NBA: The Playoffs Part 1
Yesterday we had the first batch of games for the NBA playoffs, we had Portland vs Dallas, Atlanta vs Orlando, Miami vs Philadelphia and Chicago vs Indiana. What I can say is that none of these games were blow out wins and every team that lost had a chance to win and be 1-0 instead of 0-1 going into Monday night. Let's take a look at each of the games and see what the losing team could have done differently and what they need to do in order to tie up the play off match-ups in this best of seven series.
The first game yesterday was Indiana vs. Chicago. This game should have gone to Indiana, they were leading through out the entire game until the 4th quarter when they just fell apart and let Chicago go on a 16-1 run to take the lead and the win. Both Granger and Hansbrough scored over 20 points for the Pacers and Hansbrough was able to score over 20 points despite getting elbowed and having to leave the game in the third quarter and not coming back until 5:33 left in the game. The Pacers really need to work on their 4th quarter game. That is when a game can be won or lost. If you have a lead protect it in the third and go on a rampage in the fourth to give yourself a bigger one. The Pacers have shown that they are not going to sit back and give this series to the Bulls, and it could go either way though most people are probably saying that they see the Bulls beating the Pacers in 5 or 6.
The second game of the day was Philadelphia vs Miami. Miami was able to win this game on the strength of Dwayne Wade who showed that he is the force to stop at the end of play off games. Though both Bosh and James scored big this game. Philadelphia does have to try and stop three players instead of the usual one or two big shooters for a team. Yet I feel like that should not be the biggest issue for Phillie, they need on the fact that while yes they do come out strong in the first quarter and get big leads, they need to be able to sustain it for the entire game not just for the first quarter and fourth quarter. Phillie has the talent to keep the momentum going they just need to focus more and be able to power by Miami's players more efficiently, then I see them being able to win a few games and maybe even knock out Miami in the first round.
The third game of the night was Atlanta vs Orlando. The biggest issue for Orlando was that no one but Howard and Nelson had over double digits. You cannot win a game with only two people scoring in the double digits even though one of the players scores 41 points like Howard did last night. Orlando has the talent and the players on their team to be able to score and get the ball in the bucket. While Atlanta was more balanced in their shooting with 5 players scoring in double digits. Orlando can win and can win it all they just need to start shooting better and taking better looks instead of just taking shots because you can. All of these athletes must understand how much better a good look is then just any open shot can be. I do see Orlando prevailing and beating Atlanta in this series and I'm hoping that this game for them was just a fluke and that they will settle down and play well on Monday.
The final game of the night was Portland vs Dallas. Portland has the ability to stop Dallas and Dallas does have some mental issues to work through such as being eliminated in the first round ever singe time they have made it to the playoffs since 2006 when they made it to the Finals. Portland needs to be able to buckle down and keep Nowitzki from getting hot in the fourth quarter and helping to power Dallas past Portland. Though this was mainly a game where Dallas lead for most of it and set the tone except for a stretch of time when Dallas missed 10 consecutive shots for Portland to take a lead until Nowitzki and Kidd could become hot again and power Dallas past Portland. Portland is a young team and they do have the talent but their players need to be able to stop key players from making shots in the fourth quarter if they feel like they want to have a shot at this series.
I hope you all enjoyed this post and keep reading my love affair with sports.
The first game yesterday was Indiana vs. Chicago. This game should have gone to Indiana, they were leading through out the entire game until the 4th quarter when they just fell apart and let Chicago go on a 16-1 run to take the lead and the win. Both Granger and Hansbrough scored over 20 points for the Pacers and Hansbrough was able to score over 20 points despite getting elbowed and having to leave the game in the third quarter and not coming back until 5:33 left in the game. The Pacers really need to work on their 4th quarter game. That is when a game can be won or lost. If you have a lead protect it in the third and go on a rampage in the fourth to give yourself a bigger one. The Pacers have shown that they are not going to sit back and give this series to the Bulls, and it could go either way though most people are probably saying that they see the Bulls beating the Pacers in 5 or 6.
The second game of the day was Philadelphia vs Miami. Miami was able to win this game on the strength of Dwayne Wade who showed that he is the force to stop at the end of play off games. Though both Bosh and James scored big this game. Philadelphia does have to try and stop three players instead of the usual one or two big shooters for a team. Yet I feel like that should not be the biggest issue for Phillie, they need on the fact that while yes they do come out strong in the first quarter and get big leads, they need to be able to sustain it for the entire game not just for the first quarter and fourth quarter. Phillie has the talent to keep the momentum going they just need to focus more and be able to power by Miami's players more efficiently, then I see them being able to win a few games and maybe even knock out Miami in the first round.
The third game of the night was Atlanta vs Orlando. The biggest issue for Orlando was that no one but Howard and Nelson had over double digits. You cannot win a game with only two people scoring in the double digits even though one of the players scores 41 points like Howard did last night. Orlando has the talent and the players on their team to be able to score and get the ball in the bucket. While Atlanta was more balanced in their shooting with 5 players scoring in double digits. Orlando can win and can win it all they just need to start shooting better and taking better looks instead of just taking shots because you can. All of these athletes must understand how much better a good look is then just any open shot can be. I do see Orlando prevailing and beating Atlanta in this series and I'm hoping that this game for them was just a fluke and that they will settle down and play well on Monday.
The final game of the night was Portland vs Dallas. Portland has the ability to stop Dallas and Dallas does have some mental issues to work through such as being eliminated in the first round ever singe time they have made it to the playoffs since 2006 when they made it to the Finals. Portland needs to be able to buckle down and keep Nowitzki from getting hot in the fourth quarter and helping to power Dallas past Portland. Though this was mainly a game where Dallas lead for most of it and set the tone except for a stretch of time when Dallas missed 10 consecutive shots for Portland to take a lead until Nowitzki and Kidd could become hot again and power Dallas past Portland. Portland is a young team and they do have the talent but their players need to be able to stop key players from making shots in the fourth quarter if they feel like they want to have a shot at this series.
I hope you all enjoyed this post and keep reading my love affair with sports.
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