More Than Meets the Eye: The Fall of the Indiana Pacers

"..........This is bad comedy!"

Throughout life images, scenes that we see, view, hold precious, grow with us, mature in a way that some we take with us on our dying days.  There are times when these images be it something in a work of fiction or in the realm of fact help mold us, shape our way of thinking and the way that we look at the world around us.  Often those images can be applied to real life situations, reminding us of things that we see in the every day world, times, places, and people that we interact with on a daily basis.  Watching the ascension of the 2014 incarnation of the Indiana Pacers took me back to my youth, a youth where innocent mornings were spent watching cartoons and the evenings were spent watching Sir Charles Barkley scorch the court with my father.  During a life time of images one stands out when it comes to this team, an image of one of the most popular cartoons of its time and the fate of a character that enjoyed the same career arc as these Pacers.

The voice was unmistakable, as close to hissing as one can come.  A character so conniving that his superior Megatron kept him around so that a watchful eye would also be in place; keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer.  He was the greatest of the great, the fastest of the fast and the most boastful of them all and his one singular goal was to become what he perceived as "the man" no matter the cost.  It was his eternal quest for power that was ultimately his undoing as he under-estimated his superior time after time, taking advantage of his worth and not fully realizing what his true place was.  His name was Starscream!!!!

This season's Pacers team is a reflection of said character.  Perhaps it was too much praise heaped upon them too soon or perhaps most were fooled by a false profit who idolizes the real number 24.  It seems as if the wool was pulled over the eyes of the foolish who wanted to believe so desperately that yes it was the Pacers time to dethrone the two time defending NBA Champion Miami Heat.  The proverbial jig is up as the Pacers have suffered yet again a devastating playoff loss at the hands of the Heat and many are now left scratching their heads; how could this happen again; how could a team that seemed destined for greatness be so fractured at it's end?  The 2014 NBA Finals were supposed to be the Pacers coronation but we've seen coronations go tragically wrong before.

The image is so clear that I can view it behind my closed eyes a thousand times, every little detail, from the torches, to the trumpets to the statues of warriors past.  The visuals will remain until my dying breath.  After a millennia filled with battles and countless losses it was Starscream's greatest moment, finally ascending to the mountain top but sadly a tragic event would occur changing the course of history forever.  It was in that moment that the scheming, conniving ways, and thirst for power all intersected.

"As Megatron has, how shall we say.....departed"

Since combining their talents in Miami in 2010, the 2014 Miami Heat roster was at its weakest and the Indiana Pacers smelled blood.  Having suffered a game 7 loss in Miami last season, the Pacers vowed that this season would be different as their goal was to secure game 7 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in a potential showdown with the Heat.....mission accomplished.  The fatal mistake that the Pacers committed was underestimating the current champs.  Despite securing a potential game 7 at home, the series never culminated there because of sheer arrogance.  The Pacers called out the Heat all season long, akin to the younger brother attempting to receive attention from the older brother, banging on the door that the Heat refused to open all the while not realizing that the door had to be kicked down, the Heat had to become a casualty of war.  Despite the Pacers boasts, the Heat remained in a position of power, so much so that the Pacers made moves during the regular season that would be their undoing, the first being the acquisition of Evan Turner and departure of veteran presence Danny Granger and the other being the latest failure of Andrew Bynum.  They were moves made of panic and fear and those moves were at the threshold of the Pacers' eventual fall from grace.   When you have an advantage over your opponent show no respect, end the conflict, sadly the Pacers failed to do so.

There he stood at his coronation, stunningly caped and wearing a glistening crown.  Having dispatched his superior in what seemed like mere moments earlier, he basked in the glory of his admirers, reveling in the glow of knowing that he'd made it but ironically suffered from the same mistake of the Pacers, underestimating his opponent and not fully ending the conflict for his superior was still alive and well, stronger than ever before and hungry for revenge.  Just as he was about to state his decree to his followers, the once thought fallen opponent arrived to exact his revenge.

"Megatron, is that you......."

As quickly as he claimed the throne, he was assassinated by his superior.  The desire that fueled him  to be known as the best, the desire that caused him to turn on his superior was the same desire that decided the fate of his life in a negative manner.  In a display of power so strong his superior disintegrated him with a single electric blast, leaving nothing behind but the dust of his prideful understudy and the crown that belonged to the prideful fallen king.  The Once and Future King had returned and so have the two time defending NBA Champion.  In their brightest moment, a series with home-court advantage against their rivals, the Indiana Pacers were at their coronation.

The last two seasons the Pacers had suffered losses in 6 and 7 games against the Heat but this season it was akin to the assassination above.  The Heat had reached their breaking point with the boasting of the cocky Pacers and handled them accordingly.  Last season as the two franchises squared off, there was a mutual respect however this season the Heat were on a seek and destroy mission.  The Heat displayed the fire and fortitude that was expected from the Pacers yet they favored the opposite direction of cowardice and finger pointing.  Despite stating that they wanted to be the best, the Pacers failed to put in the work to do so in forgetting to complete the deal.

Last off-season was supposed to be one of growth for the Pacers, it was a time where they seemingly transformed from the Hunters to the Hunted but in the end they were nothing but false prophets who purpose was in reality to be another stepping stone.  An image that will remain in the minds of many as one of the great teams that had a great year but wasn't good enough to compete for the NBA Championship.  An image that will remind some of pain and for others the image will be the remembrance hubris and foolishness and as the Heat march to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals appearance they will know back at their fallen opponent and know that this time, there was no doubt left about the job that was just done.  The minds and souls of the false prophets had just been eradicated and all that was left behind was the dust of their adversaries and just as LeBron James had to do after losing in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, the Pacers must look in the mirror and point the finger of defeat at themselves.  With their failure now complete, the genesis of said failure will resemble something that was more than meets the eye.

Dedicated to Adam

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49-Point Game From LeBron James Carries Heat Past Nets

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By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 12th, 2014

Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 4 Recap

Final Score: Heat 102 Nets 96

In a huge Game 4 for both teams the best player in the world, LeBron James showed exactly why he is that player with a ridiculous Game 4 to carry his team to a big victory and a controlling 3-1 series lead heading back to Miami.

Player of the Game: Paul Pierce

For the Nets in what may very well be their last home game of the season, Paul Pierce knew the Nets needed this one, and came thru with a good game on the offensive end for Brooklyn. Pierce finished with 16 points on six for 11 shooting from the field, while grabbing seven rebounds, with two assists, and two steals. Offensively Pierce was good, but trying to slow down James it was a totally different story for the over-matched Pierce.

Positives:

The experienced Kevin Garnett also knew the magnitude of Game 4, and in 25 minutes played well for the Nets. Garnett was efficient scoring eight points on three for five shooting to go along with seven rebounds, four of which were on the offensive end.

Brooklyn’s bench was pretty good in Game 4, led by Andray Blatche, who scored eight points on four for 10 shooting to go along with game-high eight rebounds. Alan Anderson also was good in Game 4, as he led Brooklyn’s bench with 10 points on three for five shooting, which included two three-pointers.

Negatives:

In Game 4 the biggest problem for the Nets was the ultra-aggressive James, who wanted this game badly, and went and got it. James finished with 49 points on 16 for 24 shooting, which included him, going three for six from three-point range, and 14 of 19 from the free throw line. Pierce asked for James, thinking he could slow down the King, but according to ESPN stats and information, James went five for eight with 18 points while being guarded by Pierce in Game 4.

Once against for Brooklyn, Deron Williams didn’t play up to the level the Nets need him to in order to earn victories. Williams struggled with his shot, as he scored just 13 points on five for 14 shooting. He did have seven assists and six rebounds, but the Nets need Williams to score more than in low teens.

Joe Johnson also had a rough time with his shot on Monday, as with him and Williams both struggling it was surprising they were in this game. Johnson finished with a team-high 18 points, but it came on five for 15 shooting. Johnson did however do a good job at the free throw line, going a perfect seven for seven, but overall it was a difficult night for Johnson.

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Defining Moments......The Los Angeles Clippers

The Final Chapter has yet to be written.......

There are times when a victory can change the course of a series in the NBA Playoffs and today was no exception but ironically the same can be said of a defeat.  The Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers engaged in a battle that will likely be remembered in the annals of time as one of the most significant playoff games in the history of the respective franchises.  The Thunder were 12 minutes, 720 seconds from escaping Los Angeles with a 3-1 series lead and a 90% chance of moving to the NBA's Western Conference Finals.  The Clippers and more so Chris Paul were 12 minutes, 720 seconds away from once again questioning one's place in the NBA after potentially preparing to suffer another second round loss and then it happened.

It was run that has been orchestrated in the past by the likes of the Thunder and the two time defending NBA Champion Miami Heat but the scoring outburst this time belonged to the Clippers and it came at the expense of one of the NBA's best defenses.  While on cruise control and at one point leading by 22 points in the first half, the Thunder was then outscored 38-24 in the 4th quarter by a resurgent Clippers team that was as close to being run out of their home arena as a franchise could be.  The plight of the Clippers has been well documented over the last 2 plus weeks and as the NBA world along with the real world were caught up with the salacious details, the players of the Clippers were united in a way that's greater than sports and entertainment, young men on a quest not only to win an NBA Championship but to also prove that they belong in a world that continues to shun them, disrespect them and treat them as the hired help.

The Thunder stood united behind the media's "MVP" in Kevin Durant, the "best basketball player" in the NBA.  It was a time where the eye test trumps the analytics of those who try to appear smarter than they are.  40 points on 50% shooting from the field, all the while converting 15 of 18 free throws should equate to a win for Durant and the Thunder but sadly that wasn't the case.  What was't visible in the numbers of the world of analytics is how the media's "MVP" failed to convert in the closing moments of the game.  Durant, standing at 6'10 seemed ineffective as the 6 foot Chris Paul crowded his airspace.  99.9 percent of the time 6'10 trumps 6 foot but when it mattered the most, Oklahoma City's Mr. Unreliable proved to be just that as he was pestered and bamboozled by the suffocating defense of the diminutive Paul.  As the war of attrition came to a close, a mini duel erupted between former UCLA teammates Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison.  Fueled by a three point shot by the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford to put the Clippers ahead for the first time in the game, Collison would have the last laugh as he scored the Clippers last 4 points on layups.

12 minutes, 720 seconds away from almost guaranteeing a spot in the Western Conference Finals to now having given birth to a franchise that's hungry for more than an NBA Championship.  Giving that team life is a colossal mistake on the part of the Thunder and the media's "MVP".  Due to allowing the Los Angeles Clippers to become only the 10th team in the shot clock era to win a playoff game after trailing by 17 plus points after one quarter of play, the Oklahoma City Thunder has opened the pandora's box of a city, a nation that will support this team as they not only fight for the right to win the champion but also to prove that yes they do belong against the will of those who continually try to oppress them.  Championship teams don't blow leads, championship teams come back from seemingly impossible leads.  The Oklahoma City Thunder has welcomed the Los Angeles Clippers to have their first of many defining moments.

The Final Chapter has begun........

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Nets Hand Heat First Loss of Playoffs

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 10th, 2014

Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 3 Recap

Final Score: Heat 90 Nets 104

In a must win Game 3 at home for the Brooklyn Nets, they were able to avoid the certain series loss if they fell in Game 3 to the Miami Heat. The victory keeps hope alive for the Nets, as they were able to control the defending champs for most of the game with a barrage of three-pointers.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

As it has been so many times for the Nets in the postseason thus far, it was Joe Johnson who was the Nets best player. In a well balanced scoring attack for the Nets, Johnson led the team with 19 points on seven for 10 shooting, which included five three-pointers made. Johnson continued to do a good job recognizing when to make the pass, as he had six assists.

Positives:

Brooklyn’s bench played a big factor in the Nets victory, as Mirza Teletovic and Andray Blatche were both in double figures off of the bench. Teletovic was one of the main guys in the Nets three-point barrage, as all of his shot were from behind the arc. He went four for seven from deep for 12 points to go along with six rebounds in 19 minutes. Blatche was a monster for the Nets, as he was able to notch a double-double in just 20 minutes. Blatche finished with 15 points on five for 10 shooting with 10 rebounds in what was his best game by far of the series.

The combination of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were both able to have nice efficient, effective games for the Nets in their supporting roles on Saturday. They were both in double figures, as Pierce finished with 14 points on five for 10 shooting, and Garnett was able to add 10 points on five for six shooting.

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On defense the Nets did a much better job stopping Ray Allen, who scored 19 points in Game 1 and then 13 points in Game 2. Game 3 however Allen scored just nine points on two for six shooting and missed his only three-point attempt. Alan Anderson and Allen got into a little skirmish in the second half that resulted in double technicals for both players.

Chris Bosh was also held in check by the Nets, as Miami’s third weapon had a quiet Game 3. Bosh finished with just 12 points on five for 11 shooting with just five rebounds, as it was the worst game of the series so far for Bosh, and the Heat clearly missed his production.

Negatives:

Trying to stop the great duo of Dwyane Wade and LeBron James is going to be a difficult task, but with the their supporting cast have bad games for the most part, the Nets were able to survive good games from Wade and James. Wade finished with 20 points on nine for 18 shooting. James scored 16 points in the first quarter, as it looked early like it was going to be a special game from James. He finished with 28 points on eight for 15 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and five assists.

Next up for the Nets will be Game 4 in Brooklyn on Monday, as Brooklyn will look to even up the series.

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Damian Lillard: A Star on the Rise

Two years in, and the question already booms. Is young Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard the most clutch shooter in the NBA? In his first playoff appearance and sophomore season, Lillard has already delivered thrilling performances, dramatic shots, acrobatic finishes, and hilarious commercials(a well-deserved $100m deal with Adidas). Fresh off of perhaps the greatest shot in Trail Blazer history, we take a look at the young star's continuous rise into the game's elite. 

Lillard was born in Oakland, CA and spent most of his youth in the Bay Area. While not heavily recruited in high school, he spent four years at Weber State University and finished as the #2 scorer in school history and was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA Draft. Coming to a sports city known for major injury disappointments(Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, Sam Bowie, etc.), expectations were not too high but it did not matter to Lillard. Although unable to lead Portland to the 2013 playoffs, Lillard delivered hope, being named the unanimous Rookie of the Year and to the All-Rookie First Team. He finished the season with averages of 19.0 points, 6.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds on 43% shooting, 37% from deep. 

Portland came out swinging to start the 2013-14 season, racing out to the best record in the west. The continued improvement of not only Lillard but teammates LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, and Wes Matthews(as well as the addition of big man Robin Lopez) had Portland as many analysts' early season favorite to come out of the difficult western conference. While they slowed down just a bit in the middle of the grinding 82 game campaign that is the NBA regular season, Lillard again delivered some fabulous performances, as well as back-to-back game winning jumpers against Detroit and Cleveland (both on the road). Lillard was named an All Star for the first time in his career and is the only player in NBA history to compete in all 6 events at All Star weekend, taking home the Skills Challenge crown for the second straight year. He finished his marvelous sophomore season with averages of 20.7 points, 5.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and shot career highs from the three-point line (39%) and free throw line (87%). Little did we know, he'd save his best for what was yet to come. 

Portland entered the 2014 playoffs with a record of 54-28, good enough for the 5th seed in the west. Going up against a Houston Rockets team with stars like James Harden and Dwight Howard, the Blazers were considered the underdog heading into the series. Game 1 was a coming-out party for not only young Lillard (31 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) but for teammate LaMarcus Aldridge (46 points, 18 rebounds) as well. Down 3 with under 30 ticks to go, Lillard calmly rose up and buried a three pointer to tie the game, and Portland would go on to win in OT. The Blazers would go on to take 3-1 series lead. After Houston took Game 5 at home, the Blazers were heading back to the Moda Center with a 3-2 series lead and a perfect chance to close out the talented Rockets on their home court. 

After five games of sweaty palms and racing hearts, Portland fans got what they have been waiting 14 long years for. With 0.9 left on the clock, Portland was trailing by two. The crowd was quiet, nervous. The Rockets had played a marvelous game and it looked as if they were taking it back home for a decisive Game 7. What happened next will go down in NBA playoff history forever and something I will not soon forget. Lillard raced over the top of the arc from the right-wing and in one smooth, fluid motion, released the shot with time left on the clock. Bottom. Nothing but net. The Moda Center exploded in cheers, Lillard's teammates bear hugged him all the way back to the Portland bench. The series was over, and the Trail Blazers became the second team to advance to the conference semifinals. 

Lillard's point totals in the series were phenomenal: 31, 18, 30, 23, 26, 25. He was the unprecedented leader on the floor down the stretch, and is now drawing many comparisons to former Blazer Brandon Roy, who also had a knack for coming up huge when it mattered most. Like him or not, Damian Lillard has proven that he belongs in the conversation with the elite point guards in this game and after what we've all witnessed so far it will be very surprising if he does end up without a ring. Portland will move on to play San Antonio in round 2 (teams split the season series 2-2). Game 1 will be Tuesday, May 6th at 9:30 PM ET on TNT.

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Nets Narrowly Defeat Raptors in Game 7

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 4^th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs Toronto Raptors Game 7 Recap

Final Score: Nets 104 Raptors 103

In a win or go home Game 7 in a hostile arena in Toronto, the Brooklyn Nets were able to survive the young Raptors for a thrilling Game 7 victory on Sunday. A few missed free throws at the end of the game for the Nets nearly cost them, but a block by Paul Pierce on Kyle Lowry sealed the deal for the Nets, as the advanced to the next round.

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Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

Easily the best player for the Nets throughout the entire series was Joe Johnson, and Game 7 was no different. Johnson finished with a team-high 26 points on 11 for 25 shooting, with four rebounds, and four assists. The Raptors threw the kitchen sink at Johnson with multiple defenders guarding him and frequent double-teams, but Johnson made the right pass out almost every time, as he could have a lot of hockey assists.

Positives:

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were in different roles in this Game 7 than previous seasons. They both only played 25 minutes, but it was an effective one from both of them. Pierce finished with 10 points on four for 10 shooting, but made the play of the game for the Nets blocking Lowry's shot in the final seconds. Garnett had a very good game, as he was able to notch a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, as it was his first double-double since February 1^st.

Brooklyn's bench showed up for Game 7 after a mostly disappointing series against the Raptors, as Andray Blatche, Shaun Livingston, and Marcus Thornton all had good games. Blatche, who was in a bit of foul trouble still played well with nine points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes. Livingston in his second straight game coming off the bench was a much bigger factor in the game than he was on Friday night, as Livingston scored 10 points on four for five shooting, and hit two extremely clutch free throws down the stretch. For the first time in the series, Thornton was able to get hot from the field, as he finished with 17 points on four for eight shooting, and went five for six from the free throw line in his best game of the series.

Negatives:

Toronto really pushed the Nets in this series, and could have easily won it in large part due to their back court of Lowry and DeRozan, who played well in Game 7. Lowry finished with a game-high 28 points on seven for 19 shooting, and went an outstanding 12 for 14 from the line in addition to grabbing seven boards. DeRozan didn’t have a monster Game 7, but still played very well scoring 18 points on five for 12 shooting with six assists, and seven free throws, as DeRozan and Lowry lived at the free throw line in the series.

The Power Forwards for the Raptors also stepped up in Game 7, as Amir Johnson and Patrick Patterson both put together nice games. Johnson was a beast despite looking a bit hobbled, as he scored 20 points on nine for 12 shooting with 10 rebounds before he fouled out. Patterson was great off the bench most of the series, and in Game 7 he finished with 16 points and eight rebounds on a perfect day shooting from the field.

Nets Point Guard Deron Williams had a tough Game 7, and nearly cost his team the victory down the stretch, as he struggled from the foul line. Williams finished just 13 points and four assists, as yet again it was a disappointing game from him.

Next up for the Nets will be a series against the two-time defending champs in the Miami Heat, who will be well rested before Tuesday's Game 1 in Miami.  

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Nets Defeat Raptors to Force Game 7

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

May 2nd, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 6 Recap

Final Score: Raptors 83 Nets 97

The Brooklyn Nets were able to bounce back from their Game 5 loss in Toronto with a Game 6 victory in the Barclays Center to keep their season alive, and force another Game 7 in what has been a great First Round in the Playoffs this season.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

For the Nets their recipe is to win is pretty simple, when Deron Williams’ plays well they win, and luckily in Game 6 for the Nets, he played well. The Nets Point Guard was under a lot of pressure heading into the elimination game, as he responded well with a team-high 23 points on eight for 16 shooting, including four three-pointers. The aggressive Williams also had five rebounds, four assists, and one steal to help lead the Nets to the victory.

Positives:

The very solid performance from Williams also came at the expense of Lowry, who had by far his worst game of the series, which was a great sight for Brooklyn. Lowry, who was coming off a 36-point game in Game 5, was held in check in Game 6. He was only able to score 11 points on a poor four for 16 shooting night from the field, and also turned the ball over four times. If Williams can outplay Lowry like this or even keep it close stats wise in Game 7 the Nets will be in great shape to advance.

In what it a rare thing to see in the playoffs, Jason Kidd went with a gutsy moved and switched up the starting lineup, as Shaun Livingston was benched for Alan Anderson. The move worked for Kidd, as Anderson led the team in rebounding with nine, and scored nine points on four for 10 shooting.

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Brooklyn’s starting lineup as a whole played well, as with their backs against the wall, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett all played well. Johnson was second on the Nets in scoring, as he finished with 17 points on five for 12 shooting with seven made free throws. Pierce and Garnett combined to score 25 points, and Garnett even was able to play 27 minutes, which raises the question how much will he have in the tank for Game 7?

In Game 6 the Nets also did a good job against the Raptors two main guns of the bench in Patrick Paterson and Greivis Vasquez. Patterson was held to just eight points on three for nine shooting, and Vasquez also struggled, scoring just nine points with only three assists.

Negatives:

The only negative for the Nets in Game 6 was that the Raptors All-Star DeMar DeRozan was able to have a very good game despite the rest of his team struggling. DeRozan finished with a game-high 28 points on eight for 18 shooting, while going 10 for 11 from the free-throw line, with six rebounds and four assists.

Next up will be a do or die Game 7 on Sunday in Toronto for the Nets and the Raptors with the seasons on the line.

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Go Big Or Go Home.......GAME 7

At least we didn't lose by 26 points. The Toronto Raptors just didn't want this win. They settled early and that was  all she wrote. The Raptors played like the Brooklyn Nets in game 5 as they were down by 19 at halftime with DeMar DeRozan doing it all by himself, the Raptors needed more. The Raptors came out in the 3rd quarter playing defense, letting the Nets do whatever and whenever they wanted. Fans who have not watched the Raptors all season thought this game was over when the Nets went up 26 in the 3rd. Toronto needed a spark and disappointingly that wouldn't come until the 4th quarter. The Raptors went into the 4th down 20, and DeMar DeRozan had enough. DeRozan began the 4th aggressively; helping cut the lead down to 15 with a huge slam that breathed life into the franchise. DeRozan would finish the game with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The Raptors finally realized they were in the playoffs. They started moving the ball and Jonas who started off poorly did what he does best, finish at the rim with authority. Toronto looked as if they were going to stage an amazing comeback, but the Nets had different plans. The Nets came into tonight's game with a purpose. Paul Pierce had earlier guaranteed a win and he was spot on. Every time the Raptors made a little run, the Nets were able to respond and they eventually won the game by 14, 97-83. The Raptors must start game 7 out strong and not let the Nets take control early or they will be in for a long night. A Toronto vs Brooklyn game 7 will be this Sunday and the time will be TBD. This game is do or die for both teams hoping to move on to the 2nd round to face the 2x defending champs, the Miami Heat.

NOTE: Nets head coach Jason Kidd was fined early today $25,000 for public criticism of the officials. 

“If flopping is the way to go, we maybe have to play that game,” Kidd said, according to Newsday. “But Joe is a strong individual and unfortunately he doesn't flop. He plays, he doesn't complain. That's why we have officials.” - Jason Kidd 

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Raptors Hang On To Win Game 5

One million viewers watched the Toronto Raptors game last night which was the most in Raptors history. Raptors' fans got what they wanted for most of the game with the franchise controlling the first half and up 18 at one point which included Kyle Lowry hitting a banked three pointer to end the first half (Check below for video of the buzzer). Everyone was celebrating, except the die hard fans who knew this game was far from over.

Raptors were up by 20 at the end of the 3rd quarter and the fans started to mock Brooklyn and chant "BROOKLYN" and from that point on, the Nets had enough and seized control of the game. Joe Johnson recorded 26 points in the 2nd half after playing the 1st half with foul trouble. Johnson was simply too much to handle in the 2nd half. Brooklyn had 44 points in the 4th quarter with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett not playing a single minute. The Raptors were in serious trouble but once again, Kyle Lowry came to the rescue. Lowry finished with a game high 36 points while shooting 11-19 from the field and adding 6 assists. Lowry hit a huge three to shift the momentum back but when everyone thought things were over; Alan Anderson, a former Raptor, hit a three plus the foul after getting tackled by Amir Johnson. The only thing remaining was free throws. DeMar DeRozan hit 4 clutch free throws late in the game to give the Raptors a 3 point lead. The Raptors just needed a stop to close this game. 

The ball was inbounded to Andray Blatche and without a doubt Patrick Patterson committed a foul. Blatche, a 74% free throw shooter on the season, hit the first free throw but missed the 2nd. Everything else went crazy from that point on. Blatche grabbed the rebound near the Raptors bench and was double teamed right away and looked to pass the ball to Deron Williams but threw it way over his head committing a backcourt violation. Oddly enough Williams was able to gather himself and fire a desperation 3 point shot from half court. The Raptors, however, caught a break with that call with Jonas (The Rookie) Valanciunas in his 2nd season from Lithuania goaltended. Rookie mistake, Jonas has done things like this before, like in the amazing 3OT committing a basket interference which gave momentum to the Wizards, and they closed the game out. This time things were different. Brooklyn was called for a backcourt violation and the rookie was off the hook. Raptors inbounded the ball threw it to Ross, and Ross was able to escape Williams and toss the ball in the air to end the game and win game 5, taking a 3-2 lead in the series.

"Every mistake you could think about, we made in the fourth quarter" said Dwane Casey, Raptors really did make every mistake to let the Nets back in in the game but at least they kept composure and were able to win this game. Raptors fans would've thought that this was deja vu like the Warriors game earlier this year, but no. The Raptors did what they needed to do late in this game, whether it was Lowry's crossover on Williams and the the bucket, or DeRozan hitting his free throws. Raptors won this game even if they gave up a 26+ advantage. Doesn't matter about how much you win by, just depends on whether they got the job done which they did, and they did it as a "TEAM."

The Raptors have a chance to end this series Friday in Brooklyn. The Nets will come out throwing elbows but the Raptors will try their best to avoid the rough style of play. Friday will be a dog fight, and just remember that it was Brooklyn who wanted the Raptors.

Kyle Lowry buzzer beater to end the first half

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Nets Game 5 Comeback Falls Just Short Against Raptors

newyork.cbslocal.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 30th, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Game 5 Recap

Final Score: Nets 113 Raptors 115



In a crucial Game 5 on the road after losing Game 4 at home due to a late game scoring drought, the Nets found themselves down by 26 points at one point on Wednesday night, but fought back. Their miraculous attempt of a comeback however came up a little short, as after a offensive rebound on a missed free throw on purpose by Andray Blatche, he threw a wild pass over Deron Williams head, leading to a backcourt violation and a loss.

Player of the Game: Joe Johnson

As it has been for most of the series, Joe Johnson has been the Nets go to guy, and in an important Game 5 it was no different. Johnson took over the game for the Nets in the second half, as he finished with a team-high 30 points on 13 for 23 shooting, and was the major catalyst in the Nets attempted comeback. Johnson was a ridiculous +22 when on the court in the loss, but his early foul trouble in the first half certainly put the Nets behind the eight-ball.

Positives:

When the Nets went down by 26, Jason Kidd would strike gold with a few bench players, as Mirza Teletovic, Alan Anderson, and Blatche were big parts of the comeback. Teletovic was the Nets best player off the bench, as he finished with 17 points on six for 10 shooting, which included four three-pointers, and seven rebounds. Anderson also played well down the stretch, as he scored 13 points on four for seven shooting, and had two four-point plays in the fourth quarter.

Negatives:

In the Raptors Game 5 victory, Kyle Lowry had a fantastic performance, as he led his team to their first lead of the series. Lowry finished with a game-high 36 points on 11 for 19 shooting, with six three-pointers. Lowry also dished out six assists, as he outplayed Deron Williams, who finished with only 13 points, as the aggressive Williams that we have seen throughout the series wasn’t anywhere to be found in Game 5.

Lowry wasn’t alone in playing well for the Raptors, as his backcourt partner DeMar DeRozan played good yet again, as the highest scoring backcourt in the NBA Playoffs combined for 59 in Game 5. DeRozan finished with 23 points on five for 12 shooting, but went an outstanding 12 for 13 from the free throw line to go along with six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Greivis Vasquez also had a solid Game 5, as he scored 15 points on six for 12 shooting with six rebounds, and two assists.

The Nets veterans, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were both non-factors in the crucial Game 5, as when the Nets went on their run, Pierce and Garnett were both on the bench, and never returned. Garnett only played 12 minutes with four points and two rebounds, while Pierce scored 10 points with five turnovers in 24 minutes.

Next up for the Nets will be possibly their last game of the season at home, where they have been so great all season, and will need to win one more to keep their season alive.

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Can the Raptors control their destiny and win Game 5?

The Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets headed into the 4th quarter all tied up in game 4 of their first round playoff series. With about 6 minutes left in the game, Brooklyn was up by 4 (77-73) and looked like they had the game under control but then the Raptors roared back as they forced the Nets to 6 turnovers in the 4th. DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson, who played tremendous defense, forced two charges late in the game.

Kyle Lowry, the man who has done it all year long, finished the game with 1:13 remaining by hitting a huge shot over Kevin Garnett which catapulted the Raptors to a  (87-79) win giving them their first road playoff win since 2001. DeRozan finished with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, while Lowry "Mr.Clutch" added 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Brooklyn fans starting to leave the arena before the game was over, but in Toronto outside of the Air Canada Center (ACC) everyone was celebrating and DeMar shushing the crowd in Brooklyn was priceless.

Amir Johnson spoke to the media Tuesday and stated the following:

 "When people doubt us? That's what we want."

That's exactly what we want! Raptors are probably the biggest underdogs in this season's playoffs and people are doubting Toronto which gives them a huge reason to succeed and beat this veteran Nets team. The Raptors need to come out strong in game 5 and not feel comfortable like the Nets did early in game 4. Big games from both DeMar & Lowry will be expected if the Raptors are to become victorious.

The Miami Heat have just sweeped the Charlotte Bobcats and will be watching on their future 2nd round match-up.....the winner of the Raptors and Nets.  The Raptors will come out with all they have in game 5 but will it be enough to stop this Nets team? We will all need to watch, Wednesday at 7:30, to see if this Raptors team can pull off a win in game 5 to take a commanding 3-2 lead in the series. 

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Paul George's Home Burglarized During Game 5 Loss

As if life wasn't tough enough on Paul George right now. After coming out blazing the first half of this season, George has taken a major decline since the NBA's All-Star Break. As if the Hawks' sound 107-97 thumping of the Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (sending the Pacers down 2-3 and on the brink of elimination) wasn't enough, he arrived to his Indianapolis home to find a troubling surprise. 

According to police reports, George's home was broken into between 7:15 pm and 11:45 pm, and over $16,000 worth of items were stolen. Among them were his platinum 2014 NBA All-Star ring(valued at around $15,000 with multiple diamonds), a $700 "Flex" watch, a pair of red Jordan 4 "Toros" valued at $170, and $20 in cash were all missing. According to the report, there was no sign of forced entry at the home and the alarm system was not set. George's parents had been at the house that night and alerted authorities around midnight that they had discovered the burglary. They also told police they had not locked the home because they did not have a key to get back inside.

This downward spiral for George has been sad to watch. With all the media attention he's been getting from the Pacers' poor play, his own struggles, fights in the locker room and the cat fishing incident, this is definitely to last thing he expected to happen with his team pushed to the brink. Thursday night is a big night not only for George, but for the entire Pacers team and organization. Coming into the postseason as the #1 seed, expectations were high, Now, instead of easily advancing to the next round, they will be fighting for their season against a team playing with extremely high confidence. Indiana is in the danger zone, and George must not let this affect his mindset or play heading into the Highlight Factory. Game 6 will be Thursday, 7:00 PM ET on NBA TV.

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Chicago Bulls come to life in Game 3

The Verizon Center was going berserk as their Wizards were playing their first home playoff game since May 2, 2008. The team was coming back to their home base after winning the first two games in enemy territory against the Chicago Bulls.   

The most forgotten person in the Bulls offense, Mike Dunleavy had the best scoring game of his NBA career and it couldn't come at a better time as his team needed all 35 points of his to edge out Washington. Dunleavy made a career-high eight 3-pointers (Bulls record) on 10 attempts and was 12-of-19 from the field in general. Entering Game 3, he had 20 combined points and surpassed that total midway through the 3rd quarter. There has been an odd theme in the playoffs this year with players getting fouled and going to the line for a 4-point play; well add Dunleavy to the list as he was fouled by Bradley Beal. The 3-point game is becoming more teams identities in the NBA and it's trending like 4-point plays will become as common a AND-1.

"He was in the zone, man,'' Beal said. ''I guess the hoop looked like an ocean to him.''

Washington tried following the blueprint of victory in Game 2 by using their athleticism to their advantage, playing at a faster pace than the Bulls instead of running half-court sets which would feed into the game plan of the Bulls.

Now we all love physical basketball and seeing the tension between players. Early in the 4th period Wizards forward Nene and Bulls guard Jimmy Butler went forehead-to-forehead at the 8:28 mark in the quarter. The two were going at it like they were in the MMA with their heads collapsed on to each other and them exchanging heated words. The situation did get worse when Nene for some odd reason let the situation get to him and decided to out both his hands on Jimmy Butlers and luckily Butler didn't retaliate as it could've gotten ugly quick.

"It looked like an MMA move to me,'' Dunleavy said. ''It was one of those headlocks. It was great that Jimmy kept his cool. I think a lot of people put in that situation would've started throwing blows.''

Both players received technical fouls but Nene was ejected for putting his hands on Butler.

Expect Nene to receive a fine,and a suspension wouldn't be surprising 

"I have nothing to regret,'' Nene said. ''I'm a warrior right there. What I did, I'm supposed to do"

John Wall and Bradley came to play as both combined for 48 points on 15-for-32 shooting, Beal scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, but both young stars couldn't have played any better as they had to step-up due to the indulgence of one their teammates, Nene's presence was missed.

The heated exchange with Nene ignited Butler as he would go on to score nine points after and hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 24 seconds left to give Washington a 94-91 lead. After Butler's 3, the two teams would go to exchange fouls and free-throws but then it go just flat-out weird towards the end. After guard D.J. Augustin made two free-throws to give Chicago a 99-94 win with four seconds left, John Wall drove up the left side of the court and was fouled by rookie forward Tony Snell as he was shooting from half-court. A pretty apparent rookie mistake by Snell and lack of awareness with clock and score. Wall would go on to make all three free-throws to make the score 99-97 with three seconds but when you thought you seen it all you hadn't. Taj Gibson proceeded to go 1-for-2 from the free-throw line and when Trevor Ariza rebounded the bal,l he and Wall miss communicated as he threw the ball out of bounds with 0.3 seconds left and a Chicago 100-97 win.

Game Notes: Bulls center Joakim Noah got into a verbal altercation with a Wizards security manager at shootaround... Bulls shot 50.0% from 3-point line which is 23.0% higher than their season average.... Wizards had 50 points in the paint... Dunleavy has only played twelve playoff games... Dunleavy's first 30-point game since November 9, 2010.

Arena: Verizon Center

Referees: James Capers, Jason Phillips, Zach Zarba

Attendance: 23, 356

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Do Any Teams Down 2-0 Have a Chance to Win Their Series?

The NBA Playoffs have lived up to the billing thus far, with --- games going into overtime through two games in all of the series. Some series have gone back-and-forth, but there are also a couple teams are staring down 0-2 holes. 85 percent of teams go on and win once they open up a 2-0 lead; only 16 teams have come back from an 0-2 deficit in an NBA playoff series, most recently being done by the Memphis Grizzlies last season against the Los Angeles Clippers. Will any of the teams facing that deficit become the 17^th team to do it? Here are their chances of breaking through and taking control of the series.

Chicago Bulls – The Bulls came into the playoffs riding high, as they rode their chemistry and defense to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Both things have abandoned the Bulls in the postseason thus far, as they are in an 0-2 hole to the Washington Wizards, despite having the home court advantage.

sportspyder.com

Coming into the series, many people believed the Bulls held a serious advantage in the paint, as the trio of Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson has been the backbone of the team all season. No one told the Wizards this, as they have actually been the ones benefiting from the play of their big man, with the resurgent Nene leading the way. Nene has gone for 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists and 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the first two games. He has been able to affect the game of Noah, disrupting Noah with his brute strength.

The Bulls should still feel comfortable that in the end Noah and their other big men will get the most of the Wizards bigs, but the problem they face then is slowing down the Wizards perimeter players. John Wall and Bradley Beal make up one of the best young backcourts, and are thought of by many as potentially the best backcourt in the NBA within the next few seasons.

Wall has yet to get going, combining for only 10 field goals in the two games, while turning the ball over eight times. The Bulls will regret not getting at least one, if not both of these games at home, as they cannot pin their playoff hopes on Wall putting up underwhelming games four more times.

Not in the Bulls favor is that Beal looked much more comfortable in Game 2, leading the way for the Wizards with 26 points. He made big time shots in the fourth quarter as well, canning two of his four three point makes to keep the Wizards deficit at a manageable margin in the fourth quarter. Beal, like Wall and Nene, give the Wizards a player that create offense for himself and get a basket when they need it most. That is something the Bulls lack, as D.J. Augustin was the player keeping them in the game tonight.

Even worse for the Bulls, the Wizards are now heading home with all of the momentum and a 2-0 lead. The Bulls have proven they play well in the face of adversity, but this is a task that seems too tall to climb. The Bulls became the 24^th team in NBA history to go down 0-2 starting the series at home, and only three teams previously came back to win the series. The Bulls should avoid the sweep, but becoming the fourth team to come back from that kind of series deficit does not look to be in their future.

Charlotte Bobcats – The Bobcats gave the Miami Heat everything they could in Game 2, yet the result was the same as Game 1; a loss. The end score was closer, but in the postseason morale victories are useless, and that is all the Bobcats came away with from the first two games of the series is a morale victory.

Lynne Sladky-AP Photo

When you get 22 points from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who hadn’t scored more than 11 in game since November 15^th, you are thinking positively. Add in the fact that Al Jefferson had 18, Kemba Walker with 16 and Gerald Henderson scored 15, and you would say the Bobcats had a pretty good shot at the victory.

Unfortunately for them, the Heat have the best player in the world in LeBron James and he put up a monster game of his own, scoring 32 points with eight assists and six rebounds.

With big man Jefferson injuring his left foot in Game 1, the Bobcats miniscule chances of pulling off the big upset became nonexistent. Couple that with the fact that the Heat are a perfect 17-0 against the Bobcats since James and Chris Bosh joined Dwayne Wade, getting a victory in this series would be something to celebrate for the Bobcats. A win on their home court in the playoffs would be nice for the fans, and the best they should expect, as the Heat have the Bobcats number and the Bobcats are without a lot of firepower with Jefferson hobbled.

Houston Rockets – Coming into the postseason, this was a series circled by many to be the most entertaining of the first round. Matched up with the Portland Trail Blazers, this was a series many people picked to go seven games. Both teams were extremely similar, posting identical regular season records and playing similar styles. Unfortunately for the Rockets, they do not have LaMarcus Aldridge.

USATSI

Aldridge has been a monster through two games, scoring 89 combined points between Game 1 and 2. The Rockets have had no answer for Aldridge, as he has dominated all over the court. He is 17-26 from the paint, 16-31 from the rest of two point shots, and 2-2 from three point line. These are not all open shots, but Aldridge has supreme confidence right now and does not look like he will be slowed down anytime soon. He is the reason why the Blazers are up 2-0 in a playoff series for the first time since 1977, coincidentally the same year they won their only championship.

The Rockets blew a golden opportunity to tie this series up, as Aldridge was the only player who shot the ball well for the Blazers in Game 2, and Dwight Howard finally showed up. He scored 32 points to go with 14 rebounds, yet that was not enough to get the Rockets a victory. Houston even dominated the paint, outscoring the Blazers by 38 in the paint, yet they still found a way to lose the game.

Things are not looking up for the Rockets right now, and have the deck severely stacked against them. The one thing that can get the Rockets back on track is James Harden. All season they have relied on Harden to lead their up-tempo attack, but through two games in the post season he has struggled. The struggles have caused the Rockets to change how they play, running the offense through Howard on the interior in Game 2 instead of getting out in transition.

The Rockets need Harden to play how he played throughout the regular season if they are to have any chance of making this a series again. With how similar the teams are, the Rockets have the best chance of coming back from the 2-0 deficit they face of any team on this list. That is not saying much, as teams down 2-0 are in a big hole, but when you have firepower of the level of the Rockets anything is possibly. It just is not very likely, but for the fans sake hopefully they get it going as the two games in this series have made for the most entertaining series thus far in the post season.

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Grizzlies grind is too much for Thunder in Game 3

The Memphis Grizzlies 98-85 overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder proved as to why the FedExForum is nicknamed the "Grindhouse" as the Grizzlies controlled this game from start to finish despite a few scares in the closing seconds of regulation and overtime to go up 2-1 in this Western Conference series.

In Game 3 against the Thunder, the "Grindfather" aka Tony Allen showed the TNT viewers as to why he's one of the most elite defenders in the NBA despite his advanced age. Allen held Durant to 10-for-27 from the field which included 0-8 from the 3-point line. It's quite clear that Allen is messing with psyche of Durant even though the scoring champ of the regular season thinks otherwise as he said after Game 2.

"He's making it tough, but it's not like I'm just nonexistent. I don't know what you guys have been watching. He's just making me work, like everybody else will."

Allen had a bunch of energy going in the fourth quarter but committed a bad foul as Thunder guard Russell Westbrook rose up for a 3-pointer and drained the shot sending him to the line for a 4-point. Also in the closing seconds of overtime Allen yet again fouled Westbrook with 0.9 seconds left in the game but like Durant in Game 2, an incredible 4-point play was accompanied by a tough loss.

Speaking of Game 2, it was like that game was somewhat replayed in Game 3 with Durant (10/27) and Westbrook (9/26) hoisting up similar amount of shots as both finished with 30 points apiece. Both All-Stars had the opportunity to tie the game up but missed their field-goals to become the heroes of the night. Serge Ibaka is the only other Thunder player to score 10+ but he was just filling up space as his presence was hardly felt. 

MVP: Mike Conley Jr. led Memphis with 20 points and 5 assist, big-man Zach Randolph "Z-Bo" also chipped in with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.

Key Stat: Memphis key to victory was their bench as they won that battle 34-9 

Game 4 is Saturday at 9:30 p.m. EST

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Atlanta Hawks are showing that seeding is just a number

The Hawks-Pacers shifted to the Highlight Factory for Game 3; a venue where the Pacers would rather not visit due to only winning there two times since December of 2006. Entering tonight a Pacers win would add to the narrative of the rich getting richer but with the Hawks earning the victory the narrative of the Pacers was more like the worse growing even more worse and the collapse of the Indiana  pacers is a tale worth telling. Tonight the No. 8 seeded Hawks defeated the No. 1 seed Indiana Pacers 98-85 and Vogel said his team won't "quit" but have they mentally?

The game was the first aired tonight as it was featured on NBA TV.  One couldn't blame the NBA for airing the game there because it was something that would've put one to sleep through 4 quarters as both teams shot under 40% and a combined 27 turnovers.  The game did however pick up towards the end as guard Lou Williams hit a 3-pointer to close out the 3rd quarter to help the Hawks gain momentum into the most crucial quarter.  

But the shot of the game occurred when the shot-clock was winding and the ball was in Teague's hand.  He dribbled to the left (went out of bounds but wasn't called) went up and drained a 3-pointer over Pacers forward Luis Scola to increase the Hawks' lead to nine and caused the crowd to go berserk. After Teague made the incredible shot he jogged back on defense doing the "Jordan Shrug".

MVP: Jeff Teague controlled the game finishing with 22 points and 10 assists becoming the first Atlanta Hawk since Spud Webb back in 1986 to have a 20+ point and 10+ assist game.

Atlanta proved the doubters wrong......their Game 1 victory was no fluke and that they could come at the Pacers with all their might and they certainly did so.

All-Star forward Paul George and All-Star center Roy Hibbert combined for 5-20 shooting in game 3 combining for 16 points as their struggles were quite evident. The only player who showed up in the blue and gold was Lance Stephenson as he had a team-high 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Who said upsets only happen during March Madness? The Atlanta Hawks are three wins away from cementing their place in NBA history if they eliminate a No. 1 as the underdog

Game 4 is Saturday in Atlanta         

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X-Factors To Swing First Round Series Tied at One

The NBA Playoffs have lived up to thus far, with --- games going into overtime through two games of each series. Plenty of the series have gone back-and-forth with the teams splitting the first two games of the series. They are now facing a five-game series, with home court flipped to the lowered seeded team. With the series hanging in the balance, it is time for some players, and even coaches in some instances, to step up their game and start producing at the level they are capable of. Here are a list of x-factors in the series all knotted up at one that could swing the series in either direction.

Roy Hibbert, Center, Indiana Pacers – Arguably the biggest surprise of the NBA playoffs thus is the fact this series is tied at one. The No.1 seeded Pacers were embarrassed by the Hawks in Game 1, as Jeff Teague went off and the Pacers looked lost. The first half of Game 2 looked much of the same, but the Pacers were able to right the ship in the second half, destroying the Hawks 53-33.

Matt Detrich-The Star

Taking a look at the box score will show that the Pacers were able to sustain some success by having their bigs play less; namely Hibbert. Against the Hawks, who play a spread out style of offense in which everyone on the court can shoot three pointers, Hibbert is a liability, and he has shown that throughout the first two games. Hibbert has been horrendous, shooting 5-16, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the two games.

It has gotten to the point now that the Pacers may be better off just not playing Hibbert. He is offering nothing positive on the court, as the Pacers desperate tries to get him going are actually doing more harm than help. They are making an already poor offense even less potent by force feeding a player that is not producing.

You can easily place head coach Frank Vogel in this spot as well instead of Hibbert. In the end, it is Vogel’s decision as to who will play and who will sit. Through two games, it is apparent that Hibbert is not helping, and other options off the bench, such as Luis Scola, would be better suited to face the Hawks.

It is a tight rope which Vogel must do his work from, as he risks alienating and sapping the confidence of a player already lacking it by benching him in the first round of the playoffs. But if Hibbert continues playing the way he has, the Pacers very well may not make it past the first round.

Russell Westbrook, Point Guard, Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder drew quite possibly the toughest first round matchup, as the rough-and-tough style of the Memphis Grizzlies is not an easy style to play against, especially in a series. They handled the Grizzlies relatively easy in Game 1, but Game 2 the Grizzlies showed resiliency, pounding the paint with Zach Randolph and taking home the victory. With the series shifting to Memphis, the series hangs in the balance and one man, Westbrook, has the power to swing the series for either team.

ESPN.go.com

Westbrook is undoubtedly a talented player, but he sometimes gets caught up in his own game, even though he has arguably the best scorer in the NBA and potential MVP Kevin Durant next to him. Too often Westbrook jacks up mid-range jumpers, not even getting into an offense or having Durant touch the ball. It incenses Thunder fans when he does this, especially when the results aren’t extremely positive, such as Game 2.

To be fair, Tony Allen has made life very difficult for Durant offensively, denying him the ball on multiple occasions. The ball denial Allen has shown sometimes forces Westbrook’s hand, but too often Westbrook settles for that jump shot.

With that mentality, Westbrook is playing right into the Grizzlies’ hands. Per Sports 56 WHBQ and The Oklahoman, Courtney Lee pretty much said so himself. "We're fine with Westbrook taking shots, I mean, that's kinda what you want - the more shots he takes, the less Durant takes."

They know what Durant is capable of, but Westbrook is more of a wild card. He can shoot the Thunder right out a game, and potentially the series, quicker than he can shoot them into it against a team that plays defense as well as the Grizzlies do.

Blake Griffin, Power Forward, Los Angeles Clippers – Just take a look at the box scores from the first two games of this series, and it is evident that Griffin is a no-brainer choice as the x-factor for this series.

Danny Moloshok/AP Photo

In Game 1, Griffin played only 19 minutes before fouling out, and the Clippers were defeated by the Golden State Warriors. In Game 2, Griffin did not commit a foul in 30 minutes, scoring a playoff career-high 35 points to lead a 138-98 blowout victory.

With the Warriors front line diminished because of injury, Griffin should be able to have his way offensively. Neither David Lee nor Draymond Green present much of a challenge in slowing down the explosive Griffin, who has expanded his offensive game this season. Jermaine O’Neal could give Griffin problems in spurts, but at his age he cannot compete with Griffin for an extended period of time.

The only thing that can slow Griffin down against what the Warriors are capable of throwing at him is himself. In Game 1 he did not use his head, committing six fouls and not being able to help his team. In Game 2 he adapted much better to how the referees were calling the game, committing zero fouls. If Griffin is able to continue with the smart and explosive play he had in Game 2, the Clippers should be able to make easy work of the Warriors. But playing in Oracle Arena presents new challenges for Griffin and the Clippers. For their sake, hopefully he is ready for what will be a raucous crowd.

Terrence Ross, Shooting Guard, Toronto Raptors – The Raptors dropped the first game of this series, as Paul Pierce took over in the fourth quarter and willed the Brooklyn Nets to a victory. In Game 2, DeMar DeRozan looked like Kobe Bryant, scoring 17 in the fourth quarter to get the Raptors a victory and split the first two games.

Ron Turenne/NBAE/Getty Images

If the Raptors are to take any games in Brooklyn, they will need another player to step up, and that player is Ross. Through two games, he has given little production, shooting 2-12 and scoring only five points. He is 1-9 from the three point line, enabling the Nets to just pack it in and dare the Raptors and Ross to shoot it from deep.

Ross epitomizes what this series truly is; youngsters with little experience vs. veterans with tons of playoff experience. Ross, like any young player making his first playoff experience, will struggle a little and will need to get adjusted to the new atmosphere. In Game 1, the whole Raptors team looked a little shell-shocked, 39.4 percent from the field while playoff savvy Net players such as Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Pierce excelled.

In Game 2, the roles were reversed a bit, as DeRozan put together a monster game, getting help from one of the few Raptors with playoff experience in Amir Johnson. The Nets, on the other hand, were let down by the same veterans that carried them in Game 1.

This series will ultimately come down to the Raptors youngsters growing up fast, or the Nets veterans finally running out of gas. Right now, it looks like a toss up, as they have split the regular season and playoff series in half thus far. Ross and the younger Raptors stepping up would push them past the Nets.

Jose Calderon, Point Guard, Dallas Mavericks – Calderon was a non-factor in Game 1, as Devin Harris came up big off the bench, but the Mavericks lost as they allowed the Spurs to go on a 18-3 run to end the game. In Game 2, Calderon played more minutes, and Mavericks picked up a victory, with Harris once again putting up good numbers.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

With Harris performing the way that he has been, it enables Calderon to go full facilitator mode. The Mavericks can rotate Harris as the backup point guard, but also give Monta Ellis some rest and be the scoring guard next to Calderon.

With Calderon on the court, things are also more opened up for Dirk Nowitzki. Calderon is a master in the pick-and-roll, as he has a devastating outside jump shot and is automatic from 18-feet. The threat he is from the perimeter to knock down jumpers forces opposing defenses to watch him, allowing Nowitzki to go to work.

Calderon has his deficiencies, namely the defensive end of the court, which is why he lands on this list. Having to defend another point guard in Tony Parker who excels in the pick-and-roll himself presents problems for Calderon and the Mavericks defensively. Calderon is essentially a swinging gate on defense, as he offers very little resistance. This puts immense pressure on the Mavericks bigs, which outside of Samuel Dalembert are not exactly defensive anchors either.

So for this series to swing either way, it will come down to how the Mavericks manage Calderon. The offense runs much smoother with him on the court, but the defense suffers. It is hard to imagine Harris continuing to play that well for three more victories in the series, as he didn’t put together production like this consecutively all season. The Mavericks are arguably the best eight seed to take on a top-seeded team, but at the same time there is a reason that they are an eight seed and the dilemma they face with their point guard position is a driving factor why.

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