MAGIC, LAKERS, SUNS SWEEP
The 2010 NBA playoffs had entered the latter stages with it being crunch time in the conference semi finals. Game 1 saw 4 teams take an initial edge. Game 2 saw three of those teams double their money and set what looked to be a fairly clear course to the conference finals. Game 3 saw a switch of locations but still, somehow all that did was increase the leading team's advantage. Well this stage is meant to be harder than the first round but going into Game 4 we were somehow on the verge of three sweeps.
In the East, the Magic faced the Hawks in Atlanta. Well the Magic were certainly in no mood for mercy early on. Once again, the Hawks just didn't look like competiting. Before the end of the 1st quarter, the Magic lead hit double figures. Deja vu. The match went into the 2nd quarter and again, the Magic seemed to be able to hold the Hawks at bay easilly. The Hawks rallied a bit before half time but still Jameer Nelson grabbed 12 points The Magic led 53-45.
The Hawks were held scoreless for the first two minutes of the second half and didn't look like getting back in the game once they got going. The Hawks were barely able to cut the deficit back from double figures before the end of the period. The Hawks were held scoreless for the opening three minutes of the fourth quarter and after that it was again game over. A late rally meant that the final gap could have been bigger but still Vince Carter grabbed 22 points, the Magic won the game 98-84 and before the first team to qualify for the Eastern Conference Finals.
Out West, the Lakers faced the Jazz in Utah. The home side were held scoreless for the opening minute but went on to run the show for a bit. They led 16-12 with 5:26 in the opener only for the Jazz to shut them down and turn the game around before the opening buzzer. The Jazz had no answer early on in the second quarter and by half time looked to have their backs against the wall. Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 17 points and the team that had run this series so far were leading 58-41.
The Jazz weren't quite ready to lie down yet and managed to take a large bite out of the deficit early in the 3rd. They got it down to five with just over three minutes left in the quarter but the Lakers then pulled away again. The Jazz certainly didn't look like getting closer than that in the early stages of the 4th. Bottom line, this series was not a good time to be a Jazz fan - it was the first time they'd been swept in a seven game series. Gasol finished with 33 points, Kobe Bryant 32. The Lakers won the game 111-96 and the series 4-0 to secure a spot in the Western Conference finals.
The Suns faced the Spurs in San Antonio. Given their situation the Spurs were in no mood to hang around and early on, looked safe bets to bail themselves out. That sort of form led to them winning 25-19 at the end of the 1st. The Suns weren't going to let them off though and the two sides dueled early in the 2nd and initially the Spurs held on. They couldn't hold the Suns back for good though and the road team were leading 50-47 at half time with Amare Stoudamire on 11 points.
The early stages of the 3rd quarter were low scoring and once it got going the Suns extended their lead. The Spurs came back from that though and eventually managed to take a 69-68 lead with 1:29 left in the quarter but the Suns scraped their lead back before the end of the period. The Suns opened the 4th quarter on the front foot and though the Spurs kept fighting, they couldn't turn the game round. The home side couldn't do much in the latter stages. Suns won the game 107-101 with Stoudamire finishing on 29 points and Steve Nash grabbing 20 even with an injured eye. The Suns won the series 4-0 and will face the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.
Back East, the Cavs faced the Celtics in Boston. Well the Cavs dominated the early stages, leading 12-5 with 8:33 left in the 1st but the Celtics then took over. In the 2nd quarter the Cavs were only ever able to tread water at best. The two sides duelled for the lead late in the 3rd but the Celtics did eventually come out on top. The Cavs never looked like coming back in the 4th quarter and so with Rajon Rondo having a big night and grabbing 29 points, the Celtics won 97-87 to tie the series 2-2.
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