This past weekend, there were 8 NBA playoff games completed in 36 hours. And I wasn’t able to watch any of them.
But just by breaking down the box-scores, even I can learn something about what went on. Numbers may not tell the whole story, but what they do divulge is interesting enough to be worth considering.
Apart from 2 games – Lakers v Rockets in a game Houston should have won, and Miami v Charlotte in a thriller yesterday evening – there weren’t any real surprises over this first weekend, as the home teams all won, most of them convincingly. But even though each series is still in its infancy stage, a lot can be learned by studying the stat-sheets;
SATURDAY APRIL 17
Indiana 104
Starters shot 42% from the floor, Bench shot 59%.
Ron Artest briefly got off the bench after a tangle between Jermaine O’Neal and Brandon Hunter.
Al Harrington had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals.
Jamaal Tinsley had 7 assists and 0 turnovers.
Starting front-court had 56 points, 27 boards and 6 blocks.
Boston 88
Hit 8 of 14 3’s, and still lost by 16 points
Paul Pierce lead in scoring, rebounds and assists.
Mark Blount had 5 fouls and 6 points.
Got out-scored by 21 points in the 2nd quarter.
Starting front-court had 17 points, 19 boards and 1 block.
New Jersey 107
Played everybody on their Playoff roster.
Had just 9 offensive rebounds.
Made 30 FTs and 36 FGs.
Jason Collins had 6 fouls in 13 minutes.
Jason Kidd had 14 points and 13 assists.
New York 83
Made 2 of 9 three-pointers.
Committed 32 fouls.
Dikembe Mutombo had 3 blocks and 2 points.
Kurt Thomas shot 1-10 from the field.
Stephon Marbury had 13 points and 2 assists.
San Antonio 98
Shot 54% from the field and restricted Memphis to 35%.
Were out-rebounded 44-41.
Lead by 28 points during the 2nd half.
Bench scored 37 points on 58% shooting.
Malik Rose had 0 rebounds in 15 minutes.
Memphis 74
Had 10 assists. Total.
Bo Outlaw was the only Grizzly who didn’t score.
Jake Tsakalidis had 3 turnovers in 3 minutes.
Mike Miller scored 1 point.
Bonzi Wells lead in scoring with 16 points off the bench.
LA Lakers 72
Shot just .329 from the floor.
Scored 9 points in the 3rd quarter.
Rick Fox had 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers and 0 points.
Kobe had 5 steals and 4 field goals.
Shaq had 20 points, 17 boards and 5 turnovers.
Houston 71
Attempted just 16 FTs, 2 more than Shaq himself.
Jim Jackson shot 1-7 from 3, but lead the team in rebounds.
Starters averaged more than 39 minutes of playing time.
Steve Francis and Cat Mobley both had 7 turnovers.
Mobley did not attempt a FT in 44 minutes.
SUNDAY APRIL 18
Detroit 108
Attempted 91 field goals, after averaging 77 during the regular season.
Out-rebounded Milwakee 61-44, including 19-7 Offensive.
Darko Milicic scored in his first ever playoff game, after taking 23 regular season games to score his first NBA point.
Darvin Ham did not attempt a shot, grab a rebound, hand out an assist, or committ a foul in 5 minutes.
Starting Guards totalled 33 points, 14 assists, 6 steals and 3 turnovers.
Milwaukee 82
Michael Redd had 7 turnovers and 0 steals, 0 blocks. And 0 threes.
Backup G Erick Strickland had more rebounds than starting C Brian Skinner.
Committed 25 turnovers.
Brevin Knight fouled out in 16 minutes.
Starting Guards totalled 18 points, 9 assists, 1 steal and 10 turnovers.
Sacramento 116
Shot 53% from the field and 52% (11-21) from three.
All starters scored in double-figures.
Vlade Divac played just 19 minutes and had 0 fouls.
Doug Christie lead Sacto in assists, and also had 8 rebounds.
Pedja Stojakovic had more blocks (1) than Vlade Divac and Brad Miller combined (0).
Dallas 105
Missed 50 field goals, and had 17 offensive rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki had 5 blocks and 13 rebounds, all defensive.
Every starter attempted at least 1 three-pointer.
Scored 65 first half points, but just 40 in the second half.
Attempted 91 field-goals.
Miami 81
Lamar Odom had as many turnovers and field goals (7).
Missed 10 FTs and 11 3-pointers.
Dwayne Wade missed 6 FGs in a row during the 2nd quarter, but made the game-winner with 1.3 seconds left.
Caron Butler had 5 steals but also 5 turnovers.
Had 15 assists on 30 field goals
New Orleans 79
Got Out-Rebounded (not counting Team Rebounds)
Baron Davis hit 4 of 8 3-pointers but 0 of 7 2-pointers.
Had 23 turnovers, after averaging 14 a game during the regular season.
Stacy Augmon had as many assists as Baron Davis (4).
Darrell Armstrong did not score in 16 minutes.
Minnesota 106
Had never won Game 1 of a Playoff series.
Kevin Garnett and Sam Cassell scored 70 points on 54% shooting.
Sam Cassell had as many assists as Ervin Johnson.
Latrell Sprewell had 3 steals and 2 field goals.
Ervin Johnson had 5 offensive rebounds and 0 defensive rebounds.
Denver 92
Had more assists, more steals, and fewer turnovers. Yet lost by 14.
Carmelo Anthony went 0-5 on three-pointers.
Did not make their first 3-pointer until the end of the 3rd quarter, hitting 3 of 17 overall.
Rodney White missed all 5 shots in 6 minutes.
Nene had more assists than Andre Miller.
Matt, good finds. I am trying to watch a little bit of the playoffs now, but I don’t know how much I can get to over time.
Hey.
Who is this guy Corea Chick?
Beats me.
WHO CARES ABOUT THE NBA? How do they find time to fit those games in with all the raping, murdering and drug abusing going on?
Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday when Chicago loved the NBA? When they were hoisting the banners a little infidelity here and there wasn’t enough to tarnish things.
You calling me an infidel?
Easy on ol Corea — good friend of mine.
Where’s the dose?
Andy must kill the NBA and write a Dose!
We’re only exclusive to the NBA. All other sports spend their free time saving children from burning orphanages.
I think he meant me, Mike.
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