The Starting Five

(Rant Sports)

The veteran Spurs are out to smother the up and coming Steph Curry and the Warriors.

The San Antonio Spurs made quick work of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The aging Spurs have over a week of rest heading into this series. Tiago Splitter (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Game 1.

Mark Jackson’s Golden State Warriors were all but written off when forward David Lee injured his hip flexor in Game one of their series against the Denver Nuggets. However, it was the Nuggets who were unable to recover from the loss of leading scorer Danilo Gallinari — who was injured prior to the start of the playoffs. Powered by the coming out party of scoring machine Steph Curry, the Warriors knocked out the Nuggets in six games.

Read more »

(USA Today)

The Miami Heat are prepared to run right through the banged up Chicago Bulls.

The Miami Heat come into the second round of the playoffs on a full week’s rest prepared to face the hobbled, but inspired Chicago Bulls. The world champions dispatched the 8th seed Milwaukee Bucks in four games — allowing time for rest and treatments.

The Bulls survived a seven game war with the Brooklyn Nets. Nate Robinson continued to carry the offense, but the Bulls defense remains the team’s calling card. Joakim Noah is playing like a man on a mission despite suffering from plantar fasciitis. Injuries to Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich have left the Bulls with major uncertainties going into this series.

Read more »

(Times Free Press)

A critical Memphis turnover opened the door for Kevin Durant’s late-game heroics.

Kevin Durant needed all of his game-high 35 points (15 rebounds and 6 assists) to push the OKC Thunder past the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western  Conference Semifinals 93-91. Durant sank a 19-foot jumper with 11.1 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Thunder the lead for good.

The Indiana Pacers shook off a jittery first quarter to dominate the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Lance Stephenson had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds in the Pacers 102-95 win.

Read more »

(Guyspeed.com)

Carmelo Anthony and Paul George should provide plenty of scoring in this second-round series.

The New York Knicks were finally able to pull down the curtain on the Boston Celtics season in a tougher than anticipated six game series. The Knicks strength is their perimeter game — which could quickly become a liability if they struggle.

The Indiana Pacers took care of the Atlanta Hawks 4-2. The Pacers use a grind it out brand of basketball — which has been the difference in their season. Paul George continues his breakout season, averaging 17 points in the playoffs. The Knicks know the Pacers are young. talented and defensively sound.

Read more »

(Commercial Appeal)

Defensive specialist Tayshaun Prince was brought to Memphis to deal with Kevin Durant.

The Memphis Grizzlies are coming off a physical series against the Clippers where they trailed 2-0. The Grizzlies won the next four games by an average of 14 points with a suffocating defense and tough play in the post led by Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets in six games. Kevin Durant and the Thunder are still adjusting to life without point guard Russell Westbrook – who was injured in Game 2 of the series.

Read more »

(NY Daily Times)

Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors face the San Antonio Spurs in the second round.

David Lee returned for the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets. Lee went down in Game 1 with what was thought to be a torn hip flexor. This was either a playoff miracle or the worst of misdiagnosed injuries. Lee gave the crowd a huge boost with his appearance, playing only 1:24. Once again, it was Steph Curry to the rescue — scoring 14 of his 22 points in the 4th quarter to move the Warriors past the Nuggets 92-88 and into the second-round against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Chicago Bulls squandered the opportunity to finish the Brooklyn Nets at home in Game 6. Now this scrappy squad has to find a way to win on the road in a Game 7. Both teams went into second half funks, but the Nets were able to pull out a 95-92 victory.

Read more »

(USA Today)

Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics are going back home for Game 6.

With a 3-1 advantage the New York Knicks came donned in black, looking to bury the Boston Celtics for the season. Boston politely declined to attend the wake surviving Game 5 with a 92-86 victory at Madison Square Garden. The Celtics shot 46 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc. Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith shot a combined 11 for 38 from the floor in the loss.

Read more »

(Jae C. Hong/AP)

Z-Bo and the Memphis Grizzlies have pushed the LA Clippers to the edge of panic.

Lob City is one game away from being grounded for the season. Blake Griffin suffered a high ankle sprain and practice and was only able to play 19:34. Griffin at 100 percent would have been no match for Zach Randolph.

The man known as Z-Bo picked the Grizzlies up when center Marc Gasol went to the bench with his 5th foul early in the 4th quarter. Randolph scored 10 points in that stretch pushing the Grizzlies to a 103-93 victory and a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is Friday in Memphis.

Read more »

(USA Today)

J-Smoove was able to spread his wings as the Hawks evened their series with the Pacers.

The first-round series between the Atlanta Hawks and the Indiana Pacers didn’t have the star attraction of some of the other match ups. After the Hawks 112-91 victory, we may be witnessing the first 7-game series in these playoffs. Atlanta shot 46 percent from three-point range and played their best defense thus far to tie the series at two games apiece.

Read more »

(Celeb Pic)

Jason Collins stands alone as the only active gay male athlete in sports. 

Washington Wizards center Jason Collins’ announcement that he is gay has changed the game in ways he could only dream about as a player. A fringe player for most of his 12 seasons in the NBA, Collins just cracked the starting lineup as the first active, openly gay male athlete in American sports.

Collins overcame a lifetime of fears and anxiety before making his announcement. Are we ready to get into the game or do we need another scrimmage or two?

Read more »

(WV Metro News).

In spite of the boos he heard from Jets fans, Geno Smith is looking to become the main man in NYC.

The New York Jets second round draft selection of West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith spelled the end of the Tim Tebow Experiment in Gotham. Tebow was released by the Jets after a less than productive season under Rex Ryan.

Read more »

(Robert Hanashiro/USA Today)

No words needed from Kobe Bryant to know what he was thinking.

Kobe Bryant made his presence felt at the most opportune time of the Lakers 103-82 season-ending loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Bryant walked to the Lakers bench after Dwight Howard was ejected after receiving his second technical foul in the 3rd quarter. Kobe’s arrival served reassurance to his teammates and Laker fans who the team really belongs to for now and maybe the foreseeable future. The game was another story. The Spurs was more than willing to put the Lakers out of their misery — ending a frustrating season for coaches, fans, ownership and players.

The Miami Heat had venison four different ways in their first-round sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat won each of their games by double-digits, the final being a 88-77 victory in Milwaukee.

Read more »

(Yahoo)

Ty Lawson and the Denver Nuggets could only marvel at the exploits of “The Golden Child”.

The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have been pushed to the cusp of elimination after dropping the all-critical third game in their respective series. The Celtics were handled by the New York Knicks 90-76 as the series moved to Boston. The injury bug has literally crippled the Los Angeles Lakers — who were no match for the San Antonio Spurs in their 120-89 loss.

If Steph Curry was able to walk, he was going to play in Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets. What we didn’t know was how effective the Warriors guard would be on a sore ankle. Once again, Curry went in against the Denver Nuggets as the Warriors won for the second game on succession without forward David Lee. The Warriors took a 2-1 series lead with their 110-108 victory.

Read more »

(NBA.SI)

The chippy play between Russell Westbrook and Houston’s Patrick Beverley may have resulted in the injury to the OKC guard.

The NBA’s Western Conference is officially up for grabs.

The championship hopes of the Oklahoma City Thunder have taken a serious blow when it was revealed that point guard Russell Westbrook will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Read more »

(USA Today)

The selection of E.J. Manuel drew the ire of many.

Among the surprises in the first round of the NFL draft were the Buffalo Bills selecting Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel with the 16th pick overall. Manuel was the first signal caller taken. Quite a surprise considering West Virginia’s Geno Smith dominated the headlines in the weeks leading up to the draft. Smith was not selected on the draft’s first day — another surprise.

As expected, the criticism of the Bills for taking Manuel at No. 16 and the chest-thumping of pundits who justify the first round snubbing of Smith.

Read more »