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Charlotte Bobcats – It’s Been a While
After four terrible years the Charlotte Bobcats have made the NBA playoffs, clinching the spot with a 96-94 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, barely hanging on with Kyrie Irving storming through their defense for most of the game, but getting just about enough from Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson.
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Houston Rockets – James Harden Doing What Jeremy Lin Can’t
The Houston Rockets finally beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, as James Harden outscored Kevin Durant in an interesting individual duel that was simply about making more shots and not playing better basketball. In the 111-107 win, Jeremy Lin failed to stand out in another so-so game from the point guard who wants to play like one, but also isn’t making the most of the opportunity given to him in the starting lineup.
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Indiana Pacers – Problems That Won’t Go Away
One rough over a bad Eastern conference team made the Indiana Pacers feel like their slump is over. Then came another bad offensive display while the Toronto Raptors got in their way and once again exposed the problems that are holding back the would-be NBA champions, beating them 102-94.
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Miami Heat – Trouble in a Former Paradise
No matter how you try and spin, the Miami Heat look like an inferior bunch to the one from last season. Following their 122-121 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves which slightly falls on the shoulders of Mario Chalmers and his free throw misses they’re still leading the Eastern conference, but mostly because their rivals for that spot are in an even bigger slump.
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Yankees Over Blue Jays – We’ve Seen Better Debuts
The day didn’t start out too well for both the New York Yankees and their starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, but he settled in gradually, helping out on an excellent offensive display mostly from Ichiro Suzuki and Jacoby Ellsbury, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3.
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Houston Rockets – Jeremy Lin & James Harden Pulling in Different Directions
It has been proven over the two seasons in which James Harden and Jeremy Lin have been teammates that there are rare moments the two can co-exist on the floor and bring out the best in each other, but most of the time it’s more like a one way street. The question is – what’s best for the Houston Rockets?
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A’s Over Mariners – The Magic of a Walk Off Home Run
The Oakland A’s happen to be the first team to beat the Seattle Mariners this season thanks to a Coco Crisp walk-off home run in the 12th inning to claim the 3-2 win in a game with two big review moments, including the homer itself.
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Dallas Mavericks – Playoffs Not Getting Away
For the Dallas Mavericks, no slip up is affordable in the race to make the Western conference playoffs and they took a big step towards it with a 113-107 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, led by Dirk Nowitzki in an excellent performance, while their opponents find it difficult to keep players healthy, be it luck or something completely different.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Stopping the Streak
The Oklahoma City Thunder complete a season sweep of the San Antonio Spurs with a 106-94 win that also ends a 19-game winning streak, but despite some great defense and an aggressive night on offense from both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, it probably won’t be enough to win the top seed in the Western conference.
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Yankees Over Astros – Avoiding the Sweep
After two losses to start off the season, the New York Yankees needed something good to take away from their series with the Houston Astros, coming away with the 4-2 win thanks to finally seeing Derek Jeter provide something positive with his bad and rookie Yangervis Solarte providing the finishing and winning touch.