Hooped Up

Dirk Nowitzki outdueled Kevin Durant scoring 48 points on just 15 shots Tuesday to lead the Mavericks over the Thunder, 121-112, in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

Two days after an emotional Game 7 win over Memphis, the Thunder had no answer on defense for the 7-foot Nowitzki, who scored 27 of his points in the second half and set an NBA playoff record by hitting all 24 of his free throws.

“I thought Dirk was pretty good,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks, tongue planted firmly in his cheek. “He’s been doing it for many years against a lot of good players.

“He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen at that position offensively. A lot of shots you don’t think he has a chance to make, but he does.”
Toronto Sun

Read More »

Jason Terry outperformed the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, Lamar Odom, last series. Now he goes up against “The Beard,” Oklahoma City Thunder second-year sixth man James Harden. But Terry, never one to think small or keep his thoughts to himself, is thinking big picture and talking about it.

“I’m trying to outperform their entire bench,” Terry said after Monday’s practice. “That’s what I do.” Surely, Harden and other Thunder reserves such as guard Eric Maynor and forward Nick Collison will find that interesting. “Whichever bench comes to play and outplays the other one,” Terry said, “the other team has the advantage.”

The Mavericks’ bench was among the highest-scoring in the league all season and that hasn’t changed in the playoffs.
ESPN Dallas

Read More »

With 10:42 left in the second quarter of the Bulls’ 103-82 Eastern Conference finals rout Sunday night, Taj Gibson rudely welcomed Heat superstar Dwyane Wade back to his hometown.

Soaring with a nice pass from C.J. Watson, Gibson dunked emphatically over a defenseless Wade for the highlight that most defined Game 1. Put that play on a poster under the bold words “You Got Taj’d, Bro!” and distribute it to every fan at the United Center before Game 2 on Wednesday.

It was the image that encapsulated everything good the Bulls got from their opener: They weren’t going to be intimidated by the Heat’s Big Three, who were expected to dominate the series, and much of the credit goes to Gibson and the bench.
Chicago Tribune

Read More »

Joakim Noah, often quick with a quip or casual conversation, stared at the ground as he tied his shoes, then retreated to the off-limits training room.

Luol Deng waved off a camera crew looking for a pregame comment. Derrick Rose offered short, serious answers.”This is the biggest game of our life right here,” Rose said. To say the Bulls were focused Thursday night on closing out the Hawks at Philips Arena is like saying Tom Thibodeau enjoys watching game film.

And the Bulls accomplished their goal, advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1998 with a 93-73 triumph, winning the series 4-2. Bring on the Heat — in Game 1 of the conference finals Sunday night at the United Center.
Chicago Tribune

Read More »

Boston was done. The Heat was moving on to the Eastern Conference finals. But Wade was on the floor and teammate LeBron James rushed over with a concerned look on his face.

Turns out, Wade was just enjoying the moment, eyes closed, letting it all soak in so thoroughly that he didn’t want to move for fear of disturbing the moment. Finally, Wade arose and found his friend, James. They players combined for 67 points in the Heat’s 97-87 series-clinching victory against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

Wade and James hugged on the court, surrounded by cameras and an arena surging with energy. Last summer, they came together to beat Boston and now, with Boston defeated, they came together to celebrate.
Miami Herald

Read More »

It’s a game of survive and advance now. The Bulls did the first part, surviving the Atlanta Hawks 95-83 at a nervous United Center on Tuesday night behind a big fourth quarter from Derrick Rose and Bench Mob stalwarts Taj Gibson and Ronnie Brewer.

Down 70-69 early in the fourth quarter, the Bulls dug in their heels defensively and grinded away.

‘‘It’s the playoffs,’’ coach Tom Thibodeau said. ‘‘You’re going to be in tight quarters. You have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. We hung tough. We stayed together. We got some timely baskets, and we got some stops. I thought the energy of that group was really good.’’
Chicago Sun-Times

Read More »

Their Game 4 loss to the Mavericks is as ugly as it gets and now they face a future with an aging and expensive roster and without Phil Jackson, their Hall of Fame coach.

The Lakers’ season ended amid a firestorm of “Beat L.A.” chants and a complete undoing at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in a surprisingly early phase of the NBA playoffs.

The Mavericks won Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday, 122-86, and it could only get worse for the Lakers in what will surely be a long, agonizing off-season.

Their roster is aging. Their team looks slow. Their spending power is hamstrung by salary-cap guidelines that might get tighter with 22 of 30 teams claiming to lose money this season.
LA Times

Read More »

The Bulls, almost certainly taking a cue from Tom Thibodeau, first started using the word as far back as training camp.

Grimy, players would say. We want to be known as a team that can be grimy and win ugly games.

Ugly never looked more beautiful than on Wednesday night at United Center.

In a game long on effort and short on aesthetics, the Bulls downed the Hawks 86-73, evening their Eastern Conference semifinal series at one game apiece. Game 3 is Friday night in Atlanta.
Chicago Tribune

Read More »