2008 NBA Playoffs 2nd Round: West
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Spurs (60-27 SU, 40-46 ATS) vs.
Hornets (60-27 SU, 54-32 ATS)
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: Tied 2-2 SU/ATS
Nov 9: Spurs 97, at Hornets 85 (Spurs -3, game went UNDER 187)
Jan. 26: Hornets 102 at Spurs 78 (Spurs -6, UNDER 183)
Feb. 23: at Spurs 98, Hornets 89 (Spurs -7, OVER 183)
March 12: at Hornets 100, Spurs 75 (Spurs -1, UNDER 185)
The old veterans against the new kids on the block! New Orleans was feeling pretty good about its 4-1 start when San Antonio came into the New Orleans Arena on Nov. 9 and schooled the Hornets in a 97-85 victory. The Hornets began to cement themselves as one of the most surprising teams in the NBA when they went into San Antonio on Jan. 26 and whipped the Spurs, 102-78. The Spurs made sure a repeat didn't happen when New Orleans returned to San Antonio on Feb. 23, winning 98-89. The Hornets blew the Spurs out, 100-75, in the New Orleans Arena on March 12. Their victories are the second-and third-most decisive against San Antonio this season, so the Spurs will not take this young team lightly.
Most thought New Orleans was a fluke during a hot start, but they never faded and finished with the No. 2 seed in the West. New Orleans carried a 12-5 SU, 12-5 ATS run into the playoffs and dispatched the Mavs in 5 games.
Where did these kids come from? At age 22, Chris Paul is the most electrifying guard in the league, with 21 points and over 11 assists per game. He runs fits around opposing defenses with his quickness and playmaking ability. 6-9 David West (20 ppg, 9 rpg) and 7-foot-1 Tyson Chandler (11 ppg, 12 rpg) are rebounding machines in the low post. Veteran Peja Stojakovic (16 ppg) has stepped into a good situation and adds the outside game. New Orleans is a sizzling 27-16 SU, 25-15 ATS on the road and 13-12 SU, 15-10 ATS as a dog. If you win with defense, note that the Hornets allow 95 ppg, 5th best in the NBA.
The young Hornets never quit under NBA Coach of the Year Coach Byron Scott. They trailed by 30 points in the first half at LA late in the season, and came within one point late in the fourth quarter before falling 107-104 at the Staples Center. Hornets point guard Chris Paul battled foul trouble but finished with 15 points, 17 assists and six rebounds.
The Hornets playoff inexperience showed in the first half of Game 1 against the Mavericks as they played tight and fell behind by 12 at halftime. But they relaxed in the second half, rallied to win going away, and controlled the rest of the series except for a Game 3 loss in Dallas.
It was the team's first postseason series victory since relocating from Charlotte in 2002, and only its fifth ever. "You've got to come in humble," center Tyson Chandler said. "They're the champs. We have the utmost respect for their team."
San Antonio is the classic monster-defensive team that shuts down the opposition and pounds the glass. It has worked, too, as San Antonio is a four-time NBA champion (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007). They were impressive in shutting down the Suns in 5 games. New Orleans blew them out twice, 2 of their worst 3 losses this season. Only the Spurs' 26-point loss at Utah on April 4 was worse. "Everybody saw what they did to us in a couple of games," guard Manu Ginobili said. "They really killed us."
San Antonio plays a rough, physical style. The Spurs allow .44% shooting by opponents, fifth in the NBA, and are No. 3 in the NBA allowing 90 points per game. Last season they were No. 1 allowing 89 ppg. They know that defense wins championships, having won in 1999, 2003, 2005, and last season. The big frontcourt has 7-foot Tim Duncan, who averaged 19 points, 11.4 rebounds per game. He blocks 1.9 shots per game, shot 49% from the field and has improved from the free throw line (72%.) He's a team leader who can rise to the occasion in close games.
He doesn't have a lot of help on the glass, with only 6-10 Fabricio Oberto (5.2 rpg), playing 19 minutes per game, which is why they added 35-year old 6-9 Kurt Thomas (5.0 rpg) in midseason. Veteran 6-7 Bruce Bowen is a key weapon, an outstanding defensive player, a guy who can clamp down on the opposition's big offensive gun. He's unselfish and doesn't care about stats, only winning, a valuable role player this time of the season.
They have outstanding star power along with Duncan on offense with Emanuel Ginobili (19.6 ppg), the leading scorer who has been coming off the bench to supply firepower. 25-year old Tony Parker is a sparkplug averaging 18.5 ppg and 5.8 assists per game. Parker seems to have been around for a while, but, yes, he is only 25-years old! Veteran guards Mike Finley (9.9 ppg) and Brent Barry add depth and three-point shooting ability to keep defenses honest.
San Antonio is deadly at home (37-7 SU, 26-18 ATS) but has struggled on the road at 23-20 SU, 16-27 ATS. They had a late season showdown for the top seed at Los Angeles, but got hammered by the Lakers, 106-85. Remember a year ago on their way to the title the Spurs were a strong 27-14 SU, 23-18 ATS on the road. The Spurs are also 26-17, 23-16 and 22-15 UNDER the total at home the last three years. Keep in mind the Spurs are 6-12 SU/7-11 ATS as an underdog this season.
Will experience prevail? Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Ginobili have been together for three of the Spurs' four NBA titles. Duncan has been around for all of them. Robert Horry owns more championship rings than any active player (seven). "There is no substitute for experience," Duncan said. "Guys don't panic, we don't for the most part take bad shots. We come down, we execute, we make the right plays and take the right shots."
Lakers (61-25 SU, 51-34 ATS) vs.
Jazz (58-30 SU, 48-39 ATS)
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: Lakers 3-1 SU/ATS
Nov. 4: at Lakers 119, Jazz 109 (Jazz -1, game went OVER 204)
Nov. 30: at Jazz 120, Lakers 96 (Jazz -5, OVER 209)
Dec. 28: at Lakers 123, Jazz 109 (Lakers -3, OVER 213)
March 20: Lakers 106, at Jazz 95 (Jazz -6, UNDER 216)
Forgive the top-seeded Lakers for feeling a little confident, but they just swept the Nuggets and owned the regular season series with Utah, 3-1 SU/ATS, winning by scores of 119-109, 123-109 and 106-95. LA won 8 of its final 9 games to claim the top seed in the West then went 4-0 SU/ATS over the Nuggets. They are an uptempo team that averages 108 ppg, fourth in the NBA. This may surprise you, but they also play good defense, allowing 44.5% shooting by opponents, sixth best in the NBA, just behind the Spurs. 29-year old Kobe Bryant is happy as he is surrounded by an excellent supporting cast. He led LA in scoring again with 28 ppg, 5.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game.
The Lakers went from being a good team to a great one after essentially stealing 27-year old 7-foot Pau Gasol (18.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg) from the Grizzlies for Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton, one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. Teamed with 6-10 Lamar Odom (14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg), this is a dynamite (and tall) frontcourt. 7-foot starting center Andrew Bynum (13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg) gives the Lakers a dominating frontcourt, but Bynum's knee probably won't be healed before the end of the playoffs. Bynum played in just 35 games (25 starts) and the Lakers were still good enough to claim the top seed with him out since January. There are no plans for Bynum to begin practicing any time soon.
The backcourt has a nice blend of veteran Derek Fisher (11.7 ppg) alongside Bryant, with young Jordan Farmar (9.1 ppg) coming off the bench, a former first-round draft pick. The Lakers play team-oriented basketball for coach Phil Jackson and have good role players in super-passer Luke Walton (7.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and 6-10 Vladimir Radmanovic, who shoots 40% from long range. The Lakers are 29-14 SU, 28-13 ATS on the road and 12-10 SU, 15-6 ATS as a dog. This is a young, hungry team with an excellent blend of offensive star power, defense and role players. LA is 6-0 SU/ATS the last 6 games.
Lakers assistant coach Frank Hamblen, who was in charge of scouting the Jazz this season, said Utah's players were "bangers" and underscored Carlos Boozer's ability to consistently get 20 points and 10 rebounds, not to mention backup forward Paul Millsap's burly presence. "I think they were second in the league as far as getting points in the paint," Hamblen said. Said Bryant recently: "Utah is a physical bunch, they scratch, they claw." The Lakers managed to knock back Utah in an unusual game in March, winning at Salt Lake City, 106-95, despite playing without injured big men Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Lamar Odom was seemingly everywhere that night -- 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists -- and the Lakers halted the Jazz's franchise record-tying 19 consecutive home victories.
The Lakers, however, were on the other end of a bizarre decision, posting an embarrassing 120-96 loss in November even though the Jazz played without Boozer and starting center Mehmet Okur. Williams had a career-high 35 points in that game, versatile forward Andrei Kirilenko had a triple-double, and Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said his team was as "soft as Dairy Queen ice cream." The Lakers, however, fared well in their home games against Utah, collecting a 119-109 victory in November and a 123-109 victory in December.
Standing in their way will be a young, athletic team that loves to run. Utah has a terrific young frontcourt with 27-year old 6'-9" forward Andrei Kirilenko (11 ppg), 28-year old 6'-11" Mehmet Okur (14.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and 26-year old workhorse 6-9 Carlos Boozer (21 ppg, 10 rpg). Utah was third in the NBA with a +3.00 rebounding differential (after leading last season).
The emergence of 6'-11" Mehmet Okur has been a huge upgrade the last two seasons, making the All-Star team this year. There was the back injury that cost him a game in November and the shoulder injury that kept him out of seven games in December. Keep in mind, in his three previous seasons in Utah, Okur had missed just two games combined. Now Okur is healthy and confident, having scored 20 or more points in four of six games late in the season. He was the difference maker in the Jazz's two victories, over San Antonio (17 points, 16 rebounds) and New Orleans (22 points, 17 rebounds). If the Jazz are going to contend for a championship, Okur will be needed as a No. 3 scorer who can stretch defenses with his shooting and support Deron Williams and Boozer. He's averaging 17.3 points and 10.1 rebounds since the All-Star break.
The Jazz have an outstanding young, athletic frontcourt. Utah is 25-19 SU, 25-17 ATS the last two seasons as a dog. They took out Houston in 6 games, going 2-1 Su/ATS as a dog. Coach Jerry Sloan also has 31-year old 6'-7" F Matt Harpring off the bench, who chipped in 8 points, 3 boards each game, and young 6-8 Paul Millsap has been good on the glass (5.6 rpg) playing in 82 games. The backcourt is also young. 23-year old point guard Deron Williams has emerged as a sparkplug with 19 ppg, second best on the team, and he teams with Ronnie Brewer (12 ppg). Like many young teams, Utah was 39-5 SU, 29-14 ATS in the Salt Palace this season, and 19-25 SU, 19-25 ATS on the road. Unlike a year ago, Utah is hot down the stretch, on a 13-5 SU, 11-6-1 ATS run.
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