Patrick

It will be interesting to see how well the Cavs do without Larry Hughes. As much of an overpaid underachiever as he is (...why is Michael Redd wearing a Bucks uniform?), he is one of the key reasons why Billups and Hamilton haven't lit it up (but for Hamilton in Game 1). I hope Gibson and Snow are up to the challenge of being pushed around by Chauncey for 48 minutes. Another solid game from rookie second round draft pick Gibson would be nice. Noj, agree with you about the Spurs. I'd be interested in watching someone else, but mainly to get some variety. Boozer and Williams show promise, but it won't happen this year, and who fills the role of Ginobili on that team?

The benefits of bringing together previously isolated pools of liquidity. A recent PBS documentary on coffee included a similar story about growers receiving better price information (via cellphone, or maybe computer) before selling their crop to the first visiting bean buyer.

While most calls were made correctly, I'll confess to smiling during the "Javie sucks" chants. Looked like the Technical button was a little too easy to push, but as others have said, we don't know what was said by the recipients. Sloan must have used some choice vocab to get tossed after just one T. Are Parker/Ginobli/Duncan really that boring? Methodical yes, but boring? Too much of a half-court game?

Schilling was tough Monday night. Cliff Lee struggled through 5. Papelbon did his best Borowski imitation in the 9th--not only was it second and third, no out, but the top of the Tribe order was up to bat. I think Hafner will welcome the arrival of June (he has had a tough month, including 4 K's Monday). Thank you D-Rays. Go Peavy go! Mainstream media ain't feeding me a whole lotta Tribe, unless they're playing Tigers or Bosox. Go Fausto!

Fausto did deliver against Tigers, and the lineup got to Maroth early (4 runs in the first), so a sweep was had in Detroit. Fausto had more trouble keeping the ball down--hopefully not a trend. That ballpark is so large Travis Hafner managed to hit a triple there this weekend (and I see that Jim Thome has hit two there as well). Too bad Wakefield won't be available for Indians BP. In addition to missing Carmona, Bosox also dodge Sabathia. Lee and Sowers have been the weak links so far (Sowers had his first good outing of the season against KC in his last start). Byrd had been solid if not dazzling--still has more wins (5) than walks allowed (3). So given the pitching matchups, realistically Tribe should be unhappy only if they get swept at the Fens. Then return to the Jake and hopefully take care of the Tigers again...

Another close, nerve-wracking, Eastern conference playoff game. Webber started out well (finished with 15) and Prince contributed on the offensive end (13 pts on 6/13 shooting after having gone 1/19 in the first two), but Rip (2/8, 7 pts) and Chauncey (4/14, 13 pts, 3 assists, 5 turnovers) had poor nights. For a moment it looked like Mr Big Shot would do just barely enough to win... again. Flip Murray and McDyess both contributed off the bench (8 pts each). Rasheed was solid. Cavs finally shot well from the field (for the first time in ages), and Coach Brown elected to play rookie Daniel Gibson instead of returning to Larry Hughes (who actually hit his two shots). Gibson was pesky on the defensive end, knocked down a pair of threes, and was the only bench player that scored. I'm not sure I'm a believer in the "small" squad that had LeBron on the court with Gibson, Donyell Marshall, and Damon Jones all waiting outside to shoot threes (Donyell was brutal), but it seems to help free up lanes for LeBron to get to the rim. Flip Murray took advantage at the other end, but I thought Detroit would capitalize more on this. Gooden was decent (12 pts, 6 rebounds), but too much of a crybaby. LeBron hit a couple of outside shots that had absolutely no business going in, got to the rim much more frequently than in the first two games, and was a rebound and a dish away from a triple-double. Hopefully he will place with similar aggressiveness in Game 4 (and those that follow). Entertaining game between two defensively-minded teams.

Thanks everybody. The Canons I'm considering now both have Image Stabilization, and not-too-ultra zoom (4x). I'm definitely steering away from ultra-compact, at least for a first camera, mainly for the tradeoff mentioned by WL. Nice review site, Christiern.

Tribe definitely having a nicer visit to Motor City than the Cavs. Hopefully Fausto will prevail this evening.

Amen. Especially Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden who have been MIA.

Impressive second half from Jazz. They have a pretty good bench, at least when playing at home.

a couple more years pass, and I'm finally getting around to purchasing a digital camera. Leaning towards a Canon A-series--the 570 IS, or 710 IS. Anyone familiar with these, or the Canon A-series more generally? I'm interested in something between a simple point and shoot and a pro camera, meaning I'll probably end up just pointing and shooting, but think I may at some point want to do more than that. Thoughts on other brands, lines, etc? amazing how the technology progresses in a few short years.

No. No fouls were called in Game 1, so how can that be one? Stop already.

lead down to 3. the pattern continues. Cavs standing around...

So far so good in Cavsland. Once again, is Coach Brown up to the challenge of making halftime adjustments, or dealing with Detroit's? C Webb had a few moments in the first half, but Z is making him look a bit old (while still missing a lot of his own shots). Can either of those guys jump? Big guys on the bench should pay to play against Cleveland--first Dale Davis (not yet collecting social security) and now Maxiell. Nazr can't wait to be next...

Miles' bust will be on the corner?

Port/Sea playoff teams next year--in Oden's and Durant's rookie season?

Agreed on Carter. Nocioni is restricted--I bet he stays in Chicago.

I think that you may be overreacting a bit based on lottery order. That said, I did look at Hollinger's top 10 free agents (which arguably could have a larger effect than a highly touted early entry rookie) and noticed that 9 of the top 10 are on Eastern Conference teams (Billups, V Carter, G Wallace, Mo Williams, G Hill, Milicic, Varajao, Nocioni, Webber), so ignoring the possibility of great interconference trades for East teams, it looks like they won't be closing the gap much. Only Rashard Lewis comes from the West. Of course, beyond Billups and perhaps Vinsanity, this is not the most impressive list (and half of it is restricted free agents who likely won't be changing teams). You got Portland or Seattle at .500 next year? I don't.

Tough for Memphis and Boston. Maybe Paul Pierce shouldn't have been sitting out so many games with an "injury".

Cavs had their chances. Not able to hit at the line or overcome lousy officiating [LeBron zero trips to line despite many drives to the rim.] Chauncey did just enough in the fourth quarter. LeBron did not.

with underhand scoops

Didn't take 4 minutes, only one and a half...

gotta come up with a better excuse than that. Too much defense? Not enough runnin' and gunnin'? Or is it on too early?

Chauncey turning it over, LeBron facilitatin'. Is Rip the one man gang and Cavs "the team" at this point? We shall see. Coach Brown rarely makes adjustments at half, so I expect the Cavs lead is very much in peril, and quickly (say first 4 mins of third quarter) will disappear.

I agree with you guys (Guy included). I never bothered to study all of the tape to see what each individual did, though I do find the "Amare was going to the table to check into the game" a pretty lame (...if not creative) attempted excuse.