NBA Playoffs: Mutombo’s Loss Bigger than it Appears; Cavs and Lakers Ease by Pistons, Jazz

Not only did Houston lose Game 2 if their first round matchup with Portland, they also lost their spirit guide. With 1:17 remaining in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s game against the Trail BlazersAs 42-year old Dikembe Mutombo battled for a rebound with oft-injured young center Greg Oden. The two men became entangled and Mutombo fell to the court in a heap and grabbed his knee.

After 18 years in the NBA Mutombo announced that his career is over:

“For me, basketball is over. I’ve had a wonderful 18 years of staying injury-free, so I just want to go out with my head up, no regrets,” Mutombo said.

Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star who won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award four times and stands in second on the NBA’s career blocks list with 3,289. He has played for Denver, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and Houston.

Three quarters after Mutombo’s career-ending injury the Rockets left the floor 107-103 losers to Portland.

Had Houston the services of Mutombo and the nine rebounds he pulled down in Game 1 perhaps it would have been just enough to offset Brandon Roy’s 42 -point performance. Though Roy’s inspired play and the added intensity displayed by Portland will be used as reasons for the Trail Blazer’s quick resurgence, the primary difference between games one and two is this: in Game 1 Houston outrebounded Portland 44-30; in Game 2 the Rockets grabbed only 36 boards to the Blazer’s 35.

Unless collectively step up or someone like Carl Landry can make up for the absence of Mutombo, those extra possessions are now gone for good. And though not many people may notice Dikembe’s loss might equal another frustrating first round exit for Houston.

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What can be said about the Cleveland-Detroit series? How about this: the Cavaliers look like they want to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals and the Pistons look like they want the season to be over. Cleveland played sloppily in Game 2, got outscored 32-17 in the fourth quarter, and still easily brushed aside Detroit 94-82. 

LeBron James indicated hat he was unhappy with “his guys, his team” and further said he cannot tolerate this type of play from “his team.” Here’s an example of LeBron’s “leader=speak”: “We tend just to relax  little bit…. we can’t afford to have a slippage like that. I’m not disappointed in my group but I can’t have a slippage like that.”

I know James is beginning to exhibit signs of greatness through his play, but all this self-centered talk that is passing for some sort of alleged leadership has got to go. No longer can use the excuse that James is “young” be used, not after six years in the league. “King James” got the money side of basketball early – perhaps even before the day he pulled into his high school parking lot in a new Humvee.

He clearly does not have the leadership side of the game down at all.

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The Los Angeles-Utah series looks a lot like the Cavs-Pistons series, except the Jazz are a much more talented team than are the Pistons. Utah looked like they were playing to end their season as quickly as possible – or at the very least, return to Salt Lake City ASAP. LA brushed aside Utah 119-109 in Game 2 without really putting forth much effort. Kobe Bryant spent most of the first half court-sitting his teammates and ensuring that their sensitive sides were adequately massaged by being a decoy and a facilitator. Bryant continued his Michael Jordan simulacrum in the second half and especially the fourth quarter when he decided he would take over the game and score at will while his often open teammates watched in requisite awe.

Kobe even mirrored MJ late in the game when the Jazz made a final push to make the game close. With the score 113-108, Bryant went on one of his patented (i.e., stolen from Jordan) winding forays that looked like it was going to end in him taking three Jazz players of he dribble and slicing into the lane for a contested layin attempt and more than likely a trip to the foul line when he suddenly pulled up and passed to an open John Paxson, I mean Trevor Ariza, who splashed a game-sealing three-pointer.

We’ll see If the Lakers take Utah seriously when they play Thursday in Salt Lake at the Nuclear Waste  Arena. If they do the brooms will be out. Jerry Sloan has often stated that this group of young Jazz players don’t quite get his on-court wants: consistent execution, an ability to fluidly change gears from a quick-paced style of play to a shot clock-eating pick-and-roll style, and the want to play with a nasty streak.

However, if the Jazz do not produce in Game 3 they will find out just how fickle those Mormon fans are. The boos will be deafening while the epithets, racial and otherwise, will be heard loud and clear. And this offseason either the Utah players will grow up – or beg to get the hell out of town.

Oh, and Kobe?

Nobody today does Mike better.