CAVS, NUGGETS, KEEP IN FRONT

 

 

The 2009 NBA playoffs had reached the conference semi final stage with four teams left in each conference still hoping to make the Finals. Game 1 had been and gone and some of the supposed favourites in each series had gotten themselves mugged. Even a win in Game 2 would only be damage limitation for them, the real work would have to wait till they hit the road. The big issue were the teams that had won their series opener at home, they were still under pressure. Losing Game 2 would still turn the series on it's head. Winning would mean that they could take control of the series and keep alive the possibility of a sweep, and at this stage that would really get people's attention.

In the East, the Cavs faced the Hawks in Cleveland. Again the Hawks made the early running, leading 4-1 with 10:43 left in the first but once the Cavs got going, the visitors only had a limited response. The two sides duelled for a bit but it was all Cavs in the latter stages of the first quarter. It was even more so in the 2nd quarter, with the Cavs grabbing a double digit lead immediately and ten become twenty with more than three minutes left in the first half. The Cavs led 59-53 at half time, LeBron leading the way with 18 points. At that point, the Hawks either needed a miracle turnaround or to catch the next flight back to Atlanta and write this game off already.

In the second half, it got even more ugly for Hawks. They would have been better off getting the early flight home. The Cavs were up by thirty with just under five minutes left in the third, there was no way a team can come back from that. And the Hawks were held scoreless for almost the opening two minutes of the 4th. And yet the road team did manage to rally, well they had the gap down to fifteen with 2:37 left in the game at least. They couldn't keep it going though and in the end the Cavs won 105-85. LeBron led the way with 27 points, backed up by Wally Szczerbiak coming off the bench for 17 points. The Hawks are getting one heck of a reality check in this series.

Out West, the Nuggets faced the Mavs in Denver. Once again the Mavs opened the scoring and gave themselves a 14-8 lead with 5:42 left in the first. This time around though, the Nuggets recovered quicker and duelled for and took the lead before the first buzzer. The Mavs tried keeping pace in the second quarter but the Nuggets took a double digit lead with less than six minutes to go in the first half. The Mavs still rallied though, just not enough to stop the Nuggets from going in at half time with a 58-55 lead. JR Smith led the home side with 17 points. Off the bench. Not so bad. The game was still there for the taking though if the bigger names didn't step up for the Nuggets.

The Mavs certainly kept pace in the early stages of the third quarter and then were able to start duelling for the lead again, leading 76-74 with 4:22 left in the third. And yet the Nuggets still came back and retook the lead before the third buzzer. The 4th quarter? Well the Mavs were held scoreless for over three minutes at the start dring which the Nuggets went on a 9-0 run. And that pretty much killed the Mavs as far as this game was concerned. The Nuggets went on to win 117-105 with Nene leading the way on 25 points and 8 rebounds. And yet, the Mavs head for home with a lot more hope of turning this series round than the Hawks do.

Elsewhere, the Lakers beat the Rockets 111-98 in LA. That turns the series into a five gamer but that's just for starters. The Rockets still have homecourt advantage and they Lakers will have to "find their way" as Phil Jackson might say in Houston to stay alive. Back East, the Celtics beat the Magic 112-94 in Boston. That keep the Celtics title defence alive for now but like their old rivals the Lakers, they are now going to have to do their serious business on the road. After two games, only one series looks like it might go to a sweep. Other than that, I smell some serious rumbles on the way. Lets see if the Lakers in particular can handle them.

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