HEAT, MAVS IN FINALS
The 2011 NBA Playoffs were coming to a head with the Conference Finals stages on the verge of being decided. Game 1 saw both favourites win their games - so far so good. Game 2 though saw both series turn into five gamers and the supposed underdogs take homecourt advantage. After that, both series switched locations and when the dust was settled after Game 3, it looked as though the results in the last game would be indicative of the series. Game 4 didn't make things any better for the losing teams and now the writing really was on the wall. So, Game 5 saw each series come full circle but for two sides it was their last stand - would they live to fight another day?
In the East, the Bulls faced the Heat in Chicago. The Bulls were in no mood to hang around early doors but the Heat came back to take a 12-6 lead with 6:15 left in the 1st. The Bulls weren't going to lie down though and scrabbled back to retake the lead before the end of the period. In the early stages of the 2nd quarter the Heat kept things close but a scoreless period of over two minutes didn't help their cause and the Bulls lead stretched to double digits. The Heat reined them in to an extent in the latter stages of the half but when the half time buzzer sounded, Luol was doing GB proud and keeping the Bulls alive with 14 points. Bulls led 45-38 at half time. So far so good for the number 1 seed.
In the early stages of the 3rd quarter the Heat weren't doing much more than treading water though they also didn't look as though they were going to be buried any time soon. The Heat then just went cold for a few mins mid quarter before closing in once again but still, Bulls led 62-57 going into the final period. The early stages of the 4th quarter looked to be more of the same, the Buls were cruising and it looked to be mission acomplished right? Actually...wrong, in the last few minutes the home side just collapsed and the Heat took the lead with second left on the clock. One last desperate three pointer from the Bulls. No good. LeBron James finished with 28 points. The Heat won the game 83-80 and the series 4-1 to claim their first Eastern Conference title since '06.
Out West, the Mavs faced the Thunder in Dallas. The home side was intent on burying their opponents and went 13-7 up with 7:16 left in the 1st. After that though, the Thunder woke up and they turned the game round before the end of the opener. The two sides continued to duel in the early stages of the 2nd quarter, and then it was the Thunder that were pulling away for a while but the Mavs were careful to make sure they didn't get too far ahead. The home side couldn't do that much before half time though, James Harden of all people was leading the way on 16 points, Thunder led 55-52 but still had a way to go before they could take the Mavs back to their place.
The Mavs opened the scoring at the start of the 3rd quarter and did enough to stay on the Thunder's tail, tying the game at one point. The Thunder still found an answer though. Eventually the Mavs got over the hump and took the lead but that was fine by the Thunder who came back to lead 76-72 going into the final period. Early in the 4th quarter and the Thunder were cruising - it looked as though this series was not done yet! Or was it? Like the Bulls, the Thunder collapsed and the Mavs broke through with just under a minute remaining. Dirk Nowitski finished the game with 26 points and 9 rebounds. Mavs won the game 100-96 and the series 4-1 to claim their firest Western Conference championship since '06. They will face the Heat in the Finals.