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.