Runnin - n - Gunnin

NBA Playoffs Round 1 Round-Up: Miami Heat (2) defeat the New York Knicks (7) 4-1

And so the peculiar case of the New York Knicks’ season ends.  

I thought that the Knicks would at least push the series to two games, one win coming from Melo singlehandedly throwing up some hero ball and the other coming from Novak and JR Smith shooting lights out, but I guess we have to settle for only one.  Hey, at least they snapped that 13 game playoff losing streak!

This 5 game series has been as ridiculous, confusing, and heartbreaking for the Knicks as their regular season has.  First, Iman Shumpert (one of my favorite rookies) tears his ACL in Game 1.  Then after a Game 2 loss, Amar’e inexplicably pushes a fire extinguisher, cutting his hand badly and goes out for Game 3.  Game 4 saw the Knicks breaking their losing streak as well as staving off elimination… but at the loss of veteran guard Baron Davis (one of my favorite players in the past 10 years).  Plus, JR Smith had gone cold all series and Steve Novak never got enough touches.  

Was this series indicative of what the Miami Heat will do in the rest of the playoffs?  Well, I wouldn’t say so just yet.  This Knicks squad has been incredibly inconsistent all year with roster changes, coaching changes, injuries, etc, and these 5 games alone have been no different.  The Heat’s defense will be there, but it’s always there, but they will be going up against a team with a more cohesive identity that has a great frontline (the Pacers).  Granted, the Heat’s overall talent can overcome any team, but I expect to see some closer battles than we are used to.  I never think the regular season is indicative of anything that will happen in the post season (example: did anyone see the Mavs coming last year?).

So with a farewell to the Knicks, I’ll leave you with this amazing moment from STAT himself:

NBA Playoffs Round 1 Round-Up: Indiana Pacers (3) defeat the Orlando Magic (6) 4-1

Finally, the series nobody really wanted to see is over.  No offense to either team, but unless you’re a Pacer fan or a Magic fan, no way you really had any desire to watch this series.  

After a somewhat peculiar first game upset where Orlando won 81-77, the Pacers finally came to play, taking the next four games for the gentleman’s sweep.  The Pacers decidedly took all but one win with blowouts, and the only close win (101-99 OT) came with a big game from their big offseason acquisition of David West.  

Orlando was without their superstar Dwight Howard, who was giving the team problems with his horrible PR decisions anyway.  His absence prompted Stan Van Gundy to put Glen Big Baby Davis alongside Ryan Anderson as the starting big men.  So basically, David West and Roy Hibbert were able to get whatever they wanted.  Coming this summer, we might finally get some questions answered regarding SVG’s coaching job or Dwight Howard’s trade request (in my opinion? Keep Van Gundy, trade Howard).  All I can say is that I wouldn’t want to be a Magic fan right now (sorry, y’all).

I actually really like this Pacers team.  Paul George’s and Roy Hibbert’s improvements have helped them both offensively and defensively.  Danny Granger can do less now on the offensive end with the additions of George Hill, Leandro Barbosa, and David West.  Their bench is scrappy and they all work hard.  And Frank Vogel has shown that he can be a really good coach.  I honestly think that they are only a couple of steps away from being real contenders in future years (another year or two of Paul George’s growth and a consistent starting point guard) and that should be exciting.  

The Pacers will face the winner of the Heat vs. Knicks series… which means they will be facing the Heat.  Roy Hibbert should be getting whatever he wants, but the Lebron vs. Granger matchup should be a lot of fun to watch.  

NBA Playoffs Round 1 Round-Up: San Antonio Spurs (1) defeat the Utah Jazz (8) 4-0

And here we have our second sweep of the year!  I personally would have thought that this would have ended in a gentleman’s sweep (4-1) because Utah is unreal when they play at home, but this Spurs team is just too damn good. 

But let me rant a little about the Jazz.  I’ve never really liked the Utah Jazz.  Even back with Malone and Stockton, then eventually the mix with Williams, AK47, and Boozer, I just found myself always rooting against them.  Throw in that crazy home crowd, and the boos start rolling out from me.  Nothing against each of those individual players — they’re all great and I love each of their games individually — but add the Jazz name and I cringe.  

But this 2012 Utah Jazz team was a different story for me.  They have a great starting frontline with Millsap and Jefferson.  Devin Harris is good again.  Gordon Hayward is a great wing player to watch — he shoots the ball well, is athletic, and plays defense by going for blocks.  Derrick Favors is showing that he was a great pick (granted, by the Nets…) at #3 back in 2010.  They have a great young core that can grow together.  I just can’t see myself liking any of those older players like I do with this group, and it’s fun.

So why couldn’t the Jazz squeak out even a single win?  The Spurs are just too damn good.  It took until Game 4 for Ty Corbin to use the big lineup, starting Millsap at the 3 and Favors at the 4, and it worked… for the 1st quarter.  Here’s why Greg Popovich won coach of the year.  He adapts well in these situations and knows how to attack each team where it would hurt.  Yes, the Jazz started playing well, but the Spurs just played better when Pop countered their bigs with a small lineup.  

Quick rant about the Spurs too: I’ve always thought they were an incredibly boring team.  Especially as a casual fan, I could never put my finger on as to why I hated watching them.  As this shortened season went on and I started watching basketball more closely, the Spurs have actually become one the more fun teams to watch, and now I regret blowing them off as boring in seasons past.  Their ball movement and the players feel for each other is actually quite amazing; I don’t think there’s any other team that plays to the same page as these Spurs do.  And that’s why they’re favorite to make it to the Finals out of nowhere.  

And here I leave you with a quote from Jazz Center Al Jefferson, before Game 4 (via_):

“I just think we’re playing against a team that is at its peak, I don’t see nobody beating them.”

And now the Spurs have somewhere between 3-7 days to rest and get ready for either the Clippers or Grizzlies.  Let’s see if Big Al is right.

Everyone’s favorite Baron Davis moment, because we all might have seen his last game as an NBA player.

NBA Playoffs Round 1 Round-Up: OKC Thunder (2) defeat the Dallas Mavericks (7) 4-0

I’ve been fairly busy these past couple weeks, so sadly I haven’t been able to catch many of the Playoff games, let alone from this series, and these posts may be short.  

The defending champion Mavericks have been the first victims in the NBA playoffs in what was probably the most entertaining (though quickest) series in the first round.  In a first round filled with injuries and blowouts, the Mavericks and Thunder were able to keep three out of their four games close, with a total margin of victory of 10 in those three games.  

Though most (if not all) people predicted the Thunder to win the series, I doubt many (if anyone) saw a full sweep, but Dirk Nowitzki was carrying the offensive load for the Mavericks in all four games, which isn’t enough against the three headed monster of Durant-Westbrook-Harden.  Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle pretty much nailed the Thunder with this quote after the game 4 loss on Saturday: 

They have a certain look in their eyeright now, not only that they belong but that this could be their time

Whether the Lakers close out the series at home at Game 5 or if the Nuggets can win 3 in a row, expect the next Thunder series to be a great one to watch.