Playoff Summaries - April 17th Games. Spurs and Lakers lose! Ha ha! Hee hee!

by East Bay Ray on Apr 17, 2011 10:08 PM MST

Let's look at what they're saying around the rest of SB Nation about the early NBA playoff action, on those blogs fortunate enough to have teams in the playoffs this year. Since the Suns aren't in it, seeing our rivals lose is the next best thing, right?

Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs, Game 1 (best of 7 series)

	1	2	3	4	Total
MEM	27	18	25	31	101
SA	22	21	31	24	98

Leaders
Points: Z. Randolph ( MEM) 25, T. Parker (SA) 20
Rebounds: Z. Randolph (MEM) 14, T. Duncan (SA) 13
Assists: M. Conley (MEM) 10, T. Parker (SA) 5

Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol combined for 49 points as Memphis upset the top seed in the West, who were missing the injured Manu Ginobili. Shane Battier made a clutch 3-pointer to give the Grizzlies a 3 point lead with 23.9 seconds remaining. Richard Jefferson then missed an open 3 as time expired to seal the deal. How come Jefferson never misses open 3s down the stretch when he plays the Suns?

Spurs fans at Pounding the Rock don't seem overly concerned. "Spurs Lose to Grizzlies, and All is Well"

Grizzlies fans are, uh, wildly celebrating into the night? "Photo Finish: Grizzlies 101, Spurs 98"

Jump it for the rest of the summaries.

New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 1 (best of 7 series)

	1	2	3	4	Total
NOH	26	29	18	36	109
LAL	24	23	25	28	100

Leaders
Points: C. Paul (NOH) 33, K. Bryant (LAL) 34
Rebounds: C. Paul (NOH) 7, R. Artest (LAL) 11
Assists: C. Paul (NOH) 14, P. Gasol (LAL) 6

Chris Paul beasted for 33 points, 14 assists and 7 rebounds. Wow! Jarrett Jack and Aaron Gray combined to chip in 27 points off the bench as the Hornets took game 1 from the defending champs. Pau Gasol was held to 8 points on 2-8 shooting from the field, and Kobe's 34 points were not enough to prevent the upset.

Lakers fans over at Silver Screen and Roll are crossing their arms and pouting. "We Are Not Amused."

Hornets fans are ready to erect a Chris Paul statue in the French Quarter. "The Chris Paul Show."

New York Knicks at Boston Celtics, Game 1 (best of 7 series)

	1	2	3	4	Total
BOS	24	15	20	28	87
NYK	23	28	13	21	85

Leaders
Points: R. Allen (BOS) 24, A. Stoudemire (NYK) 28
Rebounds: K. Garnett (BOS) 13, A. Stoudemire (NYK) 11
Assists: R. Rondo (BOS) 9, C. Billups, C. Anthony (NYK) 4

Ray Allen hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. The Knicks gave Carmelo Anthony the ball to try to tie or win down by 2, and Melo chucked up an ill-advised, contested, long-distance 3-point attempt that missed as the Celtics held serve in game 1. It was bittersweet to see Amare Stoudemire go for 28 and 11. Can't help but think of what he could've done on a team where the point guard is assisting him more than the 4 Billups provided. Steve Nash gets 4 assists in his sleep.

Celtics fans are hoping to avoid a heart attack. Game 1, Round 1: Where This is Gonna be Fun.

Knicks fans are left wondering about the trade for Melo, and bitching about the refs. Postgame Thread: Celtics 87, Knicks 85

Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 1 (best of 7 series)

	1	2	3	4	Total
OKC	24	35	27	21	107
DEN	33	27	22	21	103

Leaders
Points: K. Durant (OKC) 41, Nene (DEN) 22
Rebounds: K. Durant (OKC) 9, Nene, Wilson Chandler (DEN) 8
Assists: R. Westbrook (OKC) 7, R. Felton (DEN) 8

Kevin Durant showed that he is one of the league's best players by scoring 41 points and pulling down 9 rebounds to beat a formidable Nuggets team. The Nuggets were ready to go, and Nene had an active, impressive game, but Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 72 points, and I'm not sure how that can be beaten.

Thunder fans at Loud City are not loud at all. "Denver Nuggets vs. OKC Thunder, NBA Quarter-Finals Game One GAME THREAD"

The take at Denver Stiffs: "Nuggets at Thunder Recap: Free Throws, Strategy Doom Denver"

Overall, a fun day of action! The Lakers and Spurs played all year for their home-court advantage, and now it's gone.

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Comments

I love the Playoffs.

And I must admit, its pretty nice to just enjoy good basketball without any sort of stress or worrying about how the outcome will effect the Suns.
Good summaries. I’m enjoying the playoff coverage!

by Dragic_is_Magic on Apr 17, 2011 10:24 PM MST via mobile reply actions

I have to disagree here

For me, the Playoffs are just not the same without this warm feeling, everytime the Suns won a game and running up and down in my room in that Lakers game in the WCF (I hate you Ron Artest)
As much as I like Denvers Teamplay and as much as I hate the Spurs, there’s just no team where I can say “Yeah THAT Team hast to be a champion”
Still nice to see SA lose

STOP! Hammer Time!

by Mr.ORNG on Apr 18, 2011 2:19 AM MST up reply actions

ow mr orng

Gotta be ready for his 1000th game next season.

by sun_equalizer on Apr 18, 2011 3:07 PM MST up reply actions

I think this is the most appropriate response for today’s event.

To the asshat that hit me: thanks for the broken arm. ...Fucker.

by noonoo on Apr 17, 2011 10:27 PM MST reply actions

uhm....your scarring me.

"Maybe I’m old school," Nash said, "but I signed a contract to play here and I want to honor it. I feel like I owe it to my teammates and the city and everybody to keep battling until they tell me it’s time to go." STEVE (God of Basketball) NASH

by 2NASHTY on Apr 17, 2011 10:31 PM MST up reply actions

Success!

To the asshat that hit me: thanks for the broken arm. ...Fucker.

by noonoo on Apr 17, 2011 10:39 PM MST up reply actions

Vintage 2nashty.

He’s scarring me.

I don't know what to put in my sig.

by shawndy on Apr 17, 2011 10:41 PM MST up reply actions

For life!

Grant Hill: where making MVPs look like wannabes happens.

by NashMV3 on Apr 17, 2011 11:26 PM MST up reply actions

That was creepy!!!

But just how I felt when the Spurs lost.,

April 23rd!!!! April 23rd!!! My favorite doctor returns!!

by Aztiramtempe on Apr 17, 2011 11:10 PM MST up reply actions

This is my ringtone.

No lie.

This is a better response.

Grant Hill: where making MVPs look like wannabes happens.

by NashMV3 on Apr 17, 2011 11:26 PM MST up reply actions

Crap.

I meant my link’s my ringtone. Not the Kira laugh.

Grant Hill: where making MVPs look like wannabes happens.

by NashMV3 on Apr 17, 2011 11:26 PM MST up reply actions

What's your ringtone?

To the asshat that hit me: thanks for the broken arm. ...Fucker.

by noonoo on Apr 17, 2011 11:28 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

Nevermind. I read that wrong.

To the asshat that hit me: thanks for the broken arm. ...Fucker.

by noonoo on Apr 17, 2011 11:30 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

I really need to get to bed...

Grant Hill: where making MVPs look like wannabes happens.

by NashMV3 on Apr 17, 2011 11:32 PM MST up reply actions

come to bed sweat hart

by 2NASHTY on Apr 18, 2011 12:10 AM MST up reply actions

Wow...

To the asshat that hit me: thanks for the broken arm. ...Fucker.

by noonoo on Apr 18, 2011 11:15 AM MST up reply actions

I prefer

this

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Phoenix Suns/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

by JoeCB1991 on Apr 18, 2011 10:36 AM MST up reply actions

Guess What!!!!

…melo sucks, let’s not forget the chucked 3 blown defense and critical turn over that led to the chucked three EBR mentioned.

by 2NASHTY on Apr 17, 2011 10:33 PM MST reply actions

Melo sucks.

I don't know what to put in my sig.

by shawndy on Apr 17, 2011 10:35 PM MST up reply actions

Great summary, EBR.

My thoughts:

Spurs/Griz- For sure, Pop has some other game plans ready for game 2. He is one of the best coaches in history in adjusting. He will find a way how to contain those 3 pointers by Griz that cost the game. But Griz should continue dominating inside game by game. Gasol and ZBo ate Blair inside.

Fakers/Hornets- I really said to myself that Chris Paul will be the reason if Hornets could steal a game from them. They don’t have West. Landry produces just half of West’s production. Paul played huge this game. And also, they limited Gasol to 8 points. That’s a punch in the nuts to the Fakers.

NYK/BOS- 4 words -— “It’s all Melo’s fault”. Bitch!

OKC/DEN- oh my , oh my, this game was interesting, unfortunately Afflalo didn’t play and it hurt the Nuggets. Their best perimeter defender Afflalo sat this game out, and Durant abused the 3 point line. But I thought this game could as well go to Denver’s score if that basket interference was called. OKC clearly got superstar treatment from the referees. The non-call was the dagger. Denver was up 1 then the interference happened and OKC led and never looked back. Goerge Karl is still furious of the non-call and he said it in the press but should let it go. Man up, next game. But props to Denver for almost overcoming all the obstacles- the Nene injury (but he returned), they missed Afflalo, the superstar treatment to the OKC, all the non-calls. Overall, I still root for Denver.

Suns should’ve played today if not Vince Carter. All blame on Vince. (sarcasm)

I don't know what to put in my sig.

by shawndy on Apr 17, 2011 10:34 PM MST reply actions

*if not for

I don't know what to put in my sig.

by shawndy on Apr 17, 2011 10:41 PM MST up reply actions

I just went over to Knicks' site

Fans were throwing all blame to Melo and Billups. Means, they really love Amar’e there. And EBR, at least more and more people hates Garnett because he is a total douchebag as is the Celtics except for Ray Allen.

I don't know what to put in my sig.

by shawndy on Apr 17, 2011 10:41 PM MST reply actions

Knicks got totally boned by the refs

On a very suspect tickytack offensive foul called on Melo with 21 ticks left in the game. This at the end of a game that looked more like a kickboxing tournament most of the way.
It looked like the kind of thing they do to us.
I guess this year the Knicks are the ones getting jacked by the system, because they’re the upstarts up against the “storied dynasty” on their side of the country.
I want to see them just hammer the Celtics in Game 2.

New York, the other Planet Orange.

by suns68 on Apr 17, 2011 10:43 PM MST via mobile reply actions

+1

by 2NASHTY on Apr 17, 2011 10:44 PM MST up reply actions

i agree with you but the game couldve ended differently. melo couldve drove to the basket instead of trying to shoot the 3

by REneeR on Apr 17, 2011 10:50 PM MST up reply actions

Terrible decision by Melo, but it's once again D'Antoni's fault.

Not everyone on the Knicks knew they didn’t have a timeout left…
So they didn’t really have anything prepared except for a lame ISO play for Melo.

Epic last minute fail by the coaching staff. And once again Doc prepared two masterly plays for the last 2 possessions for the Celtics.

I was an advocate of the Knicks this year, but after Billups sprained his knee I don’t give them a snowball’s chance in hell to get more than 1 game from teh Celtics.

Feed the cutter!!!

by Piotr Szczesniak on Apr 18, 2011 3:29 AM MST up reply actions

I don't think that's all on the coaching staff

If they really didn’t know they were out of timeouts.. that’s on the players too, especially the point guard. Hard not to have Billups out there at that point of the game.

You had the ball in Melo’s hands at the end of the game. That’s what NY wanted.. he’s gotta be able to get a better shot than that.

Re-sign BAMF.

by brian13 on Apr 18, 2011 10:19 AM MST up reply actions

+1...

-7
and +4 just for good measure.

Grant Hill: where making MVPs look like wannabes happens.

by NashMV3 on Apr 17, 2011 11:32 PM MST up reply actions

I'm having trouble deciding who I want to see winning this series

Do I want to see Amare succeed on his own, or Boston to win. Ultimately I decided that a world in which Bill Simmons is depressed with his Boston teams is way better than him being happy, making all these trade ideas to make HIS team better and no one else’s.

by Nate_Sun86 on Apr 18, 2011 4:34 AM MST via mobile up reply actions

As little as I like Chris Paul and the Hornets

Watching them beat the Lakers brought me endless joy.

by lixuec on Apr 17, 2011 10:44 PM MST reply actions

Dislike*

by lixuec on Apr 17, 2011 10:45 PM MST up reply actions

Correction

This correction is unneeded

by lixuec on Apr 17, 2011 10:45 PM MST up reply actions

you stand correcteded

by 2NASHTY on Apr 17, 2011 11:17 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

How can you not like the Hornets?

Watching CP3 run the floor is a joy, the way he dictates tempo and always knows where everyone is and how to get them in a spot to score borders on clairvoyance. I know they killed our playoff dreams this season but it’s hardly their fault Frye gave up like 25 offensive rebounds to Landry over the whole season series.

Anyway, if the Hornets can keep stopping just one of either Gasol or Bryant every game and letting the other chuck it, they can take Lakers to game 7 easily. Gray simply abused Bynum, that kid cannot handle anyone his size, dude is straight baby thighs.

If Gray is healthy enough to come back before Game 3 and they can throw Gray/Okafor at them the rest of the way with CP3 performing somewhere around this level, hell, they might even win this series, no joke. Kobe ain’t going to do much better than he did tonight without taking away shots from the other Lakers, and that can only help the Hornets.

by rzyn on Apr 18, 2011 2:13 AM MST up reply actions

The Hornets will be dead and buried in 6 games.

This was a wake up call for the Lakers.
I don’t foresee such a lame showing by Gasol throughout this series.
Also the Lakers defense will man up – also I don’t see Paul being so effective each and every game.
Still, I am very impressed with them, I thought they would be eaten in 4.

Feed the cutter!!!

by Piotr Szczesniak on Apr 18, 2011 5:44 AM MST up reply actions

Yo Dawg!

I heard you liked corrections so i put a correction in yo correction!!!!

by The_Knife on Apr 18, 2011 9:44 AM MST up reply actions

Hey, let the Grizz fans have their day in the sun.

They deserve it. Plus, it’s one game closer to the Spurs being eliminated. Which, if you’re not rooting for that, you’re not a Suns fan.

Blogging Phoenix Suns basketball at Bright Side of the Sun twitter: @iamtrevorpaxton

by Trevor Paxton on Apr 18, 2011 1:11 AM MST reply actions

R u saying that given the choice

Between rooting for the Lakers or the Spurs.. U would b a Lakers fan?? R u??

April 23rd!!!! April 23rd!!! My favorite doctor returns!!

by Aztiramtempe on Apr 18, 2011 9:15 AM MST up reply actions

There is no lesser in those two evils

by ThankYouCentralMichFor#9 on Apr 18, 2011 10:59 AM MST up reply actions

You don't root for any of them.

You pick another team to root for. The end.

To the asshat that hit me: thanks for the broken arm. ...Fucker.

by noonoo on Apr 18, 2011 11:16 AM MST up reply actions

I root for BOTH of them

…to get herpes.

I smell like the vault. I'm so PAID.

by RMason on Apr 18, 2011 12:34 PM MST up reply actions

Although I'm a Suns fan

I’m still an NBA fan. That being said, I’m really pulling for the Bulls. As a Suns fan, I cannot and do not want to root for the Spurs, Lakers, or Mavs, and I definitely do not want to see the Celtics and Heat win it all either. But as an NBA fan, I’m hoping for a Bulls/Thunder finals, Bulls/Mavs finals, or a Bulls/Lakers finals. A Bulls/Thunder finals would just be fun to watch, while Bulls and either Mavs/Lakers, would be fun to try to see if the can control Derrick Rose.

by Nate_Sun86 on Apr 18, 2011 4:28 AM MST via mobile reply actions

As an NBA fan

tell me that Heat/Lakers does not top that list???

Feed the cutter!!!

by Piotr Szczesniak on Apr 18, 2011 5:45 AM MST up reply actions

I'm an NBA fan

And I want to see the Heat get crushed in the first round.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Phoenix Suns/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

by JoeCB1991 on Apr 18, 2011 10:42 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I want the Sixers to Mortal Kombat their asses.

To the asshat that hit me: thanks for the broken arm. ...Fucker.

by noonoo on Apr 18, 2011 11:18 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs

And yes

Re-sign BAMF.

by brian13 on Apr 18, 2011 12:25 PM MST up reply actions

Yes

Re-sign BAMF.

by brian13 on Apr 18, 2011 12:25 PM MST up reply actions

Heat/Lakers would be fun

But Miami just doesn’t strike me as a good basketball city. Sure Staples Center is filled with celebs and we all think Laker fans are arrogant pricks, but LA is a good basketball city because of it’s history, as is Chicago. For me, when you have two teams from good basketball cities, you great energy from the crowds, and that makes the games more special to me. That’s why I would prefer Lakers/Bulls over Lakers/Heat. I think Miami’s ‘white hot heat’ is just dumb.

by Nate_Sun86 on Apr 18, 2011 11:28 AM MST via mobile up reply actions

I wish them death and small pox

hate what LeBron pulled on the Cavs and couldn’t believe “where superstars sharing duties happens”.
Don’t really like both teams – but basketball-wise – that has to be the most interesting matchup, something everyone was waiting for.

Feed the cutter!!!

by Piotr Szczesniak on Apr 18, 2011 2:36 PM MST up reply actions

I felt pretty sad

watching amare putting a show last night… just a personal thought, don’t jump on me…

otherwise looooved hornets win, but there is not enough talent there to beat la bastards in 7 game series…

by zeze_999 on Apr 18, 2011 5:56 AM MST reply actions

thought I'd take a sec to tell you guys about what happened on my PHX trip,

first off all the suns won both games I went to, T-wolves and spurs, so that was awesome, but the coolest thing that happened to me was seeing Jared Dudley at breakfast one morning, we went to Over Easy on east indian school and walked in like any normal place, sat down and got a cup of coffee, and then looked two table down and there was dudz, with his family, whom I assumed to be his father, wife, and kid, just eating waffles like a stud. I was barely coherent enough at this moment to order my breakfast, which I later found out was a chicken fried steak…like I said he was with his family so I didn’t bother him, as much as I’d have liked to get a picture with him or something…it was a very cool experience, and I even had my wife there as a witness..plus dudders retweeted me afterwards :)

Twitter - @ceek23

"I have to say I've worked very few days of my life. I used to have to cut the lawn, and when I was in junior high school, I worked at a concession stand at a stadium."

-Steve Nash

by Ceek on Apr 18, 2011 12:07 PM MST reply actions 3 recs

Awesome!

Don't trade Dudley!

by Beavis 25 on Apr 18, 2011 12:21 PM MST up reply actions

Didn't watch the games that closely, as I more focussed on my home town..

Vancouver Canucks.

What I liked in watching what I saw in these games is validation that parity is here, meaning that our Suns aren’t that far behind anyone. We saw how hard it was to make the playoffs once we fell behind, and I think this weekend is validation of what that difficulty was about. There just isn’t that much to choose between 1-10 in the western conference.

I think the Spurs totally have their hands full as the Grizzlies are just a flat out tough out. I would be very surprised if the Hornets actually win the series but do expect they can take at least one more and make things interesting.

I still like the Blazers over the Mavs, and Denver/OKC looks like a 7 game battle.

I think the clear strength of the bottom 4 made our task of making the playoffs so difficult and we ultimately failed as we were unable to overcome injuries to Nash (not surprising) and Frye (as we had no defensively reliable back up big). Given what we are seeing, if we can make some off season improvements with personnel moves (not going to be easy) and through off season improvements (to Rolo??, Frye, Gortat and Dudz) I think we have a chance to be competitive again.

by HarvMel on Apr 18, 2011 2:26 PM MST reply actions