NBA RECAP

Detroit Pistons 105-88 Philadelphia 76ers

Detroit managed to do yesterday what they should have also done in the Game 1 (in the second half) and won the game by 105-88. The difference in the two games was that Detroit was able to control the second half of the Sixers, something they couldn't do in the first game of the series. If you remember, Detroit was up by 51-38 at halftime in the Game 1, a margin of 13 points. Yesterday they were also up at halftime, this time by 50-36, a margin of 14 points. As you can see there no major chances in the way the teams played in the first half of the games, simply yesterday Detroit did what they had to do in the second half: finish off the game. Also yesterday Detroit had a better offensive balanced game, with five players scoring double digits points and neither player shooting more than 16 times to the basket. The team dominated the boards by 42-34 and they were even up by 28 points. Now the series is 1-1 and the Sixers are going to face at home twice Detroit, who has the momentum back on their side.

Boston Celtics 96-77 Atlanta Hawks

Boston won yesterday by 96-77, in a game which was even scary how easily Boston won it. I've watched the game and the sensation I had was that Boston was never trying too hard and they are saving their best basketball for the last rounds of the playoffs. The most scary in this series is that Boston is already 2-0 in the series and Atlanta is yet to outscore Boston in a single quarter! The Celtics have outscored the Hawks in all eight quarters played until now in this series. Freaky! Mike Bibby paid for his words and he got booed all night. The backcourt of Atlanta has been missing in action. Johnson and Bibby has a combined effort of 6-17 FG and 2/6 ast/TO. On the other side Garnett was menacing and the message has been sent to Atlanta: the sweep is on its way!

LA Lakers 122-107 Denver Nuggets

The Lakers defeated the Nuggets by 122-107 yesterday and they are up 2-0 in the series right now. This game was atypical, not only because of the way Denver took the lead in the third quarter, after being down by 10 points at halftime, but also how they disappeared right after that moment. But this factor comes to the game Kobe played yesterday. Kobe made 49 points and 10 assists, with 20 points in the 1st quarter and 19 in the last one. These 19 pts made the difference and showed how the Lakers are indeed the better team of the two because they are more efficient in the clutch moments. The highlight of this game comes to the great ball movement of the Lakers and the lack of it of Denver. The Lakers finished the game with 33 assists and 11 turnovers, while Denver made 12 assists and 14 turnovers! After allowing 128 points in the first game, Denver allowed 122 pts this time and we all know there is no team in the league who can win a series allowing so many points. Either Denver begins defending at home and making this series more interesting or the Lakers will have no problems in this series, but have you ever seen Denver defending at home?

NBA PREVIEW

(3) Orlando Magic at (6) Toronto Raptors (Orlando leads 2-0 right now)

Orlando leads the series by 2-0 mainly thanks to two amazing performances of Howard, who made in the Game 1 25 pts and 22 boards and in the Game 2 made 29 pts and 20 rebounds. Also impressive is that he has combined a shooting performance of 20-30 FG in the two games! That's 67% FG! However besides so much domination, it sounds ridiculous, but if it wasn't for the first quarter of the games and the Raptors would have had a big chance to be 2-0 up right now, because losing the first quarter of a game by 23-43 and 18-35 doesn't help any team. But now they will play in Canada and the crowd will help them in the beginning of the game to get some momentum for the Raptors. The teams have a very identical value and I wouldn't be surprised if the Raptors wins their two home games, as I predict a long series in here. The bench of Toronto did quite well in these two games, especially Kapono who shot 8-12 FG and 4-6 3pts in the second game and we are yet to see a reasonable entrance of Toronto in this series, I'm not asking for a lead in the first quarter, but at least not being down by 20 or 17 points after the first quarter. That should probably happen today.

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers at (5) Washington Wizards (Cleveland leads 2-0 right now)

The Cavs are leading 2-0 the series and Lebron has been on-fire with 32 pts 6 reb and 4 assists in the Game 1 and 30 pts 9 reb and 12 assists in the Game 2. So with so much domination, I think the Wizards should really forbid Deshawn Stevenson from opening his mouth and not talk trash about Lebron. Now they've paid the price. The Wizards need to find a way to beat the Cavs, even with Lebron scoring 30 pts and that not happening in a game this series seems unlikely right now. Washington shot 37.5% FG in the Game 2, with Arenas shooting 2-10 and Jamison and Butler with 4-13 FG, in a combined effort of 10-36 FG. If they continue like that, the Wizards won't be able to win a single game in this series, so I expect they to be at least competitive at home tonight and probably even winning this game.

(5) Houston Rockets at (4) Utah Jazz (Utah leads 2-0 right now)

After Utah having won the two games at Houston and having the best home record of the league, this series look to be finished in a couple of days. However the Rockets were close to win both home games, but they lost those games in the last minutes, as T-Mac is yet to score a single point in a 4th quarter in this series! It seems to be unbelievable, but it's true. And of course, there is no team that can win a playoff game if their superstar can't score a single point in the decisive quarter. Just look at Kobe and their 20 points in the 4th quarter yesterday! Utah can't enter this game relaxed for being up by 2-0, as Houston deserves to be respected and they are still dangerous in this series, although most people don't acknowledge that fact.