Series 1-2
5. 2014 PAC DIV CHAMP LA CLIPPERS v. 12. 2008 HOUSTON ROCKETS
Clippers: 57-25, 1st Pac Div, 1st Off, 9th Def
d. Warriors West 1st Rnd 4-3
Lost Thunder West Semis 4-2
#70 overall seed
Coach: Doc Rivers
Starters
C DeAndre Jordan 25-Texas A&M 10.4 PPG 18.2 PER 11.1
F Blake Griffin 24-Oklahoma 24.1 23.9 12.2
F Matt Barnes 33-UCLA 9.9 12 3.5
G Chris Paul 28-Wake 19.1 25.9 12.2
G Jamal Crawford 33-Michigan 18.6 17.3 5.3
Rotation Reserves
C Ryan Hollins 29-UCLA 2.3 11.9 1.3
F Jared Dudley 28-B College 6.9 8.9 2.4
F Hedo Turkoglu 34 3 11.3 .8
G Darren Collison 26-UCLA 11.4 16.2 5.9
G JJ Redick 29-Duke 15.2 16.6 3
Leaders: Jordan: 1st Reb, 1st Reb/Gm, 2nd Blocks, 3rd Blocks/Gm, 1st FG%, 1st Eff FG%, 4th True Shooting, 3rd Def WS, 5th Off Rtng, 2nd Reb %, 4th Block %
Paul: 4th Asst, 1st Asst/Gm, 3rd Steals, 1st Steals/Gm, 2nd WS/48, 4th +/-, 5th VORP, 2nd Off Rting, 1st Asst %, 2nd Steal %
CP3 and DeAndre are all over the leader boards and Blake goes over 23 PER and 12 WS. 3 Bruins in the rotation for the top offensive team of 2014.
Rockets: 55-27, 3rd SW Div, 17th Off, 2nd Def
lost Jazz West 1st Rnd 4-2
#187 overall seed
Coach: Rick Adelman
Starters
C Yao Ming 27 22 PPG 22.5 PER 8.3 WS
F Luis Scola 27 10.3 16.1 6.5
F Shane Battier 29-Duke 9.3 11.7 8.2
G Rafer Alston 31-Fresno St 13.1 13.2 5
G Tracy McGrady 28 21.6 18.4 5.8
Rotation Reserves
C Dikembe Mutombo 41-Georgetown 3 14.5 2.3
F Chuck Hayes 24-Kentucky 3 11.2 4.4
F Carl Landry 24-Purdue 8.1 21.4 3.7
G Aaron Brooks 23-Oregon 5.2 13.1 1.4
G Luther Head 25-Illinois 7.6 13.6 3.5
Leaders: Hayes, 1st Def +/-, 3rd Def Rtng
It's the defense and balance of these Rockets against the top end scoring of the Clips.
Matchup:
C Push
F Griffin ('14 Clips)
F Battier ('08 Rockets)
G Paul ('14 Clips)
G McGrady ('08 Rockets)
Bench: Rockets
Game One
9 Min Clips 10 Rockets 10
Clips Paul, Crawford, Griffin, Griffin, Jordan
Rockets Scola, TMac, Alston, Scola, TMac
6 Min Clips 20 Rockets 14
Clips Griffin(1) Griffin(3) Crawford, Griffin, Barnes
Rockets Yao, Yao
10 for Blake to open the series.
3 Min Clips 20 Rockets 16
Clips
Rockets Yao
1st Qtr Score Clips 24 Rockets 22
Clips Griffin, Paul
Rockets Yao, TMac, Yao
Yao's got 10 and the Rockets have cut the deficit to 2.
2nd Qtr
9 Min Rockets 28 Clips 26
Clips Dudley
Rockets Brooks, Mutombo, Mutombo
6 Min Rockets 37 Clips 28
Clips Jordan
Rockets Brooks(3) Landry, Scola, Scola
The Clips sat their big 3 together for most of this 6 minute stretch and paid for it. Rockets up 9.
3 Min Rockets 46 Clips 37
Clips Griffin, Redick, Redick, Jordan(1) Jordan
Rockets Yao, Yao, Scola, Brooks (3)
Halftime Score Rockets 50 Clips 39
Clips Griffin
Rockets TMac, TMac
Houston really rolling in the first half; Yao, TMac - Aaron Brooks with a couple of big second quarter triples.
3rd Qtr
9 Min Rockets 60 Clips 48
Clips Crawford (3) Paul, Griffin, Griffin
Rockets Battier, Alston(3), Scola, Head(3)
6 Min Rockets 70 Clips 59
Clips Griffin, Collison, Collison, Paul, Barnes(3)
Rockets Head(3) Yao(3) Yao
Luther Head hits back to back 3s and the Rockets are up 11.
3 Min Rockets 72 Clips 61
Clips Griffin
Rockets Scola, TMac
3rd Qtr Score Rockets 77 Clips 65
Clips Griffin, Crawford
Rockets Scola, Head(3)
Another Luther Head 3 and the Rockets continue this upset over favored LAC.
4th Qtr
9 Min Rockets 81 Clips 79
Clips Griffin, Collison, Jordan, Griffin, Griffin(3) Turkoglu(3)
Rockets TMac, Landry
And just like that - the Clips are right in it; Griffin scores 7 in 3 minutes and the deficit is a bucket with 9 to go.
8:30: HOU: TMac scoops one up and in.
6:28: HOU: Defense really picks it up and nearly 2 minutes pass before TMac drills home a 3 from the wing.
6:20: LAC: CP3 goes coast to coast for the bucket
4:58: LAC: 90 seconds later Ryan Hollins hits from 12.
3:41: HOU: CP3 misses a game tying triple and Rafer Alston sends home a dunk.
3:08: HOU: Blake front irons one and Luis Scola hits an 8 footer to give the Rockets the 7 point lead. Starters check in for both sides.
2:30: HOU: Great defensive stop for Battier and he comes through on the offensive end with the short one. The lead is 9
2:04: LAC: Blake misses but DeAndre gets the putback.
1:53: HOU: Alston in traffic.
1:37: LAC: Crawford in the paint.
1:28: HOU: Battier hits 2 FT
1:21: LAC: Blake hits the 3 from the top.
1:05: HOU: Yao 2 FT
:51: LAC: Blake in the lane.
:40: HOU: TMac 2 FT, the Rockets hitting these foul shots.
:27: LAC: Again, Blake.
:23: HOU: TMac makes 2 FT
:13: LAC: Barnes hits a corner 3. 102-97 Rockets
:08: HOU: TMac, 2 FT - Houston hitting these foul shots down the stretch.
Final: Rockets 104 Clips 97
At 3:41 Paul missed the game tying 3 - 1:11 later Houston led by 9 and that was the ballgame.
McGrady: 25 pts/6 boards/6 assists - Player of the Game
Yao: 21 pts/8 boards
Scola: 18 pts/10 boards
Dikembe: 4 pts/11 boards
Griffin: 40 pts/9 boards
Paul: 10 pts/13 assists/8 boards
Jordan: 11 pts/16 boards/4 blocks
Crawford: 11 pts/5 assists
Game 2
9 Min Clips 8 Rockets 8
Clips Jordan, Griffin, Griffin, Crawford
Rockets Battier, TMac, Yao(3)
6 Min Clips 18 Rockets 12
Clips Barnes, Barnes(3) Crawford(3) Crawford
Rockets Battier, Yao
Jamal Crawford opens with 7 and the Clips, needing to win, are up early.
3 Min Clips 26 Rockets 20
Clips Crawford(3) Barnes(3) Jordan
Rockets Yao, Scola, Alston, Yao
1st Qtr Score Clips 32 Rockets 28
Clips Barnes, Paul, Paul
Rockets Head, Brooks, Head, Mutombo
Clips were up 10 - Houston scores the last 6 of the quarter to cut it to 4.
2nd qtr
9 Min Clips 38 Rockets 32
Clips Hollins, Dudley, Turkoglu
Rockets Head, Hayes
6 Min Clips 42 Rockets 37
Clips Collison, Griffin
Rockets TMac(1), Mutombo, Hayes
Clips holding to their slim lead.
3 Min Clips 47 Rockets 41
Clips Paul(1) Paul, Paul
Rockets Yao, Mutombo
Halftime Score Clips 58 Rockets 49
Clips Barnes(3) Griffin(3) Crawford(3) Jordan
Rockets Yao, TMac, Landry, Scola
At about the 4 minute mark the Rockets cut it to 1 - 2:30 later it was all the way up to 15 as the Clips just hammered triples at them. The lead is now 9.
3rd Qtr
9 Min Clips 63 Rockets 57
Clips Redick(3) Griffin
Rockets TMac(1) Mutombo, Battier, Brooks(3)
6 Min Clips 72 Rockets 62
Clips Paul(3) Paul, Collison, Griffin
Rockets Alston(3) Scola
5 for CP3 to open the half; Clips extend the lead to double digits.
3 Min Clips 75 Rockets 64
Clips Jordan, Jordan(1)
Rockets McGrady
3rd Qtr Score Clips 82 Rockets 68
Clips Griffin, Redick(3) Dudley
Rockets Landry, Landry
The Clips are rolling to a game 2 win.
4th Qtr
9 Min Clips 87 Rockets 73
Clips Paul(3) Griffin
Rockets TMac(3) Yao
6 Min Clips 93 Rockets 77
Clips Paul, Redick, Paul
Rockets Yao, Landry
3 Min
Clips Crawford
Rockets TMac, Scola, Scola
Final Score Clips 103 Rockets 87
Clips Griffin, Crawford, Griffin, Barnes
Rockets Novak(1) Novak(3)
Clips even up the series, just taking it to the Rockets in this one.
Griffin: 21 pts/16 boards-Player of the Game
Paul: 21 pts/12 assists/4 steals
Crawford: 17 pts
Barnes: 15 pts
Jordan: 9 pts/15 boards
Yao: 17 pts/8 rebounds/4 blocks
McGrady: 13 pts/8 assists
Scola: 10 pts/8 boards
Game 3
1st
9 Min Rockets 5 Clips 2
Clips Griffin
Rockets Scola, Alston(3)
6 Min Rockets 10 Clips 8
Clips Paul, Jordan, Barnes
Rockets Yao, Yao(1) TMac
CP3 picks up 2 quick fouls; he's on the bench and the Clips trail.
3 Min Rockets 17 Clips 14
Clips Griffin, Jordan, Griffin
Rockets Alston, Scola(3) Yao
1st Qtr Score Rockets 25 Clippers 17
Clips Collison, Jordan(1)
Rockets Hayes(1) Brooks, Alston(3) Dikembe
CP3 misses almost the entire quarter of this final game and his Clippers trail by 8.
2nd
9 Min Rockets 28 Clippers 25
Clips Redick(3) Crawford, Griffin, Griffin(1)
Rockets Yao(1) Hayes
6 Min Clippers 37 Rockets 34
Clips Collison(3) Collison(3) Jordan, Collison
Rockets Yao, TMac, Yao
CP3 enters, allowing Collison to move off the ball and he goes off, 8 points in 3 minutes and LA has the lead.
3 Min Clippers 45 Rockets 38
Clips Crawford (3) Paul, Crawford, Griffin(1)
Rockets Landry, Landry
Halftime Score Clippers 52 Rockets 46
Clips Jordan, Redick(3) Barnes
Rockets Scola, Alston(1) Alston(3) TMac
The Clippers lead reached double digits - it's now 6 as we head to the third.
3rd
9 Min Clippers 58 Rockets 55
Clips Crawford, Griffin, Jordan
Rockets TMac, Alston, TMac, TMac(3)
6 Min Clippers 69 Rockets 59
Clips Griffin, Griffin, Redick, Barnes(3) Jordan
Rockets Scola, Head
TMac shoots the Rockets back into the game - but only momentarily as the Clipper lead is 10.
3 Min Clippers 73 Rockets 62
Clips Griffin, Griffin
Rockets Brooks(3)
3rd Qtr Score Clippers 82 Rockets 68
Clips Collison(3) Griffin, Collison, Griffin
Rockets TMac(3) Head(1) Yao
Blake scores 14 in the quarter; the Clips are rolling on to a series win.
4th
9 Min
Clips Clippers 82 Rockets 70
Rockets Brooks
6 Min Clippers 95 Rockies 78
Clips Barnes(3) Redick, Griffin, Griffin, Paul, Barnes
Rockets Head(3) Landry, Landry, Head(1)
The Clips are up 17 and will be moving forward to meet the winners of the next series.
3 Min Clippers 106 Rockets 87
Clips Jordan, Turkoglu(3) Turkoglu, Griffin, Jordan
Rockets Yao, Scola, Alston(3) Francis
Final Score Clippers 108 Rockets 91
Clips Bullock
Rockets Francis, Harris
Just a helluva series for Blake Griffin, he adds 30 to the 40 he scored in game one and his player of the game performance in game 2.
Griffin: 30 pts/10 rebounds/7 assists-Player of the Game
Jordan: 17 pts/21 boards
Barnes: 14 pts
Collison: 15 pts
Redick: 10 pts
Paul: 6 pts/13 assists
4. 2012 NBA CHAMPION MIAMI HEAT v. 13. 2011 SW CHAMP SAN ANTONIO SPURS
46-20, 1st SE Div, 8th Off, 4th Def
d. Knicks East 1st, 4-1
d. Pacers East Semis 4-2
d. Celtics East Finals 4-3
d. Thunder NBA Finals 4-1
#59th overall seed
Coach: Erik Spoelstra, GM Pat Riley
Starters
C Joel Anthony 29-UNLV 3.4 PPG 10.3 PER 3.1 WS
F Chris Bosh 27-Georgia Tech 18 18.9 6.9
F LeBron James 27 27.1 30.7 14.5
G Mario Chalmers 25-Kansas 9.8 13 4.3
G Dwyane Wade 30-Marquette 22.1 26.3 7.7
Rotation Reserves
C Dexter Pittman 23-Texas 3 10.4 .6
F Udonis Haslem 31-Florida 6 10.9 3.5
F Shane Battier 33-Duke 4.8 9.7 3.3
G James Jones 31-Miami 3.6 9.7 1.7
G Mike Miller 31-Florida 6.1 11.4 1.8
Leaders: LeBron: 3rd PPG, 4th Steals, 3rd Steals/Gm, 1st PER, 1st WS, 1st WS/48, 1st +/1, 1st VORP
Miller: 4th 3pt %
Wade: 3rd PER, 5th WS/48, 3rd +/-, 4th VORP
LeBron. First in PER, first in WS, the best basketball player alive at age 27. Wade's got a PER in the mid 30s and Bosh is an appropriate third banana. We just saw Battier in the previous series with the Rockets.
Spurs: 61-21, 1st SW Div, 2nd Off, 11th Def
Lost West 1st Rnd Grizzlies 4-2
#198th overall seed
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Starters
C Tim Duncan 34- Wake 13.4 PPG 21.9 PER 7.7 WS
F DeJuan Blair 21-Pitt 8.3 17.1 4.8
F Richard Jefferson 30-Arizona 11 12.9 5.9
G Tony Parker 28 17.5 20.4 8.2
G Manu Ginobli 33 17.4 21.7 9.9
Rotation Reserves
C Tiago Splitter 26 4.6 16 2.3
F Antonio McDyess 36-Alabama 5.3 12.8 3
F Matt Bonner 30-Florida 7.3 13.5 4.4
G George Hill 24-IUPUI 11.6 14.6 6.1
G Gary Neal 26-Towson 9.8 13.1 3.5
Leaders: Bonner: 1st 3 Pt %
Jefferson, 3rd 3 Pt %, 4th Eff FG%
Ginobli: 5th +/-
Blair: 1st Off Reb %, 5th Steal %
The Spurs just don't have close to the top end that Miami hasl Duncan's 34 and no one has double digit win shares. The three guys you'd expect all have PERs over 20 and this team has some bench depth. San Antonio got by on their offense in 2011, 2nd in the NBA, that's why they're here despite a first round exit.
Matchup:
C Duncan (Spurs)
F Bosh (Heat)
F LeBron (Heat)
G Parker (Spurs)
G Wade (Heat)
Bench: Spurs
Game One
1st Qtr
9 Min Heat 7 Spurs 6
Heat Wade(3) Bosh, Wade
Spurs Jefferson, Parker, Blair
6 Min Heat 14 Spurs 12
Heat Chalmers, LeBron(1) LeBron, Bosh
Spurs Parker, Blair, Parker
The serues is underway; Wade scores 5 in the first 3.
3 Min Heat 18 Spurs 18
Heat Wade, Chalmers
Spurs Parker(3) Parker(3)
1st Qtr Score Heat 25 Spurs 24
Heat Wade(3) Jones, Haslem
Spurs Splitter, McDyess, Splitter
Parker and Wade each score 10 in the first and we got a one point game.
2nd Qtr
9 Min Heat 29 Spurs 26
Heat Bosh, Pittman
Spurs Splitter
6 Min Heat 37 Spurs 33
Heat Miller(3) Bosh(3) Bosh
Spurs Blair, Duncan (3) Duncan
It's Bosh who comes out firing in the second quarter; 7 points and the Heat lead is 4.
3 Min Spurs 44 Heat 43
Heat Wade, LeBron, LeBron
Spurs McDyess, Ginobli, Parker, Parker, Ginobli
Halftime Score Heat 54 Spurs 49
Heat Wade, LeBron, Anthony, Chalmers(3) Wade
Spurs Duncan, Ginobli(1) Parker
6 more for DWade; the Heat lead is 5.
3rd Qtr
9 Min Heat 57 Spurs 53
Heat LeBron(3)
Spurs Blair, Blair
6 Min Heat 63 Spurs 53
Heat Bosh, Bosh, LeBron
Spurs
Miami clamps down on the Spurs to open the 3rd and now the lead is double digits.
3 Min Heat 73 Spurs 55
Heat Anthony, Anthony, Chalmers, Bosh, Bosh
Spurs Jefferson
3rd Qtr Score Heat 75 Spurs 66
Heat Wade
Spurs Jefferson, McDyess, Duncan, McDyess, Parker(3)
Big Spurs run to close the quarter and cut the deficit in half.
4th Qtr
9 Min Heat 84 Spurs 71
Heat LeBron(3) Wade LeBron, LeBron
Spurs Duncan, Ginobli(3)
6 Min Heat 91 Spurs 76
Heat Bosh, Wade(3) Bosh
Spurs Parker, Jefferson(3)
LeBron just sticks the dagger in to open the quarter; the Heat will take game one.
3 Min Heat 95 Spurs 76
Heat LeBron, LeBron
Spurs
Final Score Heat 99 Spurs 85
Heat Howard, Cole
Spurs Anderson(3) Quinn (3) Novak(3)
The Heat defense just clamps down on San Antonio in game one. Triple/Double for the King.
LeBron: 25 pts/11 boards/10 assists/4 steals
Bosh: 23 pts/10 boards
Wade: 23 pts/5 boards
Parker: 23 pts/8 assists
Duncan: 11 pts/10 boards/5 blocks
Blair: 10 pts/10 boards
Game 2
1st Qtr
9 Min Heat 11 Spurs 6
Heat Anthony, Wade, Wade, Chalmers(3) Bosh
Spurs Blair, Parker, Duncan
6 Min Spurs 16 Heat 13
Heat Wade
Spurs Ginobli, Parker, Duncan, Blair, Parker
Tony Parker opens with 6 and the Spurs have the early lead.
3 Min Spurs 23 Heat 21
Heat Bosh, LeBron, Haslem, Bosh
Spurs Jefferson(3) Duncan, Bonner
1st Qtr Score Spurs 30 Heat 25
Heat LeBron, Chalmers
Spurs Ginobli, Parker(3) Bonner
9 first quarter points for the Frenchman and it's the Spurs with the lead.
2nd Qtr
9 Min Spurs 32 Heat 31
Heat Bosh, Wade, Haslem
Spurs McDyess
6 Min Spurs 37 Heat 35
Heat LeBron, Wade
Spurs Parker, Jefferson(3)
Spurs holding onto this lead, midway through the 2nd.
3 Min Spurs 43 Heat 39
Heat Bosh, Bosh
Spurs Blair, Blair, Parker
Halftime Score Spurs 49 Heat 47
Heat Bosh, LeBron, Haslem, LeBron
Spurs Parker, Ginobli, Blair
10 first half points for DeJuan Blair - the Spurs lead by a bucket.
3rd Qtr
9 Min Spurs 53 Heat 51
Heat Bosh, Wade
Spurs Duncan, Parker
6 Min Heat 60 Spurs 57
Heat Miller(3) Chalmers, Bosh, Battier
Spurs Hill, Blair
The Heat take the lead - is this the turning point?
3 Min Heat 64 Spurs 59
Heat Wade, LeBron,
Spurs Parker
3rd Qtr Score Heat 77 Spurs 69
Heat Haslem, LeBron(3) Chalmers(3) LeBron, Miller(3)
Spurs Duncan, Duncan, Duncan, Duncan, Hill
Duncan does all he can, 8 points in 3 minutes, but the Heat extend the lead to 8.
4th Qtr
9 Min Heat 79 Spurs 74
Heat LeBron
Spurs Parker, Ginobli(3)
8:30 MIA: LeBron from the foul line.
8:15: SA: McDyess drives and scores.
7:31: SA: After LeBron misses a 3, Duncan hits a short range J to cut the Heat lead to 3.
6:20: MIA: Empty trips both ways - James Jones hits a triple from the top.
6:06: SA: George Hill from the lane.
5:43: MIA: Battier finds Mike Miller who hits a 3 from the wing. 87-80
5:25: SA: Hill again, pull up from the left side.
5:03: SA: Miller throws it away and Duncan hits a turnaround from the block.
4:47: MIA: Battier from the wing.
4:30: SA: DeJuan Blair finger roll.
3:02: SA: Misses by everyone - George Hill hits a long, long 3 and the game is tied with 3 minutes to go.
Starters for both teams - except Hill stays on for the Spurs at the point, Parker on the bench.
Wade misses. Ginobli misses.
2:25: MIA: It's LeBron - he hits a long two and the Heat go up.
1:53: MIA: Duncan misses and Wade comes down and hits a long J of his own.
1:41: SA: Ginobli from the top - it's a triple and the Heat lead is 1.
Chalmers drives - but Duncan deflects it away and keeps possession. Time out Spurs. Parker is back.
:57: SA: The Spurs need a couple of chances - but Anthony fouls Parker - who hits 1 to tie the game.
Chalmers misses at 42 seconds left. Nope, maybe he shouldn't be taking that shot.
Parker misses at 21 seconds. Bosh rebound. Time out.
:03: MIA: It's Bosh, he hits from the wing and Miami takes the lead.
The Spurs call time - inbound from half court - Parker takes the 3 to win it ---
Misses.
FINAL: HEAT 95 SPURS 92
Fun game - Bosh hits the big shot to get the sweep for the Heat; they'll move on and face the Clippers.
Bosh: 20 pts/16 boards - Player of the Game
Wade: 16 pts/10 assists/5 boards
LeBron: 23 pts/9 boards/5 assists
Chalmers: 10 pts/7 assists
All Region Team:
C Shaq ('01 Lakers)
F Griffin ('14 Clips)
F Bosh ('12 Heat)
G Jordan ('97 Bulls)
G Kobe ('01 Lakers)
