NBA Finals 2012 TV Schedule: When and Where to Catch Game 4

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Jun 192012
 

The Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder both find themselves in familiar territory heading into Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals.

The Thunder were also down 2-1 in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs before winning three straight games to clinch the series. And in last year’s NBA Finals the Heat failed to capitalize after taking a 2-1 lead over the Dallas Mavericks, which ultimately cost them a championship after Dallas rattled off three straight wins.

Every game in the Finals is crucial, but a series-swaying win in Game 4 has proven to be pivotal. Something both teams know all too well. The winner of this game is going to take control of the series.

The Heat cannot let the Thunder hang around and stretch the series beyond six games or risk  repeating what happened in 2011. On the other hand, Oklahoma City can’t drop this game and go down 3-1. That’s a hole that even this explosive squad can’t dream of getting out of.

 

Where: AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Fla.

When: Tuesday, June 19 at 9:00 p.m. EDT

Watch: ABC

Live Stream: ESPN3.com

 

Players to Watch

Chris Bosh has played admirably despite missing nine games this postseason. Since his return in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics, he has failed to score more than 20 points in a game. Bosh has also only gotten two double-doubles since coming back into the rotation.

However, the good news is those two double-doubles came in the last two games of the NBA Finals. Bosh appears to have found a stride in his rebounding game in the absence of his offense. So far he is only averaging 12 points this series, which is a noticeable dip from his regular season average of 18 points per game.

He needs to get his offense back on track in order for the Heat to close out the Thunder.

According to ESPN’s Michael Wallace,

“If anyone doubts what level of impact Bosh has on this Heat team, just look to how the series against the Celtics turned in Miami’s favor once he returned from that ab injury. Bosh’s ability to step out and hit jumpers, get to the rim and make frequent trips to the free throw line will be huge in his matchup with OKC’s bigs. Bosh’s play will determine the impact James and Dwyane Wade have on both ends. “

For the Thunder, James Harden needs to step his game up in a big way. He was the model of consistency in the regular season as well as in the first three rounds of the playoffs, but playing against the Heat has him rattled.

So far in this series his stat line reads 5 PPG 3 AST O REB in Game 1,  21 PPG 2 AST 4 REB in Game 2 and 9 PPG 6 AST 6 REB in Game 3.

In order for the Thunder to regain their hold on the series Harden needs to get back to the all around game that has made him so successful this season. If the Sixth Man of the Year can’t create shots for others and get his offense rolling again the Thunder have no chance of winning Game 4.

Key Matchup

There’s no question the people want to see Juwan Howard ball out against the Thunder’s front line, but head coach Erik Spoelstra seems hell bent on denying us of this pleasure.  

Alas, we’ll just have to settle for LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant.

Both of these two small forwards have played big for their teams throughout the playoffs and it seems as if they have saved the best for this series. Neither one has been able to stop the other consistently when they go head-to-head, but in order to take control of the series somebody has to slow down.

Durant gets in range as soon as he passes the half court line and ultimately the only person that can stop him, is himself. He’s shooting over 50 percent from the field against Miami to go along with his 31 point per game. Durant hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down despite having James guard him for large minutes.

Miami hasn’t stopped Durant from scoring, but it has done an excellent job taking away his teammates. In this series Durant is only averaging 1.7 assists. On the opposite end James is averaging four assists a game; which will prove to be the defying factor in this matchup.

Prediction

Heat 102, Thunder 97

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Heat vs. Thunder: Complete Guide to Critical NBA Finals Game 3

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Jun 162012
 

Game 3 of the 2012 NBA Finals will begin tomorrow night, and the Miami Heat are hoping to continue right where they left off by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder once again.

Game 2 was an epic affair that featured a furious comeback attempt that was thwarted in the final minutes by LeBron James coming through in the clutch.

It will be interesting to see if the Thunder are going to be able to dig themselves out of a hole without the home crowd behind them, and it will also be intriguing to find out if the Heat can build a massive lead without a major sense of urgency.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about this critical contest.

 

Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida

When: Sunday, June 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ABC

Live Stream: ESPN3

Betting Line: Heat -3 (Via VegasInsider.com)

 

Most Important Player to Watch: Kevin Durant

Durant has arguably been the most dominant player in both games of the Finals. He’s scored the most points of anyone and matched LeBron with 32 in a losing effort on Thursday night.

If he can continue to stay hot, especially from beyond the arc, the Thunder have a chance to steal a win or two on the road while they are in South Beach for three games.

 

Key Matchup: Thunder Defense vs. LeBron James

King James played like the league MVP in Game 2, and it will be tough to stop him if he continues that pace on Sunday.

The Thunder have got to throw multiple defenders on him and live with the results of leaving some of the role players open on the opposing team.

If Mike Miller or Shane Battier are going to bury them, so be it; it will be much harder for them to accomplish that then LBJ.

 

Prediction

Thunder 99 – Heat 98

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Heat vs Thunder Game 2: Complete Guide to Critical NBA Finals Contest

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Jun 142012
 

Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat is just a few hours from tipoff.

There’s a lot at stake as the Thunder attempt to stay undefeated in front of their rocking home crowd, while the Heat will be fighting tooth and nail to not go into an 0-2 hole before they play the next three games in South Beach.

Keep reading to find out just about everything you need to know about this exciting contest.

 

Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

When: Thursday, June 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ABC

Live Stream: ESPN3

Betting Line: OKC -5.5, Over/Under 196 (Via ScoresAndOdds.com)

 

Most Important Player to Watch: Kevin Durant

KD absolutely lit it up in Game 1, particularly in the fourth quarter when he delivered an incredible 17-point performance and insured that OKC walked out of the arena with a W.

He’s got to be just as good tonight, and perhaps not wait until the final period to unleash a scoring barrage.

Miami had opened up a 13-point lead at one point and was threatening to put the game out of reach. Had a few more shots gone down, there is no telling what sort of impact it would have had on the psyche of the Thunder.

If Durant can continue to build on where he left off, there shouldn’t be a problem in Game 2.

 

Key Matchup: LeBron James vs. Thabo Sefolosha

Sefolosha was arguably one of the top players on the court for much of the second half on Tuesday. He moved around the court like an absolute mad man—contesting shots, breaking up passes, pulling down boards and just seemingly making an impact on every play.

That it why it was genius for coach Scott Brooks to switch the motivated Swiss machine to guard LeBron in the fourth quarter after he spent most of the game assigned to Dwyane Wade.

Sefolosha stepped up to the plate as much as King James shied away from it, holding the league MVP to just five points in the quarter.

It will be interesting to see if Brooks keeps his best defender on James for the duration of Game 2, and also what LeBron has up his sleeve to counter the defensive tactics of Sefolosha.

 

Final Prediction

Thunder 105 – Heat 102

This should be a much closer contest than the first one was. Expect it to come right down to the wire, and possibly go into overtime. My prediction is that Durant will hit a go-ahead three with barely any time left on the clock and Miami will brick a desperation attempt to tie after an epic game.

 

2012 NBA Finals Television Schedule
 

Date

Venue

Time

Network

Game 1

Tues., June 12

at Oklahoma City

9 p.m.

ABC

Game 2

Thurs., June 14

at Oklahoma City

9 p.m.

ABC

Game 3

Sun., June 17

at Miami

8 p.m.

ABC

Game 4

Tues., June 19

at Miami

9 p.m.

ABC

Game 5*

Thurs., June 21

at Miami

9 p.m.

ABC

Game 6*

Sun., June 24

at Oklahoma City

8 p.m.

ABC

Game 7*

Tues., June 26

at Oklahoma City

9 p.m.

ABC

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NBA Playoffs 2012 TV Schedule: What to Watch for in Epic Heat vs. Celtics Game 7

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Jun 082012
 

It’s safe to say that both the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics have a lot on the line in the upcoming and decisive Game 7 on Saturday.

For LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, another title-less season and crushing collapse would awaken the millions of haters and may create talk of the “beginning of the end”. 

For the Boston Celtics, it’s probably their last chance with the Big Three (now four) to win another NBA championship. Another title for the Celtics would put the cherry on top of a run that will be remembered forever.

Not to mention, both teams want to get on with the NBA Finals and take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know for this epic showdown.

 

Where: American Airlines Arena – Miami, FL

When: Saturday, June 9, 8:30 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3 and WatchESPN

Line: Heat -7.5, Over/Under 180 (via ScoresAndOdds.com)

 

Key Player: LeBron James

Every moment in LeBron’s career has come down to this game. Every MVP season he’s had, every last-second shot he’s taken—or passed—every weight he’s lifted and every NBA Finals disappointment he’s suffered.

A win would put the Heat exactly where most of America expected them to be at this time of year: The NBA Finals. It’d give LeBron a chance to finally put that ring on his finger and shut down about half of the world’s NBA meme ideas. 

Nearly every game in this series has been incredibly tight down the stretch and it’s hard to assume different from this crucial Game 7. With that said, James may have another chance to prove that he’s clutch. Coming off a 45 point, 15 rebound Game 6 that will be remembered for some time, he’ll need to outdo even himself this time. 

After all, James asked for the pressure when he dropped the Not 5, Not 6…. line. Now it’s his time to deliver.

 

Key Matchup: Kevin Garnett vs. Chris Bosh

The return of Chris Bosh has undoubtedly been a blessing for the Heat, who needed a shot in the arm to get rolling again in the midst of a losing streak in the series. But Kevin Garnett has been all that and more for the Celtics.

Garnett’s play in the Eastern Conference Finals begs the question of if KG has gotten back to his prime, amazingly enough at the age of 36. But Bosh gives Miami the size that they desperately need to guard the do-it-all Garnett, who has been scorching the Heat with everything from 20-foot jumpers to bruising post moves. 

Bosh saw his minutes improve from Game 5 (14 minutes) to Game 6 (28 minutes), and we should see a similar trend on Saturday. Head coach Erik Spoelstra knows his team stands a minuscule chance if Udonis Haslem is guarding KG all game. 

 

Prediction: Heat 90, Boston 88

Game 7′s are won by the best player on the court, and when there’s someone on the court who’s won three of the last four MVPs, there’s no doubt who it is. 

I don’t see this game being more than 10 points out of reach at any point, and both teams should fight to the last minute. But Dwyane Wade has looked insanely good in the fourth quarter at times in this series, especially as the Heat shut down the TD Garden celebration party in Game 6.

With the two best wing players in basketball on the same team, the Heat narrowly escape elimination and retire one of the best eras in Celtics history. 

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Heat vs. Celtics: Game 6 TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

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Jun 062012
 

The Boston Celtics had a chance to beat the Miami Heat in Miami during Game 2 but let it slip away.

Paul Pierce wouldn’t let that happen in Game 5.

Thanks to a late clutch three from Pierce, who had struggled all game, and some clutch free-throw shooting from Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics are heading home for Game 6 with the opportunity to close out the Heat and head to the NBA Finals.

Boston outplayed Miami for the fourth consecutive game, despite the return of Chris Bosh, who scored nine points in 14 minutes of action.

Looking forward to Game 6, for Boston it may be as simple as continue to do what they’ve been doing.

For the Heat, it’s the same old story. Who’s going to produce other than LeBron James and Dwyane Wade? Until they find that answer, the Heat are one loss away from failing to reach their goal again.

Can the Heat rebound and send this series to Miami? Or should the Celtics start making plans for the NBA Finals?

Here’s everything you need to know about this pivotal Eastern Conference finals matchup.

 

When: Thursday, June 7 at 8:30 p.m. EDT

Where: TD Bank Garden in Boston, Massachusetts

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

Betting Line: Miami (-1.5) via 5Dimes

 

Heat Key Injuries (via CBS Sports)

No Key Injuries Reported

 

Celtics Key Injuries (via CBS Sports)

Out: Avery Bradley (shoulder)

 

What They’re Saying

ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan takes a look at the doubters, including herself, and why the Celtics are in the position that they are in right now. MacMullan writes that it’s all about teamwork and trust, and Boston has that. Miami doesn’t.

And so here we are. The team nobody said could win this series — and yes, that absolutely, positively included me — the team that is too old, too fragile, too hurt, whose margin of error is too small, whose bench is too anemic, whose lack of athleticism is too much of a handicap, is now up 3-2 in the conference finals, with a chance Thursday night to close it out on the parquet floor.

Shame on me for doubting champions who have been there before, who draw from deep reservoirs of pride and experience, who trust each other implicitly, who, as Allen explained, “know what we want to do, where we want the ball, have an idea of the plays we should call. We’ve been together so long, you see us in the huddle at a timeout exchanging ideas.”

We can only guess what the Miami Heat were saying in their huddle. (A guess: What the hell do we do now?)

On the other side of the ledger, ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez calls this the worst loss in Miami’s Big Three era and comments on LeBron James shying away from the big moments once again.

LeBron James can vary from the greatest player to wear a jersey to the most frustrating talent in league history. Erik Spoelstra constantly shifts from underrated tactician and manager of superstars to overwhelmed apprentice with no feel for the game. Dwyane Wade teeters between the league’s best shooting guard and a damaged player past his prime. And as a whole, the Heat are generally viewed as the league’s greatest team or its greatest disappointment, and rarely, if ever, in between.

With that in mind, and with no disrespect to the resilient Boston Celtics who might only be fully appreciated whenever this improbable run of theirs comes to an end, Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to Boston is the worst loss the Big Three version of the Heat have experienced. That’s not an overreaction.

Yes, it was worse than the Game 2 loss to the Mavericks in last year’s NBA Finals, in which the Heat blew a late 15-point lead. That Mavericks team was deeper and more talented than this version of the Celtics, and Dallas’ best player was in the midst of one of the best postseason runs the NBA has ever seen.

Instead, what you saw was James shying away from the bigger moments in another high-stress game. (James’ close-out performances against the Celtics and Bulls in last year’s playoffs did not carry the same kind of pressure as Tuesday’s series-changing game did, simply because the Heat had the luxury of the 3-1 lead in those other series.)

 

Most Important Player to Watch: LeBron James

Speaking of LeBron, he was the best player on the floor once again for the Heat in Game 5, turning in a solid 30 point, 13 rebound effort.

But James had to watch Boston’s Big Three make plays in the clutch, while he is constantly criticized for being unable to do the same. In fact, LeBron took just four shots the final 8:10 of the game.

Yet. it’s not his fault that he gets no help from anyone else. James may get blame thrown on him, but his group of supporting players missed countless open shots and lost enough battles for loose balls that ultimately kept the game close.

Instead, for the Heat to have a chance to send this series back to Miami, James is going to have to put the entire Miami team on his back. It may take a performance similar to what LBJ turned in during Game 4 of the Pacers series when he turned in one of the greatest postseason performances of all time, scoring 40 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, dishing out nine assists, blocking two shots and recording two steals.

If James doesn’t turn in something superhuman, then this could potentially be the last we see of Miami’s Big Three.

 

Key Matchup: Kevin Garnett vs. Entire Miami Frontcourt

KG has been unstoppable the entire series and has destroyed the Heat in the paint.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra started his third different center in as many games and it didn’t matter as Garnett continued to amaze, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. In addition, the Celtics scored 40 points in the paint as a team on the night.

Garnett has averaged 21.6 points and 10.8 rebounds this series while shooting 49 percent from the floor.

It’s going to take a team effort from Miami in order to stop him, but I don’t think they have it in them.

A key sideline matchup to look at is between the coaches, as Doc Rivers has clearly outcoached Spoelstra the entire series.

Unless Spoelstra can make the necessary adjustments and the Heat can start executing in the clutch, as they are shooting only 29 percent down the stretch of games, this series is over.

 

Prediction

Celtics 92, Heat 89

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NBA Playoffs 2012 TV Schedule: What to Watch for in Epic Heat vs. Celtics Game 5

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Jun 052012
 

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are set to do battle tonight in what should be nothing short of an epic Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’s an absolute can’t-miss contest as a basketball fan, and even casual observers of the sport will want to tune in. There are so many star players, great storylines and exciting matchups all packed into four quarters (possibly more the way this series has gone).

Let’s take a look at what you need to look out for in this game.

 

Where: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL

When: Tuesday, June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

Line: Heat -8, Over/Under 179 (Via ScoresAndOdds.com)

 

Key Player: Rajon Rondo

Rondo has been playing out of his mind in this series. He’s averaging 24 points, 10.5 assists, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals on 53.5 percent shooting over the four games and has unquestionably been the reason why Boston is even competitive.

Miami has not been able to find answer for the star 26-year-old point guard, and will need to figure out one soon if it wants to regain the advantage.

 

Key Matchup: Kevin Garnett vs. Chris Bosh*

Bosh is currently a game-time decision

KG has also been dominant for the C’s, largely because of the Heat’s lack of skilled players along their frontline.

LeBron James has been tasked at times to guard the Big Ticket, and he’s only found fleeting success. It’s a large reason as to why his team is hurrying Bosh back from injury.

Miami needs to force Garnett to exert more energy on defense, which he would have to against an apt low-post scorer like CB1. It’s going to be a good battle between the two, especially if Bosh isn’t feeling lingering effects from the abdominal strain.

 

Prediction: Celtics 91–Heat 90

This is going to be an insane contest that should go down to the wire and possibly head into overtime.

Both teams know that this might be the most important matchup of the series, and it’s unlikely that either can climb back from a 3-2 deficit.

Boston gets the edge because they are riding the momentum of two-straight wins and have the best player right now in Rajon Rondo. 

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Spurs vs. Thunder: Game 4 TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

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Jun 012012
 

The Oklahoma City Thunder showed the world Thursday night that the San Antonio Spurs are beatable, putting an end to their record 20-game win streak and getting themselves back into the series as well.

It’s a different story playing at home, as the Thunder fed off their home crowd. For the first time during the series they showed excellent scoring depth with 12 different players finding their way into the scoring column.

Is this a sign of things to come, or was it a case of the Spurs just being due for a loss?

Game 4 will tell a lot of that story.

Thunder head coach Scott Brooks made some fantastic adjustments for Game 3, most notably putting Thabo Sefolosha on Tony Parker. In addition, it was a much better defensive effort as a team, as the Thunder forced 21 San Antonio turnovers that allowed them to get out and run in transition.

Give Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich time to prepare after a loss and he will have something up his sleeve for Game 4. The chess match will continue as Brooks will need to counteract whatever Popovich throws at the young Thunder.

Will the Thunder get back into the series or was Game 3 just a bump in the road for the Spurs?

Here’s everything you need to know about Game 4 of this pivotal Western Conference finals battle.

 

When: Saturday, June 2 at 8:30 p.m. EDT

Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Watch: TNT

Live Stream: TNT.com

Betting Line: Oklahoma City (-3.5) via 5Dimes

 

Spurs Key Injuries (Per CBS Sports)

No Key Injuries Reported

 

Thunder Key Injuries (Per CBS Sports)

No Key Injuries Reported

 

What They’re Saying

The Thunder finished dead last in the NBA in assists during the regular season, but during Game 3 it almost looked as if Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker had switched jerseys.

Robert Klemko of the USA Today noticed the difference and wrote:

So after careful film study and strategic adjustments, the Thunder returned home to Oklahoma City looking less like themselves and more like the Spurs team that led the league in assists in 2011-12. They didn’t lean on the pick and roll, as San Antonio does, but Russell Westbrook’s lane-driving dishes had fans in the rafters wondering if Spurs point guard Tony Parker had switched jerseys.

Oklahoma City collected 23 assists, led by Westbrook’s nine, playoff-high totals for both team and player. San Antonio struggled to address several Thunder defensive adjustments and finished with an uncharacteristic 18 assists, their fewest since the first round of the playoffs.

 

Most Important Player to Watch: Thabo Sefolosha

As evident when Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined to score 88 points in Game 2 but still lost, the Thunder’s Big Three need some help.

Sefolosha delivered in Game 3 by scoring 19 points, but more importantly did a great job defending Parker.

He doesn’t necessarily have to score 19 for the Thunder to win Game 4, but he has to knock down open shots and continue to be a pest on defense.

 

Key Matchup: Spurs Offense vs. Thunder Defense

I usually isolate one particular matchup, but in this case I am going to take a broader look.

The Thunder defense struggled big time in the opening two games but rebounded with a great effort at home in Game 3.

As a team, they forced 21 turnovers which led to plenty of easy baskets. That’s something that must continue for the Thunder to even the series.

I mentioned the job that Sefolosha did on Parker, but Serge Ibaka and the other Thunder bigs must also do the job on Tim Duncan again. Duncan was limited to 11 points on only 5-of-15 shooting in Game 3. It’s been a struggle from the floor this series for Duncan, who’s made only 13-of-42 (31 percent) shots from the floor.

You win consistently in the playoffs by being able to get stops when you need them.  

That’s something the Thunder must rely on in Game 4.

 

Prediction:

Spurs 101, Thunder 93

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Celtics vs. Heat: Game 2 TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

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May 292012
 

Predictably, a rested Miami Heat team made things look rather easy in Game 1 against a Boston Celtics team that was fresh off a seven-game series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were once again big, combining for 54 points. While the Celtics need to slow down Miami’s dynamic duo to have a chance in Game 2, Boston’s biggest weakness all season showed up again in Game 1…scoring.

The Celtics have to find a way to shoot better than 39 percent from the floor. Being held under 80 points is a recipe for disaster. You won’t win many games shooting 52 percent from the free-throw line, either.

Boston has to find a way to become more efficient offensively to have a chance in Game 2. You can get away with missing open shots against the Philadelphia 76ers, but you can’t do that against the Heat. They will make Boston pay.

For the Heat, Game 2 is about doing things similar to the way they did in Game 1.

Miami killed the Celtics on the glass (48-33), outscored them in the paint (42-34), doubled them up on fast-break points (10-5) and blocked 11 shots to only one from the Celtics.

NBA fans should see a better effort from the Celtics in Game 2 as they attempt to adjust and get back into the series.

But can they steal a win in Miami, who’s 33-6 at home (including playoffs) on the season? 

Here’s a look at everything you need to know about this Eastern Conference finals tilt.

 

When: Wednesday, May 30 at 8:30 p.m. EDT

 

Where: American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida

 

Watch: ESPN

 

Live Stream: ESPN3

 

Betting Line: Miami (-8) via 5Dimes

 

Celtics Key Injuries (Per CBS Sports): Out: Avery Bradley (Shoulder)

 

Heat Key Injuries (Per CBS Sports): Out: Chris Bosh (Abdomen)

 

What They’re Saying

As bad as the Celtics offense was, they also didn’t give their usual effort on the defensive end. LeBron and company often had it easy.  ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noticed that and wrote:

James got anything he wanted in this one, moving through the Celtics’ usually legendary defense with just average effort. Generally he got anywhere he wanted on the floor and scored with such ease that he had time to add style points. Usually against the Celtics, and it has generally been this way for years, every basket in the half-court of a playoff game seems like the product of a chess match. His 32 points on 22 shots seemed like Chutes and Ladders.

 

Most Important Player to Watch: Rajon Rondo

In two April wins against the Heat, Rondo ate up the Miami defense, averaging 17 points, 14.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds.

However, in Game 1, Rondo was frustrated all night. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra kept running fresh bodies at him, including LeBron, Wade and Mario Chalmers.

Rondo turned it over four times in the first quarter and finished only 8-of-20 from the floor, with most of those misses contested drives to the basket.

Rondo has to get back to being his normal self for Boston to have any chance in Game 2.

 

Key Matchup: Ray Allen vs. Dwyane Wade

The shooting guard position used to be a strength for the Celtics—now it looks like a huge weakness as Allen looks hobbled out there.

While Wade has been on a role the past four games, averaging 30.3 points per game, it’s been just the opposite for Allen. He had another bad game Monday night, shooting only 1-of-7 from the floor.

Allen is now shooting only 40 percent from the floor in the postseason and a shocking 65 percent from the free-throw line (career 89 percent) in the playoffs. For the Celtics to have much of a chance, they have to get something from Allen.

 

Prediction

Heat 88, Celtics 86

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NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Complete Guide to Thunder vs. Spurs Game 2

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May 292012
 

Game 2 of the San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series will take place tonight and it should not be nothing short of an incredible matchup between the two best teams in the West.

If Game 1 was any indication, basketball fans are in for an absolute treat and the outcome could go either way.

Let’s take an in-depth look into tonight’s Western Conference Finals matchup.

 

Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas

When: Tuesday, May 29 at 9:00 p.m. ET

Watch: TNT

Line: Spurs -4.5, Over/Under 201 (Via ScoresAndOdds.com)

Key Injuries: None to report

 

Most Important Player to Watch: Manu Ginobili

The Spurs’ success has to be credited to their entire team, but Ginobili certainly deserves individual recognition. The 34-year-old SG has been making things happen all year, but truly stepped up in Game 1 of this series.

Manu piled in 26 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished three assists in just 34 minutes of floor time. He nailed 64.3 percent of his shots from the field and 60 percent from beyond the arc.

If he can continue playing like this for the rest of the series, there is no foreseeable way that the Spurs lose a game.

 

Key Matchup: Coaching

Gregg Popovich and Scott Brooks are two of the better coaches in this league, but Pop out-dueled Brooks in Game 1 and it made a huge difference.

Brooks made the critical error of leaving Serge Ibaka on the bench for the last 16:01 of the game. The Spurs made them pay and wound up scoring 39 of their 101 points in the fourth quarter.

That figure is even more ridiculous when factoring in that Ibaka was on the floor for a majority of the third quarter, a time in which OKC held their opponent to just 16 points and took a commanding lead.

The Thunder coach has got to make better decisions and force San Antonio to adjust around his strategy, not the other way around.

 

Prediction: Thunder 104 – Spurs 99

The Thunder had a chance to win it in Game 1, but faltered down the stretch. They are a team of quick learners that have no desire to head home after the Conference Finals again.

Look for them to make major adjustments and play their hearts out to steal a Game 2 win in San Antonio. 

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Sixers vs Celtics: Complete Guide to Decisive Game 7

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May 252012
 

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are preparing for an epic Game 7 Saturday that will determine which team has the right to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

Both sides have fought incredibly hard to get to this point and neither is going to just roll over. With the season on the line, this game should one for the ages.

Let’s take an in-depth look at this impending Atlantic Division battle.

 

Where: TD Bank Garden, Boston, Mass.

When: Saturday, May 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ABC

Listen: WEEI 850 AM (Boston) and WPEN 97.5 FM (Philadelphia)

Line: Celtics -5.5 (-105). Over/Under: 170.5

 

Key Injuries

Boston’s Avery Bradley is reportedly preparing to undergo surgery on his shoulder and will not be active in this contest or likely for the rest of the postseason. They will greatly miss his fierce defensive presence.

 

Most Important Player to Watch: Ray Allen

With Bradley out, Allen is going to have to log major minutes at the 2 and do his best to lock down his man while he tries to get back into a shooting rhythm.

Jesus Shuttlesworth has noticeably struggled these playoffs and is attempting to play on not one, but two bad ankles. The future Hall of Famer is averaging a mere 9.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.3 APG and 0.8 SPG and shooting just 42.5 percent from the field and an awful 26.7 percent from three-point land.

Those stats are drastically down from his regular-season numbers and his percentage from beyond the arc is particularly concerning. The C’s rely on him to stretch the defense and make the opposition pay if they leave him open.

If Allen isn’t a threat from downtown in Game 7, the Celtics are going to be hard-pressed to find a way to win.

 

Key Matchup: Bench play

The Celtics got a total of five points off the bench in Game 6—all from Mickael Pietrus—while Philadelphia’s second unit chipped in 15 points that likely made the difference in the 82-75 contest.

Even though rotations get smaller and bench minutes are limited in the postseason—especially Game 7—it’s still vitally important for both teams to get meaningful production from their subs.

If someone off the pine steps up in this matchup, it will likely be the difference-maker.

 

Prediction: Boston 82 – Philadelphia 75

Expect this to be a close game all the way through the fourth quarter. However, Boston’s experience and veteran savvy will make a difference in crunch time. They know this is likely their last chance to make something happen in the playoffs with the Big Three, and they will not let one another down. 

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