2010 NBA Playoffs

[BostonIrishGuy]

Solid win but Oklahoma should take heart in how close they were late in the fourth despite very poor offensive performances from Durant and Green.

The Thunder are going to cause the Lakers a lot of problems once those two get in gear.

I like the feedback here, but I'm worried it may be the other way around. The Lakers defense today was STIFLING - did you see Bynum, Gasol and Artest hound OKC all day? If the Lakers play defense like this all series, they will sweep OKC unfortunately. Durant needs to start going to the hoop more instead of trying to force jumpshots against Artest, because Artest clearly won today's matchup.

[snively]

Kobe's finger looks like it's gonna be a big, big issue for LA throughout the playoffs.  His outside touch is just not consistently there, and he can't quite finish as explosively around the rim as he used to.  Lakers seem much more vulnerable than last season. 

I don't think it's his finger.  Nobody shoots good percentages on turnaround contested fadeaways.

He has definitely dropped off around the rim, though.  His at rim FG% dropped off 7% from last year.

[snively]

Nelson looks to be at his best.

[snively]

Speaking of elbows, Howard throws some nasty ones on his moves into the paint.

[Who]

Solid win but Oklahoma should take heart in how close they were late in the fourth despite very poor offensive performances from Durant and Green.

The Thunder are going to cause the Lakers a lot of problems once those two get in gear.

I like the feedback here, but I'm worried it may be the other way around. The Lakers defense today was STIFLING - did you see Bynum, Gasol and Artest hound OKC all day? If the Lakers play defense like this all series, they will sweep OKC unfortunately. Durant needs to start going to the hoop more instead of trying to force jumpshots against Artest, because Artest clearly won today's matchup.

I think Durant needs to continue running Artest off screens off the ball. There is no way that Artest can stop Durant from getting a good look at the rim when Durant turns the corner. Durant is too quick, too long and too good of a shooter for Artest to deny him.

Kevin Durant will either get a good shot or force the big men to step up and help which creates a passing opportunity (if Oklahoma's big rolls to the rim) or an opportunity to force a switch (especially with Jeff Green if he flashes out to the three point line after setting the screen).

[snively]

Cheryl Miller looked so spectacularly terrible that Larry Brown couldn't even listen to her question.

[PosImpos]

Dwight Howard with 8 blocks in the first half... 3 blocks away from breaking the record for blocks in a playoff game

[Who]

Wow, fair play to Charlotte for getting back into this game. I thought this was over when they were down twenty, turned the game off. Good comeback. Orlando should hang on though.

San Antonio vs Dallas is up next. I think this is the best series of the first round. Two very good teams going head to head. A bunch of good individual matchups too.

[Who]

Dallas are destroying San Antonio.

Tim Duncan needs to step up, he has started the game poorly.

[twinbree]

Nice playoff debut by the Bobcats. 25 and 17! for Wallace. Their bigs ought to be ashamed. They got out-rebounded as a group by both the SF and SG. Didn't have much interest in this series but looks like the Charlotte could make it a good one.

[Who]

That Caron Butler matchup looks like it is going to cause the Spurs a lot of problems when he is at the off guard position.

I think San Antonio needs to play Ginobili + Bogans + Jefferson against Dallas when the Mavs are using Kidd + Butler + Marion on the perimeter.

Then use George Hill and/or Tony Parker when Jason Terry checks into the game.

[FallGuy]

Been a bit of a disappointing first weekend of games. This Spurs/Mavs game has been good though. And Roy's absence aside, I'm looking forward to Phx/Por later on tonight.

[barefacedmonk]

Sorry if this has been mentioned already but Utah have lost Mehmet Okur for the playoffs....he tore his Achilles' tendon....not good news for them...Andrei Kirilenko is already out...and Boozer is playing injured...not sure they can beat Denver now.

[Who]

Dirk -- 27 points on 10-12 shooting + 7-7 free throw line
Manu -- 21 points on 9-12 shooting

Rest of Dallas -- 37 points on 14-39 FGs (36%) + 8-12 FTs
Rest of San An -- 40 points on 19-41 FGs (46%) + 2-3 FTs

Tim Duncan -- 16 points on 8-13 shooting
Caron Butler -- 17 points on 6-13 shooting + 5-6 FTs

San An w/o Duncan + Manu -- 24 points on 11-32 (34%) shooting
Dallas w/o Dirk + Butler -- 20 points on 8-26 (31%) shooting

The supporting casts are struggling badly on the offensive end of the floor.

[barefacedmonk]

Mavs are pulling away now....12 point lead.