Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis
The New York Knicks face their second straight win-or-go-home scenario when they take on the host Indiana Pacers in the Saturday night’s Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
New York avoided elimination with an 85-75 Game 5 home win on Thursday night, but the Knicks couldn’t answer all of the questions surrounding their staying power.
Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith all showed their unsightly ball-domination tendencies (the trio attempted 53 of the Knicks’ 78 shots, converting 41.5 percent from the field). Only 12 of New York’s 32 field goals were set up with assists.
But Indiana faces its own set of question marks, none greater than the status of starting point guard George Hill.
After scoring a playoff-high 26 points in Indiana’s 93-82 win in Game 4, Hill was held out of Game 5 with a concussion. The Pacers’ offense struggled in his absence, shooting 36.2 percent from the field and committing 19 turnovers. Defensively, Hill’s replacements had a hard time denying Felton driving lanes.
Under the league’s policy on concussions, Hill must pass a series of physical and mental tests before being cleared to return (via Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today).
The game begins at 8 p.m. ET tonight on ESPN.
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Spurs vs. Warriors Game 6: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis
Either the San Antonio Spurs have finally found the recipe for success in this series, or the Golden State Warriors have simply shown what happens when their jump shots stop falling.
With their sharp-shooting backcourt combo, dubbed the “Splash Brothers,” held to a 6-of-22 night from the field in Game 5, the Warriors were handed their worst defeat of this postseason (109-91).
Fatigue and health (Curry hasn’t looked the same since spraining his left ankle late in Game 3) have both been cited as reasons for the guard’s struggles, but the biggest factor may well be the suffocating perimeter defense of the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
And when those defensive stoppers found their offensive rhythm in Game 5, scoring 33 combined points on 13-of-18 shooting, the Spurs looked as strong as they have at any point in the series.
For San Antonio to pull off the series-clinching win in tonight’s Game 6, though, it will have to do what neither team has done yet: win consecutive games. The Spurs have held a one-game advantage three times now, but Golden State found a way to even the series in its first two chances.
Game 6 tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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Trey Burke NBA Combine 2013: Measurements, Analysis and Draft Projection
Trey Burke had an incredible college basketball season at Michigan, and he is ready to take his talent to the NBA.
At the league’s scouting combine, the talented point guard will not participate in drills, according to Jeff Goodman of CBS:
However, he can still solidify his standing as one of the top picks in the draft by doing well in interviews and posting strong measurements in Chicago.
While this week is not a make-or-break moment for the All-American, Burke is certain to receive plenty of attention at this event. Here is a look at the player’s profile heading into the bulk of the draft season.
Measurements
A lack of height is one of the biggest things preventing Burke from being an elite point guard in the NBA. He was only listed at 6’0″ on Michigan’s official website and could have been even smaller than his listing.
Fortunately, his official measurements were better than originally thought. According to Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com, the guard said that he measured at 6’1″ with a wingspan of 6’5″.
Considering how well the 6’0″ Chris Paul has done over the years, it is certainly possible for Burke to find the same level of success or close to it at the next level.
Analysis
As Jeff Rabjohns of Yahoo! Sports pointed out, there was not much room for Burke to improve his stock at the combine:
The point guard was outstanding during his sophomore season for the Wolverines, totaling 18.6 points and 6.7 assists per game. His contributions on the court helped him become the consensus National Player of the Year.
Of course, it was more than just his statistics that were so impressive. He was one of the quickest guards in America with the ability to beat almost anyone to the lane where he was able to finish at the rim. If given space, he was able to hit three-point shots consistently.
In addition, he is also a very good passer who continually created open shots for his teammates. Finally, the toughness and will to win that was on display during the NCAA tournament is not something that should be ignored.
While he might not be an elite defender, his strength and quickness will allow him to stay in front of opponents and do enough to help his team.
Burke is one of the safer picks in the draft and should be an above-average starter for years to come.
Draft Projection
There is little doubt that Burke is the top point guard on the board, but his actual draft position will be highly dependent on the lottery and team need.
ESPN reports that 11 teams have already requested interviews with the 20-year-old:
If a team like the Orlando Magic wins the lottery and decides that they need a point guard, Burke could end up being the first player selected in the entire draft. However, a more likely scenario is that Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore go No. 1 and No. 2 in some order.
After that, Burke will find a spot where he is needed, which will likely be somewhere between the No. 3 pick and the No. 10 pick.
Still, the college star will almost certainly be selected at some point in the lottery and should go on to have a very successful NBA career.
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Pacers vs. Knicks Game 5: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis
Despite some mid-series rotation tinkering by coach Mike Woodson, the New York Knicks can’t change their identity at this time of the year.
For New York to avoid elimination against the Indiana Pacers in Game 5, its volume scorers must greatly raise their decibel levels.
The Knicks have managed only 88.3 points per game on 41.2 percent shooting in the series, plagued both by a stingy Pacers defense and some unsightly stats from their biggest stars.
J.R. Smith, the 2013 Sixth Man of the Year, is averaging 13.3 points on 28 percent shooting for the series. Carmelo Anthony, the reigning scoring champ, has poured in 26 a night but has shot below 40 percent in three of the four games. Jason Kidd, a sure-fire Hall of Famer, is 0-for-the-series and hasn’t scored since April 23.
With Pacers All-Star Paul George hounding Anthony and Roy Hibbert protecting the paint, the offensive chances don’t figure to come any easier tonight.
Game 5 tips off at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
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Shabazz Muhammad NBA Combine 2013: Measurements, Analysis and Draft Projection
Projected lottery pick Shabazz Muhammad had an interesting performance at the 2013 NBA Draft Scouting Combine on Thursday in Chicago, struggling at times but displaying maximum effort at others (via @DraftExpress):
While official measurements won’t be announced until after the combine is over, Muhammad reportedly weighed in at around 220 pounds according to Sporting News NBA writer Sean Deveney:
The former UCLA Bruins star also participated in a handful of drills on Thursday morning as the small forwards took to the floor.
SLAM Magazine writer Dave Spahn pointed out Muhammad’s poor performance during the shooting drills:
Muhammad averaged 17.9 points per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc last season at UCLA. He hit 71 percent from the foul line.
The prospect didn’t let his off shooting day affect his defense, though (via @NBAGuru):
Here’s a closer look at Muhammad during defensive drills (via @nbastats):
ESPN analyst Jay Williams was “impressed” by Muhammad on Thursday:
Others, however, such as CBSSports.com senior basketball writer Jeff Goodman, felt that Muhammad failed to stand out from the rest of the small forward prospects during drills:
After Muhammad finished up his workouts, members of the media flocked to him for questions (via Jeremy Bauman):
According to Detroit Pistons beat writer David Mayo, Muhammad confirmed that he’s 20 years old and that he isn’t aware of how the confusion about his age began:
Overall, Muhammad’s performance at the combine on Thursday was lackluster. He has to prove he can pull up and score consistently off the dribble, which is something he didn’t do often at UCLA.
Muhammad’s struggles also beg the following question: What does he have to gain by participating in the combine?
With so many top talents sitting out this week, it’s surprising that a projected lottery pick like Muhammad would risk hurting his stock by showing up. Kudos for the effort, but it’s unclear if it will be worth it in the end.
Draft Projection
While Muhammad was seen as a lottery pick coming into the combine, his performance may have hurt his stock. Just ask Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix:
In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Chad Ford (membership required) has Muhammad going No. 7 overall to the Detroit Pistons, a team in need of a scoring punch.
There’s a good chance Muhammad will slide in mock drafts around the web following the combine, but he should still be a solid bet to go somewhere in the lottery. He’s still one of the top scorers coming out this summer and has a winning attitude that scouts and coaches will love.
Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.
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Grizzlies vs Thunder Game 5: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis
After Oklahoma City center Serge Ibaka put together his best game of the series in Game 4, there’s a bit of hope that the Thunder will be able to force their own pace at home. If they can, Ibaka might be able to get into a flow and help out Durant.
If that is not the case, Oklahoma City better hope that Kevin Martin or Derek Fisher can knock down a handful of three-pointers to support Durant.
Throughout the series, Memphis has been able to turn games into slow-paced slop fests, and it’s worked so far. The Grizzlies have shown why the NBA‘s all-defensive teams are populated by their players, and there have even been a few surprises along the way.
Point guard Mike Conley has looked like a borderline star, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are assaulting any player that dares come into their paint, and the contribution from role players has been perfect.
Each game in this series has been within a single possession in the final two minutes, so there’s no reason to expect a blowout tonight. If Game 5 does go down to the wire, we get to continue the debate over which style of basketball is preferable to win close games: grit-and-grind or hero-ball.
Game 5 tips off at 9:30 p.m. ET tonight on TNT.
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New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers: Game 4 Postgame Grades and Analysis
The Indiana Pacers are playing inspired basketball right now, and the same absolutely can’t be said for the New York Knicks.
Game 4 ended with the Pacers gaining a 3-1 series lead thanks to a 93-82 beat down of the Knicks.
During the first half, in which the Knicks trailed 48-34 at halftime, the frustration was clear on Carmelo Anthony‘s face—as he scored 16 of the Knicks’ 34 first-half points.
It wasn’t like ‘Melo was jacking up a lot of more shots than everyone else. He shot 6-of-13 from the field through the first two quarters, which is rather efficient for ‘Melo.
The problem was that the rest of the Knicks shot 8-of-30 from the floor in the first half, and they let the Pacers abuse them on the glass—out-rebounding the Knicks 30-18 in that time frame.
‘Melo did all he could, with 24 points and nine rebounds, but once again, J.R. Smith let the Knicks down even though he ended with 19 points, because he shot an abysmal 7-of-22 from the floor.
Paul George and George Hill led the way for the Pacers with 44 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists between them.
Game 5 is set for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off at Madison Square Garden. While the Pacers look like they’re ready to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, never count out the Knicks at home.
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Pacers vs. Knicks Game 4: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis
Which version of the New York Knicks will show up for a must-win Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers?
That’s the question everyone is asking, as the Knicks look to take one in the Pacers’ house and go back to New York with the series tied at two games per team.
Paul George, Roy Hibbert and the Pacers will be looking to prove that they’re very much for real, and this is a team that nobody should still be calling a dark-horse contender.
The Knicks come in with several question marks, but the focus for many will be on J.R. Smith. Smith’s dealt with an illness for a few days, but his performance on the court has been subpar since his his suspension in the first round.
TNT will begin its broadcast of the game at 7 p.m. ET.
Which team will come out on top? With a season-defining game like this one, be sure to keep it on Bleacher Report to stay up to date with the latest.
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Analysis: What Andrew Wiggins means for Kansas
Kansas will have a young basketball roster next season, but it will have a good one, too.
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Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls: Game 4 Postgame Grades and Analysis
The Chicago Bulls were out of Game 4 before it started, which led to an impressive 88-65 win by the Miami Heat.
The Heat beat the Bulls from the tip, starting the game on a 13-4 run that gave them the lead for the rest of the game.
While the Bulls were never really in Game 4, their nine-point third quarter—which is a franchise playoff low—didn’t help them, as the Heat pulled ahead by 19 at the end of the third quarter and never looked back.
LeBron James led the way for the Heat, with 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds—while shooting 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.
The Bulls shot a combined 25.7 percent from the floor and 11.8 percent from beyond the arc. It’s hard to beat anyone in the NBA shooting those kinds of percentages, especially the reigning NBA champions.
The Bulls just couldn’t overcome the Heat’s consistent and tenacious defense, which led to 17 turnovers for the Bulls.
Game 5 of this series is set for Wednesday night at 7 p.m. back in South Beach, and based on their Game 4 performance, the Bulls look like they’re ready to watch the rest of the NBA playoffs from the comfort of their own homes.
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