The New York Knicks Experiment

[Pats4Life]

Re: The New York Knicks Experiment

Now that Boston is out of the picture, only the Heat stand in your way.

[SKA]

Re: The New York Knicks Experiment

2011 NBA Playoffs - First Round Recap

The fifth seeded Orlando Magic were the only other team besides the New York Knicks to sweep their first round opponent, defeating the fourth seeded Chicago Bulls 4-0 with relatively solid numbers. The first game saw a Magic team led by point guard Gilbert Arenas come back in the fourth quarter and defeat the Bulls in a knock-out Game 1 victory in Chicago, 90-86. Many experts predicted the series was offer and named the Magic legitimate title contenders after Game 2 which saw them pick up the second road victory in Chicago, 104-99, in deadheat, high-scoring fourth quarter. When the Magic lured the Bulls into an 84-119 loss in Orlando, everyone knew it was over. Point guard Derrick Rose only had 15 points in the third game, while his 30 point performance in Game 4 wouldn't be enough to avoid the 94-102 defeat at the hands of Dwight Howard's high-performance Magic.

The eighth seeded Charlotte Bobcats knew they were going to have a difficult time against the newly assembled lineup of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat, the number one overall seed in the Eastern Conference. Starting off in Miami, the Bobcats gave a minor portrait of their season, starting the game off strong just as they did this season, but then falling miserably, to a 70-107 defeat. The only two players to score double-digits for the Bobcats would be Stephen Jackson and Tyrus Thomas. Those two would also go hard in their second game in Miami, but in the end, the comeback wouldn't be enough as Miami successfully closed out the Bobcats 86-94. However, a proud moment for the Bobcats would follow, as they would get their first and only franchise playoff win in history in a dominating 84-112 performance against the visiting Heat. Center Nazr Muhammed became the man of the hour with his 21 point and 7 rebound game, leading the Bobcats in scoring. Thomas would also have a 19-9 game, and would do even better in the second ever Bobcats playoff game. He would score 20 points with 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 5 blocks, but that still wouldn't be enough to lead his team to victory, as a well-played final quarter by the Miami Heat allowed them to steal the essential game in Charlotte, 99-94. Up 3-1, power forward Chris Bosh would have a 31-10 performance at home in Game 5, as he and LeBron would put the team on their backs an lead the Heat to a 101-112 defeat of the eighth seed at home.

The final Eastern Conference series came between the second seeded Atlanta Hawks, and seventh seeded Indiana Pacers. And although they finished with the seven seed in the East, the Pacers would prove themselves as a valiant opponent, although starting Game 1 off with a loss in Atlanta. Game 2 saw the Pacers steal one from the Hawks, 104-99. That game would see Troy Murphy step up with a huge 26 point, 14 rebound playoff performance. Game 3 was just as close however, but the Pacers were still able to beat the Hawks out, 104-113. Another big win would come at home in Game 4 for the Pacers, 90-102, as the Hawks continued to develop their reputation of a choking team which will never reach its full potential. And although Joe Johnson would score 33 in a 102-120 win for Atlanta at home, the Pacers would close out the series in Game 6, 99-113, thanks to a pistol-wielding second half from Danny Granger to end things with his 34 points on the night.

Out West, the first series to call it quits was between the first seeded Los Angeles Lakers and the eighth seeded Utah Jazz. Obviously, the Jazz didn't have much of a chance, as the Lakers were able to close them out four games to one. The Lakers would win their first two games at home led by Kobe Bryant in both affairs. Things were over by Game 3 when the Lakers, led by young center Andrew Bynum, were able to come in and steal the essential victory 104-90. Bynum would put up a career-high 32 points while grabbing 13 rebounds in a big time performance. The Utah Jazz would take Game 4 in a 75-114 finish, giving the Utah fans one decent time at home during the playoffs. However, it was to no one's surprise that the Lakers took the Jazz at home led by Kobe with 30 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals.

The rest of the Western Conference was as close as can be. The fourth seeded Portland Trailblazers and fifth seeded San Antonio Spurs. Clearly the Spurs were the more experienced team, but were dealing with an injured Manu Ginobli. Nevertheless, Ginobli led his team with 20 in Game 1, but his team would fall short 85-95 as Brandon Roy led his Blazers at home with a hot Portland crowd, scoring 25 while their new big man Chris Kaman came through with 18 big points and 8 rebounds. Many thought the Spurs would be able to steal Game 2 in Portland against the less-experienced Portland team, but instead they were held to a measly 79 points while Portland scored 93 for the 2-0 jump. However, once the series came to Texas, the Spurs would wrangle them back up with two straight wins in Games 3 and 4. Ginobli, alongside Tony Parker, were able to take control of Game 3 with a 26 point and 25 point performance respectively. Tim Duncan would come through with 23 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4, but was completely ineffective as Game 5 went back to Portland. The Trailblazers would take the all important Game 5, 95-111 as Roy finished with a game-high 28 points. The veterans would bounce back, however, with an 81-99 victory back at home led by Ginobli and Duncan. Game 7 would lead to an epic showdown between the new school and old school. The Trailblazers would create legend, jumping out with a hot start up 19-32 after the first. And while the Spurs would try to fight back, San Antonio was held to only 8 points, as the Trailblazers would make their way to a 77-92 series-clincher.

A series between the third seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and sixth seeded New Orleans Hornets was a barnburner, as home-court advantage proved to be the decisive factor. The Thunder would start off with two whompings at home, first 79-116, and second 73-107. Game 3 saw Hornets star Chris Paul light up the board with 32 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, and 4 steals. He would lead his team to a 102-120 win in NOLA, and would proceed to score another 32 in Game 4, as the Hornets would tie things up 92-102. Unfortunately, Kevin Durant would take the series into his hands with a 48 point performance in Game 5, as OKC took the advantage with a 76-112 victory, reminiscent of Games 1 and 2. But back in Louisiana for Game 6, his counterpart Trevor Ariza would earn his contract with a 20 point game, leading his team to a 71-96 win at home, giving the franchise once again hope they could close out the series in Oklahoma City with more tough defense. The legend of Kevin Durant would grow even more, however, in Game 7 of the first round, where he would hit the buzzer-beating fadeaway jumpshot with two hands in his face and no time left on the clock. The crowd would go bananas as the buzzer rang giving the Thunder the 97-98 victory to move on to the next round of the playoffs. The Hornets would leave the court with their heads hanging while the Thunder were looking towards the stars.

The second seeded Dallas Mavericks and seventh seeded Houston Rockets had an epic showdown in Texas for seven games, as the Thunder's future opponent was decided in Dallas, TX. First the Mavericks started things off with two wins at home led by their main man Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 31 in Game 2 while five other players also finished in double-digit scoring. They fell victim to their own medicine, however, as the Rockets would give Houston hope, bouncing back with dominating wins at home, including a 133 point performance in Game 4. The next game saw the Mavericks pound on the points in the fourth, scoring 33 while finishing with a 79-117 victory. An epic match would proceed in Game 6, as a buzzer-beating shot from Nowitzki wouldn't fall, as the Rockets held on to their 94-96 victory. However, the Rockets' comeback in the fourth quarter would prove too little too late, holding the Mavs to 17 while scoring 32, still finishing down 94-104, losing Game 7 to the tough Mavericks team.