FanHouse NbaPlayoffs

The FanHouse Podcast: Because bloggers are much sexier on the phone.

The NBA Playoffs, where amazing happens (have you heard?!?), are here. And while there's no question that the NFL Draft will supplant them in importance next weekend, for now, they are indeed all-consuming. With that in mind, FanHouse's own Matt Watson joined myself and Ryan Wilson on the podcast machine in the middle of Sunday's action to talk about the scheduleFAIL that were Sunday's games, Kevin Garnett's status, LeBron James making a leap, not to mention why church and Bojangles are so popular in the South. Also, we discuss Brian Gay's big win, Brendon Todd's hole-outs and Watson's shocking height factor.

CLEVELAND -- They posted the result on the end scoreboards at Quicken Loans Arena, and gradually, the crowd noticed and erupted. "CHI 105 BOS 103," the news flashed, followed by "ROSE 36." I'm not sure what more this ohhhhhhh-noooooooo, disbelieving city requires in regard to positive reinforcement, but when the Celtics lost at home to Derrick Rose and the Bulls, it should have reminded every doubting soul in northeast Ohio that the Cavaliers have an express lane to the NBA Finals.

And if that wasn't enough, what about You Know Who, launching a prayer just past the midcourt stripe and watching it bank in as the halftime buzzer sounded? What more do you possibly need, Cleveland? Isn't it time to forget those deep, ugly wounds and start buying into this "ONE GOAL" stuff printed on every T-shirt?

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After two days hearing about how the Suns were probably not going to play Grant Hill in tonight's critical Game 3 against the Spurs due to his nagging groin injury, turns out ol' iron tin aluminum foil legs will go ahead and play. He'll be coming off the bench, but according to Paul Coro's excellent blog, he feels good enough to go and give significant minutes.

And boy, he better. Leandro Barbosa will start, who has been an abject disaster in this series so far, including a tragic 0-7 performance in game 2. But the Suns are 10-2 with Barbosa in the starting lineup, and it's possible that with a 3 guard, 1 forward, 1 center combo, the Suns might be able to sustain their fast start. Hill coming off the bench might be able to even the field when Ginobili checks in, too. Of course, global warming MIGHT be a hoax, but the wife's making me recycle anyway. Dig?

Meanwhile, Coach Mike D'Antoni exuded nothing but confidence Thursday, saying that the Suns are going to "play Friday, and (that they're) going to bust them up Friday." We'll see if his club is able to back up the coach's strong words.

I wasn't worried about it for a second. I knew this was still going to be one of the best playoffs in recent memory, maybe in the last decade. Too much energy, too much drama, too much talent. Yes, we'll have duds in Boston v. Atlanta and Lakers v. Denver, but across the board, after tonight, it's time to face the reality. These playoffs are more compelling than any we've seen in a while. Consider the following.

With the 36 point blowout win tonight, the Wizards not only look to be back into contention, but look like this is going to be a 12-round slobber-knocker, with each fighter taking a round wholly to assert themselves. The Cavs pounded the Wizards at home, the Wizards returned the favor, at least in the first game back in DC.

In the first two games, the Cavs were efficient, tonight they were anemic. In the first two games, DeShawn Stevenson was paper-bag material, tonight he and Roger Mason combined for 37 points. Even in a blowout, this series is compelling, if only to watch the vast momentum swings. For a series to truly be great, it has to have it's share of early blowouts. Suns-Spurs may be the only series that can survive seven grueling down to the wire games, and it may not get there if San Antonio delivers the death stroke tomorrow night. Washington-Cleveland, however, has both teams getting a feel for each other, delivering haymakers, and gearing up for the late games when things really get intense.

Things are really, really not going well for the Washington Wizards. It all began last weekend, with that fluke loss to Toronto. Then, Caron Butler's serious injury. Then, losing Gilbert Arenas, which capped off back-to-back losses to the Bobcats.

Well, here's a shred of hope. According to The Washington Times, Butler is trying come back way sooner than originally planned:

While the team's medical staff has said he will be out at least six weeks, Butler is going to do everything possible to play in the first round this month.

"I'm really looking forward to getting out there in the playoffs," Butler said. "It's going to be hard for them to keep me from that court. I'm seriously thinking about pushing it. I'm going to give it a shot; I'm not ruling it out."

I know Butler's an indomitable competitor, is that team's will, and all that. And certainly, he and Jamison could team up to get the Wizards out of the first round. But that's assuming it's time for him to come back. Last year against the Wiz, Larry Hughes rushed back from a seriously broken finger. He was barely himself, and very nearly did more harm than good for the struggling Cavs offense. Butler might think the team needs him, but unless he's actually ready to play, whether or not he decided to suit up might be a moot point.