CAVS, JAZZ, HALFWAY TO CONFERENCE FINALS

 

 

In the East, the Cavs vs Nets series looked like it might be a tight affair in the long run but the first two games looked straightforward enough. Sure enough, Game 1 ended as a 81-77 win for the Cavs. With the series still in Cleveland for Game 2 though, the Cavs needed another win to feel halfway secure in the series with the Nets sure to pounce on any weaknesses once the action switched to their turf. There was no hint of any upset coming into the game though.

The Nets didn't make it easy though the the Cavs struggling to put down the visitors who led for most of the first quarter, building up a solid lead which left them 28-24 up at the end. The Nets extended their lead to seven at the start of the 2nd before the Cavs re-engaged them, though the Nets still kept the game tight but Serbian Aleksander Pavlovic stepped up to help secure a 48-45 halftime lead for the Cavs though this game was still anyone's.

Sure enough, the Nets took the lead early on in the 3rd and led for a large chunk of the quarter with the score 68-64 mid quarter but the Cavs came back and two LeBron James free throws allowed the Cavs to lead by the skin of their teeth with a quarter to go and it was LeBron who took care of his team in the final quarter with the lead still switching early on in the 4th untill the Cavs finally pulled away late on to win by a slightly flattering score of 102-92.

Out West, the Jazz vs Warriors series looked to be a blatent no brainer in theory though the Warriors gave the Jazz enough headaches in Game 1 despite the home side's 116-112 win. It was a reminder of the north California side's giantkilling credentials and the '07 vintage Jazz aren't the tallest of giants. So the Jazz still had to win Game 2 in Utah to progress to a Conference finals appearance that looked improbable for either side at the start of the playoffs.

The Warriors could still smell an upset though and hit the ground running yet again and though the Jazz were up for another fight, the stubborn underdog shook them off to lead 37-35 at the end of the 1st. The Jazz had another go in the 2nd though and midway through the quarter succsessfully dislodged the Warriors and Carlos Boozer then led the surge to what looked like a solid lead of 63-56 at halftime. Was the time for miracles over?

Well the Jazz certainly looked like they were going to comfortably maintain their lead early on in the 3rd before hitting double figures to go in for the kill...only for the visitors to reply in the best way possible, by hitting shots from downtown and suddenly the game was tight again with the game in the balance again at the end of the quarter and though the home side tried to get moving again at the start of the fourth, the Warriors kept having the odd nibble and a Jason Richardson three gave them the lead with less than two minutes on the clock and the Jazz were only able to even force overtime at the last second! Game tied at 113.

Well the Jazz opened up overtime with a 5-0 run but then followed a large barren spell and when I say barren, I mean no one on either team could should to save their lives for the bulk of the extra period and it looked as though Deron Williams's early three pointer was going to be the shot that won this game. The Warriors went on to cut the lead to three points but a late Jazz surge was what killed off this contest as the Jazz won 127-117 to chase the Warriors to Oakland.

Elsewhere, the Suns faced the Spurs in Game 2 in Phoenix. Well the Spurs took enough confidence from their Game 1 win to have the early runs and lead 25-19 at the end of the 1st but then the Suns exploded to throw the Spurs to the deck and once again, Steve Nash can take the credit for it. The third quarter was pretty much steady as she goes but in the fourth the Suns hit top gear again to leave the Spurs flamed grilled though the '05 champs still return to San Antonio having nicked homecourt advantage. It's a five gamer.

Let's see what the switch of scene does.

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