And now for something a little different. I'm going to talk about all the current NBA playoff series and then discuss the season former Cavalier Mike Scott had as an Atlanta Hawk.
Western Conference
Spurs 4, Trail Blazers 1: Both of these teams went seven games with their first-round playoff opponents -- the Spurs with the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers with the Rockets -- so it was a bit of a surprise to me that San Antonio so handily took care of Portland. The Spurs' four wins came by an average of 19.5 points. Like a lot of the top seeds, though, San Antonio seems to be rising to the top and as of now, it looks like it would be able to beat the Clippers or Thunder in the West finals in five or six games.
Thunder 3, Clippers 2: The last two games in this series have been characterized by spectacular comebacks -- first by Los Angeles and then by Oklahoma City. In Game 4, the Clippers outscored the Thunder 38-24 in the fourth quarter to win the game, 101-99. In Game 5, the Thunder turned the tables and overcame a 13-point deficit in four minutes and a seven-point hole in 50 seconds to win, 105-104. The second comeback was marked by a controversial out-of-bounds call that went the Thunder's way and a complete meltdown by the Clippers, including several bone-headed plays and mistakes by normally sure-fire point guard Chris Paul. Game 6 is tonight in Los Angeles and this series is becoming must-see TV.
Eastern Conference
Pacers 3, Wizards 2: You won't mistake me for a Wizards fan by any means but I have been casually rooting for them in the playoffs. I went to my first NBA game this year (Feb. 22 Pelicans at Wizards for my friend Sameer's bachelor party) in Washington and I don't have a favorite NBA team, so the playoffs aren't stressful for me but there are certain teams I'd rather see win than other teams. The Wizards were actually one of the more dominant teams in the first round of the playoffs as they beat the Bulls, 4-1. Analysts were giving them a great shot vs. the Pacers in round 2. Indiana struggled to top eighth-seeded Atlanta in seven games. The Pacers lost the first game to the Wizards but then seemed to wake up and rise up like the Spurs and Heat to win three straight. However, the schizophrenia came back in Game 5 and Washington crushed Indiana, 102-79. It was at least the second time in the playoffs that Indiana lost by more than 20 points at home. The Pacers also did it against the Hawks. Perhaps more amazing was the rebounding advantage: 62-23 Wizards. Insane but true. Indiana has had massive struggles the past two to three months that have been well documented. Who knows what will happen the rest of this series. Washington is back at home but it has been better on the road in the playoffs than at home. Nothing surprises me with the Pacers anymore, though, so they could lose the series or blow out the Wiz in Game 6 and I would not be surprised. Game 6 is tonight at 8.
Heat 4, Nets 1: This was probably one of the more anticipated conference semifinals series because of the history between the players involved. Brooklyn picked up high-profile Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce before the season and they were facing LeBron James and the Heat, a team that also includes former Garnett and Pierce teammate Ray Allen. Allen had dashed the pair's hopes before when they were Celtics, and he did it again Wednesday by hitting a game-clinching 3-pointer in Miami in Game 5. The Heat won the series, 4-1, all the more surprising because the Nets swept the season series, 4-0. This gives me reason to think that the Heat just kind of get bored in the regular season and have a switch they can flips in the playoffs like no one else. It is why they are the favorite again to win the championship.
Mike Scott
Speaking of the Hawks (the Wizards' first-round opponent), former Virginia star Mike Scott had a breakout season in Atlanta. He averaged 18.5 minutes, 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and an assist per game this year. Last season, he averaged just 9.4 minutes, 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. His best game this season came against the Knicks on Feb. 22 when he scored 30 points but he really put the NBA on notice during the playoffs. In Game 5, he made five second-quarter 3-pointers on his way to 17 total points as the Hawks took a 3-2 series lead with a victory at Indiana. Also, in Game 6, Scott threw down a nasty dunk on top of Indiana's 6-foot-11 center, Ian Mahinmi, that got people talking. On the season, Scott shot 31 percent from 3 (62 of 200), but he only shot one and missed in 2012-13. Scott is probably looking at a nice contract in his future coming from either Atlanta or another team.
Western Conference
Spurs 4, Trail Blazers 1: Both of these teams went seven games with their first-round playoff opponents -- the Spurs with the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers with the Rockets -- so it was a bit of a surprise to me that San Antonio so handily took care of Portland. The Spurs' four wins came by an average of 19.5 points. Like a lot of the top seeds, though, San Antonio seems to be rising to the top and as of now, it looks like it would be able to beat the Clippers or Thunder in the West finals in five or six games.
Thunder 3, Clippers 2: The last two games in this series have been characterized by spectacular comebacks -- first by Los Angeles and then by Oklahoma City. In Game 4, the Clippers outscored the Thunder 38-24 in the fourth quarter to win the game, 101-99. In Game 5, the Thunder turned the tables and overcame a 13-point deficit in four minutes and a seven-point hole in 50 seconds to win, 105-104. The second comeback was marked by a controversial out-of-bounds call that went the Thunder's way and a complete meltdown by the Clippers, including several bone-headed plays and mistakes by normally sure-fire point guard Chris Paul. Game 6 is tonight in Los Angeles and this series is becoming must-see TV.
Eastern Conference
Pacers 3, Wizards 2: You won't mistake me for a Wizards fan by any means but I have been casually rooting for them in the playoffs. I went to my first NBA game this year (Feb. 22 Pelicans at Wizards for my friend Sameer's bachelor party) in Washington and I don't have a favorite NBA team, so the playoffs aren't stressful for me but there are certain teams I'd rather see win than other teams. The Wizards were actually one of the more dominant teams in the first round of the playoffs as they beat the Bulls, 4-1. Analysts were giving them a great shot vs. the Pacers in round 2. Indiana struggled to top eighth-seeded Atlanta in seven games. The Pacers lost the first game to the Wizards but then seemed to wake up and rise up like the Spurs and Heat to win three straight. However, the schizophrenia came back in Game 5 and Washington crushed Indiana, 102-79. It was at least the second time in the playoffs that Indiana lost by more than 20 points at home. The Pacers also did it against the Hawks. Perhaps more amazing was the rebounding advantage: 62-23 Wizards. Insane but true. Indiana has had massive struggles the past two to three months that have been well documented. Who knows what will happen the rest of this series. Washington is back at home but it has been better on the road in the playoffs than at home. Nothing surprises me with the Pacers anymore, though, so they could lose the series or blow out the Wiz in Game 6 and I would not be surprised. Game 6 is tonight at 8.
Heat 4, Nets 1: This was probably one of the more anticipated conference semifinals series because of the history between the players involved. Brooklyn picked up high-profile Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce before the season and they were facing LeBron James and the Heat, a team that also includes former Garnett and Pierce teammate Ray Allen. Allen had dashed the pair's hopes before when they were Celtics, and he did it again Wednesday by hitting a game-clinching 3-pointer in Miami in Game 5. The Heat won the series, 4-1, all the more surprising because the Nets swept the season series, 4-0. This gives me reason to think that the Heat just kind of get bored in the regular season and have a switch they can flips in the playoffs like no one else. It is why they are the favorite again to win the championship.
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| Hawks forward and former UVa player Mike Scott |
Mike Scott
Speaking of the Hawks (the Wizards' first-round opponent), former Virginia star Mike Scott had a breakout season in Atlanta. He averaged 18.5 minutes, 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and an assist per game this year. Last season, he averaged just 9.4 minutes, 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. His best game this season came against the Knicks on Feb. 22 when he scored 30 points but he really put the NBA on notice during the playoffs. In Game 5, he made five second-quarter 3-pointers on his way to 17 total points as the Hawks took a 3-2 series lead with a victory at Indiana. Also, in Game 6, Scott threw down a nasty dunk on top of Indiana's 6-foot-11 center, Ian Mahinmi, that got people talking. On the season, Scott shot 31 percent from 3 (62 of 200), but he only shot one and missed in 2012-13. Scott is probably looking at a nice contract in his future coming from either Atlanta or another team.
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