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Grizzlies Over Thunder – Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook Playing the Wrong Way
The playoffs are different from the regular season, and not everything that worked then has the same impact now. The Memphis Grizzlies are forcing to Oklahoma City Thunder to try and win by giving Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook the ball while the rest stand around and watch. The result? Grizzlies win game 3 98-95, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
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Hawks Over Pacers – Roy Hibbert Isn’t Alone
Too many are trying to make all of the Indiana Pacers problems about Roy Hibbert playing badly, but head coach Frank Vogel and selfish players like Paul George and Lance Stephenson should be blamed as well. The Atlanta Hawks, with some great basketball from Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap and a red hot Kyle Korver, have taken a 2-1 lead in the series following their 98-85 win in game 3.
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NBA Playoffs – Game 3 Predictions (Clippers vs Warriors, Thunder vs Grizzlies, Pacers vs Hawks)
Moving on to games 3 in the NBA playoffs with three series tied at 1-1: The Los Angeles Clippers taking their momentum to play in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors, the Indiana Pacers doing the same while travelling to play the Atlanta Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies, coming off a big win, hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Mavericks Over Spurs – A Blowout No One Expected
Even the Dallas Mavericks, feeling very confident going into game 2 after letting a lead slip away from them in the series opener, didn’t expect to look so good and beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-92 to make it an even 1-1 behind big offensive nights from Shawn Marion and Monta Ellis, but more than anything the defensive adjustments from Rick Carlisle.
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Houston Rockets – James Harden Getting Worse, Jeremy Lin Made Redundant
Smart teams, with a good head coach, make adjustments between and during games when things don’t work. Kevin McHale simply isn’t in that category. Otherwise he wouldn’t allow James Harden to do the things he does as the Houston Rockets lose (112-105) to the Portland Trail Blazers for a second time in the postseason, while allowing his defense to become irrelevant, almost like he’s done to Jeremy Lin.
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Miami Heat – It’s Not Getting Easier
This isn’t last year. The Miami Heat are fighting and scraping through every game to get their wins, which means big nights from LeBron James and this time Chris Bosh to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 101-97, taking a 2-0 lead in the series, helped out by Al Jefferson playing with an injury that’s really limiting him.
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Houston Rockets – Kevin McHale, Not Jeremy Lin or James Harden, is What Matters
To every issue the Houston Rockets have – from James Harden hogging the ball at the wrong time, to Jeremy Lin being underused; and Dwight Howard being underused; to Patrick Beverley risking his NBA future; and a team defense that is embarrassing to watch sometimes. Players should be blamed for mistakes they make, but when there are so many on a talented and better than what we’re getting from them team, the fingers should be pointed at the head coach, Kevin McHale.
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NBA Playoffs – Game 2 Predictions (Mavericks vs Spurs, Blazers vs Rockets, Bobcats vs Heat)
The NBA playoffs continue with game 2 as the NBA finalists from last season try and continue their home domination while a possible contender tries to come back from losing the first one by surprise: The San Antonio Spurs hosting the Dallas Mavericks, the Houston Rockets playing the Portland Trail Blazers and the Miami Heat facing off against the Charlotte Bobcats.
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Raptors Over Nets – A Change of Pace
So much praise coming to the Brooklyn Nets after the opening game for their defense, but the Toronto Raptors showed that maybe it was a bit too soon for that, making it an even 1-1 in the series after a huge fourth quarter from the struggling DeMar DeRozan, leading his team in front of a frantic crowd to a 100-95 win.
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Wizards Over Bulls – A Sweep in the Making
The coaching staff for the Washington Wizards did an excellent job of scouting and analyzing the ways to beat the Chicago Bulls, coming up with a 101-99 win in overtime which wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for Bradley Beal igniting in the fourth quarter with no one able to stop him, while Kirk Hinrich missed two free throws at the end of the game that could have given us a little bit more basketball instead of sending his team into a 2-0 hole.