Last Thoughts (for now)

I'd already turned off my laptop last night when Shaun Livingston was called for stepping out-of-bounds with just over 40 seconds left in double OT. So, I had both hands free to use the pause and rewind live TV feature associated with my new Dish package. I looked at the play 3 times and I'm pretty sure he was in-bounds. How do you miss that call at that point in the game? The ref had a good angle, he just blew the call, unless my slow motion replay deceived me (it was about 1 AM, my time, when the play took place).

Ok, I can only spend so much time on one bad call, so I move on to a good play, though the result wasn't what he was hoping for, by Sam Cassell to launch a three-pointer down five as time was running down — I think there were about 20 seconds left. Announcers always say that when you are down 5, you don't need to shoot a 3. You can get a 2, then get a three the next time. The problem is, if you have to foul (rather than forcing a turnover), you may be back down 5 with even less time on the clock. I think the Suns learned from their debacle against the Lakers and probably wouldn't turn it over easily up late. Cassell would have been wrong to take a two-point shot because they needed to close the gap, and that isn't something you are going to do if you are getting 2's and then sending Nash, Barbosa, and Bell to the line. If Shaq was the primary ballhandler for a team, take the easy two (if you can get it) and then foul him as soon as he touches it. You can't afford to do that with the Suns. Their best bet was for Cassell (or someone else) to hit the three, bringing them within two. Then, if you don't get the steal, foul quickly and take your lumps. Repeat the sequence and you're down three after two made FT's ... hopefully, there would be enough time to get a good look. Maybe, they'd even have a time out ... they could advance the ball! (if this seems totally random, or even a little random, read the previous post)