1st Round Recap: Part 1
Carmelo after his buzzer beater in game 1New York wins 3-0
With so much swirling around the Orlando Magic about Dwight Howard's future, it was clear the Magic weren't anywhere close to the team they were on paper.
Even with Steve Nash, the team just didn't seem to click. "We weren't a team, and we ran into one that was clicking at the right time," Grant Hill said after the Magic were swept from the playoffs for the second year in a row.
The Knicks destroyed the Magic on both ends of the court. They threw double and triple teams at Dwight with Hedo Turkoglu not being able to hit shots and David West playing mediocre until the final game, the Magic had no chance. In game 3, the only game someone other than Howard scored more than 10, David West had 18 and Steve Nash went for an amazing 44 points, but Dwight Howard was limited to 10 minutes total for the game due to foul trouble.
The future of the Orlando Magic is in question with Dwight Howard and Steve Nash both becoming free agents, and it isn't looking like either will return. Meanwhile, the Knicks will move on to face either the Sixers or Pacers in the second round and expect to make the conference finals for the first time in 13 years, "We're a better team talent wise than both of them," Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire said.
Key Game: Game 3-"Sending Dwight Home On a Melo Note"
Chris Paul hitting the 3 to send New Orleans into the 2nd roundNew Orleans wins series 3-2
Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers looked exactly like they did last year except even worse. This time Chris Paul was able to lead the Hornets past the Lakers, of course with a slightly better team. Shannon Brown and Kenyon Martin showed from the get go the difference they would make compared to last year when the Hornets had Carl Landry and Marco Bellinelli starting. "I wanted to show them what they were missing out on since they let me go," Hornets guard Shannon Brown said.
The magical run for New Orleans will continue against either the Portland Trailblazers or Sacramento Kings. With the Hornets scheduled to be relocated after the season, it's amazing to see how long this will last, and if the Hornets will leave the Big Easy on a high note.
Key Game: Game 5-"Paul, At The Buzzer!!!"
Tyson Chandler after a huge slam in game 2Miami wins series 3-1
If anyone were doubting how serious Miami was about kicking it into high gear for the playoffs, they aren't anymore. Miami destroyed Atlanta in this series from the first jump ball. Only dropping Game 3, in which the Hawks barely won with Dwyane Wade fouling out with 3 minutes to go in the fourth. In game 4 LeBron and D-Wade destroyed Atlanta for good, both scoring 40+ in a blowout win.
"Were looking to win a championship, and nothing's gonna get in our way this time," LeBron James said. "Were a better team than last year and we are even more focused."
The Heat move on to play the Bulls or Bucks in the second round.
Key Game: Game 4-"LeBron-to-Wade,Wade-to-LeBron"
Russell Westbrook driving to the basket after Kevin Durant broke his finger in game 3Oklahoma City wins series 3-2
As good as last year. Once again, Memphis and OKC went the distance, and once again, the Thunder prevail. Only difference this time was the loss of Kevin Durant for the Thunder. Durant broke the index finger on his shooting hand in game 3. But, Russell Westbrook stepped up and led the Thunder to the second round to face the Houston Rockets. Westbrook capped off the 1st round with a 44 point explosion at home to demolish the Grizzlies for the second year in a row.
"It's frustrating. Knowing you were a better team than last year coming in, and the other team losses its best player, and you still don't capitalize on it. It's just [expletive] frustrating," Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay said.
"To be honest, Memphis was better last year when the offense went through Zach Randolph," TNT analyst Charles Barkley said of Gay."I love Rudy's game, but this should be Zach Randolph's team and Rudy playing this year messed up that chemistry the team had last year."
It'll be interesting to see how Oklahoma City faces adversity without their star player and also facing one of the hottest teams ever, coming off one of the biggest upsets in history.
Key Game: Game 3-"Robin Becomes Batman"