NBA Playoff Journal (Apr 23)
by Larry Ness
All eight NBA playoff venues have changes, as the next set of 16 games will see the lower-seeded teams hosting two consecutive contests. Home teams went 13-3 SU and 10-6 ATS, as Cavs, Hawks, Lakers and Magic took 2-0 leads with the other four series were tied at one-all. The NBA record book tells us that teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-7 series have gone on to win that series 209 of 223 times, or
93.7 percent That was the setting as three games were set to tip-off on Thursday night. The Cavs and Lakers both owned 2-0 series' leads, while the Suns visited Portland tied one-all with the Blazers.
Both teams which returned home down 0-2 came through with wins (and covers), as the Bulls beat the Cavs 108-106 and the Thunder beat the Lakers, 101-96. The Suns routed the Blazers for the second straight game, to take a 2-1 lead in that series. The Bulls led by 11 at the half but needed to withstand a Cleveland rally, holding on for a two-point win. Rose, who had scored 51 points and handed out 18 assists in the two games at Cleveland, scored 31 points (added seven assists). However, outstanding efforts by Hinrich, who scored 27 points after netting 13 points in the first two games, plus 20 from Deng sure helped. LeBron went for 39-10-8, but the Cavs are not rolling through the early rounds of the playoffs like last year (Cavs are 1-2 ATS).
The Lakers jumped out on the Thunder early last night (Durant opened 0-of-7 from the floor) but Oklahoma City came back from an 11-point deficit to win, 101-96. Durant finished with 29 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, while Westbrook added 23. How good is this former Bruin? He's averaging 23.0-6.0-5.0 for the series. Kobe was just 2-of-9 from the floor in the fourth quarter (just 10-of-29 on the game with 24 points) and did not go to the free throw once all game (read that again, S-L-O-W-L-Y!). Gasol had 17 points and 15 rebounds and is averaging 20.3-13.3 for the series but like the Cavs, the Lakers are hardly "hitting on all cylinders." They are 1-2 ATS, with just a half-point cover to their credit in Game 1.
The Suns lost 105-100 at home to the Roy-less Blazers in the first game of their series but have now followed a 119-90 Game 2 win in Phoenix with a 108-89 Game 3 win last night in Portland. After scoring 33 points in Portland's Game 1 win, Miller has made just 8-of-22 (36.4 percent) shots the last two games, totaling 23 points. Do the Blazers have a chance without Roy? Not if Jason Richardson keeps it up. After making just 4-of-11 shots in Game 1, Richardson has scored 29 and 42 points (last night). He's 24-of-35 from the floor in the two games, (including 12-of-17 on threes), scoring 71 points!
Home teams are now 15-4 SU (12-7 ATS) through 19 games and after two of three games went over last night, there have been nine overs, eight unders and two pushes. Those following the Zig-Zag theory are off to a solid start this postseason, going 7-4 ATS (63.7 percent and plus-2.6 net games). ESPN takes over TV coverage tonight with a doubleheader beginning at 7:05 ET, while ESPN2 covers the Denver/Utah game at 10:35 ET. Boston at Miami is up first with the Celtics leading 2-0. Miami is favored by four points (total is 182).
The Mavs and Spurs continue their heated-rivalry at 9:35 ET from San Antonio, in a series which is tied one-all. The Spurs are favored by 3 1/2 points and the total is 194. The late game is Denver at Utah with the Jazz, despite playing without Okur or Kirilenko, are still favored by 2 1/2 points (total is 215). The series is tied one-all. It's a jam-packed weekend of action with four games scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. I'll be back with my next journal, Monday by 2:00 ET
Good luck...Larry
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