BasketballPlenty of surprises in NBA playoffs

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Los Angeles Lakers centre Andrew Bynum, reacts to being called for a foul by referee Dan Crawford, left, as forward Ron Artest looks on during Game 1 against the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday. The Lakers (along with the Magic and Spurs) lost at home to open their playoff campaign. (Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)

It hasn't quite been March Madness, but some funny things happened in the first couple of days of the NBA Playoffs. If it wasn't losses at home by the Lakers and Spurs, then it was Pacers hanging with the Bulls right to the end in two games and the Hawks convincingly beating the Magic in Game 1 of their series.

Some Bulls fans appear alarmed after Indiana almost beat top-seeded Chicago twice, but it appears this may be more about the Bulls underperforming than it is about Indiana playing well. Make no mistake -- the Pacers are a good team, but the sloppy Bulls shot a combined 68-for-165 Saturday and Monday at the United Center, saved mostly by Derrick Rose's late-game play. With Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng in virtual absentia for parts of both games, the Pacers capitalized with their energy. Tyler Hansbrough -- with 22 points in Game 2 -- showed his Dean Dome gusto still works in the pros in his first NBA post-season appearance.

The question for the Pacers now is Darren Collison's ankle as the series reverts to Indianapolis. The Bulls have yet to prove anything to anyone, but one of the marks of an NBA team taking it to the next level is the ability to rout a team on the road in Game 3 and stuff it back in the opposing fans' faces. Rose has carried them thus far, but he's going to need more consistent help on Thursday.

The Lakers meanwhile looked like the same languid squad against the Hornets that stumbled down the stretch. Are they just tired? Forget questions about Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol was putrid Sunday -- abused by Carl Landry. It's way too early to write them off, but the Lakers are messing with the NBA's desired finals matchup -- themselves and the Heat -- ironic in its own right thanks to both teams' current crippling lack of likability.

It's also too early to write off the Spurs. I knew Zach Randolph would cause concerns for them, but they don't have the horses to outlast them in long series (or they shouldn't). Manu Ginobili is expected back for San Antonio in Game 2 Wednesday.

As for the Hawks, a pattern is forming here. It's not a fluke. They can and may well eliminate the Magic. I would have picked them, but my long history of taking the easy way out led me to safely bet on Orlando. Dwight Howard's massive 46 and 19 showing wasn't enough to win the Magic Game 1, and you can expect more of the same game plan from the Hawks. Let D12 get his dunks and stats, and force them to beat you with Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson.

Will he stay or will he Colange-go?

Considering some of the rancor from Raptors fans regarding Bryan Colangelo, I had a telling sensation Monday. Listening to excerpts from his season-ending news conference, Colangelo not knowing whether he'd be in Toronto past June 30 was worrying.
The reason is this: Lockout or not, is there anybody available in the league right now who a Raptors fan would want in charge of the team at this time and place? No. Things were slightly different then, but Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has screwed this up before around this time of year (Rob Babcock). And given MLSE's rumoured sale, there is no valid reason whatsoever to make a change at this point on the basketball side.

The likelihood however, is that Colangelo isn't going anywhere. It would make zero sense for him to be in place for the draft on June 23 only to be out of a job a week later. Therefore, not keeping him would require his dismissal very soon. Jay Triano's future is a little murkier, although I'd guess he may be given half a season (next year or whenever pro basketball resumes) to try and improve on his 87-142 NBA coaching record. Triano is a good player's coach and a good guy, but only as good as what he has. The Bosh teams were deeply flawed anyways.

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