The
rANT’s QUICK TAKE ON EACH PLAYOFF TEAM AFTER TWO GAMES:
1)
San Antonio Spurs
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Thought: Their loss in Game 2 was only a
speed bump. They could easily regain home-court with a win in Dallas. They were
30-11 (franchise best) on the road during the regular season and Dallas has not
looked impressive at times while playing at home.
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Best Player (so far): Manu Ginobili (by default). He’s
the only one on the Spurs who hasn’t had a major drop off from Game 1 to Game
2, actually played better (17 pts. in Game 1, 27 in Game 2). The Spurs play the
definition of a team game so it could be anyone in this spot. Right now it’s
Ginobili.
1)
Indiana Pacers
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Thought: The slump continues and their
mindset still isn’t right. Everything about them spells a second round exit. In
Game 1 they allowed Jeff Teague (28 pts.) to run wild all around them and they
laid an egg. In Game 2 their defense was much better (in the 2nd
half) but after the 3rd quarter ended, they celebrated like they won
the NBA Finals. Uh… NOPE. It’s the 1st round and you’re the #1 seed.
You’re supposed to beat the 8th seed.
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Best Player (so far): Sure as heck won’t be Roy Hibbert
(averaging 7 pts, 6 ribs, 0 total blocks so far… keep in mind he’s 7’2”) so the
easy answer is Paul George. He’s by far Indiana’s best 2-way player and is
playing like it (averaging 25.5 pts, 10 rebs, 5.5 asts).
2)
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Thought: They let Game 2 slip through their
fingers. The Grizzlies have always been a problem for OKC whether OKC was
healthy (MEM took them to a Game 7, but lost, in 2011) or injured (MEM beat
them in 5 in 2013). Also Memphis has won their last 14 games at home. Tall task
to ask of OKC but they went 25-16 on the road this season. It’s an eh record
(not elite but very respectable) but they’re capable of winning one to regain
home-court.
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Best Player (so far): This year’s MVP: Kevin Durant.
Durant is doing well, Durant things (34.5 pts, 9.5 rebs, 5.5 asts). Beyond
Russell Westbrook (26 pts, 8.5 rebs, 6.5 asts) & him, they’re not getting
much production. Serge Ibaka has to do more offensively (16 pts) and must find
other ways to score (off put backs, FTs, etc.) because with Durant and
Westbrook as teammates, you wont see the ball that much. The bench needs to
step up and fast, especially Reggie Jackson.
2)
Miami Heat
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Thought: Ho-hum. I am no longer impressed
with anything Miami does before the round of the NBA Finals. They took care of
business at home & SHOULD end this series in a sweep. Get your rest now
because the Nets – Raptors (winner plays Miami in Round 2) series should be a
long one. Also, Dwyane Wade looks healthy & ready to go. The rest did him
well.
-
Best Player (so far): The King, who else? The Bobcats
have no answer for LeBron James (really nobody in the NBA does) and he is
pretty much doing whatever he wants (29.5 pts, 7.5 rebs, 4.5 asts so far).
Scary part is that he can be even better. Wade being healthy helps take the
attention off of James.
3)
Los Angeles Clippers
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Thought: Solid job winning Game 2 but I’m
not giving credit until they beat an engaged Warriors team. Anytime you beat a
team by 40 in a PLAYOFF game, the team that lost didn’t feel like playing.
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Best Player (so far): Blake Griffin. The Clippers go as
he goes. He was plagued with foul trouble in Game 1 but bounced back in Game 2
by scoring 35 points and not fouling once.
When he’s engaged and playing like this, all the attention goes from his
3-point shooters to him. This allows Chris Paul to set up everyone from the rim
to the perimeter.
3)
Toronto Raptors
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Thought: They’re the NBA’s version of the
2013 Carolina Panthers. Both teams are young, stayed under the radar all season
they each made the playoffs for the 1st time after a 5+ years
period… and played out of control and undisciplined during their 1st
playoff game. Fortunately for the Raptors, professional basketball isn’t
1-and-done like the NFL. In Game 1 the Raptors rushed everything, they were
nervous and made stupid mistakes. In Game 2 everyone took a deep breath and
played better. They still turned the ball over too many times but they shot
much better. Now they have work to do in Brooklyn.
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Best Player (so far): Kyle Lowry. Lowry’s numbers
weren’t as good in Game 2 than they were in Game 1, but he didn’t have to try
to do everything. DeMar DeRozan (30 pts in Game 2) and Amir Johnson (16 pts in
Game 2) decided to make their appearance. Lowry sets the tone and energy of how
the game is going to be played. He’s as tough as they come.
4)
Houston Rockets
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Thought: Is James Harden going to make an
appearance anytime soon? Yea he scored 27 in Game 1 and a solid 18 in Game 2,
but the Beard is struggling, especially with his shooting (29.8% FGs). He’s not
getting to the line that he’s so accustomed to (14 total attempts in 2 games,
averaged 9.1 during the regular season). Also 3 more things: 1) Dwight Howard
has go to stay out of foul trouble, 2) the role players must step up and fast,
and 3) they have to somehow at least slow down LaMarcus Aldridge.
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Best Player (so far): Howard. He had a great Game 1 and
played even better in Game 2 (made 6 out of 7 FTs!!!). The only knock on him is
that he has to learn how to stay out of foul trouble (fouled out in Game 1, had
5 PFs in Game 2). He hasn’t looked this athletic and engaged since his days in
Orlando.
4)
Chicago Bulls
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Thought: I did not expect this. Both games
they were dominated two different ways. In Game 1, Nene and Marcin Gortat
bullied them in the post. I’m Game 2, John Wall and Bradley Beal did whatever
they wanted from the outside. They finished the regular season with the #1 over
defense so this is flat out embarrassing. If they don’t find a way to win Game
3, their season is pretty much done. DC has trouble closing out games, Chicago
needs to take advantage of that and fast.
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Best Player (so far): Carlos Boozer has been pulling a
“Roy Hibbert” this series (8 pts, 8.5 rebs) so it will definitely NOT be him. I
got to give the nod to both Joakim Noah & Taj Gibson. Those 2 set the tone
on energy and defense. They go all out on every single play and never seem to
take a play off. Bulls coach Tom Thibadeau is holding back Gibson by continuing
to start Boozer over him. Boozer has been a disgrace; it’s time to bench him.
5)
Portland Trail Blazers
-
Thought: Stay hungry. Portland’s role
players have struggled in Houston, especially in Game 2, but that should no
longer be a problem. Role players thrive in home games because the crowd is
behind him. I expect everyone not named LaMarcus Aldridge to play a lot better.
I can also see Damian Lillard going off for 30+. He knows he hasn’t played well
& will go about fixing that.
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Best Player (so far): Aldridge and it’s not even close.
Back-to-back 40+ games, hitting nearly everything (59%), and is averaging 44.5
pts & 13 rebs. He won’t sustain it so Lillard and the role players must
play better. That shouldn’t be a problem at home.
5)
Washington Wizards
-
Thought: I’m sorry for doubting you DC. I
missed most of Game 1 and assumed it was a fluke. I made a point to watch Game
2 and man did they surprise me. They controlled everything. I thought I’d never
see a team out-hustle the Bulls but they’ve somehow done it. Now they got to
take care of business at home by winning at least one.
-
Best Player (so far): John Wall. Yea Nene had a great
Game 1 but he dropped off a little in Game 2. And yea Bradley Beal had a great
Game 2 but he struggled in Game 1. Wall’s the only one who’s been consistent
(16 pts 6.5 asts, 5.5 rebs so far). He’s controlling the pace and his jump shot
has REALLY improved.
6)
Golden State Warriors
-
Thought: They mailed in Game 2 but it
didn’t doom them. They took care of business in Game 1 by stealing home-court
but they cant throw it away by losing at home. Their mindset has to adjust and
fast, can’t be easily satisfied. The Clippers are capable of winning on the
road.
-
Best Player (so far): Stephen Curry. In Game 1, he
didn’t shoot that well (6-16 FGs) but didn’t really need to because everyone
else was playing well, especially Klay Thompson. He focused on setting his
teammates up for great shots (7 asts). In Game 2 he shot a little better (9-17
FGs) and was the only who showed up to play (only player with 20+ pts, 24
total).
6)
Brooklyn Nets
-
Thought: They handled business, simple as
that. This is a no-nonsense team that was built especially for the playoffs.
They achieved their goal of stealing home-court and should play even better at
home.
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Best Player (so far): Joe Johnson. Johnson may not be
their best player (that’d be Deron Williams), but he’s by far their best scorer
(21 ppg this series) and arguably their best shooter. Brooklyn will look almost
right away to get him going with his shot. When he’s hot, he draws attention
from the likes of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Williams, three guys who
struggle to create separation and create their own shot at times.
7)
Memphis Grizzlies
-
Thought: Time for some home cooking.
Winners of 14 straight home games, they go back to the “Grind House” with the
series tied at 1. They’ve been a very good home team to say the least but they
cannot fall asleep now. OKC is going to want home-court back and they will do
pretty much anything to regain it.
-
Best Player (so far): As Dennis Scott likes to call him,
“First Name Twenty, Last Name Ten”: Zach Randolph. And he’s just been exactly
that. Every season during the regular season he seems to lumber through the
year but in the playoffs is when he comes alive. I also have to give credit to
Mike Conley who is doing a great job controlling the pace (11.5 apg). OKC wants
to run at every opportunity but Conley understands his big guys (Randolph and
Marc Gasol) cant run-n-gun. He’s been taking care of the ball too, only
averaging 1.5 TOs.
7)
Charlotte Bobcats
-
Thought: Good season. The worst thing in
the world that could happen did happen: Al Jefferson is hurt. He’s being a good
teammate by playing through a plantar fasciitis injury but if he cant go, the
Bobcats are pretty much done. He’s the only one the Heat are “afraid” of on
offense & the only one they pay attention to. I had Charlotte losing in 5;
they might not even make it that far.
-
Best Player (so far): Jefferson. The Bobcats go as
Jefferson goes. Everything they do on offense feeds off of him. He’s been
playing decent (18 pts, 12 rebs in playoffs… 21.8 & 10.8 in regular season)
but that plantar fasciitis is really bothering him. Kemba Walker and the rest
of the team must do an even better job.
8)
Dallas Mavericks
-
Thought: Great win in San Antonio but home
games do not equal guaranteed wins. Dallas understands this better than anyone
else. They had an 8-game home stand close to the end of the year and only went
4-4 (could’ve gone at least 6-2, maybe 7-1). They also know that San Antonio is
a GREAT road team (30-11) & that too many times they give up big leads.
-
Best Player (so far): Devin Harris. Everyone except him
had a bad Game 1 and in Game 2 there was no drop off from him. The man has
turned back the clock. He’s controlling the pace, and distributing the ball
well (5 apg) especially for the 2nd unit. It’ll take a complete team
effort to hold onto home-court in Games 3 and 4.
8)
Atlanta Hawks
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Thought: Like I said with the Bobcats, good
season. Great job with stealing Game 1. They now have Indiana’s full attention.
They just don’t have enough firepower offensively to compete. They can shoot
but as far as getting someone to consistently score, other than Jeff Teague and
Paul Millsap, there’s no one else. I’ll be surprised if they take Indiana to 6
games.
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Best Player (so far): Teague. He had a field day in Game
1 (28 pts.) and the 1st half of Game 2 (finished with 14 total). But
once the Pacers lock-in defensively, there’s almost nothing else you can do. If
the Pacers fall asleep again, Teague can easily pick Indiana apart.
Thanks
for reading. Twitter: @the_rANT_
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