Doc's Props? Pending

Boston finally dispatched with the Orlando Magic, winning Game Six by 12 points. Now it's on to the Finals, and a chance for the Celtics to win their eighteenth title.

"If you come off the two series they just had, I mean, they beat two very good teams, and they made us look like we weren't very good teams, OK?" Van Gundy said. "I think you have to be fair and say a lot of it had to do with them, and they are playing very, very well right now." The C's have been underdogs in the last two series. Then they waxed the Cavs and Magic, leaving no doubt as to the better team.

No one saw this coming; all winter long Boston appeared talented, but faded. They had an incredible start, but an uninspired second half of the season. KG's injury kept the starting five apart for long periods. They backed into the playoffs--though, in the East, that wasn't too difficult. At some point, NBA observers have to start giving Doc Rivers his due. That hasn't happened as of this writing. Rivers hasn't built a sizable resume'. So even if Boston goes all the way, we can't quite put him in the Phil or Popovich category, yet.

To get on that level, he'll need success with a different group of players. Maybe with a new team. Doubtful he's going anywhere, any time soon. We can talk for miles about the Big Three, and Rondo, who's in the process of taking over this team.

But Rivers deserves credit too. He'll have to win the title again, to get some.

every Yes is preceded by a No

Before the deciding game of the NBA Finals, his Orlando Magic down three games to one, Dwight Howard pretty much spelled out his doom, right there in the tunnel. He was asked if he had faith in his team's ability to do the unprecedented.

"Impossible is Nothing," Howard said, quoting a sneaker ad. His tone didn't match adidas' words. There was no fire, no fury. I wanted to see D-How with his nostrils flaring, barely able to wait for the tip-off. I wanted him to be impatient with the whole idea of a pre-game interview, and telling us as much with body language.

We saw none of that. They're definitely done was the idea only one quarter into this game.

Howard's play reflected that chat. He was more Clark Kent than Superman. His tendency to bowl people over and call it a post move didn't work this time. That helped him into foul trouble.

After the loss, with the LA Lakers celebrating on the Magic home floor, Howard's words finally matched his body language.

"It hurts," he said, watching the ceremonies. "Sometimes you've got to lose to win."

Orlando may be a balanced team, but without Dwight Howard on the floor for stretches... forget it.

Yet there were flashes. Little glimpses of what could be.. footwork and shots we'd never seen him do. Makes me wonder what he could do, if his legs were as developed as his upper body.

At that point, forget "Superman". He'd be Baby Wilt.

Play Play, J.J.

JJ Redick is in the Finals. His Orlando Magic trail the series 3-1 after losing their second overtime game to the Lakers. The score was 99-91 this time. Derek Fisher saved LA's asses in Game 4 and everyone is "this thing is a wrap." Redick has scored in three of the four games (though his field goal % is down by his ankles). Hey, that's pretty good. That's three more than anyone reading these words... Redick has to feel the pressure. Not just because of the obvious--that his team is a few plays away from winning instead of losing. He's also repping Duke University.

People already think Blue Devils are cotton-soft when they go pro. Duke players never reach that next level. Or in common terms, they suck in the pros. Do they?

The school that Duke gets stacked against the most, when discussing the NCAA's best pro factories, is their long-time rival, UNC. The Tarheels have sent enough players to the NBA to make several excellent teams. The list starts with MJ and runs through Billy Cunningham, James Worthy, Bob McAdoo, Mitch Kupchak, Sam Perkins... well this is going to get boring.
But maybe things are shifting, if not completely changed. Who does Carolina have in the league today? Not just existing. Playing at All Star level.

Rasheed Wallace. Vince Carter. Jerry Stackhouse. Antwan Jamison. Except... the first three are old in NBA years. All Star-quality players, for sure, but not anymore. And as good as Jamison is, he's peaked, and no one but very knowledgable fans ever knew his best play is near-elite.
Duke had three of those in the 2008-09 season. Shane Battier. Luol Deng. Elton Brand. As these words are written, summer 09, I'd take any of them over any of the four Carolina players. Any of the Duke players is capable of making the All Star team without too many dissenters.

UNC has multiple Hall of Famers--men who moved to the pros and still excelled. Duke has zero. Its alumni are totally overmatched by Carolina's.

But in recent years, Duke has better pros. That's a first. And it probably won't change when Lawson and Hansbrough lace it up in five months.

And before Dookies think about gloating, keep in mind that Redick can't get a shot off when Kobe's guarding him. It's apparent by body language that Redick is shook by that fact. He's a very recent NCAA player of the year, and what used to be a wide-open trey for him is now a big armbanded elbow in his face. That's how big the gap is between All American and All Star. Excuse me: All World.

Apropos of nothing, if Orlando wins the series--they won't, but if they pulled a hat trick--Hedo should be Finals MVP. Like Jamison, some fans don't realize how good Turkoglu is. His ballhandling, passing, and fifteen-foot fade are sick, and opponents respect all of that. Plus he's blocked Kobe's shit at least twice in big moments so far this series.

So he fools people (especially Lamar "Now N Later" Odom) with that foul-baiting fake jumper so often, he shouldn't just get the trophy for best player in that instance. He should get a Golden Globe, too.