gpikeSecond round kicks off with doubleheader
April 30th 2011 22:46
After Memphis finished off San Antonio on Friday, the second round pairings got set. Now the Grizzlies get the luxury of turning around and traveling to Oklahoma City for game one tomorrow. The second game of the day has the Heat hosting the Celtics. Boston easily defeated the Heat three times this year with a combined difference of 16 points. Then came April 10th. Miami came out with an unmatched intensity by the Celtics, in coasting to a 100-77 victory. This win effectively ended the Celtics run at the top seed in the Eastern Conference while Miami grabbed the second seed.
First things first, a battle between two teams who are new to the second round. Well if you don't count the Seattle Supersonics run's that is as Oklahoma City has yet to win a series in the playoffs. Memphis by beating San Antonio on April 17th in game one earned their first playoff win. Then almost two weeks later, the Grizzlies eliminate the Spurs behind Zach Randolph scoring 31 points. He was far too quick for Tim Duncan. Now the defense on him goes up a couple of notches with Serge Ibaka lining up against him.
Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins are far better defenders then the two Marc Gasol and Randolph ran all over in the first round series with the Spurs. Adding in two capable scorers in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant this makes the Thunder a very tough team to beat. Westbrook takes far too many shots though making him someone you can slow down. Nobody has found a way to slow Durant yet in the league. Oklahoma City grabs game one after pulling away in the fourth quarter.
Miami lacks depth. That being said, they still work well with what they got. Boston exposed this lack of depth in the first three games this year with the Heat. Miami has the big three with Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade, then who else after that? Mike Bibby was signed to help distribute the ball, but he has struggled. Two shooters of the bench in Mike Miller and James Jones are good for stretches. Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Ilguaskas are not much help. Not having Udonis Hasleem hurts, but he may return for the East finals if the Heat make it past Boston.
When Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are on Boston is unbeatable. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett both have their games of scoring, though Pierce and Allen are the x-factors for Boston. The Celtics have a good bench with Delonte West, Jeff Green, Troy Murphy, and Shaquille O'Neal if he is available. Jermaine O'Neal had a great series with the Knicks, who knows if he can keep this play up. The Celtics throw a major scare in Miami's direction, but the Heat hold them off in game one.
First things first, a battle between two teams who are new to the second round. Well if you don't count the Seattle Supersonics run's that is as Oklahoma City has yet to win a series in the playoffs. Memphis by beating San Antonio on April 17th in game one earned their first playoff win. Then almost two weeks later, the Grizzlies eliminate the Spurs behind Zach Randolph scoring 31 points. He was far too quick for Tim Duncan. Now the defense on him goes up a couple of notches with Serge Ibaka lining up against him.
Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins are far better defenders then the two Marc Gasol and Randolph ran all over in the first round series with the Spurs. Adding in two capable scorers in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant this makes the Thunder a very tough team to beat. Westbrook takes far too many shots though making him someone you can slow down. Nobody has found a way to slow Durant yet in the league. Oklahoma City grabs game one after pulling away in the fourth quarter.
Miami lacks depth. That being said, they still work well with what they got. Boston exposed this lack of depth in the first three games this year with the Heat. Miami has the big three with Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade, then who else after that? Mike Bibby was signed to help distribute the ball, but he has struggled. Two shooters of the bench in Mike Miller and James Jones are good for stretches. Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Ilguaskas are not much help. Not having Udonis Hasleem hurts, but he may return for the East finals if the Heat make it past Boston.
When Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are on Boston is unbeatable. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett both have their games of scoring, though Pierce and Allen are the x-factors for Boston. The Celtics have a good bench with Delonte West, Jeff Green, Troy Murphy, and Shaquille O'Neal if he is available. Jermaine O'Neal had a great series with the Knicks, who knows if he can keep this play up. The Celtics throw a major scare in Miami's direction, but the Heat hold them off in game one.
Marc Gasol needs to keep his intensity up against the Thunder
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