- The Grip
- Posts
- The Grip - MON 4.23
The Grip - MON 4.23
For a moment, we thought we saw the end of LeBron
4.23.18
Written while listening to Childish Gambino's "Awaken My Love!" [Spotify] [Apple Music] [YouTube]
No. 4 Cleveland vs. No. 5 Indiana
Game 1: Pacers 98, Cavaliers 80 Game 2: Cavaliers 100, Pacers 97 Game 3: Pacers 92, Cavaliers 90 Game 4: Cavaliers 104, Pacers 100 [Box Score] [Highlights]
We’ve been watching the same thing for eight years
From Chauncey Billups’ Pistons to Dwight Howard’s Magic to Kevin Garnett’s Celtics to Paul George’s Pacers to Al Horford’s Hawks to Derrick Rose’s Bulls to Kyle Lowry’s Raptors, LeBron James has caused rebuilds and ruined basketball shelf lives over the last ten years.
For seven years in a row, and eight of the last 11, his team has won the East.
So as a Celtics fan still in recovery from this ongoing decade of dominance, this current Pacers team has been frisky but ultimately uninspiring.
Even when the Pacers won on Friday -- I mean, LeBron’s been down before (2012 Celtics, 2012 Pacers, 2013 Pacers, 2014 Pacers, 2015 Bulls). Seen it too many times.
But game four? He’s down two points on the road with four minutes. The Pacers are four minutes from going up 3-1. A new team is going to come out of the East. Oops.
The Cavs went on one of the more prompt 10-2 runs in NBA history, and it was over so, so quickly, all but ruining a prime Lance Stephenson night.
Yep, it’s 2-2 and the Cavs have home court advantage.
Business as usual.-S.E.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Toronto vs. No. 8 Washington
Game 1: Raptors 114, Wizards 106 Game 2: Raptors 130, Wizards 119 Game 3: Wizards 122, Raptors 103 Game 4: Wizards 106, Raptors 98 [Box Score] [Highlights]
We will fess up. We thought this series was probably over, maybe a sweep, but the freaking Wizards continued this strange era of Washington basketball with two straight wins.
For what it’s worth, though, here is a list of recent lopsided series where the away team matched two wins when the series shifted to their arena.
2017: No. 2 San Antonio vs No. 7 Memphis. Spurs won in six.2017: No. 3 Washington vs. No. 6 Atlanta. Wizards won in six.2016: No. 2 Cleveland vs. No. 3 Toronto. Cavs won in six.2015: No. 1 Atlanta vs. No. 8 Brooklyn. Hawks how in six.
The common gripe on #RaptorsTwitter and elsewhere is that Fred Van Vleet’s absence because of a shoulder injury has thrown Toronto off kilter.
Yes, Van Vleet is an above average backup point guard, but the Raptors are a one-seed, a 59-win team. He’s not the reason the Wizards tied this series. (It probably had something to do with John Wall’s 27 and 14 assists in game four, though.)
No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 Milwaukee
Game 1: Celtics 113, Bucks 107 [OT] Game 2: Celtics 120, Bucks 106 Game 3: Bucks 116, Celtics 92 Game 4: Bucks 104, Celtics 102 [Box Score] [Highlights]
*adjusts hindsight goggles*
WHY DIDN’T JAYLEN BROWN HOLD THAT BALL.
This plea, of course, comes in reference to a final-minute turnover by Brown, who was otherwise electric.
Jayson Tatum hit a tough jumper to complete a comeback to put the Celtics up one with 52.4 seconds left. On the next play, the Celtics got a stop and outletted to Brown, who went for the kill instead of bleeding the clock.
It resulted in a turnover, which resulted in Giannis tipping in the game-winner, tying the series at two-a-piece after Marcus Morris’ rebuttal just missed.
Suppose we owe #AverageJoe Prunty an apology. Though the offense still moves slower than the Mystic River and the Bucks almost blew a huge lead at home.
(Brown and Tatum combined for 55 points, the most by a duo under 22 since Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.)
No. 3 Philadelphia vs. No. 6 Miami
Game 1: 76ers 130, Heat 103 Game 2: Heat 113, 76ers 103 Game 3: 76ers 128, Heat 108 Game 4: 76ers 106, Heat 102 [Box Score] [Highlights]
The Heat forced 30 76ers turnovers but only 23 points came of them. Philadelphia converted 30 points from the Heat’s 19 turnovers. Here are some notable Houdini-esque disappearing acts from important Heat players:
Kelly Olynyk: Logged just nine minutes, took and missed his one shot, and picked up three personal fouls.
Wayne Ellington: Went 3-of-6 from three-point range but ended the game scoring just ten points in 21 minutes of play.
Ben Simmons, on the other hand, added a triple-double, the first rookie to do that since Magic Johnson.
Western Conference
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 8 Minnesota
Game 1: Rockets 104, Timberwolves 101 Game 2: Rockets 102, Timberwolves 82 Game 3: Timberwolves 121, Rockets 105 [Box Score] [Highlights]
The Heavens have opened up. The Timberwolves have won a playoff game for the first time since 2004. This game was OK -- five Wolves scored 17 points or more, and Karl-Anthony Towns (though still only taking 13 shots) had a nice 18-point, 16-rebound line.
But let’s move on and remember that Minnesota team from 2004, which made the third round and beat Sacramento in the second.
That series against the Kings came to a head in game seven, when No. 1 overall seed Minnesota won in a rocking Target Center. KG threw up a 32/21/2/4/5 line in 46 minutes, expunging all tags of being unclutch.
No. 2 Golden State vs. No. 7 San Antonio
Game 1: Warriors 113, Spurs 92 Game 2: Warriors 116, Spurs 101 Game 3: Warriors 110, Spurs 97 Game 4: Spurs 103, Warriors 90 [Box Score] [Highlights]
What’s Sadder?
The Golden State Warriors probably sort of kind of wanted to lose game four to buy Steph Curry some more time to recover before red-hot New Orleans comes to town.
This Onion article: Spurs Skype In Kawhi Leonard For Game 4.
The silver lining: Sunday’s win for the Spurs means Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are now the winningest playoff duo ever with 132 wins, though the previous record was held by……...Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Gregg Popovich again sat this one out in the wake of his wife, Erin’s death.
Here’s a nice read on the game, a last stand of sorts for this group of future Hall of Famers.
No. 3 Portland vs. No. 6 New Orleans
Game 1: Pelicans 97, Trail Blazers 95 Game 2: Pelicans 111, Trail Blazers 102 Game 3: Pelicans 119, Trail Blazers 102 Game 4: Pelicans 131, Trail Blazers 123 [Box Score] [Highlights]
In some ways, this was never really an upset. The Pelicans entered with a one-game difference in record and the best player in the series. (And #PlayoffRondo.)
But to see this unravel so quickly for Portland was pretty shocking. A month ago, the think pieces were on Portland’s side.
Now: Terry Stotts might be fired | Portland needs “sweeping changes after playoff exit” | Blazers’ next steps could include trading away their stars
They were fun at one point. Here’s a good rundown of what the Blazers said after the sweep.
No. 4 Oklahoma City vs. No. 5 Utah
Game 1: Thunder 116, Jazz 108 Game 2: Jazz 102, Thunder 96 Game 3: Jazz 115, Thunder 102 [Box Score] [Highlights]
Ricky Rubio dropped a damn triple-double (26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) at home for the Utah Jazz, who won on Saturday to steal back the series lead from the Thunder.
Westbrook’s reaction: "(Rubio) made some shots. Too comfortable. But I'm gonna shut that shit off next game though. Guarantee that."
We hate to propose this, but are the Thunder becoming Washington-West?
Rubio and Westbrook are basically a push through three games this series, though Rubio’s offensive rating is actually 13 points higher. The Thunder have the reigning MVP, Paul George and Steven Adams. The Jazz have a classy rookie in Donovan Mitchell, an elite center in Rudy Gobert and a bunch of other solid role players. The talent tips OKC’s way, though Quin Snyder runs circles around Billy Donovan.
OKC needs to start winning (duh), because it seems fairly obvious to presume George will be gone if the Thunder can’t reach the second round.
What else happened?
There was a great Manu Moment late in the fourth of game four.
Bradley Beal fouled out of game four with 4:58 left on a pretty bad call.
Here’s something completely bizarre: Giannis tried to get Mexican food after the win. No one at said restaurant served him in a timely manner. Giannis left. Cops were called because a fan who recognized Giannis started yelling at the waiting staff. The restaurant said sorry.