Playoff Pit-Stop #2: Duo's

After a week of NBA Playoffs, the Suns finally won a game, the Pistons evened up with the Sixers, LeBron and company took care of business, and an unlikely duo has powered their team to new heights. Without further ado:

1. Jannero Pargo G, and Julian Wright F, New Orleans Hornets

Pargo has been doing this for years. Taking big-time clutch shots. And hitting them. For the Lakers in 03. The Bulls in 05 and 06. But he notched it up a level this weekend.

On Friday night, he single-handedly kept the Hornets in the game against the Mavs. He didn't miss until the 3:19 mark in the 3Q. Hit his first seven shots en route to a team-high 30 points. The Hornets still lost, but want cajones? Look no further.

Then in game 4, with the Hornets trailing in the first half, Pargo picked up right where he left off. In a key 2nd quarter stretch, he pulled up and hit an ice-cold three in transition. 32-30 Mavs.

30 seconds later, he leads the break and lofts an alley oop to a streaking Wright. 2 more. Game tied 32-32.

Net-net, in 25 minutes, Pargo goes for 11 points, 6 monster defensive boards, 2 assists, and the fast-break play that triggered Jason Kidd's Flagrant 2 and ejection (more below).

Now Pargo is a usual suspect by this point. He has been a key cog in the Hornets system all year. His big playoff moments are becoming passe. But Julian Wright!?

Barely a relevant player in the regular season, he amassed a whopping 4 points through games 1-3. While his buddies in Lawrence, KS went for an NCAA Title, Wright eked out garbage minutes in 57 appearances.

Then in Game 4, he exploded.

Julian Wright made the leap.

In 19 minutes, he went 5-6 for 11 points, with 2 boards, a monster steal-and-dunk-combo, and a super man-up exchange to Jason Kidd after Kidd took down Pargo on a fast-break.

First, Wright made a big-time play in the second quarter. Midway through the quarter with the game teetering back-and-forth, he d'ed up on Jerry Stackhouse.

Got in his face and stole the ball. Fast-break. Tore ahead of Stackhouse and threw it down. Electric dunk. Right in front of the Hornets bench. And on Stackhouse, a very good dunker in his own right, and a vocal leader for the Mavs.

But then, Wright took it to a whole new level.

In the fourth quarter, with Dallas trapping Paul and doubling on West, he nailed a Pargo-esque jumper from the corner. 82-68 Hornets.

With 7:50 to play, and Dallas' D all over West/Paul/Pargo, he did it again. Nailed another. 85-70 Hornets.

The very next possession, he picks Jason Kidd and goes coast-to-coast. Fouled and hits 1-of-2. Finally, the Hornets are starting to pull away, and in large part thanks to the rookie from Chicago. Is there anything else he could possibly do?

Well, on the next play, Pargo makes a defensive play. Hornets get it back and Pargo takes off against Jason Kidd. As Pargo goes up, Kidd makes a hard foul and takes Pargo down. One hand on the ball, the other on the neck. Not intentional or dirty, but nonetheless a frustrated, hard foul. Flagrant 2.

Who comes to Pargo's defense? Immediately, Julian Wright steps into Kidd's grille. With all of his one year of NBA experience. No thought about it.

Heads cool. Kidd is ejected, Pargo nails of 1-of-2. New Orleans retains possession and they roll to a 97-84 road win.

Up 3-1 and heading home for a close-out Game 5.

No way they do it without Julian Wright and Jannero Pargo.
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Now after I boldly picked the West to be the best Playoff basketball ever, it looks more and more like I might be wrong. With New Orleans' victory over the Mavs, that leaves each favorite with decided advantages:

(1) Lakers 3-0 over (8) Nuggets

(4) Jazz 3-1 over (5) Rockets

(3) Spurs 3-1 over (6) Suns

(2) Hornets 3-1 over (7) Mavericks

Of these series, are there any where the losing team can come back?


1. The Nuggets

Down 3-0 to the Lakers, they really are toast. The Lakers are executing better than anybody right now. Tearing apart the Nuggets.

If Denver focuses and executes, they could win Game 4 at home and force LA to close it out at home. But they still look lost. Who's the leader? Do Carmello and JR Smith care once they get their points? Does George Karl have any say right now?


2. The Rockets

They can win Game 5 in Houston. But Game 6 on the road in Utah? As well as Tracy McGrady has played, and as helpful as Rafer Alston's return has been, they are over-matched. They don't have a post-presence to demand a double-team and create space in the half-court.

Without that, T-Mac sees double-teams every possession. Alston is the only other player who can create on his own, and he does not match up very well with the the bigger, more physical Deron Williams. It's just a tough series for Houston.


3. The Mavs

After the Game 4 meltdown at home, they are in trouble. As the commentators hammered into the ground, Dallas has not won a road playoff game since the Western Conference Finals in June 2006. Almost 2 years ago. Against the Fun-n-Gun-sans-Amare-Suns.

What's more, the guy they sold the farm for, Jason Kidd, just got a Flagrant 2 and an ejection. As Julian Wright and Jannero Pargo sped around, through, and by them, they looked exposed, old, and defeated. Against the Hornets home-cooking, they face really looooong odds.

For them to win, something miraculous has to happen. Chris Paul has to sprain a knee. Tyson Chandler has to foul out in the first quarter. Dirk has to go for 60...


4. The Suns

Of the leading teams, I don't think any of them are as nervous as the Spurs. They barely won Game 1 at home. The Suns laid down in games 2 and 3, but bounced back in Game 4.

In a sense, the Spurs have already played their aces. They have already given their best. Can they recreate stretches from Game 1 and Tony Parker's Game 3 clinic? Will Hack-a-Shaq work in Game 6?

On the other side, think Shaq and company are fired up? We haven't seen their best yet. They can definitely win Game 5 in San Antonio. If they execute and avoid foul trouble, suddenly it's 3-2 and they go home again. They win Game 6 on energy and the crowd and then it's 3-3 and a Game 7...and anything can happen.

It would be the first time in the NBA that a team bounces back from an 0-3 deficit to win a seven-game-series. If anybody can do it, it's these Suns. They have the veteran leadership and grit to get there. They have the firepower. And they are desperate.

In the Nash era, they have been so close. They have won 60 games. They have endured injuries. They have let free agents walk. And they have mixed it all up. Fun-n-Gun to Half-Court-D. Bet the house for one more run with Shaq. All to beat the Spurs.

What's more, these Spurs have beaten them up and down. Knocked 'em out. Bloodied 'em up. And won.

It's not quite the Yankees-Red Sox in 2004, but it's the closest thing sports has had since. Especially with the Spurs consistent winning and dominance over the Suns. The Suns are good. Just like those Red Sox. Do they have that rare combination? Are they delusional enough to pull it off? We'll see.

I think they have a chance.