Where's the Competition????? by Ronald Carthen

This has been one of the most disappointing NBA semifinals that I have ever seen. You mean to tell me that we have three sweeps in the semifinals for the first time since 1999? What a poor effort by the losing teams.

Let's please start with the sorry Atlanta Hawks, who didn't even try to defend the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard had way too much fun in this series. He averaged 21.0 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 84% from the field (27 of 32 shooting) in this series. Nobody should be allowed to be this good in any series. How could you stop anyone in this series when you have nothing but shooters. The Magic were shooting three-pointers all over the place. They made 16 three-pointers alone in Game 4 of the series. This team has not lost a game in the playoffs so far and might be the best team in the playoffs. We'll see how good they are when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Utah Jazz gave it a decent effort, but how can you stop Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe scored 30 points every game of this series and averaged 32.0 points, 5.8 assists, and shot over 52% from the field. Pau better enjoy this series because he'll never have a series as easy as this one again. He averaged 23.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, and shot over 60% from the field. I hope the next series against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference.

Speaking of the Suns, I can't believe they swept the San Antonio Spurs. That is the last thing I expected this postseason. What ruined the Spurs confidence was Game 3 when Goran Dragic just took over while Steve Nash, Amar'e Stoudimire, and Jason Richardson were resting on the bench. Dragic scored 26 points on 10 of 13 shooting and shot five-of-five from the three-point line. Then in Game 4, Tim Duncan elbowed Steve Nash and caused him to get stitches and have his eye swollen. So Nash turned into a one-eyed bandit and scored 20 points, nine assists, and three-of-three on three-point shooting. Nash averaged 22 points, seven assists, and shot 55% from the field.

I'm so glad the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics are playing a real good series or else I would have been so pissed in this postseason so far. I hope the Western and Eastern Conference Finals will give NBA fans some excitement.