Monday, April 18, 2011

NBA Game 1s: Three rising, three falling

A wave of eight NBA Game 1s rolled through over the weekend, and when a champion is crowned in two months, they will seem but a distant memory. Still, there are some noteworthy impressions that came out of the opening two days.

THREE UP

Star point guards. Just when it looked like the Bulls? Derrick Rose had logged the game of the weekend with 39 points to lead a comeback win over the Pacers on Saturday, he was outdone by Hornets point guard Chris Paul, who posted 33 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds and four steals to lead New Orleans to a stunning upset of the Lakers. ?I?ve struggled all season long, trying to figure out where to pick my spots,? Paul said. ?It?s the playoffs. It?s a whole other energy.?

Shane Battier, Grizzlies. Battier was with the Grizzlies for each of the franchise?s first three appearances in the playoffs, which resulted in three consecutive sweeps. So it was fitting that Battier knocked down the crucial 3-pointer with 23.9 seconds to play, to help the franchise to its first-ever postseason win?a road upset of the top-seeded Spurs. ?What do you want to know about it?? Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ?It counted for three. He caught it. He shot it. And he made it.?

Chris Bosh, Heat. In what has been an up-and-down season for the third wheel of Miami?s Big Three, Bosh put forth one of his best efforts of the season in the Heat?s opening win over the Sixers. Bosh took the most shots (17) for Miami, and finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. He scored 25 points nine times during the season, and the Heat were 8-1. ?Chris Bosh is the most important player on our team,? LeBron James said. ?When we get that kind of contribution from him, we?ve got a great chance to win.?

THREE DOWN

Stan Van Gundy, Magic. After the Magic lost 103-93 to Atlanta on Saturday, Van Gundy told reporters after the game that he would take responsibility for the loss. And he should. The Hawks came out and played Dwight Howard in single coverage, allowing Howard 46 points in the game. But the Magic made no adjustments to get more players involved, and Orlando wound up with Howard?s big game, 27 points from point guard Jameer Nelson and four other players who combined for 20 points.

Favorites? defense. On Saturday, the Hawks ran rings around the Magic defense, scoring 103 points on 51.4 percent shooting. Two other underdogs were able to match that feat and score 100-plus points while shooting better than 50 percent?the Hornets (109 points on 51.9 percent shooting, with 24 assists against just three turnovers) and the Grizzlies (101 points on 55.2 percent shooting). For Orlando, Los Angeles and San Antonio, getting the defense turned around will be Game 2 challenges.

Carmelo Anthony, Knicks. After starting Sunday?s game in Boston shooting 4-for-7 from the field with 12 points in the first half, Anthony was a second-half dud, shooting 1-for-11 from the field and 0-for-5 from the 3-point line. He also committed a key offensive foul with the Knicks up one point with 21.0 seconds to play?one that the Knicks disagreed with strenuously. ?It is what it is,? Anthony said. ?He called it. It?s over with.?

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