We don't normally pay much attention to the NBA Quarter-Finals, because the favorites in the NBA playoffs usually don't face much of a challenge until they get to the Semi-Finals. But after three games, all four of the higher-seeded teams are down 2 games to 1:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Atlanta 1 - 2 Washington (5)
(2) Cleveland 1 - 2 Chicago (3)
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Golden State 1 - 2 Memphis (5)
(2) Houston 1 - 2 L.A. Clippers (3)
Cleveland is at Chicago for Game Four this afternoon, and the LeBron's are under a lot of pressure to win that game. All of the Game Fours are probably worth your attention, but the Cavs/Bulls game today could be one of the most important in this year's playoffs. You should also pay close attention to the next game between Golden State and Memphis, because the Warriors are the one team that has enough firepower to blow the playoffs open.
This Cleveland/Chicago game is a good response to all the folks who think you can significantly increase scoring by going to a 24-second shot clock. No one can shoot in this game, and the teams have turned it into an old-fashioned Big East type slug-fest.
ReplyDeleteLate in the 3d quarter, the Bulls had built an 11-point lead, but the Cavs have now scored 11 points in a row, and the game is tied 68-all with 8:54 to play.
Derrick Rose has 24 points. LeBron has 17 points and 12 rebounds. But it's been an ugly game.
ReplyDeleteAfter 40 minutes, Bulls lead 70-68.
ReplyDeleteWith 6 minutes left, Cleveland leads 76-73.
ReplyDeleteWith 5 minutes left, Cleveland still leads 76-73.
ReplyDeleteSo far, the Cavs have outscored Chicago 17-5 in the fourth quarter. With 4:40 to go. Cleveland leads 78-73.
ReplyDeleteTimofey Mozgov has scored four points in a row for the Cavs, who now lead 80-73 with 4 minutes left.
ReplyDeleteNow for some reason they called a technical foul on J.R. Smith of Cleveland. I think he shoved someone. Anyway, it's 80-74 with 3 1/2 minutes left.
ReplyDeletePau Gasol is not playing for the Bulls in this game, as apparently we now have a rule that no team gets to field its entire squad in the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteWith 3 minutes left, Cavs still lead 80-74.
ReplyDeleteWith 2:17 left, LeBron shoots a long three that barely draws iron and goes out of bounds. Still 80-74.
ReplyDeleteFinally, Chicago gives up on its offense and just has Derrick Rose shoot a contested three-pointer. He makes it, and Cleveland's lead is 80-77.
ReplyDeleteBut Cleveland gives up on its offense, and LeBron drives through Chicago for a short jumper. 82-77.
With 1:32 left, Rose makes two FT's. Cleveland's lead is 82-79. Rose has 29 points.
ReplyDeleteLeBron again tries to drive through Chicago, but this time Joachim Noah draws a charge. Chicago gets the ball and calls time. Cleveland leads 82-79 with 1:13 to go.
ReplyDeleteMy advice to Chicago would be to have Derrick Rose do stuff.
ReplyDeleteThey took my advice, but Roses's three bangs off the rim. Cleveland ball.
ReplyDeleteLeBron again drives to the basket. This time he draws a foul. He goes to the line with 41 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteLeBron makes both FT's, and the Cavs lead 84-79 with 41 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteThe Bulls scramble around, and then Jimmy Butler hits a three to make the score 84-82.
ReplyDeleteCleveland calls time with 21.2 seconds to go.
There are 21.2 seconds left in the game and 18 seconds left on the shot clock.
ReplyDeleteCleveland in-bounds the ball to J.R. Smith, who's trapped at the half court line. He calls time. 18.8 seconds left in the game, 15 seconds left on the shot clock.
ReplyDeleteThis time, Cleveland can't the ball in at all. So they call their last time out. Neither team has any more time outs.
ReplyDeleteI meant, "Cleveland can't get the ball in at all."
DeleteThe Cavs inbound the ball to James, who is trapped on the sidelines by Mike Dunleavy and Derrick Rose. He tries to get through the double-team, but is called for a charge. 14.3 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteTwo charging calls on LBJ in the last 1:15 ...
DeleteDerrick Rose drives to the basket and scores! We're all tied at 84. 8.3 seconds to go.
ReplyDeleteLeBron goes the length of the floor and tries to draw a foul, but doesn't get one. The ball goes out of bounds with 0.8 seconds left. LeBron is screaming for a foul, but doesn't get one.
ReplyDeleteNow there's a dispute over how much time is left on the clock. Eventually they put 1.5 seconds on the clock. Meanwhile, the Cavs got a free timeout while the clock was being reviewed.
With 1.5 seconds left, the Cavs in-bound the ball to LeBron, who shoots a step-back jumper from deep in the corner as time expires. NOTHING BUT NET! CLEVELAND WINS 86-84! WHAT AN ENDING!
ReplyDeleteFriday: Derrick Rose hits a buzzer-beater to beat Cleveland.
ReplyDeleteSaturday: Paul Pierce hits a buzzer-beater to beat Atlanta
Sunday: LeBron James hits a buzzer-beater to beat Chicago.
Great, great stuff.
I can't remember seeing this many exciting NBA playoff games in one season since the 1980's.
ReplyDeleteNBA action ... it's FANtastic!
ReplyDeleteI always forget what a big star O.J. Simpson was.
DeleteSame here
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