Playoffs Day 14 And Another Crazy Game 7! 9.2.20
It’ Day 14 of the NBA Playoffs and we have 2 games on the schedule ft. Game 7 between the Rockets and Thunder.
It’ Day 14 of the NBA Playoffs and we have 2 games on the schedule ft. Game 7 between the Rockets and Thunder.
Miami Heat
The Heat won Game 2 against the Bucks. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After an impressive Game 1 win fueled by Jimmy Butler, the Heat looked to do it again against the Bucks. The Heat seemed to have figured out the Bucks and with a win they would have their grips on the #1 seed in the East. And the Heat got off to a great start as they scored 38 points in the 1st quarter. The Heat led by 6 at halftime. But then the Heat let down late in the 4th and the Bucks closed the gap to 4 entering the 4th. And the 4th quarter was something else. The Heat extended their lead to 10, 105-95. And I thought that the Heat would pull away. And the Heat held that lead for almost the entire quarter. With 19.8 seconds left, the Heat led 113-107. This game was over. But Giannis scored, then Lopez scored off of turnover. So with 8.5 seconds left the Heat led 113-111. Jimmy Butler hit 1/2 free throws and the Heat led 114-111. But the Bucks had one last chance. Middleton got the ball, and he was fouled. Now it wasn’t much of a foul by Dragic, but it was enough. Middleton hit all 3 free throws and the game was tied 114-114 with 4.3 seconds left. Out of the timeout, the Heat gave the ball to Jimmy Butler in the left corner. He shot a fadeaway out of the corner over Giannis and Wesley Matthews. And he miss, game over. Oh, wait he was ‘fouled’. On one of the worst calls ever, they called a foul. Giannis touched him, but barely. So the refs gave Butler two free throws with no time on the clock. If he missed both, overtime. If he made one, game over. And he made both. The Heat survived to take a 2-0 series lead.
Offensively the Heat were great as they shot 46% from the field and 38% from 3. Miami was also 25/32 from the free throw line. Miami turned the ball over 10 times. The Heat had just 30 points in the paint.
Defensively the Heat were sup-par as the Bucks shot 44% from the field and 28% from 3. The Bucks were also 33/39 from the free throw line. The Heat allowed 17 offensive rebounds. Miami forced 14 turnovers. The Heat also allowed 52 points in the paint.
Goran Dragic had 23 points and 5 rebounds. Tyler Herro had 17 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. Jae Crowder had 16 points and 6 rebounds. Bam Adebayo had 15 points and 9 rebounds. Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, and Kelly Olynyk were also in double figures.
Conclusion
The Heat played 47 minutes and 40 seconds of good basketball in this game, and it was enough. Before the final 20 seconds of this game, the Heat controlled. Their lead started in the 1st quarter and they never really gave it away. Today the offense was more spread as 7 guys scored in double-figures. While Jimmy Butler was quiet, guys like Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, and Kelly Olynyk stepped up. The Heat defense was great once again as the Bucks offense never really got going. Now those final 20 seconds got messy for the Heat. They had a turnover, missed free throw, and a stupid foul. And sure they got bailed out at the end, but for almost the entirety of this game the Heat were in control. The Heat definitely deserved this win, but the Heat might want to address their late game execution. The Heat seemed to have figured out the Bucks as they lead 2-0 in this series and look to put this series away in Game 3.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks lost Game 2 against the Heat. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After losing Game 1 to the Heat, I expected the Bucks to play with a fire and come out swinging. With Eric Bledsoe back in the lineup, it seemed like the Bucks would play better. I expected changes to the offense and defense. None of that happened. The Bucks started off slow and had to climb out of a hole for nearly the entire game. They trailed for almost the entire game. But the final 20 seconds of this game in where the Bucks had a chance to win. Trailing by 6 with 20 seconds left, all seemed left. The Giannis scored. After a turnover, Brook Lopez scored. So with 8.5 seconds left, the Bucks trailed 113-111. After Jimmy Butler hit 1/2 free throws, the Bucks trailed by 3 with the ball and a chance to tie. The Bucks inbounded and the ball found Khris Middleton and he raised up for 3, and was fouled. Middleton hit all 3 free throws and tied the game at 114. The Heat got the ball to Jimmy Butler in the left corner. Butler shot a tough fadeaway over Giannis and Matthews. And he was ‘fouled.’ Again, a terrible call. Butler made 2/2 free throws with no time left, and the Bucks lost 116-114. The Bucks now trail 0-2 in this series.
Offensively the Bucks were ok as they shot 44% from the field and 28% from 3. The Bucks were also 33/39 from the free throw line. The Bucks collected 17 offensive rebounds. Milwaukee turned the ball over 14 times. The Bucks also had 52 points in the paint.
Defensively the Bucks were terrible as they shot 46% from the field and 38% from 3. Miami was also 25/32 from the free throw line. The Bucks forced 10 turnovers. The Bucks also allowed just 30 points in the paint.
Giannis had 29 points and 14 rebounds. Khris Middleton had 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. Brook Lopez had 16 points and 7 rebounds. Eric Bledsoe added 16 points and 7 rebounds. George Hill had 14 points off the bench.
Conclusion
The Bucks looked sluggish and slow once again in Game 2. Forget the bad call that lost them the game. They only cared in the last 20 seconds of this game. But they let the Heat control them all game long. On offense, their wasn’t any movement and they didn’t make it easier on Giannis as he played better, but not great. On defense, they let the Heat shoot 3’s at will and while Jimmy Butler was quiet, they didn’t stop others from scoring. Again, the Bucks only seemed to care during the last 20 seconds of this game. But for the rest of the game, they let the Heat dictate them. The Bucks are the only reason why they trail 0-2 in this series, and they will have to chance in order to win this series.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder lost their 7th game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After a tough series, it all came down to this. The Thunder were given a 1.4% chance to make the playoffs. And now they had a chance to upset to the Rockets. And this game had it all. The first half was offensive oriented as the Thunder were locked in a tough battle. In the 3rd the Thunder slipped up on offense and trailed by 5 entering the 4th. But Chris Paul said, this ain’t over. The Thunder made it a game again as they tied the game at 99 with 4:39 left in the 4th. And with 1:42 left, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave the Thunder a 102-101 lead. After a score by Houston and a very wild sequence, the Thunder trailed 103-102. The Thunder had the ball with a chance to win. The ball got kicked out to Dort, and he got blocked by Harden. After free throws, the Thunder trailed 104-102 with 1.1 seconds left. But the Thunder were fouled before the ball was inbounded. So they got 1 free throw. And Gallinari missed it. So the Thunder still trailed by 2 with 1 second left. And they had nowhere to throw it to, and they threw it away. The Thunder lost 104-102, and the series 4-3.
Offensively the Thunder were great as they shot 46% from the field and 47% from 3. OKC was also 16/21 from the free throw line. OKC turned the ball over 21 turnovers. The Thunder had just 30 points in the paint.
Defensively the Thunder were great as well as Houston shot 40% from the field and 35% from 3. Houston was also 17/19 from the free throw line. The Thunder allowed 11 offensive rebounds. The Thunder forced 12 turnovers. The Thunder just allowed 30 points in the paint.
Luguentz Dort had 30 points. Chris Paul had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 19 points. Dennis Schroder had 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench. Steven Adams had 10 points and 9 rebounds.
Conclusion
While it was an amazing season from OKC as well as a great fight in this series, it does not sit well on how this series ended. Their execution could have been better, but at the end of the day, they made this thing very good. They had a 1.4% chance to make the playoffs and they were one score away from winning this game. But Chris Paul and Billy Donovan did incredible things with this team and if they stay together, they can make some noise in the West for a few more years. A great season for the Thunder, ended on a sour note.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets won their 7th game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After 6 hard fought games, the Rockets found themselves in a dog fight against the Thunder, and now it all came down to this. The first half favored the Rockets as the offense was hot for both teams and the 3’s were falling for the Rockets. Another great 3rd quarter put the Rockets up 5 entering the 4th. But the Rockets couldn’t hold onto their lead as the game was tied at 99 with 4:49 left. And the Rockets were in trouble as they trailed 102-101 with 1:43 left. After a wild sequence, the Rockets led 103-102. The Thunder had the ball with a chance to win. After the ball found red hot Luguentz Dort, James Harden stepped up. He blocked the shot and the Rockets ended up with the ball. The Rockets led 104-102 and the Thunder had one last chance. After a missed Gallinari free throw, the Rockets had to get one stop. And they did just that as they held on to win 104-102. The Rockets advance to the 2nd round.
Offensively the Rockets were solid as they shot 40% from the field and 35% from 3. Houston was also 17/19 from the free throw line. Houston had 11 offensive rebounds. The Rockets turned the ball over just 12 times. The Rockets had 30 points in the paint.
Defensively the Thunder were poor as OKC shot 46% from the field and 47% from 3. OKC was also 16/21 from the free throw line. The Rockets forced 21 turnovers. Houston allowed just 30 points in the paint.
Robert Covington had 21 points and 10 rebounds. Eric Gordon had 21 points. Russell Westbrook had 20 points and 9 rebounds. James Harden added 17 points and 9 assists. Jeff Green had 13 points off the bench.
Conclusion
The Rockets gutted this win out to win the series. James Harden wasn’t good at all on offense, but he won the game with his defense. Eric Gordon, Covington, and Westbrook all played very well as the Rockets played an all-around gritty game. The small-ball Rockets advance to the 2nd round where they face a very good Lakers team. That will be another very good series.
What Are Your Thoughts From Day 14 of the NBA Playoffs? Leave A Comment Down Below!
My Thoughts On Some Topics From Day 14 Will Be Posted Tomorrow, So Stay Tuned!
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