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

Games Three and Four

Posted by Axel Gomez April 24, 2011
Los Angeles, CA - What started as an atrocious series in Houston seems to be ending an atrocious series in Los Angeles. The Clippers appear to be incapable of being able to run their offense past the Rockets' defense, which is suffocating them to the point of coughing the ball up, and shooting poorly from the field. The Clippers had 15 turnovers; and 10 of them came from one player, Mo Williams. Williams' ball handling for the game was atrocious to say the least, as the Rockets benefited from 13 steals. Top that with their inability to make shots, and that gave this game a score of 112-87.

It started with Aaron Brooks' excellent first half. Brooks had 15 first half points to lead all scorers at that point. He finished with 17, but what was a mediocre start to the playoffs has jump-started for him.

The next biggest reason for LA's inability to keep up with the Rockets was Blake Griffin. Griffin had a meager 11 points on 4/15 shooting after having great shooting nights in Games One and Two. The double-team worked wonders for the Rockets, as they would trap Griffin and shut down his passing lanes, forcing him to difficult and contested jumpers. Also, Randy Foye has not been able to compensate for Eric Gordon's absence. True, Foye did have a decent 17 points, but he did it on 6/20 shooting from the field. "The open jumpshots are just not falling for us. We've all had decent looks, but they are just not falling. Next game is possibly our last chance to get our offense straight," the young guard said.

The offense of the Clippers appeared to have clicked in the fourth quarter, thanks to the explosion of Mo Williams. Williams scored 16 of his 27 in the final period, and despite the turnovers, he shot 11/22 from the field and 3/7 from deep. However, his performance was overshadowed by Kevin Martin's short 15-point rampage. Martin scored 15 of his 34 in the fourth, taking LA's small guards to school on the low block, just stomping holes all over them and the Clippers' D. Head coach Rick Adelman had to switch him out of the game to show some sportsmanship, as the lead remained 20+ almost the entire quarter.

"Really, when Martin is in full-swing like that, the only way to stop him is to take him out of the game. It's been a loong time since he scored under 20 or held to less than 40% shooting. He has an answer for every defense out there," Adelman said. Houston is in perfect condition to sweep, but you can't count out the Clippers just yet. A young and energetic team such as them never goes down without a fight.

Player of the Game-

Kevin Martin
34 points | 7 rebounds | 7 assists | 2 steals | 1 block | 12/24 FG | 2/4 3P | 8/8 FT

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Aaron Brooks - 17 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 6/10 FG
Yao Ming - 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 5/8 FG
Courtney Lee - 11 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 5/10 FG
Luis Scola - 10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 5/11 FG

Clippers:
Mo Williams - 27 points, 6 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals, 10 TO, 11/22 FG, 3/7 3P
Randy Foye - 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 6/20 FG
Eric Bledsoe - 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 6/9 FG, 2/4 3P
Blake Griffin - 11 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 4/15 FG
Al-Farouq Aminu - 9 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 4/7 FG

30 24 27 31 112
22 16 23 26 87




With their season on the line, the Clippers put up a fight in the first half of Game Four. Outside shots were falling for the Clippers, as they shot a series high 35% from beyond the arc (7/20), and a series high 44% from the field. Randy Foye finally had himself a good game. He scored 18 points on 7/17 shooting, including 4/9 from downtown. Mo Williams chipped in 16 points on 7/17 shooting as well, and Ike Diogu contributed a surprising 12 points from off the bench as well.

Leading the way for the Clippers was Blake Griffin. Griffin was held down in the second half, as the Rockets continued to bring the double-team. He scored 26 points shooting 11/26 from the field. He had a near triple-double with 11 rebounds and seven assists. LA just could not get it done.

What started as a defensive grind in the first quarter slowly turned into a shootout for the Rockets. Their shooting went from 42% in the first half, to 48% in the second half. Scoring 32 points in the third quarter made the difference, as the Clippers would not come within single digits for the rest of the game.

Kevin Martin continued his onslaught with 28 points, four assists and three rebounds, going 12/13 from the free throw line. Getting a big lift from the bench, the Rockets started the third quarter on a 21-10 run, en route to a 104-87 victory.

After having years upon years of frustration and being stuck in the first round all the time, the Rockets find themselves in the second round easily, sweeping what was an inexperienced and injury-riddled Clippers team. "There is a lot of work to be done in the off-season. Obviously the team doesn't need very much changes to be better in the playoffs, the improvement has to come within. We need to improve our shot selection, and be more aggressive on offense. This is really not the way you want to go out in your first season," said Clippers' star Blake Griffin.

"Their best player went down, and there was nothing they could do. This is a young team with a lot of potential, though, so you can definitely expect they'll be back in the playoffs next season," said Rockets' big man Yao Ming. Yao had 12 points, six rebounds, and two rejections shooting 6/11 from the field. He played a post-season high 34 minutes in this game. That's a welcome sign for the Rockets. If they keep up their strong play, heck, they may be able to get another sweep in the second round to get back to the Conference Finals.

Player of the Game-

Kevin Martin
28 points | 4 assists | 3 rebounds | 1 steal | 8/17 FG | 12/13 FT

Key Performers:
Rockets:
Luis Scola - 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 7/12 FG
Yao Ming - 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 6/11 FG
Kyle Lowry - 10 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 3/7 FG
Aaron Brooks - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2/6 FG, 6/7 FT

Clippers:
Blake Griffin - 26 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 11/26 FG
Randy Foye - 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 7/17 FG, 4/9 3P
Mo Williams - 16 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 7/17 FG
Ike Diogu - 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 6/11 FG

23 26 32 23 104
21 24 19 23 87

GUY 2: Nice work, the brooms were there on time & swept perfectly. I'm increasing your christmas bonus.
GUY 1: YES!

As many expected you swept em'. Now you should get a little rest before Round 2.

I'm new to this thread.
You have a nice presentation.
That's a nice way to hype up the First Round I like sweeps!

Easy wins! You owned them.:O You should have at least given them a chance.xD

You showed no mercy. I see you will face the Spurs or the Lakers in Round 2, this is going to be a tough one.

This hardwood must be shining for sure. Nice sweep.

Man, Martin with 34/7/7. Good job sweeping Clippers in LA. Too easy for you, now real games.

Nice slideshow you've got there.

Oh yeah, you've got your hands a rest. I just noticed that the 2k's sim engine is favoring the Weak Three.

Almost the Rockets in 3 games Great job man!

Nice owning

GUY 2: Nice work, the brooms were there on time & swept perfectly. I'm increasing your christmas bonus.
GUY 1: YES!

As many expected you swept em'. Now you should get a little rest before Round 2.

Nice going, Guy 1. And yes, the rest definitely helps Yao for the second round.

I'm new to this thread.
You have a nice presentation.
That's a nice way to hype up the First Round I like sweeps!

Thanks. As I've said, always great to have a new reader on board. Sweeps are heartbreaking; you can't mentally recover from them.

Easy wins! You owned them.:O You should have at least given them a chance.xD

Even if I did, their still the Clippers, they would've never capitalized.

You showed no mercy. I see you will face the Spurs or the Lakers in Round 2, this is going to be a tough one.

Beat the Lakers three times in the regular season, and the Spurs twice. I know what it takes to beat them, but in the playoffs it will certainly be tougher.

This hardwood must be shining for sure. Nice sweep.

Haha, yep. Held them to less than 90 points in all for games, so I pretty much mopped them.

Man, Martin with 34/7/7. Good job sweeping Clippers in LA. Too easy for you, now real games.

Second round will be harder, but I think we have a fair shot at the WCF. Martin keeps adding more dimensions to his game other than scoring.

Nice slideshow you've got there.

Oh yeah, you've got your hands a rest. I just noticed that the 2k's sim engine is favoring the Weak Three.

Thanks, took me quite a while to make, but adding Dream and Glyde was a must. Yao and Martin are less athletic versions of their 90's counterparts, but still franchise players. And, who's the Weak Three?

Almost the Rockets in 3 games Great job man!

Yep, pretty much. Game Four really shouldn't have been played. And thanks again for showing me Ulead, forgot to give you props on that one.

Nice owning

Clips get owned as always.

Games 3 & 4 in a bit, and then the recaps of the rest of the games in each series. First round wrap-up after that, and then it's time for the second round.

Weak Three- Bosh, LeChoke, Wade.

Told ya! Great job

Awesome man, just awesome. Who will go down next?

Stress Fracture, they are weak, well, Bosh and LeBron. You'll see on the next update.

George7, thanks! Where's KJ?

Cruzerr, you'll find out soon enough.

Well considering you swept the Clipps and not only maintained your lead in the Nlscers rankings in my association(just look at his post there: lol: ) but extended it as well, probably somewhere cursing you and your team to eternal failure...

Yep, I reckon he's very bitter.

Around the League: Game Threes

Eastern Conference

@
Game Three: CHA wins 92-90, First franchise playoff win for CHA
22 20 26 22 90
25 24 16 27 92

Key Performers:
Celtics:
Rajon Rondo - 17 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 6/10 FG
Kevin Garnett - 15 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 4/17 FG, 7/8 FT
Ray Allen - 14 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 5/11 FG, 2/5 3P, 5 fouls
Paul Pierce - 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 2/5 FG, 5/6 FT, 6 fouls

Bobcats:
Stephen Jackson - 33 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 10/22 FG, 2/8 3P
Tyrus Thomas - 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 7/13 FG, 7/9 FT
DJ Augustin - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1/10 FG, 7/7 FT

@
Game Three: ORL wins 104-87
29 23 33 19 104
20 24 21 22 87

Key Performers:
Magic:
Dwight Howard - 25 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 9/18 FG, 7/9 FT
Jason Richardson - 24 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 9/16 FG
Brandon Bass - 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3/8 FG, 12/12 FT
Gilbert Arenas - 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 5/14 FG, 7/8 FT

Hawks:
Jamal Crawford - 24 points, 4 rebounds, 10/19 FG, 3/8 3P
Joe Johnson - 18 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 6/11 FG, 4/5 FT
Kirk Hinrich - 9 points, 9 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals, 2/4 FG, 4/4 FT

@
Game Three: CHI wins 106-95
23 22 29 32 106
23 24 27 21 95

Key Performers:
Bulls:
Carlos Boozer - 32 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 12/23 FG, 8/13 FT
Derrick Rose - 27 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 10/19 FG, 3/4 3P
Luol Deng - 12 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 4/10 FG, 2/5 3P

Knicks:
Carmelo Anthony - 35 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 12/25 FG, 2/5 3P
Chauncey Billups - 20 points, 11 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 6/13 FG, 6/6 FT
Amar'e Stoudemire - 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5/12 FG

@
Game Three: MIA wins 127-120
33 17 30 47 127
30 39 24 27 120

Key Performers:
Heat:
Dwyane Wade - 43 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 12/28 FG, 3/8 3P, 16/19 FT
Chris Bosh - 32 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 12/23 FG, 8/8 FT
LeBron James - 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3/10 FG

Pacers:
Danny Granger - 42 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 15/31 FG, 5/14 3P, 7/10 FT
Dahntay Jones - 25 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 8/12 FG, 9/10 FT
Darren Collison - 21 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 5/9 FG, 11/11 FT

Western Conference

@
Game Three: SAS wins 111-101
21 27 28 25 101
28 31 31 21 111

Key Performers:
Lakers:
Kobe Bryant - 36 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 13/24 FT, 9/12 FT
Pau Gasol - 18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 6/12 FG, 6/8 FT
Derrick Caracter - 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3/4 FG, 5/6 FT

Spurs:
Tony Parker - 33 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 14/25 FG
Manu Ginobili - 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 7/11 FG, 3/5 3P, 6/7 FT
Richard Jefferson - 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 5/13 FG, 3/5 3P
George Hill - 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4/11 FG

@
Game Three: UTA wins 103-92
28 12 19 33 92
30 30 24 19 103

Key Performers:
Mavericks:
Dirk Nowitzki - 26 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 blocks, 11/21 FG
Jason Terry - 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 6/13 FG
Tyson Chandler - 9 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1/1 FG, 7/10 FT

Jazz:
Devin Harris - 25 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 5/14 FG, 2/5 3P, 13/13 FT
CJ Miles - 17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 3/8 FG, 11/12 FT
Andrei Kirilenko - 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, 6/11 FG
Paul Millsap - 10 points, 16 rebounds, 1 block, 3/8 FG

@
Game Three: OKC wins 123-92
29 31 37 26 123
30 13 23 26 92

Key Performers:
Thunder:
Kevin Durant - 38 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 13/22 FG, 3/9 3P, 9/10 FT
Russell Westbrook - 31 points, 10 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 12/18 FG, 6/6 FT
James Harden - 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 4/10 FG, 2/5 3P, 6/7 FT

Nuggets:
Kenyon Martin - 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 6/14 FG
Nene Hilario - 14 points, 13 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 3/5 FG, 8/12 FT
Raymond Felton - 14 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 4/7 FG, 6/8 3P
Wilson Chandler - 12 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 4/13 FG

Around the League: Game Fours

Eastern Conference

@
Game Four: BOS wins 96-90; BOS leads 3-1
22 22 31 21 96
26 31 20 13 90

Key Performers:
Celtics:
Paul Pierce - 24 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 6/13 FG, 10/10 FT
Kevin Garnett - 22 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 6/11 FG, 10/12 FT
Ray Allen - 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4/10 FG, 3/4 FT
Rajon Rondo - 11 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 4/13 FG

Bobcats:
Stephen Jackson - 22 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 8/14 FG, 2/4 3P, 4/5 FT
Boris Diaw - 17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 7/17 FG
Tyrus Thomas - 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 6/12 FG

@
Game Four: ATL wins 106-73, ORL leads 3-1
22 12 26 13 73
21 37 31 17 106

Key Performers:
Magic:
Gilbert Arenas - 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 10/17 FG
Dwight Howard - 14 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 blocks, 4/14 FG, 6/12 FT
Jason Richardson - 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 4/10 FG

Hawks:
Al Horford - 27 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 10/14 FG, 7/7 FT
Jamal Crawford - 26 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 steals, 9/14 FG, 4/7 3P
Josh Smith - 19 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5/9 FG, 9/12 FT
Joe Johnson - 12 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 5/14 FG

@
Game Four: NYK wins 98-90; Series tied 2-2
24 23 29 14 90
25 21 23 29 98

Key Performers:
Bulls:
Luol Deng - 21 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4/10 FG, 3/5 3P, 10/10 FT
Carlos Boozer - 20 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 6/16 FG, 8/12 FT
Derrick Rose - 19 points, 6 assists, 1 rebound, 3 steals, 7/23 FG

Knicks:
Amar'e Stoudemire - 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 6/14 FG, 8/11 FT
Chauncey Billups - 20 points, 11 assists, 2 rebounds, 4 steals, 6/17 FG, 7/7 FT
Toney Douglas - 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 5/8 FG, 3/5 3P
Carmelo Anthony - 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4/7 FG

@
Game Four: IND wins 111-109, Series tied 2-2
32 26 25 26 109
30 21 34 26 111

Key Performers:
Heat:
Dwyane Wade - 36 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 14/26 FG
Chris Bosh - 23 points, 2 rebounds, 8/12 FG, 7/9 FT
LeBron James - 20 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5/17 FG, 9/12 FT
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 3/7 FG, 6/7 FT

Pacers:
Danny Granger - 27 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 11/15 FG, 3/3 3P
Darren Collison - 23 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, 4 steals, 6/15 FG, 11/12 FT
TJ Ford - 21 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 6/11 FG, 8/9 FT
Roy Hibbert - 12 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block, 5/13 FG

Western Conference

@
Game Four: SAS wins 104-96; SAS leads 3-1
18 32 15 31 96
24 30 19 31 104

Key Performers:
Lakers:
Kobe Bryant - 26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 steals, 9/24 FG, 7/7 FT
Andrew Bynum - 22 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 10/12 FG
Lamar Odom - 10 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2/8 FG, 6/6 FT
Pau Gasol - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3/10 FG

Spurs:
Richard Jefferson - 21 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 6/15 FG, 2/5 3P, 7/12 FT
DeJuan Blair - 19 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 9/10 FG
Manu Ginobili - 13 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 4/9 FG, 4/5 FT
Tony Parker - 12 points, 10 assists, 1 rebound, 2 steals, 6/14 FG

@
Game Four: DAL wins 91-81; DAL leads 3-1
25 23 26 17 91
18 23 28 12 81

Key Performers:
Mavericks:
Dirk Nowitzki - 34 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks, 12/21 FG, 10/11 FT
Jason Terry - 18 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 7/15 FG, 2/5 3P
Caron Butler - 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 4/11 FG, 5/6 FT

Jazz:
CJ Miles - 15 points, 2 steals, 4/7 FG, 3/5 3P
Al Jefferson - 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 5/12 FG
Mehmet Okur - 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3/9 FG
Paul Millsap - 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 4/11 FG

@
Game Four: DEN wins 96-94; OKC leads 3-1
24 22 26 22 94
24 28 22 22 96

Key Performers:
Thunder:
Russell Westbrook - 22 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, 5/12 FG, 12/16 FT
James Harden - 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 7/15 FG, 4/4 FT
Kevin Durant - 14 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5/17 FG, 4/5 FT
Serge Ibaka - 10 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5/5 FG

Nuggets:
Ty Lawson - 18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 5/14 FG, 6/7 FT
Wilson Chandler - 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 5 blocks, 6/12 FG
Nene Hilario - 12 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4/12 FG, 4/5 FT
Raymond Felton - 11 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 4/14 FG

GO INDIANA

LeBron already starting to disappear.

George7, thanks! Where's KJ?

sorry i've been out the past few days...

trying to plan revenge on the evil that is Kyle Lawry


hahah jk

And thanks again for showing me Ulead, forgot to give you props on that one.

No problem man Just send any questions via PM / MSN..

Nobody else sweeped? Damn, disappointed.

Nobody else sweeped? Damn, disappointed.

yea yea...quit rubbing it in!