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Houston Rockets – Jeremy Lin is Out But James Harden & Omer Asik are Thriving
No Jeremy Lin, where are thou coming from the Houston Rockets, making the most of their rivals missing their second best player and using quite unintelligent tactics to try and make up for it. Meanwhile, James Harden finally played the kind of game he’s supposed to, while Omer Asik made the most of being the focus of intentional fouls in an attempt to send him to the line.
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Indiana Pacers – There’s No Place Like Home
In a series with all five games decided in favor of the home team by quite a distance, game 5 was no different for the Indiana Pacers, finally getting what they need from David West, while Paul George focused on doing the right thing instead of trying to score, regardless of the situation.
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Boston Celtics – Kevin Garnett Isn’t Willing to Let it End
With voices around him telling him a loss means the end to his NBA career, Kevin Garnett comes out and pulls off his best game in over a month and helps the old and almost forgotten Boston Celtics, led by Jeff Green instead of Paul Pierce, creep a little bit closer into what might become a huge upset.
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NBA Rumors – Kevin Garnett Might Retire When Boston Celtics Are Knocked Out of the NBA Playoffs
This seems to be one of those things that comes up once in a while, with everyone thinking it, except for the player himself. Kevin Garnett can only think about trying to keep the Boston Celtics alive for one more game in the playoffs, while everyone else, considering his age, injuries and his declining production, are considering his upcoming retirement.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Zach Randolph Completes Destruction of Blake Griffin
If it wasn’t for Zach Randolph switching gears after the first two games in the series, maybe Blake Griffin wouldn’t be injured right now. But the Memphis Grizzlies forward wasn’t about to find himself out of the playoffs in the first round for a second year in a row, simply steamrolling and bulldozing the competition to make it three wins in a row as his team has taken over the series.
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Denver Nuggets – Beating Up Stephen Curry Is OK in the Playoffs
It was always going to take a return to an ultra physical and athletics style of basketball for the Denver Nuggets to ensure they find themselves back in the series. Facing elimination, at home, they simply went to work on Stephen Curry from the get go, while Andre Iguodala, along with an improving Kenneth Faried, put on their best performance of the postseason so far to live and fight another day.
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Miami Heat Can’t Lose With Chris Andersen Playing
There’s a good chance that Chris Andersen is the most underpaid player in the NBA, solely due to the fact that since signing with the Miami Heat in the middle of the 2012-2013 season, they’ve hardly been losing, especially when the Birdman is getting more than just negligible playing time.
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Houston Rockets – Jeremy Lin & James Harden Forgotten by Chandler Parsons
With no Jeremy Lin, the stage was set for James Harden to do whatever he wants, only to be thwarted again and again by a prepared Oklahoma City Thunder defense. Luckily for the Houston Rockets, there’s a bit more to them, especially coming from Chandler Parsons in a huge performance, and some big plays from less involved players like Carlos Delfino, including one huge and shocking dunk over Kevin Durant.
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Atlanta Hawks – Josh Smith All Over the Place
It could have been the final home game that Josh Smith played in Atlanta Hawks uniform, but despite the bleak chances of staying with his current NBA teams, he wasn’t going to let it get in the way of keeping their playoff chances alive and putting up his best game of the series so far, hoping he and his teammates can duplicate this ability on the road.
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Brooklyn Nets – Brook Lopez Keeps the Season Alive
Unlike the rest of his teammates, Brook Lopez has been a symbol of offensive consistency for the Brooklyn Nets, looking better and more dangerous with each game that passes in the first round series. His best game so far kept his team in the playoffs, although they’ll need more than just him to make it into the semifinals.