Wednesday, April 24, 2002
Now the season can finally
Titans bruise Bruins
nCOMMENTARY: With the NBA playoffs underway, the games we’ve been waiting for have arrived, though some teams are more ready than
By Odeen Domingo Special to the Titan
It has been 23 days since the Maryland Terrapins won their first ever NCAA basketball championship. The NFL Draft has come and gone. Major League Baseball will be around for six more long months. And while all 10 fans of the NHL playoffs trim their mullets, it is finally time for the rest of the world to focus on the NBA’s real season, the [cue Jim Mora sound byte here] playoffs. First up in the Western Conference is the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. the No. 6 Portland Trailblazers. The Lakers lead the series 1-0 with Game 2 coming Thursday. The Lakers’ 9587 win Sunday confirmed what L.A. fans already knew; Kobe Bryant cannot be stopped. Bryant lit up Portland defenders Scottie Pippen and self-proclaimed “Kobe-stopper,” Ruben Patterson, for 34 points. The only thing Patterson stopped Kobe from was, as Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal put it, from scoring 35 points. If the Lakers continue their Speedotight defense (they held the Blazers to a 30-82 shooting performance) winning 15 more games to threepeat will be like death and taxes. The No. 1 Sacramento Kings are tied with the No. 8 Utah Jazz, 11, with Game 3 coming Saturday. While Utah fogies, ahem, players John Stockton and Karl Malone work the audience to sleep running the efficient “pick-and-roll,” Chris Webber & Co. will run the Washington Redskins’ new “Fun-NGun” offense, NBA-style. Someone has to remind Jazz forward Scott Padgett he isn’t at the University of Kentucky anymore or else Stockton will be pondering the “R” word
sooner than he thought. Clippers fans could only dream what could have been; they’re used to that by now. Tonight’s match up between the No. 4 Dallas Mavericks and the No. 5 Minnesota Timberwolves is Game 2 of a series the Mavs currently lead, 1-0. Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, probably hates this matchup. In Dallas’ 101-94 victory, the team threw up three-point shots like they were going out of style, hitting only 7of-23. The jump shooting, multiple weapons Mavs think they can outscore any team, except the Lakers. When “The Mailman” retires, the T-wolves’ Kevin Garnett will take over the “best player to never win a championship” crown. Minnesota has been eliminated in the first round five straight years. With the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs tied in their series with the No. 7 Seattle Supersonics, can you smell a series brewing? After a 21-point “The Rock”–style smack down Seattle took in game one, it came back with a four-guard lineup that beat a David Robinson-less Spurs yesterday, 98-90. Although Spurs superforward Tim Duncan has more game than Playstation, Sonics’ starters Desmond Mason and Rashard Lewis have more hops than Heineken. They helped stymie the Spurs’ offense. But without Robinson, the Spurs, like the Sonics (even with Gary Payton) will be non-factors in the big playoff picture. Meanwhile in the Eastern Conference, the No. 1 New Jersey Nets and the No. 8 Indiana Pacers are tied as Friday’s game approaches. The Nets woke up Monday morning after their 89-83 Game 1 loss
and finally noticed they’re in the playoffs. The Nets’ defense decided to show up yesterday to defeat the Pacers/Bulls, 95-79. After allowing Indiana forward Jermaine O’Neal 36 points in Game 1, Kenyon “What Foul!” Martin held him to just 12 points. New Jersey’s Jason Kidd is averaging Nintendo numbers – 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. But as Spike Lee learned, never count out Pacers sharpshooter Reggie Miler in the playoffs. With their next game scheduled for Saturday, the No. 4 Charlotte/ New Orleans Hornets and No. 5 Orlando Magic series is tied 1-1. Despite losing Game 2 in overtime, 111-103, the Hornets are the NBA’s version of the Montreal Expos, the best team without fans. In the midst of a possible move to N’awlins, the Hornets are playing for pride. Guard Baron Davis’ game is scarier than an Oompa Loompa. While Magic scorer Tracy “What Teammates?” McGrady has yet to learn what playoff basketball is about. Patrick Ewing – retire, please. Just underway is the No. 2 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 7 Toronto Raptors series, continuing Wednesday. But in Game 1, a football game suddenly broke out once the ball was tipped. Detroit and Toronto played b-ball reminiscent of a Bubba Sparxx song. At the end of the first quarter, the score was only 16-9, Lions, uh, Pistons lead. Toronto missed 17 straight shots. This, after Detroit fans booed during the Canadian national anthem. Defensive Player of the Year Detroit hustler Ben Wallace is a combo of the original “Bad Boys,” he’s a stronger Charles Oakley, Dennis Rodman without tattoos and Bill Laimbeer with an afro. The
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By Ricardo Sanchez, Jr. Daily Titan Staff Writer
krt campus
Utah's Karl Malone tries to throw the ball back inbounds while falling out of bounds during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Feb. Raptors’ luck has become extinct. Philly guard Allen Iverson is only Also just getting started are the “The Answer” to — which 76er No. 3 Boston Celtics and the No. 6 missed 11-of-15 field-goal attempts? Philadelphia 76ers, with the Celtics Answer this, if AI’s hand is injured, leading the series 1-0 and Game 2 why is he shooting that much? coming Thursday. Boston players Boston will finally win a playoff Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker are series, its first since the invention of the best tandems since Bird and the Internet. McHale, West and Chamberlain, Stockton and Malone, O’Neal and Bryant, and cookies ‘n’ cream.
Sophomore Richie Burgos knocked in four runs and went 5-for-5 as the No 11. Cal State Fullerton baseball team slipped past the UCLA Bruins, 9-7, at Jackie Robinson Stadium Tuesday night. The Titans have won 16 of their last 19 games and are on a six game winning streak. The Titans jumped out to an early lead scoring two runs in the first inning and four in the second, before UCLA began to chip away. UCLA posted three in the fourth and two in the fifth, but the Titans had scored earlier in the inning to still lead by one going into the ninth. CSUF then rallied for two more runs in the top of the ninth to seal the win. Closer Chad Cordero came on in the bottom of the ninth and gave up three hits and a run but still recorded three strikeouts to pick up is 11th save of the year. Winning-pitcher Travis Ingle pitched four innings, allowing four hits and three runs before Jeff Housman, came on in relief. Sophomore Shane Costa also extended his hitting streak to 22 games. CSUF will host Vanguard University of Costa Mesa at 5 p.m. on Apr. 24, at Goodwin Field in a non-conference game. The game was scheduled to make up for the finale of the Nevada series in March, which was not played due to snow. Season-ticket holders will be admitted free as will all stu-
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