Post by aulddawg on Mar 16, 2014 10:58:49 GMT -5
Western Conference Finals - In the West, the games have gone according to the seedings with the #1 San Antonio Spurs facing off against the #2 seed Phoenix Suns. San Antonio are led primarily by Stephon Marbury but it's their overall team play that earned them the #1 seed. Phoenix is primarily a two-headed monster with the ageless Tim Duncan and Sharif Abdur-Rahim leading the way. This series looks to be an interesting battle of back-court (Spurs) versus front-court (Suns) and is likely to go 7 games.
And here's what happened:
Game 1 - Similar to the last round against the Grizzlies, the Spurs came ready to play in the first game even after two grueling 7 game series and on short rest. San Antonio's stifling team defense and sparkling guard play proved to be too much for the Suns despite Tim Duncan's impressive double-double of 26 pts and 17 rebounds. Final score: Spurs 98-84 Suns (Spurs lead the series 1-0)
Game 2 - A recurring theme during the Spurs playoff run is that they tend to get over-confident after a big win and this series is proving to be no different with the Suns taking full advantage. Duncan and Abdul-Rahim combined for 56 points and 24 rebounds and 3 other Suns scored in double figures to rout the Spurs and wrest home-court advantage away from San Antonio. The Spurs 'sparkling guard play' never showed up in this one with Marbury and Eddie Jones combining to shoot a miserable 14 for 41 (6 for 15 from the arc). Final score: Suns 101-83 Spurs (Series tied at 1 apiece)
Game 3 - In one of the lowest scoring games in the RBL's brief playoff history, both teams came out listless and it showed in the lack of scoring by either team. This game could be labeled the Duel of the Bricklayers as the Suns only managed to shoot 39.5% and missed all of their 3's while the Spurs were even worse at 33.0% and a paltry 2 for 13 from 3-pt land. Duncan was his usual steady self putting up 25/14 to go along with 7 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Final score: Suns 78-68 Spurs (Suns lead the series 2-1)
Hopefully both teams will regroup and put on a better showing in the remaining games.
Eastern Conference Finals - With the top-seeded Knicks being ousted in the first round, the way seems clear for the #2 Bucks to make it to the RBL Finals. Standing in their way are the surprising Cleveland Cavaliers who easily put away the upset-minded Raptors in the 2nd round. The Bucks got here by winning in 7 games against the Indiana Pacers and are led by thirty-somethings Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen. With one of the oldest teams in the league, this may be some of these players last chance for championship glory. The Cavs, also a very veteran-laden team, rely on their stout defense with 'Mt. Mutombo' clogging up the lane. This series could be called the 'Battle of the Ages', literally.
And here's what happened:
Game 1 - As expected, this was a defensive battle from the start with neither team able to make a sustained run on the other. Mutombo was a stud on the glass and collected 21 caroms to go along with 21 points for the Cavs but the rest of the team seemed to be content to watch him work. No other Cleveland player was in double figures in rebounds and the next highest scorer was Doug Christie with 13 points. Despite being the leading scorer for the Bucks with 24 points, The Mailman mailed it in on offense going 8 for 22 from the field. Pippen picked up the slack by scoring 23 points on an efficient 10 for 18 while chipping in 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a block. Final score: Bucks 85-79 Cavs
Game 2 - The Bucks' equipment manager hurriedly issued hard hats to the players in Milwaukee early in this game as the Cavs were raining bricks from the arc (4 for 15)! Karl Malone put his bad shooting night behind him by scoring 34 points on 50% shooting while Pippen add 33 points on an identical 50% from the field to lead the rout of Cleveland. Mutombo once again found himself without help from his teammates despite putting up solid numbers (26 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks). If the Cavs can't find a second player to step up, this series is going to be over very quickly. Final score: Bucks 112-85 Cavs (Bucks lead the series 2-0)
Game 3 - While not the most efficient home team, the Cavs were hoping that the friendly confines of The Q would energize the team and help them put a W. Cleveland finally put together a full team effort with 6 players scoring in double figures led once again by Dikembe's 20 points and 17 rebounds. In a peculiar twist, the Bucks went away from what won them the first two games and tried to ram The Mailman down the Cav's throats with Malone taking a whopping 35 shots! With so many shots being taken by Malone, Pippen was the odd man out as he only scored 5 points on 9 shots. Could there be a feud brewing in Milwaukee? Despite the shotfest by Malone (he only made 12 of his 35 shot attempts), the rest of the team did just enough to overcome the team effort of the Cavs. Final score: Bucks 98-91 Cavs (Bucks lead the series 3-0)
Will Cleveland be able to find enough offense to stave off elimination at home in Game 4 or will they simply fold and break out the fishing gear to head off into the offseason sunset? Will the Bucks talk things over in the locker room and revert back to more of a team game or will The Mailman continue to try and win games on his own?
Stay tuned!
And here's what happened:
Game 1 - Similar to the last round against the Grizzlies, the Spurs came ready to play in the first game even after two grueling 7 game series and on short rest. San Antonio's stifling team defense and sparkling guard play proved to be too much for the Suns despite Tim Duncan's impressive double-double of 26 pts and 17 rebounds. Final score: Spurs 98-84 Suns (Spurs lead the series 1-0)
Game 2 - A recurring theme during the Spurs playoff run is that they tend to get over-confident after a big win and this series is proving to be no different with the Suns taking full advantage. Duncan and Abdul-Rahim combined for 56 points and 24 rebounds and 3 other Suns scored in double figures to rout the Spurs and wrest home-court advantage away from San Antonio. The Spurs 'sparkling guard play' never showed up in this one with Marbury and Eddie Jones combining to shoot a miserable 14 for 41 (6 for 15 from the arc). Final score: Suns 101-83 Spurs (Series tied at 1 apiece)
Game 3 - In one of the lowest scoring games in the RBL's brief playoff history, both teams came out listless and it showed in the lack of scoring by either team. This game could be labeled the Duel of the Bricklayers as the Suns only managed to shoot 39.5% and missed all of their 3's while the Spurs were even worse at 33.0% and a paltry 2 for 13 from 3-pt land. Duncan was his usual steady self putting up 25/14 to go along with 7 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Final score: Suns 78-68 Spurs (Suns lead the series 2-1)
Hopefully both teams will regroup and put on a better showing in the remaining games.
Eastern Conference Finals - With the top-seeded Knicks being ousted in the first round, the way seems clear for the #2 Bucks to make it to the RBL Finals. Standing in their way are the surprising Cleveland Cavaliers who easily put away the upset-minded Raptors in the 2nd round. The Bucks got here by winning in 7 games against the Indiana Pacers and are led by thirty-somethings Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen. With one of the oldest teams in the league, this may be some of these players last chance for championship glory. The Cavs, also a very veteran-laden team, rely on their stout defense with 'Mt. Mutombo' clogging up the lane. This series could be called the 'Battle of the Ages', literally.
And here's what happened:
Game 1 - As expected, this was a defensive battle from the start with neither team able to make a sustained run on the other. Mutombo was a stud on the glass and collected 21 caroms to go along with 21 points for the Cavs but the rest of the team seemed to be content to watch him work. No other Cleveland player was in double figures in rebounds and the next highest scorer was Doug Christie with 13 points. Despite being the leading scorer for the Bucks with 24 points, The Mailman mailed it in on offense going 8 for 22 from the field. Pippen picked up the slack by scoring 23 points on an efficient 10 for 18 while chipping in 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a block. Final score: Bucks 85-79 Cavs
Game 2 - The Bucks' equipment manager hurriedly issued hard hats to the players in Milwaukee early in this game as the Cavs were raining bricks from the arc (4 for 15)! Karl Malone put his bad shooting night behind him by scoring 34 points on 50% shooting while Pippen add 33 points on an identical 50% from the field to lead the rout of Cleveland. Mutombo once again found himself without help from his teammates despite putting up solid numbers (26 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks). If the Cavs can't find a second player to step up, this series is going to be over very quickly. Final score: Bucks 112-85 Cavs (Bucks lead the series 2-0)
Game 3 - While not the most efficient home team, the Cavs were hoping that the friendly confines of The Q would energize the team and help them put a W. Cleveland finally put together a full team effort with 6 players scoring in double figures led once again by Dikembe's 20 points and 17 rebounds. In a peculiar twist, the Bucks went away from what won them the first two games and tried to ram The Mailman down the Cav's throats with Malone taking a whopping 35 shots! With so many shots being taken by Malone, Pippen was the odd man out as he only scored 5 points on 9 shots. Could there be a feud brewing in Milwaukee? Despite the shotfest by Malone (he only made 12 of his 35 shot attempts), the rest of the team did just enough to overcome the team effort of the Cavs. Final score: Bucks 98-91 Cavs (Bucks lead the series 3-0)
Will Cleveland be able to find enough offense to stave off elimination at home in Game 4 or will they simply fold and break out the fishing gear to head off into the offseason sunset? Will the Bucks talk things over in the locker room and revert back to more of a team game or will The Mailman continue to try and win games on his own?
Stay tuned!