It is very rare that the same two teams that met in the NBA Finals the prior season get a chance to renew acquaintances. In the last 25 seasons, it has only happened twice. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons represented the Western and Eastern Conference respectably in 1988 and 1989. The Lakers took the first match in 1988 winning the series in seven games. The Pistons swept the Lakers the next season 4-0 to win their first of back-to-back titles. The Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls squared off in the 1997 and 1998 Finals where the Bulls won both times in six games to secure their second three-peat. The 2014 NBA Finals features the San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference and the back-to-back-to-back Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat who played a thrilling seven-game series a year ago with the Heat winning their second straight title. The second time around for both represents an opportunity both for the stars of their teams as well as the teams themselves to add to their legacy and complete a long journey that has had its trials and tribulations.
In the case of the four-time Southeast Division Champion Miami Heat (54-28), they took a long term approach to this season. The team took that approach especially with All-Star guard Dwyane Wade, who sat out 28 games during the regular season to rest his sore knee and he rarely played in back-to-back.
While he averaged just 19.0 points per contest, the second lowest of his amazing career, he shot a career-best 54.5 percent from the field and grabbed 4.5 boards and dished out 4.7 assists per contest.
Another part of the long term approach is that they did not put any emphasis on being the No. 1 Seed in the East, which the team's archrival the Indiana Pacers talked about all season long of having. They finished second in the East.
On top of that, the Heat had a belief in the supporting cast of the roster that surrounded Wade and fellow All-Stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh even though there have been times this season that supporting cast from the outside point of view has not measured up to the the supporting cast of the three previous Heat teams that have made it to the Finals.
There is no Mike Miller, who played this season with the Memphis Grizzlies. Swingman Shane Battier's (4.1 ppg, 38.2 FG%, 34.8 3-Pt.%) shot has been up and down this season. The point guard tandem starter Mario Chalmers (9.8 ppg, 4.5 apg, 45.4 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%) and understudy Norris Cole (6.4 ppg, 41.4 FG%) have also been inconsistent and the two major signings during the offseason in forward Michael Beasley (7.9 ppg) and center Greg Oden (2.9 ppg) have not had the impact they were expected to have. On top of that forward Udonis Haslem, who has been the "heart and soul" of the team for a long time was held back this season along with Wade to be ready for the playoffs when called upon.
The two constants of the supporting cast of the Heat have been back-up center Chris Andersen (6.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.4 bpg) and back-up guard Ray Allen (9.6 ppg and 37.5 3-Pt%).
The question has been, how would this Heat team that was very different from a season ago do in their journey to win a third straight title.
Well all they did was go 12-3 through the first three rounds defeating the No. 7 Seeded Charlotte Bobcats in the first round 4-0. They got past the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Semis 4-1 and they defeated the arch rival Pacers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The "Big 3" of James, Wade and Bosh have played at their usual spectacular level averaging 27.0, 18.7 and 15.4 points respectably. The supporting cast of Battier, Chalmers, Cole, Haslem, Andersen, Allen and forward Rashard Lewis, who has been starting at small forward lately have played big roles in the Heat's first 12 victories this postseason.
When the "Big 3" of James, Wade and Bosh came together four seasons ago, it was about one thing and one thing only, winning championships. After failing to meet those expectations in year one where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in six games, they have won two straight titles beating the Okalhoma City Thunder in five games two years ago and the aforementioned Spurs in seven games last season.
The Heat with their four straight appearance in The Finals are the first NBA team to accomplish that feet since the Boston Celtics lead by Hall of Famer Larry Bird, who made it to the championship round from 1984-87 winning it all in 1984 and 1986.
The one thing that is not in the favor of the Heat is that if this series goes seven games, which is expected, that coveted seventh game will be in the Spurs house this season and not Miami's.
If Game 1 was a sign of things to come though, especially when the Heat lost James to cramping in the final minutes, the Heat reign could be over.
With that being said, if there is one thing that the Miami Heat have shown in the "Big 3" era is resolve. Whenever they have been counted out they have responded and with a leader like head coach Erik Spoelstra leading them along with James, Wade and Bosh, they will not go down without a fight.
Speaking of those Spurs, the Southwest Division champs were on the door step of their fifth title in franchise history as they led the Heat by five with under 30 seconds remaining. However two three-point connections by the Heat, including the game-tying one by Allen near the end of regulation off a Bosh offensive rebound sent the game into overtime and the Heat prevailed by three 103-100 in overtime and took Game 7 95-88 to win the series.
When the Spurs met in training camp to begin the 2013-14 NBA campaign, they watch Game 6 and 7 and used that as motivation to get back and this time finish the deal.
That motivation led the Spurs (62-20) to not just the best record in the very competitive Western Conference, but the entire league as they won 60-plus games for the fourth time under head coach Gregg Popvich.
Included in those 62 victories was a franchise record 19-game winning streak from Feb. 26 to Apr. 2.
What made this season so remarkable for the Spurs is the fact that they used over 30 different starting lineups this season because of injuries to key people like stars Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Tiago Splitter. The Spurs also rested players during the season, especially on back-to-back nights.
Despite those injuries, the team was able to maintain their winning ways because their amazing system and the fact that the likes of Patty Mills (10.2 ppg, 46.4 FG%, 42.5 3-Pt.%), Marco Bellinelli (11.4 ppg, 48.5 FG%, 43.0 3-Pt.%) and Boris Diaw (9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg) have had solid seasons to career seasons, especially in the case of Mills.
The start of the playoffs for the Spurs in their journey to get back to The Finals was not an easy one.
They were taken to seven games by their in-state and division rival the No. 8 Seeded Dallas Mavericks. In that Game 7 though, the Spurs would have the last word as they defeated the Mavericks 119-96.
In the Semis, they made short work of the up and coming Portland Trail Blazers and they defeated them in five games win the four games by an average of 19.5 points.
In the Conference Finals, the Spurs won the first two games over the Oklahoma City Thunder as they put on an offensive display that had the Thunder wondering what hit them.
When the seen shifted to Oklahoma City, the Thunder ran the Spurs off the court in Games 3 and 4 as they gave up 106 and 105 points respectably. The Spurs after scoring 122 and 112 points in the first two games, scored just 97 points in Game 3 and 92 points in Game 4.
A big reason for the Spurs misfortunes at the Thunder was the return of Oklahoma City's shot blocker Serge Ibaka, who was out the first two games of the Conference Finals because of a calf strain.
The Spurs turned things around in Game 5 as they took it to the Thunder 117-89 to take a 3-2 lead.
They followed that up by winning a tough Game 6 112-107 in overtime to win the series 4-2.
Ever since the Spurs drafted Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick 17 seasons ago, they have not looked back. Ever since 1997, they have not missed the playoffs. Prior to their loss in The Finals last season, in their four prior trips to the final round in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007 they have won.
The Spurs in terms of their legacy in NBA history is set in stone. The likes of Duncan, whose won two MVP trophys (2002-03), made 14 All-Star apperances and won three Finals MVPs and Popovich, who is a three-time NBA Coach of the Year (2003, 2012, 2014) will be in the Hall of Fame once they say goodbye to the game. Ginobili and Parker have cemented themselves as two of the greatest international players of all-time.
A victory in the Finals would add to that amazing legacy for the Spurs, it would if just for a minute wipe away the pain from letting last season's collapse.
They showed that in Game 1 as they used a 14 for 16 output from the floor, which included going 6 for 6 from three-point range and had 12 assists in the four quarter to take Game 1 of The Finals over the Heat 110-95.
Duncan was magnificent with 21 points, 10 boards on 9 for 10 from the field. Parker had 19 points and eight assists. Ginobili, who had a Finals to forget a season ago had 16 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and three steals off the bench. Splitter scored 14 and Green had 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
For both the Heat and Spurs, this rematch brings a lot to the table. Star players trying to add another great chapter to their legacy. One team trying to continue making history and the other trying to added on to their history. If one thing that was made clear in Game 1, these two teams will not back down from one another and it will take everything and a lot more for one team to win this Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Information and statistics are courtesy of www.espn.go.com/nba and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Spurs.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
J-Speaks: 2014 National Basketball Association Playoff Preview
In just a matter of hours, 16 National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, eight from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference begin the journey to get to 16 victories and an NBA title. For the second seed in the East from South Florida, they are trying to win their third consecutive title while the team they defeated for their second straight title last season is trying to get back to The Finals and win their fifth title in franchise history. Another East team, which beat out the defending champs for the top spot in the East is trying to reach the NBA Finals after falling short a season ago. Three other East teams are making a appearance in the playoffs for the first time in a while, while four teams in the West are trying to make their own playoff history. Here is a preview of all eight Quarterfinals matchups in the 2014 NBA Playoffs.
Eastern Conference
(1) Indiana Pacers (56-26) versus (8) Atlanta Hawks (38-44): Season series tied 2-2.
From the outside looking in, this seems like a mismatch on paper. The Pacers, who stated coming into this season, they wanted to have home court advantage through at the most the Eastern Conference playoffs.
For much of this season, the Pacers were on track for that goal. At the end of February, the team was 44-13 a top the East. The team finished the last two months of the regular season going just 12-13 in the months of March and April.
One of those losses came versus the Hawks 12 days ago when they beat them in Indianapolis 107-88, which was just the Pacers second loss at home by double digits.
Hawks starting lead guard Jeff Teague, whose a native of Indianapolis led the way with 25 points on 9 for 17 shooting and center Pero Antic had 18. The Hawks lead from start to finish in that contest as they held the Pacers to a franchise low 23 points in the first half.
The Hawks in that game not allowed 107 points in that contest, when they normally give up 92.3 points, second best in the league, the Pacers shot 56.2 percent and made 12 three-pointers in 27 attempts.
It has not been easy for the Hawks either. They lost their leading scorer Al Horford to a shoulder injury earlier in the season.
With that being said, the play of guys like Paul Milsap (17.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.7 spg), Kyle Korver (12.0 ppg, 47.2 3-Pt.%), DeMarre Carroll (11.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg), Mike Scott (9.6 ppg), Louis Williams (10.4 ppg) have picked up the slack and it is because of their play, the Hawks were able to win six of their last eight to beat out the New York Knicks for the eighth and last playoff spot and make the postseason party for the seventh straight season.
The question is which Pacers team is going to show up in this series? Will it be the team that played with a chemistry that was second to none, especially at the defensive end or will it be the team that has been playing uninspired and with a poor attitude the last two months.
They need starting center Roy Hibbert (10.8 ppg 6.6 rpg 2.2 bpg-4th NBA) to come out of his funk. They need Paul George (21.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.9 spg) to be the offensive force that he was at the start of this season. Starting lead guard George Hill (10.3 ppg, 44.2 FG%, 36.5 3-Pt.%) to play aggressive at all times on both ends. David West (14.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) to be a steady presence scoring and on the board and Lance Stephenson must be the all around player who can pull off a triple double at the drop of a hat, which he did on five occasions this regular season, the most in the league.
If this starting five though has to play heavy minutes, totaling 1,468 more than any other lineup, this playoff run may be short lived.
They need the likes Luis Scola (7.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Evan Turner (7.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.4 apg with the Pacers), who they got at the trade deadline in February, C.J. Watson (6.6 ppg, 36.6 3-Pt.%), Ian Mahinmi (3.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg) to provide some relief.
If the Pacers reserves can play anything close like they did in their big win versus the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next to last game of the regular season, when Scola, Watson and Mahinmi combined to score 41 points on 15 for 21 shooting, the Pacers will be okay.
One thing the Pacers better do in this series guard the three-point line. The Hawks in four meetings with the Pacers made an average of 10.3 three-point field goals. The Pacers ranked fourth in the league in three-point defense. Korver shot 10 for 20 versus the Pacers this season. Antic, who averaged just 7.0 points a game on 41.8 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three-point range, averaged 17.0 points on 72.2 percent from the field and shot 60.0 percent from behind the three-point line.
This will be big against the Pacers because, this will take Hibbert away from the basket and it could open other things offensively for the Pacers.
While the Pacers on paper are a better team, they have not shown well lately and they have not shown well against the Hawks in Atlanta in recent years dropping 13 of their lat 15 visits to Phillips Arena.
All the pressure is squarely on the Pacers. They fell one game short of the Finals after losing Game 7 of the East Finals at the Miami Heat. If they happen to fall in the quarterfinals, it would be a disaster.
Prediction: Pacers in five games. Game 1: Today at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
(4) Chicago Bulls (48-34) versus (5) Washington Wizards (44-38): Wizards won season series 2-1.
This matchup features a drastic difference in styles and experience.
The Washington Wizards are back in the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. They are lead by the young potent backcourt of former No. 1 overall pick in 2010 out of Kentucky John Wall and the second year guard out of Florida Bradley Beal.
Wall healthy this season playing in all 82 games led the Wizards in scoring at 19.3 points dishing, steals at 1.8 and 8.8 assists (2nd NBA) and averaged 1.8 steals per contest. Beal showed well in his sophomore season in the league finishing second on the team in scoring at 17.1 per game and shot 40.2 percent from three-point range.
The key for the Wizards in this series is can Wall be able to score when it presents itself and be able to facilitate against a very tough Bulls defense which is one of the best in the business.
In the two victories, they managed to put up 102 and 88 points respectably in two wins in the month of January in a four-day span.
The Bulls returned the favor 13 days ago as they held the Wizards to 78 points in their 18-point win at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.
Against the Bulls this season, Wall and Beal averaged 20.7 and 13.7 per contest respectably on 50 percent from the field.
The Wizards will also need their front court of Nene (14.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Marcin Gortat (13.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg), Trevor Ariza (14.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 45.6 FG%, 40.7 3-Pt.%), Drew Gooden (8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Martell Webster (9.7 ppg, 39.2 3-Pt.%) and Trevor Booker (6.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg) to show well against the Bulls.
They also need to take care of business in the mid-range game. While they rank No. 1 in shot attempts from about 15 feet at 26.8 in the league, they are ranked 21st in percentage at 38.1
When the Bulls lost 2011 MVP Derrick Rose again for the season due to another knee injury, traded away Luol Deng in January to save money and struggled out of the gate going just 3-13 in November and December, many people thought that they would be out of the playoff mix.
This team however is coach by Tom Thibodeau and all he and his team did was get back on the court, play harder than the other team and win, which they did.
The likes of Joakim Noah (12.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg), who stands a good chance of winning Defensive Player of the Year, took their game to another level as he used every bit of passion and energy to record four triple doubles and average seven assists per contest since the All-Star break as the Bulls went 21-9.
Picking up guard D.J. Augustin (14.9 ppg, 5.0 apg, 41.1 3-Pt.%) off the street early after he was waived by the Toronto Raptors in December gave the offense life and the emergence of Sixth Man of the Year candidate in Taj Gibson (13.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), full-time starting two guard Jimmy Butler (13.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.9 spg) and veterans like Carlos Boozer (13.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and off-season addition Mike Dunleavy (11.3 ppg, 38.0 3-Pt.%) have been solid.
The key for the Bulls is can they score enough to win. Their 93.7 average per contest, ranked dead last will not cut it.
If they can take care of business at the offensive end and play their stellar defense, which ranked No. 1 in points allowed in the league at 91.8, second in field goal percentage at 43 percent and tied for seventh in three-point percentage allowed at 35.1, they have a great chance of making it to the second round for the second straight season.
The last time the Wizards advanced past the first round is 2005 when they defeated the Bulls in the first round in six games. Then starting guard Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards in that series with 23 points, six boards and six assists. It was the one and only playoff series victory in their last 11 tries since 1983.
Getting a victory in the opening round versus the Bulls, will not be easy, but if they do, it would go a long way in the development for this team.
Prediction: Bulls in seven games. Game 1: Sunday at 7 p.m. on TNT.
(2) Miami Heat (54-28) versus (7) Charlotte Bobcats (43-39): Heat won season series 4-0.
When you win one championship, it is a wonder feeling. Winning back-to-back titles is special. Winning three in succession is something most dream of doing.
That is the opportunity the Miami Heat have in front of them as they begin the 2014 NBA Playoffs trying to make it to The Finals for a fourth straight season.
Unlike last season though, their road to get to the No. 2 Seed was not an easy one.
While the top dog of the "Big 3" in LeBron James (27.1 ppg-3rd NBA, 6.9 rpg-led team, 6.4 apg-led team, 56.7 FG%-4th NBA) had another stellar season leading the, he did not have his sidekick Dwyane Wade (19.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.5 spg) for a great deal this season as he sat because of a hamstring injury and to rest a knee injury so that he could be ready for the playoffs. The third of the "Big 3" Chris Bosh (16.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg) had to step in as the No. 2 scorer at times and he had is good moments and he had some rough ones.
On top of that, two key editions in center Greg Oden, who played in the league for the first time in four seasons trying to comeback from a knee injury and Michael Beasley, who tried to rebuild his image in his second stint with the Heat have not panned out well as they had hoped and the likes of Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers (9.8 ppg, 4.9 apg, 45.4 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%), Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem , Ray Allen (9.6 ppg, 44.2 FG%, 37.5 3-Pt.%) and Rashard Lewis have been up and down a lot during this season.
With all of that being said though, the Heat understand what is ahead of them. The team and head coach Erik Spoelstra understand that what happens for the first 82 games is what it is. They got the second seed in the East. For a while they had a shot at the No. 1 Seed, but decided to rest their key players down the stretch and they are ready to embark on this journey that hopefully ends with a third straight title.
The journey begins for the Southeast Division champs versus the Bobcats, who they have beaten 16 consecutive times, which includes all four meetings this season. Two of those meetings though were close.
The Heat escaped by one point 99-98 versus the Bobcats on Dec. 1 and by eight points 104-96 in overtime in Charlotte back on Jan. 18.
The most memorable of the meetings came on Mar. 3 in Miami when James scored a Heat record, career-high and second best scoring night this season by an individual when he put up a remarkable 61 points on 22 for 33 from the field, including going 8 for 10 from three-point range and 9 for 12 from the free throw line in the Heat's 124-107 win over the Bobcats.
The Bobcats stayed in that game, before the Heat pulled away late, thanks to center Al Jefferson (21.8 ppg-leads team, 10.8 rpg-leads team). The Bobcats prized off-season addition had 38 points and 19 rebounds in the setback.
Jefferson, along with the emergence of Kemba Walker (17.7 ppg, 6.1 apg-leads team) and Gerald Henderson (14.0 ppg). The Bobcats have also gotten solid contributions from Gary Neal (11.2 ppg, 40.6 3-Pt.%), who they acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline along with Luke Ridnour for Ramon Sessions and Jeff Adrien, Josh McRoberts (8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (7.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg).
When the Bobcats hired long time assistant Steve Clifford to be their head coach this past off-season, he brought something that the Bobcats needed desperately. Consistency and accountability. The result a second straight season where they doubled their win total from a season ago. Just two seasons ago, the Bobcats went just 7-59 in the lockout shortened season season. They won just 21 games a season ago.
The fact that they had a good record like they did this season was an accomplishment for the team and owner Michael Jordan.
Advancing though may be asking too much, especially against the back-to-back champs. On top of that, the Bobcats despite having a solid scoring threat in the post in Jefferson, the Bobcats rank 23rd in scoring per game putting up just 96.9. They did however rank fourth in points allowed this season at 97.1.
The 29 times they allowed 100 points or more, the Bobcats won just nine times.
If the Bobcats have any chance of competing in this series, they have to have high level performances from Jefferson and Walker. A third consistent scorer must emerge and Kidd-Gilchrist, Henderson or whoever takes the task of guarding James has to at least make an attempt to slow him down. If he comes anywhere close to what he did against the Bobcats this season, where he averaged 37.8 points per contest on 62.9 percent from the floor, it is a wrap.
Prediction: Heat in four. Game 1: Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC
(3) Toronto Raptors (48-34) versus (6) Brooklyn Nets (44-38): Season series tied 2-2.
When the 2013-14 NBA campaign began, many thought that the Atlantic Division was a two-team race between the Knicks and their in state rivals the Brooklyn Nets, especially after the team acquired future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce (13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 45.1 FG%, 37.3 3-Pt.%) and Kevin Garnett (6.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg-led team) from the Boston Celtics. In a very big gamble, the Nets hired Jason Kidd, who just retired from the hardwood to be their head coach. The team also signed role players in Andrei Kirilenko, Alan Anderson and Shaun Livingston (8.3 ppg) to go alongside Deron Williams (14.3 ppg, 6.1 apg-led team, 1.5 spg-led team), Joe Johnson (15.8 ppg, 45.4 FG%, 40.1 3-Pt.%), Brook Lopez, Andray Blatche (11.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Mirza Teletovic (8.6 ppg, 39.0 3-Pt.%).
The season did not start great for the Nets as they went 10-21. During this stretch, they lost Lopez, their leading scorer at 20.7 ppg and six boards for the rest of the season to a broken bone in his right foot on Dec. 21. Kidd looked lost at times as a head coach and one incident in particular brought a lot of attention when he on Nov. 27 late in the Nets' 99-94 loss versus the Los Angeles Lakers acted as if he was spilling a beverage to gather his team to draw up a play and Garnett and Pierce played as if they were on their last legs.
Things turned around though once the calendar turned to January as the Nets went 34-17 to close the season, which includes a 16-2 mark at home.
They changed their offensive approach by going small playing Pierce as the starting power forward. The Nets made shooting the three-pointer an important part of the offense and they forced more turnovers at the defensive end.
After the first 18 games of this season, the Raptors were looking at their sixth straight season of not making the playoffs.
Then on Dec. 9, 2013, new General Manager Masai Ujiri traded swingman Rudy Gay along wit Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings for John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez (9.5 ppg, 3.7 apg), Patrick Patterson (9.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 47.4 FG%, 41.1 3-Pt.%) and Chuck Hayes.
After the trade, the Raptors sored to the top of the Atlantic Division going 42-22 the remainder of the season. Fourth year swingman DeMar DeRozen (22.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.0 apg) emerged as the team's best player, making his first All-Star game back in February. His backcourt mate Kyle Lowry (17.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 7.4 apg-led team, 1.5 spg-led team).
The biggest changes after the trade is the Raptors went from a straight isolation team to one that shared the ball consistently and made playing defense a priority.
Along with the emergence of DeRozen and Lowry, center Jonas Valanciunas (11.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg-led team), Terrance Ross (10.9 ppg) and Amir Johnson (10.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg) rose their games to another level.
These two teams met in the first round of the playoffs seven seasons ago and the Nets prevailed in six games.
The similarity in that series and this latest installment is that the Nets have the most playoff experience. The top players of the Nets in Garnett, Pierce, Johnson and Williams have played a combined 387 playoff games. The Raptors key players of Lowry, Johnson, DeRozen, Valanciunas and Ross have a combined 24 games of playoff experience. Those 24 games are split between Lowry and Johnson and they were marginal role players at that time.
Besides the experience, the Nets have been better this season in the clutch. In games decided by six points or less, the Raptors are just 3-8.
In his two seasons as a Net, Johnson has gone 13 for 18 in the final 30 seconds with the score tied or the Nets are within 1 to 3 points.
The Raptors have had a great season. They went from the outhouse to the top of the Atlantic Division, winning for the second time in franchise. Some of their core players have made names for themsevles in the NBA. The playoffs though are a different animal and the Nets have players that understand that.
The other thing that is in the Nets favor is that there are no back-to-backs in the playoffs. This season, the Nets went just 6-14 in the second night of back-to-back, but were 38-24 when they played with at least one day off.
If the Raptors cannot get Game 1, will their inexperience rattled them?
Prediction: Nets in six. Game 1: Today at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN
Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs (62-20) versus (8) Dallas Mavericks (49-33): Spurs won season series 4-0.
The more things change the more they stay the same. That is true in the Western Conference as the Spurs finished with the No. 1 Seed in the West and the best record in the NBA, making the playoffs for the 17th straight season.
The Southwest Division champs did all of this on the heels of falling apart in the closing moments of Game 6 of last season's Finals and they fell in Game 7 to the Miami Heat as they won back-to-back titles.
During the season, key Spurs like Kawhi Leonard (12.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 spg-led team, 37.9 3-Pt.%) missed a month with a broken hand. Danny Green (9.1 ppg, 41.5 3-Pt.%) missed several weeks with a broken finger and Manu Ginobili (12.3 ppg, 46.9 FG%, 34.9 3-Pt.%) was sidelined by a hamstring injury and Tony Parker (16.7 ppg-led team,5.7 apg-led team, 49.9 FG%) was put on the shelf to rest some nagging injuries.
When someone goes down, someone has to step up and that is what the likes of Marco Belinelli (11.4 ppg, 48.5 FG%, 43.0 3-Pt.%), Corey Joseph, Boris Diaw (9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Tiago Splitter (8.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg), who also missed time due to injury and Patty Mills (10.2 ppg, 46.4 FG%, 42.5 3-Pt.%) stepped up and the Spurs continued to win.
In fact they won 19 consecutive games, a new franchise record from Feb. 26 to Apr. 3.
Their interstate and division rivals the Mavs are back in the postseason after missing out last season, which snapped their streak of 12 straight appearances.
The Mavs return the playoffs is because of a healthy and rejuvenated Dirk Nowitzki (21.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 49.7 FG%, 39.8 3-Pt.%) and the solid play of free agent signings of starting guards Monta Ellis (19.0 ppg, 5.7 apg, 45.1 FG%) and Jose Calderon (11.4 ppg, 4.7 apg, 45.6 FG%, 44.9 3-Pt.%).
This is not the first rodeo, no pun intended, between the Interstate 35 rivals. They have met five previous times in the playoffs and in the middle of those battles has been Nowitzki, 35 and the 37-year-old Tim Duncan of the Spurs.
In 26 matchups between the two former MVPs and future Hall of Famers have been classics. Duncan (15.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg-led team, 1.9 bpg-led team) has averaged 24.5 points, 10.1 boards on 49.8 percent shooting while Nowitzki has averaged 26.0 points, 12.3 rebounds on 53.9 percent shooting. Duncan's Spurs have won 14 times, while Nowitzki and the Mavs have won 12 games. The Spurs have won three of the five series they have met in the playoffs.
This might be the last time we see these two greats at the power forward position head-to-head in the postseason. This should be treasured.
The Spurs have won the last nine meetings in a row against the Mavericks, which includes all four meetings this season by an average of 11.5 points. The Spurs have lead after the first quarter in all four meetings.
The Mavs had no answers for Duncan or Parker who averaged 23.3 points and 18.5 points respectably.
If the Mavs have any chance of competing against the Spurs in this series, they need Ellis and Nowitzki to play at a high level. They also need the likes of Shawn Marion (10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Vince Carter (11.9 ppg, 39.4 3-Pt.%), Samuel Dalembert (6.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg-led team), Brandon Wright (9.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg), DeJuan Blair (6.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Devin Harris (7.9 ppg, 4.5 apg) to make an impact.
Prediction: Spurs in five. Game 1: Sunday at 1 p.m. on TNT.
(4) Houston Rockets (54-28) versus (5) Portland Trail Blazers (54-28): Rockets won season series 3-1.
If you are somebody that enjoys seeing high octane offenses that get up and down the court, shoot three-pointers at a moments notice and have big men that can play down low with the best of the best, this is a series worth the price of admission.
The Rockets take the most three-pointers (26.6) and make the most at 9.5 per game. The Trail Blazers take the third most three-pointers (25.3) and are tied with the Phoenix Suns in makes from distance at 9.4 per contest. The Trail Blazers shoot better from distance making 37.2 percent (7th NBA), while the Rockets connect on 35.8 percent from three-point range (T-15th NBA).
While the team's have guys that can strike a match from distance, the shooting percentages and great looks are not possible without a solid player in the pivot.
The Rockets anchor in the pivot on both ends is Dwight Howard (18.3 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 1.8 bpg), who averaged 25.5 points, 13.5 boards and four blocks on 63.3 percent from the field versus the Trail Blazers this season.
The Blazers inside presence is three-time All-Star is LaMarcus Aldridge (23.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg), who averaged 26.8 points and 15.5 boards and pulled down at least 20 boards on two occassions this season versus the Rockets.
Howard's sidekick is James Harden (25.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 6.1 apg, 45.6 FG%) one of the best in the league and the two-time All-Star was at his best against the Trail Blazers averaging 30.3 points, 7.3 boards and 5.1 assists on 48.1 percent.
The Trail Blazers second best scorer is last season's Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard (20.7 ppg, 5.6 apg, 39.4 3-Pt.%). Against the Rockets this season, Lillard was okay averaging 18.8 points and five assists, though he shot just 38.6 percent from the floor.
These two high powered offensive teams are more than just their dynamic duos. Each of these teams have multiple players who can score with the best of them.
The Rockets supporting cast consists of Chandler Parsons (16.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 47.2 FG%, 37.0 3-Pt.%), Jeremy Lin (12.5 ppg, 44.6 FG%, 35.8 3-Pt.%), Terrence Jones (12.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 54.2 FG%), Patrick Beverly (10.2 ppg), Omri Casspi (6.9 ppg), Jordan Hamilton (6.6 ppg), Omer Asik (5.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Francisco Garcia (5.7 ppg) and Donatas Montiejunas (5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg).
The Trail Blazers supporting cast consist of Wesley Matthews (16.4 ppg, 44.1 FG%, 39.1 3-Pt.%), Nicolas Batum (13.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.1 apg, 46.5 FG%, 36.1 3-Pt.%), Robin Lopez (11.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg), Mo Williams (9.7 ppg, 36.9 3-Pt.%).
In a series that features to evenly matched teams, it comes down to some x-factors coming to the fore front and creating some separation.
For the Rockets, Asik can be a huge factor, especially at the defensive end. He has been the one guy who can cause Aldridge some problems. Beverly can do the same against Lillard with his constant full court pressure.
In the case of the Blazers, their ability to pound the offensive and defensive glass is how they can seperate themselves in this series.
They are the No. 1 rebounding team in the league with 46.4 boards per contest; third in offensive boards per game at 12.5 per contest. The Rockets though rank second in rebound differential at 3.6, while the Blazers rank sixth at 2.9.
As far as the defensive end, the job of containing Harden falls toe Matthews and at times Batum. In two of the four games against the Trail Blazers this season, Harden dropped 41 and 33 points.
Another factor in this series could be the free throw line. The Rockets behind Harden and Howard, they attempt the most free throws per game at 31.1. The Rockets however rank 28 in the league shooting just 71.2 percent.
The Blazers attempt 23.5 free throws per game, ranking 13th in the league, but are No. 1 in the NBA shooting percentage at 81.5 percent.
If these are as close as expected, that is more in favor of the Trail Blazers as 30 of their wins have come within five points in last five minutes. Only the Grizzlies have more wins with 33.
When Howard signed with the Rockets as a free agent this past summer, he came here to win championships. After being on the shelf in the last couple of weeks this season with a left ankle strain. His health and how he plays will play a big role in how the Rockets do this postseason.
Nobody thought the Blazers would make the playoffs let alone win over 50 games. Behind a career year from Aldridge, continued improvement from Lillard and improvement from Matthews and Batum and the editions of Williams and Batum, the Trail Blazers became a playoff team.
Prediction: Rockets in seven. Game 1: Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on TNT.
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23) versus (7) Memphis Grizzlies (50-32): Thunder won season series 3-1.
For the third time in four seasons, two of the NBA's up and coming teams meet again in a best-of-seven playoff series.
Their first meeting took place in the Semifinals in 2011, the Thunder outlasted the Grizzlies in a grueling seven game series advancing to the Western Conference Finals, only to lose to the eventual NBA champion Mavericks.
They met again in the Semis last season and the Grizzlies returned the favor beating the Thunder, who did not have Russell Westbrook in five games.
The past may be the past, but the intrigue still remains and some of the key players on both teams have gotten better and some adversity has made both of these teams better.
Despite finishing as the No. 2 Seed in the West, the road to get their has not been easy as the Northwest Division champs dealt with injuries to the likes of Russell Westbrook (21.8 ppg 5.7 rpg, 6.9 apg-led team, 1.9 spg-led team), Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins, who have missed a combined total of 77 games this season because of knee, calf and groin strain injuries respectably. Westbrook knee required him to have two surgeries stems from what happen to him in the playoffs in last season's playoffs versus the Rockets, that made him missed games in the regular season for the first time in his six-year career.
On top of that, the Thunder have been inconsistent since the All-Star break, as they have gone just 16-11.
The one constant for them has been this season's likely MVP in Kevin Durant (32.0 ppg-leads NBA, 7.4 rpg, 5.5 apg-career-high), who averaged 30.8 ppg, 6.0 boards and five assists against the Grizzlies this season.
The Grizzlies after a rough beginning under new head coach Dave Joerger, really got their act together after Jan. 1 going 40-19. A big reason for their change of fortune is the return of starting center Marc Gasol (14.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg 3.6 apg), who had missed 23 games because of a knee injury and the Grizzlies struggled going just 10-13.
The Thunder won three of the four meetings and the one they lost on Jan 14 in Memphis 90-87, Westbrook did not play.
If the Grizzlies want to win this series versus the Thunder, slowing down Kevin Durant and scoring consistently are going have to be the top priorities.
In last season's semis, the Grizzlies used a multitude of defenders on Durant, which included Tayshaun Prince early and defensive ace Tony Allen late.
In Games 3, 4 and 5, Durant struggled in the fourth quarter scoring a combined nine points going just 4 for 18 from the floor and getting to the line just four times combined hitting just one. The Thunder lost those last three games and the series.
James Johnson, who the Grizzlies signed earlier in the season out of the D-League will have his chance to guard Durant as well.
As far as offensively, the Grizzlies have to do better than the 93.5 average they scored in the four meetings against the Thunder and just 96.1 points per game, ranking 27th in the league.
The likes of Mike Conley (17.2 ppg, 6.0 apg), Courtney Lee (11.0 ppg, 47.6 FG%, 34.5 3-Pt.%), who the team acquired earlier in the season from the Celtics and Mike Miller (7.1 ppg, 48.1 FG%, 45.9 3-Pt.%) to provide some scoring punch.
The Grizzlies also need their other main threat in the post in Zach Randolph (17.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 46.7 FG%), who averaged 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds versus the Thunder.
On the Thunder side, the key for them is getting consistent play from the likes of Serge Ibaka (15.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.7 bpg-2nd NBA), Reggie Jackson (13.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.1 apg) and Caron Butler (9.7 ppg, 44.1 3-Pt.%), Jeremy Lamb (8.5 ppg), Derek Fisher (5.2 ppg 38.4 3-Pt.%), Nick Collison and the rookie Steven Adams.
If this series goes at least five games, Fisher will make a some history as he will pass seven-time NBA champion and his former teammate with the Lakers Robert Horry most playoff games played. Horry has played in 244 playoff games and Fisher, who has won five rings with the Lakers in the early and middle 2000s has played in 240 playoff games. He has already passed Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (237) and former teammates Kobe Bryant (220) and Shaquille O'Neal (216).
Prediction: Thunder in six. Game 1: Tonight at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
(3) Los Angeles Clippers (57-25) versus (6) Golden State Warriors (51-31): Season series tied 2-2.
It was just a few seasons back that these two teams were in the bottom of the West. Both have risen from the ashes and have developed into the high octane high flying, jump shooting Hatfields versus the McCoys over the last couple of years and they will meet for the first time in the playoffs.
How much do these teams dislike one another?
Well Warriors starting shooting guard Klay Thompson, one half of the Warriors' dubbed splash brothers tandem said about Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin on a local San Francisco radio station 95.7 The Game, "He's kind of like a bull in a China shop, kind of out of control sometimes. And then you do just see him flop sometimes-like how can a guy that big and strong flop so much?"
Let the antagonism and the scuffles, which there were a lot of in the four meetings begin.
For the Warriors it will begin though without the services of starting center Andrew Bogut (7.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg-leads team, 1.8 bpg-leads team), who is out indefintely due to a rib injury.
The burden of protecting the paint and providing some kind of offensive punch now comes down to 35-year-old Jermaine O'Neal (7.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and David Lee (18.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg), who averaged 21.8 points and nine boards against the Clippers in the regular season.
While the Warriors lose their best rim protector, they still have options to go to at the forward position with the likes of swingman Andre Iguodala (9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.2 apg), Harrison Barnes (9.5 ppg), Draymond Green (6.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Marreese Speights (6.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg).
The scoring falls on Thompson (18.4 ppg, 41.7 3-Pt.%) and his "Splash Brother" sidekick Stephen Curry (24.0 ppg-leads team, 8.5 apg, 47.1 FG%, 42.4 3-Pt.%), who averaged 22.0 points against the Clippers during the regular season and going 17 for 29 from three-point territory. . They will also need some scoring punch off the bench from Jordan Crawford (8.4 ppg), who put up a career-high 41 points on 16 for 28 shooting in the regular season finale, a 116-112 win at the Nuggets this past Wednesday.
To put this Warriors season into perspective, the last time the Warriors made the playoffs in back-to-back season and were able to win 50-plus games, I was in fourth grader and fifth grader when the Warriors made the postseason two straight seasons in 1991 and 1992 and I was a sixth grader at Grand Ave. the last time the Warriors won 50 games was back in 1993-94, when they went 50-32 when they had the likes Chris Webber, Latrell Sprewell, Chris Mullin, Billy Owens, Avery Johnson, Chris Gatling and Keith Jennings and the head coach was Don Nelson.
The Clippers had their greatest regular season in franchise history. They won their second straight Pacific Division title, establishing a new franchise best number of total victories and home victories with 34.
The All-Star duo of Blake Griffin (24.1 ppg-lead team, 9.5 rpg, 3.9 apg), who averaged 28.0 ppg, 10.5 boards on 53.2 percent shooting against the Warriors this regular season. and Chris Paul (19.1 ppg, 10.7 apg-lead NBA, 2.5 spg-led NBA) had stellar seasons.
Starting center DeAndre Jordan (10.4 ppg, 13.6 rpg-led NBA, 2.5 bpg-3rd NBA, 67.6 FG%-led NBA) had a break out season and he could win Defensive Player of the Year.
The difference in this team from last year and so far in the regular season is that they faced some adversity and they only got better because of it. Chris Paul missed 18 games because of a seperated right shoulder he suffered back on Jan. 3 at the Mavericks.
Understudy Darren Collison (11.4 ppg 46.7 FG%, 36.8 3-Pt.%) had to step in and he performed very well as the Clippers went 12-6 without their floor general.
When Paul returned to the line up on Feb. 9 and in the six games leading up to the playoffs he averaged 20.5 ppg and 8.7 apg on 52.4 percent shooting. Against the Warriors this season, Paul averaged 28.0 points, 12.7 assists and 3.7 steals.
Along with coming into the playoffs healthy this season, the Clippers have quality depth at every position and they have a true leader in head coach Glenn "Doc"Rivers to guide them to hopefully the promise land this season.
The Clippers have the likes of J.J. Redick (15.2 ppg, 45.5 FG%, 39.5 3-Pt.%), Collison, Matt Barnes (9.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 34.3 3-Pt.%), Jared Dudley (6.9 ppg36.0 3-Pt.%), Hedo Turkoglu, Danny Granger (8.0 ppg), Willie Green (5.0 ppg) and Glen Davis to both score inside and on the perimeter.
While the series will feature some amazing high light dunks and fastbreaks from the Clippers, who had 20-plus advantage in fastbreak points over the Warriors and smooth outside shooting by Warriors that can score inside as they held a plus 48 advantage in points in the paint, whoever can take the other teams advantage away will gain the upper hand.
The Clippers under Rivers went from the 26th rank team in defending the three-point line a season ago to No. 1 this season. In the Clippers victories this season, they have made an average of 9.3 triples per game and just 6.5 connections from distance in their losses.
Two other keys in this series is can the Clippers, who shot just 72.6 percent from the free throw line during the regular season take care of business in that area, especially if the game is close. Three of the Clippers top players in Jordan (42.8), Dudley (66.5) and Griffin (71.5) struggle from the line and can Warriors, who averaged 14.9 turnovers per contest (27th NBA) keep their miscues to a minimum to keep the Clippers out of the open court.
As I mentioned earlier, these two teams dislike each other very much. So who can keep their composure and not allow a teams antics to interfere with the task at hand will win. Which team can play through some tough calls by the officials and adjust will come out on top.
The difficulty of this series is that one team who has had their best season in recent memory will have it conclude in this round and will see a season of great promise be unfufilled.
Prediction: Clippers in six. Game 1: Today at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
Information, statistics and quotes are courtesy of www.nba.com/playoffs; www.espn.go.com/nba; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatfield-McCoy_feud; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Raptors; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Bobcats; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Wizards; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_Warriors; 4/17/14 6 p.m. edition of NBATV's "The Starters" with J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas, Leigh Eills and Trey Kerby; 4/17/14 7 p.m. Eastern Conference Playoff Preview Show on NBATV sponsored by SAP with Matt Winer, Dennis Scott and Vinny Del Negro; 4/17/14 8 p.m. Western Conference Playoff Preview on NBATV sponsored by SAP with Vince Cellini, Steve Smith and Vinny Del Negro.
Eastern Conference
(1) Indiana Pacers (56-26) versus (8) Atlanta Hawks (38-44): Season series tied 2-2.
From the outside looking in, this seems like a mismatch on paper. The Pacers, who stated coming into this season, they wanted to have home court advantage through at the most the Eastern Conference playoffs.
For much of this season, the Pacers were on track for that goal. At the end of February, the team was 44-13 a top the East. The team finished the last two months of the regular season going just 12-13 in the months of March and April.
One of those losses came versus the Hawks 12 days ago when they beat them in Indianapolis 107-88, which was just the Pacers second loss at home by double digits.
Hawks starting lead guard Jeff Teague, whose a native of Indianapolis led the way with 25 points on 9 for 17 shooting and center Pero Antic had 18. The Hawks lead from start to finish in that contest as they held the Pacers to a franchise low 23 points in the first half.
The Hawks in that game not allowed 107 points in that contest, when they normally give up 92.3 points, second best in the league, the Pacers shot 56.2 percent and made 12 three-pointers in 27 attempts.
It has not been easy for the Hawks either. They lost their leading scorer Al Horford to a shoulder injury earlier in the season.
With that being said, the play of guys like Paul Milsap (17.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.7 spg), Kyle Korver (12.0 ppg, 47.2 3-Pt.%), DeMarre Carroll (11.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg), Mike Scott (9.6 ppg), Louis Williams (10.4 ppg) have picked up the slack and it is because of their play, the Hawks were able to win six of their last eight to beat out the New York Knicks for the eighth and last playoff spot and make the postseason party for the seventh straight season.
The question is which Pacers team is going to show up in this series? Will it be the team that played with a chemistry that was second to none, especially at the defensive end or will it be the team that has been playing uninspired and with a poor attitude the last two months.
They need starting center Roy Hibbert (10.8 ppg 6.6 rpg 2.2 bpg-4th NBA) to come out of his funk. They need Paul George (21.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.9 spg) to be the offensive force that he was at the start of this season. Starting lead guard George Hill (10.3 ppg, 44.2 FG%, 36.5 3-Pt.%) to play aggressive at all times on both ends. David West (14.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) to be a steady presence scoring and on the board and Lance Stephenson must be the all around player who can pull off a triple double at the drop of a hat, which he did on five occasions this regular season, the most in the league.
If this starting five though has to play heavy minutes, totaling 1,468 more than any other lineup, this playoff run may be short lived.
They need the likes Luis Scola (7.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Evan Turner (7.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.4 apg with the Pacers), who they got at the trade deadline in February, C.J. Watson (6.6 ppg, 36.6 3-Pt.%), Ian Mahinmi (3.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg) to provide some relief.
If the Pacers reserves can play anything close like they did in their big win versus the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next to last game of the regular season, when Scola, Watson and Mahinmi combined to score 41 points on 15 for 21 shooting, the Pacers will be okay.
One thing the Pacers better do in this series guard the three-point line. The Hawks in four meetings with the Pacers made an average of 10.3 three-point field goals. The Pacers ranked fourth in the league in three-point defense. Korver shot 10 for 20 versus the Pacers this season. Antic, who averaged just 7.0 points a game on 41.8 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three-point range, averaged 17.0 points on 72.2 percent from the field and shot 60.0 percent from behind the three-point line.
This will be big against the Pacers because, this will take Hibbert away from the basket and it could open other things offensively for the Pacers.
While the Pacers on paper are a better team, they have not shown well lately and they have not shown well against the Hawks in Atlanta in recent years dropping 13 of their lat 15 visits to Phillips Arena.
All the pressure is squarely on the Pacers. They fell one game short of the Finals after losing Game 7 of the East Finals at the Miami Heat. If they happen to fall in the quarterfinals, it would be a disaster.
Prediction: Pacers in five games. Game 1: Today at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
(4) Chicago Bulls (48-34) versus (5) Washington Wizards (44-38): Wizards won season series 2-1.
This matchup features a drastic difference in styles and experience.
The Washington Wizards are back in the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. They are lead by the young potent backcourt of former No. 1 overall pick in 2010 out of Kentucky John Wall and the second year guard out of Florida Bradley Beal.
Wall healthy this season playing in all 82 games led the Wizards in scoring at 19.3 points dishing, steals at 1.8 and 8.8 assists (2nd NBA) and averaged 1.8 steals per contest. Beal showed well in his sophomore season in the league finishing second on the team in scoring at 17.1 per game and shot 40.2 percent from three-point range.
The key for the Wizards in this series is can Wall be able to score when it presents itself and be able to facilitate against a very tough Bulls defense which is one of the best in the business.
In the two victories, they managed to put up 102 and 88 points respectably in two wins in the month of January in a four-day span.
The Bulls returned the favor 13 days ago as they held the Wizards to 78 points in their 18-point win at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.
Against the Bulls this season, Wall and Beal averaged 20.7 and 13.7 per contest respectably on 50 percent from the field.
The Wizards will also need their front court of Nene (14.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Marcin Gortat (13.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg), Trevor Ariza (14.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 45.6 FG%, 40.7 3-Pt.%), Drew Gooden (8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Martell Webster (9.7 ppg, 39.2 3-Pt.%) and Trevor Booker (6.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg) to show well against the Bulls.
They also need to take care of business in the mid-range game. While they rank No. 1 in shot attempts from about 15 feet at 26.8 in the league, they are ranked 21st in percentage at 38.1
When the Bulls lost 2011 MVP Derrick Rose again for the season due to another knee injury, traded away Luol Deng in January to save money and struggled out of the gate going just 3-13 in November and December, many people thought that they would be out of the playoff mix.
This team however is coach by Tom Thibodeau and all he and his team did was get back on the court, play harder than the other team and win, which they did.
The likes of Joakim Noah (12.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg), who stands a good chance of winning Defensive Player of the Year, took their game to another level as he used every bit of passion and energy to record four triple doubles and average seven assists per contest since the All-Star break as the Bulls went 21-9.
Picking up guard D.J. Augustin (14.9 ppg, 5.0 apg, 41.1 3-Pt.%) off the street early after he was waived by the Toronto Raptors in December gave the offense life and the emergence of Sixth Man of the Year candidate in Taj Gibson (13.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), full-time starting two guard Jimmy Butler (13.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.9 spg) and veterans like Carlos Boozer (13.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and off-season addition Mike Dunleavy (11.3 ppg, 38.0 3-Pt.%) have been solid.
The key for the Bulls is can they score enough to win. Their 93.7 average per contest, ranked dead last will not cut it.
If they can take care of business at the offensive end and play their stellar defense, which ranked No. 1 in points allowed in the league at 91.8, second in field goal percentage at 43 percent and tied for seventh in three-point percentage allowed at 35.1, they have a great chance of making it to the second round for the second straight season.
The last time the Wizards advanced past the first round is 2005 when they defeated the Bulls in the first round in six games. Then starting guard Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards in that series with 23 points, six boards and six assists. It was the one and only playoff series victory in their last 11 tries since 1983.
Getting a victory in the opening round versus the Bulls, will not be easy, but if they do, it would go a long way in the development for this team.
Prediction: Bulls in seven games. Game 1: Sunday at 7 p.m. on TNT.
(2) Miami Heat (54-28) versus (7) Charlotte Bobcats (43-39): Heat won season series 4-0.
When you win one championship, it is a wonder feeling. Winning back-to-back titles is special. Winning three in succession is something most dream of doing.
That is the opportunity the Miami Heat have in front of them as they begin the 2014 NBA Playoffs trying to make it to The Finals for a fourth straight season.
Unlike last season though, their road to get to the No. 2 Seed was not an easy one.
While the top dog of the "Big 3" in LeBron James (27.1 ppg-3rd NBA, 6.9 rpg-led team, 6.4 apg-led team, 56.7 FG%-4th NBA) had another stellar season leading the, he did not have his sidekick Dwyane Wade (19.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.5 spg) for a great deal this season as he sat because of a hamstring injury and to rest a knee injury so that he could be ready for the playoffs. The third of the "Big 3" Chris Bosh (16.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg) had to step in as the No. 2 scorer at times and he had is good moments and he had some rough ones.
On top of that, two key editions in center Greg Oden, who played in the league for the first time in four seasons trying to comeback from a knee injury and Michael Beasley, who tried to rebuild his image in his second stint with the Heat have not panned out well as they had hoped and the likes of Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers (9.8 ppg, 4.9 apg, 45.4 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%), Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem , Ray Allen (9.6 ppg, 44.2 FG%, 37.5 3-Pt.%) and Rashard Lewis have been up and down a lot during this season.
With all of that being said though, the Heat understand what is ahead of them. The team and head coach Erik Spoelstra understand that what happens for the first 82 games is what it is. They got the second seed in the East. For a while they had a shot at the No. 1 Seed, but decided to rest their key players down the stretch and they are ready to embark on this journey that hopefully ends with a third straight title.
The journey begins for the Southeast Division champs versus the Bobcats, who they have beaten 16 consecutive times, which includes all four meetings this season. Two of those meetings though were close.
The Heat escaped by one point 99-98 versus the Bobcats on Dec. 1 and by eight points 104-96 in overtime in Charlotte back on Jan. 18.
The most memorable of the meetings came on Mar. 3 in Miami when James scored a Heat record, career-high and second best scoring night this season by an individual when he put up a remarkable 61 points on 22 for 33 from the field, including going 8 for 10 from three-point range and 9 for 12 from the free throw line in the Heat's 124-107 win over the Bobcats.
The Bobcats stayed in that game, before the Heat pulled away late, thanks to center Al Jefferson (21.8 ppg-leads team, 10.8 rpg-leads team). The Bobcats prized off-season addition had 38 points and 19 rebounds in the setback.
Jefferson, along with the emergence of Kemba Walker (17.7 ppg, 6.1 apg-leads team) and Gerald Henderson (14.0 ppg). The Bobcats have also gotten solid contributions from Gary Neal (11.2 ppg, 40.6 3-Pt.%), who they acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline along with Luke Ridnour for Ramon Sessions and Jeff Adrien, Josh McRoberts (8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (7.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg).
When the Bobcats hired long time assistant Steve Clifford to be their head coach this past off-season, he brought something that the Bobcats needed desperately. Consistency and accountability. The result a second straight season where they doubled their win total from a season ago. Just two seasons ago, the Bobcats went just 7-59 in the lockout shortened season season. They won just 21 games a season ago.
The fact that they had a good record like they did this season was an accomplishment for the team and owner Michael Jordan.
Advancing though may be asking too much, especially against the back-to-back champs. On top of that, the Bobcats despite having a solid scoring threat in the post in Jefferson, the Bobcats rank 23rd in scoring per game putting up just 96.9. They did however rank fourth in points allowed this season at 97.1.
The 29 times they allowed 100 points or more, the Bobcats won just nine times.
If the Bobcats have any chance of competing in this series, they have to have high level performances from Jefferson and Walker. A third consistent scorer must emerge and Kidd-Gilchrist, Henderson or whoever takes the task of guarding James has to at least make an attempt to slow him down. If he comes anywhere close to what he did against the Bobcats this season, where he averaged 37.8 points per contest on 62.9 percent from the floor, it is a wrap.
Prediction: Heat in four. Game 1: Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC
(3) Toronto Raptors (48-34) versus (6) Brooklyn Nets (44-38): Season series tied 2-2.
When the 2013-14 NBA campaign began, many thought that the Atlantic Division was a two-team race between the Knicks and their in state rivals the Brooklyn Nets, especially after the team acquired future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce (13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 45.1 FG%, 37.3 3-Pt.%) and Kevin Garnett (6.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg-led team) from the Boston Celtics. In a very big gamble, the Nets hired Jason Kidd, who just retired from the hardwood to be their head coach. The team also signed role players in Andrei Kirilenko, Alan Anderson and Shaun Livingston (8.3 ppg) to go alongside Deron Williams (14.3 ppg, 6.1 apg-led team, 1.5 spg-led team), Joe Johnson (15.8 ppg, 45.4 FG%, 40.1 3-Pt.%), Brook Lopez, Andray Blatche (11.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Mirza Teletovic (8.6 ppg, 39.0 3-Pt.%).
The season did not start great for the Nets as they went 10-21. During this stretch, they lost Lopez, their leading scorer at 20.7 ppg and six boards for the rest of the season to a broken bone in his right foot on Dec. 21. Kidd looked lost at times as a head coach and one incident in particular brought a lot of attention when he on Nov. 27 late in the Nets' 99-94 loss versus the Los Angeles Lakers acted as if he was spilling a beverage to gather his team to draw up a play and Garnett and Pierce played as if they were on their last legs.
Things turned around though once the calendar turned to January as the Nets went 34-17 to close the season, which includes a 16-2 mark at home.
They changed their offensive approach by going small playing Pierce as the starting power forward. The Nets made shooting the three-pointer an important part of the offense and they forced more turnovers at the defensive end.
After the first 18 games of this season, the Raptors were looking at their sixth straight season of not making the playoffs.
Then on Dec. 9, 2013, new General Manager Masai Ujiri traded swingman Rudy Gay along wit Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings for John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez (9.5 ppg, 3.7 apg), Patrick Patterson (9.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 47.4 FG%, 41.1 3-Pt.%) and Chuck Hayes.
After the trade, the Raptors sored to the top of the Atlantic Division going 42-22 the remainder of the season. Fourth year swingman DeMar DeRozen (22.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.0 apg) emerged as the team's best player, making his first All-Star game back in February. His backcourt mate Kyle Lowry (17.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 7.4 apg-led team, 1.5 spg-led team).
The biggest changes after the trade is the Raptors went from a straight isolation team to one that shared the ball consistently and made playing defense a priority.
Along with the emergence of DeRozen and Lowry, center Jonas Valanciunas (11.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg-led team), Terrance Ross (10.9 ppg) and Amir Johnson (10.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg) rose their games to another level.
These two teams met in the first round of the playoffs seven seasons ago and the Nets prevailed in six games.
The similarity in that series and this latest installment is that the Nets have the most playoff experience. The top players of the Nets in Garnett, Pierce, Johnson and Williams have played a combined 387 playoff games. The Raptors key players of Lowry, Johnson, DeRozen, Valanciunas and Ross have a combined 24 games of playoff experience. Those 24 games are split between Lowry and Johnson and they were marginal role players at that time.
Besides the experience, the Nets have been better this season in the clutch. In games decided by six points or less, the Raptors are just 3-8.
In his two seasons as a Net, Johnson has gone 13 for 18 in the final 30 seconds with the score tied or the Nets are within 1 to 3 points.
The Raptors have had a great season. They went from the outhouse to the top of the Atlantic Division, winning for the second time in franchise. Some of their core players have made names for themsevles in the NBA. The playoffs though are a different animal and the Nets have players that understand that.
The other thing that is in the Nets favor is that there are no back-to-backs in the playoffs. This season, the Nets went just 6-14 in the second night of back-to-back, but were 38-24 when they played with at least one day off.
If the Raptors cannot get Game 1, will their inexperience rattled them?
Prediction: Nets in six. Game 1: Today at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN
Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs (62-20) versus (8) Dallas Mavericks (49-33): Spurs won season series 4-0.
The more things change the more they stay the same. That is true in the Western Conference as the Spurs finished with the No. 1 Seed in the West and the best record in the NBA, making the playoffs for the 17th straight season.
The Southwest Division champs did all of this on the heels of falling apart in the closing moments of Game 6 of last season's Finals and they fell in Game 7 to the Miami Heat as they won back-to-back titles.
During the season, key Spurs like Kawhi Leonard (12.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 spg-led team, 37.9 3-Pt.%) missed a month with a broken hand. Danny Green (9.1 ppg, 41.5 3-Pt.%) missed several weeks with a broken finger and Manu Ginobili (12.3 ppg, 46.9 FG%, 34.9 3-Pt.%) was sidelined by a hamstring injury and Tony Parker (16.7 ppg-led team,5.7 apg-led team, 49.9 FG%) was put on the shelf to rest some nagging injuries.
When someone goes down, someone has to step up and that is what the likes of Marco Belinelli (11.4 ppg, 48.5 FG%, 43.0 3-Pt.%), Corey Joseph, Boris Diaw (9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Tiago Splitter (8.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg), who also missed time due to injury and Patty Mills (10.2 ppg, 46.4 FG%, 42.5 3-Pt.%) stepped up and the Spurs continued to win.
In fact they won 19 consecutive games, a new franchise record from Feb. 26 to Apr. 3.
Their interstate and division rivals the Mavs are back in the postseason after missing out last season, which snapped their streak of 12 straight appearances.
The Mavs return the playoffs is because of a healthy and rejuvenated Dirk Nowitzki (21.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 49.7 FG%, 39.8 3-Pt.%) and the solid play of free agent signings of starting guards Monta Ellis (19.0 ppg, 5.7 apg, 45.1 FG%) and Jose Calderon (11.4 ppg, 4.7 apg, 45.6 FG%, 44.9 3-Pt.%).
This is not the first rodeo, no pun intended, between the Interstate 35 rivals. They have met five previous times in the playoffs and in the middle of those battles has been Nowitzki, 35 and the 37-year-old Tim Duncan of the Spurs.
In 26 matchups between the two former MVPs and future Hall of Famers have been classics. Duncan (15.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg-led team, 1.9 bpg-led team) has averaged 24.5 points, 10.1 boards on 49.8 percent shooting while Nowitzki has averaged 26.0 points, 12.3 rebounds on 53.9 percent shooting. Duncan's Spurs have won 14 times, while Nowitzki and the Mavs have won 12 games. The Spurs have won three of the five series they have met in the playoffs.
This might be the last time we see these two greats at the power forward position head-to-head in the postseason. This should be treasured.
The Spurs have won the last nine meetings in a row against the Mavericks, which includes all four meetings this season by an average of 11.5 points. The Spurs have lead after the first quarter in all four meetings.
The Mavs had no answers for Duncan or Parker who averaged 23.3 points and 18.5 points respectably.
If the Mavs have any chance of competing against the Spurs in this series, they need Ellis and Nowitzki to play at a high level. They also need the likes of Shawn Marion (10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Vince Carter (11.9 ppg, 39.4 3-Pt.%), Samuel Dalembert (6.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg-led team), Brandon Wright (9.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg), DeJuan Blair (6.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Devin Harris (7.9 ppg, 4.5 apg) to make an impact.
Prediction: Spurs in five. Game 1: Sunday at 1 p.m. on TNT.
(4) Houston Rockets (54-28) versus (5) Portland Trail Blazers (54-28): Rockets won season series 3-1.
If you are somebody that enjoys seeing high octane offenses that get up and down the court, shoot three-pointers at a moments notice and have big men that can play down low with the best of the best, this is a series worth the price of admission.
The Rockets take the most three-pointers (26.6) and make the most at 9.5 per game. The Trail Blazers take the third most three-pointers (25.3) and are tied with the Phoenix Suns in makes from distance at 9.4 per contest. The Trail Blazers shoot better from distance making 37.2 percent (7th NBA), while the Rockets connect on 35.8 percent from three-point range (T-15th NBA).
While the team's have guys that can strike a match from distance, the shooting percentages and great looks are not possible without a solid player in the pivot.
The Rockets anchor in the pivot on both ends is Dwight Howard (18.3 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 1.8 bpg), who averaged 25.5 points, 13.5 boards and four blocks on 63.3 percent from the field versus the Trail Blazers this season.
The Blazers inside presence is three-time All-Star is LaMarcus Aldridge (23.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg), who averaged 26.8 points and 15.5 boards and pulled down at least 20 boards on two occassions this season versus the Rockets.
Howard's sidekick is James Harden (25.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 6.1 apg, 45.6 FG%) one of the best in the league and the two-time All-Star was at his best against the Trail Blazers averaging 30.3 points, 7.3 boards and 5.1 assists on 48.1 percent.
The Trail Blazers second best scorer is last season's Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard (20.7 ppg, 5.6 apg, 39.4 3-Pt.%). Against the Rockets this season, Lillard was okay averaging 18.8 points and five assists, though he shot just 38.6 percent from the floor.
These two high powered offensive teams are more than just their dynamic duos. Each of these teams have multiple players who can score with the best of them.
The Rockets supporting cast consists of Chandler Parsons (16.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 47.2 FG%, 37.0 3-Pt.%), Jeremy Lin (12.5 ppg, 44.6 FG%, 35.8 3-Pt.%), Terrence Jones (12.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 54.2 FG%), Patrick Beverly (10.2 ppg), Omri Casspi (6.9 ppg), Jordan Hamilton (6.6 ppg), Omer Asik (5.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Francisco Garcia (5.7 ppg) and Donatas Montiejunas (5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg).
The Trail Blazers supporting cast consist of Wesley Matthews (16.4 ppg, 44.1 FG%, 39.1 3-Pt.%), Nicolas Batum (13.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 5.1 apg, 46.5 FG%, 36.1 3-Pt.%), Robin Lopez (11.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.7 bpg), Mo Williams (9.7 ppg, 36.9 3-Pt.%).
In a series that features to evenly matched teams, it comes down to some x-factors coming to the fore front and creating some separation.
For the Rockets, Asik can be a huge factor, especially at the defensive end. He has been the one guy who can cause Aldridge some problems. Beverly can do the same against Lillard with his constant full court pressure.
In the case of the Blazers, their ability to pound the offensive and defensive glass is how they can seperate themselves in this series.
They are the No. 1 rebounding team in the league with 46.4 boards per contest; third in offensive boards per game at 12.5 per contest. The Rockets though rank second in rebound differential at 3.6, while the Blazers rank sixth at 2.9.
As far as the defensive end, the job of containing Harden falls toe Matthews and at times Batum. In two of the four games against the Trail Blazers this season, Harden dropped 41 and 33 points.
Another factor in this series could be the free throw line. The Rockets behind Harden and Howard, they attempt the most free throws per game at 31.1. The Rockets however rank 28 in the league shooting just 71.2 percent.
The Blazers attempt 23.5 free throws per game, ranking 13th in the league, but are No. 1 in the NBA shooting percentage at 81.5 percent.
If these are as close as expected, that is more in favor of the Trail Blazers as 30 of their wins have come within five points in last five minutes. Only the Grizzlies have more wins with 33.
When Howard signed with the Rockets as a free agent this past summer, he came here to win championships. After being on the shelf in the last couple of weeks this season with a left ankle strain. His health and how he plays will play a big role in how the Rockets do this postseason.
Nobody thought the Blazers would make the playoffs let alone win over 50 games. Behind a career year from Aldridge, continued improvement from Lillard and improvement from Matthews and Batum and the editions of Williams and Batum, the Trail Blazers became a playoff team.
Prediction: Rockets in seven. Game 1: Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on TNT.
(2) Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23) versus (7) Memphis Grizzlies (50-32): Thunder won season series 3-1.
For the third time in four seasons, two of the NBA's up and coming teams meet again in a best-of-seven playoff series.
Their first meeting took place in the Semifinals in 2011, the Thunder outlasted the Grizzlies in a grueling seven game series advancing to the Western Conference Finals, only to lose to the eventual NBA champion Mavericks.
They met again in the Semis last season and the Grizzlies returned the favor beating the Thunder, who did not have Russell Westbrook in five games.
The past may be the past, but the intrigue still remains and some of the key players on both teams have gotten better and some adversity has made both of these teams better.
Despite finishing as the No. 2 Seed in the West, the road to get their has not been easy as the Northwest Division champs dealt with injuries to the likes of Russell Westbrook (21.8 ppg 5.7 rpg, 6.9 apg-led team, 1.9 spg-led team), Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins, who have missed a combined total of 77 games this season because of knee, calf and groin strain injuries respectably. Westbrook knee required him to have two surgeries stems from what happen to him in the playoffs in last season's playoffs versus the Rockets, that made him missed games in the regular season for the first time in his six-year career.
On top of that, the Thunder have been inconsistent since the All-Star break, as they have gone just 16-11.
The one constant for them has been this season's likely MVP in Kevin Durant (32.0 ppg-leads NBA, 7.4 rpg, 5.5 apg-career-high), who averaged 30.8 ppg, 6.0 boards and five assists against the Grizzlies this season.
The Grizzlies after a rough beginning under new head coach Dave Joerger, really got their act together after Jan. 1 going 40-19. A big reason for their change of fortune is the return of starting center Marc Gasol (14.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg 3.6 apg), who had missed 23 games because of a knee injury and the Grizzlies struggled going just 10-13.
The Thunder won three of the four meetings and the one they lost on Jan 14 in Memphis 90-87, Westbrook did not play.
If the Grizzlies want to win this series versus the Thunder, slowing down Kevin Durant and scoring consistently are going have to be the top priorities.
In last season's semis, the Grizzlies used a multitude of defenders on Durant, which included Tayshaun Prince early and defensive ace Tony Allen late.
In Games 3, 4 and 5, Durant struggled in the fourth quarter scoring a combined nine points going just 4 for 18 from the floor and getting to the line just four times combined hitting just one. The Thunder lost those last three games and the series.
James Johnson, who the Grizzlies signed earlier in the season out of the D-League will have his chance to guard Durant as well.
As far as offensively, the Grizzlies have to do better than the 93.5 average they scored in the four meetings against the Thunder and just 96.1 points per game, ranking 27th in the league.
The likes of Mike Conley (17.2 ppg, 6.0 apg), Courtney Lee (11.0 ppg, 47.6 FG%, 34.5 3-Pt.%), who the team acquired earlier in the season from the Celtics and Mike Miller (7.1 ppg, 48.1 FG%, 45.9 3-Pt.%) to provide some scoring punch.
The Grizzlies also need their other main threat in the post in Zach Randolph (17.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 46.7 FG%), who averaged 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds versus the Thunder.
On the Thunder side, the key for them is getting consistent play from the likes of Serge Ibaka (15.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.7 bpg-2nd NBA), Reggie Jackson (13.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.1 apg) and Caron Butler (9.7 ppg, 44.1 3-Pt.%), Jeremy Lamb (8.5 ppg), Derek Fisher (5.2 ppg 38.4 3-Pt.%), Nick Collison and the rookie Steven Adams.
If this series goes at least five games, Fisher will make a some history as he will pass seven-time NBA champion and his former teammate with the Lakers Robert Horry most playoff games played. Horry has played in 244 playoff games and Fisher, who has won five rings with the Lakers in the early and middle 2000s has played in 240 playoff games. He has already passed Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (237) and former teammates Kobe Bryant (220) and Shaquille O'Neal (216).
Prediction: Thunder in six. Game 1: Tonight at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
(3) Los Angeles Clippers (57-25) versus (6) Golden State Warriors (51-31): Season series tied 2-2.
It was just a few seasons back that these two teams were in the bottom of the West. Both have risen from the ashes and have developed into the high octane high flying, jump shooting Hatfields versus the McCoys over the last couple of years and they will meet for the first time in the playoffs.
How much do these teams dislike one another?
Well Warriors starting shooting guard Klay Thompson, one half of the Warriors' dubbed splash brothers tandem said about Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin on a local San Francisco radio station 95.7 The Game, "He's kind of like a bull in a China shop, kind of out of control sometimes. And then you do just see him flop sometimes-like how can a guy that big and strong flop so much?"
Let the antagonism and the scuffles, which there were a lot of in the four meetings begin.
For the Warriors it will begin though without the services of starting center Andrew Bogut (7.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg-leads team, 1.8 bpg-leads team), who is out indefintely due to a rib injury.
The burden of protecting the paint and providing some kind of offensive punch now comes down to 35-year-old Jermaine O'Neal (7.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and David Lee (18.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg), who averaged 21.8 points and nine boards against the Clippers in the regular season.
While the Warriors lose their best rim protector, they still have options to go to at the forward position with the likes of swingman Andre Iguodala (9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.2 apg), Harrison Barnes (9.5 ppg), Draymond Green (6.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Marreese Speights (6.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg).
The scoring falls on Thompson (18.4 ppg, 41.7 3-Pt.%) and his "Splash Brother" sidekick Stephen Curry (24.0 ppg-leads team, 8.5 apg, 47.1 FG%, 42.4 3-Pt.%), who averaged 22.0 points against the Clippers during the regular season and going 17 for 29 from three-point territory. . They will also need some scoring punch off the bench from Jordan Crawford (8.4 ppg), who put up a career-high 41 points on 16 for 28 shooting in the regular season finale, a 116-112 win at the Nuggets this past Wednesday.
To put this Warriors season into perspective, the last time the Warriors made the playoffs in back-to-back season and were able to win 50-plus games, I was in fourth grader and fifth grader when the Warriors made the postseason two straight seasons in 1991 and 1992 and I was a sixth grader at Grand Ave. the last time the Warriors won 50 games was back in 1993-94, when they went 50-32 when they had the likes Chris Webber, Latrell Sprewell, Chris Mullin, Billy Owens, Avery Johnson, Chris Gatling and Keith Jennings and the head coach was Don Nelson.
The Clippers had their greatest regular season in franchise history. They won their second straight Pacific Division title, establishing a new franchise best number of total victories and home victories with 34.
The All-Star duo of Blake Griffin (24.1 ppg-lead team, 9.5 rpg, 3.9 apg), who averaged 28.0 ppg, 10.5 boards on 53.2 percent shooting against the Warriors this regular season. and Chris Paul (19.1 ppg, 10.7 apg-lead NBA, 2.5 spg-led NBA) had stellar seasons.
Starting center DeAndre Jordan (10.4 ppg, 13.6 rpg-led NBA, 2.5 bpg-3rd NBA, 67.6 FG%-led NBA) had a break out season and he could win Defensive Player of the Year.
The difference in this team from last year and so far in the regular season is that they faced some adversity and they only got better because of it. Chris Paul missed 18 games because of a seperated right shoulder he suffered back on Jan. 3 at the Mavericks.
Understudy Darren Collison (11.4 ppg 46.7 FG%, 36.8 3-Pt.%) had to step in and he performed very well as the Clippers went 12-6 without their floor general.
When Paul returned to the line up on Feb. 9 and in the six games leading up to the playoffs he averaged 20.5 ppg and 8.7 apg on 52.4 percent shooting. Against the Warriors this season, Paul averaged 28.0 points, 12.7 assists and 3.7 steals.
Along with coming into the playoffs healthy this season, the Clippers have quality depth at every position and they have a true leader in head coach Glenn "Doc"Rivers to guide them to hopefully the promise land this season.
The Clippers have the likes of J.J. Redick (15.2 ppg, 45.5 FG%, 39.5 3-Pt.%), Collison, Matt Barnes (9.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 34.3 3-Pt.%), Jared Dudley (6.9 ppg36.0 3-Pt.%), Hedo Turkoglu, Danny Granger (8.0 ppg), Willie Green (5.0 ppg) and Glen Davis to both score inside and on the perimeter.
While the series will feature some amazing high light dunks and fastbreaks from the Clippers, who had 20-plus advantage in fastbreak points over the Warriors and smooth outside shooting by Warriors that can score inside as they held a plus 48 advantage in points in the paint, whoever can take the other teams advantage away will gain the upper hand.
The Clippers under Rivers went from the 26th rank team in defending the three-point line a season ago to No. 1 this season. In the Clippers victories this season, they have made an average of 9.3 triples per game and just 6.5 connections from distance in their losses.
Two other keys in this series is can the Clippers, who shot just 72.6 percent from the free throw line during the regular season take care of business in that area, especially if the game is close. Three of the Clippers top players in Jordan (42.8), Dudley (66.5) and Griffin (71.5) struggle from the line and can Warriors, who averaged 14.9 turnovers per contest (27th NBA) keep their miscues to a minimum to keep the Clippers out of the open court.
As I mentioned earlier, these two teams dislike each other very much. So who can keep their composure and not allow a teams antics to interfere with the task at hand will win. Which team can play through some tough calls by the officials and adjust will come out on top.
The difficulty of this series is that one team who has had their best season in recent memory will have it conclude in this round and will see a season of great promise be unfufilled.
Prediction: Clippers in six. Game 1: Today at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
Information, statistics and quotes are courtesy of www.nba.com/playoffs; www.espn.go.com/nba; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatfield-McCoy_feud; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Raptors; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Bobcats; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Wizards; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_Warriors; 4/17/14 6 p.m. edition of NBATV's "The Starters" with J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas, Leigh Eills and Trey Kerby; 4/17/14 7 p.m. Eastern Conference Playoff Preview Show on NBATV sponsored by SAP with Matt Winer, Dennis Scott and Vinny Del Negro; 4/17/14 8 p.m. Western Conference Playoff Preview on NBATV sponsored by SAP with Vince Cellini, Steve Smith and Vinny Del Negro.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
J-Speaks: James' Historic Night vs. Bobcats
On nine occassions has the four-time Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association LeBron James of the Miami Heat scored 50 points or more in his career. His best scoring performance came Mar. 20, 2005 when he scored 56 for the then Cleveland Cavaliers in a 105-98 loss at the Toronto Raptors. All nine of those amazing scoring nights came on the road. This past Monday night versus the Charlotte Bobcats, James put on a memorable performance, established a new Heat record and a former foe, now a teammate was a part of the moment.
In the Heat's (43-16) 124-107 win versus the Bobcats (29-33), their 16th consecutive over the Bobcats, James scored a career-high and a new Heat record of 61 points.
James went 22 for 33 from the field, including going 8 for 10 from three-point territory and 9 for 12 from the free throw line. He also had seven boards and five assists in 41 minutes.
He broke the previous mark that was set by former Miami Heat sharp shooting forward Glen Rice, who scored a then Heat record of 56 points, going 20 for 27 from the field, including connecting on 7 for 8 from three-point range and 9 for 10 from the free throw line in Miami's 123-117 win versus the Orlando Magic on Apr. 15 1995.
How good was James on this night. Well he started strong with 11 points in the opening quarter. He scored 24 in the points in the second stanza. He put up an incredible 25 points in the third quarter, which matched the output of the entire Bobcats team and he concluded his amazing night with 12 points in the fourth and final period to help the Heat pull out the victory.
"I felt pretty good in the first half, but halftime came can always kind of derail things and slow things up," James, whose made a career-high 22 shots and tied a career-high with eight connections from the three-point line said after the game. "But I was able to get things going once again in the third quarter and I knew it could be one of those nights."
To put the remarkable performance of James into perspective, Bobcats forward Al Jefferson, whose performance this season gave him a strong case for being an All-Star this season scored a team high 38 points and grabbed a game-high 19 rebounds in 38 minutes of work.
On top of that, the Bobcats, who have really been a true surprise this season as they are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference and would face the Heat if the playoffs started right now, gave Miami all they could handle. It is because they could not slow down James that they fell on the short end this past Monday night.
Unfortunately, this was the second time that an opposing player had put up 60-plus points against the Bobcats this season, which made them the third team in NBA history to allow two different players to score 60 points or more in a game. The last time it happened was in the 1961-62 season when the New York Knicks when the late Wilt Chamberlin famously scored 100 points, the most by a player in NBA history versus the Knicks in Hershey, PA in the then Philadelphia Warriors 169-147 win on Mar. 2 that season. Jerry West also scored 60 points in a game against the Knicks back in 1961-62.
Back on Jan. 24 at the Knicks, All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony scored a career-high, an all-time team record and a new Madison Square Garden record 62 points as the Bobcats suffered a 125-96 defeat. Anthony also had 13 rebounds.
Jefferson was overshawdowed in that contest also, as he lead the Bobcats with 25 points and nine rebounds.
"You take away his 61 and we still had a fighting chance there at the end," Jefferson said after the game on Monday night.
Rice's then record breaking performance was a big reason the Heat, who missed the playoffs that season needed every point to defeat the eventual Eastern Conference champions of 1995. That performance by Miami's greatest shooter in team history and one of the very best in NBA history countered the tremendous performances from four of Orlando's starting five that afternoon.
Then Magic center and current NBATV/NBA on TNT analyst Shaquille O'Neal lead the Magic with 38 points, 16 boards and two blocks. Magic lead guard Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway had 28 points and 18 assists. Forward Horace Grant had 21 points and 10 boards and guard Nick Anderson had 20 points on 7 for 16 shooting, including going 4 for 9 from three-point territory.
As mentioned this was the first time that James scored 50-plus at home. This was also the eighth win in ten tries in his career with the Cavs and the Heat that James scored that many points and his team was victorious.
It is one thing to do it on the road in places like Madison Squard Garden in New York, NY, which James did back on Feb. 4, 2009 putting up 52 points, 11 assists and nine boards in the Cavs 107-102 win at the New York Knicks. It is a treat to do it in front of your fans, which James knows very well.
"This was the first time I've ever scored 50 on the home court. I've done it so many times on the road, but now at home and to be able to do it in front of these fans. It's a surreal feeling for me right now," James said after the game.
While he did not have Dwyane Wade, who sat this game out to rest his knee, the other member of the Heat's "Big Three" was on the court for this big performance in Chris Bosh, who had 15 points and seven boards in the victory Monday.
This is not the first time though that the 10-year forward out of Georgia Tech has been present for an out of this world performance by an NBA peer of his.
While still with the Toronto Raptors, where he played the first seven seasons of his career, he was on the court when then Bulls guard Jamal Crawford, now with the Clippers scored a career-high 50 points in leading the Bulls to a 114-108 victory at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. Bosh had a game to forget scoring just six points on 2 for 10 shooting
The most memorable performance Bosh was on the court and witnessed was on a Sunday night on Jan. 22, 2006 when Lakers swingman Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, the second highest scoring game in NBA history as the Lakers won 122-104. Bosh scored 18 points and grabbed eight boards.
When James scored his 56 points nine seasons back, Bosh was a part of that Raptors group. He was on the winning side of this one dispite a subpar game with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Bosh had a front row seat when James put up his first 50-plus point performance as a member of the Heat when he registered 51 points, 11 boards and eight assists as the Heat won at the Orlando Magic 104-100 on Feb. 3, 2011. Bosh had 13 points and six boards.
Back on Apr. 2, 2013, Anthony of the Knicks scored 50 points in leading the Knicks to a 102-90 victory at the Heat. James sat out the game as well as Wade. Bosh lead the Heat on that evening with 23 points.
A lot was learned on Monday night in South Florida. We learned that James, who is in the running for his fifth MVP, is one of the best in the game as demonstrated by his record setting performance. That Bosh was a part of and on the receiving end of incredible performance a his teammate James or a future Hall of Famer peer. Also that while the Charlotte Bobcats have shown this season that they are a pretty good defensive team, two of the best in the league scoring wise have out of this world performances at their expense and both were ones to remember.
Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of 3/4/14 1 a.m. edition of "NBA Tonight" on ESPN 2 with Cassidy Hubbarth and Tim Legler; 3/8/14 12 p.m. edition of "NBA Inside Stuff" with Grant Hill and Kristen Ledlow on NBATV; www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/19950415MIA.html;www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200503200TOR.html;espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=240411028;espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=26122013;espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=310203019;espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=400278829;www.nba.com/gameline/?cid=2013#$/games/20140303/CHAMIA/gameinfo.html
In the Heat's (43-16) 124-107 win versus the Bobcats (29-33), their 16th consecutive over the Bobcats, James scored a career-high and a new Heat record of 61 points.
James went 22 for 33 from the field, including going 8 for 10 from three-point territory and 9 for 12 from the free throw line. He also had seven boards and five assists in 41 minutes.
He broke the previous mark that was set by former Miami Heat sharp shooting forward Glen Rice, who scored a then Heat record of 56 points, going 20 for 27 from the field, including connecting on 7 for 8 from three-point range and 9 for 10 from the free throw line in Miami's 123-117 win versus the Orlando Magic on Apr. 15 1995.
How good was James on this night. Well he started strong with 11 points in the opening quarter. He scored 24 in the points in the second stanza. He put up an incredible 25 points in the third quarter, which matched the output of the entire Bobcats team and he concluded his amazing night with 12 points in the fourth and final period to help the Heat pull out the victory.
"I felt pretty good in the first half, but halftime came can always kind of derail things and slow things up," James, whose made a career-high 22 shots and tied a career-high with eight connections from the three-point line said after the game. "But I was able to get things going once again in the third quarter and I knew it could be one of those nights."
To put the remarkable performance of James into perspective, Bobcats forward Al Jefferson, whose performance this season gave him a strong case for being an All-Star this season scored a team high 38 points and grabbed a game-high 19 rebounds in 38 minutes of work.
On top of that, the Bobcats, who have really been a true surprise this season as they are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference and would face the Heat if the playoffs started right now, gave Miami all they could handle. It is because they could not slow down James that they fell on the short end this past Monday night.
Unfortunately, this was the second time that an opposing player had put up 60-plus points against the Bobcats this season, which made them the third team in NBA history to allow two different players to score 60 points or more in a game. The last time it happened was in the 1961-62 season when the New York Knicks when the late Wilt Chamberlin famously scored 100 points, the most by a player in NBA history versus the Knicks in Hershey, PA in the then Philadelphia Warriors 169-147 win on Mar. 2 that season. Jerry West also scored 60 points in a game against the Knicks back in 1961-62.
Back on Jan. 24 at the Knicks, All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony scored a career-high, an all-time team record and a new Madison Square Garden record 62 points as the Bobcats suffered a 125-96 defeat. Anthony also had 13 rebounds.
Jefferson was overshawdowed in that contest also, as he lead the Bobcats with 25 points and nine rebounds.
"You take away his 61 and we still had a fighting chance there at the end," Jefferson said after the game on Monday night.
Rice's then record breaking performance was a big reason the Heat, who missed the playoffs that season needed every point to defeat the eventual Eastern Conference champions of 1995. That performance by Miami's greatest shooter in team history and one of the very best in NBA history countered the tremendous performances from four of Orlando's starting five that afternoon.
Then Magic center and current NBATV/NBA on TNT analyst Shaquille O'Neal lead the Magic with 38 points, 16 boards and two blocks. Magic lead guard Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway had 28 points and 18 assists. Forward Horace Grant had 21 points and 10 boards and guard Nick Anderson had 20 points on 7 for 16 shooting, including going 4 for 9 from three-point territory.
As mentioned this was the first time that James scored 50-plus at home. This was also the eighth win in ten tries in his career with the Cavs and the Heat that James scored that many points and his team was victorious.
It is one thing to do it on the road in places like Madison Squard Garden in New York, NY, which James did back on Feb. 4, 2009 putting up 52 points, 11 assists and nine boards in the Cavs 107-102 win at the New York Knicks. It is a treat to do it in front of your fans, which James knows very well.
"This was the first time I've ever scored 50 on the home court. I've done it so many times on the road, but now at home and to be able to do it in front of these fans. It's a surreal feeling for me right now," James said after the game.
While he did not have Dwyane Wade, who sat this game out to rest his knee, the other member of the Heat's "Big Three" was on the court for this big performance in Chris Bosh, who had 15 points and seven boards in the victory Monday.
This is not the first time though that the 10-year forward out of Georgia Tech has been present for an out of this world performance by an NBA peer of his.
While still with the Toronto Raptors, where he played the first seven seasons of his career, he was on the court when then Bulls guard Jamal Crawford, now with the Clippers scored a career-high 50 points in leading the Bulls to a 114-108 victory at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. Bosh had a game to forget scoring just six points on 2 for 10 shooting
The most memorable performance Bosh was on the court and witnessed was on a Sunday night on Jan. 22, 2006 when Lakers swingman Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, the second highest scoring game in NBA history as the Lakers won 122-104. Bosh scored 18 points and grabbed eight boards.
When James scored his 56 points nine seasons back, Bosh was a part of that Raptors group. He was on the winning side of this one dispite a subpar game with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Bosh had a front row seat when James put up his first 50-plus point performance as a member of the Heat when he registered 51 points, 11 boards and eight assists as the Heat won at the Orlando Magic 104-100 on Feb. 3, 2011. Bosh had 13 points and six boards.
Back on Apr. 2, 2013, Anthony of the Knicks scored 50 points in leading the Knicks to a 102-90 victory at the Heat. James sat out the game as well as Wade. Bosh lead the Heat on that evening with 23 points.
A lot was learned on Monday night in South Florida. We learned that James, who is in the running for his fifth MVP, is one of the best in the game as demonstrated by his record setting performance. That Bosh was a part of and on the receiving end of incredible performance a his teammate James or a future Hall of Famer peer. Also that while the Charlotte Bobcats have shown this season that they are a pretty good defensive team, two of the best in the league scoring wise have out of this world performances at their expense and both were ones to remember.
Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of 3/4/14 1 a.m. edition of "NBA Tonight" on ESPN 2 with Cassidy Hubbarth and Tim Legler; 3/8/14 12 p.m. edition of "NBA Inside Stuff" with Grant Hill and Kristen Ledlow on NBATV; www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/19950415MIA.html;www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200503200TOR.html;espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=240411028;espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=26122013;espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=310203019;espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameid=400278829;www.nba.com/gameline/?cid=2013#$/games/20140303/CHAMIA/gameinfo.html
Saturday, March 1, 2014
J-Speaks: The Newest Edition to the Nets Makes History
When a player in the NBA signs a 10-day contract, that individual normally does not grab the front headline of not just that sports league, but the front page of newspapers or sports sights across the United States. This past Sunday though, the newest edition to the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) was not just a big deal in terms of filling a need for them, but it broke a major social barrier.
Right before their matchup at the Los Angeles Lakers this past Sunday night, the Nets signed center Jason Collins to a 10-day contract.
You probably are asking why this is a big deal? Well, the 35-year-old Collins, who is in his 13th season became the first athlete in any of the four major North American professional sports (NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL) to be on a team and be openly gay.
He made the announcement back on Apr. 2013 in an interview with George Stephenopoulos on ABC's "Good Morning America."
The former first round pick (18th overall) out of Stanford, who is in his second stint with the Nets entered the game at the 10:28 mark of the second quarter. He had no points, two rebounds and five fouls in 10 minutes of action in the 108-102 win over the Lakers at the Staples Center.
This was a very big deal for a lot of reasons. It puts a stamp on something former NBA Commissioner David Stern always set out to do in his 30-year career, which concluded this past February 1.
A league with diversity across the board and an respect for those who are different. All that matters is can you take care of business on the court or in the front office or on a coaching staff and represent the league well?
Collins, whose twin brother Jarron also played in the NBA for 10 seasons with the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers and with him at Stanford is a great example of that.
"I don't have time to really think about history right now. I just have to focus on my job tonight," Collins said to the media before the game.
What makes Collins signing with the Nets a great choice is the fact that he played with the team's current head coach in Jason Kidd for six seasons from 2001-2008, which includes back-to-back appearances in the NBA Finals in 2002-2003. The then New Jersey Nets lost to the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs 4-0 and 4-2 respectably.
Last season, Collins played 32 games with the Boston Celtics, starting seven times. Two of his teammates at that time and are his current teammates now is future Hall of Fame forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
Collins also played last season with the Washington Wizards.
Because of that familiarity and knowledge of Collins from key people of the Nets, this was the best place for him to resume his NBA career. He also understands his role, fills a need for the Nets and his main focus is to help the team and let everything else take care of itself.
"I need to be a solid basketball player again. Its about focusing on the task at hand and not thinking about history or anything along those lines. Its about going out there and making it difficult for the Lakers," Collins, who has also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks and last season with the Washington Wizards, said on Sunday.
When Collins came out about being gay last year, there was the question would he ever get a chance to continue his NBA career, especially at his age?
It goes to show the value of people having knowledge of who you are and what you can bring to the table. It is also an example of having the fortitude to stick with it and never give in to the standard of society. On top of that being able to get to a place where you can be comfortable in your own skin and being able to say who you and having people respect that is just as important if not more.
"Jason told us that his goal was to earn another contract with an NBA team. Today, I want to commend him on achieving his goal," Adam Silver, the new NBA Commissioner said in a statement this past Sunday.
"I know everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment."
That is especially true for someone who he has gotten to know, who is hopefully on the verge of getting his professional sports career off the ground as well as breaking a barrier of his own.
Co South Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year from Missouri Michael Sam, who hopes to be drafted in the National Football League (NFL) this May announced that he is gay in an interview with Chris Connelly on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" back on February 9.
If he is drafted, which he was projected to be selected in the third or fourth round, he would be the first active player in the NFL who publicly came out.
Unlike Collins though, Sam faces an uphill battle. A number of anonymous NFL executives have said to Sports Illustrated that Sam will fall in the draft because he came out of the closet about his sexuality.
The NFL's Players Association executive leader DeMaurice Smith has stated that any team official who downgrades Sam because he is gay is "gutless."
Six days after his announcment, Sam joined his former Tiger teammates as they accepted the 2014 Cotton Bowl Trophy, which the No. 9 ranked Tigers won by defeating the No. 13 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys 41-31 back on Jan. 3, at a ceremony that took place at Mizzou Arena at intermission during a Missouri Tigers basketball game.
Reportedly, an anti-gay activist named Shirley Phelps-Roper and close to 15 other people of the Westboro Baptist Church that is widely considered a hate group protested Sam's presence. Missouri students organized a counter-protest that numbered in the thousands and they assembled a wall in front of the protestors.
By seeing how Collins has gone about his business since he came out of the closet, Sam has seen one pro athlete do what he loves and he will hopefully get the chance to do the same and be able to do so for a long time.
In a recent statement from his Twitter account @MikeSameFootball, Sam said to Collins, "Congradulations my friend@jasoncollins34-excited to see you do work out there#courage, #groundbreaking."
In a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine last weekend, Sam said, "I know how to handle myself. I know how to communicate with my teammates."
A big barrier got broken this past Sunday night in Los Angeles, CA. A former Stanford Cardinal, who averaged just 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest in his first 12 seasons made history. He told the truth about a part of his life that many people are frightened to say because of the ramifications that can pursue. What Jason Collins has shown if anything that if you want something bad enough and you are willing to put in the work to get there, things can work out. Along the way, you can change people's minds and gain their respects.
"What this day means is its 2014. YOu judge people by their character and I think that's what we have to do," former NBA guard and current NBA analyst Steve Smith said on NBATV's "Gametime," on Sunday night.
Smith colleague and former NBA guard Brent Barry echoed that by saying, "Jason Collins is in a good place and that's probably the most important part about today."
The question now is what does the future hold for all athletes from the high school level to the professional level going forward? Can one come out and be themselves without backlash from the public or their own team?
In the case of Collins, he has been able to get over that hurdle. Having people who know him has helped. However, will he be around for the rest of this season and what will happen to him after that? He only signed with the Nets for just 10 days.
So far through three games, Collins has played 25 mins, scored three points on 1 for 3 from the field and committed nine fouls. The team has gone 2-1 during that stretch though and he has provided a lift. While he may have not had an impact stats wise, he has done the little things like set picks to get other players open and his communication at the defensive end has been big.
"He came into this league knowing that he's going to give his six fouls away. He used up five of them, so were kind of disappointed that he didn't get use his six, but he's a guy that understands when to foul," Kidd said after the game on Sunday.
In the case of Sam, his professional journey is now in the hands of the teams of the NFL and he will not have the support system like he had at Missouri. Also he will bring a lot of attention to the team that he goes to and the NFL is a league where teams, especially the good teams pride themselves on not having distractions.
At the end of the day, it will get back to what NFL senior analyst for ESPN Chris Mortensen said last weekend.
"I think ultimately it gets back to whether or not that this person can help his team," he said.
Hopefully one day, a professional athlete that is gay will not be such a big deal. Until then, it will always grab headlines, but it is up to us a society across the board to keep things in perspective and allow a persons play and action do the talking for them and not their sexual orientation.
Information, quotations and statistics are courtesy of 2/24/14 12 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" with Vince Cellini, Steve Smith and Brent Barry; 2/24/14 7 a.m. edition of ABC News' "Good Morning America" with Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Ginger Zee and Lara Spencer; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Collins; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Kidd; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sam; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarron_Collins; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20140_Cotton_Bowl_Classic.
Right before their matchup at the Los Angeles Lakers this past Sunday night, the Nets signed center Jason Collins to a 10-day contract.
You probably are asking why this is a big deal? Well, the 35-year-old Collins, who is in his 13th season became the first athlete in any of the four major North American professional sports (NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL) to be on a team and be openly gay.
He made the announcement back on Apr. 2013 in an interview with George Stephenopoulos on ABC's "Good Morning America."
The former first round pick (18th overall) out of Stanford, who is in his second stint with the Nets entered the game at the 10:28 mark of the second quarter. He had no points, two rebounds and five fouls in 10 minutes of action in the 108-102 win over the Lakers at the Staples Center.
This was a very big deal for a lot of reasons. It puts a stamp on something former NBA Commissioner David Stern always set out to do in his 30-year career, which concluded this past February 1.
A league with diversity across the board and an respect for those who are different. All that matters is can you take care of business on the court or in the front office or on a coaching staff and represent the league well?
Collins, whose twin brother Jarron also played in the NBA for 10 seasons with the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers and with him at Stanford is a great example of that.
"I don't have time to really think about history right now. I just have to focus on my job tonight," Collins said to the media before the game.
What makes Collins signing with the Nets a great choice is the fact that he played with the team's current head coach in Jason Kidd for six seasons from 2001-2008, which includes back-to-back appearances in the NBA Finals in 2002-2003. The then New Jersey Nets lost to the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs 4-0 and 4-2 respectably.
Last season, Collins played 32 games with the Boston Celtics, starting seven times. Two of his teammates at that time and are his current teammates now is future Hall of Fame forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
Collins also played last season with the Washington Wizards.
Because of that familiarity and knowledge of Collins from key people of the Nets, this was the best place for him to resume his NBA career. He also understands his role, fills a need for the Nets and his main focus is to help the team and let everything else take care of itself.
"I need to be a solid basketball player again. Its about focusing on the task at hand and not thinking about history or anything along those lines. Its about going out there and making it difficult for the Lakers," Collins, who has also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks and last season with the Washington Wizards, said on Sunday.
When Collins came out about being gay last year, there was the question would he ever get a chance to continue his NBA career, especially at his age?
It goes to show the value of people having knowledge of who you are and what you can bring to the table. It is also an example of having the fortitude to stick with it and never give in to the standard of society. On top of that being able to get to a place where you can be comfortable in your own skin and being able to say who you and having people respect that is just as important if not more.
"Jason told us that his goal was to earn another contract with an NBA team. Today, I want to commend him on achieving his goal," Adam Silver, the new NBA Commissioner said in a statement this past Sunday.
"I know everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment."
That is especially true for someone who he has gotten to know, who is hopefully on the verge of getting his professional sports career off the ground as well as breaking a barrier of his own.
Co South Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year from Missouri Michael Sam, who hopes to be drafted in the National Football League (NFL) this May announced that he is gay in an interview with Chris Connelly on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" back on February 9.
If he is drafted, which he was projected to be selected in the third or fourth round, he would be the first active player in the NFL who publicly came out.
Unlike Collins though, Sam faces an uphill battle. A number of anonymous NFL executives have said to Sports Illustrated that Sam will fall in the draft because he came out of the closet about his sexuality.
The NFL's Players Association executive leader DeMaurice Smith has stated that any team official who downgrades Sam because he is gay is "gutless."
Six days after his announcment, Sam joined his former Tiger teammates as they accepted the 2014 Cotton Bowl Trophy, which the No. 9 ranked Tigers won by defeating the No. 13 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys 41-31 back on Jan. 3, at a ceremony that took place at Mizzou Arena at intermission during a Missouri Tigers basketball game.
Reportedly, an anti-gay activist named Shirley Phelps-Roper and close to 15 other people of the Westboro Baptist Church that is widely considered a hate group protested Sam's presence. Missouri students organized a counter-protest that numbered in the thousands and they assembled a wall in front of the protestors.
By seeing how Collins has gone about his business since he came out of the closet, Sam has seen one pro athlete do what he loves and he will hopefully get the chance to do the same and be able to do so for a long time.
In a recent statement from his Twitter account @MikeSameFootball, Sam said to Collins, "Congradulations my friend@jasoncollins34-excited to see you do work out there#courage, #groundbreaking."
In a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine last weekend, Sam said, "I know how to handle myself. I know how to communicate with my teammates."
A big barrier got broken this past Sunday night in Los Angeles, CA. A former Stanford Cardinal, who averaged just 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest in his first 12 seasons made history. He told the truth about a part of his life that many people are frightened to say because of the ramifications that can pursue. What Jason Collins has shown if anything that if you want something bad enough and you are willing to put in the work to get there, things can work out. Along the way, you can change people's minds and gain their respects.
"What this day means is its 2014. YOu judge people by their character and I think that's what we have to do," former NBA guard and current NBA analyst Steve Smith said on NBATV's "Gametime," on Sunday night.
Smith colleague and former NBA guard Brent Barry echoed that by saying, "Jason Collins is in a good place and that's probably the most important part about today."
The question now is what does the future hold for all athletes from the high school level to the professional level going forward? Can one come out and be themselves without backlash from the public or their own team?
In the case of Collins, he has been able to get over that hurdle. Having people who know him has helped. However, will he be around for the rest of this season and what will happen to him after that? He only signed with the Nets for just 10 days.
So far through three games, Collins has played 25 mins, scored three points on 1 for 3 from the field and committed nine fouls. The team has gone 2-1 during that stretch though and he has provided a lift. While he may have not had an impact stats wise, he has done the little things like set picks to get other players open and his communication at the defensive end has been big.
"He came into this league knowing that he's going to give his six fouls away. He used up five of them, so were kind of disappointed that he didn't get use his six, but he's a guy that understands when to foul," Kidd said after the game on Sunday.
In the case of Sam, his professional journey is now in the hands of the teams of the NFL and he will not have the support system like he had at Missouri. Also he will bring a lot of attention to the team that he goes to and the NFL is a league where teams, especially the good teams pride themselves on not having distractions.
At the end of the day, it will get back to what NFL senior analyst for ESPN Chris Mortensen said last weekend.
"I think ultimately it gets back to whether or not that this person can help his team," he said.
Hopefully one day, a professional athlete that is gay will not be such a big deal. Until then, it will always grab headlines, but it is up to us a society across the board to keep things in perspective and allow a persons play and action do the talking for them and not their sexual orientation.
Information, quotations and statistics are courtesy of 2/24/14 12 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" with Vince Cellini, Steve Smith and Brent Barry; 2/24/14 7 a.m. edition of ABC News' "Good Morning America" with Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Ginger Zee and Lara Spencer; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Collins; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Kidd; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sam; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarron_Collins; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20140_Cotton_Bowl_Classic.
Monday, February 3, 2014
J-Speaks: Knicks All-Star Forward Records a Historic Scoring Record At MSG
Dating back to 1968, only 10 players in the history of Madison Square Garden, "The Mecca" of basketball and home of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) New York Knicks have scored 50 points or more in a regular season game. Nine of those ten times were served up by an opposing player of the other team. On one of those occasion did a player score 60 points and that was done by one of the all-time greatest Bernard King on Christmas Day in 1984. Two Friday nights ago, a childhood idle of King's eclipsed his scoring record not just in Madison Square Garden history, but in the entire history of the Knicks and at the same time got his team out of a serious losing streak.
In the Knicks (19-28) 125-96 win versus the Charlotte Bobcats (21-28), Knicks All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony scored an MSG record and a career-high 62 points. He shot 23 for 35 from the field, including going 6 for 11 from three-point territory, 10 for 10 from the free throw line and he also grabbed 13 rebounds in 39 minutes.
Anthony had 20 points in the first quarter. He followed that up with 17 points in the second; 19 points in the third period and six in the fourth quarter.
The record breaking score came on a bank shot at the 7:24 mark of the fourth and final stanza that brought a incredible standing ovation from the crowd as he left the game moments later to a out of this world greeting by all of his teammates.
"I was just taking it one possession at a time. I came into this game locked in. I didn't know I was going to have this type of performance," Anthony said of his historic performance to MSG's Tina Cervasio after the game.
"It's an unbelieveable feeling just to come in and locked in the way we did."
As mentioned, Anthony is the only other the third player to score 60 points or more in a regular season game in in the history of Madison Square Garden.
Besides King's aforementioned 60-point performance, the only other player to score that many was Los Angeles Lakers all world swingman Kobe Bryant, who scored 61 points versus the Knicks back on Feb. 2, 2009.
Other amazing performance that have occurred at MSG have come courtesy of a player from the opposing team. The famed double-nickel performance turned in by Hall of Famer Michael Jordan in a 113-111 Chicago Bulls victory back on Mar. 28, 1995. He also had a 50-point performance at MSG back on New Year's Day in 1986.
Former Cleveland Cavalier and current Miami Heat forward LeBron James scored 52 points at MSG back just two days after Bryant put up 61 five years ago. He had 50 at MSG back on Mar. 5, 2008.
The late Hall of Famer Will Chamberlin had a 58-point performance at MSG back on Dec. 15, 1964.
Almost one year to the day, Dec. 14, 1965 Hall of Famer Rick Barry had a 57-point performance against the Knicks at "The Mecca."
Former Detroit Pistons' guard Richard "Rip" Hamilton had his career-best scoring performance at MSG when he put up 51 points on Dec. 27, 2006.
Last season, Warriors All-Star guard Stephen Curry scored 54 points at MSG back on Feb. 27, 2013.
To really put this amazing performance into a grander perspective, Anthony became just the sixth player in NBA history to score 60 points and grab 10 boards in a game. He joined current Turner sports analyst Tracy McGrady, who had 62 points and 10 boards back in 2004 versus the Washington Wizards and Shaquille O'Neal, who had a career-high 61 points to go along with 23 rebounds at the Los Angeles Clippers on his birthday back in 2000.
San Antonio Spurs Hall of Famer David Robinson on the final day of the regular season won the 1993-94 scoring title with a 71-point performance to go along with 14 rebounds at the Clippers.
Back in 1990, Jordan had one of his stand out performances at the Cavaliers when he put up 69 points to go along with 18 rebounds.
Hall of Famer of the Utah Jazz Karl Malone scored a career-high 61 points to go along with 18 rebounds in a 144-96 victory versus the Milwaukee Bucks back in 1990.
Anthony also became just the fourth player in NBA history to score the most points in a game without committing a single turnover since the statistic was first recorded back in the 1977-78 season, joining Hall of Famer and current NBA on TNT analyst Reggie Miller, who had 57 points without a miscue in a game back in the 1992-93 season.
Bryant had 56 points without a turnover in a game back in 2001-02. Hall of Famer George Gervin had a 55-point performance without a turnover in a game back in the 1979-80 season.
This was more than just breaking a record. Coming into the contest, the Knicks had lost five consecutive games, after winning five games in succession and starting the New Year with six wins in seven tries. The aforementioned losing streak also included three straight setbacks of an eight-game homestand. Two prior games ago, the Knicks suffered a difficult 110-106 setback to the Philadelphia 76ers (15-33).
Sixers swingman Evan Turner scored a career-high 34 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Rookie lead guard Michael Carter-Williams contributed 19 points, 12 boards and seven assists and forward Thaddeus Young had 19 points, seven boards and four steals.
It's just was not the fact that Anthony had an all-time great performance, but he was from the opening tip till he exited the contest locked in and while he did not record one assist in the game, he gave a major assist of energy and confidence to his teammates.
"It was awesome. It was jaw dropping," Knicks' swingman Iman Shumpert said after the game.
"From the time we stepped on the court, his whole demeanor was different," Knicks' guard J.R. Smith, who had 14 points off the bench said after the game.
"Normally he's smiling, joking and stuff like that during warmups, but today he was serious. You could just tell in his whole demeanor in his face. It's very few times that I seen him have that look and everytime he did, he just went off.
"It's great because this is his team. Even though its an individual performance, its all about team," Knicks center Tyson Chandler said after the game.
It is about the team and it is also about having perspective. This game is one of the very few times that the Knicks put together a strong performance from start to finish on both ends of the court and Anthony lead the way. He was quick with his moves and efficient with his shot selection. In essence, he was in that zone that any great scorer in the NBA can get in where they basket is as big as an ocean.
"It's just a zone you get in sometimes. Only a certain group of people know what that zone feels like and tonight was one of those zones," Anthony said.
Anthony on Friday night played with a focus and confidence where he was going to put an end to his team's five-game skid and the horrific attitude that has followed. What happened above all else on Friday night at MSG, the team was having fun and they played like they cared and Anthony lead the charge. He also with his performance provided memories of the player who he calls his idle played.
"It's a special moment. It didn't really sink in exactly what I did tonight. I know Bernard King is somewhere smiling at me right now," Anthony said of his idle to Cervasio after the game.
The question now is can the Knicks and Anthony take what they did on Friday night and carry it forward.
They won three straight games last week beating the Lakers (16-31) 110-103 two Sundays ago. That was followed by a 114-88 versus the Celtics (16-33) 114-88 two nights later and that was followed by a 117-86 win versus the Cleveland Cavaliers (16-31). In those three victories, Anthoy scored 34, 24 and 29 points respectably.
The Knicks winning streak came to a hault though this past Saturday night as they fell to the Heat 106-91. Anthony had 26 in the defeat.
Currently the Knicks are one game behind the Bobcats for the eigth and final playoff spot. They have no more room for error and if they are going to salvage the rest of this season, they must be consistent on both ends of the court and Anthony has to be the one leading the charge and the rest of the team must follow his lead.
Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of 1/25/14 6 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" with Vince Cellini, Steve Smith and Mike Fratello; www.espn.go.com/nba. 1/25/14 Daily News article "Melo Makes Hit Records by Frank Isola.
In the Knicks (19-28) 125-96 win versus the Charlotte Bobcats (21-28), Knicks All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony scored an MSG record and a career-high 62 points. He shot 23 for 35 from the field, including going 6 for 11 from three-point territory, 10 for 10 from the free throw line and he also grabbed 13 rebounds in 39 minutes.
Anthony had 20 points in the first quarter. He followed that up with 17 points in the second; 19 points in the third period and six in the fourth quarter.
The record breaking score came on a bank shot at the 7:24 mark of the fourth and final stanza that brought a incredible standing ovation from the crowd as he left the game moments later to a out of this world greeting by all of his teammates.
"I was just taking it one possession at a time. I came into this game locked in. I didn't know I was going to have this type of performance," Anthony said of his historic performance to MSG's Tina Cervasio after the game.
"It's an unbelieveable feeling just to come in and locked in the way we did."
As mentioned, Anthony is the only other the third player to score 60 points or more in a regular season game in in the history of Madison Square Garden.
Besides King's aforementioned 60-point performance, the only other player to score that many was Los Angeles Lakers all world swingman Kobe Bryant, who scored 61 points versus the Knicks back on Feb. 2, 2009.
Other amazing performance that have occurred at MSG have come courtesy of a player from the opposing team. The famed double-nickel performance turned in by Hall of Famer Michael Jordan in a 113-111 Chicago Bulls victory back on Mar. 28, 1995. He also had a 50-point performance at MSG back on New Year's Day in 1986.
Former Cleveland Cavalier and current Miami Heat forward LeBron James scored 52 points at MSG back just two days after Bryant put up 61 five years ago. He had 50 at MSG back on Mar. 5, 2008.
The late Hall of Famer Will Chamberlin had a 58-point performance at MSG back on Dec. 15, 1964.
Almost one year to the day, Dec. 14, 1965 Hall of Famer Rick Barry had a 57-point performance against the Knicks at "The Mecca."
Former Detroit Pistons' guard Richard "Rip" Hamilton had his career-best scoring performance at MSG when he put up 51 points on Dec. 27, 2006.
Last season, Warriors All-Star guard Stephen Curry scored 54 points at MSG back on Feb. 27, 2013.
To really put this amazing performance into a grander perspective, Anthony became just the sixth player in NBA history to score 60 points and grab 10 boards in a game. He joined current Turner sports analyst Tracy McGrady, who had 62 points and 10 boards back in 2004 versus the Washington Wizards and Shaquille O'Neal, who had a career-high 61 points to go along with 23 rebounds at the Los Angeles Clippers on his birthday back in 2000.
San Antonio Spurs Hall of Famer David Robinson on the final day of the regular season won the 1993-94 scoring title with a 71-point performance to go along with 14 rebounds at the Clippers.
Back in 1990, Jordan had one of his stand out performances at the Cavaliers when he put up 69 points to go along with 18 rebounds.
Hall of Famer of the Utah Jazz Karl Malone scored a career-high 61 points to go along with 18 rebounds in a 144-96 victory versus the Milwaukee Bucks back in 1990.
Anthony also became just the fourth player in NBA history to score the most points in a game without committing a single turnover since the statistic was first recorded back in the 1977-78 season, joining Hall of Famer and current NBA on TNT analyst Reggie Miller, who had 57 points without a miscue in a game back in the 1992-93 season.
Bryant had 56 points without a turnover in a game back in 2001-02. Hall of Famer George Gervin had a 55-point performance without a turnover in a game back in the 1979-80 season.
This was more than just breaking a record. Coming into the contest, the Knicks had lost five consecutive games, after winning five games in succession and starting the New Year with six wins in seven tries. The aforementioned losing streak also included three straight setbacks of an eight-game homestand. Two prior games ago, the Knicks suffered a difficult 110-106 setback to the Philadelphia 76ers (15-33).
Sixers swingman Evan Turner scored a career-high 34 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Rookie lead guard Michael Carter-Williams contributed 19 points, 12 boards and seven assists and forward Thaddeus Young had 19 points, seven boards and four steals.
It's just was not the fact that Anthony had an all-time great performance, but he was from the opening tip till he exited the contest locked in and while he did not record one assist in the game, he gave a major assist of energy and confidence to his teammates.
"It was awesome. It was jaw dropping," Knicks' swingman Iman Shumpert said after the game.
"From the time we stepped on the court, his whole demeanor was different," Knicks' guard J.R. Smith, who had 14 points off the bench said after the game.
"Normally he's smiling, joking and stuff like that during warmups, but today he was serious. You could just tell in his whole demeanor in his face. It's very few times that I seen him have that look and everytime he did, he just went off.
"It's great because this is his team. Even though its an individual performance, its all about team," Knicks center Tyson Chandler said after the game.
It is about the team and it is also about having perspective. This game is one of the very few times that the Knicks put together a strong performance from start to finish on both ends of the court and Anthony lead the way. He was quick with his moves and efficient with his shot selection. In essence, he was in that zone that any great scorer in the NBA can get in where they basket is as big as an ocean.
"It's just a zone you get in sometimes. Only a certain group of people know what that zone feels like and tonight was one of those zones," Anthony said.
Anthony on Friday night played with a focus and confidence where he was going to put an end to his team's five-game skid and the horrific attitude that has followed. What happened above all else on Friday night at MSG, the team was having fun and they played like they cared and Anthony lead the charge. He also with his performance provided memories of the player who he calls his idle played.
"It's a special moment. It didn't really sink in exactly what I did tonight. I know Bernard King is somewhere smiling at me right now," Anthony said of his idle to Cervasio after the game.
The question now is can the Knicks and Anthony take what they did on Friday night and carry it forward.
They won three straight games last week beating the Lakers (16-31) 110-103 two Sundays ago. That was followed by a 114-88 versus the Celtics (16-33) 114-88 two nights later and that was followed by a 117-86 win versus the Cleveland Cavaliers (16-31). In those three victories, Anthoy scored 34, 24 and 29 points respectably.
The Knicks winning streak came to a hault though this past Saturday night as they fell to the Heat 106-91. Anthony had 26 in the defeat.
Currently the Knicks are one game behind the Bobcats for the eigth and final playoff spot. They have no more room for error and if they are going to salvage the rest of this season, they must be consistent on both ends of the court and Anthony has to be the one leading the charge and the rest of the team must follow his lead.
Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of 1/25/14 6 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" with Vince Cellini, Steve Smith and Mike Fratello; www.espn.go.com/nba. 1/25/14 Daily News article "Melo Makes Hit Records by Frank Isola.
Friday, December 27, 2013
J-Speaks: Lessons Learned on Christmas Day, NBA Style
Christmas Day is a time where we give and receive gifts as well as spend time with family and friends, reflecting about the past, appreciating the present and looking forward to the future. This is also the day where the NBA fans get a stocking full of games. We learn a lot about the teams that played and on this Christmas Day.
The day began in Brooklyn, NY between the Chicago Bulls (11-16) and the Brooklyn Nets (9-19), two teams who meet in the playoffs a season ago and have gotten off to rough starts this season.
Just like in the playoffs, where the Bulls as the No. 5 Seed defeated the No. 4 seeded Nets 4-3, took them apart and came away with a 95-78 victory at Barclays Center.
The Bulls were led by Taj Gibson with 20 points off the bench to go along with eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 15 points and five boards. Carlos Boozer had 14 points, Mike Dunleavy had 13 points and seven boards. D.J. Augustin, who was signed by the Bulls earlier this month had 13 points and five assists. Joakim Noah, a New York native had 10 points and eight boards for the Bulls, who won their second straight.
The Nets, who lost their fourth straight contest and five out of six were led by Deron Williams with 18 points. Mirza Teletovic had 17 points. Joe Johnson had 12 points for the Nets, who committed 17 turnovers, had just 11 assists and their bench managed just 23 points on just 4 for 30 shooting.
The combination of Andray Blatche, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce managed just 19 points on 4 for 26 shooting.
Coming into their Christmas Day contest with the Bulls, the Nets ranked in the bottom of the league in opponents three-point percentage (39.7-29th NBA), rebounds per game (40.4-29th NBA) and opponents points per game (102.6-25th).
The Bulls, one of the league's worst offensive teams, shot 48.6 percent from the field against the Nets. They out-rebounded the Nets 45-39.
On top of that, the Nets who have been at the bottom of the league in terms of third quarter output so far this season, were outscored 36-20 after intermission, which included a 21-5 spurt that broke the game open.
Earlier in the week, Nets rookie head coach Jason Kidd said about his team's play, "Were kind of getting comfortable with losing and we've got to make a stand with that because when things get tough, do we just give in? And most of the time we do."
It has been a tough season for the Nets, but despite their struggles, they are just three games back of the Toronto Raptors (11-15) in the Atlantic Division, which states how bad the Eastern Conference has been so far in 2013-14.
With that being said though, the Nets, whose road back to being in playoff contention got harder because center Brook Lopez was lost to for the rest of the season due to a broken foot suffered in a 121-120 overtime loss at the Philadelphia 76ers (8-20).
What is going to make this climb even harder for the Nets is the fact that they do not have an identity to lean on.
While the Bulls are struggling to win games right now, they at least know that they have a identity of playing defense and bringing effort and energy game in and game out. That is why their chances of competing for a playoff spot are much better than the Nets.
The second game featured the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New York Knicks. Two teams headed in opposite directions.
On this date back in 1984 versus the Nets, Hall of Fame Knicks' forward Bernard King scored 60 points on 19 for 30 from the field and 22 for 26 from the free throw line. The Knicks unfortunately lost 120-114.
The Knicks (9-19) latest Christmas Day contest was never close as the Thunder (23-5) won 123-94.
All-Star forward Kevin Durant paced five double-figure scorers for the Thunder with 29 points to go along with seven boards and six assists. Serge Ibaka had 24 points on 10 for 14 shooting. Reggie Jackson had 18 points off the bench. Russell Westbrook recorded his first triple-double and seventh of his career with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Thunder, who have won 18 of their last 20 games, shot 53.6 percent from the field. They hit 13 for 24 from three-point range and registered 32 assists on 45 made field goals.
Their victory at the Knicks also snapped 10-game road losing streak on Christmas Day and it was the team's first victory on Christmas Day in franchise history going back to the team's days when they were the Seattle Supersonics.
At this time a season ago, the Knicks were 20-8, on route to winning their first Atlantic Division title as well as a home record of 31-10.
Their 29-point setback on Wednesday was their 11th loss in 15 tries at Madison Square Garden this season. It was also the worst home loss on Christmas Day for a home team in NBA history.
To make matters worse, the Knicks who started wearing orange color jerseys at certain times at home this season are now 0-7 this season. Three of those losses have been by 20-plus point. A 31-point setback versus the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 10 (120-89); 20-point loss versus the Atlanta Hawks (16-13) 110-90 and 41-defeat versus the Boston Celtics (12-17) 114-73 on Dec. 8.
Playing without the second leading scorer in the league in forward Carmelo Anthony (26.3 ppg) because of sprained left ankle he sustained in the 103-98 victory at the Orlando Magic (8-20) this past Monday night did not help the Knicks cause coming into Wednesday's contest. The Knicks were also without starting lead guard Raymond Felton who injured his groin in the aforementioned contest last Monday night.
The Knicks were lead in scoring by Amar'e Stoudemire who had 22 points on 10 for 16 from the field off the bench. Rookie guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. had 21 points off the pine. J.R. Smith was the only starter in double figures with 20 points, but shot just 8 for 22 from the field, including going just 3 for 9 from three-point territory.
The rest of the starting quintet of the Knicks of Andrea Bargnani, Tyson Chandler, Beno Udrih and Iman Shumpert had just 24 points on just 10 for 27 shooting.
Coming into the contest, the Knicks ranked 30th in fastbreak points (7.6); 29th in rebounds per contest at 38.9 and 25th in points per contest at 95.
The Thunder out-rebounded the Knicks 46-42. Out fastbreaked the Knicks 18-8 and held them to 94 points on 42.2 percent from the floor and connecting on just 6 for 23 from three-point territory.
As mentioned earlier, both of these teams who came into this season with championship aspirations have gone in opposite directions.
To bring this point to its appex, the Thunder have post more wins on the road at 10 than the Knicks have total victories with just nine.
The saving grace for the Knicks though, they are like the Nets just 3 games back of the Nets for the top spot in the Atlanic Division.
If they have any chance of making that a reality, they must get back on the winning track at home. Anthony and Felton must get back soon and they have to play with much more effort and energy. You can have all of the talent in the world, but when you play with no joy, concentration and confidence, winning consistently is that much harder.
The third game of the holiday featured familiar foes who have played on this day before in the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles.
This game though did not feature one of the main characters in perennial All-Star guard in Kobe Bryant who is on the shelf because of a fractured lateral tibial plateau in his left knee.
The Lakers (13-16) without their lead man held their own against the Heat for much of the game thanks to their ability to connect from three-point range as they went 14 for 36 from three-point range.
The team was paced by Nick Young, who scored 20 points off the bench. Jodie Meeks had 17 points. Xavier Henry had 14 points and Pau Gasol had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Wesley Johnson had 12 points.
Despite their efforts, the Lakers fell for the sixth time in as many tries on Christmas Day to the Heat (22-6) 101-95.
Guard Dwyane Wade, last week's Eastern Conferene Player of the Week, led the way with 23 points, six boards and seven assists. Chris Bosh also had 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Reigning back-to-back Most Valuable Player LeBron James had 19 points and eight boards. Ray Allen contributed 12 points going 4 for 5 from three-point land.
The Heat, who won their sixth game in a row, their seventh victory in as many chances against the Western Conference and their 19th consecutive overall against the West.
If there is anything that this game showed is the value of having stars on the court. When this contest was in the balance, the Heat were able to get seven layups that allowed them to get separation from the Lakers.
That is because the Heat had the "Big 3" of James, Wade and Bosh on the court in clutch time. That resulted in the likes of Allen, Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers to get easy shot attempts throughout the game and especially at crunch time.
The Lakers without Bryant on the court did not have the focal point that we draw the attention of the Heat defense.
What also helped the Heat in this contest is they had the kind of focus necessary to take care of business against an opponent without their star player. When you are a back-to-back champion which the Heat are, you have seen virtually every single system situation possible.
They also understand that a game like this can bite them in the rear if they were to fall, especially since the only other true contender in the East the Indiana Pacers are ahead of them for the best record in the Conference at 23-5.
"We knew were going to play against a team that was going to come out and going to give us everything. Obviously their main guy down with Kobe, but they got guys that is highly capable," Wade said to ESPN's Heather Cox after the game.
The next to last contest featured Texas rivals in the Houston Rockets and the Spurs.
The Rockets (19-11) lead wire to wire as they defeated the (22-7) for the second time this season 111-98.
James Harden paced the Rockets with 28 points to go along with 6 rebounds and six assists. Terrence Jones had 21 points to go along with 14 rebounds and three blocks. Chandler Parsons also had 21 points on 8 for 14 from the field, including 5 for 9 from three-point range. He also had six rebounds and six assists. Dwight Howard registered his 20th double-double of the season with 15 points and 20 boards to go along with two blocks. Jeremy Lin had 13 points and eight assists for the Rockets, who had lost seven straight to the Spurs prior to their two victories in as many chances versus the Spurs this season.
The Rockets were able to prevail against the Spurs again because of their ability to take care of business on both ends of the court.
At the offensive end, the Rockets, who scored 40 points in the first quarter, shot 52.3 percent from the field, went 12 for 24 from three-point range, outscored the Spurs in the paint 50-44, outscored them on the fastbreak 17-12 and registered 28 assists on 45 made baskets. The Rockets starters outscored the Spurs quintet 98-45.
Defensively, the Rockets held the Spurs to 40.7 percent shooting, including going 5 for 20 from the field. They out-rebounded the Spurs 50-46.
Despite recording his ninth to the double-double of the season of 11 points and 14 rebounds to go along with five assists and six block shots, Tim Duncan shot just 4 for 12 from the field.
Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 22 points on 8 for 17 from the floor. Kawhi Leonard was the only other player in double-figures with 13 points with seven boards.
The combination of Leonard, Tiago Splitter, Tony Parker and Duncan went just 15 for 44 from the floor.
After leading after the first period 40-25, the Spurs outscored the Rockets 50-43 over the next two quarters, the Rockets outscored the Spurs 28-23 in the fourth. Harden scored 16 of those 28 points in the fourth quarter going 6 for 7 from the field.
"My teammates needed me. The first three quarters, I was just trying to be a facilitator. Making sure the ball moved well and in the fourth quarter, I just tried to be a creator and make some shots," Harden, who is seccond in the league with a 7.2 point per game average in the fourth quarter, said to ESPN's Israel Gutierrez after the game on Wednesday.
Despite leading the Rockets by three and a half games in the Southwest Division, there is cause for concern in Spurs camp.
They have gone 0 for 6 against the Portland Trail Blazers (24-5), Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers (20-11) and Rockets. Dating back to last season, the Rockets have beaten the Spurs three straight times after losing the previous seven in a row.
Overall the Spurs have lost two of their last three contest and have gone 3-3 in their last six games. On top of that they are just 3-6 in recent contest against teams over .500.
While their is cause for concern, we got to remember, these are the defending Western Conference champs. They are going through a rough stretch, but they will bounce back that is a promise.
The last game, the most entertaining one of the day featured a budding rivarly between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors.
It was just a few years ago that these two teams could only dream of playing on Christmas Day. Two days ago that dream became a reality and for the Clippers (20-11), it was the second year in succession they have played on Christmas Day. They won versus the Denver Nuggets a year ago 112-100.
They did not get the same result this time around at the Warriors (17-13) who defeated them 105-103, taking revenge against the Clippers, who defeated them 126-115 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA back on Halloween night.
David Lee and Klay Thompson each had 23 points to lead the Warriors. Lee registered his 18 double-double of the season as he had 13 boards to go along with his point total. Stehpen Curry also recorded a double-double, his 13th of the season with 15 points and 11 assists. Harrison Barnes had 14 off the bench and Andrew Bogut had a double-double of his own with 10 points and 14 boards.
The Clippers were paced by Chris Paul who had his 24th double-double of the season with 26 points and 11 assists. Blake Griffin registered his 23rd double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Jamal Crawford had 19 points, while DeAndre Jordan had 13 points, 13 rebounds and six block shots. Darren Collison had 11 points off the bench.
The Warriors came through with the victory despite shooting just 42.1 percent from the field because they managed to hit 10 three-pointers in 24 tries. They out-rebounded the Clippers 49-38 and outscored them 52-38 in the paint.
The Clippers lost for just the third time this season in 22 chances when taking a lead into the fourth quarter, which they did at 77-74 late Wednesday night. It was also just their third setback of such kind in 11 tries on the road.
These two teams over the last couple of years have grown a serious dislike for one another. That went to another level in this past contest.
At the end of the third quarter Warriors forward Draymond Green got into a scuffle that resulted in Green getting ejected for a flagarant two foul from throwing an elbow. Griffin drew just a technical foul.
In the early stages of the fourth quarter, Griffin got into it with Bogut drawing his second technical foul resulting in his ejection. Bogut drew just a flagrant one foul as well as a technical foul.
Without their inside presenec on the court, the Clippers were unable to close as they missed many shot from in close in the closing stages of the final period.
When the game ended, players from both teams got tangled near the tunnel that lead to the Clippers' locker room, which resulted in security personnel stepped in. In the middle of all this was former Warrior swingman Stephen Jackson.
While both of these teams have had risen from the ashes of the basement in the NBA standings, both head coaches of Clippers Glenn "Doc" Rivers and Mark Jackson of the Warriors, both former players in the league say this is a long way from being a rivalry, especially since both teams are far from being perennial championship contenders.
One thing is for sure, they are very entertaining high scoring teams, who will meet for the third of four meetings back at Oracle Arena on Jan. 30 on TNT.
There are a number of things that can be taken away from the games that took place on Christmas Day. For starters four of the five teams that won today were the away teams, the Bulls, Thunder, Heat and Rockets. The Nets and Knicks who have the No. 1 and No. 2 highest payrolls in the league respectably prove that you cannot buy victories in the league. The Rockets if they can play at the level they did on Wednesday night, they can be in the conversation as a title contender. The Warriors, who had a breakthough season a year ago, have learned that going from pretender to contender is not easy. However, if they play with the kind of effort and energy they did on Wednesday night on both ends, they have a chance of making the playoffs again. The biggest lesson on this day was demonstrated by the Bulls. A team that has not been the same since losing the 2011 MVP in Derrick Rose to a season ending knee injury, is that when you have a identity and you stick with it, competing to win games is easy and proving you are more than just one player is even easier. That is especially the case when you have a coach in Tom Thibodeau that demands it from the practice court to gameday.
Information, quotations and statistics is courtesy of www.espn.go.com/nba/statistics/standings/schedule; 12/26/13 1 a.m. edition of "NBA Tonight" on ESPN 2 with Alfredo Lomeli and Tim Legler; 12/26/13 6 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" with Matt Winer and Steve Smith;
The day began in Brooklyn, NY between the Chicago Bulls (11-16) and the Brooklyn Nets (9-19), two teams who meet in the playoffs a season ago and have gotten off to rough starts this season.
Just like in the playoffs, where the Bulls as the No. 5 Seed defeated the No. 4 seeded Nets 4-3, took them apart and came away with a 95-78 victory at Barclays Center.
The Bulls were led by Taj Gibson with 20 points off the bench to go along with eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 15 points and five boards. Carlos Boozer had 14 points, Mike Dunleavy had 13 points and seven boards. D.J. Augustin, who was signed by the Bulls earlier this month had 13 points and five assists. Joakim Noah, a New York native had 10 points and eight boards for the Bulls, who won their second straight.
The Nets, who lost their fourth straight contest and five out of six were led by Deron Williams with 18 points. Mirza Teletovic had 17 points. Joe Johnson had 12 points for the Nets, who committed 17 turnovers, had just 11 assists and their bench managed just 23 points on just 4 for 30 shooting.
The combination of Andray Blatche, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce managed just 19 points on 4 for 26 shooting.
Coming into their Christmas Day contest with the Bulls, the Nets ranked in the bottom of the league in opponents three-point percentage (39.7-29th NBA), rebounds per game (40.4-29th NBA) and opponents points per game (102.6-25th).
The Bulls, one of the league's worst offensive teams, shot 48.6 percent from the field against the Nets. They out-rebounded the Nets 45-39.
On top of that, the Nets who have been at the bottom of the league in terms of third quarter output so far this season, were outscored 36-20 after intermission, which included a 21-5 spurt that broke the game open.
Earlier in the week, Nets rookie head coach Jason Kidd said about his team's play, "Were kind of getting comfortable with losing and we've got to make a stand with that because when things get tough, do we just give in? And most of the time we do."
It has been a tough season for the Nets, but despite their struggles, they are just three games back of the Toronto Raptors (11-15) in the Atlantic Division, which states how bad the Eastern Conference has been so far in 2013-14.
With that being said though, the Nets, whose road back to being in playoff contention got harder because center Brook Lopez was lost to for the rest of the season due to a broken foot suffered in a 121-120 overtime loss at the Philadelphia 76ers (8-20).
What is going to make this climb even harder for the Nets is the fact that they do not have an identity to lean on.
While the Bulls are struggling to win games right now, they at least know that they have a identity of playing defense and bringing effort and energy game in and game out. That is why their chances of competing for a playoff spot are much better than the Nets.
The second game featured the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New York Knicks. Two teams headed in opposite directions.
On this date back in 1984 versus the Nets, Hall of Fame Knicks' forward Bernard King scored 60 points on 19 for 30 from the field and 22 for 26 from the free throw line. The Knicks unfortunately lost 120-114.
The Knicks (9-19) latest Christmas Day contest was never close as the Thunder (23-5) won 123-94.
All-Star forward Kevin Durant paced five double-figure scorers for the Thunder with 29 points to go along with seven boards and six assists. Serge Ibaka had 24 points on 10 for 14 shooting. Reggie Jackson had 18 points off the bench. Russell Westbrook recorded his first triple-double and seventh of his career with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Thunder, who have won 18 of their last 20 games, shot 53.6 percent from the field. They hit 13 for 24 from three-point range and registered 32 assists on 45 made field goals.
Their victory at the Knicks also snapped 10-game road losing streak on Christmas Day and it was the team's first victory on Christmas Day in franchise history going back to the team's days when they were the Seattle Supersonics.
At this time a season ago, the Knicks were 20-8, on route to winning their first Atlantic Division title as well as a home record of 31-10.
Their 29-point setback on Wednesday was their 11th loss in 15 tries at Madison Square Garden this season. It was also the worst home loss on Christmas Day for a home team in NBA history.
To make matters worse, the Knicks who started wearing orange color jerseys at certain times at home this season are now 0-7 this season. Three of those losses have been by 20-plus point. A 31-point setback versus the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 10 (120-89); 20-point loss versus the Atlanta Hawks (16-13) 110-90 and 41-defeat versus the Boston Celtics (12-17) 114-73 on Dec. 8.
Playing without the second leading scorer in the league in forward Carmelo Anthony (26.3 ppg) because of sprained left ankle he sustained in the 103-98 victory at the Orlando Magic (8-20) this past Monday night did not help the Knicks cause coming into Wednesday's contest. The Knicks were also without starting lead guard Raymond Felton who injured his groin in the aforementioned contest last Monday night.
The Knicks were lead in scoring by Amar'e Stoudemire who had 22 points on 10 for 16 from the field off the bench. Rookie guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. had 21 points off the pine. J.R. Smith was the only starter in double figures with 20 points, but shot just 8 for 22 from the field, including going just 3 for 9 from three-point territory.
The rest of the starting quintet of the Knicks of Andrea Bargnani, Tyson Chandler, Beno Udrih and Iman Shumpert had just 24 points on just 10 for 27 shooting.
Coming into the contest, the Knicks ranked 30th in fastbreak points (7.6); 29th in rebounds per contest at 38.9 and 25th in points per contest at 95.
The Thunder out-rebounded the Knicks 46-42. Out fastbreaked the Knicks 18-8 and held them to 94 points on 42.2 percent from the floor and connecting on just 6 for 23 from three-point territory.
As mentioned earlier, both of these teams who came into this season with championship aspirations have gone in opposite directions.
To bring this point to its appex, the Thunder have post more wins on the road at 10 than the Knicks have total victories with just nine.
The saving grace for the Knicks though, they are like the Nets just 3 games back of the Nets for the top spot in the Atlanic Division.
If they have any chance of making that a reality, they must get back on the winning track at home. Anthony and Felton must get back soon and they have to play with much more effort and energy. You can have all of the talent in the world, but when you play with no joy, concentration and confidence, winning consistently is that much harder.
The third game of the holiday featured familiar foes who have played on this day before in the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles.
This game though did not feature one of the main characters in perennial All-Star guard in Kobe Bryant who is on the shelf because of a fractured lateral tibial plateau in his left knee.
The Lakers (13-16) without their lead man held their own against the Heat for much of the game thanks to their ability to connect from three-point range as they went 14 for 36 from three-point range.
The team was paced by Nick Young, who scored 20 points off the bench. Jodie Meeks had 17 points. Xavier Henry had 14 points and Pau Gasol had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Wesley Johnson had 12 points.
Despite their efforts, the Lakers fell for the sixth time in as many tries on Christmas Day to the Heat (22-6) 101-95.
Guard Dwyane Wade, last week's Eastern Conferene Player of the Week, led the way with 23 points, six boards and seven assists. Chris Bosh also had 23 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Reigning back-to-back Most Valuable Player LeBron James had 19 points and eight boards. Ray Allen contributed 12 points going 4 for 5 from three-point land.
The Heat, who won their sixth game in a row, their seventh victory in as many chances against the Western Conference and their 19th consecutive overall against the West.
If there is anything that this game showed is the value of having stars on the court. When this contest was in the balance, the Heat were able to get seven layups that allowed them to get separation from the Lakers.
That is because the Heat had the "Big 3" of James, Wade and Bosh on the court in clutch time. That resulted in the likes of Allen, Norris Cole and Mario Chalmers to get easy shot attempts throughout the game and especially at crunch time.
The Lakers without Bryant on the court did not have the focal point that we draw the attention of the Heat defense.
What also helped the Heat in this contest is they had the kind of focus necessary to take care of business against an opponent without their star player. When you are a back-to-back champion which the Heat are, you have seen virtually every single system situation possible.
They also understand that a game like this can bite them in the rear if they were to fall, especially since the only other true contender in the East the Indiana Pacers are ahead of them for the best record in the Conference at 23-5.
"We knew were going to play against a team that was going to come out and going to give us everything. Obviously their main guy down with Kobe, but they got guys that is highly capable," Wade said to ESPN's Heather Cox after the game.
The next to last contest featured Texas rivals in the Houston Rockets and the Spurs.
The Rockets (19-11) lead wire to wire as they defeated the (22-7) for the second time this season 111-98.
James Harden paced the Rockets with 28 points to go along with 6 rebounds and six assists. Terrence Jones had 21 points to go along with 14 rebounds and three blocks. Chandler Parsons also had 21 points on 8 for 14 from the field, including 5 for 9 from three-point range. He also had six rebounds and six assists. Dwight Howard registered his 20th double-double of the season with 15 points and 20 boards to go along with two blocks. Jeremy Lin had 13 points and eight assists for the Rockets, who had lost seven straight to the Spurs prior to their two victories in as many chances versus the Spurs this season.
The Rockets were able to prevail against the Spurs again because of their ability to take care of business on both ends of the court.
At the offensive end, the Rockets, who scored 40 points in the first quarter, shot 52.3 percent from the field, went 12 for 24 from three-point range, outscored the Spurs in the paint 50-44, outscored them on the fastbreak 17-12 and registered 28 assists on 45 made baskets. The Rockets starters outscored the Spurs quintet 98-45.
Defensively, the Rockets held the Spurs to 40.7 percent shooting, including going 5 for 20 from the field. They out-rebounded the Spurs 50-46.
Despite recording his ninth to the double-double of the season of 11 points and 14 rebounds to go along with five assists and six block shots, Tim Duncan shot just 4 for 12 from the field.
Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 22 points on 8 for 17 from the floor. Kawhi Leonard was the only other player in double-figures with 13 points with seven boards.
The combination of Leonard, Tiago Splitter, Tony Parker and Duncan went just 15 for 44 from the floor.
After leading after the first period 40-25, the Spurs outscored the Rockets 50-43 over the next two quarters, the Rockets outscored the Spurs 28-23 in the fourth. Harden scored 16 of those 28 points in the fourth quarter going 6 for 7 from the field.
"My teammates needed me. The first three quarters, I was just trying to be a facilitator. Making sure the ball moved well and in the fourth quarter, I just tried to be a creator and make some shots," Harden, who is seccond in the league with a 7.2 point per game average in the fourth quarter, said to ESPN's Israel Gutierrez after the game on Wednesday.
Despite leading the Rockets by three and a half games in the Southwest Division, there is cause for concern in Spurs camp.
They have gone 0 for 6 against the Portland Trail Blazers (24-5), Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers (20-11) and Rockets. Dating back to last season, the Rockets have beaten the Spurs three straight times after losing the previous seven in a row.
Overall the Spurs have lost two of their last three contest and have gone 3-3 in their last six games. On top of that they are just 3-6 in recent contest against teams over .500.
While their is cause for concern, we got to remember, these are the defending Western Conference champs. They are going through a rough stretch, but they will bounce back that is a promise.
The last game, the most entertaining one of the day featured a budding rivarly between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors.
It was just a few years ago that these two teams could only dream of playing on Christmas Day. Two days ago that dream became a reality and for the Clippers (20-11), it was the second year in succession they have played on Christmas Day. They won versus the Denver Nuggets a year ago 112-100.
They did not get the same result this time around at the Warriors (17-13) who defeated them 105-103, taking revenge against the Clippers, who defeated them 126-115 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA back on Halloween night.
David Lee and Klay Thompson each had 23 points to lead the Warriors. Lee registered his 18 double-double of the season as he had 13 boards to go along with his point total. Stehpen Curry also recorded a double-double, his 13th of the season with 15 points and 11 assists. Harrison Barnes had 14 off the bench and Andrew Bogut had a double-double of his own with 10 points and 14 boards.
The Clippers were paced by Chris Paul who had his 24th double-double of the season with 26 points and 11 assists. Blake Griffin registered his 23rd double-double of the season with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Jamal Crawford had 19 points, while DeAndre Jordan had 13 points, 13 rebounds and six block shots. Darren Collison had 11 points off the bench.
The Warriors came through with the victory despite shooting just 42.1 percent from the field because they managed to hit 10 three-pointers in 24 tries. They out-rebounded the Clippers 49-38 and outscored them 52-38 in the paint.
The Clippers lost for just the third time this season in 22 chances when taking a lead into the fourth quarter, which they did at 77-74 late Wednesday night. It was also just their third setback of such kind in 11 tries on the road.
These two teams over the last couple of years have grown a serious dislike for one another. That went to another level in this past contest.
At the end of the third quarter Warriors forward Draymond Green got into a scuffle that resulted in Green getting ejected for a flagarant two foul from throwing an elbow. Griffin drew just a technical foul.
In the early stages of the fourth quarter, Griffin got into it with Bogut drawing his second technical foul resulting in his ejection. Bogut drew just a flagrant one foul as well as a technical foul.
Without their inside presenec on the court, the Clippers were unable to close as they missed many shot from in close in the closing stages of the final period.
When the game ended, players from both teams got tangled near the tunnel that lead to the Clippers' locker room, which resulted in security personnel stepped in. In the middle of all this was former Warrior swingman Stephen Jackson.
While both of these teams have had risen from the ashes of the basement in the NBA standings, both head coaches of Clippers Glenn "Doc" Rivers and Mark Jackson of the Warriors, both former players in the league say this is a long way from being a rivalry, especially since both teams are far from being perennial championship contenders.
One thing is for sure, they are very entertaining high scoring teams, who will meet for the third of four meetings back at Oracle Arena on Jan. 30 on TNT.
There are a number of things that can be taken away from the games that took place on Christmas Day. For starters four of the five teams that won today were the away teams, the Bulls, Thunder, Heat and Rockets. The Nets and Knicks who have the No. 1 and No. 2 highest payrolls in the league respectably prove that you cannot buy victories in the league. The Rockets if they can play at the level they did on Wednesday night, they can be in the conversation as a title contender. The Warriors, who had a breakthough season a year ago, have learned that going from pretender to contender is not easy. However, if they play with the kind of effort and energy they did on Wednesday night on both ends, they have a chance of making the playoffs again. The biggest lesson on this day was demonstrated by the Bulls. A team that has not been the same since losing the 2011 MVP in Derrick Rose to a season ending knee injury, is that when you have a identity and you stick with it, competing to win games is easy and proving you are more than just one player is even easier. That is especially the case when you have a coach in Tom Thibodeau that demands it from the practice court to gameday.
Information, quotations and statistics is courtesy of www.espn.go.com/nba/statistics/standings/schedule; 12/26/13 1 a.m. edition of "NBA Tonight" on ESPN 2 with Alfredo Lomeli and Tim Legler; 12/26/13 6 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" with Matt Winer and Steve Smith;
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