Surviving "Paradise"

The Boston Celtics, facing elimination in game four at home in “the Garden”, avoided elimination this afternoon with a 97 – 90 victory over the NY Knicks in OT.  The Celtics blew a 20 point lead and saw the Knicks pull close and then take the lead and then see saw back and forth, with a tie at the end of regulation.  In OT, Jason Terry (the Jet) and Iman Shumpert (former GT star!) came up big for the Celtics and the Knicks respectively.  Ultimately, it was Terry and the Celtics who prevailed, with Terry scoring nine points in OT.  Carmelo Anthony finished with 36 points for the Knicks.  So the Celtics live to play Game 5, Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Meanwhile, the Heat and Milwaukee are underway and the Heat lead 24 – 17 early in the 2nd period.  I expect Miami to win the game and take the sweep in this series.  We shall see…

Last evening, the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Pacers at home in the ATL, 90 – 69.  They now trail in the  series 1 -2 and will get to take another shot at Indiana on their home floor with hopes of evening the series and heading back to Indiana.

OKC survived in a thrilling game in Houston, wining 104 – 101 to take a commanding 3 – 0 lead.  Houston came back from a 26 point deficit to make it one heck of a game, but OKC held on and got the win without Westbrook (out for the rest of the playoffs).

Tonight at 7:00pm EST, I am preparing for my heart to break as the Lakers host the Spurs in Game 4 from the Staples Center.  As much as I would love to see the Lakers pull off a miracle, I just don’t see enough healthy players left on this team to win tonight.  A sweep in round one of the playoffs….for a team that began the year with such high hope and expectation…Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol. Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Metta World Peace…it is going to break my heart!

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WOW, what a game!  The Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets put on a show today!  Chicago finally prevailed in 3OT, 142- 134.  They now lead the series 3 -1.  Some truly outstanding performances in this game.  Nate Robinson off the bench, 34 points. fouling out with under a minute in the second OT.  Joe Johnson hit shot after shot, sending the game to yet another OT.  (Why again did the Atlanta Hawks trade him?)  I thought this was the game that would never end.  I wanted to watch a rerun of Under the Tuscan Sun, but how could I turn this off?  Then I needed to eat, so I went to the closest place I knew where the game would be on and had a delicious but very unhealthy meal of mac and cheese with bacon.  I blame it you guys, Bulls and Nets!  Anyhow, one of the best playoff games so far this year for sure, perhaps in awhile!

In the other “afternoon” game, the Memphis Grizzlies evened the series with the LA Clippers at 2-2 with a dominating 104 – 83 victory.  Oh, if only the other team in LA was doing well….

The Pacers are playing the Hawks as we speak, Hawks up 24 – 14 at end of 1st period.  GO ATLANTA!  Hawks trail series 0 -2.  Later tonight, OKC and Houston, OKC without Russell Westbrook.  He is out for the rest of the playoffs.  OKC currently leads series 2 -0.

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Two storied NBA franchises, the Boston Celtics and and the LA Lakers, both stand on the doorstep of elimination from the first round of the playoffs!  Very Sad!  The Celtics, well, they are just old, and missing their point guard and play maker Rajon Rondo.  The Lakers, well as I have said in an earlier post, what do you do about a problem that is the Lakers?  First of all, they are missing their superstar, Kobe Bryant, who literally put them on his back and carried them to the finish line to get into the playoffs before going down with an Achilles tear.  Then, World Peace, well he has to have piles of fluid drained from his surgically repaired knee before every game, just to try and play.  Steve Nash is out, hip and other ailments.  Steve Blake, filling in admirably at guard, but still, when you have to mention this, it kind of says it all, is out with a hamstring injury.  Jodie Meeks, out with ankle injury.  Now, World Peace will likely miss game 4 on Sunday at the Staples Center.  Both teams will face elimination in their home arenas before their adoring fans on Sunday.  The Celtics fell to the NY Knicks last night, 90 – 76.  Call me crazy, but look for the Knicks to make some noise in the East.  The Lakers, well it was just so painful to watch, it is almost too difficult to write about.  Led by Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris along with Gasol, Howard and World Peace (trying to play inspite of his injury), the Lakers were embarrassed at home, suffering their worst playoff loss ever in the Staples Center, 120 – 89.  Now, credit Goudelock, he gave it his all, scoring 20 points and Morris added 24 points.  Howard had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Gasol had a triple double (his first in a playoff game), 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.  The result, a 31 point loss!  Credit the great Tim Duncan of the Spurs, 26 points, 9 rebounds, and point guard extraordinaire Tony Parker, 20 points and 7 assists for sure.  But who in the heck do the Lakers have to put on the floor to play one of the best teams in the NBA?  Kobe was in the house, but not on the bench in a suit along with Nash and Blake.  This is just very sad, especially since I love LA.  Oh well, Sunday will be here before we know it, so stay tuned…

Elsewhere, Golden State edged Denver, 110 – 108 with superb performances in the game from Stephen Curry and Jarrett Jack (former GT star, GO JACKETS!).

Important to note, with Russell Westbrook out due to injury for OKC, can the Spurs perhaps make a run at the Western Conference title?  I would have to say yes, but I still think OKC matches up better against the Heat, provided they can get by the Knicks should they meet for the Eastern Conference title.

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Help!  I am afraid the Lakers have fallen and cannot get up!  Bad enough no Kobe Bryant.  Now, Steve Blake, doing a great job filling in and starting at guard is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury.  This is in addition to both Nash (hip) and Jodie Meeks (sprained ankle) being doubtful for tonight’s game against the Spurs in the Staples Center.  Spurs lead series 2 -0, but I really felt the Lakers could make a series of it, even without superstar Kobe.  Winning at home is essential in the playoffs and I thought the Lakers could pull it off, until they all began to fall down!  So, I guess we will find out tonight at 10:30 pm EST live from LA.

Elsewhere, bad news for the OKC Thunder.  Star point guard Russell Westbrook had surgery to repair a knee injury sustained in the game Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets.  He continued to play in that game but his return is now listed as “unknown”.  Did things get more interesting in that series?  OKC leads 2 -0 at this point.  Also, Westbrook has never missed a game in his career, until this next playoff game.

Last night’s action saw Memphis defeat the Clippers, 94 – 82, series 2-1 in favor of the Clippers.  Chicago edged the Nets, 79 – 78 and have now taken an 2-1 lead in that one.  Finally, Miami defeated the Bucks, 104 – 91 and hold a 3-0 advantage.  Anyone feeling a sweep?  Time to get out the brooms on that one?  Well, Dwayne Wade will have his knee evaluated today so he is “questionable” for the next game.  Expect him to play.

In addition to the Spurs – Lakers game from the Staples Center, tonight’s action will also include NY Knicks at Boston (Knicks lead series 2- 0) and Golden State hosting Denver (series tied at 1 -1).

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OK, Wednesday night NBA playoff results are in the book.  The Hawks fell to the Pacers (with a thud), 113 – 98 and the Pacers take a 2-0 lead in series with it now headed to the ATL.  In the most exciting game of the evening, OKC survived the Houston Rockets at home, 105 – 102.  Couple of controversial calls or should I say “no calls” in that game.  And then my LA Lakers fell to the Spurs in San Antonio, 102 – 91.  The Lakers shot much better, unfortunately, so did the Spurs.  Tony Parker scored 28 points with 7 assists and carried the Spurs to victory in the second half.  Dwight Howard and Steve Blake had 16 points for LA, Gasol and World Peach added 13 points.  So now we head back to the Staples Center.  Expect the Lakers to take a home game on Friday night!!

Thursday night action: Nets at Bulls (series 1-1), Heat at Bucks (Heat lead series 2-0), and Clippers at Memphis, Clippers hold 2-0 lead in this series.

Stay tuned…just getting started!

Update:  “Enjoying” a lobster taco, and what do my wondering eyes see but a scroll across the bottom of the TV screen on ESPN.  Steve Blake (Lakers) out indefinitely, hamstring injury.  Steve Nash (hip) and Jodie Meeks (ankle) doubtful for Friday night game in the Staples Center?  Oh my!  We all knew Steve Nash was not 100 %, but doubtful for Friday night?  OK, somehow, someway, the Lakers win  a game in this series at the Staples Center.  Why, oh why, did Kobe have to go down?

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OK, Wednesday night NBA playoff results are in the book.  The Hawks fell to the Pacers (with a thud), 113 – 98 and the Pacers take a 2-0 lead in series with it now headed to the ATL.  In the most exciting game of the evening, OKC survived the Houston Rockets at home, 105 – 102.  Couple of controversial calls or should I say “no calls” in that game.  And then my LA Lakers fell to the Spurs in San Antonio, 102 – 91.  The Lakers shot much better, unfortunately, so did the Spurs.  Tony Parker scored 28 points with 7 assists and carried the Spurs to victory in the second half.  Dwight Howard and Steve Blake had 16 points for LA, Gasol and World Peach added 13 points.  So now we head back to the Staples Center.  Expect the Lakers to take a home game on Friday night!!

Thursday night action: Nets at Bulls (series 1-1), Heat at Bucks (Heat lead series 2-0), and Clippers at Memphis, Clippers hold 2-0 lead in this series.

Stay tuned…just getting started!

Update:  “Enjoying” a lobster taco, and what do my wondering eyes see but a scroll across the bottom of the TV screen on ESPN.  Steve Blake (Lakers) out indefinitely, hamstring injury.  Steve Nash (hip) and Jodie Meeks (ankle) doubtful for Friday night game in the Staples Center?  Oh my!  We all knew Steve Nash was not 100 %, but doubtful for Friday night?  OK, somehow, someway, the Lakers win  a game in this series at the Staples Center.  Why, oh why, did Kobe have to go down?

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