Wow, what a weekend. Since we’ve written like 10,000 words, let’s not waste any more time.
From the “7-Up Stinks Studios” here we go…
Andrew Bynum launches elbow at Dallas Mavericks’ Jose Juan Barea in the closing minutes of Game 4. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)A Lake of disappointment
OK, raise your hand if you had Phil Jackson’s Hall of Fame career ending with a Mavericks’ four-game sweep and a code-red meltdown by Jackson’s Lakers. Wow – and here’s saying that Andrew Bynum misses the first 20 games next year for his bush league showing in the fourth quarter (click here for video). Bynum unloaded a cheap shot on J.J. Barea after the game was well-decided, and if the flagrant foul wasn’t enough, Bynum completed the complete-jerk routine by storming off the court (which means it was more than frustration, it was premeditated) and taking his jersey off about halfway to the locker room. Hey Andrew, Dennis Rodman is in the Hall of Fame for rebounding and defense – not for his maturity or his grace; try emulating more of the former than the latter, huh? (As for Bynum’s looming suspension, well, there are several mitigating factors: this summer’s labor struggle; Bynum’s injury history and the fact that he’s all-but-certain to be on the injured reserve to start the next season – whenever it is; Bynum is a likely candidate to be traded in the coming months, days or even hours.)
That said, Jackson’s almost assured exit and the Lakers implosion dominated what was an awesome weekend in NBA playoff action. Let’s try to wrap it up with a top-five in 10 words or less (yes, the soon-to-be copyrighted 5-in-10 by the 5-at-10):