Friday, May 08, 2009
By Roz Juarbe
The Atlanta Hawks are 0-2 SU/ATS in their playoff series against Cleveland (and will be on vacation soon.) It is not simply a No. 1 seed dominating a lesser seed. They have been hurt badly by injuries to key players. Hawks center Al Horford (ankle) and forward Marvin Williams (wrist) have been slowed by injuries. Williams sprained his right wrist in Game 2 of the Miami series and has played sparingly since then, including just 13 minutes in the Tuesday loss.
Now, X-Rays on Joe Johnson's right ankle were negative and the Hawks leading scorer hopes to play when the Cavaliers come to Atlanta for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal on Saturday. Johnson rolled his right ankle when he had his shot blocked by James in the third quarter and did not return. However, Johnson needed a wheelchair to get to the locker room and wore a walking boot as he met teammates for the flight back to Atlanta on Thursday night. Not good.
"I can't see me not playing," Johnson said. "I do not want to let this opportunity go by. We are down 0-2. I want to be out there for my teammates." But at full strength or not? And will it matter?
The Magic will be without starting point guard Rafer Alston for Game 3 against Boston, but they expect to gain shooting guard Courtney Lee. Alston was suspended one game by the NBA for slapping Celtics guard Eddie House. Boston has bigger depth problems, with Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe out. In Game 2, the Magic started Alston and J.J. Redick, using Anthony Johnson and Mickael Pietrus in reserve. The Celtics thrived on the matchups, with House finishing with 31 points, Ray Allen with 22, and Rajon Rondo with a triple-double.
Out West, the NBA suspended Laker guard Derek Fisher for one game without pay and he will miss Game 3 of the Lakers-Rockets playoff series. Fisher was suspended for striking Houston Rockets forward Luis Scola with an elbow in the third quarter of last night's game. Jordan Farmar or Shannon Brown will start in Fisher's place in Game 3.
Dallas has concerns, down 0-2 SU/ATS to Denver. Josh Howard's left ankle, which will need surgery in the off-season, now qualifies as his good ankle. The Mavericks small forward sat out practice. Instead, he rode the stationary bike and received treatment on his right ankle, which he sprained in Game 1 against Denver. He is their best defender, too, and they need some defense against this red-hot Denver offense. Said Dirk Nowitzki said, "We definitely need him healthy to have a chance in this series." More bad news for the Mavs.
By Roz Juarbe
The Atlanta Hawks are 0-2 SU/ATS in their playoff series against Cleveland (and will be on vacation soon.) It is not simply a No. 1 seed dominating a lesser seed. They have been hurt badly by injuries to key players. Hawks center Al Horford (ankle) and forward Marvin Williams (wrist) have been slowed by injuries. Williams sprained his right wrist in Game 2 of the Miami series and has played sparingly since then, including just 13 minutes in the Tuesday loss.
Now, X-Rays on Joe Johnson's right ankle were negative and the Hawks leading scorer hopes to play when the Cavaliers come to Atlanta for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal on Saturday. Johnson rolled his right ankle when he had his shot blocked by James in the third quarter and did not return. However, Johnson needed a wheelchair to get to the locker room and wore a walking boot as he met teammates for the flight back to Atlanta on Thursday night. Not good.
"I can't see me not playing," Johnson said. "I do not want to let this opportunity go by. We are down 0-2. I want to be out there for my teammates." But at full strength or not? And will it matter?
The Magic will be without starting point guard Rafer Alston for Game 3 against Boston, but they expect to gain shooting guard Courtney Lee. Alston was suspended one game by the NBA for slapping Celtics guard Eddie House. Boston has bigger depth problems, with Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe out. In Game 2, the Magic started Alston and J.J. Redick, using Anthony Johnson and Mickael Pietrus in reserve. The Celtics thrived on the matchups, with House finishing with 31 points, Ray Allen with 22, and Rajon Rondo with a triple-double.
Out West, the NBA suspended Laker guard Derek Fisher for one game without pay and he will miss Game 3 of the Lakers-Rockets playoff series. Fisher was suspended for striking Houston Rockets forward Luis Scola with an elbow in the third quarter of last night's game. Jordan Farmar or Shannon Brown will start in Fisher's place in Game 3.
Dallas has concerns, down 0-2 SU/ATS to Denver. Josh Howard's left ankle, which will need surgery in the off-season, now qualifies as his good ankle. The Mavericks small forward sat out practice. Instead, he rode the stationary bike and received treatment on his right ankle, which he sprained in Game 1 against Denver. He is their best defender, too, and they need some defense against this red-hot Denver offense. Said Dirk Nowitzki said, "We definitely need him healthy to have a chance in this series." More bad news for the Mavs.
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