Game 2 Recap, Game 3 Preview

Here's a quick look at what happened in the other Game Two's. I know it is NFL Draft Day so I will keep it short.


#1 Los Angeles - #8 Oklahoma City

Los Angeles managed to stave off a good effort from Oklahoma City, and a good look at the buzzer to tie it by Jeff Green. Pau Gasol choked on the fre-throw to make it a four point game and Green had a nice look at 3 after Durant couldn't get the ball. But, he missed it and LA came out with a 2-0 lead heading to OKC.

Kobe was much better in Game 2 and a 2-0 lead makes this unlikely upset even more unlikely. Look for OKC to maybe steal one at home, but that might be it.



#3 Atlanta - #6 Milwaukee

Brandon Jennings was not spectacular in this one as he was shut down by Joe Johnson. Jennings finished with 9 points on 3-15 shooting. Salmons did have a big game, but without Jennings hitting shots it was futile. The Hawks had 3 players, Smith, Johnson and Horford with 20+ points and dominated the game.
Atlanta has too many options right now for Milwaukee to shut down. I don't think this goes more than 5 games.



#3 Phoenix - #6 Portland

Just as I had predicted the Suns won this one in a rout of Portland, and shot the ball much better. They looked like they had more energy and were much more aggressive than in game 1. From the looks of game 2 the Suns have shed the "soft" label, as they roughed up Andre Miller and were tough in the paint, with 58 points in that area, holding Portland to 38 paint points.
Richardson led the scoring, and his stats are more closely correlated with Phoenix's outcomes than any other player. They pretty much go as he goes, so Suns fans are hoping for more of the same from him in game 3.



#2 Orlando - #7 Charlotte

Two mediocre efforts from Dwight Howard and two wins for the Magic.
Safe to say the Bobcats have noe shot in this series as they head home down 0-2. Their biggest problem, as Larry Brown pointed out, is that they have no jump shooters. No one to knock down clutch shots from the perimeter when they need to.
Their other problem is simply that they are just not very good.
Jackson did drop 27, but it wasn't nearly enough.
Side Note...Dwight Howard received his Defensive Player of the Year award.



#2 Dallas - #7 San Antonio

Tim Duncan found the fountain of youth with 25 and 17 in game 2 and San Antonio stole a game on Dallas' home court, and made the series a lot more interesting. Just when you're ready to write off San Antonio they come back and remind you why they are contenders on a yearly basis. Good solid fundamentals, and brilliant team play. Tough to beat it, come Playoff time. Dallas shot only 36% from the floor, and was outrebounded by a wide margin. Two key factors in the Spurs win. Dirk had 24, but needed 24 shots to get it, and made only 9. Not a great shooting night like he had in Game 1.
Look for this series to go back and forth, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Dallas snag a win in San Antonio.


Caron Butler likes straws. Weird.


#4 Boston - #5 Miami

Two words. Big Baby.
Dude was killing it in game 2, and the Celts killed the Heat. Statement made. This is playoff time, and like the Spurs, when they play good team ball they are very hard to beat. I've seen enough 'Sheed. I'll take Davis for way more minutes now.
Go Celts!


TONIGHT!

#1 Cleveland @ Chicago, @ 7:00 pm ET on TNT

Lebron and his cronies head to Chi-town to continue their beat-down of the Bulls. He may want to take it to the rack a little more, as opposed to relying on perimeter shots like he did in Game 2. Either way, I don't think Chicago is winning more than one game in this series. Maybe they win tonight to get the fans fired up, but I doubt it.

Prediction - Cleveland wins in OT.



#1 Los Angeles @ #8 Oklahoma City, @ 9:30 pm ET on TNT

Lakers look to put the proverbial nail in the coffin with a 3-0 lead. I think they do it, despite a monster game from Durant. Kobe finally goes bonkers with 40+.

Prediction - Lakers win a close one on the road.



#3 Phoenix @ #6 Portland, @ 10:00 pm ET on NBA TV

Phoenix hopes to continue the nice roll they started in Game 2, while Portland hopes that the home crowd can bring some good fortune to a very beat-up club. If J-Rich and Hill can continue to knock down shots and team up to make Miller irrelevant the Suns should win easy.

Prediction - Phoenix win by single digits. Nash/Stoudemire take-over in 4th quarter.