The Eastern Conference playoffs may not have anywhere near the intrigue as the Western Conference playoffs, but there is still a lot going down here. From LeBron James pretty much mad mugging Michael Jordan on the way to a break away dunk against a helpless Charlotte Bobcats team to the Atlanta Hawks giving the Indiana Pacers a run for their money, there is a lot happening here.
1) Indiana Pacers tied with 8) Atlanta Hawks
Next Game: April 28, at 8:00 PM ET in Indiana
Last Game: Pacers over Hawks 91-88 in Atlanta
Recap
To say that Atlanta is giving the Pacers all that they can handle is an understatement. Entering the postseason with the second-worst record in the history of the league for a playoff team, the Hawks had some confidence due to lackluster Indiana play in recent months. That confidence has spilled over to the playoffs where the two teams are nodded up entering Game 5 this evening in Indiana.
Indiana was on the verge of falling down three games to one when it rallied back from a six-point fourth quarter deficit on Saturday to take Game 4. David West’s three-pointer with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter sealed the victory. All said, West scored 18 points as the Pacers secondary scorer behind Paul George who went for 24 in the win. West was averaging just over 10 points per game entering the fourth matchup. Meanwhile, George rebounded from a poor Game 3 that saw him go for just 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting. He shot 10-of-18 while adding 24 points and 10 boards in the game.
For the Hawks, Jeff Teague struggled a great deal. After averaging 21.8 points per game and shooting 42 percent from the field in the first three outings, Teague went for 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting. Big man Paul Millsap continued to play excellent basketball, going for 29 points and seven boards in the loss. Through four games, Millsap is averaging 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in the series. These two will have to continue playing great basketball if the Hawks are going to stand a chance.
Meanwhile, Roy Hibbert has been a topic of discussion in Indiana throughout the series. Some thought has been given to the possibility of benching him. The All-Star center didn’t do himself any favors by putting up just six points in 25 minutes on Saturday. However ridiculous is may sound, Hibbert is averaging just six points and 4.3 boards in the series. If he doesn’t get it going, the Pacers are going to be in trouble.
5) Washington Wizards lead 4) Chicago Bulls 3-1
Next Game: April 29, 8:00 PM ET in Chicago
Last Game: Wizards over Bulls 98-89 in Chicago
Recap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsv0T-JAtk0
No one should really be surprised by the results of this series through four games. Chicago might have posted a better record during the regular year, but the Wizards’ young team has been coming together really nicely over the past two months or so. With Bradley Beal and John Wall leading the way, it’s possible that Washington is in the midst of a coming-out party.
Game 4 wasn’t an exception, but it was veteran Trevor Ariza who made the difference. They journeyman small forward netted 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting on Sunday, helping Washington take a commanding three to one lead in the series heading into Game 5 in Chicago on Tuesday. Interestingly enough, Beal and Wall struggled on Sunday. They combined for just 33 points on 11-of-18 shooting.
Chicago’s bench also outscored Washington’s 42-10 with Taj Gibson going for 32 himself. It was, however, let down by its starting frontcourt. While Joakim Noah did bring down 15 boards, he joined Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy to score just 24 combined points. Those three are going to have to step it up if the Bulls are going to make a series of this.
3) Toronto Raptors tied with 6) Brooklyn Nets
Next Game: April 30, TBD in Toronto
Last Game: Raptors over Nets 87-79 in Brooklyn
Recap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmpM6GzY6Dc
In likely the less-sexiest series of the playoffs, this one may very well end up going the full seven after Brooklyn came back from a fourth quarter deficit on the road in Game 4 to tie the series up at two. Re-inventing his glory days in Boston, Paul Pierce went for 22 points in the losing effort, but was not helped by Brookyln’s three starting guards in Deron Williams, Shaun Livingston and Joe Johnson, who combined to scored just 26 points on 35 percent from the field.
Holding a four-point lead halfway through the fourth quarter, Brooklyn scored a total of two points in the final 6:11 of regulation. During that final half quarter, the Nets missed all six of their field goal attempts, turning the ball over six times in the process. That’s absolutely horrendous in every possible definition of the word. Needless to say, the Nets need to pick up their offensive production if they are going to come out on top in the series.
DeMar DeRozen had himself another stellar outing, going for 24 points and turning the ball over only once in the game. He’s now averaging 24.7 points in the series. Meanwhile, his backcourt partner Kyle Lowry matched his series high from Game 1 with 22. If these two continue playing this well together, the Raptors might very well overcome an upset effort by the sixth-seeded Nets.
2) Miami Heat lead 7) Charlotte Bobcats 3-0
Next Game: April 28, 7 PM ET in Charlotte
Last Game: Heat over Bobcats 98-85 in Charlotte
Recap
In the least intriguing series of the first round, the Heat are just one game away from sweeping Charlotte. In all honesty, who didn’t see this coming? The Bobcats have been hampered by an injury that Al Jefferson has been dealing with since very early in the series, but even at 100 percent, he wasn’t going to make much of difference. Despite losing the first three games, Charlotte has been somewhat competitive against the two-time defending NBA champions, who seem to be going through the motions at this point.
LeBron James continues to do LeBron James things. He’s averaging 29.7 points and just under nine rebounds per game while shooting a ridiculous 57 from the field. The really good news here for Miami, who will likely get a long rest between round one and the conference semifinals, is that its been able to rest the aging players on the roster. Dwyane Wade is averaging more than a quarter on the bench, while Chris Bosh is putting in just 33 minutes per game. That type of rest should help the Heat heading into the next round. It’s now all about closing out this series tonight in Game 4.
Photo: Geoff Burke, USA Today