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Jimmy Butler is Superhuman, Even Compared to LeBron James

There are quite a few heroes the Chicago Bulls can be proud of after shocking the NBA-viewing public and winning Game 1 against the Miami Heat – Joakim Noah by doing a little bit of everything, Nate Robinson for being once again huge in the fourth quarter despite the utter lack of faith in him from people outside the team. But it’s Jimmy Butler, for not getting a second of rest, and his incredible defense on LeBron James, that deserves more praise than anyone else.
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Chicago Bulls Winning Game 1 Wasn’t Something Anyone Expected

Rust, fatigue or too much rest. Those are the usual excuses when a better team, the Miami Heat, coming off a first round sweep, falls at home against the Chicago Bulls, missing too many players to be taken too seriously, but comes away with a shocking win to open their conference semifinals series, thanks to nothing short of a heroic performance from Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah, Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli.
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Chris Paul & Dwight Howard Present – The LA Exodus

There are more than just two players heading into free agency in 2013, but only two are what really interests most of the NBA. Dwight Howard didn’t enjoy his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, while Chris Paul was disappointed with how this season ended for the Los Angeles Clippers. Both of them might end up playing for someone else when the summer is over.
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New York Knicks – Why They Won’t Win Their Series With the Indiana Pacers

The New York Knicks are doomed. Losing in Game 1, at home, to the Indiana Series means they have no chance to come back and claim the conference semifinal series. It doesn’t have anything to do with field goal percentage, Carmelo Anthony shooting, offensive rebounding or scoring in the paint. History paints a much simpler picture – the Knicks get knocked out whenever they lose Game 1 at home.
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NBA Playoffs – Spurs vs Warriors Semifinals Predictions

Hoping that their two wins over the San Antonio Spurs during the regular season mean it’s an equal playing field, the Golden State Warriors enter their first semifinals series in six years as the lowest seed remaining in the playoffs, basing their faith and excitement on the incredible shooting Stephen Curry has delivered so far, infecting the rest of his teammates in the belief this is a special season.
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NBA Playoffs – Heat vs Bulls Semifinals Series Predictions

Is there a chance for the Chicago Bulls, with so many injured players and coming off an exhausting first round series to pull off the upset? The fact that the Miami Heat struggled against them through the regular season might prove to be the only thing that keeps them going, but eventually, it’s going to be very hard even imagining them making it through a best-of-seven series against LeBron James and a very well rested bunch of NBA champions.
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Kevin Durant Needs Kevin Martin to Stun the Memphis Grizzlies

Without Russell Westbrook, it seemed like the Oklahoma City Thunder were doomed. But Kevin Durant just happens to be one of the most unstoppable players in the NBA, even when he’s on his own. Kevin Martin remembered he used to be a big time scorer, and over the last two games has carried the Thunder along with Durant, helping set up the ground for the fourth quarter turnaround and snatching game 1 away from the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Paul George Makes Life Nearly Impossible for Carmelo Anthony

The Indiana Pacers proved to be difficult for the New York Knicks during the regular season, and the opening game of their semifinals series proved to be no different. Paul George guards Carmelo Anthony better than anyone has this season, not only making him miss a lot, but doesn’t send him to the free throw line while doing it. It took a lot out of him on offense, but there was David West and others to pick up the slack.
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James Harden & Kevin McHale Ruined it for Jeremy Lin & the Houston Rockets

There was only one game in the six games the Houston Rockets managed to drag out of the Oklahoma City Thunder in which James Harden had an impressive night. One of the biggest superstars in the NBA, but a head coach that doesn’t know how to limit him and make the most of him, while their once chance of playing the kind of basketball an injured Thunder team wouldn’t be able to handle, Jeremy Lin, got injured and made things worse by trying to play instead of watching from the side.
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NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals – Pacers vs Knicks Series Preview

In what was probably the ugliest series so far in the 2013 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks came out as winners thanks to Tyson Chandler in the paint, and Carmelo Anthony not ruining things too much for his teams. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers have shown that they might finally be over their road problems, and have the ability to play a little bit more “easy on the eyes” than they have for most of the season.