Nuggets, Sixers go home. Spurs still dancin’.
For the fourth time in five games, the Sixers jumped out to an early double-digit lead. And for the fourth time in the five games, the Heat defeated the Sixers. Philadelphia clearly frustrated Miami throughout the game, but 64 points from Miami’s Big Three and a surprising 20 from Mario Chalmers were enough for the W.
The Sixers made it interesting late, as they cut their deficit to 1 with less than 20 seconds remaining. But not only did Joel Anthony bring along his usual energy and intensity, he also sank two huge free throws to put Miami up three with 16.8 seconds left in regulation. The Sixers couldn’t get any closer, as an Iguodala jumper bricked off the iron with 10 seconds on the clock.
Dwyane Wade stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. LeBron James nearly had a triple-double with 16-10-8. Chris Bosh supplied a double-double with 22 and 11 rebounds.
Iguodala saved his best game of the series for last, as he chipped in 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 dimes. Sixers’ fans can only wonder if this series could have gone longer if Iguodala brought similar performances in the first three games. Elton Brand carried Philly at times as he added 22 points and 6 rebounds.
Heat coach, Erik Spoelstra, has clearly had enough with Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mike Bibby as both players played less than 5 minutes each. For a championship contender, late April is not the best time to be figuring out the rotation. The Heat now move on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals to face the Boston Celtics. For the Sixers, an intriguing offseason awaits.—Cris Jones
Gary Neal! Gary Neal! Gary Neal! Sorry, I just wanted to fit in with the River Walk crowd. They’re already erecting the statue outside of AT&T Center, right? I don’t blame them.
The Spurs were dead. Done. End of an Era Bandwagon standing room only done. Then Neal hit that shot, that gloriously serrated dagger, and everything changed.
Suddenly the Grizzlies’ momentum doesn’t seem so daunting. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are obstacles, not impossibilities. Sam Young is on his way back to Earth. Mike Conley is no longer indefatigably obnoxious (just regular obnoxious).
The Grizzlies are mortal again.
San Antonio is still two wins away from survival, but after Neal’s shot anything is possible.
Coming back from 3-1 to win a series rarely happens. Then again, when’s the last time you saw an undrafted, 26-year-old rookie hit a fallaway three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the biggest game of his life?
That’s Hollywood stuff, but when it’s real, it makes you believe.
So throw out Memphis’ advantage inside. Throw out their waves upon waves of double digit scorers. Throw out Conley inexplicably outplaying Tony Parker. This series belongs to San Antonio again.
They’re old, injured and, let’s face it, more than a little overmatched, but the Spurs have “it” now. That thing that happens when you hit a Gary Neal shot. Momentum.
As unlikely as it sounds, they’re going to come back and win this series. Two straight wins, guaranteed.
I’m so confident, I’d bet Timmy D’s bank shot on it. Or Manu’s remaining hair.
Hell, I’ll even stake the River Walk. -- Patrick Crawley / @BasketballFiend
Kevin Durant’s final 5:31 went a little something like this: 14-footer, 25-footer, 12-footer, 15-footer, 5-footer plus free throw, two more free throws, and then a 19-footer with 12 seconds left. In total, he scored 16 of Oklahoma City’s final 20, outscored the Nuggets by six over that stretch, finished with 41 and single-handedly created one of those this series ends here sequences reserved only for the game’s unmerciful closers.
With the Thunder down 9 and just over four minutes left, the series appeared to be fulfilling its destiny as a lengthy one, with a Game 6 beckoning and the Nuggets scratching together some long overdue momentum. Durant simply took over from there and OKC emerged with its first series victory since relocation.
For the record, Durant went 14-27 from the field to get his second 40-point effort of the series, especially encouraging considering his struggles in Denver. Russell Westbrook, fresh off the firestorm that was the reaction to his 30-shot game, went just 3-15 for his 14 points. Kendrick Perkins showed life on the offensive end to get 11.
Denver placed five players in double figures, led by Arron Afflalo’s 15.
Thus ends an interesting season for the Nuggets: once marred by rumor, enduring a trade that saw them farewell its two best players, before finding cohesion and balance post-trade with a group of very sound talent and depth. They have little to be ashamed of; outside of Game 2 their losing margins were 4, 3 and 3. They were right there.
Durant caps his first true defining moment with a trip to the second round, awaiting the result of San Antonio-Memphis. Like his team, he’ll be far from satisfied. –Todd Spehr
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if there’s any team to come back from 3-1, i think its the spurs, well and probably orlando.
boston/miami is gonna be a slugfest, cant wait.
Also Wade shouldn’t have to spend the entire series chasing Ray Allen through screens because they need him on the offensive end. MIA should go the same route LA does whenever they play BOS which is to have KB on Rondo and fisher on Ray, it allows KB to save his legs on D. It would beehove MIA to implement the same gameplan.
The key to beating BOS is to run PP/Ray off the 3pt line, force Rondo to become a scorer and match their BOS physicality.
Derrick Rose averages over entire post-season; 27.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 3.8 TPG, 37% FGS, 22% 3PS, 87% FTS.
Now, Chris Paul’s sub-par games statistics are better in a lot of ways than Rose’ over all statistics. Therefore, Derrick Rose should not be in any “best player of post season” conversation.
I understand that the Bulls have already advanced, but they are a 1 seed playing an 8 seed, where as the Hornets are a 7 seed with out their second best player, going toe to toe with the defending champions.
Now I think he is probably a chucker.
This is a sad day for me. I don’t think Durant can co-exist with a chucker. Which means, unless Westbrook gets his mind right this duo is slated for divorce.
And I think Memphis can beat OKC. I feel pretty good about their chances if they advance. Not so sure about the Spurs if they somehow get a miracle, but they will have an easier time against OKC then they did against Memphis because the Grizzlies run an actual offense.
Oh yeah, how do the Grizzlies go like four or five possessions down the stretch without getting ZBo the damn ball! That is inexcusable. Turrible.
And he had TA on skates most of the game.
Guess his elbow’s not falling off anytime soon, eh Mr. Allen?
So, Bron and WAde are going to have win the effort matchup. No chilling early. No stupid mistakes. Afterburners must be engaged.
The question is can Chris Bosh continue his great play and can Chalmers and Anthony continue to be stellar role players. Also, is Shaq playing? Without Shaq, the Heat will have a much easier time matching up.
Also KD didn’t even receive half the criticism Westbrook has the past few days when he was throwing up brick after brick during their 1st round series vs LA but all of a sudden now because he has a favorable matchup vs the Nuggets and Russ has a few bad games, KD is a god and Westbrook is a bum. Talk about being prisoners of the moment.
lets not do this.
I have never, EVER seen Rose take shots like Westbrook was taking. EVER.
Son just doesn’t do it. He doesn’t no run down against the opposing teams defense and jack up a random long jumper. He doesn’t careen wildly to the rim and blast into opposing players.
Now, Rose does over dribble at time. He can force shots. But he rarely just comes down and does something where you say “WTH!” If you refuse to acknowledge that reality, there really isn’t much to discuss.
In the RS, Rose took 20 shots a game while Westbrook hovered around 17-18 and in their 1st round series vs the Pacers/Nuggets, Rose took 105 while Russ took 101. You could say that Westbrook is a bad-shot taker while Rose isn’t but both guys are chuckers for their position.
You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.
now who on the thunder other than westbrook should be putting up that many shots?
okay.
How have you decided Rose took more shots than he needed to? Who is he supposed to be deferring to right now? Boozer? Noah? Deng? Korver?
That is the point everybody has made and it deserves to be made again. Russell Westbrook plays with Kevin Durant. And for all his flaws, and yes Durant does have flaws, he still gets buckets as well as almost anybody in the league. Nobody on Denver could come close to guarding him. Therefore, he needs the freaking ball, frequently. Westbrook should be getting his off Durant, not going for his and letting Durant follow.
But, it’s not just Durant. It’s Harden, hell it’s evne Ibaka. Westbrook is looking off cats who want the rock, while Rose is taking shots his own teammates are begging him to take.
Rose shoots a lot. He’s not a chucker. I’ve made that distinction before. And I didn’t consider Westbrook a chucker until recently. He is has greatly increased his ridiculous shot total. Previously he was good for 3-4 a game. Now he’s taking at least six ridiculous shots.
Also who other than KD and Westbrook should be taking shots on a consistent basis for OKC? No one that’s why Russ takes the second most on the team. It’s the same scenario in MIA with Bron/Wade, same with the early 2000 Lakers with Shaq/Kobe and same with any team that has ever had two great players.
The guy has two bad guys and y’all are ready to crown him the ultimate ball-hog.
With Rose this year, the answer has consistently been “NO.”
But, I do respect that Westbrook has to take some bad shots because the Thunder don’t run a real offense. My problem is the quick shots in semi-transition with nobody in rebounding position and the horrible three pointers. He doesn’t need either of those shots.
Yes, he should push the pace, but he has to understand when to shoot and when to pull it back and move the ball around.
And Brooks needs to run some damn sets.
I mean come on son, when did KD inherit the ability to create good looks for his teammates?
KD is strictly a scorer, he’s not a passer or a great all-around player in the LBird mode. That’s like asking the Iceman or BKing to create looks for others, that’s not what they do. KD’s role in life is to put the ball in the basket not create shots for Westbrook.
AND by your definition wouldn’t durant be even more of a “chucker” than rose?
Thibs hasn’t abandoned his playbook, all of the crunch time plays are drawn up for Derrick Rose and he leaves it up to him to make the right decision off of those plays.
Sow hy not put the ball in the hands of the player who’s going to draw all of the defensive attention and who knows how to make the right decisions? It makes sense.
Like I keep telling Eboy who does the same thing as you do which is question the Bulls: Chicago is fine.
It’s the Heat you really need to be concerned with.
Kind of how Isiah got Dumars off, then got his buckets. You get the other players cooking because as the point guard you can call your number at any time and get a shot at any time. You dominate the damn ball!
Let’s be real. WEstbrook is shooting 39 percent from the floor in the playoffs. Durant was shooting 47 percent. And Westbrook only shot three fewer shots than Durant.
Ridiculous, at least to me, and it should be for you considering how you kill Kobe for inefficiency.
It’s the Bulls you really need to be concerned with.
I find it hysterical that you are quick to judge a cat off of just two bad games, keep it up Judge Dredd.
anybody else think the magic are coming back? i do. i don’t think either team is gonna match up well with chicago.
if ORL 3pt shot isn’t falling, they’re done. and i just dont believe in ATL.
Actually, you are completely wrong. T-Money can vouch that I was critical of Durant because we both were last year as he insisted on jacking horrible jumper after horrible jumper while Ron Artest bodied him up. Westbrook deserved the bulk of the shots in that series because he had the obvious Derek Fisher mismatch, but Durant was intent on proving he was the man.
Chuckers take the shots Westbrook took. Doesn’t mean he will always be a chucker. Zach Randolph was one of the worst black holes in the league, not he’s hitting cutters like Chris Webber.
But, I have been consistent. I believe in shooting when you need to shoot and passing when you need to pass. Going overboard in either direction is bad. Which is why I’ve complained about Rondo over passing as well.
I have had doubts about the Bulls as champions purely because on paper, who really sees a team of Rose/Bogans/Deng/Boozer/Noah plus a solid, defensive minded bench winning it all. Alas, the games are not played on paper, and the Bulls won 62.
Westbrook is weird, he is always animated when his team mates make great plays, he is part of the All-NBA bench team (my list of best team mates when on the bench) along with Patty Mills, Nate Robinson, Tony Allen and others, yet he seemingly has a very big ego that can and has caused friction.7
Eboy, got any more stories like that on Winderman? That was fascinating to read. I have a huge doubt in beat writers as is, they all seem to have personal vendettas.
I’ve had all of these arguments here. So, you were saying?
and i doubt BC was referring to getting out of the first round as proving doubters wrong.
more like, the bulls won’t be any better than a 4th seed, or Rose won’t be MVP, or bulls can’t beat miami
And shout to nbk for at least being HONEST. We’ll never get that from JTaylor though. He’ll just come up with some kind of spin or a new and unfunny insult at the end of his comments.
okay im out, haha. any other comments are not paid for or endorsed by me
And BC quasi-jacked my “Bout to go have my Philadelphia 76ers” tweet this morning.
All love, though.
HA! nbk said “long and hard”
*i approve of this message.
Care to comment on any of that stuff? Of course you don’t.
I’m guessing no.
Additionally, we will have the Miami Heat public address guy come in and tell us when there’s only two minutes left on the show.
“Dos Manute Bols!”
The Bulls haven’t done ish in the playoffs
Who has??? It ain’t even been the second round yet.
Funny how the Bulls get way more sh*t on here than the Spurs, but the Bulls were never down 3-1 in the first round.
You sound like you mad cause Rose stole LeBron’s thunder this year.
Cosign will be a great series though. If Paul can take it back to ’08 minus the wheel chair Boston got that.
Z should start because JO isn’t much of a treat though I rather have Joel checking KG and GDavis while Bosh checks JO.
Mia’s chances at winning this series rests on their ability to guard the 3, force Rondo into becoming a scorer and rebounding.
They’re the Chicago Packers! And they were TAKEN from us!
*sob*
Sorry…couldn’t help myself…
Just because I don’t pray 3 times a day at the Rose altar while facing east towards the United Center doesn’t mean that I hate the guy.
Come correct, LakeShow! LOL
Then when that regular season record, which doesn’t matter, gives the Bulls a first round match up with an 8th seeded team and the bulls win, that also doesn’t matter because its against an 8th seed?
And even though jtaylor has stated multiple times “can Rose at least win a playoff series before you make him the MVP”, Bulls fans are still not allowed to be happy because none of that matters in his mind.
Which now brings us to, “can the Bulls at least get to the ECF before you celebrate” and when they do jtaylor will be the first post on TPU saying “Damn you Rose peddlers are acting like you won the championship”.
@jtaylor – did I get that right? Just want to make sure I’ve dumbed up my normal thought process enough to accurately portray you.
Dude is depressed. Can someone please check in on jtaylor and make sure he doesn’t own any shotguns with triggers large enough to fit his big toe?
Y’all need people like me so you could point your f*cking fingers and say that’s the bad guy. So what that make you, good? You’re not good, you just know how to hide, how to lie. Me, I don’t have that problem, I always tell the truth even when I lie. So say good night to the bad guy! The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Make way for the bad guy. There’s a bad guy coming through! Better get outta his way!
Durant = “This ain’t a democracy. This is the United States of Kevin Durant. I’m Michael Jackson and you’re Tito.”
Chris Paul= “I’ll be back…”
Rose= “This guy’s a bulldozer with a wrecking ball attached. He’s hungry. You ain’t been hungry since 2008.”
Bron/Wade= “Dude, where’s my car.”
Kobe= “Ok. I’m reloaded!”
(Jules Winfield, “Pulp Fiction”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMV_r4LjQIo
PLEASE tell me you’ve seen Scarface…
(Alejandro Sosa – “Scarface”)
Chu wanna go to war? Chu wanna go to war? OK, We’ll take you to war, ok!”
(Tony)
Ha ha.
Godfather is one of the best movies of all time.
But sometimes you just wanna watch a movie about someone truly not giving a f*ck.
Carlito’s Way is pretty dope too.
Oh, and Montana’s little friend was an M16 with an M203 40 mike-mike grenade launcher.
The M16A2 was my little friend for several years, as well. Miss my baby. They got the A4′s now, lucky bastards.
Then, yes, they were probably rocking Tommy Guns in that one. LOL
Period.
this is crazy.
Wait for it…
Keep waiting….
any minute now…
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Mavs just took it to the Blazers. Choke artists my bunion!
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