µâ†µNotes from Sunday’s opening of the NBA Playoffs:â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Looks like Josh Smith and Atlanta learned from ‘08.â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Looks like Orlando has no killer playoff instinct.â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Looks like Billups won’t let the Nuggets choke.â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Looks like no one in the West can touch L.A.â†µ

â†µâ†µTonight: Rose vs. Celts, Round 2. Plus: As surprising as it was to see the Mavs beat the Spurs in San Antonio — I suspect tonight’s result will be unsurprising: Spurs rebound, hard.â†µ

â†µâ†µNHL: Sharks lose ... again. There is no bigger choke in team sports than to have the best regular-season record in your league, only to get bounced out of the playoffs in the first round. San Jose is on the way.â†µ

â†µâ†µMLB Myopia!â†µ

â†µâ†µ— A.L. Team to Watch: Jays the new Rays?â†µ

â†µâ†µ— N.L. Team to Watch: 11-1 Fish win in the 9th.â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Yanks’ Stadium humiliation: Karmic payback?â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Big Unit Watch: No-no thru 7.â†µ

â†µâ†µ— Fantasy Studs: Matt Kemp | Jon Lesterâ†µ

â†µâ†µ— First Fan: Loves his White Sox.â†µ

â†µâ†µNFL Draft: You don’t draft high enough to grab Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin. You are a little nervous about what you have read recently about Percy Harvin. Why not use your first-round pick on another need and grab multi-talented Derrick Williams in the second round?â†µ

â†µâ†µMeanwhile: By trading for Jason Peters, the Eagles join the Bears as teams whose “draft” highlights are over before the draft even starts. That’s a good sign of a “win-now” team.â†µ

â†µâ†µCFB Spring: Hope wins! ... The biggest story was the confidence of Jevan Snead and Ole Miss — maybe THAT game should have been on national TV (instead of this one). ... Meanwhile, for the national champs, it was more about 2010 than 2009.â†µ

â†µâ†µNBA Draft: Willie Warren is staying at Oklahoma. Pencil him in as the preseason player of the year in the Big 12. But how effective will he be without a first-team All-American drawing all the attention in the post?â†µ

â†µâ†µPitino extortion, cont’d: Why has no one floated what the actual extortion was about? Isn’t this what message boards are for?â†µ

â†µâ†µSports Media: Matt Millen is in, Stephen A. Smith is out. Is Millen expected to provide a loser’s perspective? That would actually be quite novel and awesome: “Here’s what I think — so strongly consider the opposite.” I suspect his analysis will be treated more earnestly.â†µ

â†µâ†µThe Last Word: RIP, Doc Blanchard, one part of the most famous backfield in football history. They don’t make nicknames like “Mr. Inside” anymore, either.â†µ

â†µâ†µDan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/danshanoff. â†µ

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