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Atlanta Hawks – Al Horford Being a Monster for Once
The Atlanta Hawks needed to answer with physicality after being bullied and beaten through the first couple of games in the series. Maybe it’s a little bit too late, but at least they showed it’s possibly with Al Horford at his best and Josh Smith attacking the basket often and early to get themselves their first win in the 2013 NBA postseason.
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Chicago Bulls – Surviving the Best NBA Game of the Season
No one thought the Chicago Bulls can play this kind of offense, but with Nate Robinson doing his best Michael Jordan impersonation, double digit fourth quarter comebacks aren’t that much of an obscene word, and neither is advancing in the postseason to the conference semifinals, now only one win away thanks to some impressive heroics and shooting in a triple overtime game.
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Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry Doesn’t Mind Banged Up Ankles
Maybe instead of becoming one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, we’ll remember Stephen Curry as a player that couldn’t beat the injuries that plagued him and specifically his ankle. But for now, in 2013, he’s strong enough to beat and overcome these hurdles to put the Golden State Warriors in a position no one thought they’d be this deep into the season.
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San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan & Tony Parker Too Good for the Most Overrated NBA Team
The 2013 NBA Playoffs are split into two kinds of series – those that will be ending in sweeps, and the tight ones. The San Antonio Spurs are too good of a team this season, with Tim Duncan playing like a much younger man, and Tony Parker doing much better in terms of his health, to be the kind that gets itself mixed up in a troubling series.
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New York Knicks – Carmelo Anthony Humiliating Rivals En Route to a Sweep
The New York Knicks don’t remember what it’s like to be in a postseason series and have their way with a much weaker rival, as Carmelo Anthony can’t seem to stop scoring while Raymond Felton makes the most of not having a single point guard on the other side of the ball to oppose him and challenge him.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Zach Randolph Finally Shows Up
For the Memphis Grizzlies, this season has been about turning away from offensive individual strengths and basing their entire philosophy on one of the best defenses in the NBA. In order to get out of the hole they’re in right now, they needed someone to finally step up, and Zach Randolph, who is capable of putting up big numbers when given the chance and the balls, stepped up in what might a defining moment in this series.
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Chicago Bulls, Don’t Need Scoring to Succeed
If the games in this series continue to be like this, the Chicago Bulls don’t really need to worry. Despite only 14 points in the fourth quarter and less than 40% from the field, there was just about enough offense from Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng to give them the edge, while the defense of Joakim Noah, Jimmy Butler and even Nazr Mohammed held things together to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
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Miami Heat – Ray Allen Superior to LeBron James for Once
While Dwyane Wade was having one of his worst performances ever, and LeBron James was having just an ordinary day, it was Ray Allen who stole the spotlight with more than just setting the NBA career playoff record for 3-pointers, but actually player better than anyone on the Miami Heat as the favorites to retain the NBA title took a 3-0 lead in their first round series.
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Celtics vs Knicks – Game 2 Predictions
If the Boston Celtics are going to make this series turn into a different direction than the one it’s heading in now, they’re going to need their entire team, from top to bottom, starters and bench, to show up for Game 2, with the New York Knicks knowing they played far from their best and still got away with a not too difficult win.
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Bulls vs Nets – Joakim Noah and Ugly Basketball Make the Difference
The only way the Chicago Bulls are going to win against anyone in the postseason is by playing their kind of basketball – which means clawing, scratching, hustling, fighting and doing everything that’s not considered a measurable attribute in the sport. With Joakim Noah getting more minutes this time, their brand of basketball was managed to steal home court in game 2.