Showing posts with label western conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label western conference. Show all posts

Friday, May 17, 2013

Spurs are back in the Western Conference Finals.

In a battle of youth vs experience. Experience got the better of this match-up as the second seeded San Antonio Spurs are heading back to the Western Conference Finals as they defeat the sixth seeded Golden State Warriors in six games as the Spurs are in the West Finals for a second straight season.

Photos ©NBA

The Warriors, after pulling of a major upset of the third seeded Denver Nuggets in six games, they came in as the lowest seeded team to come out of the first round and these young players led by sweet shooting Stephen Curry battled against a tested veteran team and gave it their all in this series. They manage to win two games in the series including one on the road. However, the more experienced Spurs team came out and delivered when it all mattered the most. Fueled by a frenzied fanbase which pack up their home floor dressed in yellow and pecking the decibel meter up to the roofs every single home game. These young bloods have achieved a nice run with players surrounding Curry like Klay Thompson, David Lee, Harrison Barnes, Carl Landry and Jarrett Jack to name a nice lineup the Warriors had. However, their playoff run comes to an end this time around.

As for the Spurs, they came into the series well rested after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The extra rest they got proved to be beneficial especially on a veteran core that they have on the line up. Their experience proved to be a factor in their series as shown by their poise in an thrilling Game 1 victory at home as well as picking up two wins in front of a raucous "Roaracle" Arena crowd in Oakland. Their triumvirate of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have delivered when it all mattered for the Spurs. Now their quest back to glory will continue as they look to have another shot at an NBA championship as these three men are winding down their decorated NBA careers.

The Spurs will now face the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals. In a rematch of their first round matchup from 2011 when the then eight-seeded Grizzlies knocked off the then top seeded Spurs in six games. Despite having to go through personnel changes over the two years since they last met in the playoffs, expect the same old ballgame that we saw from both teams two years back.

As for the Warriors, their remarkable season comes to an end. This young team will be a team to fear for many years to come. The players on their roster still have a ton of growth ahead of them and this deep playoff experience they had will make them better for even deeper playoff runs when their time comes.

Here are the scores from all games of the series:

GAME 1 @ San Antonio: Warriors 127-129 Spurs (2OT)

Warriors leaders:
Points: Curry 44, Thompson 19, Barnes 19
Rebounds: Bogut 15, Barnes 12, Dr. Green 7
Assists: Curry 11, Bogut 4, Thompson 3

Spurs leaders:
Points: Parker 28, Da. Green 22, Duncan 19
Rebounds: Duncan 11, Leonard 9, Parker 8
Assists: Ginobili 11, Parker 8, Leonard 3

GAME 2 @ San Antonio: Warriors 100-91 Spurs

Warriors leaders:
Points: Thompson 34, Curry 22, Barnes 13
Rebounds: Thompson 14, Bogut 11, Landry 8
Assists: Dr. Green 5, Curry 4, Jack 4

Spurs leaders:
Points: Duncan 23, Parker 20, Ginobili 12
Rebounds: Leonard 12, Duncan 9, Parker 6, Da. Green 6
Assists: Ginobili 4, Parker 3

GAME 3 @ Golden State: Spurs 102-92 Warriors

Spurs leaders:
Points: Parker 32, Duncan 23, Leonard 15
Rebounds: Duncan 10, Leonard 9, Parker 5, Ginobili 5
Assists: Parker 5, Ginobili 4, Duncan 3, Da. Green 3

Warriors leaders:
Points: Thompson 17, Curry 16, Landry 14
Rebounds: Bogut 12, Thompson 8, Barnes 8
Assists: Curry 8, Landry 4, Thompson 2, Barnes 2

GAME 4 @ Golden State: Spurs 87-97 Warriors (OT)

Spurs leaders:
Points: Ginobili 21, Duncan 19, Parker 17
Rebounds: Duncan 16, Leonard 8, Da. Green 7
Assists: Ginobili 3, Parker 3, Diaw 3, Splitter 3

Warriors leaders:
Points: Barnes 26, Jack 24, Curry 22
Rebounds: Bogut 18, Barnes 10, Jack 7
Assists: Curry 4, Jack 4, Landry 4

GAME 5 @ San Antonio: Warriors 91-109 Spurs

Warriors leaders:
Points: Barnes 25, Jack 20, Landry 16
Rebounds: Barnes 7, Landry 6, Bogut 6
Assists: Curry 8, Landry 2, Bogut 2, Jack 2

Spurs leaders:
Points: Parker 25, Leonard 17, Da. Green 16
Rebounds: Duncan 11, Leonard 7, Splitter 6
Assists: Parker 10, Ginobili 5

GAME 6 @ Golden State: Spurs 94-82 Warriors

Spurs leaders:
Points: Duncan 19, Leonard 16, Splitter 14
Rebounds: Leonard 10, Duncan 6, Ginobili 6, Diaw 6
Assists: Ginobili 11, Parker 8, Diaw 4

Warriors leaders:
Points: Curry 22, Jack 15, Landry 11
Rebounds: Bogut 7, Ezeli 7, Landry 6
Assists: Curry 6, Thompson 3, Lee 2

Spurs win series 4-2

K-Smoove

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Grizzlies dethrone the Kings of the West.

These two teams battled each other two years ago and fought a nail-biting seven game second round series. This year, the fifth seeded Memphis Grizzlies get their retribution as the knock off the top seed in the West as well as the reigning Western Conference Champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. The Grizzlies also avenge their loss in 2011 against the Thunder in empathic fashion taking four straight wins after dropping Game 1 on the road.


 Photos ©NBA

The Thunder who rode out the loss of their All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook in their first round series against the Houston Rockets managed to get into the second round after defeating the Rockets in six games. The Thunder had to rely more on Kevin Durant to score the basketball with Westbrook out for the rest of the playoffs. They managed to win Game 1 on their home floor with a clutch jumper by Kevin Durant. Unfortunately, it ended up as their only win of the series as the Grizzlies took the next four games including two games on their own home floor in Loud City. Their quest for redemption comes to a bitter and early end.

As for the Grizzlies, after getting redemption against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. They continued to play their style of Grit 'n Grind in their series against the Thunder as they continued to play physical for the entire course of the series. After dropping Game 1 on the road, they responded emphatically as they won the next four games on their way to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. They also kept themselves undefeated at "The Grindhouse" FedEx Forum as they are 5-0 at home in the NBA Playoffs. With a mix of defensive stalwarts like DPOY Marc Gasol, Tony Allen and Tayshaun Prince as well as an offensive boost from Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Jerryd Bayless to name a few. These guys play great defense, and as quoted by Bruce Bowen once "Defense wins championships." Now, the road to the championship continues for this team that loves to grind and play tough defense.

The Grizzlies will face the winner of the series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors. The Spurs currently have a 3-2 series lead over the Warriors and they got a shot of winning the series tomorrow.

As for the Thunder, their quest to return to the NBA Finals comes to an end. They will have Russell Westbrook back healthy next season. However, this team could undergo personnel changes along the way, as an eery silence will loom in Loud City as their off-season begins earlier than most people expect.

Here are the scores from all games of the series:

GAME 1 @ Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 91-93 Thunder

Grizzlies leaders:
Points: Gasol 20, Randolph 18, Conley 13, Pondexter 13
Rebounds: Gasol 10, Randolph 10, Conley 5, Pondexter 5, Prince 5
Assists: Gasol 3, Conley 3, Pondexter 3

Thunder leaders:
Points: Durant 35, Martin 25, Jackson 12
Rebounds: Durant 15, Martin 7, Perkins 7
Assists: Durant 6, Perkins 3, Jackson 2

GAME 2 @ Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 99-93 Thunder

Grizzlies leaders:
Points: Conley 26, Gasol 24, Randolph 15
Rebounds: Conley 10, Randolph 8, Allen 7
Assists: Conley 9, Gasol 5, Randolph 3

Thunder leaders:
Points: Durant 36, Fisher 19, Ibaka 11
Rebounds: Durant 11, Perkins 6, Ibaka 5, Jackson 5
Assists: Durant 9, Sefolosha 3, Jackson 2

GAME 3 @ Memphis: Thunder 81-87 Grizzlies

Thunder leaders: 
Points: Durant 25, Jackson 16, Ibaka 13, Martin 13
Rebounds: Durant 11, Ibaka 10, Jackson 10
Assists: Durant 5, Jackson 2, Sefolosha 2

Grizzlies leaders:
Points: Gasol 20, Conley 14, Allen 14
Rebounds: Randolph 10, Gasol 9, Conley 7
Assists: Conley 6, Gasol 4, Randolph 2, Bayless 2

GAME 4 @ Memphis: Thunder 97-103 (OT)

Thunder leaders:
Points: Durant 27, Martin 18, Ibaka 17
Rebounds: Ibaka 14, Durant 7, Martin 5, Sefolosha 5
Assists: Jackson 8, Durant 7

Grizzlies leaders:
Points: Conley 24, Randolph 23, Gasol 23
Rebounds: Randolph 12, Gasol 11, Allen 6
Assists: Conley 5, Prince 5, Randolph 3, Bayless 3

GAME 5 @ Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 88-84 Thunder 

Grizzlies leaders:
Points: Randolph 28, Conley 13, Allen 11
Rebounds: Randolph 14, Conley 7, Gasol 7
Assists: Conley 11, Randolph 2, Allen 2, Bayless 2

Thunder leaders:
Points: Durant 21, Ibaka 17, Jackson 16
Rebounds: Jackson 9, Durant 8, Ibaka 8
Assists: Durant 6, Jackson 5, Fisher 3

Grizzlies win series 4-1

K-Smoove