Josh Childress Heads To Greece

What is the best word to describe this summer's free agency period in the NBA? I tend to lean towards "perplexing". It all started with Baron Davis blindsiding the Warriors and signing with the Clippers--which led to his Los Angeles teammate for all of 30 seconds, Elton Brand to opt out of his contract and head east to Philadelphia.

Then the Clippers were left with all this extra money and the rumors had linked Charlotte's Emeka Okafor or Atlanta's Josh Smith to possibly being brought in to replace Brand. Then things got weird.

Three days ago, a story broke and suggested that Atlanta's Josh Childress was considering an offer to play in Greece for the club Olympiakos. Initially, the reports seemed to be dismissed by most because why would anyone leave the NBA for Europe when they're logging big minutes on a playoff team? Turns out, Childress was serious about jumping the pond and proceeded to sign the richest contract in Euroleage history. Thanks Europe! It turns out that Josh Childress was the "player to be named later" in the whole David Beckham trade. They must like the afro. Strange business in the NBA.

Milk Carton: Kevin Garnett

Believe it or not, the Atlanta Hawks managed to win another game against Boston. Goes to show you that experts are just people who get paid to express their opionions. KG disappeared in the 4th quarter again last night and any further argument in the KG-Duncan debate is one more Celtics loss away from being put to bed for good (but after the first six games this series, how anyone can make an arguement for KG is beyond me).

So who do basketball fans want to see win game 7? If Atlanta wins, it probably goes down as the biggest upset in the NBA since Denver-Seattle in 1994 (and it proably tops that one).

Personally, I can't see this game being close. The Celtics should win going away. I can't see how they don't win big. Of course, I couldn't see Atlanta winning more than one game. Guess that makes me an expert.

*UPDATE: The Hawks must've forgotten to show up. Celtics vs. Cavs, Tueseday.

This Just Got Interesting

The Atlanta Hawks seemed to have forgotten that they are the Atlanta Hawks. How else do you explain their performance last night in game 2 against the Celtics? Joe Johnson put together the best performance of the playoffs this year (messing around and going for 20 of his 35 in the 4th quarter), leading the underdog Hawks to a 97-92 victory.

The most amazing part of the game wasn't just Johnson. It was how the Hawks really believe they can hang with Boston--they won't back down. But it should be interesting to see how they respond when they head to Boston for game 5.

I'm pretty sure the entire city of Atlanta considers this a victory--regardless of what the Hawks do the rest of the series. Seriously though, who would've thought Boston and Detroit would be tied at 2-2 in their respective series?