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NBA Playoffs – Game 4 Predictions (Pacers vs Hawks, Thunder vs Grizzlies)
The weekend means more NBA playoffs, and a shift away from the alignment we had between games. Two favorites enter game 4 surprisingly trailing against teams previously thought of as weaker: The Indiana Pacers playing against the Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder facing off vs the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Brooklyn Nets – Free Throws Make All the Difference
After the game some Toronto Raptors players tried to make it seem like the Brooklyn Nets won thanks bad calls from the officials, but the visitors had their chances – they simply blew them, helping the Nets come away with the 102-98 win, taking a 2-1 lead in series.
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NBA Playoffs – Game 3 Predictions (Rockets vs Trail Blazers, Bulls vs Wizards, Raptors vs Nets)
The NBA Playoffs continue with two series that have the higher seed in big trouble: The Houston Rockets playing against the Portland Trail Blazers and the Chicago Bulls facing the Washington Wizards in game 3, both down by two games to nothing. In a 1-1 series, the Toronto Raptors hit the road as the face off with the Brooklyn Nets.
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Los Angeles Clippers – Back in the Driver’s Seat
It seems like keeping Blake Griffin out of foul trouble means the world for the Los Angeles Clippers, led by their star power forward to a rare road playoff victory, beating the Golden State Warriors 98-96 despite a late surge in the final quarter with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson finally finding their stroke from beyond the arc, but not enough to deny the Clippers taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
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NBA Playoffs – Brooklyn Nets Shouldn’t Focus on Masai Ujiri
Counting on your fans to do the job for you is always a bad premise in the playoffs, and putting too much emphasis on the reaction Masai Ujiri will create in the arena after his f@#$ Brooklyn moments from last weekend is the wrong way for the Brooklyn Nets to be preparing themselves for game 3 against the Toronto Raptors.
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NBA Playoffs – Chicago Bulls Not Out For the Count
A championship team? How about a team about to lose a first round series with home court advantage for the second time in three seasons. The Chicago Bulls looked like a team that can win the East due to the weakness of the perceived two favorites, but two close losses to the Washington Wizards have changed that notion in most people’s minds. But a team that relies on defense and effort, not on hot shooting or a certain player getting hot, can’t be counted out, when the talent gaps aren’t that big if they’re there at all.
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Houston Rockets – James Harden Not Letting Jeremy Lin Out of his Shadow
This is close to treading water, but sometimes it is frustrating to see how badly a team is coached, and the bullheadedness of some NBA coaches with other options just there next to them to use. Kevin McHale isn’t willing, or isn’t strong enough, to move James Harden off of his perch where he feels very comfortable, but is also playing very badly at the moment, and turning to Jeremy Lin out of the blue either isn’t going to happen or isn’t going to help.
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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.