TheBigEasy wrote:Btw Andrew. Do you plan on playing another season with the Bulls or will you change teams?
Right now I'm leaning towards staying in the Windy City, though I'll probably consider switching teams if the option presents itself.
I apologise in advance for the long post:
Chicago 97, Toronto 78
After the Raptors snapped my 20 game winning streak back in March, I was looking for revenge (and hoping to avoid them ending another double digit winning streak). I didn't start the game with the dominant performance I was hoping for, but managed to take the lead late in the first. After the Raptors threatened to stay close throughout the second, I blew the game open in the third and had little trouble holding them off in the fourth for a 97-78 victory. The final two minutes of the fourth was a desperate scramble to get KG a triple double, which succeeded thanks to a couple of quick baskets by Eddy Curry for KG's final two assists.
Top Performers:
Kevin Garnett (POG): 28 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists
Jamal Crawford: 17 points
Eddy Curry: 16 points, 11 rebounds
Scottie Pippen: 15 points, 8 assists
Donyell Marshall: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Tim Hardaway: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Vince Carter: 19 points, 3 assists
Antonio Davis: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
Alvin Williams: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists
Jerome Williams: 10 points, 6 rebounds
Current Record: 62-18
Next Opponent: Orlando Magic (43-37; Season Series 3-0 Chicago)
Injury Update:
Tyson Chandler is back at full strength, and has been activated for the final two games of the season.
Chicago 99, Orlando 94
Once again I was unable to keep Orlando from racing out to an early lead. I managed to tie the game at 25 at the end of the first, but the Magic were simply unstoppable in the second thanks to T-Mac who racked up 17 points by halftime. I managed to catch up in the third, but I would not be able to take the lead until about 3 minutes left in the fourth. A couple of one point leads were exchanged until I finally managed to scrape out a 99-94 victory. With 8 assists, KG fell just short of another triple double, though he still had an outstanding game.
Top Performers:
Kevin Garnett (POG): 49 points, 20 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals
Jamal Crawford: 13 points, 5 assists
Scottie Pippen: 13 points, 2 steals
Eddy Curry: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
Kirk Hinrich: 4 points, 11 assists
Tracy McGrady: 33 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Grant Hill: 14 points, 4 assists
Gordan Giricek: 10 points, 4 rebounds
Shammond Williams: 10 points, 9 assists
Juwan Howard: 9 points, 13 rebounds
Current Record: 63-18
Next Opponent: Indiana Pacers (49-32; Season Series 2-1 Chicago)
Detroit has captured the 8th spot in the East, finishing 41-41. The Hawks finished in 9th place with a record of 39-43. Sacramento has clinched the Pacific Division, while Minnesota still has a chance to make the playoffs; if they win their final game and Golden State loses theirs, they will both be 38-44. Minnesota will win the tiebreaker, as they won the season series 4-0. They also have a better record against teams in their division and conference.
Chicago 94, Indiana 77
Top Performers:
Kevin Garnett (POG): 24 points, 22 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 blocks
Tyson Chandler: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
Kirk Hinrich: 15 points (5/7 FG, including 5/6 3PT), 8 assists, 3 rebounds
Eddy Curry: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Scottie Pippen: 8 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds
Donyell Marshall: 6 points, 4 rebounds
Reggie Miller: 16 points, 6 rebounds
Jermaine O'Neal: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks
Ron Artest: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Jamaal Tinsley: 13 points, 2 assists
Al Harrington: 8 points
Scot Pollard: 4 points, 8 rebounds
Final Regular Season Record: 64-18
April Award Winners
East Player of the Month: Paul Pierce (29.3 ppg, 4.3 apg, 9.1 rpg, 0.9 bpg, 1.9 spg) - you've gotta be kidding!
West Player of the Month: Shaquille O'Neal (24.6 ppg, 2.8 apg, 12.8 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 0.9 spg)
East Rookie of the Month: LeBron James (13.1 ppg, 4.1 apg, 8.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 0.6 spg)
West Rookie of the Month: Carmelo Anthony (15.2 ppg, 2.8 apg, 4.2 rpg, 0.5 bpg, 1.0 spg)
This is absolutely
ridiculous. KG averaged a triple double for the Month, as we went undefeated. What a joke.
2003/2004 League Leaders
Points
1. Tracy McGrady: 28.5 ppg
2. Paul Pierce: 28.3 ppg
3. Tim Duncan: 27.0 ppg
4. Kevin Garnett: 26.5 ppg
FG%
1. Tyson Chandler: 61.6%
2. Eddy Curry: 59.9%
3. Wesley Person: 58.0%
4. Shaquille O'Neal: 56.4%
5. Tim Duncan: 56.3%
3PT%
1. Luke Ridnour: 51.7%
2. Wesley Person: 49.3%
3. Zarko Cabarkapa: 45.5%
4. Marko Jaric: 43.5%
5. Walt Williams: 42.7%
FT%
1. Kendall Gill: 96.1%
2. Eddie Robinson: 92.7%
3. Jamal Crawford: 92.6%
4. Glenn Robinson: 91.9%
5. Jason Terry: 91.5%
Rebounds
1. Kevin Garnett: 16.2 rpg
2. Ben Wallace: 12.7 rpg
3. Shaquille O'Neal: 12.6 rpg
4. Tim Duncan: 11.7 rpg
5. Jermaine O'Neal: 11.1 rpg
Blocks
1. Ben Wallace: 4.0 bpg
2. Shaquille O'Neal: 2.6 bpg
3. Tim Duncan: 2.3 bpg
4. Alonzo Mourning: 2.2 bpg
5. Dikembe Mutombo: 2.1 bpg
Steals
1. Jason Kidd: 2.4 spg
1. Allen Iverson: 2.4 spg
3. Ron Artest: 2.2 spg
4. Gary Payton: 2.1 spg
5. Kobe Bryant: 2.0 spg
Assists
1. Jason Williams: 8.1 apg
1. Jason Kidd: 8.1 apg
3. Gary Payton: 7.7 apg
4. Mark Jackson: 7.6 apg
5. Steve Nash: 7.3 apg
2003/2004 Award Winners:
Most Valuable Player: Kevin Garnett, Chicago Bulls (26.5 ppg, 16.2 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.9 bpg, 0.7 spg)
Most Improved: Dan Dickau, Atlanta Hawks (You don't want to know the stats)
Sixth Man: Antoine Walker, Dallas Mavericks (10.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.4 bpg, 0.7 spg)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons (8.9 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 1.7 apg, 4.0 bpg, 1.7 spg)
Rookie of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (14.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.1 apg, 0.9 bpg, 0.7 spg)
Coach of the Year: Andrew Begley*, Chicago Bulls (Record of 64-18)
* well, Bill Cartwright as far as the game's records go)
All NBA Teams
First
C: Shaquille O'Neal
F: Kevin Garnett
F: Shawn Marion
G: Tracy McGrady
6: Steve Francis
Second
C: Antonio Davis
F: Tim Duncan
F: Jamal Mashburn
G: Paul Pierce
G: Stephon Marbury
All Defensive Teams
First
C: Shaquille O'Neal
F: Ben Wallace
F: Andrei Kirilenko
G: Kobe Bryant
G: Gary Payton
Second
C: Marcus Camby
F: Tim Duncan
F: Ron Artest
G: Tracy McGrady
G: Jason Kidd
All Rookie Teams
First
G: LeBron James
G: TJ Ford
F: Carmelo Anthony
C: Chris Kaman
F: Nick Collison
Second
G: Dwyane Wade
G: Kirk Hinrich
F: Boris Diaw
F: Chris Bosh
F: Darko Milicic
Let the Playoffs Begin!
East Playoffs
1. Chicago
8. Detroit
4. New Orleans
5. New Jersey
3. Indiana
6. New York
2. Philadelphia
7. Orlando
West Playoffs
1. Dallas
8. Golden State
4. San Antonio
5. LA Clippers
3. LA Lakers
6. Memphis
2. Sacramento
7. Denver