Playoff Series Spotlight: Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers

*This post is by current Ateneo Blue Eagle Von Pessumal.

            Miami vs Indiana. Heat vs Pacers. LeBron vs Paul George. This is probably the most anticipated match-up of the entire NBA season. After losing in a tough series that lasted 7 games last postseason, the Indiana Pacers are exactly where they want to be: having a clean slate with the defending champions.

            These teams flat-out hate each other. With a passion, too. If you were able to catch some of their regular season games, which they split 2-2, you can just tell from their body language that they both meant business. Lance Stephenson and Dwyane Wade were going at it, LeBron was getting fouled hard every time he drove strong towards the basket,  and every single player just seemed to raise his own level of intensity. And keep in mind, those were just regular season games; now imagine how magnified that competitiveness will be once the Eastern Conference Finals begins.

Something tells me this will be one helluva series.
(image from miaminewtimes.com/ESPN)

The NBA 2014 Playoffs: Conference Finals

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Paul George and the Indiana Pacers will try to beat LeBron James
and the Miami Heat in the playoffs for the first time in three years
(Image from: AP/Lynne Sladky)

(1) Indiana Pacers vs (2) Miami Heat 
So, here we are. It took more or less seven months to happen but the dream scenario for the Eastern Conference Finals will finally happen (whew). The Heat was fantastic while going through the first two rounds of the playoffs with an 8-1 record. Meanwhile, the Pacers almost bumbled their way out of the postseason but they managed to get their act together just in time to face the Miami Heat in the ECF. This will be their third straight meeting in the last three years with Miami winning the previous two instances. The biggest difference (and advantage?) for Indy, they have home-court advantage. They actively pursued the #1 seed as early as the off-season in hopes that playing Game 7 in Indiana will topple Miami. However, the Pacers haven't used Bankers Life Fieldhouse as a place of success in the postseason. Indiana is a pedestrian 3-4 at home after going 35-6 in the regular season. On the other hand, they have been a lot better on the road at 5-1. The season series was tied at 2 games apiece with neither team winning on the road.


The Pacers have not been consistent and dominant during the postseason. Furthermore, they have paraded two separate Roy Hibberts (good and bad) during the playoffs. There's the bench-warmer version (0 points, 0 rebounds) and the starter version of Hibbert (11 points, 7 boards). Miami will be lucky if they see one of those versions playing in the ECF because Hibbert transforms to a 20-10, double-double machine when playing the Heat. However, the Heat has played a lot better than the Pacers after two rounds. LeBron James shifted up an extra gear defensively while still getting 30 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Even Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are doing okay. They're also getting production from their supporting players (Lewis, Jones, Battier, Andersen, Allen). On the contrary, the Pacers don't totally trust their bench and that will be a key ingredient in the series. The match-up between LeBron and Paul George will be the top draw but the undercard between Dwyane Wade and Lance Stephenson will also be a joy to watch. Overall, Miami has the advantage offensively (shooting and passing) especially when attacking in transition. If Roy Hibbert doesn't show up, the Pacers have no chance. HEAT in 6.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The 2014 MVP will play against the former two-time MVP
(Image from: USA Today Sports)

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (2) Oklahoma City Thunder 
This will be a rematch of their 2012 WCF battle that saw OKC win 4 straight after losing the first 2 games to the Spurs. The Thunder has won 10 of their past 12 games against the Spurs including a 4-game sweep in the regular season. They didn't meet last year because Russell Westbrook got hurt which resulted in a 2nd round defeat for OKC at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies whom the San Antonio Spurs promptly swept. Both teams struggled in the 1st round and almost got eliminated by lower seeds but they prevailed after winning Game 7 at their respective home-courts. The Spurs finished with the best record in the West during 2012 and this year plus they have home-court again but that didn't mean much two years ago. Anyway, it seems that the Spurs can beat any team in the league except the Thunder. That can definitely change in an instant but OKC gives San Antonio match-up problems especially when it comes to handling Russell Westbrook.Will that be the same case this year? Which team has been better so far?

OKC barely escaped the LA Clippers in Game 5 but fortuitous calls that favored OKC gave them the win and helped pave the way for a showdown with the SAS. Meanwhile, the Spurs easily dispatched the Portland Trailblazers but Tony Parker suffered a hamstring injury that might limit his effectiveness. The Spurs need TP to be 100% in order to make Westbrook work defensively and possibly get him into foul trouble. Parker's ability to attack the paint may induce Westbrook to constantly cheat and gamble on defense. That will force OKC to rotate and help defensively which means open shots will be available for all of the Spurs' shooters. We all know that SAS loves to spread the wealth and share the ball while OKC loves to shoot the ball and keep the rock (or maybe just RW). However, the tandem of Kevin Durant and RW can win ANY series if both guys are shooting well AND making plays for their teammates. The Spurs don't have anyone that can truly stop KD but they have multiple defenders who can bother him (Kawhi, Marco, Diaw, Green, Manu) while they don't have anyone who can guard Westbrook consistently. My heart wants another Thunder-Heat NBA Finals especially a KD vs LBJ sequel but my brain tells me otherwise. Russell Westbrook needs to be the perfect complement to Kevin Durant in this series. I don't see that happening especially with Coach Popovich being a far superior coach than Coach Brooks. The Spurs will unleash a game plan that will flummox OKC. SPURS in 7. 

***UPDATE: Serge Ibaka was declared out for the rest of the playoffs with a calf injury. I made this preview before that was shared to the public. This is a tough break for OKC because Ibaka can defend Duncan or Splitter and his much improved offensive arsenal provides the Thunder a viable third option. If Ibaka doesn't play one second in this series, the Spurs should have a relatively easy time marching towards their 2nd straight NBA Finals appearance. New prediction SPURS in 5. I'll give OKC one game because Durant and Westbrook can probably win one at home BUT it would be a small miracle if OKC gets more than one win.

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The NBA 2014 Playoffs: Semis Preview

EASTERN CONFERENCE

LeBron James and Paul Pierce will battle in the playoffs for the Nth time
(Image from: thestar.com)

(2) Miami Heat vs (6) Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn swept Miami during the regular season. All four of the games were close including a double OT game in Brooklyn. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett love playing against LBJ, Wade and the Heat. They reserve their best efforts and consequently, best games against Miami. Even Joe Johnson and Shaun Livingston have produced big numbers vs Miami. However, LeBron James and the Heat also pick up their games in the playoffs. Miami eliminated PP and KG together with Ray Allen on the Boston Celtics during 2011 and 2012. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade appeared to be healthy in their sweep of the hapless Charlotte Bobcats and that helps a lot because Wade can defend Joe Johnson or any other guards from Brooklyn. Chris Bosh has been okay but that needs to improve if Miami wants to prevail over Brooklyn. If Kevin Garnett dominates Bosh and the rest of Miami's frontcourt during his 20-25 minute stint, things will be looking good for the Nets. Overall, can the Nets win four more games versus the Heat (to make it 8 wins in one season)? That one is possible but very unlikely. Miami still has the best player in the planet and he absolutely hates Pierce and the Brooklyn Celtics. Heat in 6. 

The NBA 2014 Playoffs: Day 13 - Three Game 7s Coming Up

Mr. Unreliable and Mr. Inefficient? Not in Game 6.
(Image from: USA Today Sports)

#Game7 #unreliable #inefficient 
Kevin Durant got criticized by a newspaper from Oklahoma that called him "Mr. Unreliable" due to OKC trailing in their series. The headline was mostly blaming KD for the shortcomings of OKC. Sure, Durant is part of the problem but he is definitely not the biggest reason for their losses. That newspaper should have also included Russell Westbrook as "Mr. Inefficient" or "Mr. Out-of-Control" if they truly wanted to find scapegoats. Anyway, Durant took the shot in a classy and dignified way before the game. Next, he totally dominated the Grizzlies with 36 points and 10 rebounds. He got hot early and the Thunder never trailed in this game. They won comfortably which was very different from the last 4 games which all ended in OT. Russell Westbrook did his part to force Game 7 in OKC. Russ had 25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and a relatively efficient game. He controlled the game perfectly because he allowed Durant to initiate more and shoot more. As for Memphis, they squandered a chance to move on to the next round and now they have a big problem because Mike Conley (arguably their best player in this series) injured his ankle. Conley's status for Game 7 is still uncertain and if he plays, he might be severely limited. Hopefully, Conley can play because we want an exciting final game!

The NBA 2014 Playoffs: Day 8 - Vinsanity Gives Mavs 2-1 Lead

Vinsanity stunned the San Antonio Spurs at the buzzer with a game-winning three
(Image from: USA Today Sports)

#Vinsanity #buzzerbeater
In the dying moments of Game 3, the Spurs and Mavs traded baskets a handful of times to put the fate of the game in question. Manu Ginobili gave San Antonio a 2-point lead with less than 2 seconds to go. The Spurs appeared to be on their way to claiming back home-court advantage. But wait a minute. Dallas still had one more chance to tie or win the game. That chance went to Vince Carter and he knew what to do. Carter for 3. BANG! Vinsanity was alive and well in Game 3. VC received a pass near the left corner three-point area. He pump-faked to get Ginobili out of the way then Carter launched a double-clutch three that hit nothing but the bottom of the net. Game over. Mavs win to take a 2-1 lead over the #1 seed Spurs. Carter wasn't shooting particularly well during the game and the series but he was ready to shoot once he got the pass. The shot that he made was reminiscent of a shot that he took on May 20, 2001 as a member of the Toronto Raptors. The biggest difference was that he missed that attempt in Game 7 of the ECF vs Allen Iverson and the Sixers. Well, for this game, he made that shot and that's what matters for Dallas and their fans.

The NBA 2014 Playoffs: Day 4 - Wizards Take 2 in Chicago

John Wall and the Washington Wizards are going back to DC with a 2-0 lead
(Image from: Associated Press) 

#OT #Beal #clutch #magical
The third OT game of the playoffs produced a 2-0 lead for the Wizards over the Bulls. Bradley Beal came out to play and he was spectacular. He had 26 points including 3 clutch baskets down the stretch to keep the Wizards close. The Bulls were leading comfortably by 10 in the 4th quarter but Washington kept trimming the lead and managed to send the game in overtime. In the extra frame, Nene took over with 6 points but Chicago still  had a chance to tie in the final seconds to go to a double OT. Kirk Hinrich was fouled with about 2 seconds to go. He missed his first FT, then intentionally missed the second one but the rebound was not recovered by anyone until time ran out for the Bulls. Joakim Noah finished with a double-double while their bench was fantastic with Taj Gibson and DJ Augustin combining for 47 points. The Bulls are in trouble of losing the series, maybe even getting swept. Odds are not in their favor but they can still recover starting with a victory on the road in Game 3.

2014 NBA Playoff Roundtable – Picking the Champs!

Fourteen have fallen by the wayside. Sixteen have survived. In two weeks, about half of those remaining teams will see their respective runs end. By the time the rains consume the skies again in late May, each conference will have its champion. Finally, by mid-June, a new King of the basketball mountain will emerge.

Of course, the Miami Heat might just win it all again, and it’ll be the same King.

The point is, WELCOME TO THE NBA PLAYOFFS!!!

As exciting and highlight-filled the regular season has been, this is the part of the NBA calendar that every person – player, coach, fan, ballboy, the guy who sells hotdogs outside the bleachers – really waits for. This is when one just throws percentages out the window. This is when tanking is just fiction. This is when fouls are harder, misses clang a little louder, and made shots feel much sweeter.

This is when only one thing really matters – winning that NBA Championship.

The top four seeds in the NBA Playoffs -- Indiana, Miami, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City.

Together with some really intense NBA fans, the Rappler sports crew now gives you its preview of what should go down in history as one of the tightest and most memorable Playoffs ever.

Here are the folks who have taken time to give their two cents:

2014 NBA Playoff Roundtable – Eastern Conference Predictions

Fourteen have fallen by the wayside. Sixteen have survived. In two weeks, about half of those remaining teams will see their respective runs end. By the time the rains consume the skies again in late May, each conference will have its champion. Finally, by mid-June, a new King of the basketball mountain will emerge.

Of course, the Miami Heat might just win it all again, and it’ll be the same King.

The point is, WELCOME TO THE NBA PLAYOFFS!!!

Paul Millsap (top left) already leads PG24, 1-0, while D-Will (bottom right) and
his Nets won Game 1 north of the border against the Raps.

As exciting and highlight-filled the regular season has been, this is the part of the NBA calendar that every person – player, coach, fan, ballboy, the guy who sells hotdogs outside the bleachers – really waits for. This is when one just throws percentages out the window. This is when tanking is just fiction. This is when fouls are harder, misses clang a little louder, and made shots feel much sweeter.

This is when only one thing really matters – winning that NBA Championship.

Together with some really intense NBA fans, we now give you our preview of what should go down in history as one of the tightest and most memorable Playoffs ever.

Here are the folks who have taken time to give their two cents:

Hoop Nut Blogcast Episode 2 - #OBEY

We’re rolling out Episode 2 of the Hoop Nut Blogcast! After taking some constructive criticism regarding the first episode, we tried to be more focused and concise with this particular episode. After recording this and editing it, I can say we succeeded in the former, but failed in the latter! 

Rolly and I were hoping to trim this down to around 20-30 minutes only, but it still reached 40+ minutes. What can I say? We’re two basketball-loving blabbermouths. So there haha!

The theme for this particular episode is taken from the controversial decisions announced by Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter this past Friday. The word on Greg’s shirt just says it all — #OBEY.

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Hoop Nut Blogcast! #OBEY

The NBA: The Best Players and Teams of November 2013

The new NBA season has opened again and with it comes renewed excitement. Will Miami end up with its third straight title? Will Indiana continue its rise as one of the league’s elite squads? Can the Spurs buck their aging core anew and make a deep Playoff run? Will the retooled lineups of both the Clippers and the Nets be enough to make them title contenders? And will the Bulls return to glory behind Derrick Rose’s comeback (oops, wait, that’s answered already – insert sad face now)?

This is the first in a series of “Best of the Month” citations based on the Efficiency Recap ratings on HoopsStats.com. Team citations will be based on Efficiency Recap Difference (Team Efficiency – Opponents’ Efficiency), while Player citations will be based on Player Efficiency. You can check out the Stats Glossary here.

Roy Hibbert and the Pacers are smiling from atop the Association.
(image by Brian Spurlock/USA Today)

The NBA Roundup: November 20-21, 2013

The Blazers and the Spurs continued their hot streaks, the Mavs rallied to beat the Rockets, PG24 outdueled Melo, and Miami continued to heat up in the past two days’ action from the Association.

Tony Parker and the Spurs continued their winning ways
against the hapless Celtics.
(image by Eric Gay/AP)

The Best:

• It was a boogie kind of night in Sac-town two days ago when the Kings beat Phoenix, 107-104, thanks to DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins unloading a 27-12 double-double line. The embattled Cousins, who has had to battle one controversy after another in his young pro career, shot 50% from the field while adding 4 steals, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in the night’s best performance.
• Monta Ellis scored a season-high 37 markers as the Mavericks came back from 14 down at the start of the fourth to pull the rug from under the Rockets. Ellis shot 13/18 from the field – a rarity in the shot-monger’s resume – and also tallied 8 dimes and 2 swipes. This win pushed Dallas past Houston in the West’s ladder. Dirk Nowitzki also had a wonderful night with 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
• Paul George cemented his status as arguably the best player in the NBA right now by outdueling Carmelo Anthony. PG24 outscored Melo, 35-30, and led his Pacers to their tenth win in eleven games. George also registered 5 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, and 2 blocked shots. Melo’s Knickerbockers, meanwhile, fell to 3-8 and tied cross-town rival Brooklyn for last place in the Atlantic Division.

The Worst:

• Avery Bradley has a golden opportunity this season to show what he’s made of. Without Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo in the active roster, Bradley is surely one of the primary options for Boston at the perimeter. His game against Houston two nights ago, however, left a lot to be desired. Bradley shot just 5/22 from the floor and turned the ball over 3 times in 27 minutes.
• Tristan Thompson is a significant barometer for Cleveland’s success, and that came to fore when the Cavs played Washington last night. Thompson missed all 5 of his field goals, turned the ball over twice, and grabbed only 4 rebounds in 24 minutes of action. Result? Cavs lose to the Wiz just a few days after they beat them on the road in their previous game.

The NBA Roundup: November 17, 2013

The Bulls dealt the Pacers their first loss of the season, while Kyrie Irving dropped 41 as the Cavs beat the Wiz. Also, Miami extended its win streak to three games after defeating Charlotte in today’s NBA action.

Uncle Drew torched the Washington Wizards fo 41 points.
(image by Ned Dishman/Getty Images)

The Best:

-       Uncle Drew stroked the chains for 41 big ones as his Cavaliers notched their fourth win in eleven games at the expense of the Washington Wizards. Kyrie hit 4 triples and all 9 of his free throws in a scintillating shooting display. He also added 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

-       LeBron James seems to be humming right now, dropping 30 on the hapless Cats after he sank 39 against the Mavs and 33 against the Bucks. James also handed out 7 dimes, grabbed 4 boards, and shot 13/18 from the field. Miami is running second out East right behind the Pacers.

-       Speaking of the Pacers, they tasted their first loss of the season at the hands of another strong East squad – the Chicago Bulls. Luol Deng continued to impress for the Bulls, scoring 23 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and shooting 8/14 from the floor, while Derrick Rose returned from sick bay to hit 6 triples on his way to scoring a season-high 20 points.

The Worst:

-       JR Smith contributed heavily to New York’s loss at the hands of the Hawks. Smith connected on just 3 of his 18 field goals to finish with only 7 points in 36 minutes of play. It was just raining bricks for the former Nugget.

-       Milwaukee really needs to plug its big donut hole. Incumbent starter Zaza Pachulia is a serviceable big man, but he’s just not star material. Against OKC, Zaza shot 3/13 from the floor to finish with just 7 points. He did grab 13 boards, but he had zero blocks and 3 turnovers. That just won’t cut it.

-       It looks like the guard spots will be troublesome for Jason Kidd. Against the Clippers, two of his main backcourt guys, Joe Johnson and Shaun Livingston, combined to shoot just 9/31 and 5 turnovers. In contrast, Doc Rivers’s starting backcourt – Chris Paul and JJ Redick – paired up for 38 points on 12/26 FG shooting. CP3 and Redick hit a combined 7 triples and had just 2 turnovers total.

The NBA Roundup: November 16, 2013

Indiana rising up to 9-0, the Bulls finally winning one on the road, and the Nets upending Phoenix in OT are only some of the great stuff from today’s NBA action.

Joe Johnson hit the biggest shot of the game as
Brooklyn survived Phoenix in OT.
(image by Matt York/AP)

The Best:

• LeBron James missed a total of just 5 of his 29 shots as Miami won over the Dallas Mavericks, 110-104. LBJ score a season-high 39 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists as his Heat improved to 6-3 on the season.
• Atlanta’s Jeff Teague was also quite awesome as the Hawks beat the Sixers, 113-103. Teague registered 33 points on top of 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal. He shot 10/16 from the field and 12/13 from the line in a Michael Carter-Williams remained in sick bay and the Hawks improved to 3-1 at home.
• Roy Hibbert stood tall anew for the yet undefeated Pacers. Hibbert nearly crunched a triple-double, scoring 24 markers, grabbing 10 rebounds, and blocking 8 shots. He shot 8/10 from the field and made all eight of his free throws.

The Worst:

• Maybe someday Gordon Hayward will be an All-Star, but in this game against the Spurs, he looked more like a brick-builder. Hayward shot just 5/23 from the field, including 1/9 from beyond the arc to end up with 15 points in 43 minutes.
• I loved Joe Johnson’s game-winning heroics in OT. He is, in fact, 5/5 in terms of game-tying (at the end of the fourth) or game-winning shots since becoming a Net. Still, maybe he shot much better than 6/19 from the floor, the game wouldn’t have gone to an extra inning in the first place.
• Greivis Vasquez is a pretty good pick-up for the Kings, but his main waterloo is taking care of the ball and that was well-exposed against the Pistons. Detroit’s lockdown D forced Vasquez to cough the ball up 8 times in just 29 minutes. Oops.

The NBA Roundup: November 10, 2013

The Pacers marched to a 7-0 slate, the Clips repeated over the Rockets, and Jeff Green (JEFF GREEEN!) buried a buzzer-beating three to pull the rug from under Miami in yesterday’s NBA action.

Jeff Green let loose a bomb over LBJ as
the Cetlics stunned Miami.
(image by Chris Trotman/Getty Images

The Best:

• Kyrie Irving and Michael Carter-Williams had an awesome duel down in Ohio, with Irving’s Cavs coming out on top, 127-125. Irving buried 5 triples on his way to 39 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds, while MCW dropped 21 markers, 7 boards, 13 dimes, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Carter-Williams also drained all three treys he attempted. Needless to say, this duel is going to be really fun to watch in the foreseeable future.
• How about that DeAndre Jordan showing up to play on BOTH ends of the floor? Jordan pretty much outplayed Dwight Howard as Los Angeles continued to frustrate Houston. Jordan scored just a dozen points, but he hauled down 18 rebounds, had 4 assists, 3 blocked shots, and 2 steals for the Clippers, who have now won over the Rockets twice in the last week.
• Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge has really come into his own. Against the Kings, Aldridge poured in 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 10/19 from the field. This could be the year he becomes an All-Star for the West.

The Worst:

• Harrison Barnes might not be adjusting too well to his role as chief back-up wingman. Against the Grizzlies, Barnes nailed just 2/7 from the floor to finish with 4 points in 19 minutes of play. Either he settles into his new role and vies for SMOY, or he gets shipped out before Valentine’s.
• I am not really lovin’ how Paul Pierce is fitting into the Brooklyn Nets right now. Against the Pacers, the Truth shot just 5/12 from the field and turned the ball over 5 times in 33 minutes of play. I say his age is catching up really really fast.
• I love Damien Lillard’s game, but in this one against Sac-town, last year’s ROY built a house of bricks. Lillard made just 1 out of his FIFTEEN field goals to finish with 4 points in 37 minutes of play. Damn.

The NBA Roundup: November 9, 2013

Chicago kept Utah winless, Indiana remained undefeated, Anthony Davis had a career game, Kevin Love and Kevin Durant dropped a huge numbers, and many more happened in yesterday’s NBA action.

The Best:

• Kevin Love was nothing short of awesome against the Dallas Mavericks. The former Bruin scored 32 points on the strength of 12/21 FG shooting to lead his T-Wolves past the 2011 champs. Love also grabbed 15 rebounds, dished out 8 assists, and hit 3 treys in a near-triple-double performance.
• Kevin Durant also did mightily as the Oklahoma City Thunder reeled in win #4, beating the Detroit Pistons, 119-110. Durant scored a season-high 37 points on top of 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. KD also shot 9/15 from the field and 17/19 from the line.
• If one needs any more proof that last season’s top pick will be a future superstar, then he need not look any further than the Pelicans’ game against the Lakers yesterday. Anthony Davis dropped a career-high 32 points on Los Angeles as New Orleans went up to .500. The Unibrow also hauled down 12 rebounds, had 3 assists, got 1 steal, and blocked SIX shots for the second time this season. Davis has blocked at least three shots in each of his first six games this season. #DPOYCandidate

Kevin Love dominated Dallas's frontline last night.
(image by Jim Mone/AP)

The Worst:

• Jodi Meeks crashed back to earth after he waxed hot in the Lakers’ upset win over the Rockets. This time around, Meeks produced just 11 points in 42 minutes of action as he was shadowed by the Pelicans’ perimeter defense for the entire game.
• Marcus Thornton struggled against the Blazers. Thornton made just 2/11 field goals to finish with 5 points in 40 minutes of play. His Kings are now 1-4 for the season.
• GSW sniper Klay Thompson was caught by the law of averages against San Antonio. Thompson, who has been on fire to start the season up till this point, shot just 5/16 from the floor, including 1/5 from long distance. He finished with 11 points and 3 turnovers in 39 minutes.

The NBA Roundup: November 6, 2013

Indiana continued its unmolested run to open the season, earning a road win over an improved Detroit squad for win #4. In the meantime, New York was ambushed by the unheralded Bobcats, while Houston rebounded from a blowout loss by overcoming Portland.

The Best:

• LeBron James recorded his 500^th straight double-digit scoring game by unloading 35 points on top of 8 rebounds and 8 assists on the Toronto Raptors, who actually led by double-digits at one point in the game.
• Paul George continues his phenomenal growth as one of the top small forwards in the league (the other two are, you know, LBJ and KD – Melo is right behind PG24 right now), scoring 31 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. More importantly, though, his Pacers are 4-0.
• Monta Ellis probably won’t be one of the top ten players this season, but he’s certainly one of the top guys on the Mavs’ roster. Ellis shot 11/14 from the field and finished with 30 points to go along with 9 assists. He also shot a perfect 8/8 from the line as Dallas blew out the Lakers.

PG24 led the Pacers to a 4-0 start in the NBA's new season.
(image by Allen Einstein/Getty Images)

The Worst:

• I love what Josh Smith brings to the Detroit Pistons, but in their game against the Pacers. J-Smoove finished 16 points, yes, but he shot just 5/16 from the field and turned the ball over four times. Had he played more efficiently, MAYBE they wouldn’t have lost by just 8 points.
• Someday soon, Enes Kanter should become a really good big man for Utah, but that’s only if he cuts down on his turnovers. The young Turkish slotman coughed the ball up 7 times against the Nets, and that is just too high a number for anyone who primarily plays under the basket.

The NBA Opening Night Roundup: October 30, 2013

Please remember that all times are MANILA TIME, which is why the title reads October 30, 2013 and NOT October 29. This blog’s biggest market, after all, is right here in the Philippines, so there.

Now that THAT little details has been cast aside, it’s time to look at what happened on day one of the 2013-2014 NBA season, which will now be known as the Miami Heat’s historic three-peat effort. I, for one, won’t lie. I don’t want them to win (gulp gulp gulp down that haterade!).

But I think they will.

Especially if they play the way they did against the Bulls for most of their remaining 81-game schedule. I mean, seven Heat guys scored in double-digits, and they pretty much obliterated the #1 ranked (at least if you ask Bill Simmons) Chicago five from the second quarter onwards. They let Carlos Boozer drop 31 points on 13/18 FG shooting, which they will choose to live with any day, but limited the erstwhile super impressive Derrick Rose, who settled for a dozen markers on 4/12 FG shooting. He also coughed the ball up five times.

Derrick Rose returned to the NBA with a whimper, struggling
against the tenacious Miami Heat in Day 1 action.
(image by J Pat Carter/AP)

Looks like it will be another looong season, folks. The Evil Empire definitely looks to be the team-to-beat.

The NBA: Who Can Beat the Heat?

The Brooklyn Nets went way over the luxury tax line
to compete for a title and possibly beat the Heat

The Miami Heat will try to win their 3rd straight title this upcoming season. For that to happen, Miami needs a few things to go their way. Click HERE for more information.

Their path to another championship just got a lot harder and tougher with multiple teams improving and upgrading their rosters. So, which teams can realistically Beat the Heat?

THE ELITE CONTENDERS

Brooklyn Nets
The Nets made the playoffs as a 4th seed last year but lost in the first round. They have significantly improved their lineup, especially their starting five with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. On the bench, they have Jason Terry, Shaun Livingston, Andrei Kirilenko, Andray Blatche and Reggie Evans. This team is better and deeper than last year's version. They match up well with the Heat and they have multiple defenders who can guard LeBron. Now, can they all stay healthy and develop chemistry under rookie head coach Jason Kidd who recently retired this past summer. Kidd has zero experience in coaching but his floor vision and leadership as a former player could make his transition into a bench tactician smoother and faster. Overall, this team should be better on offense and defense... but are they good enough to beat the Heat? Maybe.

The NBA: 2013 ECF: Top of the East

Dwyane Wade finally had a good game to support LeBron James in Game 7.
Miami will appear in their 3rd straight NBA Finals vs San Antonio
(Image from: Joe Skipper/REUTERS) 

#beatdown #Game7 #LetsGoHeat
Defense wins championship and in this case, it won Game 7 of the East Finals. This was a tight and contested series with defense and rebounding being the winning factors in each game. Miami won 3 of their games by double digits and Game 7 was a total team effort that resulted into a beat down of the Pacers. Miami limited Indiana to a measly 76 points including a dominating 2nd quarter where the Heat took over by scoring 33 to the Pacers' 16 which bumped the halftime lead to 17 points. The Pacers never recovered as the lead ballooned to 29 plus George and Hibbert got into foul trouble for the first time in the series. The Heat led by Wade and Bosh, finally owned the glass as they grabbed more rebounds than the Pacers. Miami was more aggressive with their shot selections as they attacked Hibbert and the paint at will which resulted to a staggering 33 of 38 FTs (highest of the series). LeBron James spearheaded the attack with his smothering defense of Paul George to start the game (7 points) and on offense, LBJ made sure that Wade and Bosh got their touches to get them more involved. The strategy worked in the first half when Wade/Bosh already eclipsed their total production from Game 6.

#JesusSaves #WoW #Finally #AboutTime
It was about time for some of the Heat players to show up. Ray Allen was missing for most of the series as he struggled to get his threes in while his FTs also deserted him. He still got his 20 minutes of playing time but the production was not there. Things finally went his way during the 2nd quarter when Allen erupted for 10 points including 3 threes that helped Miami establish a big lead which they never relinquished. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade produced his best game of the series and the playoffs with his 21 points and 9 rebounds (6 offensive). This was the first 20-point outing for Wade in the past 12 games. D-Wade a.k.a WoW was active on defense and his scoring provided ample support to James. Wade attacked the paint and drew fouls which resulted to 7/7 FTs. As for Chris Bosh, he had a productive first half with his 8 points and 7 rebounds. He still struggled shooting (3-13) but he was engaged and competing. Bosh did not always settle for the long jumpers as he tried to drive to the hoop and challenge Hibbert at the rim. The results were not pretty for Bosh but that was a lot better than doing nothing. More importantly, Bosh played solid defense against Hibbert in the 1st half as he finally delivered better numbers during the opening half.

#PacerNation #PG24 #Elite
The Pacers had a wonderful season and they exceeded expectations. They were not supposed to reach this far in the playoffs without Danny Granger while Paul George's rise to stardom was not expected to happen this early. Lance Stephenson had a decent season as he became a full time starter while Roy Hibbert and his verticality deserve a ton of credit for challenging Miami. The Pacers truly had a chance to upset the Heat and some (Sir HoopNut) would argue that they should have already won the series. In truth, the Pacers are an amazing defensive team but they simply lack the offensive firepower to match the Heat. In 3 of their losses, Indy averaged 84 points while giving up 101 to Miami. The Pacers are on the cusp of becoming an elite team but they need another shooter (maybe a healthy Granger) plus more help from their bench. A more capable backup PG and a shooting wing player should elevate them to another level for next season. Miami always dominated Indiana when their starters went for a short rest.

#NBAFinals #GoSpursGo
The Finals start on Thursday with the San Antonio Spurs resting for about 9 days. This series will be billed as the fight between whose "Big 3" is better while other subplots include: the chance for LeBron James to avenge his 2007 loss as a Cavalier, which team is healthier (Wade or Manu), which bench is better and can Coach Spo hold his ground against the best in the business, Gregg Popovich. The Spurs swept LBJ in such a dominating fashion 6 years ago which left James embarrassed and humiliated. Their season series was 2-0 in favor of Miami but both games featured a bunch of missing key players which offer us nothing in terms of advantages and disadvantages. Both teams are among the top in offensive production while also being devoted to defense. Stay tuned at here at Hoop Nut as we will have additional articles to cover the NBA Finals. We will have guest writers as well!

#Player of the Night
LeBron James (Heat) - 32 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a nasty alley-oop in the 2nd quarter!

#Highlight of the Night
Dunkathon in Game 7

#Tweets of the Nights

David West ‏@D_West30

Salute to MIA...Championship Resolve 2nite!!

Paul George ‏@Paul_George24

GREAT year.. Proud of my guys! Nothin better than competing agaisny a great competitor.. We there tho Pacer Nation! #Wethere

The NBA Playoffs Roundup: June 2, 2013

Well we’re going to have a Game 7 after all! The only team that has beaten Miami five times out of nine this season is raring to deliver the biggest upset of the year! Go Pacers! Beat the Heat!

Today’s Best:

•        LeBron James was still the best player on the floor, but not even his 29 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block could push Miami straight through to the Finals. He sure felt like Cleveland all over again.
•        Now how about PG24? What an awesome performance. 28 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals? You kidding me? Another one of these, and the Pacers will enter the Finals for the first time since Reggie Miller was still sinking treys left and right.

Paul George rams it down Chris Bosh's throat!
(image by Michael Conroy/AP)

Today’s Worst:

•        Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen combined for the following production: 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists on 6-of-27 FG shooting. Oh and 5 turnovers, too. Pretty good stats for one guy alone, but for three guys who could still be All-Stars next year? Damn shame.