BULLS THROUGH IN SIX, THUNDER IN SEVEN
The 2011 NBA playoffs were reaching the latter stages of the Conference semi finals. Game 1 saw four teams gain an initial edge though not all of the winners wew the expected ones. Game 2 saw two of those sides go 2-0 up in their respective series. Game 3 saw a switch in location and the Mavs push the defending champion Lakers to the brink of elimination. In Game 4, the Mavs finished the job to become the first side to reach this season's Conference Finals. Game 5 saw another switch in location for the remaining series and the Heat took advantage of that to finish off the Celtics. The remaining two series though, had a third switch in location and Game 6 to deal with before they could claim mission accomplished.
In the East, the Bulls faced the Hawks in Atlanta. The Hawks opened competitively, tying the game at 4 with 10:28 left on the clock before the Bulls took over. Not only were the Hawks not able to find a way back before the end of the opening quarter but the Bulls lead hit double digits. It took the best part of two minutes for the second quarter to get rolling scoring wise and the Hawks only ever looked like they were treading water in the early stages of that period. Fact is, they didn't look like getting back into the game in the closing stages of the half either. Carlos Boozer was on 13 points. Bulls led 45-35 at half time and the Hawks needed a big effort to save their season.
Well after the Bulls opened the scoring for the second half the Hawks cut the gap back to ten immediately but after that the home side were pretty much floundering. The Bulls hadn't quite finished burying the Hawks by the end of the third quarter but the home side did have a mountain to climb. The 4th quarter didn't go brilliantly for the Hawks either as more rubble came down on them with the gap stretching to over twenty points. The closing minutes of the match then became the closing minutes of the series as the Bulls hit cruise control. Luol has had better nights this series alone but Boozer finished the game with 23 points and Derrick Rose backed him up with 19. The Bulls won the game 93-73 and the series 4-2. They will face the Heat in the Eastern conference Finals.
Out West, the Thunder faced the Grizzlies in Memphis. Well this Grizzlies side has proven to be a stubborn bunch and in the early stages of the first quarter it was certainly anyone's game but the Thunder eventually pulled away. The Grizzles hit the comeback trail though and went on to lead 23-21 at the end of the period. The Grizzlies pulled away briefly at the start of the 2nd quarter but the Thunder then came back to turn the game around once more. After that it was the Thunder's turn to pull away and leave Grizzllies coach Lionel Hollins with some big talking to do. Russell Westbrook was on 15 points. The Thunder led 54-44 at half time.
Well the big talk seemed to work as the Grizzlies opened the 3rd quarter with a 6-0 run but to start with at least the Thunder were able to hold on to their lead. The Grizzlies weren't going away though and eventually they broke through to takwe the lead with a quarter remaining. Defence reigned in the early stages of the 4th quarter and that was fine by the Grizzlies who were eventually able to extend their lead and now it was the Thunder who were left looking for a late charge. That comeback proved to be impossible though as the Grizzlies fans went suitably nuts while their team finished the game off. Zach Randolph grabbed 30 points as the Grizzlies won 95-83.
So, where were we with the Thunder vs Grizzlies series. Well it started in Oklahoma City where the Grizzlies won Game 1 against the odds 114-101. The Thunder then levelled things by winning Game 2 111-102. After that the series switched to Memphis where the Grizzlies grabbed a 101-93 win in overtime. The Thunder replied with a 133-123 triple overtime thriller to turn it into a three gamer. Game 5 sent the series back to Oklahoma City where the Thunder won 99-72. Then for Game 6 it was back to Memphis where the Grizzlies won 95-83. That forced a Game 7 in Oklahoma City, the first one of the season to wrap up both the series and the conference semis.
Well the Thunder opened the scoring but the Grizzlies certain kept with them in the early stages and not only that but they surged into a 13-8 lead with 6:07 left in the 1st quarter. With the help of a noisy crowd though the Thunder gradually wore their opponents down though and ended the opening period in the lead. The 2nd quarter started pretty slowly with the Grizzlies keeping things tight to begin with before the Thunder exploded on a 9-0 run to really take control of the game. For the remainder of the half, the Grizzlies weren't doing much more than treading water. Kevin Durant was certainly in business, grabbing 18 points by half time. The Thunder led 42-34.
The Grizzlies certainly weren't done yet though and did enough to keep the Thunder honest through the early stages of the 3rd, They managed to cut the gap back to three with just under five minutes left in the period but then the home side just exploded from three point land and though the game wasn't a complete write off, the Grizzlies were looking for another miracle. In the early stages of the 4th quarter, they weren't really able to do much though and the clock was definately starting to tock on their season. The Thunder proceded to slam in the dagger to make their fans very happy indeed. Durant finished with 39 points, James Harden backing him up with 17. The Thunder won the game 105-90 and the series 4-3. They'll face the Mavs in the Western Conference finals.