-
Memphis Grizzlies – Making Kevin Durant Look Terrible When it Matters
It came down to defense, and there doesn’t seem to be any team that does it better at the moment than the Memphis Grizzlies, with Marc Gasol closing any lanes on their way to the rim, while Tony Allen simply did a perfect job on Kevin Durant during the fourth quarter and overtime, putting the Griz only one win away from reaching the conference final for the first time in franchise history.
-
Miami Heat & LeBron James Prove Something About Toughness & Defense
There’s always something LeBron James needs to prove, and into that battle he gladly drags along the rest of the Miami Heat with him. If anyone questioned his toughness, it’s over now. If anyone thought the Miami Heat can’t play defense that simply makes their rivals look like amateurs, that’s over as well, just like their […]
-
Kevin Durant Needs to be Better, But How Much More Can He Give
When you look at the transition offense the Oklahoma City Thunder had during the regular season, the best in the NBA, and what they’re trying to pull off now, you suddenly realize why Russell Westbrook is so important, despite his obvious shortcomings. Kevin Durant is trying to do everything for his team, but it doesn’t seem to be enough, and it’s not certain he has anything else to give.
-
LeBron James is Handling a Dirty Chicago Bulls Team the Best Way Possible
If you think LeBron James is a flopper, you’re wrong. He might be selling it in order to make the best of a situation in which the Chicago Bulls have decided the only way they’re getting something out of their series with the Miami Heat is by playing anti-basketball and the hell with everything else, but there’s not much else he can do.
-
San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili & Tony Parker Messed Up in the Clutch
It’s usually about the San Antonio Spurs being better than everyone when their big three are playing together, especially when they’re all healthy and ready to go. But in game 4 of the Western conference semifinals, the intensity and physicality of the game seemed to be a bit too much for Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, all disappointing as the team collapsed in the final 10 minutes of a game they had in their hands.
-
Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry Has Andrew Bogut to Thank For
So many heroes in a huge playoff win for the Golden State Warriors, you don’t know where to begin. Stephen Curry is the obvious choice, playing on his problematic ankle and having a huge second half. Andrew Bogut, making life a living hell for Tim Duncan when it mattered the most. Jarrett Jack who simply has no fear coming off the bench. And Harrison Barnes, who probably tried a little bit too much, but enjoyed one of his biggest games in his short NBA career.
-
New York Knicks – Mike Woodson & Carmelo Anthony Need to Come Up With Answers and Fast
Aside from an impressive run in the second game of the series, it keeps looking like the New York Knicks are being outplayed and bullied around in almost every moment of their conference semifinal series, with Mike Woodson doing too much tinkering when it comes to his lineups, while Carmelo Anthony is falling into all the categories his critics keep putting him in over the years, and in short simply playing terrible, selfish and failing basketball.
-
Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant Needs More From Serge Ibaka & Kevin Martin
It’s hard to point a finger on the one reason the Oklahoma City Thunder have been looking so bad on the court, regardless of who is missing. Reggie Jackson is doing a good job in the place of Russell Westbrook, but Kevin Durant needs more from what worked during the regular season – Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin, who have been disappointing, to say the least, the Western Conference Semifinals so far.
-
Indiana Pacers – Roy Hibbert Destroying Tyson Chandler in the Paint
In the most un-watchable playoff series in a very long time, seeing Roy Hibbert and in general the Indiana Pacers look so dominant physically is probably the only thing that keeps a lot of people going, but there’s no doubt that through all the ugliness it’s impressive to see a team so confident and so superior in almost every physical battle, getting a lot from Paul George and George Hill when it doesn’t come to offense.
-
Memphis Grizzlies – On Marc Gasol Being Clutch, MVP’ish and DPOY all at Once
The Memphis Grizzlies don’t have a scorer as good as Kevin Durant is, but Marc Gasol is good enough to lead the way and take the lead in the Western Conference Semifinals, getting it done on both ends of the floor while getting just enough offensive help from Mike Conley and Tony Allen to remain unbeaten at home in the 2013 playoffs.