NBA Playoffs -- Top 5 Things We learned In Round 2

The 2nd round is over....what did we learn?

Lesson #5:  Dirk Nowitzki is not soft
This guy may have deserved a reputation for being soft in the past.
But, no more!
He's got some solid help around him with Barea, Terry, and Kidd playing above expectations.
But, make no mistake: This team will only go as far as Dirk takes them.
And right now, it looks like he's prepared to take them all the way.

Lesson #4: Pau Gasol is soft.
Just reverse most of what I said about Dirk above.
This guy had a reputation for being soft when he was with Memphis.
Then he was gifted (not traded) to L.A. and all of sudden the dude is the "next Kareem"?
Uh....NO!
Paired with Kobe and a solid guard in Fisher, he played above his talent and heart last year.
This year, he played a little closer to what we saw in Memphis: Pretty good in the regular season...and then nothing.
Gasol is who we thought he was.

Lesson #3: D-Rose needs help.
I have been a fan of Rose's supporting cast all year long.
But, it's playoff time and some fellas need to step up.
Rose is carrying the Chicago Bulls as if he's got a bunch of nobodies on the court with him.
With names like Boozer, Noah, and Deng sharing the floor with him, Rose shouldn't be carrying so much of the load.
These boys better get in the game next series because there's one thing the Heat will do and that's contain Rose.
They won't stop him, but they will contain him.

Lesson #2: It's not better to burn out, than fade away.
Lakers and Celtics looked terrible in their Round 2 matchups.
Their opponents had something to prove. The Lakers and Celts didn't.
And from the opening tip, you could tell.
L.A. and Boston looked like teams satisfied with their past accomplishments, instead of looking like a team driven to repeat them.

Lesson #1: Mark Cuban can shut up when he wants to.
Mavs are winning and all of sudden all is right in Mark Cuban's world.
He's in love with the opponent. He's a fan of the officials. He's a dutiful NBA owner.
Are we to believe Cuban will remain quiet all through the playoffs should Dallas win in the Finals?
That would be amazing.
Mav-haters would see that as reason enough to hope Dirk raises the Larry O'Brien trophy in celebration this year.

No this is NOT Photoshop. He really did close his mouth for a moment.

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