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. 

NBA Playoff Recaps: KD Takes Over, Pacers Hold On

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. 

A late Thunder roll in Los Angeles pushes Oklahoma City to victory 
It seemed like we were heading to at least one Game 7 in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Los Angeles Clippers got out to a 16 point lead in the early stages of the game, but Oklahoma City slowly but surely came back pulling away late in the game with a huge effort from Kevin Durant.  When people talk about the best players in the world, they want them to come up big in the big moments no matter what the sport can be, and Durant did just that after a bad start. He picked up two fouls early on with 1/7 shooting meaning KD shot 7 of 29 in about six quarters. He turned it on from there going 11/16 for the rest of the game finishing with 39 points, 16 rebounds and five assists. Hell of a stat line from Durant when the team needed it the most. Additionally, this leads to people forgetting all about the fact Russell Westbrook shot 4/15 in a Game 6.

Valient effort by Los Angeles, but they got tight at the end of the game. They didn't really attack the basket when Serge Ibaka left the game with a calf injury, and it didn't feel like anyone wanted to take that big shot when Los Angeles needed it the most. They also were on the bad end of the officials multiple times down the stretch with consecutive offensive foul calls with one being bullshit on Chris Paul and the other, a clear foul on Blake Griffin. As for Paul, he fails to make the Western Conference Final and this will become a narrative like it did for many of the other greats whom had postseason struggles. He played well in the game going for 25 points, eleven assists and seven rebounds, but in the end, Oklahoma City will face off against San Antonio, a rematch of the 2012 Western Conference Finals.

Pacers Continue Winning Road Ways 
You know how there are things in sports that end up being the most difficult to explain. I think that's what we have with the Washington-Indiana series. The road team ends up winning five of the six games and the Pacers move on to a rematch against their rival, the Miami Heat. Nothing is more Eastern Conference than Indiana finding their way into the remaining two. A team with a great deal of dysfunction is in the final two, but to their credit, they withstood a hell of a fight from Washington. The Wiz took the lead in the fourth even, but Indiana stood tall getting back the lead with two big David West jumpers. West played great with 29 points and six rebounds. Lance Stephenson bounced back from three straight rough games to have 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds including only missing five shots all game. Might not be able to understand Indiana, but got to respect them a bit.

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 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.