NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
The NBA Playoffs are moving along and we have gotten some good basketball and new playoff moments to remember. From Aaron Gordon’s game-winning dunk to Jamal Murray hanging 43 on the Clippers, or the OKC Thunder sending the Memphis Grizzles home easily. But as a guy who likes to see the underdog as well as who to look for in the future two teams stand out hand and shoulders above the rest and that’s the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons. Both franchises were household names in the playoffs during the ’90s and early 2000 but in the last few years or even decades there have been a lot of losses and hopelessness. That all has changed this season and they are not only in the playoffs but showing they belong and embracing the moment at hand.
Motown Resurgence:
Teams that win 14 games in a season aren’t looked at as possible playoff teams the next year. Firing your coach and getting a new president of operations are moves that normally over time lead to improvement. This organization said you can keep all that negativity on your side. With Cade Cunningham blossoming into the leader ownership, teammates prayed for game 6 of an NBA playoff game is being played today in Detroit. He isn’t the only person who is changing how he is viewed, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was tossed out of Cleveland. I thought it was a bad move by the Cavs and a great pickup from Detriot.
With a young core of players finding their way in the league and a mix of vets brought in by Trajan Langdon. My gut feeling was they would win more games and if they got some lucky bounces maybe be in the hunt for the play-in game. Instead, they have become the first team to triple their win total. Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley all have been a big part of the rebirth along with defensive stopper Isaiah Stewart. A return to tough-nosed hoops which was what the team was known for during the bad boys era also has returned. I love the effort on defense and how they make opponents uncomfortable. A broken leg robbed us of what Jaden Ivey would give this team but his time will come he is a talent.
Now with a chance to force a game 7 the moment is here and in front of a fan base that has been starving for this. Not too many teams would have been able to bounce back after the tough loss they took on their home floor. Again it shows how tough and together this squad is. Heading into game 6 this team should feel confident that it can get the job done, they have shut us up about everything else we thought so why would this be different?
H-Town Is Alive And Well:
When the man in the number 23 Bulls jersey hung it up for baseball NBA fans wondered who would step up and be the next team to run the league. The Houston Rockets stepped up and walked away with two NBA titles but that was a LONG time ago, and we have seen rebuild after rebuild. From the Yao Ming and T-Mac era, the small guard duo of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. James Harden, CP3, and Russel Westbrook all had cups of coffee or two in Houston. We even saw an appearance in the Western Conference finals but never back to the mountaintop.
They have collected multiple draft picks and allowed the young core to develop and grow. Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, and Amen Thompson Alperen Sengun make up a super-talented group. They spent big money and brought in Dillion Brooks and Fred VanVleet. But you can have great ingredients but none of it matters without a chef to put it all together. Enter NBA champion head coach Ime Udoka to lead these men on a journey out of the NBA wilderness.
At one point in game 5, the Rockets had a 30-point lead and they almost lost it but the key is they didn’t. Holding court at home and forcing game 6 is another step towards growing up and showing they are the number 2 seed for a reason. Jalen Green has been what we saw all season up and down but these playoff games are good for him and the rest of the youngins.
The keys to both of these teams are ownership allowing players to grow, finding the right men to lead their teams, and signing solid vets to teach the kids the way of the game and league. This is a team-building blueprint other teams should look at and use. Do I think these two teams will win a championship this season? No, but they are taking major steps towards leveling up.
