SnoTap NBA Finals Preview: 15 Dollar NBA Finals Challenge

The Internet is in a complete tizzy over the 15 dollar game or the 25 dollar game or the 20 dollars and shut the hell up about it. Anyways, it is a cool concept, but my goodness, it is dominating my Twitter feed for the last week. I am pretty sure the trend is over, but a few people will try to run it back like the people doing 'Gangnam Style' videos two months after the trend already begun. But we are going to do it for the only time on SnoTap as we utilize it for the NBA Finals preview.

Five dollar players will be the ones with the most valuable to either San Antonio Spurs or Miami Heat winning the Larry O'Brien trophy. From there, we will look at other players working our way down.

Five Dollars
LeBron James - This is the obvious first choice. LeBron had a fairly good NBA Finals against the Spurs. Granted, Kawhi Leonard is a year older which could be a factor into wondering how good James will be this June. For reference, he had two triple-doubles and three games with 30 points or more. Although in the two games against San Antonio this year, James struggled mightily with under 20 points and poor shooting in both games.

Kawhi Leonard - I think he is the most important player on the Spurs roster. Say he holds LeBron to under 23 points a game for the series and the Spurs win plus Kawhi ends up averaging around 15 points a game. He would easily be the Most Valuable Player of the Finals. Leonard had some big games down the stretch in last year's NBA Finals and if he is more assertive on the offensive end, he could do some big things in this series.

Chris Bosh - This is the player to watch in the series. Bosh has been coming on hot of late. He had three straight games with 20 points or more plus he is shooting 57.5 percent from the field in those three games. Bosh is red hot. He is also rebounding which is something I was highly critical of him in the past. He grabbed eight and 10 boards in the last two games. Don't be shocked if he is the NBA Finals MVP if Miami takes their third straight title.

Tony Parker - The health of Tony Parker is a major concern. He says it will be all good, but one tweak could disable him from being a factor in this series. He hurt his ankle recently and hurt a hamstring earlier on in the playoffs as well. If he is 100 percent, Parker is a huge game-changer. Not one player on the Heat can really guard him. Maybe Dwyane Wade is the only answer, but he has definitely lost a step in his defense.

Four Dollars 
Tim Duncan - The last two games have been great for Duncan with double-doubles in both games as well Duncan scoring 19 and 22 points. The rebounding numbers were vast improvements from where he was after the Portland series. Duncan has some demons looming with him missing bunnies in the late game. Biggest thing for him is if there is a close Game 1 or Game 2, Duncan needs to hit a couple of those late and get the confidence back. Because if Duncan misses them again, the demons could return.

Dwyane Wade - Everyone talking about Miami to win the series are saying Wade will be the difference given his health is much better than it was last season. I don't disagree, but I don't know if he will be as effective as people believe him to be this series. Wade will have his moment though at some point whether it is a big game-winning basket or an iconic game like Game 4 last season.

Manu Ginobili - Many people are talking about how this is a redemption series for Duncan, but it is more so for Ginobili. He struggled mightily besides Game 5 and Game 7 last season. Granted, Ginobili came up big when it mattered the most, but he has something to prove in this series. A part of me feels Ginobili will come up huge for the Spurs at some point. He is having a real solid playoffs including probably being the difference maker against Oklahoma City.

Rashard Lewis - This might be an overreaction to Lewis' Game 5 and Game 6 performances, but you cannot overlook what he did in the last two games. He had 18 points with Game 5 and added 13 in the Game 6 win. If Lewis can basically be Sam Perkins for this team and just drill corner threes, huge addition for this team's offense. He also could spend the whole time on the bench and I wonder why I am wearing this f---ing shirt.

Boris Diaw - Big Game Boris???  He tends to come up big when San Antonio needs him the most. Diaw could be a true factor battling Miami's small lineup. The likely assumption is he will play a heavy (no pun intended) role into the Spurs offense with likely him playing at the four with Duncan at the five. Diaw should add something to the Spurs offense.

Three Dollars 
Ray Allen - Every now and again, you will have 'Ray Allen Game.' They do not come often, but all the sudden, Allen hits a huge three in the waning moments of the game. He is completely lethal and terrifying to be out there on the court late in games. Ray isn't giving you 10 a game, but he will give a big three somewhere in this season.

Tiago Splitter - I know a lot of people are saying Tiago will not get much run because of the Spurs small lineup. I would disagree. San Antonio could put him with the small lineup forcing LeBron to play more in the post and hopefully draw fouls on him. Splitter might not score points or pull down a ton of rebounds, but his size could pay off for San Antonio.

Chris Andersen - He could be more valuable than this guarding Tim Duncan and the other big men in this series. They also need Andersen to be healthy because if he is absent from the series, San Antonio can have their way in the paint.

Danny Green - I really do believe there will be one game where Green comes out of nowhere and has five or more threes leading the Spurs. He had a huge stretch through Game 2-4 last season where everybody couldn't stop talking about him. Green did it one time against Oklahoma City, and I doubt he will be a ghost in this series.

Two Dollars 
Mario Chalmers - He has not reached double-digits in scoring since Game 2 of the Brooklyn series, but he will still play a part in this series. If Chalmers can take advantage of Parker not being 100 percent, he could contribute to this offense plus the defense on Parker will be vital. Worth noting he had games of 19, 14 and 20 points against San Antonio last Finals.

Matt Bonner - He started the last two games for San Antonio against Oklahoma City. Will the trend continue?  It doesn't sound promising looking at 2013 NBA Finals as he only played in garbage time in Game two through four.

One Dollar  
Norris Cole - Every now and again, Norris steps up in a big way. He bails the Heat out off the bench from time to time.

Patty Mills - I believe in Patty Mills. I think Gregg Popovich doesn't trust him enough, but have a feeling weird feeling there will be a night where NBA Twitter is using Patty's name in all caps.

Prediction
Heart says Spurs in 7, head says Heat in 6. I really don't know. It is so damn close. Let's go with Miami wining in six games.

Charlie.

Spurs Shut Down Thunder in Another Blowout Win

It is hard to remember a series that has been so boring go at least six games. There are still great individual performances, and things worth talking about yet one of the five games the final score has been under 10 points with none of them being close in the fourth quarter. TNT is probably going to church each day praying for a close game.  San Antonio didn't answer those prayers on Thursday night blowing out Oklahoma City, 117-89 featuring a big night from the Spurs bench, Gregg Popovich making the necessary adjustments and what's really going on with Serge Ibaka?

One of the things we haven't seen from the Spurs in the last couple of games is their bench coming to play on Thursday night.   San Antonio got great contributions from their bench last night with the stalwart Manu Ginobili having another great game and Boris Diaw coming to play making it real difficult on the Oklahoma City big men. Diaw spread out the floor creating separation inside allowing the Spurs perimeter players to attack the lane much better than the past two games. Matt Bonner started for Tiago Splitter, but he only played 17 minutes. It seems like Diaw will probably be getting the start for Game 6.  It makes the most sense for the Spurs. When he's playing at his highest level, it is the best Spurs team facing the Thunder.

Even though games are won on the court, Popovich ran circles around Scott Brooks. He didn't stay the course with the lineup he put out there for the last two games, and it paid off. Tim Duncan had his best game of the series since their Game 1 victory with 22 points and 12 rebounds making eight field goals as well. Duncan had a lot more room to operate thanks to the decision to increase the minutes of both Diaw and Bonner, the newest buddy cop drama. Pop also gave big minutes to Patty Mills who contributed with nine points off the bench hitting three big 3-pointers.  In the last three games, Mills combined for a total of seven points. Will Brooks have an answer for the new look Spurs?  The only thing I can think of is going super small with the Thunder starting Westbrook-Jackson-Butler-Durant-Ibaka, but that might do more harm than good.

Speaking of Ibaka, he might be hurt again. Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! reported last night Ibaka feels the same he did in the first two games of this series. What does that mean exactly?  His body feels like it did for the first two games of the series?  Or is he bummed out with what happened in Game 5 as it did compare to the first two games?  I am going to guess the former because that's all we care about right now is the health of Serge. If he is at 50 percent in Game 6, can Oklahoma City really start him out there? I guess they could for a little while, and then keep him on the bench the rest of the game. It is also possible Serge is toying with the media as they have done with him for the past couple of weeks. It has become a boy cried wolf scenario for Ibaka. I don't put much stock into what's out there until we see it in front of our faces.

I wish I had a handle on this series like I do with Indiana-Miami. I have no idea what to expect in Game 6, but please for the love of James Naismith can we have a close game?  Just one, that's all I am asking for out of this series. I expect some changes to Oklahoma City's lineup and I do think Pop will make slight adjustments as well.

Paul George Pushes Pacers Past Heat to Avoid Elimination

Indiana Pacers' collective backs were up against the well. They faced elimination last night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as Miami Heat could have ended the trilogy between the two teams with an emphatic whimper. But Pacers would not be deny as they won 93-90 with a strong second half from Paul George, propelling the team for a return to South Beach and try to force an inexplicable Game 7.  There was much to go over from this game ranging from the favorable whistle, Lance being Lance to the final non-shot by LeBron James.

Indiana needed its superstar to be great, and George did exactly that in the second half with 33 of his 37 points coming in the final two quarters. He made 15 field goal attempts with five of them coming from 3-point range. If you take out the nine missed threes from George's stat line, he made 15 of 20 baskets from the field making it a more impressive stat line. He looked in full control for the first time in the series. It showed the importance of LeBron James in foul trouble because George was able to take control of his basketball game with The King spending much of the time on the bench. It also nice to see a player back up his talk after George's bizarre Game 4 comments, it seemed like he had a purpose out on the basketball court. Curious to see how he carries it over to Game 6 on Friday night.

You never want to be 'that person' in the group whom blames everything on the officials, but man, it sure did look like the zebras did their best to help Indiana.  At one point, Grantland's Bill Simmons points out Miami had 19 fouls to Indiana's 10. What exactly happened?  LeBron is definitely not known for getting fouls called against him. Personally, I believe LeBron should average around four fouls a game leading to him fouling out more often, but the league is selective on when to call fouls on Bron. Maybe he put himself in consistently bad situations allowing for fouls to be called or maybe the officials listened to George's $25,000 complaints after Game 4. The whistle against James had much to do with him struggling last night going 2/10 from the field with seven points. LeBron never got into a rhythm affecting how he played last night.

Lance Stephenson continued to be the pest of the playoff after blowing in LeBron's ear and jumping into the huddle between a couple Heat players. He is baseball's version of Manny Ramirez.  There should be just Lance headlines because he is the only capable of pulling some of this shit. He picked up a 10,000 dollar fine for flopping last night in addition to the antics above. I do think wherever Lance goes this offseason because it will not be Indiana, we need to keep him in whatever conference LeBron is in so we can get at least three or four games of this plus a playoff series. Odds LeBron punches Lance next season are pretty high. Just needs to happen once.

Speaking of James, much criticism has come from James deciding not to take the layup at the rim. Those are the closest LeBron hate squad jumping on every mistake he makes in life. A couple things worth noting as to why James likely gave up the shot to Chris Bosh in the corner. One, LeBron had five fouls. They go to overtime and James fouls out, it is curtains for the Heat plus extra five minutes spent playing Game 5.  Two, Bosh has hit those shots all year. ESPN's Bomani Jones nicknamed him Big Shot Bosh because he found a way to hit late-game jumpers. Granted, Bosh's shot wasn't the greatest yet still, not a terrible decision. If you buy into the old adage, 'Play for overtime at home, win on the road', James tried to do exactly that on Wednesday night.

If anyone thinks this series is going the full seven, they are either a perpetual drunk or a Pacers homer because LeBron is ending this thing on Friday night. We are in store for an iconic James performance on Friday night and I hope Lance is ready for it along with his other Pacer teammates.

Charlie.

STOD: Lance's Ear Blow & Doug Collins - Birdman Fan

Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals saw the Indiana Pacers stave off elimination by beating Miami Heat forcing a Game 6. We will have more on the game later this afternoon. But this morning, we are hear to talk about Lance Stephenson blowing into LeBron's ear, and Doug Collins needing to put out a rap album. I don't know why Lance thought it was funny or getting in LeBron's head by blowing in his ear, but here we are. Ears are a weird body part. Obviously, we need them for hearing, but a lot of pressure points around them as well.  ESPN's Doug Collins set out to prove he is not the old man in the booth. ESPN's Jalen Rose hits us with the birdcall then Collins asks 'What happened to that boy.'  Street cred on a 100 million trillion, Doug. (h/t Reddit NBA & SPR)  

KRS-OKC Evens Up The Series

People love to bring up Oklahoma City traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets. It is a fun topic to remember as Harden became one of the top 10 scoring guards in the NBA. Many people assumed there would be countless situations where we wondered as basketball 'What if the Thunder had Harden, would they won an NBA Finals or made another NBA Finals appearance.' It is time for those articles and the hypothetical situations to rest in peace. 

Serge Ibaka is proving to be a more vital cog to Oklahoma City as they have won the last two games in rousing fashion. Last night featured an all-time Russell Westbrook game with Kevin Durant playing a solid Robin to Russ's Batman in a 105-92 victory. Oklahoma City has turned the tide on San Antonio, how do the Spurs adjust?     

Vince Carter had the nickname of 'Half Man, Half Amazing' and it honestly fit him during his time with the Toronto Raptors yet we could reuse it for Oklahoma City's point guard. Westbrook played a complete game with a stellar performance with 40 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, five steals and a block for good measure. If anyone ever wondered if Oklahoma City could make without Westbrook probably stopped trying to make that argument with their buddies at the bar. Same goes for those whom think Westbrook is only a second banana. When Russ is playing at his 100 percent, there are not many better. Only three of Westbrook's baskets were outside 13 feet with many of them of him attacking the paint. He got to the free throw line 14 times. There was also this crazy statistic about Westbrook's night. 

The weird thing is Durant had a pretty damn solid night. If it is hard to have a quiet 31 points, five rebounds and five assists, that is exactly what happened with KD last night. Durant had a big second quarter which helped push Oklahoma Ctiy out to a 15 point lead at halftime which included a 58 point half from the Thunder. Durant and Westbrook combined for 71 out of 105 points for Oklahoma City. The dynamic duo had two-thirds of the team's buckets. Some might say this should be a cause for concern, but if Durant and Westbrook are playing at this elite level, I don't know what team is stopping them. 

Ibaka being back is helping in a major way though. The last time San Antonio beat Oklahoma City with Serge in the lineup was Monday, March 11th, 2013.  That's over a year ago. Ibaka had only nine points and eight rebounds with a PER of +11 last night, and in Game 3, he had 15 points and seven rebounds. But it is not the point total, it is the defensive presence inside. Tim Duncan had only nine points in Game 4, he only added 16 in Game 3. Ibaka keeps haunting nightmares and it's not just Duncan's as the Spurs seem afraid to visit Ibaka's lane. Their confidence against Ibaka seems to have disappeared therefore what can be done to rid themselves of this terror known as Serge? 

The simple answer is foul trouble.  The game plan should be taking it to Serge right away in the opening part of the game with Duncan getting some of the first touches trying to draw Ibaka in foul trouble early on. Same goes for attacking with him with Tony Parker whose been terrible in the last two games. If he gets his shot blocked, so what? If a foul is called and Ibaka is out of the game, it opens up the floodgates to attack the paint. The other one is they need a secondary big man scorer. Duncan can only do so much in the twilight of his career. If the Spurs can get a 15 to 20 point effort from Boris Diaw or Tiago Splitter, that will be huge for the Spurs.

Many people are saying this is history repeating itself from 2012. I am not ready to go there yet. This Spurs team showed a great deal of resilency this playoffs in the Dallas series, and their overall bounce back from the heartbreak in Miami last June. But I do know, this is a different Thunder team. One that's getting more terrifying by the moment. 

Charlie. 

NBA Playoff Recaps: San Antonio Smashes Oklahoma City

After Game 1, it seemed like pushing the panic button on Oklahoma City's chances to challenge San Antonio was premature. After Game 2, the panic button has been pushed, and it is right for everyone to freak out for a little while. San Antonio beat the brakes off the Thunder as they won 112-77 in a 35-point playoff defeat, one of Oklahoma City's worst losses with a big night from Danny Green and a healthy effort from Tony Parker plus what will happen with Oklahoma City in the following two games.

Green became one of the biggest X-factors in the 2013 NBA Playoffs for San Antonio. In fact, he became one of the biggest storylines of the NBA Finals last year only to fall off in the last couple games. Green had his best night from shooting beyond the arc which helped San Antonio push out their lead in the second and third quarter.  The game remained close into the latter parts of the second half looking like we could get a close game between these two teams. Then Green happened in a major way. He helped push out the lead to 14 points by halftime and assisted in San Antonio's 33 point third quarter helping the Spurs go on a 43-14 run. In the second and third quarter, the Spurs outscored Oklahoma City, 67-36 and Green played a large part in it. In the last three games, Green is averaging 19.6 a game which is huge for this Spurs team.

Another major thing for the Spurs is the health of Tony Parker. He hurt his hamstring in Game 5 of the Portland game, and it appears he is all healed up. Parker had 22 points with five assists leading the scoring. Parker. He made 10 of 17 shots doing usual Parker things in the paint. One of the more unexpected things about the first two games is how Parker is still playing at such a high level going up against Russell Westbrook. Maybe I overvalued Westbrook's defense, or Parker is much better than I give him credit for. Regardless, he played great for a second straight game and appears he is back in full force. Hopefully, Parker stays healthy throughout the remainder of the playoffs.

Oklahoma City is in a state of flux. It is not just Serge Ibaka anymore either. Kevin Durant and Westbrook combined for 30 points with shooting 13/40 from the field making 1/9 from three. That's terrible. There is no way to describe it any other way. It is evident Durant and Westbrook are trying to do too much out there right now, and that's a problem for Oklahoma City. Neither of these two guys could have saved the Thunder last night as they had no else scoring for them. Jeremy Lamb got most of his points in garbage time, and the rest of the starting lineup had four total points. Someone not named Durant or Westbrook needs to step up in a major way for Oklahoma City, or this series could be over before we know it.

Does it look like San Antonio could sweep Oklahoma City right out of the playoffs?  Yes it does. Do I think it will happen?  No I don't because the Thunder are too good to let San Antonio walk all over them for the entire playoffs.  Oklahoma City needs more scoring in the starting lineup. I don't know if that means going small putting Durant as a four, but something needs to change before it's too late. It doesn't need to be said, but Game 3 is a must-win for Oklahoma City on Sunday night.

Charlie.

NBA Playoff Recap: Spurs Inside Dominance Take Game 1

When Oklahoma City Thunder lost Serge Ibaka for the playoffs, they knew it would be an uphill battle. Ibaka is a defensive force for Oklahoma City, and their weak inside presence became weaker without having Serge in there. San Antonio exploited them with 66 points in the paint including a big second half from Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan having one of his best games this playoffs. But this shouldn't be a panic button sort of things for Oklahoma City right now.  

While it is great to have players like Russell Westbrook and the NBA MVP Kevin Durant, it means absolutely nothing, if the team cannot guard the paint. Arguably one of the pillars to the NBA in terms of being successful. Points in the paint equate to easy buckets most of the time. Using that logic, 54 percent of San Antonio's shots were scored inside the paint and 'easy.'  54 percent!  That's only half of their points happened in the paint. No team is winning a basketball game with those sort of numbers meaning the Thunder will need to adjust in a major way in the following games.

Manu Ginobili always seems to have one game where he stands out in a major way. We all know he is not the same player as he once was, but sometimes, Manu dials up the time machine for a big performance. He definitely did on Monday night with a massive 18 point second half. He made 7 of  12 shots including three big 3-pointers helping San Antonio pull away.  Ginobili looked great out there finding different spots on the court to cause problems for the Thunder. This is a solid bounce back game for Ginobili whom averaged only eight points a game in the five-game series against Portland. He seemed comfortable out there and could be a real big problem for Oklahoma City.

Another player whose been sort of so-so through the playoff is Tim Duncan. Now, Duncan's 'so-so' is some players best effort so it is not really fair criticism. Although we haven't seen a game like this from Timmy D since Game 1 of the Dallas series.  Duncan had 27 points in 28 minutes with seven rebounds. He played great out there taking control with guys like Steven Adams and Kendrick Perkins being absolutely no match for the old wily veteran. For reference, Duncan averaged 14.8 points a game in the four meetings in the regular season meaning there was a direct effect of Ibaka not being on the court. Duncan could have one of those playoff series we will remember him fondly for if this continues in the coming games.

Oklahoma City is sort of screwed. They really cannot play zone against the Spurs because Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Ginobili will hurt them from the outside plus the zone allows Duncan to hit some of his favorite spots on the court. This is no time to panic for Oklahoma City, but they will need to do something different with their defensive effort. For whatever it's worth, they gave up 120-plus points to Los Angeles to start the series and adjusted nicely. Granted, they had Ibaka, but it is apparent Oklahoma City needs a game to adjust a bit.

For people to think this series is over should take a big cup of relax. It's not over yet, but if 60-plus points in the paint happen again in Game 2, we could be looking at another chance for the Spurs at the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Charlie.

NBA Playoffs Recap: The Return of Blue Collar Gold Swagger

For 75 percent of the NBA year, people were fired up to see Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. People knew these were the two best teams in the East, and Indiana looked poised to take down Miami after coming close in the last two years. Then shit hit the fan with the Pacers where they looked like a fringe playoff team at best, yet Indiana still found their way to meeting Miami again for a third consecutive year in the playoffs. 

Many people expected a disappointing third act, but Game 1 proved the Pacers might be more of a threat than many expected as the Pacers win 107-96 taking the first game of the series. Indiana had full control of the game in the second half with the Pacers relentlessly attacking the lane, getting to the free throw line and why it is fair to question Miami's defense plus the continued struggle from Chris Bosh against Indiana.   

Indiana had a great game from all five of their starters as they all finished with double figures. Paul George led the way with 24 points and seven assists. George utilized all of his abilities by getting to the lane and also making three 3-pointers. David West put in another great postseason effort as he had 19 points with seven rebounds.  All of the Indiana starters were extremely efficient on Sunday afternoon taking it to Miami like they have been in the last couple of years at home as the Pacers have won seven of their last eight games at home when playing the Heat. Indiana basically got the performance everyone had been waiting for in the last two months making you wonder if they were just waiting for Miami. 

Roy Hibbert has been one of, if not, the biggest NBA player storyline, and once again, he acted like a known Miami killer, perhaps we should call him Dexter Morgan. He had 19 points and eight rebounds plus causing Miami to shoot more from the outside versus them attacking the lane. The Heat only shot 15 free throws for the entire game as well as shot 23 threes missing 17 of them. Miami wanted nothing to do with Hibbert. They hadn't faced a seven footer in the playoffs and their lack of size shined brightly in this basketball game. Chris Bosh needs to find a way to bring Hibbert out of his comfort zone, but Bosh's continued problems against the Pacers should be a worry to Heat fans. 

For whatever it's worth, I think Bosh had one of his better seasons as a member of the Big Three. He had to takeover the sidekick role for Dwyane Wade as he battled through injury all season, but still he hasn't been able to figure out how to play against Indiana. Bosh needs to be more aggressive if Miami wants to avoid this kind of game again.  With Wade still not being the Wade of yesteryear, Bosh needs to be a factor night in and night out.  Getting only nine points on 4/12 shooting will not help anyone whatsoever.  Also what might help is the team not playing such lackluster defense.  

Much has been made about Miami's inability to play defense this season. It is a true problem for this team with their numbers being higher than they have been in the first three years of the Miami legacy. They allowed way too much inside, and that's a big problem. Now, this is the first real test for the Heat. Brooklyn ran out of gas nearly every game. Charlotte isn't a real playoff team so possibly, all it will take for Miami is an adjustment here or there. Erik Spolestra has been good in past years of finding that one key adjustment that flips the series completely on its head. Spo will need to do that to avoid a 2-0 start to the series, something that doesn't happen very often to Miami.  

Game 1's are always so tricky. It shouldn't be taken for a grain of salt nor should it be bible of what will take place in the series.  This could be the best effort we see from Indiana for the rest of the series, or we could be in for a better third act than we believed last week.   

Charlie. 

SnoTap NBA Conference Finals Preview

2014 NBA Playoffs delivered the best first round in NBA history. The second round didn't deliver like the first round did, but it still brought a ton of fun. The two seeds in each conference are in the Final Four meaning it went completely chalk, but that doesn't mean we will not have great games. It should be very exciting. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1.) San Antonio Spurs vs. 2. Oklahoma City Thunder 
Game 1: Monday May 19th 8:00 pm TNT
Game 2: Wednesday May 21st 8:00 pm TNT 
Game 3: Sunday May 25th 7:30 pm TNT
Game 4: Tuesday May 27th 8:00 pm TNT 
Game 5 (Thursday) Game 6 (Saturday) Game 7 (Monday) -  If Necessary

Reason Spurs win: They are at full strength... sorta - Oklahoma City swept San Antonio in the regular season, and Brooklyn-Miami thought us that it is meaningless in the postseason, but if you look at how many key players for San Antonio missed an Oklahoma City is pretty interesting. Manu Ginobli missed two of them, Tiago Splitter missed one, same goes Kawhi Leonard. Tony Parker's hamstring is a concern, but other than that, San Antonio is coming in with their full unit. Also Gregg Popovich getting a couple extra days and an extra game to look at this version of Oklahoma City is always a good thing.  
Reason Thunder win:  Reggie Jackson, the Spurs killer - There are not many people whom have their best games against San Antonio, but Reggie Jackson is one of those rarities. He owns San Antonio. Jackson averaged 21 points against the Spurs which was his highest total against any Western Conference opponent. If Tony Parker is hurt plus Patty Mills not being a great defender, Jackson could have a transcendent series off the bench. It will be interesting to see how Scott Brooks manages the minutes between Jackson, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.  

X Factors:  Spurs - Kawhi Leonard, Thunder - Steven Adams - Leonard is going to be the Durant stopper. He could do some of the similar things Tony Allen did in the first round. And Leonard has done some good work against KD as he only averages 27.3 this season which was second worst against a Western Conference team along with only shooting 43 percent, one of his lowest numbers. If Serge Ibaka's calf is worse than we think, Adams becomes an even bigger player, but he showed some real promise in extended minutes in Game 6. He will obvious frustrate Tim Duncan and Splitter, but in no way get under the skin like he did in Los Angeles.   

Prediction: Thunder in six - Doesn't it just feel like it is Oklahoma City's year? After coming back in Game 5 against Memphis, Zach Randolph getting suspended, the refs controversy in Game 5 of the Los Angeles series, everything seems to be breaking for them. I also think Durant has been on another level and poised to make it back to the NBA Finals. It really does seem like KD is possessed to get back to the NBA Finals.  

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1.) Indiana Pacers vs. 2. Miami Heat 
Game 1: Sunday May 18th 2:30 pm ABC 
Game 2: Tuesday May 20th 7:30 pm ESPN 
Game 3: Saturday May 24th 7:30 pm ESPN 
Game 4: Monday May 26th 7:30 pm ESPN 
Game 5: (Wednesday) Game 6 (Friday) Game 7 (Sunday) - If Necessary

Reason Pacers win: Paul George plays like a superstar - There have been a couple shining moments for George whether it be Game 4 against Washington or Game 7 against Atlanta, but the consistency hasn't been there. In five of the 13 games in the playoffs, George scored 18 or less points which isn't what you want from a superstar. Now he has a thrill for playing against Miami so maybe George elevates his game to another level, but he will need to be much better than he was for the majority of the Washington series.  

Reason Heat win: Dwyane Wade needs to be a true second banana. LeBron James is obviously important to Miami winning basketball games, but Wade will be needed in this series. Indiana's defense is still good no matter how dysfunctional they have been for the last couple of weeks. They will shutdown James at some point and will need a solid second option. In three games against Indiana, Wade scored 21.3 points plus he showed some signs of life on offense in the past few games. He needs to actually be a factor rather than a guy whose just there with a big name. We have seen in this rivalry before where Wade has a throwback game so don't be surprised if he throws out a 35 point night. 

X Factors:  Pacers - George Hill, Heat - Chris Bosh - Because Roy Hibbert has been subpar, no one is realizing how poorly George Hill is playing right now especially in the last couple game as Hill turned in two single digits effort. He needs to be a factor with Indiana's offense. Chris Bosh had one big shot against Brooklyn, but other than that, he really just been another guy. Bosh will face a tough inside game with David West and Hibbert, but his ability to spread out the defense could pay off huge dividends.  

Prediction: Heat in five -  You know how movies will come out with sequels or trilogies based on the success of the first two movies? And sometimes the sequel is great, and then the third movie is complete shit. Godfather Trilogy is a great example of this and basically, the third serving of Indiana-Miami feels like this will be the Godfather III. Not really that exciting of a series leading to Miami dominating in five games.   

-Charlie. 

Tapping The Keg Episode 88

Charles and Mitchell return for the latest and greatest (Not really) edition of Tapping The Keg podcast. We lead off the podcast with talking about smartphone etiquette around friends and others, this leads to another conversation regarding Tinder which is always good.  We move to talk about the Milwaukee Brewers more so about Rickie Weeks role with the team right now. Why we both agree left field would have been a bad idea. Matt Garza is also discussed. Topic moves to recapping Green Bay Packers draft selections which we both like a lot. NBA Playoffs discussion about the drama at the end of Los Angeles-Oklahoma City game and why we think two series are ending tonight. We finish with NBA head coaches with some hockey talk because why the hell not.

Charlie.

NBA Playoffs Recaps: LeBron Takeover & Blazers Bounce Back

Second Round of NBA Playoffs will feature two games of night.  I dropped the ball on writing on Saturdays meaning Friday games were left in the dust.  I am going to write about the games like we did for the first round because it is picking up steam in terms of the hits. I will probably add a full blog post sometimes when we have a must talked playoff win. 

This is why he is LeBron James, and you are not 
2014 NBA Playoffs have some memorable moments already only being three weeks into the postseason, and LeBron James added his own as the Heat won their seventh playoff game in eight tries. James had 49 points on 16/24 shooting with six rebounds and two assists. This game was all about LeBron. Who knows the motivation whether it was Paul Pierce saying publicly he wanted to guard James in this one, or LeBron realized no one was going to save this one. LeBron did in all facets of the game and looked like the best player in the world.  A couple things forgotten in the gaudy stat line for LeBron is Joe Johnson was put on complete lockdown by James in the final couple minutes of the game playing a large part in holding Brooklyn scoreless for nearly two and half minutes of game time. James can put the dagger in Brooklyn on Wednesday night, and I wouldn't doubt it if he does it.

One does wonder what if Brooklyn pulled this game out. If the Nets win despite LeBron having 45 points or more, it becomes a huge confidence boost for this team. Instead, they play with James and the Heat for 38.5 minutes to catch the #lemonbooty late in the game.

Blazers Breathe New Air... For Now
In the first three games, Portland looked like a 15th seed playing a two seed for three straight games as San Antonio boat raced them in all of them. But the Trail Blazers hit some big threes in the second half pulling away from the Spurs. After Portland getting 21 points off their bench in the first three games, Will Barton nearly got it by himself. Barton had 17 points with six rebounds. He played 30 minutes in the game, the last two times Barton played that much was starting in the final game and a 28 minute effort against Brooklyn in late February. He might be the secret weapon to attempt and take this series back to Rip City. Additionally, Nicolas Batum had a great evening that shouldn't be forgotten as he had 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.

There is nothing really to be concerned about if you are the Spurs. Portland got hot in the third quarter where the Blazers dropped 35 points. Honestly, I think San Antonio pulled back the horses and rested up for Game 5 which is perfectly okay.

Charlie.

NBA Playoffs Recap: OKC's 1-2 Punch Delivers & Return of Roy

Second Round of NBA Playoffs will feature two games of night.  I dropped the ball on writing on Saturdays meaning Friday games were left in the dust.  I am going to write about the games like we did for the first round because it is picking up steam in terms of the hits. I will probably add a full blog post sometimes when we have a must talked playoff win. 

KD & Russ: OKC's Watch The Throne  
A day after Kevin Durant won an MVP and gave an emotional speech that made every mom fall in love with KD, he came through with his pal Russell Westbrook with near triple-doubles from both of them (Russ technically had a triple-double but that was a weak 10th assist). It was like watching Kanye West and Jay Z on the basketball court. We can debate which one is whom. Durant looked completely in control early on with 17 first half points and Westbrook finished them off in the second half. He helped them pull Oklahoma City away in the second half. Huge effort from Westbrook in terms of energy and what he brought to the table. If we keep getting this version of Russ, Oklahoma City will be hard to beat for the rest of the playoffs.

It is worth mentioning the developing storyline of Serge Ibaka's defense against Blake Griffin has been stellar for the first two games of the playoffs. Griffin scored 13 points in the first two games of this series against Ibaka's defense. He needs to figure it out against Serge and be a factor because if not, the Clippers inside presence isn't really there.

ROY HIBBERT LIVES 
I struggle with Indiana in the worst kind of way. One minute, they look like complete hell and the next, Roy Hibbert drops 28 points with nine rebounds to go along with it. According to Hibbert, he went fishing with Paul George whom had TMZ-esque rumors about him with Hibbert's wife, and helped clear his mind. Also Andrew Bynum left the team as well. I think we need to look at Indiana from a one game a day. We shouldn't expect this in Washington, and sort of wait and see. I will add this about the game, it was an old-school Indiana win.

Old school is only a year ago, but Indiana won this game by playing defense. Paul George and David West combined for 20 points and they still won this basketball game.  That's extremely impressive.  Additionally, Lance Stephenson was 3/12 on the night which all seem like recipes for failure, but not for Indiana as their defense willed them to the victory along with a few big shots.

Charlie.

NBA Playoffs Recap: Tuesdays are for Blowouts

Second Round of NBA Playoffs will feature two games of night.  I dropped the ball on writing on Saturdays meaning Friday games were left in the dust.  I am going to write about the games like we did for the first round because it is picking up steam in terms of the hits. I will probably add a full blog post sometimes when we have a must talked playoff win. 

Ray Allen turns back the clock
As the game between Brooklyn and Miami tipped off, people wondered what the expectations should be as the Nets swept Miami through the regular season. The Heat made it look like an aberration by the third quarter as they scored eleven more points than Brooklyn pulling away from the Nets leading to Miami winning by 21 points. Biggest reason was a Throwback Tuesday performance by Ray Allen.  He had 19 points making four threes. In the four games against Charlotte, Allen scored a total of 13 points. For Miami to be successful, they need one of their bench players to be a true scoring threat. It doesn't have to be the same player, but Allen filled the role last night. LeBron James also had an extremely efficient night with 22 points on 10/15 shooting all coming without shooting a single three.

Even though they are older and the expectations are different, Brooklyn needs more from Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. They combined for eight points all coming from Pierce. Garnett only had two shot attempts. Pierce only shot the ball eight times which isn't going to get the job done either. We will see what happens with Brooklyn moving forward in the series.

Tony Parker rises to the occasion... Again 
In Game 7, we saw Tony Parker taking over the basketball game leading to a blowout win against Dallas. He did the same thing against Portland in Game 1 turning in another 30-plus performance with 33 points and nine assists in a rout of the Trail Blazers. Parker exposed a dirty secret about Damian Lillard... He cannot really play much defense. Lillard and the Blazers had no answer for Parker for the entire game. He had six turnovers, but still had a PER of +27 which shows how efficient Parker was on Tuesday night. Another huge thing about this blowout is it gave the older players for San Antonio a much-needed rest after a full series against Dallas. Parker and Kawhi Leonard were the only two players whom played over 30 minutes last night.

It is clear if Portland is going to be a threat in this series, they will need someone else to step up other than LaMarcus Aldridge. LMA had quite possibly the quietest 32 points and 14 rebounds performance of recent memory. That's a hell of a stat line but no one remembers it when you get beatdown by 24 points. Lillard and Nicolas Batum need to be more of a factor than shooting 9/27 from the field.

Charlie.

Gotta Respect Gilbert Arenas Game

I really have no idea what Gilbert Arenas is doing with his life. I am sure just hanging out, watching some

hoops and banking in 22 million dollars for doing nothing like his name was Bobby Bonilla. That must be the life. Hang out all day and just watch the bank account grow while I work part-time hoping for a good paycheck each time around. Anyways, he jumped on the Wizards bandwagon which should be expected given Arenas' success with the team. We can forget the whole gun thing for a second. Arenas decided to do what's popular on the Internet and poke holes at the number one trending topic this morning, Roy Hibbert. It was pretty funny stuff. Mr. Hibachi still got jokes and that's fantastic. We need Gil at courtside with DeShawn Stevenson for Game 3.

NBA Playoffs Recaps: Game 1 Road Warriors

Second Round of NBA Playoffs will feature two games of night.  I dropped the ball on writing on Saturdays meaning Friday games were left in the dust.  I am going to write about the games like we did for the first round because it is picking up steam in terms of the hits. I will probably add a full blog post sometimes when we have a must talked playoff win. 

What injuries? Chris Paul takes control in Game 1

For the first round of the playoffs, much of the discussion with Chris Paul had to do with his injuries bothered by a hamstring and a hand injury. Paul did not really play well in the seven games against Golden State, but he stepped up in Game 1 against Oklahoma City. Paul drilled six straight threes in the first half propelling him to 32 points with 10 assists only missing two shots for the entire game. Additionally, the six threes were a career-high, he finished the game with eight threes. Paul added an element to his game, and if this becomes consistent, the rest of the league is in trouble. Blake Griffin had a nice night with 23 points on 7/16 shooting making most of his free throws from the line. This was an ass-kicking from Los Angeles, and I don't know how exactly Oklahoma City responds to it.

Oklahoma City needs to do something else on defense because they aren't playing Memphis anymore. They gave up 69 points in the first half. 69!  They have done this before as the Thunder do not have the best defense in the world, but at the same time, you aren't winning championships by giving up that many points in one half. It could be a case of Oklahoma City playing more in the halfcourt to slow down the potent Clippers offense.  

Wizards continue their road dominance 

This is starting to get silly for The Wiz Kids. They have won their last seven road games if you include playoffs and regular season plus they exorcised a demon by beating Indiana on the road, something they hadn't done in the last 12 tries. Bradley Beal does not really seem like a second option. Like it feels offensive to call Beal the meatballs to John Wall's spaghetti.  He is a star in the making and will only get better. Beal made a statement with 25 points, seven rebounds ans seven assists. But the thing that impressed me about this Wizards win was how the role players showed up in this one, and if that happens consistently, we could be heading to a real strange place with the Wiz. 

Trevor Ariza hit six threes channeling his days as a Los Angeles Laker in the postseason where he just became a difference maker from the outside.  He also did a pretty good job on Paul George as he went 4/17 from the field, obviously Ariza wasn't the only one guarding George but had a hand in it. Drew Gooden had 12 points with 13 rebounds including seven offensive rebounds. They both added a new element to Washington's game. Oh and Roy Hibbert... 0 points with two rebounds. YIKES.

Charlie. 

SnoTap's NBA Second Round Preview

2014 NBA Playoffs delivered the best first round in NBA history. The second round is filled with a great deal of intrigue and drama. We break down both conferences in the same way we did the first round looking at a reason each team will win plus an X-Factor with a prediction. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1.) San Antonio Spurs vs. 5.) Portland Trail Blazers 
Game 1: Tuesday May 6th 8:30 pm TNT
Game 2: Thursday May 8th 8:30 pm ESPN2
Game 3: Saturday May 10th 9:30 pm ESPN
Game 4: Monday May 12th 9:30 pm TNT
Game 5 (Wednesday) Game 6 (Friday) Game 7 (Sunday) -  If Necessary

Reason Spurs win: Tony Parker plays like he did in Game 7 against Dallas for the whole series. A dirty little secret about Damian Lillard is he does not really play much defense. Wes Matthews is their stopper, and he did fine against James Harden yet I don't know if he can keep up with Parker for a whole game so I will expect to see

Reason Blazers win: I am trying to figure out who guards LaMarcus Aldridge in this game. Tiago Splitter? Tim Duncan? Probably a combination of those two guys, but LMA can take these guys outside of the post which is huge for the team allowing Lillard and Matthews to get into the lane. He can also get both of them in foul trouble which is equally important. I could see another big series for Aldridge. He averaged 21 points a game with eight rebounds a game in three meetings with the Spurs this year.  

X Factors:  Spurs - Tim Duncan,  Blazers - Thomas Robinson - We haven't really seen a vintage Duncan performance yet in the playoffs. 17 points is one of his lowest average of his playoff career and only pulling down around eight rebounds is his lowest rebound total since the 2009 season. I am throwing T-Rob in there because he showed some flashes against Houston, and Portland will need a better post effort from a guy not named LaMarcus. I am throwing T-Rob out there. 

Prediction: Spurs in six - Do I want to pick Portland?  Yes, yes I do. But I am trying not buy into the hype because they beat a poor defensive team in Houston where in multiple games, they came back late in the game. I doubt Portland will be able to do that against San Antonio. One name we haven't mentioned is Danny Green and he could be someone lying in the weeds for the Spurs.

2.) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 3.) Los Angeles Clippers 
Game 1: Monday May 5th 8:30 pm TNT
Game 2: Wednesday May 7th 8:30 pm TNT
Game 3: Friday May 9th 9:30 pm ESPN
Game 4: Sunday May 11th 2:30 pm ABC
Game 5: (Tuesday) Game 6 (Thursday) Game 7 (Saturday) - If Necessary

Reason Thunder win: Durant continues to light the world on fire. Reggie Miller said on the Dan Patrick Show today that 'The newspaper thing could be the best thing for him (Durant).'  I agree with him, and it would make me very nervous if I were a Clippers fan. Durant averaged 32 points a game in four matchups with the Clippers which is one of the highest outputs against teams KD played four times this season. I think we could see an inspired Durant's performance where he takes over multiple times, and Russell Westbrook takes a little bit of a backseat.  

Reason Clippers win: Blake Griffin takes over in multiple ways. Oklahoma City does not have much post depth past Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Steven Adams. Blake found ways to exploit Golden State's weak interior play, and he could do the same with Oklahoma City even if Ibaka is a better player than anything the Dubs had in Round 1. How the games are called will be a huge factor in Griffin's success because if they let Oklahoma City beat him up, he will need to adjust his game. 

X Factors:  Thunder - Reggie Jackson, Clippers - DeAndre Jordan - Couple obvious ones but they are equally important to the team's success. Jackson needs to equalize Darren Collison. He also bailed out Westbrook and Durant before, and can do it again. Jordan makes Los Angeles a different team when he is scoring and rebounding in double digits especially with his scoring. Jordan seems like he has some confidence and could handle the Thunder's inside group. 

Prediction: Clippers in seven -  Easily, the best series out of the four in the second round. Los Angeles can win on the road. I think they will do it in seven given their inside game with Griffin and Jordan. The only thing that worries me is Chris Paul's health against Russell Westbrook. Odds are he will not pick us Russ very often, but Paul could become very worn down. If that happens, Oklahoma City might just win the war of attrition.   

1.) Indiana Pacers vs. 5.) Washington Wizards
Game 1: Monday May 5th 6:00 pm TNT
Game 2: Wednesday May 7th 6:00 pm TNT
Game 3: Friday May 9th 7:00 pm ESPN
Game 4: Sunday May 11th 7:00 pm TNT
Game 5: (Tuesday) Game 6 (Thursday) Game 7 (Saturday) - If Necessary

Reason Pacers win: They play like a team. It is that simple. This team won their first 33 of 40 games for a reason. They played like a cohesive unit. I realize they won back-to-back games to finish off Atlanta, but I am still not convinced this team is truly united right now. Indiana plays like one and not individuals, they will blow through this series.  

Reason Wizards win: Bradley Beal and John Wall come up massive. Paul George will likely pick up one of the them, but can he keep up with either of them in terms of quickness? Same goes for Lance Stephenson. If they play up-tempo and make Indiana play Washington's game, they could really do some big things. I really do think the guards of Washington could have some real big series. 

X Factors:  Pacers - Roy Hibbert, Wizards - Trevor Ariza - Yes we need to see Roy Hibbert come to play finally. He played well in Game 7 and against the bigger Wizards team could give Hibbert more an opportunity to work yet Marcin Gortat and Nene are badass dudes meaning Hibbert needs to keep his composure out there. Ariza could be huge for this team. We talked about his postseason performance last time around too, but what makes him important this round is the fact, he will be on Mr. George and containing him will be a tall task. If he does it well, Wizards have a good shot at winning the series. 

Prediction: Wizards in six -  Given the personalities in this series, I think we are going to see some chippy stuff from each side of the aisle in these games. I like the guards of Washington better than I do, Indiana's and I don't think Hibbert is all there. Until Indiana proves me otherwise, I am not ready to buy in to this team. If they light the world on fire, we can have a new discussion. 

2.) Miami Heat vs. 6.) Brooklyn Nets 
Game 1: Tuesday May 6th 6:00 pm TNT
Game 2: Thursday May 8th 6:00 pm ESPN2
Game 3: Saturday May 10th 7:00 pm ABC
Game 4: Monday May 12th 7:00 pm TNT
Game 5 (Wednesday) Game 6 (Friday) Game 7 (Sunday) - If Necessary

Reason Heat win: They need to have a good Chris Bosh come alive. What went under the radar is Bosh only averaged 14.5 points a game in their sweep against Charlotte. He can bring the big bruisers of Brooklyn outside of the paint creating more opportunities for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to slash into the paint. He has seen Kevin Garnett in May before, and this time, Bosh is the much better player.  

Reason Nets win: Deron Williams becomes Deron Williams of old. Honestly, this Nets team can win the series. Paul Pierce and KG need to be big yet Williams actually having a say in the offense is the biggest key. Mario Chalmers is a decent enough defender, but Williams can still do some things to cut out what Chalmers wants to do on the defensive end. In three games against Miami, he only averaged seven points a game. That cannot happen if the Nets want to advance. 

X Factors:  Heat- Mario Chalmers, Nets - Marcus Thornton -  Heat need to find more scoring. They always seem to go through this at one point of the playoffs where only the Big Three are scoring and no one else. Chalmers did nothing in the four games against Charlotte and that cannot happen again if this team wants to win. Thornton is a microwave. If he gets hot, look out. And they might need a 'Marcus Thornton game' where he has 30 points making seven threes to win the series, he has found his way into some moments in the playoffs thus far.

Prediction: Heat in seven -  This will also be a nasty series with a ton of chippiness given the rivalry between Pierce and Garnett versus LeBron and Ray Allen. Also the fact Brooklyn won all four times they met this year doesn't sit well with the Heat either. Game 1 is huge. If Miami comes out tired from the layoff, Brooklyn will think they belong in the series. I think it goes the distance with LeBron James shutting the door in Game 7 with an iconic performance. 

Charlie.

NBA Game Seven Weekend: Big Stars Shine the Brightest

Every night there is some sort of drama about the NBA Playoffs. Every game is worth talking about even if it is just to make fun of somebody. The recaps look at the game itself and what could be upcoming for the teams.  


Brooklyn hangs on after a near-collapse in Toronto
The poor Raps. They battled like hell back in the fourth quarter after being down 10, and it seemed like there was no chance they could win this basketball game yet Toronto came back to make it a game in the final minute. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry did not have a defining Game 7 performances for the right reasons. DeRozan took it to the tin with three minutes left drawing an offensive foul and then a technical. Thankfully, Brooklyn came up empty on both attempts, but still, you need to keep their composure. Lowry had the final shot for a win and Brooklyn collapsed on him with three defenders yet he didn't pass the ball. That needed to happen, but instead Lowry tried to be the hero which did not work out for him.

Amid the comeback, Joe Johnson came to play on Sunday. We talked at the beginning of the series about how Brooklyn had closers on their team with Johnson, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Joe Cool stepped out to close out this basketball game. He had eleven straight points for Brooklyn at one point in the fourth. Solid performance from Johnson.

Clippers close out Warriors with a big second half
What a great game this was to close us out on Saturday night. Golden State had an early lead, but slowly, but surely, Los Angeles started to put themselves back in the game with some tremendous performances by the primetime players for the Clippers. Once again, DeAndre Jordan played terrific making all six of his shots, having 15 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. I have said this once, will say it again, if Jordan provides this kind of production, Los Angeles is the best in the West. Chris Paul had a great game after some concern about him with his injuries to his hand and hamstring. Paul had 22 points with 14 assists. J.J. Redick came up big late in the game which helped send Golden State home.

I am trying to figure out what Golden State's management's issue with Mark Jackson. Stephen Curry wants him to keep his job which would probably be my indicator he should stay put, but if Golden State forces him out, it will be interesting to see what it does for team chemistry.

The best shine through in Oklahoma City. 
We tend to see big players step up to the plate when it comes to Game 7's. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are two of the best in the league, and they showed it on Saturday with major performances. Durant had 33 points with 12/18 shooting with eight rebounds. In the last two games since the whole newspaper snafu, he has been excellent. But the bigger story was Russell Westbrook. He had another triple-double with a bananas stat line. Westbrook finished the game with 27 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds including a couple steals and blocks to go with it. He really looked strong out there, and if Russ is playing at this level with the good 90 percent, not the bad 10 percent, Oklahoma City is a scary, scary team. I like everything they are doing right now.

Pacers handle their business, dispose of Atlanta 
ROY HIBBERT FINALLY SHOWED UP. Well kinda. He had 13 points with seven rebounds making six shots which is more than what Hibbert has done in this whole series. Have to respect Frank Vogel for still trotting him out there and trusting him when literally no one had his back. Paul George was the bigger story. A primetime player stepped up in the big moment with 30 points taking over in the second half. George finished off the Hawks with great ease and looked great out there. Even though Indiana's story has been about their struggles, George is excelling in the playoffs. The numbers are up in both points and rebounds with George averaging a double-double with him being the top player on this team. Also worth noting how well Lance Stephenson played with an efficient scoring night with 19 points 14 rebounds and five assists.

Spurs wake up and finish off Dallas with ease 
Many people wondered how the Mavericks got to seven games with San Antonio? It seemed like Dallas could maybe get one or two games, but no one thought this team could bring it to seven games. San Antonio shot over 70 percent in the first two quarters meaning it was complete curtains for Dallas' chances to pull the upset. Tony Parker was excellent with 32 points with making eleven shots on 19 attempts with none being from outside the arc. Parker dressed down this Dallas team, and it is fair to say, he is healthy from his ankle injury which could be big trouble for Portland. Another thing to keep an eye on is Danny Green's performance, he had been struggling, but last two games, he is averaging 16.5 points with 6/8 from three. If Green comes to play, this is a different San Antonio team.

Charlie.

NBA Playoff Recaps: WE'RE GOIN' TO GAME SEEEEEVEN!

Every night there is some sort of drama about the NBA Playoffs. Every game is worth talking about even if it is just to make fun of somebody. The recaps look at the game itself and what could be upcoming for the teams.  

Indiana's furious late comeback saves their season 
It appeared like Atlanta was going to do it. They were up five points with three minutes left to go in the game, but then the #lemonbooty hit the Hawks like it has so many times before. Indiana went on a 14-1 run to force a Game 7.  Much of it was led by David West who played terrific with 24 points, eleven rebounds and six assists including some key shots to finish off the Hawks. Paul George had 24 points as well, but most came in the first three quarters of the game although he hit a big 3-pointer late to help push Indiana past Atlanta. For George, more is being talked about him leaving the bench during the George Hill and Mike Scott scuffle. Technically, George could be suspended for Game 7 for leaving the bench. I doubt Adam Silver will bring the hammer here eve though people will cry out conspiracy if George does not get suspended. George barely leaves the bench and he doesn't try to start the fight. Best game of the night in my opinion.

Mike Scott v. George Hill


DOY: Mike Scott - Probably the best one of the playoffs thus far.


Durant drops 36 in a blowout road win 
Earlier on Thursday, a  newspaper, The Oklahoman came out with a headline that read 'Mr. Unreliable' referring to Kevin Durant and his struggles against Memphis. Durant's people including his brother and mother took offense as well as others in the media. This led to the paper saying they overreacted a bit, but Durant shrugged it off. But you cannot tell me Durant had some added motivation dropping 14 first quarter points and finishing with 36 in a convincing 20-point win over Memphis plus he added 10 rebounds. He played with a chip on his shoulder that we haven't seen in a little bit from Durant. He seemed angry and wanting this game more than anyone on the court. He dazzled out there. Russell Westbrook wasn't shabby either as he went for 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The bash brothers were back, and I have a feeling they are sick of everyone's shit which could be trouble for Memphis.

Warriors hang on in an ugly, choppy game 
There is nothing from the box score that makes you happy. Three of the major players fouled out in the game - David Lee, J.J. Redick and Blake Griffin. Each team shot horribly from the free throw line with Golden State missing 14 attempts while Los Angeles missed eleven. Neither team shot the ball well either. But someone had to win the game, Golden State took it as they got a boost from their crowd and Andre Igoudala. In games where nothing seems to work, if you have a raucous crowd behind you, it can be the difference in the game. That's what it felt like on Thursday night at the Roracle.  Also it didn't hurt Iggy had seven big points down the stretch for the Dubs.  Out of the three Game 7's on Saturday, this might be the most unpredictable. I am not sure what exactly will transpire, but it has the potential to be a great finish into the wee hours of the night.

Charlie.

NBA Playoffs Recaps: Lowry! Lin! Parker! A Night for Point Guards

Toronto Avoids Collapse with Strong Play From Lowry
It seemed like a pretty calm first session of NBA games this evening. It didn't seem like anyone would make a real run at making it a close game, but Brooklyn Nets come back from a 26 point deficit to make it a close game late for another thrilling game in Toronto. Jonas Valanciunas is thanking his lucky stars because if not for a backcourt violation, Deron Williams 65 foot heave would have went in or at least hit rim before Jonas decided to jump for no apparent reason. It would have been one of the biggest blunders in sports history given the nature of the game, the collapse and everything. Toronto is thanking their lucky stars today. Kyle Lowry was terrific on Wednesday night as he had 36 points and six assists with making six threes as well. Lowry put Deron Williams on skates to get the go-ahead bucket as things looked in peril for the Raptors. I still think this series is going seven, but Brooklyn needs to keep Lowry contained on Friday.

Appropriate tweet: Toronto gave lint rollers away in honor of Drake and We The North might be my favorite team slogan ever.

So this is a real thing in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/pYsyTKP5UV
— Jim ICE (@Jim_ICE) April 30, 2014

Houston forces Game 6 
It felt like we were heading to another close battle between Houston and Portland as it became close late in the fourth quarter, but the Rockets pulled away with cold shooting from Trail Blazers forcing a Game 6 returning to Rip City on Friday night. Patrick Beverly battled a fever rendering him useless on the court as he looked sick with him bundled up, eating food and drinking more water therefore someone need to step up in the moment. The person choosing that role was Jeremy Lin. The goat of Game 4 became one of the reasons they are playing on Friday as Lin had 21 points making nine shots and coming up big for this Rockets team. Also a big part of this game was Omer Asik and Dwight Howard combined for 29 rebounds inside which goes a long way.

One of the underrated storylines from last night was how bad LaMarcus Aldridge played on Wednesday. LMA had back-to-back 40 point performances, and Houston held him to single figures. It could be an aberration and Aldridge ends up having a huge game on Friday night yet if Houston figured out the secret to stop him, it becomes a whole new series.

Parker powers Spurs past Mavs
Even though San Antonio won Game 4, Tony Parker faced some criticism because he struggled most of the game and battled a bum ankle. Parker flipped the script in Game 5 being the difference for San Antonio with 13 second half points giving the Spurs a 109-103 victory. Parker finished the game with 23 points being one of the five San Antonio players in double figures. He took control of this game, and that's an encouraging sign for the Spurs moving forward in this series and the playoffs. If Parker can get over his dinged ankle, San Antonio will be the contender again like we all expected them to be in the NBA postseason. Spurs also dominated Dallas inside as they scored 26 more points in the paint than the Mavericks. It started to feel like the Spurs are taking advantage in this series. I wouldn't be surprised if they close out on Friday night.

Appropriate Vine:  Great answer from Gregg Popovich as Vince Carter was lighting up San Antonio



Charlie.