In the snap of a finger, this series has changed from RFOFLMAO to OMG.
No one knows when or if Russell Westbrook will return to the court as he deals with the aftermath of surgery to repair the damage caused by injury suffered in Game 2.
Even the most ardent Hawks fans – assuming that such a species exists – know that the Hawks’ chances of playing any basketball beyond the end of this week are melting fast, and with Atlanta trailing 2-0 in its Eastern Conference quarterfinals playoff series against the Pacers, if there is a stand to be made, it has to be made tonight in Game 3.
Eastern Conference
Indiana Pacers (2-0) at Atlanta Hawks (0-2)
Saturday, April 27
Philips Arena, Atlanta
7 p.m. EST
Spread – Hawks -2.5 at TopBet
O/U – 190
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Over the last decade the Hawks have made a living lurking around for a round or two in the playoffs before compliantly heading home, and this season doesn’t look a lot different. Atlanta didn’t put up much of a fight in Indianapolis in either of the first two games of the series, losing by an average score of 110-94.
The Hawks had vowed to bring a more physical approach to Game 2 after getting bended, folded and mutilated in Game 1, but Atlanta was beaten by Indy in all phases of the game, with pretty much the same result.
“It’s natural for us,” said Indy’s Paul George of the Hawks’ new-found toughness. “We naturally play physical. It wasn’t like, ‘They’re playing physical, let’s retaliate.’
That’s how we approach the game — in a physical way. We’re not interested in retaliating or injuring players; we’re going to play tough, but (we’re) not interested in all the other stuff.”
George laid 27 points on the Hawks’ heads in Game 2 after a triple-double in Game 1, and it’s clear that putting an end to his MVP-type play is Atlanta top priority if the Hawks have any intention of taking this series back to the heartland for a Game 5. [ad-6571516]
The Pacers, meanwhile, are content to enjoy their recent offensive success and let the Hawks figure out things. Only Golden State and Oklahoma City are scoring at a higher rate than Indiana in the playoffs, and the Pacers own the largest margin of victory (11 ppg).
Of course, Atlanta’s lackadaisical defensive play has something to do with that, and the Hawks aren’t doing themselves any favors by shooting a high school-like 18 for 34 from the free throw line in the series.
The Hawks’ starters were abused by Indiana in Game 2. In the first and third periods, when most of the minutes were logged by Jeff Teague, Al Horford and Josh Smith, Atlanta was outscored by a whopping 60-47.
That has to change tonight, and the first period could go a long way toward determining in there will be any bite at all in this series or Indiana can coast.
The Hawks have never been a circle-the-wagons type of club, and Atlanta has far more questions than answers.
Indiana is just playing too well. Pacers to cover the 2.5. Suggest a money line play on Indiana to bump up the profit a bit.
The Warriors tied this season with a shocking win at Denver in Game 2 where they shot lights out for the floor. They now have home court advantage in this series, which is huge since the Nuggets were a few games under .500 on the road this season.
Do you know Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock?
No?
Well, tune in tonight because they figure to be in Lakers uniforms and perhaps will comprise LAL’s starting backcourt when Gang Purple tries to keep alive its flickering playoff hopes against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series.
It’s possible that we are seeing the final few games of Kevin Garnett’s career.
Garnett and the Celtics take on the Knicks tonight in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference playoff quarterfinals, and the blood and guts of Boston’s defense is hardly at 100 percent in the most important few games of the season.
Unless the letters A, C and L are prominent in upcoming stories about the Miami Heat, LeBron James and the supporting cast will soon take care of the Milwaukee Bucks on their way toward a probable berth in the NBA Finals.
After a dominating performance at home in Game 1, Brooklyn came out flat in Game 2 and ceded home-court advantage to the Bulls with a Game 2 effort that could only be compared to a noontime YMCA pickup game.
Eastern Conference
Brooklyn Nets (1-1) at Chicago Bulls (1-1)
Thursday, April 25
United Center, Chicago
8:30 p.m. EST
Spread – Bulls -3.5 at Bovada
O/U – 181
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We were waiting to see which team would be the first to blink in the playoffs, and in the Eastern Conference it was the Nets.
With Joe Johnson (who laid a 6-for-18 egg) leading the way, the Nets shot 35 percent from the field and 4 for 21 from 3-point turf, and now find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to find a way to win in Chicago in order to advance to the conference semis.
The Bulls are hardly a lock at the United Center, where they found a way to lose 17 games this season. But Chicago will never go down for lack of effort, and the Nets know they have to tighten things up considerably when they take the court tonight.
Nets fans are still trying to figure out what’s going on with Gerald Wallace. In Game 1 Wallace played rock solid defense on Luol Deng and scored 14 points. In the 36-plus minutes he was on the court, the Nets outscored the Bulls by 22 points. But Wallace disappeared in Game 2, going 1 for 7 from the field in 19 unproductive minutes while Brooklyn was outscored by 16 points. [ad-6571516]
Of course, Chicago’s choke-hold defense had a lot to do with the Nets’ troubles. Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah all had double-digit rebound totals, taking turns checking Nets board machine Reggie Evans. Evans usually has 10 rebounds before lunch, but was held to just 8 in Game 2.
Things can change on a dime in the playoffs, but with the Bulls coming home, Brooklyn has its hands full. The key for the Nets is putting Game 2 behind them and concentrating on the task at hand, namely figuring out a way to steal back home-court advantage.
Chicago’s less-than-dominating 24-17 record at home and Brooklyn’s solid 23-18 road record would seem to indicate that the Nets have a shot at turning things around, but we like Brooklyn’s chances better in a Game 4 in Chicago. Home teams tend to dominate in emotion-changed first home games, and the Bulls seem to have found something that disrupts the Nets offense.
Looking for Chicago to make it two in a row with a cover in this one, with the winner of Game 4 taking control of the series.
The Clippers won both of the games in La La Land and now this series heads back East. The Clippers won the last game against he Griz in Memphis, which gave L.A. the home court advantage in this series.
Venue/ Stadium: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Time/Date: 9:30 PM EST Thursday, April 25, 2013
NBA Odds From: BetOnline
Moneyline: Clippers +165 / Grizzlies -200 at Bovada
Spread: Grizzlies -4.5
Over/Under: 179.5
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L.A. Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview
NBA lines have the Grizzlies as 4.5-point home favorites with a total of 179.5
In Game 2 the Clippers beat the Grizzlies 93-91.
On the season the Clippers are 46-38 ATS and they have an Over/Under record of 46-38 and the Grizzlies are 47-35-2 ATS and they have an Over/Under record of 47-35-2.
These 2 teams met in the first round of last season’s playoffs with the Clippers winning in 7 even though the Grizzlies had the home court advantage.
This season the Grizzlies are 32-9 at home and the Clippers are 24-17 on the road.
The Clippers had more points in the paint in Game 2 (50-46) and that cannot happen against, as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have to be the key scoring guys for the Griz and it is also key that they play solid D.
The Grizzlies really have to focus on only 2 guys in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, who were the only Clippers’ starters that scored in double figures in Game 2.
Randolph averaged over 11 rpg this season, bit in both games in L.A., he only combined to grab 12 boards. He has to be more active on the glass in this game.
The Clippers have won 9 straight games. [ad-6571516]
Mike Conley scored a game high 28 points in Game 2 and he has to score again to take the offensive pressure off Randolph and Gasol.
Last season the Grizzlies trailed the Clippers 3-1 before eventually forcing a Game 7, but this game is key for them, as they cannot fall into a 0-3 hole.
In some betting trends for this playoff series the Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss, 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, and they have an Over record of 11-4 in their last 15 games.
The Grizzlies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 26-11 ATS in their last 37 home games vs. a team with a winning road record, and they have an Under record of 9-3 in their last 12 games.
The Clippers are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games against the Grizzlies.
Jason’s Pick: Have to go with the Griz at home in this game, as I think this series will mirror last season’s one going the distance and tonight the Griz will win and cover.
The Giants got off to slow starts in the NLDS and NLCS, but they have jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the World Series. Detroit has only put up three runs in the first two games. The Giants pitching staff has starred so far in this series.
The NBA Finals have an interesting format change from the rest of the playoffs. The first two games were played in Oklahoma City, but the next three are played in Miami.
Kings Back at Home with Stranglehold on Cup Final
The Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils continue their quest for the Cup on Monday night after yet another grueling overtime game and a six hour cross-country flight. The Kings have looked unstoppable and in fact have been just that on the road this postseason going 10-0 so far.
The San Antonio Spurs dominated Game Two to take a 2-0 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs proved again in game two that they are on fire.
The Pacers won Game 2 and while LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 52 points in the game these 2 stars got no help with no Miami player going for more than 5 points.
The first two games of this series couldn’t have been any closer. The Celtics escaped Game One with a one-point win.
The Philadelphia Flyers will try to rebound from arguably their worst effort of the playoffs so far when they head to the Prudential Center to take on the rejuvenated New Jersey Devils. The Flyers were the best road team in the league during the regular season and they should be motivated after getting utterly run over by the Devils in Game 2.
