Category: NBA Playoffs Blog

NBA playoffs blog

Denver Nuggets advance to 2023 NBA Western Conference Finals

Via the Denver Post:

An hour before Game 6, Jamal Murray’s head drooped. The Nuggets guard took a brief moment to breathe after missing a string of baseline jumpers during his warmup routine. Then he gathered himself, moved to the wing and spotted up for the next shot.

Murray was going through it. He skipped shootaround Thursday in Arizona and stayed in bed until 2 or 3 p.m., he estimated later. He ate his first meal of the day after he got to Footprint Center. He had been feeling ill since Monday, but this was the worst it had gotten. Murray was listed as questionable on the Nuggets’ injury report before the close-out opportunity vs. the Suns.

“This morning was crazy,” Murray said after a series-clinching win.

That he stayed on the court for four quarters Thursday night was a testament to an essential quality Murray and the Nuggets possess.

Whether it’s playing through physical illness or calling fiery timeouts up 23, all championship teams have the ability to convince themselves they’re swimming upstream against something — no matter how dominant or highly regarded the team is.

Nikola Jokic and Suns owner Mat Ishbia share friendly pregame moment

Via ESPN.com:

Before Tuesday night’s Game 5, Nikola Jokic and Mat Ishbia had another courtside interaction, but this time it involved the Denver Nuggets player giving the Phoenix Suns’ owner a basketball and giving him a heartfelt embrace.

Jokic finished his pregame warmup and headed off the court to where Ishbia was seated courtside. Jokic held a basketball out before chucking it to Ishbia in good fun. Jokic embraced Ishbia after shaking hands with him and giving him a pat on the back.

FULL ARTICLE

Bam Adebayo stepping up big for Heat vs. Knicks

Via the Miami Herald:

Miami Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo has a lot of responsibilities on the court. But he’s also willing to accept responsibility for his play, for better or worse.

Both have been on display in the eighth-seeded Heat’s second-round playoff series against the fifth-seeded New York Knicks.

After Adebayo blamed himself for the Heat’s Game 2 loss last week in New York that left the best-of-7 series tied 1-1, he responded with consecutive dominant all-around performances on both ends of the court in Games 3 and 4 in Miami to help push the Heat to a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Following Monday night’s 109-101 victory at Kaseya Center in Game 4, the Heat is now just one win from advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the third time in four seasons and becoming just the second No. 8 seed to make it to the conference finals since the current 16-team NBA playoff format was instituted for the 1983-84 season.

Suns might rely more on scorers off bench in series vs. Nuggets

Via the Arizona Republic:

Phoenix Suns are averaging 97 points through two games against Denver in the Western Conference semifinals after racking up 122 a game in eliminating the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round in five games.

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant are accounting for 59.2% of their points against the No. 1 seeded Nuggets.

Couple that with Chris Paul expected to miss the next two games with a strained left groin suffered in Game 2’s loss, Suns coach Monty Williams is looking to find some points production off the bench.

“I can do a better job of putting more scorers on the floor and living with whatever warts may come with that just to free those guys up so they don’t have to do it every single time down the floor,” Williams said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’ll make those adjustments accordingly.”

Enter Terrence Ross and T.J. Warren.

Heat center Bam Adebayo says he must step up vs. Knicks

Via the NY Post:

Bam Adebayo didn’t mince words about his performance against the Knicks Tuesday night, shouldering the blame for Miami’s Game 2 loss at the Garden.

Game 3 will be Saturday in South Florida, with a salty Miami team and a highly motivated Adebayo looking for payback.

And redemption.

“I just got to play better,” Adebayo said. “I feel like this game was on me, and I lost it for us. I’ve got to be better. I played terrible. I put this one on me.”

None of the Heat did, but Adebayo fell on the proverbial sword nonetheless.

Knicks vs. Heat playoff series shifts to South Beach tied 1-1

Via the NY Daily News:

As the 1-1 series shifts to South Beach and Jimmy Butler’s ankle gets three days to heal, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was gearing up for a battle that the Roman Empire could appreciate.

“If you’re a basketball aficionado, you have to love this series. You have great competition. Guys going after it,” Spoelstra said. “Leaving nothing to chance. Both teams probably could use an extra day just to gear up for the gladiator battle that’s about to ensue on Saturday.”

The Knicks won the hustle game Tuesday night, specifically on the glass down the stretch. The possession that shifted the victory toward New York lasted over a minute and included four offensive rebounds, ending with a Josh Hart corner 3-pointer that knotted the score at 96 with 4:45 remaining.

Warriors against Lakers is a fascinating playoff matchup

Via the OC Register:

Who could possibly have seen this coming, even as late as a couple of months ago?

The best, most interesting and maybe most competitive series in the second round of the NBA playoffs tips off Tuesday night and it involves the 6 and 7 seeds in the Western Conference – not just any 6 and 7 seeds, of course, but the Lakers and Golden State Warriors, winners of five of the NBA’s last nine championships, including the most recent.

It is absolutely not surprising that ABC wanted Game 3 of this series for its Saturday evening (5:30 PDT) showcase. Say what you want about the other conference semifinal matchups – and Knicks-Heat and Celtics-76ers each have plenty of juice, while Denver-Phoenix features the best regular-season team still standing in the Nuggets and two of the game’s brightest stars in two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Suns’ Kevin Durant.

But this series has Bron and Steph. In a league where superstars move the needle to a degree not seen in any other sport, and often are recognizable on a first-name basis, LeBron James and Steph Curry are quite the starting point.

FULL ARTICLE

Julius Randle misses Game 1 of Knicks vs. Heat playoff series

The New York Knicks versus Miami Heat second round playoff series began today in NYC, with the home squad starting the series short-handed. Via ESPN.com:

Knicks forward Julius Randle will not play Sunday in Game 1 of New York’s Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Heat because of a sprained left ankle, the team announced.

The Knicks also said swingman Quentin Grimes will play in Game 1 but will not start. Grimes missed the final two games of the first round after suffering a shoulder contusion in Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George out for Clippers at Suns Game 5

It’s looking rough for the Clippers. Via ESPN.com:

In Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Clippers will attempt to save their season sans Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Prior to Tuesday’s game in Phoenix, the Clippers ruled out both of their franchise stars on Monday. With one more victory, the Suns can clinch the Western Conference first-round series against the Clippers since they are up 3-1.

Due to a right knee sprain he sustained in Game 1, Leonard has been sidelined since Game 2. Leonard managed to play despite the ailment in Game 2, but it became worse and will keep him out for a third game in a row.