5. 2008 NW DIV CHAMP UTAH JAZZ v. 12. 2005 HOUSTON ROCKETS
Jazz: 54-28, 1st NW Div, 1st Off/12th Def
d. Rockets West 1st Rnd 4-2
Lost Lakers 4-2 West Semis
#77 overall seed
Coach: Jerry Sloan
Starters:
C Mehmet Okur 28 14.5 PPG 15.2 PER 6.7 WS
F Carlos Boozer 26-Duke 21.1 21.9 10.2
F Andrei Kirilenko 26 11 17.2 7.1
G Deron Williams 23-Illinois 18.8 20.8 11.3
G Ronnie Brewer 22-Arkansas 12 18.4 7.8
Rotation Reserves:
C Paul Millsap 22-LA Tech 8.1 16.1 5.2
F Matt Harpring 31-Geo Tech 8.2 14.1 2.8
F Kyle Korver 26-Creighton 9.8 14.2 3.2
G Ronnie Price 24-Utah Valley 3.7 12.3 1.1
G CJ Miles 20 5 14.2 1.9
Leaders: Boozer: 3rd Def Reb,
Williams: 3rd Assts, 3rd Assts/Gm, 4th Asst%
Brewer: 2nd Asst%
Utah got bounced in the first round of the playoffs but had the top offense in the league in '08 and that slots them the fifth seed in the region. 26 year old Carlos Boozer and 23 year old Deron Williams both go over 20 PER with double digit Win Shares.
Rockets: 51-31, 3rd SW Div, 15th Off/4th Def
Lost Mavs West 1st 4-3
#180 overall seed
Coach: Jeff Van Gundy, Asst Patrick Ewing, Tom Thibodeau
Starters
C Yao Ming 24 18.3 23.2 PER 10.7 WS
F Juwann Howard 31-Michigan 9.6 13 13.2
F Tracy McGrady 25 25.7 22.9 12
G Bobby Sura 31-Florida St 10.3 14.4 4.8
G David Wesley 34-Baylor 10.9 11.6 4.4
Rotation Reserves:
C Dikembe Mutombo 38 4 16.4 4.7
F Scott Padgett 28-Kentucky 4.2 12.3 2.8
F Jimmy Jackson 34-Ohio St 13.3 10.5 1.5
G Mike James 29-Duquense 12.4 17.4 2.2
G Jon Barry 35-Geo Tech 7 14 3.7
Leaders: Yao 3rd FG%
TMac 5th Def WS, 4th VORP
Houston's defense is matching up against the Utah offense, 24 year old Yao Ming and 25 year old Tracy McGrady both have 20+ PER and double digit WS.
Matchup:
C Yao (Rockets)
F Boozer (Jazz)
F TMac (Rockets)
G Williams (Jazz)
G Brewer (Jazz)
Bench: Rockets
Game 1
1st Qtr
9 Jazz 10 Rockets 8
Jazz Boozer(3) Okur, Boozer, Okur(3)
Rockets Howard, Yao, Howard, Sura
6 Jazz 18 Rockets 14
Jazz Boozer, Williams, Boozer, Boozer
Rockets Yao, Yao, Yao
The 5/12 series is underway here in Region 13. Carlos Boozer blasts off with 11.
3 Rockets 21 Jazz 20
Jazz Millsap
Rockets Yao(3) Sura, James
1 q Score Jazz 29 Rockets 27
Jazz Miles, Millsap(3) Miles, Mllsap
Rockets TMac(3) Barry(3)
Paul Millsap with 7 in the back half of the quarter.
2nd Qtr
9 Rockets 33 Jazz 32
Jazz Millsap(3)
Rockets TMac, Yao, Yao
6 Rockets 39 Jazz 37
Jazz Williams(3) Harpring
Rockets Yao, Yao, Yao
21 points for Yao Ming.
3 Rockets 44 Jazz 42
Jazz Williams, Williams(3)
Rockets Wesley(3) Sura
Half Score Jazz 52 Rockets 50
Jazz Brewer, Brewer, Williams, Williams, Millsap
Rockets Mutombo, James, Sura
9 for Deron Williams to close the half - we got a nice one to start this series.
3rd Qtr
9 Jazz 60 Rockets 55
Jazz Kirilenko(3) Harpring, Korver(3)
Rockets Wesley, TMac(3)
6 Jazz 70 Rockets 68
Jazz Korver(3) Millsap(1) Williams, Brewer, Brewer
Rockets Padgett, Wesley, TMac, TMac(3) Jackson, Sura
Buckets - both teams making buckets - 8 for McGrady to open the half.
3 Jazz 77 Rockets 71
Jazz Williams(3) Brewer, Harpring
Rockets James(3)
3 q Score Jazz 81 Rockets 75
Jazz Millsap, Williams
Rockets James, TMac
Yao misses most of the 3rd after picking up a 4th foul; he's back on the floor now; can Houston make a run?
4th Qtr
9 Jazz 86 Rockets 79
Jazz Okur, Kirilenko(3)
Rockets Howard, Yao
6 Jazz 95 Rockets 83
Jazz Williams, Okur(3) Okur, Brewer
Rockets Yao, Yao
Yao's got 5 fouls and the Jazz are pulling away.
3 Jazz 99 Rockets 89
Jazz Williams, Brewer
Rockets Yao, TMac, Yao
Final Score Jazz 106 Rockets 96
Jazz Okur, Brewer, Kirilenko(1) Brewer
Rockets TMac(3) Yao, Barrett
Utah holds Houston to 21 in the 4th and takes game 1.
Williams: 25 pts/13 assists - Player of the Game
Okur: 14 pts/8 boards
Boozer: 11 pts/6 boards
Brewer: 18 pts
Millsap: 15 pts/6 boards
Yao: 33 pts/9 boards
McGrady: 20 pts/7 boards/5 assists
Sura: 10 pts/10 assists/7 boards
Game 2
1st Qtr
9 Rockets 4 Jazz 2
Jazz Brewer
Rockets TMac, Yao
6 Rockets 10 Jazz 8
Jazz Kirilenko, Brewer, Kirilenko
Rockets Howard, Howard, Sura
Points a little harder to come by here in game 2.
3 Rockets 22 Jazz 10
Jazz Harpring
Rockets Yao, Wesley, Yao(3) TMac(3) James
1 q Score Rockets 34 Jazz 12
Jazz Millsap
Rockets Padgett(3) Barry, Taylor, Taylor Jackson(3)
Wow. Houston goes on a 24-4 run and game 2 might already be over.
2nd Qtr
9 Rockets 38 Jazz 16
Jazz Miles, Millsap
Rockets Barry, James
6 Rockets 45 Jazz 25
Jazz Collins, Millsap, Williams(1) Kirilenko, Boozer
Rockets TMac, Wesley, Sura(3)
Houston blowing out Utah; start readying for Game 3.
3 Rockets 49 Jazz 27
Jazz Kirilenko
Rockets TMac, TMac
Half Score Rockets 54 Jazz 33
Jazz Boozer(1) Kirilenko(3) Williams
Rockets Howard(1) Howard, Howard
Houston's cruising.
3rd Qtr
9 Rockets 61 Jazz 39
Jazz Boozer, Boozer, Millsap
Rockets Yao, Sura(1) Howard, TMac
6 Rockets 69 Jazz 44
Jazz Kirilenko, Brewer, Price(1)
Rockets Yao, Yao, Howard, McGrady
On our way to game 3.
3 Rockets 79 Jazz 44
Jazz
Rockets Wesley(3) TMac, Mutombo, TMac(3)
3 q Score Rockets 86 Jazz 48
Jazz Brewer, Boozer
Rockets Wesley(3) TMac, TMac
A total and complete shutdown of the Jazz in game 2.
4th Qtr
9 Rockets 92 Jazz 56
Jazz Brewer(3) Williams(3) Brewer
Rockets Sura, Yao, McGrady
6 Rockets 101 Jazz 59
Jazz Kirilenko(3)
Rockets McGrady, Sura, McGrady(3) Mutombo
Mercy rule.
3 Rockets 108 Jazz 67
Jazz Millsap(3) Williams, Miles(3)
Rockets Howard, Barry, Howard
Final Score Rockets 116 Jazz 81
Jazz Almond, Fesenko, Almond, Almond, Almond(3) Giricek(3)
Rockets Taylor, Baker, Taylor, Baker
Houston just rips Utah apart and forces game 3.
TMac: 31 pts/7 assists/5 boards - Player of the Game
Howard: 17 pts/9 boards
Yao: 15 pts/6 boards
Sura: 10 pts/7 assists/5 boards
Wesley: 10 pts
Mutombo: 4 pts/13 boards
Kirilenko: 16 pts/5 assists
Brewer: 13 pts
Millsap: 11 pts/8 boards
Game 3
1st Qtr
9 Jazz 9 Rockets 6
Jazz Brewer, Williams(3) Okur, Okur
Rockets Sura, Yao, Yao
6 Jazz 18 Rockets 7
Jazz Boozer, Williams, Korver(3) Boozer
Rockets TMac(1)
Utah shakes off that game 2 bloodbath and comes out with heavy defensive pressure.
3 Jazz 24 Rockets 18
Jazz Korver(3) Boozer(1) Brewer
Rockets McGrady, Wesley(3) Yao, Barry, James
1 q Score Jazz 34 Rockets 20
Jazz Korver, Boozer(3) Miles, Millsap, Harpring(1)
Rockets Howard
Houston's climbing uphill today; Utah way up.
2nd Qtr
9 Jazz 38 Rockets 24
Jazz Price, Giricek
Rockets Padgett, Mutombo
6 Jazz 43 Rockets 33
Jazz Brewer(3) Brewer
Rockets Wesley, Sura(3) Barry, TMac
Rockets a little closer.
3 Jazz 50 Rockets 33
Jazz Okur(1) Williams, Boozer, Brewer
Rockets
Half Score Jazz 59 Rockets 38
Jazz Williams, Williams, Williams(3) Williams
Rockets Yao, TMac(3)
11 Deron Williams points in the back half of the quarter; this series is over.
3rd Qtr
9 Jazz 68 Rockets 45
Jazz Boozer(1) Millsap, Kirilenko, Okur, Okur
Rockets Howard. TMac, Padgett(3)
6 Jazz 75 Rockets 50
Jazz Boozer, Boozer, Millsap(1) Boozer
Rockets Yao(1) Howard, Yao
Just the inverse of game 2; Utah comes back and blows Houston's doors off and moves into Rnd 2.
3 Jazz 83 Rockets 63
Jazz Brewer, Harpring(1) Kirilenko, Okur(3)
Rockets TMac(3) TMac, Yao, TMac, Yao, Yao
3 q Score Jazz 97 Rockets 72
Jazz Okur(3) Williams(3) Kirilenko, Millsap(1) Kirilenko(3) Millsap
Rockets TMac(3) Yao, TMac, Yao
Outside of a Juwann Howard bucket; each of the Rockets 27 points is the last 9 minutes was scored by Yao and TMac. Houston can't stop Utah in this one.
4th Qtr
9 Jazz 104 Rockets 74
Jazz Williams, Brewer, Kirilenko(1) Okur
Rockets Yao
6 Jazz 113 Rockets 82
Jazz Millsap(3) Millsap, Boozer, Williams
Rockets TMac(3) James(3) Yao
The party is on in Salt Lake.
3 Jazz 117 Rockets 89
Jazz Brewer, Boozer
Rockets TMac(1) Howard, Yao, Howard
Final Score Jazz 125 Rockets 101
Jazz Brewer, Kirilenko, Collins(1) Fesenko(1) Almond
Rockets Wesley(3) Nachbar(3) Nachbar(3) Taylor(3)
Never a game; Utah cruises. 27/11 for Yao, 26 for TMac in the loss.
Boozer: 21 pts/13 boards/10 assists-Player of the Game
Williams: 23 pts/11 assists
Okur: 17 pts/7 boards
Brewer: 19 pts
Kirilenko: 12 pts/5 assists
Millsap: 13 pts/13 assists
All Region Team
C Kareem ('71 Bucks-2 PotG)
F Durant ('14 Thunder-2 PotG)
F McGrady ('05 Rockets-1 PotG)
G Williams ('08 Jazz-1 PotG)
G Westbrook ('14 Thunder)
4. 2020 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 13. 1974 NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS
Lakers: 52-19, 1st Pac Div, 11th Off/3rd Def
d. Blazers West 1st Rnd 4-1
d. Rockets West Semis 4-1
d. Nuggets West Finals 4-1
d. Heat West Finals 4-2
#52 overall seed
Coach: Frank Vogel, Asst Jason Kidd, Lionel Hollins
Starters:
C Dwight Howard 34 7.5 PPG 18.7 PER 5.4 WS
F Anthony Davis 26-Kentucky 26.1 27.4 11.1
F LeBron James 35 25.3 25.5 9.8
G Alex Caruso 25-Texas A&M 5.5 10.8 2.3
G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 26-Georgia 9.3 11 3.7
Rotation Reserves:
C Javale McGee 32-Nevada 6.6 19.4 4.7
F Kyle Kuzma 24-Utah 12.8 12.2 2
F Danny Green 32-UNC 8 10.8 3.4
G Rajon Rondo 33-Kentucky 7.1 12.4 1.4
G Avery Bradley 29-Texas 8.6 8.9 1.5
Leaders: LeBron: 1st Assts, 1st Assts/Gm, 5th +/-, 3rd VORP, 1st Asst%, 2nd Trip Doub
Davis: 3rd Blocks, 3rd Blocks/Gm, 4th PER, 4th WS, 3rd WS/48, 4th Def Rtng, 5th Block %
Howard 5th Def Rtng, 3rd Off Reb %
The Covid Champs were just okay offensively, but had the third best defense in 2020; The King is 35, he and 26 year old Anthony Davis both cross 25 PER and
Celtics: 56-26, 1st Atl Div, 5th Off/6th Def
d. Braves 4-2 East Semis
d. Knicks 4-2 East Finals
d. Bucks NBA Finals 4-3
#205 overall seed
Coach: Tom Heinsohn, GM Red Auerbach
Starters
C Dave Cowens 25-Florida St 19 PPG 16.6 PER 9.3 WS
F Paul Silas 30-Creighton 11.5 14.5 7.7
F Don Nelson 33-Iowa 11.5 16.1 5.9
G Jo Jo White 27- Kansas 18.1 14 7.3
G John Havlicek 33-Ohio St 22.6 17.4 9.7
Rotation Reserves:
C Hank Finkel 31-Dayton 2.5 11.6 .9
F Steve Kuberski 26-Bradley 5.1 10.9 1.7
F Paul Westphal 23-USC 7.2 16.1 3.2
G Art Williams 34-Cal Poly 2.6 14.7 1.2
G Don Chaney 27-Houston 10.4 12.9 5.8
Leaders: Cowens 2nd Reb, 2nd Reb/Gm, 4th Def WS, 5th Def Rtng, 4th Reb %, 5th Trip Doub
Silas 3rd Off Reb, 1st Off Reb%
Havlicek 2nd Trip Doub
Battle of NBA Champs here in Rnd One; Boston doesn't have any players hitting the top end.
Matchup:
C Cowens (Celtics)
F Davis (Lakers)
F LeBron (Lakers)
G White (Celtics)
G Havlicek (Celtics)
Bench: Push
Game 1
1st Qtr
9 Lakers 9 Celtics 2
Lakers LeBron(3) KCP LeBron, AD
Celtics White
6 Lakers 16 Celtics 4
Lakers Caruso, AD, Caruso(3)
Celtics Havlicek
Battle of NBA Champs, but early on it's not a contest.
3 Lakers 26 Celtics 8
Lakers Howard, AD(1) AD, AD, Bradley(3)
Celtics Nelson(3)
1 q Score Lakers 39 Celtics 13
Lakers LeBron(3) Rondo(3) Rondo(3) Bradley, McGee
Celtics Chaney, Chaney(3)
Goodness. The Lakers way too much for Boston.
2nd Qtr
9 Lakers 47 Celtics 27
Lakers LeBron(3) AD, KCP
Celtics Hankinson, Havlicek, Havlicek, Cowens, Chaney, Nelson, Cowens
6 Lakers 52 Celtics 31
Lakers Green(3), McGee
Celtics Cowens, Cowens
Boston goes on a nice early 2nd quarter run and still trails by 21.
3 Lakers 56 Celtics 35
Lakers McGee(1) McGee(3)
Celtics Cowens, Nelson
Half Score Lakers 58 Celtics 37
Lakers Howard
Celtics White
Boston just can't score against this Laker defense.
3rd Qtr
9 Lakers 67 Celtics 44
Lakers McGee, AD, Rondo, AD(3)
Celtics Kuberski(3) Nelson, Nelson
6 Lakers 71 Celtics 53
Lakers Caruso, LeBeon
Celtics Nelson, Westphal(3) White
Boston gets the deficit under 20.
3 Lakers 73 Celtics 58
Lakers Rondo
Celtics Cowens, Westphal(3)
3 q Score Lakers 84 Celtics 60
Lakers Bradley(3) Bradley, Davis(3) LeBron, Bradley(1)
Celtics Nelson
Boston got it to 15, but just can't put together any kind of sustained offense.
4th Qtr
9 Lakers 96 Celtics 68
Lakers LeBron, Davis(3) Rondo, LeBron, Kuzma
Celtics Silas, Havlicek(3) Westphal, White(1)
6 Lakers 102 Celtics 77
Lakers Davis, LeBron, LeBron
Celtics Cowens, Westphal, Havlicek, Havlicek(3)
The Celtics have no answers.
3 Lakers 108 Celtics 80
Lakers Davis, KCP, McGee
Celtics Westphal(1) Finkel
Final Score Lakers 117 Celtics 87
Lakers Waiters, Smith, Kostas, JR(3)
Celtics Hankinson, Williams(3) Westphal
This one wasn't close at any point.
LeBron: 23 pts/12 boards/11 assists - Player of the Game
Davis: 27 pts/11 boards
McGee: 12 pts/9 boards
Rondo: 13 pts/8 assists
Bradley: 11 pts
Cowens: 14 pts/13 boards
Havlicek: 14 pts/7 boards
Nelson: 16 pts/6 boards
Westphal: 13 pts
Silas: 4 pts/10 boards
Game 2
1st Qtr
9 Lakers 4 Celtics 3
Lakers Howard, LeBron
Celtics Silas(1) Havlicek
6 Lakers 9 Celtics 5
Lakers LeBron(1) Howard, LeBron
Celtics Chaney
LeBron had a triple double in game one; the Lakers looking to advance to meet Utah.
3 Lakers 18 Celtics 9
Lakers Caruso, Caruso, Lebron, Kuzma, Howard(1)
Celtics Williams, Havlicek
1 q Score Lakers 24 Celtics 18
Lakers LeBron, Rondo, McGee
Celtics Cowens, Havlicek, Nelson(3) Chaney
Boston's in the game, but they havent shown any sort of offense yet in the series.
2nd Qtr
9 Lakers 30 Celtics 22
Lakers McGee, LeBron, Rondo
Celtics White, Havlicek
6 Lakers 44 Celtics 30
Lakers McGee, McGee(3) LeBron, LeBron(3) Bradley, LeBron
Celtics Havlicek, Havlicek, Cowens, Cowens
LA opens it up; both LeBron and Javale McGee with 7 to open the quarter.
3 Lakers 51 Celtics 34
Lakers Davis(3) Davis, Howard
Celtics Nelson, Westphal
Half Score Lakers 64 Celtics 42
Lakers McGee, Bradley(3) Green, Davis(3) Bradley(3)
Celtics Havlicek, White, Havlicek, Havlicek
This series is over; the nearly half century separating these two champions too much.
3rd Qtr
9 Lakers 73 Celtics 48
Lakers Kuzma, LeBron, LeBron, Rondo(3)
Celtics White(3) Cowens(3)
6 Lakers 77 Celtics 57
Lakers Davis, Davis
Celtics Cowens, Nelson, White, Cowens
LA will move on and meet the '08 Jazz.
3 Lakers 86 Celtics 61
Lakers Rondo(3) LeBron(3) Davis(3)
Celtics Nelson, Silas
3 q Score Lakers 93 Celtics 69
Lakers KCP(3) Davis, LeBron
Celtics Silas, Nelson, Cowens, White
Both AD and the King chip in 9 in the 3rd.
4th Qtr
9 Lakers 103 Celtics 76
Lakers Rondo, Bradley, LeBron, Bradley, McGee
Celtics Cowens(3) Silas, Williams
6 Lakers 107 Celtics 80
Lakers LeBron, Davis
Celtics Finkel, Finkel
3 Lakers 119 Celtics 84
Lakers Green(3) Davis, KCP(3) LeBron, LeBron
Celtics Williams, Nelson
Final Score Lakers 126 Celtics 90
Lakers Davis, Smith, Cacok(3)
Celtics Silas(3) Hankinson(3)
This was just never a series; Boston not able to compete with LA; 20/15 for Cowens in the loss. 35 year old LeBron James dominating.
LeBron: 35 pts/11 boards/7 assists - Player of the Game
Davis: 23 pts/8 boards/5 assists/5 blocks
Howard: 7 pts/16 boards
McGee: 13 pts/5 boards
Rondo: 12 pts/6 assists/5 boards
Bradley: 12 pts
All Region Team
C Kareem ('71 Bucks-2 PotG)
F LeBron ('20 Lakers-2 PotG)
F Durant ('14 Thunder-2 PotG)
G Williams ('08 Jazz-1 PotG)
G Westbrook ('14 Thunder)
