Saturday, May 27, 2006

Detroit 64-18 (Road: 27-14) 8:00pm ET
At
Miami 52-30 (Home: 31-10) ESPN

Series tied 1-1

PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference finals; series tied 1-1.

The Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons alternated wins in the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals with quick starts and balanced offensive scoring.

The evenly-matched teams resume their series in Miami, where the Heat look to retain the home-court advantage they gained with a split in Detroit.

After falling behind 11-0 in their Game 1 loss, the Pistons turned the tables on the Heat in Thursday's 92-88 victory that evened the series. Detroit used a 13-0 first-quarter run to open a 20-8 lead and led by as many as 18 points in the second half before withstanding a furious late fourth-quarter rally by Miami, which scored 17 points in the final 1:46.

Wow, Pistons got back almost within touching distance in the fourth, but when it came time to step up and play big just didn't have it. Big players like Prince, Billups and Ben Wallace just bottled it right when they're normally so strong. Shaq was getting lobs from everyone whenever he wanted, Walker played really well, as did Wade. This is a great series. I didn't think Miami would be such a tough proposition for the Pistons, but they're more than matching them. Pretty comfortable 15 point win in the end. I still think the Pistons will find a way to play better in this series than they have so far. What a great Playoffs we've had so far this year!

...
[Edited 5/27/06 19:58pm]

Fauxie said:

Thanks Fauxie. Great write up. Great insight.

july said:

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Detroit 83
At
Miami 98 Final

DET: C. Billups 31 Pts, 2 Reb, 3 Ast
MIA: D. Wade 35 Pts, 8 Reb, 4 Ast

Heat lead series 2-1

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Dallas 60-22 (Road: 26-15) 8:30pm ET
At
Phoenix 54-28 (Home: 31-10) TNT

Series tied 1-1

PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference finals; series tied at 1.

The Dallas Mavericks made key fourth-quarter adjustments that created a similar scenario for the Phoenix Suns during this postseason -- a Game 2 loss and a series even at 1.

The two teams resume their Western Conference final series at US Airways Center in Phoenix on Sunday, where the Suns hope to retain home-court advantage after getting a split in Dallas.

The Mavericks, who blew a nine-point lead in the final 3:43 of their 121-118 Game 1 loss Wednesday, opted to aggressively defend two-time league MVP Steve Nash in the fourth quarter and played strong defense overall down the stretch in Friday's 105-98 win that tied the series.

July, can I just say THANK YOU for keeping this thread going? I can't keep up w/ the games for some reason, it's all a blur this year. But I love clicking & knowing what's going on

CalhounSq said:

Thank you for the nice words.

july said:

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Dallas 95 Final
At
Phoenix 88

DAL: D. Nowitzki 28 Pts, 17 Reb, 5 Ast
PHO: S. Nash 21 Pts, 1 Reb, 7 Ast

Dallas leads series 2-1

july said:

I'm glad you enjoying it.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Detroit 64-18 (Road: 27-14) 8:00pm ET
At
Miami 52-30 (Home: 31-10) ABC

Heat lead series 2-1

PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference finals; Heat lead 2-1.

In eight seconds, Dwyane Wade transformed the Miami Heat from a team on the verge of fumbling away Game 3 to one that can take a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons.

Given a chance to take a 3-1 series lead against the Pistons for the second straight year, the Heat hope to capitalize on the opportunity this time around as the teams continue their series at the American Airlines Center in Miami on Monday.

On Saturday, the two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Pistons, began the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run to close within 74-73. Wade, who committed two turnovers and missed two free throws in a 1:55 span during the run, regrouped to block a dunk attempt by Pistons forward Antonio McDyess and converted a 10-foot runner in the lane as he was fouled on the very next play resulting in the lead and the game momentum back to the Miami Heat.

july said:

Monday, May 29, 2006

Detroit 78
At
Miami 89 Final

DET: C. Billups 14 Pts, 2 Reb, 7 Ast
MIA: D. Wade 31 Pts, 6 Reb, 5 Ast

Heat lead series 3-1

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Dallas 60-22 (Road: 26-15) 9:00pm ET
At
Phoenix 54-28 (Home: 31-10) TNT

Mavericks lead series 2-1

july said:

PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference finals; Mavericks lead 2-1.

The Dallas Mavericks did almost everything right in regaining home-court advantage with a win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

If the Mavs can put forth another similar performance in Game 4 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, they can return to Dallas needing only one victory to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

july said:

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Dallas 86
At
Phoenix 106 Final

DAL: J. Howard 16 Pts, 9 Reb, 1 Ast
PHO: L. Barbosa 24 Pts, 4 Reb, 2 Ast

Series tied 2-2

july said:

GO SUNSSSSS!!!!!

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Miami 52-30 (Road: 21-20) 8:00pm ET
At
Detroit 64-18 (Home: 37-4) ESPN

Heat lead series 3-1

PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference finals; Heat lead 3-1.

Dwyane Wade has taken the lead role in helping the Miami Heat back to the brink of the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.

Wade and the Heat have three chances to do what they could not accomplish in two last year, close out the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals, and the first comes in Game 5 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

july said:

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Miami 78
At
Detroit 91 Final

MIA: D. Wade 23 Pts, 3 Reb, 4 Ast
DET: T. Prince 29 Pts, 7 Reb, 3 Ast

Heat lead series 3-2

Thursday, Jun 1, 2006

Phoenix 54-28 (Road: 23-18) 8:30pm ET
At
Dallas 60-22 (Home: 34-7) TNT

Series tied 2-2

july said:

IF IT AINT ROUGH, IT AINT RIGHT!

PLAYOFF SERIES: Western Conference finals; tied 2-2.

The return of Raja Bell created a comfort zone for the Phoenix Suns. It also helped make Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki uncomfortable for the first time in the West finals.

With the series tied at 2, the Suns and Mavericks return to the American Airlines Center looking to gain an edge on each other in a pivotal Game 5.