NBA Playoffs 2014 (Part II):
Eastern Conference Semifinals:
(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Washington Wizards:
Going to the Semifinals, the Pacers came off a tough 7-game series against the Atlanta Hawks while the Wizards easily dispatched the Chicago Bulls in 5 games, giving them plenty of time to rest & prepare for the Seimfinals. In Game 1, the Wizards were leading by 13 points after the Opening Quarter & kept that momentum to taking the series opener & the home-court advantage away from the Pacers. Trevor Ariza led the Wizards' charge with 22 points including going 6/6 from the 3-PT range. After being criticized again for having 0-point & 0-rebound performance in Game 1, Roy Hibbert broke loose for 28 points as he led the Pacers to a series tying 86-82 victory over the Wizards, evened the series 1-1. In Game 3, the Pacers' early Regular Season form returned, holding the Wizards to just 63 points & 33% shooting as they blew them out, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
In Game 4, it had appeared that the Wizards had Game 4 in hand..... before the Pacers overcame a 19-point deficit. Trailing by 3 with just 6 seconds left in the game, the Wizards had an opportunity to force OT but Ariza threw an errant pass badly, sealing the win for the Pacers & the 3-1 lead in the series. Paul George led the Pacers' comeback with 39 points including 28 in the 2nd Half. In Game 5, the Wizards responded by blowing out the Pacers 102-79, with Marc Gortat scoring 31 points & grabbed 16 rebounds. The Wizards held a 62-23 rebounding advantage in Game 5, which was considered by many NBA analysts as the widest margin in a playoff game since 1985. However, David West led the Pacers with 29 points in Game 6 as the Pacers ended the Wizards' playoff run with a 93-80 victory as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2nd consecutive year in a row.
*****Pacers win the series 4-2.
*****This was the first playoff meeting between Washington & Indiana.
(2) Miami Heat vs. (6) Brooklyn Nets:
Despite the fact that the Nets swept the Regular Season series against the 2-time defending NBA Champions, the series was expected to be close, with all their 4 Regular Season meetings going down to the wire. In Game 1, the Heat showed no signs of rust from their long rest, blowing out the Nets 107-86, for their first victory against the Nets all season long, leading the series 1-0. In Game 2, the game was close throughout until the Heat pulled away in the 4th Quarter, outscoring the Nets by 10 en route to a 94-82 victory & leading the series 2-0 as they remained perfect in the playoffs. The game was clinched when the Heat held the ball from the 3:39 mark to the 1:59 mark in the game of the final quarter, grabbing 3 offensive rebounds until LeBron James made a layup to make it a 10 point game, essentially icing the game. Mizra Teletovic had a breakout playoff game with 20 points & 6 3-pointers for the Nets in a losing effort.
In Game 3, the Nets had a hot shooting performance from 3 PT range, hitting 15 3-pointers as the Nets defeated the Heat 104-90, to dealing the Heat their first loss of the playoffs & cutting the series deficit to 2-1. Fast forward to Game 4, which was close throughout, but the Heat emerged victorious, 102-96, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. James exploded for a Heat playoff franchise record of 49 points on an efficient 16/24 shooting clip & Chris Bosh made a tie-breaking 3-pointer in the final minute to giving the Heat the lead for good before Ray Allen & James clinched the game with 5 FT's. In Game 5, a series extension seemed when the Nets lead by 8 points with 5 minutes remaining. However, they went scoreless for the next 4 & a half minutes, allowing the Heat to make a 12-0 run capped by a 3-pointer & 2 FT's by Allen to take the lead........ until the Nets tied the game after Joe Johnson hit a 3-pointer & hit a miracle shot as time expired, causing the game going into OT.
During OT, the Nets managed to pull off another upset victory defeating the Heat 127-115, cutting the series deficit 3-2 & going back to Brooklyn for Game 6. In Game 6, this game was close throughout & a long defensive battle all night when the Heat pulled away in the last minutes for a 87-76 victory, giving the Heat a victory as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the 4th consecutive year in a row.
***Heat win Series 4-2.
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