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(Photo: John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)

Paul Pierce was not getting into that pic

Magic Johnson on the Boston Celtics: “I think Atlanta exposed (the Celtics) that they don’t have great athletes, number one. Number two, where is their leadership? One of those guys has to step forward and say, ‘We’re not playing well and here’s why we’re not playing well and let’s correct it.’ Whatever it is, one of The Big Three has to step forward and get on the other guys and make them say, ‘we’ve got to come with a better effort and be ready for games.’”

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(Photo:Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

For the first time in the playoffs, Chris Paul was outplayed by a quicker Tony Parker

Congratulations to Robert Horry for tying Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s NBA playoff games record of 237.

Is he a Hall of Fame Player? Why or why not?

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(AP Photo/Mark J. Terril)
Does this look like a team led by a selfish superstar?

Game 1: Detroit Pistons (86) @ Orlando Magic (111) - The Pistons lead the series 2-1.

Announcers Marv Albert and Reggie Miller with Pam Oliver reporting

Miller on how Pistons center Jason Maxiell has found a successful way to post-up Magic center Dwight Howard: “(Jason Maxiell) has posed a lot of problems for Dwight Howard, who is about four inches taller (than Maxiell). He is using his legs to get underneath Dwight Howard a little bit down low. He’s not worried about the upper body strength of Dwight Howard He’s trying to get into his legs and bring him down to his size.”

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Marketing power move by Lang Whitaker

Big ups to Odenized

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

All of you who thought KG didn’t make big shots…witness last night

Something I always wanted to ask…Sup with the foggy almost surreal atmosphere in Boston? –Mizzo

Barkley on the Cleveland/Boston series: “I think (Cleveland vs. Boston) is going to be a very good series. It’s going to be a terrific series and I’m really looking forward to it. I still like the Celtics to win the series, but it can go either way because LeBron (James) is the best player on the floor. It’s going to come down to role players. Cleveland runs that horrible offense where they give the ball to LeBron and let him go one on five, that won’t work against the Celtics unless they speed up the tempo of the game and get (Wally) Szczerbiak going, get Delonte West going.”

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Kenny, Ernie and Chuck unite for a cause

Samaritan’s Feet Founder Emmanuel “Manny” Ohonme Will Join TNT Emmy® Award-Winning NBA Studio Show on Sun., May 11.

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(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Get back young boy!

Game #1: Orlando Magic (93) @ Detroit Pistons (100) - The Pistons lead the series 2-0.

Announcers: Dick Stockton, Mike Fratello and Pam Oliver reporting

Fratello on Pistons center Rasheed Wallace getting off to a good start: “Rasheed’s ankle is better in case you were concerned.”

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(AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

Chris Paul is as fearless as any athlete playing any game. Is he the real MVP?

Barkley on Game #7 of the Hawks/Celtics series: “I’m still going with the Celtics (to win the series), but if they lose (Game #7) it will be the biggest upset in NBA history. The Celtics need to relax. They don’t need to play in Atlanta (anymore); Atlanta has to win in Boston. Is everyone surprised this series has gone seven games? No question, but the Celtics have got to relax. That’s why they play the regular season; they’ve got the home court (advantage). Nobody talks about the job (Hawks head coach Mike Woodson) has done getting the Hawks to the playoffs. Everyone thought this series was going to be a Boston sweep. I take my hat off to the Atlanta Hawks.”

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(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

The clamps: Once Iggy got past Prince, Roscoe was there waiting

Wade on getting in shape to play on the US National team this summer: “My body will be good. Next week I start working out with my trainer, Tim Grover in Chicago. My trainers from Miami all come down and we all get to work on my body. I’m trying to get as healthy this year as I’ve ever been in my life. They Olympics are very important, not only for me but for the USA…I’m 100% in, unless somebody else tells me that I can’t play.”

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(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Whassup Etan? What’s good with you?

Barkley on the Mavericks and the Suns making personnel changes: “I hate to see Avery Johnson (get fired) but coaches are going to get fired. Mike D’Antoni in Phoenix pushed for the Shaq (O’Neal) trade. Hindsight is 20/20 and the trades did not work. I thought it was admirable of Dallas to get Jason Kidd. I thought it was admirable for the Suns to get Shaq. The Suns lost because they don’t play any defense. The Mavericks lost because they aren’t a good team top-to-bottom. I know that Jason (Kidd) is going to get the blame, but they aren’t a very good team.”

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How many points is Chris Paul adding to Tyson Chandler’s career total?

Barkley on the Mavericks at practice: “Maybe (the Mavericks) were talking about where they are going to go on vacation after the game, because they are going to lose tonight.”

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I remember watching this game at my grandparent’s house in my hometown of Chester–home of Tyreke Evans, Kevin Jones and Jameer Nelson. My family moved to Delaware and I remember being so mad I had to miss some the game (a pre-season game) because of the ride up top. This was a true rivalry, so anytime they played was a big game.

I grew to respect his talent, but I couldn’t stand Larry Bird. He was too good and would embarrass you with his court savvy. Whenever he took a shot, I would look away–hoping the hated Boston Garden crowd didn’t cheer as it dropped. Bird was killing the Sixers–he had 42 before the ejection–while Doc had only hit for his legendary number up to that point. Bird used to talk so much shit on the court and this game was no exception. Doc just couldn’t take it anymore and started something Chuck and Moses finished. Teams did not play back in the day and stood up for one another at any cost–not like this little sissy, pick socks with flip flops stuff they do today and get suspended games for.

Not the greatest

Michael Jordan is not the greatest basketball player of all-time. That statement could never be true, because of the rich history the game offers. If the argument was based on the number of NBA Championships, then the greatest would be Bill Russell. Not only did he win 11 titles, he endured Jim Crow laws and racism, making the game of basketball and life for that matter a lot more difficult. If you rather talk about dominance, then you need to look no further than Wilton Norman Chamberlain.

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Down by ten right before the half. Sheed picked up a tech and the Pistons went on an 11-0 run after halftime

Webber on the lack of intensity by the Detroit Pistons: “(The Pistons) are really nonchalant and that’s why I felt we lost last year (in the Eastern Conference Finals). It sounds crazy, but they could care less. That locker room is crazy, disciplined and unruly. Disciplined because they police themselves, they are all veterans, they know they’ve got to be in bed, they know they’ve got to work hard, I’m not talking about on the court. They come from a coach like Larry Brown, they look at him like the epitome of basketball, and they feel they can wait until the last game or the championship and they won’t lose. I’m not saying it’s right, but that’s how it is.”

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