Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 2

Chicago Bulls 90 Brooklyn Nets 82

In the first game of this series, the Nets dominated inside the paint, and Brook Lopez and Derren Williams scored with ease. This was not the case tonight, as the Bulls played some stingy defense which held Brooklyn to under 40% shooting for the game. They were sparked by Kirk Hinrich, who scored 13 points and dished out five assists, but it was his defense on Derren Williams that frustrated him all night and held him to just eight points in the game. Luol Deng led the Bulls with 17 points while Carlos Boozer added 13 points, Joakim Noah added 11 points and 10 rebounds despite a nagging foot injury, and Nate Robinson added 11 points off the bench. Brook Lopez led Brooklyn with 21 points but was contained for the most part, while Joe Johnson scored 17 points including two 3-pointers which got the Nets within four points with thee minutes remaining, but they could get no closer.

Series tied at 1-1.

In other NBA news, New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith wins the Sixth Man of the Year Award. He averaged 18.1 points in 80 games this season, most of it off the bench. Smith received 484 points, including 72 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 writers and broadcasters. Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers finished second with 352 points, getting 31 first-place votes.

728huey said:

Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 2

Chicago Bulls 90 Brooklyn Nets 82

In the first game of this series, the Nets dominated inside the paint, and Brook Lopez and Derren Williams scored with ease. This was not the case tonight, as the Bulls played some stingy defense which held Brooklyn to under 40% shooting for the game. They were sparked by Kirk Hinrich, who scored 13 points and dished out five assists, but it was his defense on Derren Williams that frustrated him all night and held him to just eight points in the game. Luol Deng led the Bulls with 17 points while Carlos Boozer added 13 points, Joakim Noah added 11 points and 10 rebounds despite a nagging foot injury, and Nate Robinson added 11 points off the bench. Brook Lopez led Brooklyn with 21 points but was contained for the most part, while Joe Johnson scored 17 points including two 3-pointers which got the Nets within four points with thee minutes remaining, but they could get no closer.

Series tied at 1-1.

With Noah playing on one foot/leg mind you.

728huey said:

In other NBA news, New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith wins the Sixth Man of the Year Award. He averaged 18.1 points in 80 games this season, most of it off the bench. Smith received 484 points, including 72 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 writers and broadcasters. Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers finished second with 352 points, getting 31 first-place votes.

In other NBA news, Paul George won the award for Most Improved Player this season. Paul George was a former lottery pick who turned out to be a disappointment the last few seasons, but with Danny Granger being injured for nearly the entire season, he stepped up in his place and became an All Star. George averaged 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds this season, both career highs, and was the only player in the league with at least 140 steals and 50 blocks. He received 52-of-120 first-place votes and 311 points, more than double the total of New Orleans Hornets player Greivis Vasquez, who had 13 first-place votes and 146 points. Milwaukee's Larry Sanders was third with 141 points and was one of three players to receive 10 first-place votes.

Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 2

Milwaukee Bucks 86 Miami Heat 98

This game was almost a carbon copy of the last game, with Milwaukee hanging in with the Miami Heat for about three quarters before Miami turned on the afterburners and blew their opponent away. In this game, it was Dwyane Wade who led the Heat with 21 points and seven rebounds. Lebron James scored 19 points while Chris Bosh, Shane Battier, and Chris Anderson each scored 10 points. Ersan Ilyasova led Milwaukee with 21 points and six rebounds while Mike Dunleavy scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out five assists in a losing effort.

Miami leads series 2-0.

Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 2

Boston Celtics 71 New York Knicks 87

Once again the Celtics played strong in the first half, taking a six point lead into halftime, but the Knicks stormed back again in the second half thanks to Carmelo Anthony and some crushing defense. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 18 points, but the Celtics were held to a playoff franchise low 23 points in the second half. Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points for the Knicks while Sixth Man of the Year winner J.R. Smith scored 19 points. Raymond Felton added 16 ponts and seven rebounds while Kenyon Martin grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots.

New York leads series 2-0.

Western Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 2


Houston Rockets 102 Oklahoma City Thunder 105

In the first game of this series, Oklahoma City gave their former teammate James Harden a rude awakening as they blew them away in the fourth quarter. But in this game the Rockets gave OKC all they could handle, yet in the end it was the Thunder who emerged victorious. It was a back and forth affair for much of the game until the end of the third quarter, when the Thunder went on huge run to take a 15 point lead in the fourth quarter. But the Rockets came storming back thanks to James Harden, who scored 36 points, and contributions from Chandler Parsons, whco scored 17 points and pulled seven rebounds, Patrick Beverley, who scored 16 points, and Carlos Delfino, who scored 11 points including some key three pointers to help Houston regain the lead late down the stretch.

Russel Westbrook kept the Thunder in the game with 29 points, and while Kevin Durant scored 29 points, he was held scoreless in the second half until he hit a critical three pointer to put the Thunder in the lead with 2:28 to play, and his assist to Thabo Sefolosha led to a three point shot which helped seal the victory for Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City leads series 2-0.

[Edited 4/24/13 19:22pm]

[Edited 4/24/13 19:22pm]

[Edited 4/24/13 19:23pm]

In other NBA news, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was named Defensive Player of the Year. The 7-foot-1 Spaniard averaged 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals for a Memphis defense that allowed a league-low 88.7 points per game. He becomes the first European player to win the award. Gasol received 212 points and 30 first-place votes, while Lebron James finsihed second with 149 points and 18 first-place votes. Oklahoma City forward and fellow Spaniard Serge Ibaka was third with 122 points and 14 first-place votes.

Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 2

Atlanta Hawks 98 Indiana Pacers 113

This game was pretty much a carbon copy of the first game, as Indiana took an early lead and again cruised to victory. Paul George, who got a triple double in the first game and won the Most Improved Player award two days later, scored a career playoff high 27 points while also grabbing eight rebounds and four steals and dishing out three assists. Devin Harris led the Hawks with 17 points while Jeff Teague amd Josh Smith each added 16 points, but Atlanta got into foul trouble early, which hindered their chances of getting back in the game. They now have their backs against the wall going back home to Atlanta, yet the Pacers have lost their last nine games in the Peachtree state.

Indiana leads series 2-0.

[Edited 4/24/13 19:36pm]

728huey said:

Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 2

Boston Celtics 71 New York Knicks 87

Once again the Celtics played strong in the first half, taking a six point lead into halftime, but the Knicks stormed back again in the second half thanks to Carmelo Anthony and some crushing defense. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 18 points, but the Celtics were held to a playoff franchise low 23 points in the second half. Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points for the Knicks while Sixth Man of the Year winner J.R. Smith scored 19 points. Raymond Felton added 16 ponts and seven rebounds while Kenyon Martin grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots.

New York leads series 2-0.

Get a split in Boston, and wrap this shit up in five.

uPtoWnNY said:

728huey said:

Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 2

Boston Celtics 71 New York Knicks 87

Once again the Celtics played strong in the first half, taking a six point lead into halftime, but the Knicks stormed back again in the second half thanks to Carmelo Anthony and some crushing defense. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 18 points, but the Celtics were held to a playoff franchise low 23 points in the second half. Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points for the Knicks while Sixth Man of the Year winner J.R. Smith scored 19 points. Raymond Felton added 16 ponts and seven rebounds while Kenyon Martin grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots.

New York leads series 2-0.

Get a split in Boston, and wrap this shit up in five.

I'd like to see them, wrap it up in four. Yeah, I know. Wishful thinking. The Celts, are just too damn old...

shorttrini said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Get a split in Boston, and wrap this shit up in five.

I'd like to see them, wrap it up in four. Yeah, I know. Wishful thinking. The Celts, are just too damn old...

...and missing Rondo, who always gives NY fits.

uPtoWnNY said:

shorttrini said:

I'd like to see them, wrap it up in four. Yeah, I know. Wishful thinking. The Celts, are just too damn old...

...and missing Rondo, who always gives NY fits.

Indeed. I find it interesting how nobody, gave the Knicks a chance against Boston. Most were saying that Melo would not be able to deal with the pressure of Boston and the playoffs, in general. I stand by what I said before, The Knicks will be in the Eastern Conference finals.

Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 3

Miami Heat 104 Milwaukee Bucks 86

Milwaukee led by as many as nine points in the second quarter and was tied with Miami at the midpoint of the third quarter, but once again Miami went on a huge run and cruised their way to victory. Ray Allen led the Heat with 23 points thanks to five 3-point shots. Lebron James scored 22 points while Chris Bosh added 16 points and 14 rebounds. Larry Sanders and Brandon Jennings each led Milwaukee with 16 points. The Bucks now find themsleves in an 0-3 deficit, and no NBA team has ever come back from that deep to win a playoff series.

Miami leads series 3-0.

Eastern Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 3

Brooklyn Nets 76 Chicago Bulls 79

Brooklyn looked to bounce back from their game two loss by making an aggressive statement, and they did that early in the first quarter, taking a 17-5 lead. But the Bulls stormed to life, going on a 14-0 run to end the first quarter, and defensively they shut down the Nets for msot of the game, leading by double digits until about the 3:30 mark of the fourth quarter, when their offense suddenly went cold. Chicago then held on for dear life, as Brooklyn pulled within two points in the closing seconds and had a three point attempt at the buzzer which went long, securing the Bulls victory. Carlos Boozer led the Bulls with 22 points and 16 rebounds while Luol Deng added 21 points. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocks while Derren Williams added 18 points and Joe Johnson added 15 points.

Chicago leads series 2-1.

[Edited 4/25/13 20:17pm]

I guarantee PJ's losing his job if the Nets don't get out of the first round.

uPtoWnNY said:

I guarantee PJ's losing his job if the Nets don't get out of the first round.

No. I don't think he will. He's done a pretty good job with that team, and got them to the playoffs. I think they will bring him back, next year.

shorttrini said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Get a split in Boston, and wrap this shit up in five.

I'd like to see them, wrap it up in four. Yeah, I know. Wishful thinking. The Celts, are just too damn old...

For real. This is one team I'll be happy to see get shut out of the playoffs. Rondo is the only one I could tolerate in that team and even he gets on my nerves. But without him, the Celtics are doomed as it is.

728huey said:

Western Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 1

Los Angeles Lakers 79 San Antonio Spurs 91

The Lakers opened this initial playoff game with a 2-0 lead. But the Spurs took the lead immediately afterward and never gave it up, though the Lakers hung in for a while before San Antonio ultimately pulled away. It was the Spurs' big three that led the way, with Tony Parker and Manu Ginnobili each scoring 18 points while Tim Duncan scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard scored eight points while grabbing 11 rebounds, and Matt Bonner scored 10 points off the bench. Dwight Howard led the Lakers with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Pau Gasol added 16 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, and Steve Nash added 16 points. But the Lakers' bench production was non-existent, as they scored a total of 10 points.

San Antonio leads series 1-0.

The contenders have been 10 points better than the Lakers from the beginning of the season.

To paraphrase a Family Guy riff on the Mets: Lakers Hire Mike D'An-TON-i . . .AAAaand the season's over.

The 12-13 season was over before it started when the Lakers hired a stubborn, defense-averse coach who forced his system on the wrong personnel, coached them into a hole, ran them into the ground to sneak into the postseason, and is having his head handed to him by a real championship coach.

But I guess it's not all his fault. He never should have been hired.

[Edited 4/26/13 10:50am]

Yikes, Russell Westbrook is out with a meniscus tear.

That changes things a lot.

RodeoSchro said:

Yikes, Russell Westbrook is out with a meniscus tear.

That changes things a lot.

It could be a blessing in disguise for OKC. I HATE serious injuries for ANY player in the postseason.

But . . . IMO Westbrook was destined to shoot them out of the playoffs.

namepeace said:

728huey said:

Western Conference Playoffs, 1st Round

Game 1

Los Angeles Lakers 79 San Antonio Spurs 91

The Lakers opened this initial playoff game with a 2-0 lead. But the Spurs took the lead immediately afterward and never gave it up, though the Lakers hung in for a while before San Antonio ultimately pulled away. It was the Spurs' big three that led the way, with Tony Parker and Manu Ginnobili each scoring 18 points while Tim Duncan scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard scored eight points while grabbing 11 rebounds, and Matt Bonner scored 10 points off the bench. Dwight Howard led the Lakers with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Pau Gasol added 16 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, and Steve Nash added 16 points. But the Lakers' bench production was non-existent, as they scored a total of 10 points.

San Antonio leads series 1-0.

The contenders have been 10 points better than the Lakers from the beginning of the season.

To paraphrase a Family Guy riff on the Mets: Lakers Hire Mike D'An-TON-i . . .AAAaand the season's over.

The 12-13 season was over before it started when the Lakers hired a stubborn, defense-averse coach who forced his system on the wrong personnel, coached them into a hole, ran them into the ground to sneak into the postseason, and is having his head handed to him by a real championship coach.

But I guess it's not all his fault. He never should have been hired.

[Edited 4/26/13 10:50am]

The Lakers are gonna have to do a whole lot of soul searching once their season finally ends.

namepeace said:

RodeoSchro said:

Yikes, Russell Westbrook is out with a meniscus tear.

That changes things a lot.

It could be a blessing in disguise for OKC. I HATE serious injuries for ANY player in the postseason.

But . . . IMO Westbrook was destined to shoot them out of the playoffs.

Timmy84 said:

The Lakers are gonna have to do a whole lot of soul searching once their season mercifully ends.

Slight edit.

Sadly, all the soul searching in the world won't help if Jim Buss is allowed to destroy basketball operations with D-U-M-B-F-O-U-N-D-I-N-G coaching moves.

namepeace said:

Timmy84 said:

The Lakers are gonna have to do a whole lot of soul searching once their season mercifully ends.

Slight edit.

Sadly, all the soul searching in the world won't help if Jim Buss is allowed to destroy basketball operations with D-U-M-B-F-O-U-N-D-I-N-G coaching moves.

True.

@ the edit.

http://basketball.realgm....ee-Surgery

Russell Westbrook out with knee surgery to repair cartilage tear.The West is more wide open and a break for my Spurs,think we could beat them anyway with Westbrook.They got lucky last year.

iaminparties said:

http://basketball.realgm....ee-Surgery

Russell Westbrook out with knee surgery to repair cartilage tear.The West is more wide open and a break for my Spurs,think we could beat them anyway with Westbrook.They got lucky last year.

I think Oklahoma City had an 80% chance of making a repeat appearance in the NBA Finals, even though they no longer have James Harden, but with Westbrook out for an indeterminate period, which at the absolute best will probably sideline him until the Western Conference Finals but more realistically means his season may be over, their chances have taken a huge hit. They could still make it, though, but now Kevin Durant will have to play like Superman, plus Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha have to step up big time. But, it the Spurs can keep Tony Parker and Manu Ginnobili healthy, they could get to the NBA Finals themselves.

[Edited 4/26/13 19:28pm]