Thunder Up! - OVER.

[Justine.]

VS
Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
May 6, 2011 | Game Four | Conference Semifinals

Starting Lineups
Aaron Brooks | PG | Russell Westbrook
Manu Ginobili | SG | Thabo Sefolosha
Richard Jefferson | SF | Kevin Durant
Tim Duncan | PF | Jeff Green
Matt Bonner | C | Serge Ibaka

| 29 | 35 | 33 | 28 | 125
| 24 | 33 | 26 | 22 | 105
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ginobili, Spurs easily blowout again the Thunder

SAN ANTONIO -- When Aaron Brooks exploded in the last game, Spurs' star Manu Ginobili would not like to outshined by a new comer, as the Thunder's defense was focused to Brooks, Ginobili went berserk, as he help the Spurs to blowout again the Thunder 125-105 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their Conference Semifinals series.

Ginobili who played like a man possessed, scored a career-playoff-high 47 points, had six rebounds, four assists and the San Antonio Spurs will just have to take the next bout to finish off the young squad. Ginobili also unleashed bombs of threes like Brooks did last game, hitting 7-of-10 of his three-point attempts, he netted all of this treys in the second quarter where after the first half, he already scored 26 points.

All in all, the Spurs team made 16 three-pointers to clobber the Thunder, they also grabbed 54 rebounds, 13 plus more than the Thunder.

Brooks struggled in the game but still found a way to score 18 points and dished 15 assists, Tim Duncan remained his consistency by finishing the game again with a double-double, 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Spurs veteran Michael Finley added 11 points for the team, George Hill also scored the same figure.

Thunder started the game great by converting all of their seven shots, but it was the only good thing happened for them, as they was humiliated again by the more experienced Spurs, Kevin Durant shot 13-of-27 in the field en route to 38 points, Jeff Green added 21 while Russell Westbrook had 18 points and played a tough defense to Brooks.

As the series will fly again to the Oklahoma City, Scott Brooks must find a way on how to stop Brooks, or Ginobili, or even the whole Spurs who are on a mission.

[kibaxx7]

Tough loss man, better luck next time. INCREDIBLE game by my man Manu!

EDIT --

[Axel The Great]

Ooh, tough situation you're in. AB's become the Steve Nash of NBA Live here, and when you contain him, Manu goes nuts. Hope you find a way to bounce back.

[Grandmama Johnson]

WOW. Ginobli is unstoppable. Good luck in game 5, go get the win at home

[KidJustin]

Tough loss man, better luck next time. INCREDIBLE game by my man Manu!

EDIT --

i was going to comment...looks like KD got the dunk...but at what cost?..is TD a dirty player now

anyways good luck...id hate to see the Thunder end their season short

[hova-]

I love the Ginobili drive against two defenders. He's crushing you and he could do that IRL. Looking realistic.

[Justine.]

Thierry •, Can't stop him at all, everything he puts up it went in. Duncan got too much personal

Axel., Tough it is. Can't find a way to both guard them, Duncan is giving Ibaka a hard time too.

Grandmama Johnson, I'll try man

KidJustin, That pic is not a dunk, that's just a hook shot I think? Duncan got the personal foul, too personal I say again

hova-, That shot went in! I curse the monitor after that crazy jumpshot. Hope we can still win the series, but they are just too strong, didn't expected this performance by them.

[Justine.]

VS
Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
May 8, 2011 | Game Five | Conference Semifinals

Starting Lineups
Aaron Brooks | PG | Russell Westbrook
Manu Ginobili | SG | Thabo Sefolosha
Richard Jefferson | SF | Kevin Durant
Tim Duncan | PF | Jeff Green
Matt Bonner | C | Serge Ibaka

| 25 | 20 | 24 | 20 | 89
| 23 | 28 | 12 | 22 | 85
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last second heroics send Spurs to Conference Finals

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Tim Duncan turned around an ugly start to provide a beautiful ending for the San Antonio Spurs.

Despite missing all of his first six field goals attempts and went scoreless in the first half, Duncan scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter including a go-ahead layup with less than a second remaining to lift the Spurs to dramatic 89-85 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, clinching their Western Conference semifinals, 4-1.

After beating the Thunder in the last two games by a margin of 20 plus points, Spurs take the game 5 in front of the Thunder fans to put their season in end. This is the second time in four years the Spurs will advance to the Western Conference Finals.

To get there, San Antonio easily cruised past the Denver Nuggets in the first round, but on the next round they had to weather some difficulties facing the young and upcoming Thunder, but at least they did the job well done and knocked off the top-seeded Thunder where the season MVP is playing. They overcame Kevin Durant in the whole series, especially in Game 3 where Durant only scored nine points. As for now, the superstar forward is ready and may look to face the Lakers or Warriors in the West Finals.

After Richard Jefferson split a fair of free throws with 7.3 seconds remaining left to extend their lead to four points, 89-85it served as the San Antonio's basket to victory, though for the Thunder, just like last year's playoffs, the Thunder couldn't finish it the way they want it to be, where Durant take a three and missed it. Season over for the Thunder.

Aaron Brooks scored 18 points for the Spurs while Manu Ginobili netted 14, the two combined for 8-of-20 shooting, very poor but it helped the Spurs to oust the opponent. Jefferson had 13 and George Hill added 10 off the bench.

Durant's did all for the Thunder and scored a game-high 37 points but his team fell short as they tried to shorten the series lead by 3-2. Russell Westbrook had a double-double in his last game of the season, scoring 16 and dishing 10 assists. Jeff Green tallied 11 points.

Spurs will wait who will stand out victorious in the Lakers-Warriors series, where the Lakers is slumping and the mighty Warriors is still surprising.

[rise]

Oh, sucks, the Spurs were just too good, praticularly Manu in Game 4.

[Cruzerr]

Well it happens. Spurs were a better team, Manu picked it up at Game 4 , astounding :O

[kibaxx7]

Superb job by TD Hopefully you get revenge next year........ NOT!

[Bucket]

Oh my god.

[Martti.]

Trade Green for Perkins in the off-season.

[KidJustin]

ouch...i knew u were in trouble if the Nuggets didnt knock off the Spurs

[Grandmama Johnson]

Tough break, but a great regular season and some real promise to build on. You have a fantastic lineup for the future and your time will come. That probably doesn't make that Game 5 easier to take, but you'll live to fight another day. Good luck in the offseason!

[Bucket]

2010 - First round
2011 - Second round
2012 - Conference Finals
2013 - Finals?

[Houndy]

Overr

[Justine.]

Warriors stun Lakers, advance to WCF



Upset of the Playoffs, as the Golden State Warriors eliminate the defending champions and will advance to the Western Conference Finals to face the San Antonio Spurs.

The series go beyond Game 7 where the Warriors gave Lakers headache and actually beating them.

Monta Ellis scored 32 points, dished 10 assists and made five steals in Game 7 to put the Lakers' season in end. Ellis almost averaged 33 points throughout the series, while Kobe Bryant still could not believe in the outcome, the three seeded Warriors will return to the West Finals, their last appearance was in 1976.

Lakers take the two first games in their homecourt advantage, but surprisingly the Warriors stole the next three games as they made the Lakers to panic. The series go into a decisive Game 7 when Bryant scored 37 points in Game 6 to keep his Lakers alive, but Bryant's 28 points in the last game of the series couldn't power his team and lose to the Warriors.



Series MVP: Monta Ellis


After seven hard-fought games, Celtics came out victorious



The Boston Celtics also suffered a upset, nearly. They eliminate the 3rd seed Charlotte Bobcats in seven games and will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals twice in a row this year.

A rejuvenated Shaquille O'Neal lift the Celtics to win Game 7 against the Cats, as he scored 22 points, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo each scored 20, but still they are missing Kevin Garnett because of an injury, but reports said the Garnett will be available in the next series.

MVP of the series? Rondo. Where he averaged a near triple-double and exploding in the Playoffs just like what he did last year, his best performance in the series was in Game 2, as he notched a monster triple-double and blowout the Bobcats, 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and also making five steals. The Bobcats won 2 game in their home court and stole Game 5 from the Celtics arena. Stephen Jackson led the team by almost averaging 23 points per game. It's the first appearance of the Bobcats in a Conference Semifinals and the future is looking bright.



Series MVP: Rajon Rondo

Heat eliminate Bulls to advance in the next round



The Miami Heat was able to stop the Chicago Bulls Cinderella run.

As they take out the Bulls and close out the series in six games, LeBron James nearly averaged triple-double and can't be stopped. The Bulls despite taking the first two game of three, thought they can surprise the Heat, but they comeback and won the next three games to send the Bulls to elimination.

Heat will now have to face the top-seeded Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, where a very exciting series is waiting.



Series MVP: LeBron James

[Justine.]

z02, Never thought they were that good.

Cruzerr, I did everything to stop him, but he's just way too hot in that game.

Thierry •, I swear, I will have my revenge

Martti., Green's contract will expire and thinking whether I will resign him, as for Perkins, he's my primary target if he walks out in Boston (expiring I think too).

KidJustin, Nuggets could be an easier opponent

Grandmama Johnson, Thanks man, my guys are really promising, especially Ibaka and Alrich, will have to plan my off-season moves to build talents among these young guys.

Valdis, I hope that's the sequence, but promise, we will be on the Finals next season

Houndy, Yes

[Justine.]

(3) Golden State Warriors (51-31) vs (4) San Antonio Spurs (48-34)

Projected Starters: S. Curry | M. Ellis | D. Wright | D. Lee | M. Camby | 6th Man - R. Williams
Projected Starters: A. Brooks | M. Ginobili | R. Jefferson | T. Duncan | M. Bonner | 6th Man - G. Hill

The San Antonio Spurs is back on the Western Conference Finals, as they recently knocked out the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder in just five games. Excellent performances by Aaron Brooks and Manu Ginobili led the way to eliminate the youthful team. They will face next the Golden State Warriors who pulled an upset over the Los Angeles Lakers by eliminating them after a seven tight games. David Lee is averaging a double-double and will have to defend and try to outperform Tim Duncan in this series, while Monta Ellis will have to stop and beat Ginobili at the same time in the series. But let's give this series to the veteran Spurs, with Yao Ming expected to return, they can sweep the surprising Warriors.

Prediction: Spurs in 5






(1) Boston Celtics (60-22) vs (3) Miami Heat (53-29)

Projected Starters: R. Rondo | R. Allen | P. Pierce | K. Garnett | S. O'Neal | 6th Man - T. McGrady
Projected Starters: M. Chalmers | D. Wade | L. James | C. Bosh | Z. Ilgauskas | 6th Man - U. Haslem

The top-seeded Boston Celtics will return to the Eastern Conference Finals and will face the Miami Heat, who came off victorious against the Chicago Bulls. Celtics nearly got eliminate by the upstart Charlotte Bobcats as their series went beyond seven games. Rajon Rondo is excellent as ever and can lead again the Celtics to the promised land, Kevin Garnett will be healthy again and return to play for them, but it will never be easy, as they will try to clobber the Heat's title dream, the Big Three averaged at least 20 points in the playoffs and seems very unstoppable, but anything is possible for the Boston Celtics' trademark defense. Series will go probably to seven games and an exciting battle between the top two best teams in the East.

Prediction: Celtics in 7

[Justine.]

Carmelo Anthony still unsure about his future



Season will end nearly and still Carmelo Anthony is still not sure about his decision, whether he will stay in Denver or leave.

The All-Star forward contract is on the books and he will decide if he will accept his player option play next season for the Denver Nuggets. His Nuggets just lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Anthony averaged 28.2 points, career-high 9.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists for the Nuggets this season.

Several team having a cap space to sign him like Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings draw interest for Melo.


Syracuse' Rex Barry declares for NBA Draft



Rex Barry of the Syracuse Orange recently announced he will in this year's draft.

Barry is a brother of Brixton Barry who's declared for the draft too. The two brothers played for the Syracuse for three years and looking very promising. The 20-year old forward averaged 13.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game for the Orange last season, who made it to the Elite Eight.

He's known as a athletic bigman and projected to be a mid-late first round pick as his brother will maybe on the top 5.

[Grandmama Johnson]

Great preview! Never thought I'd see the Warriors there, but it looks like they have a shot. 60-win season for Boston was key. That home-court advantage will come in handy if the series goes all the way to 7.

[Cruzerr]

If Warriors drop the Spurs, something is wrong Celtics and Miami will be a blast.

[George7]

Damn!Bulls out,Thunder out!!
I'm going to root for C's in the East and Warriors in the West(and for the champs as well!)

In the next meeting with Spurs you have to smash them!

[Bucket]

You was first in west and lost to Spurs
Fuck Spurs, I hope Warriors will beat them.


I made one sim association some days back with Warriors and in first year Warriors won finals against C's.