Its time to start focusing on the playoffs and our potential roadblocks to Banner 18. Every day we'll bring you what's making news in enemy territory. This way we know what they're up to when it comes time to take 'em out.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Heat Index: With less than two minutes remaining in Tuesday night's game, Chris Bosh contested a driving layup from Baron Davis. But the Miami Heat power forward was too late in rotating over and fell flat on the floor after losing his balance in the air. Davis' shot put the Cleveland Cavaliers up 97-85 and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra called timeout as Bosh lifted himself off the hardwood in front of an electric Cleveland crowd. Bosh face-planted not just then, but for the entire game.
Peninsula is Mightier: Mike Bibby's 5th triple of the game opened the 4th quarter, and a few minutes later his 7th tied the game at 83 apiece. Unfortunately those would be the last points Miami would score for over 4 minutes, allowing the Cavs to score 12 straight points and put the game away. LeBron James scored the final 7 points of the game for the Heat but it was too little too late as the Cavaliers got a big win for their fans on this night.
Daily Herald: Coach Tom Thibodeau criticized his players for a poor effort at Monday's shootaround and suggested it carried over into the game. Players on this team are unlikely to challenge anything Thibodeau says. Derrick Rose gave these thoughts about shootround: "As a player, you don't really think about it like that," Rose said. "As a coach, you see everything. He was just telling us, warning us. It definitely came back and haunted us. Tomorrow we'll get a chance to practice. Usually after we practice, we go on a run."
ESPN Chicago: Thibodeau didn’t excuse the turnovers, but he wasn’t going to make too much of a rare misstep from his star player. "I thought he was aggressive early," Thibodeau said. "He had some turnovers early that I think slowed him down a little bit, but when you handle the ball as much as he does there's going to be … I thought he was trying to make the right plays."
Sentinel: Jameer Nelson will return from a knee injury tonight and play for the Orlando Magic against the Atlanta Hawks. After sitting out one game, Nelson tested the knee Tuesday afternoon and participated in the Magic's shootaround today at Philips Arena and experienced no problems.
Magic Basketball: Say hello to a preview of a first round matchup in the 2011 NBA Playoffs between the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks. Sort of. Even though Quentin Richardson and Jameer Nelson are slated to return from their injuries later tonight, the Magic are still dealing with the absences of J.J. Redick and Chris Duhon. When Orlando is at full-strength, only Redick figures to see minutes in the postseason coming off the bench. As such, the Magic will get a decent idea of how they matchup with the Hawks even though they’re missing their top back-up wing player.
NEXT OPPONENT
Project Spurs: In recent weeks, San Antonio Spurs fans have seen a change at the starting center position. In lieu of the scrappy DeJuan Blair, head coach Gregg Popovich has opted to go with the veteran Antonio McDyess. Blair exited the starting rotation in the early-March dismantling of the Spurs at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. Offensively, the addition of McDyess stretches the opposing defense. McDyess is a pick and pop type of big man, who can hit long jumpers with regularity while Blair is a classic pick and roller, who may not have a long distance jumper that he can go to, but is much better at taking the ball towards the basket and finishing at the rim.
MySA Spurs Nation: For the first time, Splitter has begun to feel like a card-carrying member of the San Antonio Spurs. “I’m getting more confident and feeling like I’m part of the team,” the 25-year-old Brazilian said. George Hill has been a key member of the Spurs for two-plus seasons already. Unlike Splitter, who had been searching for a feeling he hadn’t yet experienced, Hill’s recent transformation has been about locating a feeling he once had but lost.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
SB Nation: By far the most encouraging development is how [Ron Artest is] knocking down threes. The Lakers are not a team blessed with great outside shooters: they rank just 16th in the NBA in three-point percentage. You can win an NBA title without a potent three-point game, but it's not easy. The Laker offense has pretty much everything else going for it, though, so if Ron can remain a dependable outside threat, it'll be awfully hard for anyone to stop them in the playoffs.
OC Register: The 23-year-old Bynum has throughout his six seasons been the baby of this family. That also makes him the one and only rising son. So it's downright fascinating – and impressive for them both – that Bynum has reached this point here before Jackson retires. It has not happened as much through medical miracle with Bynum's much-scrutinized physical health as because Bynum has made a mental breakthrough … and that happens to be the sort of personal power Jackson harnesses infinitely better than your average coach
ESPN Dallas: Shawn Marion continues to play at a high level for the Dallas Mavericks – with a severely dislocated left pinkie finger that the small forward has no plans on fixing this season or thereafter. The left pinkie was bent to its current state of grotesqueness earlier this season, but Marion can't remember exactly when or how it happened. "Just got it hit," Marion said. "Next thing you know, I looked down, I was like, 'Damn.' You know what? I got hit last year, too, in a game, and it kind of hurt a little bit, but I still played through it; just taped it up. Then got hit again this year. It is what it is. I know it was at home, though because [Mavs owner Mark] Cuban noticed it, too. He said, 'Oh s—.' I'm not going to be a hand model. It's OK. "It's facing 10 o'clock."
ESPN Dallas: Guards Jason Terry and J.J. Barea did not practice with the Mavericks in Phoenix this afternoon but are expected to rejoin the team after it arrives in Los Angeles. Terry flew to Seattle to attend an aunt's funeral.
NewsOK: Thunder reserve forward Nick Collison missed Tuesday night's 115-114 overtime victory against Golden State due to a sprained left ankle. His status is listed as day-to-day, starting with Wednesday night's game at Phoenix. Thunder reserve guard Nate Robinson was activated Tuesday for the first time since having arthroscopic knee surgery on March 4, but did not play.
NewsOK: On a night when Oklahoma City defeated Golden State 115-114 with some bonus basketball, Durant broke out of his self-proclaimed slump. He scored 39 points. He hit 13 of 23 shots and 10 of 12 free throws. But most importantly, he carried the freight in overtime, scoring eight of the Thunder's nine points. “Felt good,” Durant said, smiling.
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