Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 1: Video Highlights and Recap
The 2013 NBA playoffs resumed on Sunday, May 19, as the San Antonio Spurs hosted the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their Western Conference Finals series.
Tony Parker led the charge for the Spurs, going for 20 points and nine assists on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor. Kawhi Leonard added 18 points and Danny Green tallied 16, while Matt Bonner stepped in off of the bench for 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.
Gary Neal added eight of his own, while Tim Duncan grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out four assists.
For the Grizzlies, Quincy Pondexter tallied a team-high 17 points on five three-point field goals made. Marc Gasol dropped 15 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Conley tallied 14 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Jerryd Bayless posted eight points and five assists in 21 minutes of action.
The question is, were the Grizzlies able to pull out the Game 1 upset on the road? Or did the Spurs hold down their home court to take the early advantage?
Check the video provided above to find out.
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Grizzlies vs. Spurs Game 1: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis
The last time the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies met in the NBA playoffs, it didn’t end well for Tim Duncan and Co. To avoid a second disappointing conclusion, the Spurs will have to make sure they get things started in a different fashion Sunday in the Western Conference finals.
When the Grizzlies ousted the Spurs from the 2011 postseason, they did it by stealing Game 1 on the road in the River City. So if San Antonio would like to advance to its first NBA Finals since 2007, it’ll have to take great care to retain its precious home-court advantage by winning Game 1.
These teams split four games during the regular season, but three of those contests came before Memphis shipped Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors, and Kawhi Leonard didn’t play the fourth. So although there’s plenty of recent history between the two squads, that familiarity won’t be especially helpful in forming either team’s game plan.
Memphis will look to ride its interior duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, both of whom present challenges for the Spurs’ frontcourt, particularly Duncan or Tiago Splitter. The Spurs don’t have the depth up front to handle any sort of foul trouble.
San Antonio will rely on Tony Parker to initiate the offense, working in the pick-and-roll and setting up Leonard and Danny Green for their beloved corner threes. Memphis will likely sic Tony Allen, an elite perimeter defender, on Parker in hopes of slowing him down.
Finally, pace will be key. The Grizzlies hope to slow the game down to a crawl, where their patented “grit ‘n grind” style is most effective. Conversely, the Spurs need to try to speed things up to create scattered scoring opportunities before Memphis’ defense can establish itself.
Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET today on ABC.
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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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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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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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Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 5: Video Highlights and Recap
The 2013 NBA playoffs returned to Texas on Tuesday, May 14, as the San Antonio Spurs hosted the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals series.
The Warriors and Spurs entered this game tied at 2-2, as they split games both in San Antonio and at the Oracle Arena. With the series back in San Antonio, however, the Spurs were inevitably hoping to take an ever-important series lead.
So who went up 3-2?
Tony Parker stepped up on both ends of the floor, finishing with 25 points and 10 assists, all the while helping to shut down Stephen Curry. Kawhi Leonard tallied 17 points of his own, while Tim Duncan went for 14 points and 11 rebounds.
On the Warriors’ end, rookie Harrison Barnes scored 25 points to make up for Curry and Klay Thompson’s poor performances. Jarrett Jack added 20 points and Carl Landry dropped 16 points, while Curry managed to dish out eight assists.
The question is, were the Warriors able to pull off the road upset and move ahead 3-2 in the series as they headed back home? Or were the Spurs able to move ahead and prove their veteran supremacy?
Check the video provided above to find out.
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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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Damian Lillard Highlights 2012-13 NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA released its 2012-13 All-Rookie teams on Tuesday, and headlining the First Team is dynamic Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard.
The Association’s official Twitter page broke the news:
Lillard is the reigning, unanimous Rookie of the Year and was the sixth overall pick in the most recent draft out of Weber State. He set a rookie record with 185 three-point field goals, a record previously held by Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.
Also on the First Team with Lillard are Curry’s teammate, Harrison Barnes, No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards sharpshooter Bradley Beal and explosive Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters.
Davis and Beal both suffered through various injuries, and Davis has said the biggest focus of his offseason will be to get stronger to more effectively endure the 82-game season.
Waiters himself had knee issues in his rookie campaign, which was also not helped by Kyrie Irving’s sporadic presence on the court.
As for the All-Rookie Second Team, the NBA also released that information on Twitter:
Detroit Pistons swingman Kyle Singler and 2011 No. 5 overall pick Jonas Valanciunas of the Toronto Raptors both played overseas last season, then made strong enough impressions to garner this privileged distinction.
Former Kentucky national champion Michael Kidd-Gilchrist continues to be somewhat unfinished on the offensive end. Having said that, he is a tough defender, and has plenty of room to improve on a rookie campaign in which he averaged nine points and 5.8 rebounds for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Andre Drummond was considered a boom or bust proposition, but he’s making the Detroit brass appear wise with his play thus far. In only 20.7 minutes per game, Drummond averaged 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
The Cavaliers’ athletic big man Tyler Zeller rounds out the second-team quintet, and he flashed promise in his maiden pro season to justify GM Chris Grant’s expensive draft night trade to acquire him.
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Andrew Wiggins Video: Highlights of Kansas’ Newest Superstar
Renowned 5-star basketball prospect Andrew Wiggins made his college decision on Tuesday, choosing the University of Kansas.
Grant Traylor of The Herald-Dispatch broke the news:
Andrew Wiggins will be attending Kansas
— Grant Traylor (@GrantTraylor) May 14, 2013
Wiggins possesses a ridiculous amount of athleticism for a 6’8″ wing player, and he could play shooting guard, small forward or even power forward for the Jayhawks next season.
The tape on Wiggins is almost difficult to believe while it’s rolling. His fluidity in the open court is immediately evident, and the amount of spring in his jump is uncanny. The effortlessness with which Wiggins throws down thunderous dunks with a high degree of difficulty is staggering.
According to 247Sports.com, the Huntington Prep (W.Va.) standout averaged 23.4 points and 11.1 rebounds in 2012.
Kansas head coach Bill Self lost his entire starting five from last season, so this is a massive commitment to land. Wiggins should key the continuance of the Jayhawks’ reign atop the Big 12 conference.
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