NBA Playoffs: Sunday Reactions

Philadelphia 76ers  89            Chicago Bulls  82

Hey Chicago, why didn’t you lose your players last year when the Pacers were playing you?  The Pacers might have been doing the same the Sixers are doing now, and that’s leading the series 3-1 after Spencer Hawes and Jrue Holiday lead the way for the Sixers.  Hawes put up 22 points, while Holiday put up 20 points on 7-23 shooting. Not lights out shooting for Holiday, but he hit two daggers in the fourth quarter. Now let’s see if this Bulls team has any fight left and can at least pull out a win come game five.  Or do the Sixers join the few #8 seeds that have pulled off the upset of the top seed?

Boston Celtics  101            Atlanta Hawks  79

Boston looks like they’re rolling on all cylinders and could make a push for the NBA Finals if they keep playing like they are.  They’re making this first round look pretty easy, especially with yesterday’s rout of the Hawks.  I thought the Hawks would give some fight, but apparently not.   Rajon Rondo had a great game of 20 points and 16 assists.  The old men of the team got to rest some and save their energy for the clincher on Tuesday night.

New York Knicks 89            Miami Heat  87

Well the Knicks got the win, and the Heat couldn’t pull off the sweep.  Carmelo Anthony did all he could scoring wise finishing out with 41 points.  Amare Stoudemire punched his way to 20 points and 10 rebounds.  And the Knicks finally stopped their playoff losing streak, which had reached 13 games, an NBA record.  Not the NBA record you want though.  So the Heat will have to wait till they make it back to Miami on Wednesday night and put an end to this roller coaster of a Knicks season.

Los Angeles Lakers  92             Denver Nuggets  88

The bench stepped up in this one to give the Lakers the commanding 3-1 lead.  Sixth man Jordan Hill had 12 points and 11 rebounds.  Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake hit some threes down the stretch.  Andrew Bynum bounced back from his previous effort, and Kobe Bryant was Kobe Bryant. Now the Lakers can close out the series on Tuesday night, and prepare for who’s next.