(63-19) First Round Wraps Up [4-0]

[Mavs4Life]

Mavs will win it all

[Cruzerr]

How the fuck are Spurs in the second round? Where are the Grizzlies when you need em

Shut em down, son.

[KidJustin]

KidJustin, that would be awesome. Except Kobe's durability rating is probably much higher than EG's so that would be less likely to happen.

all that means is Lowry has to go even more ghetto on him, Lowry probably eats snakes for breakfast

[Stress Fracture]

KidJustin's bitter on Kyle Lowry?

All in 6 games, huh. I want Dirk in the WCF, then eventually lose.

[Bucket]

Rockets in 6? Love the fact that Knicks won Bulls

[Larvae]

I'll bet my cash on the Rockets to win this year's NBA Finals

[The X]

Wide open race in the playoffs. It's anybody's title to win.

[Martti.]

Would have loved to see you sweep the Lakers, but beating the Spurs will do just as fine.

[Axel The Great]

Mavs will win it all

Mavs will win it all

We'll see about that.

You've got it fairly easy. With Tim Duncan out, I expect another sweep.

Hold it right there. The Spurs DID beat the defending champions. They won't be that easy.

How the fuck are Spurs in the second round? Where are the Grizzlies when you need em

Shut em down, son.

Haha, the Grizzlies stunk finishing 33-49. They beat the Lakers, so as I told z02, they won't be that easy.

KidJustin, that would be awesome. Except Kobe's durability rating is probably much higher than EG's so that would be less likely to happen.

all that means is Lowry has to go even more ghetto on him, Lowry probably eats snakes for breakfast

Well Lowry did grow up on the streets of Philadelphia, which is probably why he's such a scrapper.

KidJustin's bitter on Kyle Lowry?

All in 6 games, huh. I want Dirk in the WCF, then eventually lose.

Yeah, Lowry is why Eric Gordon got injured. All games may be decided in 6, but I don't expect a sweep anywhere.

Rockets in 6? Love the fact that Knicks won Bulls

Huge upset by the Knicks. I thought the Bulls had it in the bag.

I'll bet my cash on the Rockets to win this year's NBA Finals

Not very far-fetched. As long as we stay healthy, shouldn't be much of a stretch.

Wide open race in the playoffs. It's anybody's title to win.

Yep, even the Knicks. With the Lakers' reign finally over, this is the perfect opportunity for anyone.

Would have loved to see you sweep the Lakers, but beating the Spurs will do just as fine.

I would've loved to destroy the Lakers, but hopefully I'll get the chance to do that in later years.

Preview/Hype against the Spurs is next.

[Axel The Great]

(1) Houston Rockets vs. (5) San Antonio Spurs

Coincidentally, the Big Three Texas Giants remain in the hunt for an NBA title, and there is a guarantee that at least one will advance to the next round. The Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs, two teams that know each other very well due to the fact that they play each other four times a season, and compete with one another for that Southwest Division title.

It was just two seasons ago that the Rockets had made it this far, but a (literally) big turn of events led to their elimination, the injury to big man Yao Ming. Now, the Rockets find themselves back in the second round, and are in dire hope that history does not repeat itself. Meanwhile, the Spurs made it this far last season, but were dismantled at the hands of the Phoenix Suns, ending in a sweep. And just like last season, the Spurs are this far into the playoffs because of an upset in the first round. Last season, San Antonio eliminated the second-seeded Dallas Mavericks in six games, and this season, they eliminated the defending champions the Los Angeles Lakers in six games and now are looking to make it much farther than they did last season.

It is arguable that San Antonio's championship window is closing; their three best players are either aging, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, or could be on the way out like Tony Parker. Meanwhile, Houston's championship window closed completely on them last season, but now it seems to be as open as back in 94-95; Kevin Martin has reached his prime, and he continues to improve with every game. Martin receives help from all of his teammates, Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier, Kyle Lowry, and the rest of the crew. But more importantly, Yao Ming is as healthy as he's been since two years ago. The Great Wall of China hasn't had a single trace of an injury this season, and for the Rockets to have a legitimate chance at the NBA title, the big man will have to remain healthy.

Keys to the Series

A huge key again, as stated above, is Yao's health. The big man did relatively well against the Clippers, still shooting the ball at well over 60% from the field like in the regular season. Look for the Rockets to take advantage of the huge size and defensive mismatch he has over San Antonio's bigs; DeJuan Blair is starting at the center spot, while Tiago Splitter is starting at the four. Blair is only 6'6", exactly a foot shorter than Yao, and Splitter is just a rookie that is still getting used to the physicality of the NBA game. Yao should have his way down low against these guys, just like he did against the Los Angeles Clippers. Because of the mismatches, look for the Spurs to bring the double-team, and Yao, one of the best passing big men in the league right now, should have no problem finding someone open for a clean look. And yes, I'm forgetting San Antonio's premiere big man Tim Duncan. Duncan only played 69 games in the regular season, as he suffered a broken foot near the end of the regular season. Duncan's absence hurts the Spurs in so many ways. Duncan is a legitimate defender against Yao, and is their defensive anchor and arguably the best defender in the past decade. Without Duncan, there is no legitimate inside presence for the Spurs to rely on as they have had the past 12 years.

The matchup to watch is Kevin Martin vs. Manu Ginobili. Against the Clippers, Martin did not get to face off against Eric Gordon due to the wrist injury he suffered in Game 1, but Ginobili is a much more durable and tougher player that Martin will have his hands full. A bit of pressure will probably be taken off of Martin though, as Shane Battier has stated he wants to guard Ginobili. Martin and Ginobili are well-known for their scoring, and of course, flopping their way to the foul line.

In the regular season, and more often in the first round against the Clippers, Martin used the new addition to his offensive arsenal, the post game, to maneuver his way to the paint and get a healthy diet of points, taking advantage of LA's especially smaller guards. Look for Martin to post up the smaller Ginobili and especially George Hill off the bench to create more scoring opportunities. With no Duncan to block or alter shots, Martin's penetration to the rim becomes much, much easier. Using his lightning-quick speed, he'll have no problem scoring and finishing close to the hoop.

Meanwhile, the Spurs have taken a new approach to their offense and played more up tempo this season. With a small lineup, that's what they'll most likely go to, so expect many high scoring games this series. The one leading the way is Ginobili. His shooting and penetration ability will be hard to defend, and he's adept at finishing in traffic. Without Duncan, Ginobili will have to keep San Antonio alive with his abilities in scoring, as he did in the regular season. He averaged 21.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in the regular season, and really took it to the Lakers in the first round. Ultimately, how he does in the series will dictate whether the Spurs can make it to the Conference Finals or not.

To sum it up, both teams are hungry and desperate in getting to the next round, one team to solidify a decade or so of dominance and winning championships, another to potentially start a dynasty of their own. You can expect to see either some up tempo basketball in some games, and others which become defensive grinds. How the Rockets play down low and Kevin Martin's efficiency will dictate if they win the series or not, and how the Spurs' backcourt of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker play their game will dictate if the Spurs win the series. Last but not least, both teams are deep; they have excellent bench players that can light up the scoreboard in a hurry. Bench points will most likely be another key to the series.

Regular Season Series

November 6th, 2010 - HOU @ SAS - 96-98
Manu Ginobili led a huge fourth quarter comeback to edge the Rockets by two. Ginobili had 36 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds shooting 12/20 from the field and 4/7 from downtown. Tim Duncan had a big time double-double of 26 points and 17 rebounds and he shot 9/16 from the field. For the Rockets, Kevin Martin had 26 points and 3 rebounds, shooting 7/15 from the field, 3/6 from beyond the arc, and 9/11 from the charity stripe. Yao Ming added 18 points, 10 rebounds and Aaron Brooks chipped in 16 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.

January 29, 2011 - HOU @ SAS - 104-105
Turnovers were a key in this game. The Rockets allowed the Spurs to rob them 12 times, and were also not shooting very well in the first half. Kevin Martin scored 34 points in frustration, and led a rally to come back from 13 points. To tie the game, Martin meant to take a three, but he had a toe barely on the line which counted as a two, and the Rockets fell short of a 13-point comeback and forcing overtime. Along with his 34 points, Martin had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, shooting 15/24 from the field. Luis Scola had 18 points and 5 rebounds, and Yao Ming chipped in a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, with 3 blocks added. For the Spurs, Tim Duncan was the high man with 29 points, and 9 rebounds, shooting 13/19 from the field. Manu Ginobili struggled with 20 points shooting just 8/23 from the field. Tony Parker added 19 points and 15 assists, and George Hill scored 17 points off the bench.

March 12, 2011 - SAS @ HOU - 102-106
Like the last game, turnovers played a key factor, but the Spurs payed the price for them this time. The Spurs were able to come back from double-digits, but poor offensive execution in the dying minutes of the fourth killed them. Tony Parker had six turnovers, but still had 11 points and 16 assists. Kevin Martin led the Rockets with 26 points and 6 rebounds, with Luis Scola trailing him with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Yao Ming contributed 15 points and 5 rebounds, adding 3 rejections as well. For the Spurs, Manu Ginobili had 27 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and shot 11/25 from the field, with 5 triples. Tim Duncan had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

April 1, 2011 - SAS @ HOU - 99-106
Despite Manu Ginobili's 41 points, the Spurs fell short of a victory without Tim Duncan who suffered a broken foot the prior game against the Boston Celtics. Houston destroyed the Spurs in the paint as they won that battle 56-38. Kevin Martin scored 9 of his 29 in the final minutes of the fourth to put them away. Martin had 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists shooting 11/17 from the field. Aaron Brooks added 18 points and 5 assists, while Luis Scola added 17 points and 7 rebounds. Ginobili had 41 points and 7 rebounds, and Tony Parker had 18 points and 17 assists. Despite missing Duncan, the Spurs outrebounded the Rockets 52-45.

Starting Lineups

[Houndy]

Spurs are gonna be better without Timmy D

[kibaxx7]

Spurs are gonna be better without Timmy D

[qfrmcpt310]

Time to send every other Texas team home. Im calling a sweep of SA and you run over the Mavs in 5 next round

[Axel The Great]

Houndy, Thierry •, we'll see.

qfrmcpt310, here's hoping.

[Axel The Great]

Chapter 16 - The Best Scorer

"After sweeping a franchise that's finally up on its feet, how far do you think you can go now that you've made it past the first round?" a reporter asked me. As usual, a press conference was held after the game, and Yao, Coach Adelman, and I were the center of attention.

"I think we can go far, probably even all the way. We've got the right pieces moving forward, and I think we can beat any team in a seven game series," I replied. "There's a possibility now that you can end up facing the Los Angeles Lakers, the superior franchise in LA. Would you prefer to face them, or the San Antonio Spurs?" another reporter asked me.

"It doesn't matter. We can beat both of those teams any day of the week. None of those teams were able to slow me down in the regular season, and while the playoffs are a different story, I don't think they can slow me down now. Both teams have been at the top before, but obviously age is catching up to them. Teams haven't been able to keep up with the team's offensive efficiency, and I don't see veteran teams like LA or San Antonio doing so either," I told him.

"If you do end up facing the Lakers, the rivalry between both franchises would intensify. Would you like to see that happen?" asked the first reporter. "I would LOVE to face the Lakers. Every inch of my body wants to destroy them, tear them apart. Simply put, we don't like each other. But seeing as how the Spurs are up 3-1 against them, they're pretty much doing us a favor, taking them out when we could've done it ourselves."

"And finally, many are labeling you as the best scorer in the NBA, do you buy into that? Do you consider yourself the best scorer in the game of basketball?" asked a very good looking blond reporter. I grinned from ear to ear, because I was staring at her racks, and because I knew the answer.

"With an honest answer, yes. It can be argued. There's only six other great scorers that I'd say are of my caliber. Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and Dirk Nowitizki.

"Kobe Bryant is a great scorer, one of the best of all time, but he's prone to shooting his team out of games and requires 50 shots to score 40 points. Kevin Durant's the same case, except he has no post game, and his shot selection is questionable; he probably can't shoot over 40% from beyond the arc, and had one game against us this season where he took 40 shots to get 40 points. Carmelo is the same as Durant, and LeBron James is capable of fading when he's needed most, and he relies on just his god-given gifts of athleticism and strength to bulldoze his way into the paint. Dwyane Wade is close enough, but he's not as efficient as I am, so that leaves Dirk Nowitzki.

"Dirk is the only player of my caliber in scoring. He has a deadly accurate jumpshot, and has just as much efficiency as I do. The only differences between me and him are size and position, and that he doesn't post up as much as I do. This season I have had more efficiency than him. So, if we're talking best scorer right now, I'd say it is me," I explained. A buzz began to grow among the press, as they snapped away with their cameras....

---------------------------------

"Manu Ginobili gets himself going here with a three-pointer!" Mike Tirico said. "Well Mike, that was an old-fashioned pull up three off a screen. Good execution by San Antonio, and it seems as if this series will definitely not be a sweep with the Spurs giving the Rockets fits here," laughed Hubie Brown.

"Off the offensive rebound DeJuan Blair puts it in!" Tirico said. "Mike, the Rockets are simply not getting it done on the boards tonight. They had just 17 rebounds at the half, which is surprising considering the Spurs are not shooting a high percentage here. Houston is playing great defense, but are not following it up with the defensive rebounds," Brown answered.

"Where are my rebounders? Does this team have any? First of all, don't allow these easy layups around the hoop. You're playing terrible pick-and-roll defense that even Matt Bonner has had a dunk in this game! Second of all, when you force a miss, you gotta retrieve the ball! Stop allowing these rebounds to slip by you!" Coach Adelman told us in a huddle. We were winning the game despite getting killed badly on the boards.

"Clear out!" I called to everyone on the next play. I drove on George Hill, but they came with the double-team. "Martin drives, gets shut off, dishes it to Brooks and he hits the jumpshot from the left baseline," Tirico said. "The Spurs are concerned with Martin's driving lanes, that they brought someone else to clog the lane. That opened Brooks up on the corner, and a nice find by Martin," Brown continued.

It was getting to the later stages of the game, and the Spurs had come back from 11 down to pull within three. We started trading buckets, and neither team showed signs of stopping.

"With 10 seconds left in the game, Shane Battier has been sent to the line," Tirico said. "He'll have to make both to put the pressure on San Antonio of making the three. The Rockets are excellent at defending the three-point shot. Battier has been in these situations before, so I don't think he'll have any problems," Hubie Brown said.

I watched as Battier knocked down the first free throw, and the crowd cheered loudly. "Knocks down the first one to make it 111-109," Tirico said. The second one bounced around and came out, and DeJuan Blair grabbed the rebound. "He gets the unlucky bounce on the next one, and it looks like San Antonio still has a chance," Tirico said. Gregg Popovich called a timeout.

With four seconds left in the game, Manu Ginobili was at the free throw line. I watched in suspense and hope, but he knocked down both free throws to tie the game. "Ginobili with the clutch free throws, ties the game at 111," Tirico said. "Great run here by the Spurs. This is a veteran team that's been down by double-digits many times through the years, and once again get the job done, without Duncan," Hubie Brown said.

"And what a night by both Ginobili and Martin. Ginobili with 42 points, Martin has 43. After sweeping the Clippers Martin stated that he is the best scorer in the NBA right now, and what a way to back it up here tonight," Tirico said.

Coach Adelman had his hands in his face during the timeout huddle. "They've outrebounded us 45-25 and yet the game is still tied and it's in our hands to win it. I don't know how you guys did it, but here we are. No use yelling at you guys for not doing what I told you to do, but we'll need adjusments for Game Two. Now for the final play, Martin, come off an off-ball screen by Yao, and when you receive the ball, isolate, drive, and go from there. If they cut off your driving lanes, that means your passing lanes are open. Find the person that's open, take the first good shot available. Ideally, pull up for a shot from the elbow, but if you have enough space, attack the basket. Referees aren't lenient in these situations, so expect contact near the hoop and do your best to finish the play as you might not get a foul call," Adelman instructed me, drawing up the play on his clipboard.

"Battier to inbound. The crowd on its feet here at Toyota Center. This is how history is made in the playoffs, will someone rise to the occasion? If the Rockets can't get anything here, there is overtime coming. Hubie, if you're the Rockets, what do you do?" Tirico asked Brown. "If I'm Rick Adelman, I get the ball to Martin, if not, pound it inside to Yao who's got a size mismatch on Blair, or against a rookie in Tiago Splitter. This is where the Spurs will miss Duncan, there's nobody inside to enforce that nothing easy is acquired in the paint, and you can bet that's where Martin will create for himself," Brown said.

"Martin comes off a screen, isolates, drives left on George Hill. He pulls up for a shot on the left baseline for the win....!!!" Tirico and Brown stood up waiting for regulation to end...

[Mavs4Life]

CLIFFHANGER this series should be easy, 6 games.

[Stress Fracture]

I guess the virtual Yao Ming will be the one to last 10+ years.

[George7]

I'm sure it's good and you took 1-0 lead!K-Mart is god-like in 2k11!

[Martti.]

Saying that his the best scorer came back and bit him in the ass as he missed the game-winner.

[Houndy]

It's a brick. OT

[rise]

Martin will airball it, Blair will get the rebound and chuck up a crosscourt three that swishes.

[Axel The Great]

CLIFFHANGER this series should be easy, 6 games.

Six games doesn't mean it's easy. The longer the series, the more room of time for Duncan to return.

I guess the virtual Yao Ming will be the one to last 10+ years.

Yep, just sad. I hope to get the virtual Yao a championship for at least a little consolidation.

I'm sure it's good and you took 1-0 lead!K-Mart is god-like in 2k11!

Saying that his the best scorer came back and bit him in the ass as he missed the game-winner.

Haha, you'll see in Game 1 & 2 recap whether it's good or not.

It's a brick. OT

Martin will airball it, Blair will get the rebound and chuck up a crosscourt three that swishes.

Outright blasphemous and asinine predictions! Kevin Martin is no Trevor Ariza!

So to add some suspense to this clutch situation, Rookie of the Year winner is next, and then Games 1 & 2.

[Stress Fracture]

We all know who the ROY is.

[kibaxx7]

It's a brick. OT

Hopefully...

[rise]

Martin will airball it, Blair will get the rebound and chuck up a crosscourt three that swishes.

Outright blasphemous and asinine predictions! Kevin Martin is no Trevor Ariza!

And DeJuan Blair isn't Baron Davis. Only Baron Davis can make a shot like that.