Decision Time for Nash

The NBA free agency frenzy begins on July 1^st.  Veteran point guard and two time league MVP, Steve Nash, is the most intriguing name that could possibly be on the move.  

As a free agent during the summer of 2004, Nash wasted no time in departing from the Dallas Mavericks to the Phoenix Suns.  Nash has spent the last eight seasons with the Suns. He enjoyed three Western Conference Finals appearances and two 60 plus game winning seasons.  However, despite all of the success in Phoenix, Nash and the Suns fell short of winning a championship. 

At age 38, Nash averaged 10.7 assist per game last season; finishing only second behind Boston Celtics point guard, Rajon Rondo.  He has stated that he wants to play at least three more years and after his performance this past season, he has earned that right.

Here is where it gets interesting with Nash.  Will he select a team solely based on the opportunity to win a championship or will he go to a club that has young talented players and can offer him a lot more money over the next three seasons?

The championship contenders that have shown interest in Nash’s services at point guard are the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, and the New York Knicks.  The Mavericks and Heat are legit title contenders heading into the 2012-2013 season.  The Knicks have work to do, but the addition of Nash could vault them up to becoming a championship challenger.

The possibility of winning a championship won’t be the only thing Nash considers when choosing his next team.  In a recent interview with ESPN's, Marc Stein, Nash seems to be approaching this situation with transparency; "It's just a different free agency for me and I have to be open-minded to everything." 

It appears that money will be a major factor in Nash’s decision going forward; as it was in 2004.

Teams that have young talent and can offer Nash plenty of money are the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers.  Out of these two teams, the Blazers make the most sense; a.) they could use a proven point guard to help mentor their newest draft pick, Damian Lillard, b.) They have the cap space to make him an enticing offer, c.) Portland is the closest city in the league to his hometown of Vancouver and d.) with the addition of Nash, the Blazers could become a legit championship contender in the next two years.

The Raptors can offer money as well and bring Nash home to his home country of Canada, but they will be competing for playoff spots and not a championship over his three year contract there.

Staying in Phoenix is another possible scenario, but very unlikely to happen.  Nash has made it clear that if the Suns don’t add star pieces around him, then he will be gone come July.  Plus, Nash just isn’t feeling the love from the Suns anymore.  He told ESPN’s, Marc Stein, in the same interview, "I don't necessarily feel like they're determined to keep me. I think there's a lot of factors. So, one, I'm not sure they're determined to keep me, (and) two, there's other opportunities that are exciting.”  Nash did go on to say that he wants to play somewhere where he can be happy.  Clearly, Phoenix might not be that place anymore for him.

Look for Nash to make a quick decision early in free agency.  No matter what he decides to do, the choice he makes will be what he feels is the most right for him.   

Highlights From the Lottery

The 2012 NBA Draft is a wrap.  Who won and who dropped the ball?  Well, it’s way too early to know exactly how each team did last night and we won’t know until these guys start playing real games.  What we do know, is that no major trades went down the entire night. 

Dwight Howard didn’t end up in Houston and the Bobcats stood firm at No. 2.  The Wizards got who they wanted in Florida guard, Bradley Beal, and can start right away alongside point guard John Wall. The Cavaliers did the same by drafting Syracuse guard, Dion Waiters, who some feel was the most “NBA ready” player in last night’s draft. 

No surprise at NO. 1.  The Hornets selected Anthony Davis who was followed by Kentucky teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the Bobcats nabbed with the second pick. 

The Sacramento Kings got exactly who they wanted at NO. 5.  The Kings had reportedly been in trade talks, trying desperately to move up, in hopes to potentially land Kansas “big man,” Thomas Robinson.  They didn’t have to move an inch however.  Robinson was there, waiting to be taken with the fifth pick.  The 6’9”/237lb Robinson will be a force playing in the post with Kings center, DeMarcus Cousins.

Last season, as a junior at Kansas, Robinson averaged 17.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game.  He racked up 42 steals total, showing he has a knack for forcing turnovers.  His numbers indicate that he’s not a shot blocker, but his size and defensive mindset demonstrate that he has the talent to improve that skill at the next level. The numbers that do stand out however, are his ability to score and rebound.

Robinson’s most telling stats came against Big 12 power-houses; Baylor, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. He averaged 21.1 points and 12 rebounds per game in nine meetings against those conference foes.  This is telling because he put up his best numbers against teams that are most familiar with him.

In his first match-up against Anthony Davis and Kentucky in Hawaii, Robinson dropped in 11 points and pulled in 12 rebounds, a double-double none-the-less, but he later proved to be a more polished player come national championship time.  Robinson stepped up with 18 points and 17 rebounds against Kentucky on college basketball’s biggest stage.  Despite the loss in the championship, Robinson led Kansas to a 32-7 record and indeed led his squad in scoring and rebounds through 39 games.

The Portland Trail Blazers filled huge voids in the draft.  They got a solid point guard in Damian Lillard out of

Weber St.

and a guy that will fit in nicely in Rip City.  Portland also helped out their lack of depth in the post by adding Illinois center, Meyers Leonard.  Leonard weighs in at 7’1”/250 and will be a major asset for All-Star forward, LeMarcus Aldridge. 

The Golden State Warriors got another scorer and a really good small forward in Harrison Barnes from UNC.  Barnes solidifies that line-up and can be a starter right away for Golden State.

Barnes was rated as the third best player in most mock drafts and the Warriors got him at 7.  He averaged 16.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in two full seasons at UNC.  People around the league are saying that Barnes could be a better pro than college player.  A scary thought, considering his ability to grow as a scorer. 

Let's not forget who the Hornet's took at 10.  The Hornets got a very talented player in Duke guard, Austin Rivers.  Many believe that Rivers can play in the backcourt with guard Eric Gordon (if he resigns) as a true point guard.  Comparisons to Nets point guard Deron Williams have been made.  Williams, like Rivers, was not considered to be a true point coming out of college.  His size and ability to score has made Williams an All-Star point guard in the NBA.  Rivers has a lot of those same attributes.  He's 6'5" can score and handle the ball.  Look for the Rivers/Gordon combo to be ruthless next season.

That completes the highlights from the lottery portion of the 2012 NBA Draft. 

Hamilton Quitting Way Out of June Slump

Josh Hamilton will not be getting an endorsement from "big tobacco" anytime soon.  In the midst of an atrocious hitting slump, Texas Rangers All-Star outfielder, Josh Hamilton is attempting to quit the dip.

According to a report from ESPN Dallas’, Richard Durrett, Hamilton has begun the process of trying to quit the art of dipping cold turkey…. well kind of.  Hamilton has resorted to using tea tree oil and menthol laced toothpicks as a means to help weaken his cravings.

Via ESPNDallas.com, “It was time to do it," Hamilton said. "It's a habit and I don't really enjoy it like I used to."

This is indeed a wise decision for Hamilton; but why now?  The Texas Rangers have been cruising through the regular season thus far.  They currently lead the American League West with a record of 45-29 (4 1/2 games ahead of the LA Angels) and lead the entire American League in runs scored with 388.  The Rangers are having a fantastic season and appear to be well on their way to their third consecutive playoff birth.

However, June has not been kind to Hamilton.  His season batting average is still an impressive .319, but he’s only hitting .194 this month.  He had two monster months prior in April (.395) and May (.344), so it’s safe to say that June is an insignificant bump in the road for Hamilton. 

Why quit dipping now though?  One would assume that in the middle of a long hot major league season, that quitting could wait until the offseason. Probably the case, but Hamilton has his motives and it looks like everything will continue to work out for him going forward.

His hitting issues will be resolved in the cage, but mentally quitting could help.  Maybe just maybe, thinking about quitting dipping, could serve as a mental distraction away from his swing that gets him back in the groove of dominating at the plate.      

No doubt this slump will pass and if dip is the only thing left behind along the way, then so be it.     

Upton Not Out

You don’t have to be a baseball aficionado to understand or even appreciate the talent of Arizona Diamondbacks out fielder, Justin Upton.  Last night in Arizona, the Diamondbacks picked up a solid victory over a struggling Chicago Cubs team, 10-5.  No doubt the Diamondbacks needed the win.  They currently sit in third place in the National League West at 36-35; trailing San Francisco and Los Angeles. 

However, last nights win could serve as a turning point for Arizona’s young All-Star.  Upton’s numbers are down this year, but there not horrible.  He’s currently batting .267 (career avg. is .276), slugging .394 (career avg. .478), and last night he hit his 7th homer of the season.  His on base percentage is right on target at .352; putting his overall OPS at .746 (his career OPS is .835). 

Again, not horrible numbers by any stretch, but still not on the level Diamondback fans want him to be on.

Upton went 2-2 with a walk in three at bats last night against the Cubs.  He homered to left center early then hit an RBI single to center field, giving the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead and plenty of momentum going forward.

Diamondbacks first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt had a slightly bigger night going 3-5 that included a home run and a triple, but Upton’s performance had more significance.   

Arizona’s announcers seemed pleased with Upton’s night.  Ever since he was drafted first overall in 2005, Upton has been an intriguing player to follow.  At age 24, he doesn’t get the media attention of a Matt Kemp or Bryce Harper; essentially because he plays in Phoenix and not in a major market like LA, DC, or New York.  The intriguing part is that Upton is okay with that.  He seems fine going about his business in Arizona and not soaking in all the attention, which a former number one overall draft pick in a larger market, would be. 

The NL West is suddenly a highly competitive division with the Dodgers freight training the division early and the Giants returning to their somewhat old form from 2010.  The Diamondbacks won this division last season and if they want to repeat as champions then they need Upton to take his game from an All-Star level to a Super-Star level.  

He clearly has the athleticism and overall potential to do so.  Maybe last night’s feat was a start.  Upton appears to be settled in now and his peers in Arizona should have taken notice in the victory.    

Finals: South Beach Shuffle

No one expected that kind of performance from the Miami Heat in game five, but we all knew it was possible.  When the new look Heat took shape in the summer of 2010, a future championship became inevitable.  LeBron James sat on a stage along side teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and began to rattle off the number of titles possible for the newly formed trio.  "Not one, not two, not three, not four....." and so on.  Now, more then ever, LeBron's bold statements from that summer seem like they could turn into a reality.

The Miami Heat closed out the Oklahoma City Thunder in fine fashion.  The final score read 121-106 in favor of Miami; giving the Heat a 4-1 Finals triumph that will surely be referenced for the rest of LeBron's career. 

Miami's role players finally showed up and by far delivered their most productive game this entire postseason.  Mario Chalmers had 10 points, Shane Battier scored 11, and Mike Miller was shooting from another planet dropping in 23 points while going 7-8 from three point land.  Throw in a cool 24 points from Chris Bosh and 20 points from Wade, and you have the Thunder simply falling into a death trap last night in Miami. 

The headline performance came from Miami's leader and three time MVP, LeBron James.  LeBron played one of the best games of his entire career and did so in a close out situation on basketball's biggest stage.  His triple-double consisted of 26 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds; he did everything in game five for his team.  James joins a small list: Tim Duncan, James Worthy, Larry Bird, and (twice)Magic Johnson, all legends who had triple-double performances in close out games of the NBA Finals.  James has something new in common with those guys now; an NBA Championship to call his own.

James can also add a Finals MVP to his resume.  He averaged 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in five Finals games.  By far the Heat's MVP all postseason long; he didn't let his team down in the Finals. 

The Thunder proved to be a worthy opponent.  Maybe some thought OKC could force a game six and perhaps a game seven back home, but credit Miami for protecting home court and closing any and all escape valves OKC was seeking.

OKC seemed shaken in the second half of game five, especially when Miami's crowd came alive late in the third, which was fueled by fast break dunks and big three pointers.  It felt at times as if Thunder forward Kevin Durant disappeared despite the fact that he lead all scorers with 32 points and 11 rebounds.  A brilliant night numbers wise for Durant, it was just overshadowed by Miami's spirited team play.

Durant was emotional following the loss and rightfully so.  He had a masterful season; winning the regular season scoring title and leading his team to the Finals.  He and his teammates wanted to be the ones celebrating with champagne and the trophy in the locker room.  Durant wanted to be the one hoisting up the "Bill Russell Finals MVP Award."  Instead, Durant lead a quiet walk back to the locker room to share a somber moment with his team. 

LeBron suffered two of these losses in the Finals before winning it all last night.  Game five in Miami was LeBron's stage and he relished every minute of it.  Durant's time will come one day, but he shouldn't take this experience for granted.  He should cherish it and remember how it feels to walk off the court empty handed.  Its not guaranteed that a he or any player will ever make it back to the Finals.  Like LeBron, Durant should let his disappointment fuel his drive to get back there sooner rather than later.

            (Trophy ceremony from last night.  LeBron wins Finals MVP and gets his ring. Via YouTube)

Finals: Not Over Yet

Time now to sit back, relax, and digest the NBA Finals.  Not quite yet.  The Miami Heat took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Thunder by winning game four 104-98.  Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, who has been the topic of most debates amongst NBA fans, put on a show last night.  Westbrook scored 43 points on 20-32 shooting, but his 40 plus point night wasn't good enough.  Heat point guard Mario Chalmers stole Westbrook's show by dropping in 25 points of his own, by far the most productive game Chalmers has had all postseason. 

LeBron James had yet another big night.  James finished one rebound shy of a triple-double going for 26 points (14th consecutive 25 plus point playoff game), 12 assists, and 9 rebounds.  The real headline for James came late in the fourth quarter.  James was apparently suffering from leg cramps and had to be carried off the court by two of his teammates with under six minutes to go in regulation.  He would check back in following a time out and hit quite possibly one of the biggest shots of his career. 

Game four was tied 94-94 with just under three minutes to play.  James limping and the shot clock running out, pulls up at the top of the key and nails a three pointer over Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha, to take a 97-94 lead late.  LeBron's clutch three served as the go-ahead basket for a Heat win.  Miami would not relinquish their advantage and would end up closing out the Thunder on their own terms. 

You got a sense last night during game four that the Miami Heat want this championship in a bad way.  LeBron is 0-2 in the Finals and hears about it everyday.  His teammates, especially Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh want this title not only for themselves, but for LeBron as well.  OKC is new on the scene.  Kevin Durant is only 23 years old, so the urgency to win a title might not have fully set in for the young Thunder.

That doesn't mean they're done though.  Immediately after the buzzer sounded in game four, Heat guard Dwyane Wade  held up one finger, signifying to the Miami crowd that their Heat were one single win away from a second championship in franchise history.

The Heat seemed relieved and almost a little too laid back following their crucial game four win.  The loss could be a potential back-breaker for the Thunder, but they have been here before.

The Thunder were as good as dead down 2-0 to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals; the series prior to this one with the Heat.  OKC rallied and rattled off four straight wins to best the Spurs 4-2 and advance to the NBA Finals.  No one was giving the Thunder much of a chance after they dropped games one and two against the Spurs.  They didn't listen to their critics and instead responded like champions with their backs against the wall.

That being said, a game five win for the Heat, won't be so easy.  OKC is very dangerous at home and they knew coming into Miami for games three, four, and five that all they needed was one win to regain home court advantage.  They still have an opportunity to obtain that one win on Thursday night.

Video of LeBron's clutch three over Sefolosha in game four of the NBA Finals.  (via YouTube)

Finals: Advantage LeBron

The Miami Heat came out swinging; sticking to their guns for game two of the NBA Finals.  The Heat sustained their energy for all 48 minutes, building momentum from the early onslaught they put on the Thunder.  OKC would make a late charge fueled by point guard Russell Westbrook and forward Kevin Durant, but LeBron James would seal the win with a clutch rebound and two clutch free throws late.  Miami forced OKC to drop a game at home 100-96 as the series shifts to South Beach tied 1-1. 

Games three, four, and five will be on the Heat's home floor.  The Finals transitions to a 2-3-2 format, which is different from the previous three rounds.  The loss last night for the Thunder gives James and the Heat a clear advantage moving forward.  If Miami can win at least 2 out of 3 home games, then they would take a series lead up 3-2 back to OKC for game six.  The Heat also have the opportunity to close the series out at home, if they can muster up three straight wins in front of their home town fans.

James and his sidekicks, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade put on a masterful performance in game two.  The Heat looked like a different team last night.  Their offense flowed and most of the scoring seemed effortless.  James lead his squad with 32 points (13th 30 plus game this postseason), 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Bosh and Wade combined for 40 points and 21 rebounds (Bosh grabbing 15).  Believe it or not a role player stepped up for Miami.  Forward Shane Battier contributed 17 points on 5-7 shooting from downtown. 

Even though Miami allowed OKC to make a run late; it was still a solid performance for the Heat.  They took their lumps from game one and came out in game two with a ferocious mentality that never permitted them to give up the lead.

Let's not forget about the Thunder.  Kevin Durant matched James with 32 points and Russell Westbrook continued to shoot (26 attempts), but still dropped in 27.  The first half was atrocious for Westbrook and the Thunder.  Magic Johnson on the ABC halftime show called it, "The worst half he had ever seen a point guard play in the playoffs," or something like that. 

However, OKC would bounce back early in the second half, fueled by the leagues sixth man of the year, James Harden.  Harden finished the night with 21 points, but his spirited play along side with Durant and Westbrook wasn't enough to foil the Heat.  Game three of the NBA Finals will air at 8PM ET Sunday night on ABC. 

___________

Time now to focus on Miami Heat star and three time league MVP, LeBron James.  For one reason or another people love to root against LeBron.  Not sure why we want to see a great player fail, but that is the case with LeBron. 

If it's because of "The Decsision," which aired in prime time back in the Summer of 2010, then it's not a good enough reason to hate him.  LeBron spent seven grueling seasons with a franchise that never gave him enough support.  The Cavaliers had the opportunity to keep James during the free agency frenzy of 2010, but failed to achieve what James needed; which was landing a star he could play along side with.

LeBron James did nothing wrong and in fact he owed us "The Decision."  Would we have been satisfied with James making it known that he was leaving Cleveland for South Beach on Twitter or through a well manicured press release, probably not.  The drama surrounding his decision was so hyped that he did the right thing by letting the world know together where his choice would land him.  Seven years in Cleveland was enough.  If the Cavaliers as an organization couldn't land a suitable sidekick for James or let alone keep one (Carlos Boozer) then they weren't ever going to do so. 

Perceived arrogance is another reason why most people dislike LeBron.  We ignore how un-selfish he is on the floor, and focus more on his off the court swag.  The fact is that James has accomplised a lot during his time in the NBA except for winning a championship.  He shouldn't be knocked for how he carries himself; he's still young and is prideful in his achievements. 

However, questions will always swirl around why James disappears in crunch time or why he shut it down against Boston during the 2010 postseason.  The bottom line is that LeBron James is the best player in the NBA right now and hopefully fans of the game will be able to enjoy watching him play rather then despise his every move. 

When Miami's "big 3" of James, Wade, and Bosh came together, who didn't think they could win seven titles in a row?  The scary thing is that they still can. 

Finals: Job Well Done in Game One

The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a solid performance in last nights game one win of the NBA Finals (except for the introductions).  Even if your not a Thunder fan, you have to appreciate their aggressive play on both ends of the floor last night.  Everyone showed up for OKC and it resulted in a 105-94 win over the Heat; giving the Thunder an early 1-0 series lead. 

A game one loss is not the proverbial "kiss of death" in an NBA Finals series and the Miami Heat know this.  Last year during the Finals, the Heat overpowered the Dallas Mavericks in game one, but would eventually falter and lose the series against Dallas in six. 

Basketball fans are already saying that the Heat are done in this one.  Most of the talk is centered around Miami's "big 3" and the things Miami didn't do in the game one loss.  The fact of the matter is that the Heat are far from finished and we need to give OKC credit where credit is do.  The Thunder stayed poised and weathered Miami's early attack.  They dug in before halftime, cutting Miami's lead to seven.  OKC's attack mode mentality early in the second half crumpled any momentum Miami had left over from the first two quarters. 

Heat forward LeBron James lead his team with 30 points (his 12th 30 plus point game this postseason) and 9 rebounds in 46 minutes of action.  LeBron's numbers this postseason have been truly remarkable.  James is averaging 30.7 points, 5 assists, and just under 10 rebounds per game in the playoffs, but he has to get some help from teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh going forward in the Finals. 

He probably will. Wade and Bosh have been helpful when playing healthy this postseason; something just didn't seem right with those two guys last night.  The Heat came out tired in the second half just as the Thunder ramped up their tenacity on defense.  Wade and Bosh didn't have the energy needed to help James keep up with the well rested Thunder.      

The Thunder are a very good basketball team and forward Kevin Durant is beginning to look like the second coming of Michael Jordan.  Durant  lead all scorers with 36 points and 8 boards (his 7th 30 plus point game this postseason).  Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had a productive night as well.  Westbrook dropped 27 points on 10-24 shooting, dished 11 assist, and snagged 8 rebounds (2 boards shy of a triple-double). 

Twenty four shot attempts by a point guard is a pretty big number, but Westbrook needed to be aggressive.  Westbrook should continue to keep shooting until head coach Scott Brooks advises him to do otherwise.  If Westbrook needs to shoot the ball in order for him to keep his mind in an attacking mindset, then he should continue to do so.  He and Durant were superb last night.  His 24 shot attempts didn't hinder OKC's cause in the least bit during game one.  Instead, Durant and his teammates fed off of Westbrook's energy the entire second half. 

Game two of the NBA Finals tips at 9PM ET Thursday night on ABC.  The Heat should be settled in now.  They now have a day to rest and prepare.  Miami is aware of how loud the arena will be on Thursday night (despite what Bosh thinks), so they will be ready to face the noise.  Look for Miami to come out attacking early again, but this time they should have the energy to close the Thunder out.  The Heat know how big of an advantage it will be in the following three games if they can force the Thunder to drop game two in OKC.   They've been on the wrong side of this equation before.

Westbrook's Time

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard, Russell Westbrook has been a difficult player for NBA fans to figure out.  Ever since Westbrook was drafted fourth overall in 2008 to the then Seattle SuperSonics (now the Thunder) he has for whatever reason had a hard time establishing himself as an elite NBA point guard; until now. 

Westbrook has officially arrived and has established himself as a top five point guard in the NBA.  During this phenomenal playoff run for the Thunder, Westbrook is averaging close to 22 points per game. Second only to teammate Kevin Durant, who is averaging right around 28 points per game this postseason.

Like Kevin Durant, Westbrook has been through it all during the rebuilding process in OKC.  In his first season with the Thunder, both he and Durant endured a 23-59 season together.  P.J. Carlesimo was in his second season as head coach, but was axed early in the '08-'09 inaugural campaign in OKC and was replaced by current head coach Scott Brooks.

Soon after he took control, Brooks quickly decided to go with Westbrook at the point.  Westbrook would start in 65 games and end up averaging 15 points and 5 assists per game as a rookie. Respectable numbers for a young rookie in the NBA, but Westbrook still had a long way to go to earn the respect of being a high caliber producer around the league.

The lack of respect for Westbrook around the league was not shared by the Thunder organization.  This past offseason trade talks began to swirl around Westbrook, but the Thunder stood firm on their belief that Westbrook is and could continue to be a special player in the NBA.  OKC said no to a Rajon Rondo deal and distanced themselves from Chris Paul talk.  They knew very well what they had in Russell Westbrook and are now witnessing his full potential as a productive point guard.

Westbrook has become an athletic freak.  His ability to defend, attack the basket, and shoot puts him on a higher level then many of his opponents.  His aggressive style of play mixed in with his bread and butter jump shots have helped lift his team into the NBA Finals.  There is no doubt that the Thunder are lead by Kevin Durant (regular season scoring champion), but Westbrook is his sidekick.  Without Westbrook, the Thunder machine does not find themselves in their current situation; the situation being present for the NBA Finals. 

The Thunder are now just four wins away from raising a banner in their own arena.  They face a daunting opponent though.  Westbrook will more then likely be matched-up against Heat guard Dwyane Wade.  Their styles and athletic ability are similar, so it should make for an exciting match-up to watch.  Westbrook now has the opportunity on basketball's biggest stage to make an even bigger name for himself.  With an NBA title at stake, Westbrook will have to lead the Thunder early on by being aggressive on both ends of the floor while allowing for Kevin Durant to get his looks and do the same.

The offense will be running through Westbrook's floor leadership and his team will be counting on him to defend one of the best guards in the league.  His time is now.

Westbrook showing off his freak attack in game six of the WCF.  (Via YouTube)

Odd Man Out in Boston

Rumors are beginning to surface around NBA rumor mills that Celtics veteran guard Ray Allen and teammate Rajon Rondo cannot stand one another.  The talk is that Allen simply doesn't get along with his floor general.  Reports concerning Rondo not being a likable guy in the Celtics locker room are nothing new, but bad blood between he and a specific teammate are fresh.

The Boston Celtics just wrapped up a remarkable playoff run.  The Celtics advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals where they forced a game seven with the Miami Heat.  Prior to the game seven loss in Miami, talk that Boston's "big 3" were going to be done after the postseason was rampant.  Now, with new rumors swirling around Allen and Rondo it seems as if at least one original "big 3" member could be on his way out. 

It would probably be in Boston's best interest to go ahead and move Allen, who still has one year left on his contract.  Some in Boston and around the league are probably figuring that forward Kevin Garnett should be moved as well.  However, Garnett's inspired play in the playoffs might have earned him an extra year or two with the Celtics. 

Forward Paul Pierce is the other piece of the puzzle, but it's hard to see Boston move him.  Pierce has been through everything good and bad with this club and deserves to finish out his career in Boston and perhaps chase another title next year. 

Rajon Rondo is young and one of the most productive point guards in the NBA right now.  He's coming off of a monster postseason where he racked up four triple-doubles.  Through the 19 games Boston played this postseason, Rondo averaged 17.3 points and 11.9 assists per game.  Rondo was a playoff freak and showed the world that he should be considered without argument to be a top three point guard in the league.

A rocky relationship between he and Allen could create a fragile locker room situation, one that Boston can't let affect an entire team.  Who knows if it affected them this season at all.  It's a risk Boston can't take and if anyone were to be moved it should certainly be Allen. 

If Boston does decide to move Ray Allen, then a new "big 3" will form consisting of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.  The Celtics could push forward next season with that core of veteran talent and perhaps bring in a you athletic shooting guard that can score and defend the perimeter.  Maybe a "Thabo Sefolosha" type player that could help perhaps catapult them over a Miami Heat club next season.

Ray Allen, if healthy, maybe has one productive year left in him.  The Celtics should do him the honor of putting him with a contender in the Western Conference.  The San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, or even the LA Clippers would be solid places for Allen to go and finish his brilliant career.

Heat-Thunder Finals Preview

The 2012 version of the NBA Finals is set.  The Miami Heat who are lead by the leagues MVP, LeBron James, head out to the Mid-West to face the Oklahoma City Thunder and regular season scoring champion, Kevin Durant.

Via @NBAHistory via Twitter, made it known this morning that the last time the regular season MVP and scoring champ faced off in the Finals was in 1997 when MVP Karl Malone's Jazz battled scoring champion Michael Jordan's Bulls.  Jordan's Bulls got the better of Malone's Jazz in '97, winning the title 4-2.  We will have to wait and see if Kevin Durant can duplicate the outcome of when the last time the scoring champ and MVP met up if the Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a gigantic championship step forward in the Western Conference Finals by taking out the top seeded San Antonio Spurs.  After games one and two of the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder found themselves down 2-0 to the veteran Spurs, but found the fortitude to dig out of their 0-2 hole and conquer San Antonio by winning four straight and taking the conference championship 4-2.

The Miami Heat found themselves on a different path.  Up 2-0 over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat would drop three straight and go down 3-2 with a road elimination game six staring them in the face.  With the sports world burying the Heat before they were dead, LeBron James put on one of the greatest postseason performances in history.  James would help clinch game six for Miami, scoring 45 points on 19-26 shooting and pull down 15 rebounds.  The Heat would go onto win game seven at home, becoming back-to-back champions of the Eastern Conference.

The NBA Finals tips-off on Tuesday night at 9ET on ABC.  This years Finals is engulfed with some of the biggest superstars in the game today; meaning this could be one of the most entertaining NBA Finals ever. 

The Keys for OKC in this series rely on taking care of home court.  The Finals shifts from the standard 2-2-1-1-1 format for home and road games to 2-3-2.  This means that the Thunder cannot afford to split the first two games at home.  They must protect home court.  An early loss at home means that Miami could potentially close out the series on their own home court.  Games one and two are always important for the team with home court advantage, but the importance is magnified in the Finals.

The Thunder can't buckle on basketball's biggest stage.  OKC is still a young team making their first ever Finals appearance.  Every starter for the Thunder, except for Kendrick Perkins, is making their Finals debut.  Their opponent has redemption on their mind and are fueled by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.  OKC has stars of their own, but they will be tested by Miami's "big 3."  The Heat will try and rattle OKC early on by attacking the basket on every possession until the Thunder wilt and give away a home game in the first two meetings.  If the Thunder can stand together and weather Miami's initial blow, then they could find themselves with a tremendous advantage when the series shifts to South Beach for games, three, four, and five (if necessary).

The Heat have the slight benefit of having past Finals experience.  James is making his third appearance, Wade his third, and Bosh is making his second.  Heat Forward Udonis Haslem was on Miami's 2006 Championship team along with Wade, so this will be his third showing in the Finals for Haslem as well.  The Heat were in this position last year, so they understand the ups and downs that can surface.  They seemed to have already shown that have learned from last years Finals let down against the Dallas Mavericks in their previous series against Boston. 

Miami crumbled in an elimination game six against Dallas, but have proven they can win in the face of elimination when they thumped the Celtics in game six, 98-79.  Despite all of the negative attention surrounding the Heat leading up to game six in Boston, Miami went out on the court and proved that they were quick learners.  The Heat put last seasons Finals collapse behind them with the win in Boston and shedded their past persona along with it. 

Defensively both teams are poised for a showdown.  The Heat have a slight advantage only allowing opponents to score on average 88 points per game throughout the postseason.  The Thunder have allowed a few more with around 96 points per game this postseason.  The only difference is that offensively OKC has been averaging 102 points a game while Miami is only averaging 96 points.  The numbers don't completely even out, but both teams match-up nicely on both ends of the floor.

As far as role players go, OKC has the clear advantage.  Outside of their 'big 3," Miami has struggled to get their other guys going. 

OKC on the other hand has not.  Thunder Forward Serge Ibaka lead the regular season in blocked shots and currently leads the postseason in blocked shots as well as field goal percentage.  Guard Thabo Sefolosha proved to be a lock down defender against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.  Sefolosha gave Spurs Point Guard Tony Parker fits and in doing so, disrupted San Antonio's "pick and roll" offense.  Thunder Center Kendrick Perkins, brings with him Finals experience from the 2008 Finals when he was with the Celtics and will also serve as a force down low for the Thunder in this series against the Heat.  Thunder back-up Guard Derek Fisher gives OKC leadership and past championship experience from his Laker days as well.  Huge plus for the Thunder in the role player department. 

The 2012 NBA Finals is going to be insane.  With so many advantages and dis-advantages playing out, it seems as if pure determination will determine the outcome.

The Thunder are here to stay.  In fact we probably need to get used to this Finals match-up going forward for the next couple of years.  Heat-Thunder could very well end up becoming this decades version of Lakers-Celtics from the 1980's.  The Heat however, have developed a new sense of tenacity and it didn't let them down against Boston prior to earning their second straight trip back to the NBA Finals.

The Heat will need Forward Chris Bosh to stay healthy and play huge against OKC if the Heat plan to hoist the trophy by series end.  James and Wade have carried the Heat in every game this postseason and will continue to do so in the Finals.  They need Bosh though.  His ability to energize everyone on the court is irreplaceable.  Bosh is clearly the guy that keeps his team focused.  The Heat will need his presence on the court if and when they face adversity against the Thunder.

Both teams want this championship more then anything, but Miami's experience and leaders will carry them over the hump in this one.  I've got the Heat over the Thunder in seven.   

Trouble in Paradise

Last night in Miami for game five of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics put the Heat on the cusp of elimination.  The Celtics took game five with authority in a 94-90 win that left the Heat weary of what had transpired.   The series now transitions back to Boston for game six with the hometown Celtics up 3-2.

The big story prior to tip-off was that Heat Forward Chris Bosh would be activated, but come off the bench and play limited minutes.  Huge news for Miami heading into game five.  However, Bosh would only be effective in the first half.  Bosh put up 9 points in around 11 minutes of play, but for whatever reason Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra, drastically shortened Bosh's playing time down to about three minutes and change for the entire second half.  Bosh was a non-factor in a half where his teammates needed him badly. 

Celtics Forward Kevin Garnett would take advantage yet again in Bosh's second half absence and dominate around the hoop, scoring a team high 26 points and grabbing 11 boards; his fourth double-double in the conference finals.

Despite the close game, the Heat looked dysfunctional throughout.  Heat Forward LeBron James had another big night with 30 points and his sidekick Dwyane Wade added 27.  Respectable numbers from Miami's stars, but no one else showed up.  Miami couldn't get any of their role players going and the team seemed lost when Boston amped up their defensive intensity.

The dagger came with under a minute left in the fourth quarter when Celtics lifer and future Hall-of Famer, Paul Pierce nailed a spine crushing three over the out stretched arm of LeBron James.  The big shot put Boston up four and sucked the life out of the building.

The Celtics wanted it more last night.  They were aggressive all night on offense and defense.  They threw Miami off offensively by providing a good mix of zone and man defensive schemes.  The term "Celtic Pride" has been used since Boston left Miami after game two.  The Celtics showed tremendous pride in their triumphant victory last night.
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In similar fashion to the Western Conference Finals; this series appeared to be over after games one and two.  In the West, the Spurs took a 2-0 advantage to Oklahoma City and in the East, the Heat carried a 2-0 lead to Boston.  Now, both the Spurs and Heat have found themselves in the same boat, losing three strait games to their conference finals opponent.

With both the Heat and Spurs down 3-2 heading into game six, these next couple of nights could end up providing more then enough discussion for the NBA media to feast on during the offseason.

A lot of the talk this morning obviously is aimed directly at the Miami Heat and rightfully so.  However, talk that team President Pat Riley would disband Miami's "big 3" if they lose in the Eastern Conference Finals doesn't make sense.  If Riley did make such a move in the offseason, it would be the worst move in league history. 

Why would Miami let any one of those guys go?  The Heat might want to look into replacing Coach Spoelstra if they fall to the Celtics, but he just signed a new contract last offseason, so that move is doubtful as well. 

The Heat can't panic as an organization if the Celtics end up making their third Finals appearance in five years.  Instead they need to continue to focus on bringing in guys that can contribute night in and night out.  The Heat don't have those guys right now. 

Miami should dump a lot of the role players they have currently and maybe keep Forward Udonis Haslem.  They could bring in Steve Nash to replace current Point Guard Mario Chalmers and hopefully trade for some healthy young role players.  The Mike Miller experiment has to end though; it has to.

Game six of the Eastern Conference Finals is Thursday night.  The Heat will be playing in their second playoff elimination game sense the addition of James and Bosh.  In last years NBA Finals the Heat crumbled in an elimination game six scenario to the Dallas Mavericks.  It will be fascinating to see if and how they respond differently this time around. 

Video of Pierce's game clinching three over James in game five of the ECF.  (via YouTube via ESPN)

Fair to Compare '12 Thunder to '91 Bulls?

The Oklahoma City Thunder grabbed the elusive win on the road in game five of the Western Conference Finals last night.  OKC rolled to a 108-103 triumph over the Spurs and will take a 3-2 lead back home for game six on Wednesday night.

The Spurs made a pre-game adjustment that inserted Manu Ginobili in the starting lineup in place of Guard Danny Green.  The shift was effective early.  The move made it so Thunder Point Guard Russell Westbrook would have to defend Ginobili right from the tip.  This allowed Spurs Point Guard Tony Parker to be sharp from the start.  Parker, during games three and four in OKC was a non-factor due in large part because of the defensive showing of Thunder Guard Thabo Sefolosha.

Starting Ginobili in game five was a good way for Coach Popovich to mix it up early.  Despite, Parker's 20 point night, he was still held to 4 assist.  It took a little while for OKC to adjust to the change, but they figured it out soon enough. 

Thunder Forward Kevin Durant showed flashes of brilliance throughout the entire bout dropping 27 points against the Spurs.  In fact many players displayed brilliant play in last nights contest.

Spurs Forward Manu Ginobili had a monster game scoring 34 points on 11-21 shooting and the "Big Fundamental" Tim Duncan got going late to reel the Thunder back-in before OKC made a final push to seal the deal.  Duncan ended the night with 18 points and 12 rebounds; his third double-double of the series.

In a game that featured early foul calls and a technical; it seemed like the officiating would take center stage.  It was quickly overshadowed by the play of both teams.  This series has been unbelievable to witness and in a way we are watching a young OKC team begin to take a championship step forward.
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As game five played out and the Thunder were overcoming everything the veteran Spurs were throwing at them; comparisons began to be drawn to the 1990-1991 Chicago Bulls. 

The then "Baby Bulls" had been knocking at the door of the Eastern Conference Finals for two seasons prior to the '90-'91 season, but could not take down the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons.  That changed during the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals.  Michael Jordan, the leagues scoring champ that season, lead a hungry young Bulls team into the conference finals on mission.  The '91 Bulls would take down the "bad boys" of the East in a 4-0 sweep.  The Detroit Pistons wouldn't be heard from again until the early 2000's. 

The Bulls had established themselves, but like the path the Thunder have taken, it took suffering in defeat.  The Bulls would go on to dominate the LA Lakers in five games during the '91 Finals and the rest is history.

The comparisons between the '91 Bulls and '12 Thunder are fair ones, but they are a little premature.  First, the Thunder have yet to topple the Spurs and it won't be easy doing so.  Second, the Thunder have to win a championship now if they do knock out San Antonio.  Just reaching the Finals this year shouldn't warrant comparisons to the '91 Bulls.

From the outside looking in, these two teams are indeed somewhat comparable.  The Thunder are still a young team and they are lead by the leagues regular season scoring champ in Kevin Durant.  OKC has tasted defeat in postseasons past.  Three years ago they lost to the Lakers in round one and last season got taken out late in the Western Conference Finals by the Dallas Mavericks.  The Thunder have risen a little faster then MJ's Bulls did, but their leaders and past defeats in the playoffs are eerily similar.

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The OKC Thunder are right on the cusp.  They have the four time Champion Spurs searching for answers and gasping for air on the verge of elimination.  OKC has the Spurs on a new kind of streak, a three game losing streak.  Impressive considering the Spurs were up 2-0 at one point in this series and riding a 10 game playoff winning streak. 

Both clubs are playing impressive basketball.  The Spurs will be difficult to close out even though they will be the road team for game six.  OKC's crowd will be fired up and if their team can shut the door on a proud Spurs club; the comparisons to the '91 Bulls will draw heavier on the minds of pro basketball fans everywhere. 


 

Game 4 ECF Analysis: Heat Strain

The Miami Heat had better hope real hard that their star Forward Chris Bosh can return for game five on Tuesday night.  I wrote a couple of weeks ago during the conference semis when Bosh went down with the abdominal strain that the Heat would survive short term without his presence in the lineup.  James and Wade are big time scorers and could carry the load against an up-and-coming team in their last series against the Indiana Pacers.  The Heat did in fact prevail in that series, but now they are beginning to miss Bosh with their Eastern Conference Finals series now tied 2-2. 

The Celtics grinded out an overtime win in game four and dodged a bullet from Dwyane Wade, who just missed on a good look from three as the clock ran out in OT.  This resulted in a 93-91 victory for Boston in a game that should not have even been close. 

The Heat came out flat again last night in Boston.  The Celtics built a substantial lead early; one which they stacked on right before the half up 61-47.  Boston however, could not have had a worse third quarter where they only scored 12 points and allowed Miami to score 21.  The Celtics would rally behind Point Guard Rajon Rondo's 15 assist and end up having to steal a win at home without Pierce in OT.

Miami had a chance to win at the end of regulation with the ball in LeBron's hands, but to the Celtics credit they defended James brilliantly forcing him to make an awkward pass to a barely open Undonis Haslem.  Haslem threw up a prayer (while LeBron actually threw up) that never came close to going in. 

Paul Pierce, who lead all Celtics with 23 points, fouled out for the second time in this series before OT.  The officials evened things up when they called LeBron James with his sixth foul early in OT.  It was an offensive foul call on James under his own basket as he and Celtics Forward Mickael Pietrus tumbled to the floor.  The call could have gone either way, but they nabbed the leagues three time MVP with the foul.   This was the first time James had ever fouled out as a member of the Miami Heat and he was obviously upset after the game.

Via AP post game presser, "I don't foul out.  If I'm going to foul out, that sixth foul, I wish I would have earned it and it had actually been a foul on me. Whatever."

This brings Chris Bosh back into the discussion.  The Heat have allowed Kevin Garnett to do whatever he wants whenever he wants in the paint during games three and four in Boston.  It has been reported that Miami believes Bosh can go for game five and they will need him even if he can only provide limited minutes.  The Heat did in fact win the points in the paint battle in game four 48-38, but Garnett still mustered up 17 points and 14 rebounds.  They need help down low to curb those numbers from KG.

The series now shifts back to South Beach for game five.  The big story leading up will be if Bosh is able to do his Willis Reed impersonation and make a marvelous comeback to the floor.

Video of LeBron James fouling out in game four of the ECF.  (Via YouTube)

Storm Brewing

Not too many people saw this coming in the Spurs-Thunder Western Conference Finals Series.  In fact no one gave the Thunder a fighting chance following games one and two in San Antonio.  However, when this series shifted to Oklahoma City for games three and four the momentum shifted with it.  Last night in game four the Thunder put on a remarkable show that featured Thunder Forwards Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant.  Ibaka was a perfect 11-11 from the field and 4-4 from the foul line.  The result was a 26 point night for the big man which was backed by Kevin Durant who sealed the win for OKC down the stretch; finishing the night with 36 points.  The Thunder toppled the Spurs 109-103 and for the second straight game the seemingly un-touchable Spurs walked off the court in defeat.  The Western Conference Finals is now guaranteed to go at least six games with the series knotted 2-2. 

San Antonio clearly made adjustments headed into this one following their game three collapse.  The Spurs went back to their bread and butter buckets in the paint and early on it proved effective.  OKC held tight and weathered San Antonio's early attack by continuing to smother the Spurs' guards defensively. 

It was no surprise that Thunder Guard Thabo Sefolosha continued to defend Spurs Point Guard Tony Parker.  An adjustment OKC stuck with after it clearly worked in game three.  Parker was held to a series low 12 points and was a non-factor in game four.  The Spurs have to find a way to get Parker going again.  He was the biggest threat on the floor in games one and two, but OKC has found ways to shut him and San Antonio's "pick and roll" down.

Despite the perfect night for Ibaka; Kevin Durant still managed to steal the show.  The Thunder had built a substantial lead late, but San Antonio wasn't going away.  With six minutes remaining it looked like the Spurs were going to forge ahead.  Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili hit big shots to rally the Spurs.  Kevin Durant however, blacked out and went off.  Durant went 7-7 from the field in the final six minutes; scoring 15 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter.  The Spurs tried many different defenders on Durant, but he was un-stoppable. 

Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich after the game via his NBA post game press conference, "His play was better then anything we did defensively that's for sure.  He finished it off in fine fashion."

Durant's performance to close the game was special.  Very rarely does a player zone in and go off on the big stage.  Watching him hit tough shot after tough shot had to remind people of some of Michael Jordan's playoff performances.  Durant will really take that next step if he can duplicate his close out masterpiece on the road in San Antonio for game six or seven (if necessary). 

These two wins should give OKC a lot of confidence headed back to San Antonio.  If they are going to win this series they will have to win a game on the road.  The Spurs are still in the driver seat for this very reason.  They have home court in their back pocket and they know it.  San Antonio played terrific at home.  Now, both teams know how important this next game will be.  Game five of the Western Conference Finals could very well be the most exciting game all year with two great teams battling for a potential back breaking win. 
 

Game 3 ECF Analysis: Heat Turned Down

The Celtics turned off the Heat last night in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals.  Boston attacked the paint with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and despite a 34 point effort by Miami's LeBron James, the Celtics rolled to a 101-91 win and got themselves on the board down 2-1.

The game really ended early in the fourth quarter when Celtics Guard Ray Allen, who is battling through age and bone spurs in his feet, drove to the rim from the wing and jammed it on the Heat with authority.  Allen is not known for his dunking ability, so you knew that everything was clicking for Boston after his highlight dunk.  It was kind of like seeing Reggie Miller dunk; it came out of nowhere and shocked everyone. The Heat would rally and make a spirited charge late to cut the lead to single digits, but Boston quickly seized control by continuing to play aggressive. 

Kevin Garnett was a freak last night for the Celtics.  The veteran dropped 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.  Garnett hit a key jumper late in the game to keep Boston's momentum going, but the majority of his scoring came at the rim.  The Celtics finally figured it out.  They scored an astonishing 58 points in the paint; making the Heat realize that they need Chris Bosh back on the court for game four. 

Celtics Point Guard Rajon Rondo backed up his 53 minutes of action in game two with 43 minutes of burn in game three.  Rondo was impressive with 21 points and 10 assist.  His signature "fake behind the back pass" was displayed late in the third, sending Dwyane Wade and Undonis Haslem into a fake-out tailspin while Rondo cruised in for an un-contested layup. 

It was that kind of night for Boston.  They got balanced scoring from Pierce, Garnett, and Rondo (68 points combined).  Allen again didn't put up big numbers, but still hit shots and provided a spark when he needed to. 

LeBron James had a huge night with 34 points and 8 rebounds.  What James is doing this post season is truly amazing.  His ability to score at will is un-touched right now in the league.  We are witnessing greatness every night he steps on the floor.  For whatever reason though the rest of Heat just didn't have it last night.

Boston fought off their hangover and prepared for game three like the champions they are.  If Bosh is indeed out for game four; then the Heat might be in real trouble.  The Celtics are sure to attack inside in game four, sticking with what worked.  Miami had an opportunity to stomp out Boston last night, but instead allowed a veteran team to gain confidence and fight back into the series. 

Rondo's fake-out pass on Wade and Haslem last night in game three of the ECF.  (via YouTube)   

Thunder Got Juice

We got a series! We got a series!  Not super surprising, but most everyone didn't see a 20 point blow out coming from the Thunder in last nights game three of the Western Conference Finals.  The Oklahoma City Thunder got juice and ended San Antonio's 20 game win streak with a 102-82 beat down that got OKC back in the series down 2-1.

The Spurs did their job in games one and two.  They executed on both ends of the floor and defended home court with two wins.  What we took away from games one and two served as the pre-cursor for shock after last nights outcome.  San Antonio played so well, especially in game two, and made it seem as if they were un-beatable.  They were so good in fact, everyone forgot just how good the OKC Thunder really are.

OKC's loses in this series have not been due to lack of performance from their stars.  Kevin Durant put up 27 points in game one and 31 in game two.  Russell Westbrook and James Harden also chipped in the two opening games combining for 93 points respectably.  Last night in game three the Thunder brought with them a much more balanced attack.  Durant scored 22 points and was complimented by OKC's role players who came up big in the scoring column and even bigger in the steals column with 14.  The Thunder forced 21 turnovers and crushed the Spurs in the paint, scoring 44 points inside compared to 24 points dropped in by San Antonio.

The Thunder played great basketball in game three.  They were well prepared and went after the Spurs as soon as the ball was tipped.  San Antonio played poorly.  They gave up way too many possessions off turnovers and lost control of the interior. 

Thunder Head Coach Scott Brooks apparently saw a weakness down low and exploited it last night.  OKC also shifted some match-ups defensively.  They put their 6'7 Shooting Guard, Thabo Sefolosha on Spurs Point Guard Tony Parker and it proved effective.  Parker was held to 16 points (not bad) and turned the ball over 5 times.  Sefolosha clearly disrupted Parker's game.  He made it difficult for him to find open guys all night, holding Parker to 4 assist.  Clearly a smart adjustment by Coach Brooks, one that they will surely stick with going forward. 

The Spurs had won 20 straight games coming into game three (10 regular season/10 post season), so they get a pass for their horrible performance last night.  Stephen Jackson lead the team in scoring with 16 points, which tells a lot.  Tim Duncan set the playoff record for most blocked shots in the playoffs passing Kareem Abdul Jabbar with 477 total post season blocks.  That's about all San Antonio can take away from game three.

The Thunder have now made this a series.  They still can't afford to go down 3-1 after game four on Saturday night.  The Spurs will re-group by making key adjustments on their end as well and will look to bury any kind of hope that OKC obtained in the win last night. 

Video from YouTube of Kevin Durant dunking on Tim Duncan early in game three of the WCF.  This set the tone for OKC going forward.