Playoffs Day 6 and Lebron & AD Dominate! 8.22.20
Today we have 4 more 1st round playoff matchups ft. Rockets vs Thunder.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) controls the ball against Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) in the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Today we have 4 more 1st round playoff matchups ft. Rockets vs Thunder.
Nick Nurse has been named the Coach of the Year. Nurse wasn’t named the winner by the Coaches Committee, but he won the actual award. Nurse deserves the award as without Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors were still the #2 seed in the East. And Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Marc Gasol and other key players missed time for the Raptors. So he had to play lots of guys who didn’t normally play. Now Nurse is leading the Raptors to another deep playoff run.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks won their 3rd game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Bucks were in a tied 1-1 series but it looked like Game 1 was an aberration and that this series would be finished in 5 games. And it looks like that will continue to be the case as the Bucks blew out the Magic from the tip as they won Game 3 121-107, taking a 2-1 series lead.
Offensively the Bucks were excellent as they shot 56% from the field and 46% from 3. Milwaukee was also 12/17 from the free throw line. The Bucks turned the ball over 18 times. The Bucks also had 52 points in the paint.
Defensively the Bucks were poor as the Magic shot 45% from the field and 48% from 3. Orlando was also 12/14 from the free throw line. The Bucks forced 17 turnovers. The Bucks only allowed 26 points in the paint.
Giannis had 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Bucks. Khris Middleton had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Brook Lopez added 16 points and 6 rebounds. Eric Bledsoe had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists as well.
Conclusion
The Bucks now lead 2-1 in the series as they look to be getting back to business. Giannis was dominant on both ends of the floor and he got some help. Khris Middleton played his best game of the series and Brook Lopez and Eric Bledsoe also had solid contributions. The Bucks will likely win this series in 5 games, and they should focus on getting sharper for the 2nd round.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers lost their 3rd game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Pacers have been playing well in the playoffs, but without All-Star Domantas Sabonis, they seemed over-matched. In each game of this series, they have been competitive. But they just can’t stop Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. And tonight was another example of that. The Heat jumped out to a big lead, and the Pacers fought back. But in the end Miami made the big plays and they won 124-115. The Pacers now trail 0-3 in this series.
Offensively the the Pacers were good as they shot 49% from the field and 36% from 3. Indiana was also 21/28 from the free throw line. The Pacers had 14 turnovers. Indiana also had 44 points in the paint.
Defensively the Pacers were poor as Miami shot 45% from the field and 39% from 3. Miami was also 43/52 from the free throw line. The Pacers forced 16 turnovers. The Pacers allowed 36 points in the paint.
Malcolm Brogdon had 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 14 assists. TJ Warren had 23 points and 6 rebounds. Victor Oladipo had 20 points as well. Myles Turner had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Aaron Holiday was also in double figures.
Conclusion
The Pacers have fought hard in this series, but they just can’t overcome the defense and shooting of the Heat. And with Domantas Sabonis unlikely to play, it should be safe to say that this series is over. The Pacers got unlucky with their health, but they put up quite a fight so far in this series. It’ll have to be next year for Indiana.
Miami Heat
The Heat won their 3rd game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Heat have been very good in this series as they have just been imposing their will on the under-matched Heat team. Their have been collective efforts on both ends for Miami and it looks like they will be sweeping this series. And the Heat followed suite with another win. They got a big lead, but as the Pacers came close, they put them away. Miami won 124-115 and they now lead 3-0 in this series.
Offensively the Heat were great as they shot 45% from the field and 39% from 3. The Heat were also 43/52 from the free throw line. The Heat turned the ball over 16 times. The Heat only had 36 points in the paint.
Defensively the Heat were poor as the Pacers shot 49% from the field and 36% from 3. Indiana was also 21/28 from the free throw line. The Heat forced 14 turnovers. The Heat allowed 44 points in the paint.
Jimmy Butler had 27 points and 8 rebounds. Goran Dragic had 24 points and 6 assists. Bam Adebayo had 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Tyler Herro had 20 points off the bench. Jae Crowder and Duncan Robinson were also in double figures.
Conclusion
The Heat now lead 3-0 in this series as their offense has been very good. Their shooters of Robinson, Dragic, and Herro have been on point in this series. Butler and Adebayo played very well and their defense played well when they needed it to. The Heat have looked very good and scary in this series as they look to sweep the Pacers and advance to the 2nd round.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets lost their 3rd game in the bubble. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Rockets looked very good in the first two games without Russell Westbrook, as they looked to take a 3-0 series lead. But it would not be easy as the Thunder would be on their A-game. And the Rockets were in a tough game late. The game went back and forth throughout the 4th quarter and things got crazy late. The Rockets trailed 104-103 with the ball, and Danuel House got fouled. He made 1/2 free throws and the game was tied at 104. Chris Paul missed at the buzzer and the game went into overtime. And in OT the Rockets only scored 3 points and they lost 119-107. The series is now 2-1 in favor of Houston.
Offensively Houston was ok as they shot 41% from the field and 30% from 3. Houston was also 16/23 from the free throw line. The Rockets turned the ball over 16 times. The Rockets had 46 points in the paint.
Defensively Houston was poor as OKC shot 45% from the field and 34% from 3. The Thunder were also 23/34 from the free throw line. The Rockets forced 15 turnovers. The Rockets allowed 40 points in the paint.
James Harden had 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jeff Green had 22 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Eric Gordon had 18 points. Danuel House added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Conclusion
The Rockets played ok throughout the game and they were right with the Thunder. But in overtime they really fell apart as they only scored 3 points. It seemed that they ran out of gas late and the Thunder took advantage. But the Rockets still lead 2-1 in the series but they still have a chance to put the Thunder away in Game 4.
OKC Thunder
The Thunder won their 3rd game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Thunder have looked very bad in the first two games of this series, and they needed to win game 3 to stay in the series. And the Thunder did a good job staying competitive with the Thunder all night long. With the game tied at 104 with the ball, the Thunder had a chance to win. But Chris Paul missed at the buzzer and the game went into OT. And the Thunder dominated OT as they won 119-107. The Thunder now trail 2-1 in the series.
Offensively the Thunder were good as they shot 45% from the field and 34% from the field The Thunder were also 23/34 from the free throw line. The Thunder had 15 turnovers. OKC also had 40 points in the paint.
Defensively the Thunder were also good as Houston shot 41% from the field and 30% from 3. Houston was also 16/23 from the free throw line. The Thunder forced 16 turnovers. OKC also allowed 46 points in the paint.
Dennis Schroder had 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench. Chris Paul had 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Danilo Gallinari added 20 points and 7 rebounds.
Conclusion
The Thunder played much better as their offense finally got going. Dennis Schroder and Chris Paul had their best games of the series, and the 3-guard set along with Gallinari each had 20+ points. And the Thunder defense locked down the Rockets in OT. The Thunder will need their big-3 guards to play like this for the rest of the series in order to come back and win.
LA Lakers
The Lakers won their 3rd game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Lakers dominated in Game 2 as they tied the series at 1-1. With a win at Game 3 the Lakers would take a 2-1 series lead. But a loss would turn the tide of the series. And the Lakers were locked in a tough battle all night long. But Lebron James and Anthony Davis carried the Lakers all night long and the Lakers held on to win 116-108.
Offensively the Lakers were good as they shot 50% from the field and 33% from 3. The Lakers were also 28/43 from the free throw line. The Lakers had 12 offensive rebounds. The Lakers turned the ball over 17 times. The Lakers had 42 points in the paint.
Defensively the Lakers were also great as the Blazers shot 41% from the field and 34% from 3. The Blazers were also 18/19 from the free throw line. The Lakers forced 11 turnovers. LA only allowed 34 points in the paint.
Lebron James had 38 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. Anthony Davis had 29 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists. KCP had 13 points. Alex Caruso had 10 points and 7 assists.
Conclusion
The Lakers didn’t play defense as good as they did in Game 2, but they defended when they needed to to get the Game 3 victory. Lebron James and Anthony Davis dominated throughout the game and the Lakers take a 2-1 series lead. The Lakers look to end this series as quickly as possible as they try and look for a deep playoff run.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers lost their 3rd game in the playoffs. Here is what I thought about their performance.
The Blazers got dominated in Game 2 and looked to respond in Game 3. Dame Lillard was playing with a finger injury, but the Blazers still played well. Dame Lillard and CJ McCollum were hot all night long, but the Blazers went cold in the 4th quarter and they lost 116-108. The Blazers now trail 2-1 in the series.
Offensively Portland was sub-par as they shot 41% from the field and 34% from 3. The Blazers were also 18/19 from the free throw line. The Blazers turned the ball over 11 times. Portland also had 34 points in the paint.
Defensively the Blazers were poor as the Lakers shot 50% from the field and 33% from 3. LA was also 28/43 from the free throw line. The Blazers allowed 12 offensive rebounds. The Blazers forced 17 turnovers. The Blazers also allowed 42 points in the paint.
Damian Lillard had 34 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists with his injury. CJ McCollum had 28 points and 8 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and 6 rebounds. Jusuf Nurkic had 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Conclusion
The Blazers started off hot carried by Dame and CJ, and remained close throughout the 2nd half. But they couldn’t stop Lebron James and Anthony Davis in the 4th and they fell short. Their offense was still held in check as they shot just 41% from the field. Dame and CJ played well along with Melo. But the Blazers will need to play better defense in order to beat LA. Game 4 will give the Blazers the opportunity to tie the series.
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