NOTES: ON GRIZZLIES HISTORIC WIN

(AP Photo)

The Memphis Grizzlies shocking series victory over the heavy favorites and Western Conference top seed San Antonio Spurs was the first-ever playoff series win in the 16- year history of the franchise. Other firsts that were earlier recorded in this opening round best-of-seven affair was the first-ever playoff and home playoff wins, respectively, in Grizzlies history.

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The Grizzlies became the fourth last seeded team in NBA playoff history to upset the Conference top seed after the Denver Nuggets (1994), New York Knicks (1999) and the Golden State Warriors (2007).

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The Grizzlies were the clear aggressor in their game six win over the Spurs, 99-91. The Grizzlies went to the free throw line 30 times, converting 22 shots, while limiting the Spurs to only 14 free throws attempts and making 12 shots.

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Grizzlies leader and heart and soul, Zach Randolph has grown-up and improved tremendously on the defensive-end since coming to Memphis, says head coach Lionel Hollins during the post-game press conference of game six.

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The Grizzlies second round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder will be an exciting one considering the up-tempo game and the presence of strong, young and mobile players in both squads. The Grizzlies are gunning for another upset series win.

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Grizzlies slotman Marc Gasol finally walked out from the shadow of his more illustrious brother, Pau of the Los Angeles Lakers, with his outstanding over-all performance in the Spurs series. His overpowering game throughout the six-game series made Tim Duncan looked like an old man indeed.

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An interesting match-up to watch-out for in the coming Grizzlies-Thunder series is the battle of the young and upcoming point-guards in the league between Russell Westbrook of OKC and Mike Conley of Memphis.

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It’s a pity to see Grizzlies star Rudy Gay missed the entire playoffs due to an injury he suffered last February. He is the original team leader of the team before Randolph took over.

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Grizzlies sixth man OJ Mayo is one lucky guy to be enjoying his first playoff series win. Mayo was almost traded to the Indiana Pacers last February due to attitude problem. Now Hollins is all-praised for the former USC Trojans standout for his full-acceptance of a bench role with the Grizzlies.

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My heart goes to Antonio McDyess, the veteran power forward of the Spurs. Despite seriously hurting his left shoulder in game four, he continued to play aggressively in games five and six. McDyess is said to be retiring after this disappointing series loss to the Grizzlies. Our hats off to you, Mr. McDyess.

Video: RECAP OF GRIZZLIES WIN OVER THE SPURS, 99-91 (GAME 6)

Video: RECAP OF MAVERICKS WIN OVER THE TRAIL BLAZERS, 103-96 (GAME 6)

Video: RECAP OF HAWKS WIN OVER THE MAGIC, 84-81 (GAME 6)

Video: RECAP OF LAKERS WIN OVER THE HORNETS, 98-80 (GAME 6)

HAIL THE SPURS SAVIOR: GARY NEAL

If not for Gary Neal, one of the biggest first round upsets in NBA playoff history could have occurred. The buzzer-beating 3-point heave of the San Antonio Spurs rookie guard sent game five into overtime in which San Antonio eventually won against the Memphis Grizzlies, 110-103. Actually there is a funny story teammate Manu Ginobili told about the first time he worked out with Neal. At the same time, Neal is thankful he is truly blessed that he is in the NBA right now and making the biggest shot of his life, according to the league’s official website.

Manu Ginobili: “It was mid-September. I was working out and he showed up one day. They told me that this was the new shooter we had. I'm not lying when I say that I saw him miss the first 20 shots that he took. I'm not kidding. We were playing open gym and he was shooting confidently. But he wasn't making one.”

Gary Neal: “When I think about where I've been and where I was this time a year ago, in Malaga, Spain, I never could have pictured this, being in a Game 5 of the NBA playoffs with an opportunity to tie the game up and extend the series.”

HEAT CELEBRATED TRIO MAKES PAT RILEY TOP CHOICE FOR EOY AWARD

If Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is the most likely runaway winner of the MVP award then Miami Heat President Pat Riley may likewise be the hands down choice for the Executive of the Year plum. Riley has done something extraordinary that has not been done before in league history. That is signing up three of probably the top 15 NBA players under one team. Riley pulled off a coup in acquiring LeBron James and Chris Bosh to team up with resident superstar Dwyane Wade, who himself was re-signed by Riley in an eventful summer of 2010. One NBA General Manager says it’s a no-brainer that Riley is the league's top executive this season, according to CBS Sports.

“It should not be a close vote. Pat Riley was by far the best. ... To add three of the top 20 players in the NBA in one offseason has never been done before or likely again.”

FRANK VOGEL: FROM INTERIM TO REGULAR HEAD COACH?

His strong showing in the regular season and in four of the five games played against the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference first round playoff series may be enough reasons to promote Frank Vogel from interim to permanent head coach of the Indiana Pacers. Vogel’s strong point is his system and calling in which his players responded positively. The way the last seed Pacers carried themselves against the top seed Bulls can all be attributed to the renewed vigor Vogel has brought to the team. The Pacers has become a team that is fun to watch under Vogel's tutelage. Vogel thinks he can definitely coach competitively in the NBA and he also believes he will be the next regular mentor of the Pacers, according to ESPN.

“One thing I learned the last three months is that I can do this. I'm confident in my leadership abilities, my management abilities, my coaching abilities. It's been an honor to coach the last few months, it would be an honor to coach in the future.”

A HEART-BREAKER FOR THE NUGGETS

(AP Photo)

With about four minutes to go in game five, the Denver Nuggets are comfortably ahead by nine points against the Oklahoma City Thunder and it seems the series would return one more time to Mile High City until a silent assassin named Kevin Durant killed their dreams. Durant led a wild Thunder comeback by scoring 16 points in the final five minutes including the last seven points of OKC to eliminate the Nuggets, 100-97. Crucial misses by Denver in the last two minutes such as Kenyon Martin’s lay-up that was rejected by defensive demon Serge Ibaka and Nene’s powerful one-handed slam could have saved them. It was truly a bitter pill to swallow for the over-achieving Nuggets squad. Head coach George Karl, guard Aaron Afflalo and swingman J.R. Smith says it all, according to The Denver Post.

George Karl: “Closing out a game is a unification of everybody — everybody's got to do their jobs, including the coaches. It falls on all our heads. We didn't close out this game and we didn't close out Game 1, and they're both difficult to swallow right now. We will, somewhere in the next week or so, wake up and realize we had a heck of a season. I'm thankful to be healthy and back coaching. It's just going to be a tough loss to get out of your system.”

Aaron Afflalo: “It's tough. You finally realize there's no tomorrow. We're done, man.”

J.R. Smith: “We didn't want to end the season like this.”

COLOSSAL MATCH-UP: HEAT VS. CELTICS

This is a series made in heaven and a match-up to watch for all ages. The tried and tested big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen versus the hyped celebrated trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Beantown vs. South Beach. Anyway you look at it, the Eastern Conference second round series between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat promises to be truly a blockbuster one. This could even rival the excitement of the NBA finals itself. This is the corridor leading to the main entrance towards banner 18 for the Celtics or a second championship for the Heat. The Celtics have won the regular season series with the heat, winning three out of four encounters, but of course this will have no bearing in the coming series. It is all back to square one, “Mano Y Mano”. So lets hear what James and Pierce have to say about the dream series, according to USA Today.

Lebron James: “This is the series everyone wanted.”

Paul Pierce: “We knew before the season that if we were going to get to where we need to be as a championship team, we knew we were going to have to play Miami. It's finally here. There's going to be a lot of hype around it like it's a championship series, but you've got to understand this is still just the second round but a very big second round. Because you have two potential teams that can win it all. I'm excited. This is a great stage for basketball. It's going to be great for fans.”

THAT MAN, KEVIN DURANT!

(AP Photo)

If not for the career year of Derrick Rose and the coming out of the Chicago Bulls, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder could have been the NBA MVP winner this season. The 6-10 former Texas Longhorns star unleashed his might once again as the Thunder closed out their Western Conference first round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets by winning, 100-97 in game five. Durant exploded for 41 big points including 16 crucial points in the last five minutes as OKC erased a nine-point deficit in the last three minutes and a half to secure the all-important win. The Thunder now advances to the second round awaiting the winner of the San Antonio Spurs-Memphis Grizzlies series. Durant says he gave it his all in game five as the Thunder can’t afford to lose anew and return to Denver once again, according to Yahoo! Sports.

“We willed ourselves to victory. One thing that was going through my mind is like, `I don’t go back to Denver because it would be tough to win in there. I just don’t want to go back. It was cold, it was raining, the fans said some not so nice words to us. We just didn’t want to go back.”

Video: A CLOSE LOOK AT 2011 NBA DEFENSIVE POY- DWIGHT HOWARD

Video: RECAP OF THUNDER WIN OVER THE NUGGETS, 100-97 (GAME 5)

Video: RECAP OF HEAT WIN OVER THE 76ERS, 97-91 (GAME 5)

Video: RECAP OF SPURS OT WIN OVER THE GRIZZLIES, 110-103 (GAME 5)

STOP ROY AT ALL COST

The Dallas Mavericks will surely go for the kill in game six against the Portland Trail Blazers in their Western Conference first round playoff series. The Mavs are up 3-2 as the series shifts back to the Rose City. The last time they were in Portland was not a good one for Dallas. It gave them a big heart-breaker of a loss when they squandered a 23-point lead in the third canto and eventually allowed the Blazers to level-up the series at two-games apiece. Brandon Roy was their biggest headache in that game. The Mavericks went to work in game five as they checked Roy defensively, who finished with a measly five points. Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle says they will continue to have a defensive game plan against a great offensive player like Roy in game six, according to the Star Telegram.

“He's a great player, and great players are capable of big games at any time. We did a better job [Monday] night than we did in Game 4. That's obvious. Look, he's a priority, particularly after the fourth game. We view him as an All-Star player that's extremely dangerous, and so we'll continue to game plan for him that way.”

NOTHING TO REJOICE

(Getty Images)

For the Orlando Magic, there is definitely no time to rejoice after their big win over the Atlanta Hawks in game five of the Eastern Conference first round playoff series. The Magic still trail in the series, 3-2, and to keep their hopes alive, Orlando has to play like the team that demolished Atlanta by 25 big points the last time around. Game six will be on the road which make the task a little more difficult for coach Stan Van Gundy’s charges. Van Gundy says there is nothing yet to celebrate as the battle is far from over and the Magic are still in a very precarious situation, according to CBS Sports.

“There won't be any celebrating. Basically, all we did was cut the deficit to 3-2. It's like being in a game and cutting your deficit from 20 to 12. So what.”

SAD ENDING FOR KEITH SMART

The honeymoon is all over for the Golden State Warriors and coach Jonathan Keith Smart. Fans all around the Bay Area as well as current Warrior players wanted Smart to stay on but team owner Joe Lacob has decided to look elsewhere for a new head coach next season. Smart actually have a respectable first season as Warriors head coach this past regular campaign even though the team did not make it to the post-season play. Smart, who once played as an import for PBA’s San Miguel Beer in the late 80’s, guided the Warriors to a 36-46 win-loss record. Lacob says the franchise appreciated Smart’s efforts but also added that the team is taking a new direction and a change in necessary at this time, according to the Warriors’ official website.

“It's never easy to make difficult decisions, especially when it involves someone that we have a great deal of respect for like Keith Smart. After meeting extensively with Larry Riley and Bob Myers, we came to the conclusion that a change was necessary at this particular time. I think Keith did an admirable job this season and he should be commended for many of the positive things that transpired both on and off the floor. The team showed improvement and their effort was never in question. However, we've elected to pursue a new path and we wish Keith the very best. He's a quality person and we thank him for the time he invested with our organization.”

Video: RECAP OF MAGIC WIN OVER THE HAWKS, 101-76 (GAME 5)

Video: RECAP OF BULLS WIN OVER THE PACERS, 116-89 (GAME 5)

Video: RECAP OF LAKERS WIN OVER THE HORNETS, 106-90 (GAME 5)

PIPPEN: BULLS NEED TO GET MORE PHYSICAL

(NBA Photo)

Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen is talking through experience and he has seen it all. Pippen, who is the number one sidekick of the G.O.A.T. in their six-title haul in the 90’s, wants the current Bulls to play more physical as they go into the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. It can be recalled that Pippen and the Bulls were whipped by the then “Bad Boys” of the Detroit Pistons in three straight playoff series before matching their brute force and finally winning their match-up in 1991 en route to the first championship of the Windy City outfit. Pippen says Derrick Rose and the Bulls must not give easy lay-ups as they have to play physical ball and let the opposition earn their points at the foul-line, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“You don’t give up layups in the playoffs. You knock a guy down and you make them go to the foul line and earn it. That’s what Derrick’s doing for the Bulls. And to me, it’s an eye for an eye.”

Video: D-ROSE SUFFERS FROM SPRAINED ANKLE IN GAME 4

CAPSULE: DARRELL ARTHUR - GAME 4

(Getty Images)

Apart from his highlight reel of an amazing alley-hoop in the early part of the final canto, 6-9 forward Darrell Arthur was the biggest show in the Memphis Grizzlies shocking rout of the San Antonio Spurs, 104-86, that gave the Elvistown a crucial 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven first round Western Conference playoff series. Arthur banged in 14 points in the victory but what made the heads turned in awe of the former University of Kansas standout was his consistency in nailing down medium jumpers that kept the Spurs at bay in the decisive second-half. Arthur is currently submitting norms of 9.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg in the series.

Video: RECAP OF GRIZZLIES WIN OVER THE SPURS, 104-86 (GAME 4)

Video: RECAP OF MAVERICKS WIN OVER THE TRAIL BLAZERS, 93-82 (GAME 5)

Video: RECAP OF NUGGETS WIN OVER THE THUNDER, 104-101 (GAME 4)

Video: RECAP OF HORNETS WIN OVER THE LAKERS, 93-88 (GAME 4)

Video: RECAP OF CELTICS WIN OVER THE KNICKS, 101-89 (GAME 4)

Video: RECAP OF HAWKS WIN OVER THE MAGIC, 88-85 (GAME 4)

Video: RECAP OF 76ERS WIN OVER TE HEAT, 86-82 (GAME 4)

MIKE BIBBY: LAST ACTIVE PLAYER FROM THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES

The Memphis Grizzlies are flying high in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The last-seeded Grizzlies are currently leading the top seed San Antonio Spurs, 2 games to 1 in their best-of-seven series. This series has recorded the first-ever Grizzlies playoff win (game one) and first-ever home playoff victory (game 3) in history, respectively, and maybe on their way to a first-ever playoff series success. The Grizzlies originally entered the NBA in 1995-96 as an expansion franchise in Vancouver, Canada and relocated to Elvis Town in 2001-02 season. Did you know that the only active NBA player from those Vancouver Grizzlies days is point guard Mike Bibby, who now plays for the Miami Heat. Bibby was drafted 2nd over-all in the 1998 draft by the Grizzlies and played three years in Vancouver from 1998 to 2001 with a total of 214 games.

Video: HEAR IT FROM THE BEANTOWN SWEEPERS

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CAPSULE: BRANDON ROY - GAME 4

(Getty Images)

After a miserable regular season due to injuries, Brandon Roy reclaimed his original role as the go-to man of the Rose City outfit as he scored the winning basket with 39.2 seconds to go in the game and finished with 24 points to power the Portland Trail Blazers to a pulsating 84-82 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The win was fashioned out in a dramatic manner which saw the Blazers came back from a 23-point deficit in the third canto to even-up their first round Western Conference series at 2-game apiece. B-Roy is definitely back!

Video: RECAP OF TRAIL BLAZERS WIN OVER THE MAVERICKS, 84-82 (GAME 4)

Video: RECAP OF GRIZZLIES WIN OVER THE SPURS, 91-88 (GAME 3)

Video: RECAP OF THUNDER WIN OVER THE NUGGETS, 97-94 (GAME 3)

Video: RECAP OF PACERS WIN OVER THE BULLS, 89-84 (GAME 4)

CAPSULE: JAMAL CRAWFORD OF THE HAWKS - GAME 3

(AP Photo).

Who says miracle don't happen? Jamal Crawford of the Atlanta Hawks just did the unthinkable. With the shot clock downed to its dying seconds and the Hawks just up by a precarious solitary point, Crawford buried a 30-foot banked shot off the outstretched arm of defender Jameer Nelson with 5.7 ticks to go in the game that all but wrapped up game three of their first round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, 88-84. The win gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Video: RECAP OF CELTICS WIN OVER THE KNICKS, 113-96 (GAME 3)

Video: RECAP OF LAKERS WIN OVER THE HORNETS, 100-86 (GAME 3)

Video: RECAP OF HAWKS WIN OVER THE MAGIC, 88-84 (GAME 3)

NO STOPPING THE HEAT CHARGE

The Miami Heat are dead serious in making a statement in this year’s playoffs. Long maligned all season, the South Beach outfit is now making those critics look like fools following their 100-94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in game three of their first round Eastern Conference playoff series and build an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven tiff. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 75 big points to move within a game of sweeping the series and advance to the second round. The Heat battered the Sixers off the boards, 50-34, and continued not to concede a single 100-point game to the Sixers in the series. James says the Heat is on a mission and he feels confident of closing out the series in game four, according to the Associated Press.

“We’re a desperate team right now.  We want to continue to play that way. D-Wade had an unbelievable game and we’re ready to close it out.”

LIFE GOES ON FOR JERRY SLOAN

Is there satisfaction in life after basketball? Yes indeed, there really is, just ask Jerry Sloan. After 23 straight years as head coach of the Utah Jazz, Sloan suddenly shocked the hoops world when he resigned last February. Now, the Hall-of-Famer is enjoying life in the real world and lot of things has kept him busy even as he celebrated his 69^th birthday last month. Sloan says he has not missed basketball since leaving the Jazz and he enjoys being with his family more than ever, according to Yahoo! Sports.

“I haven't missed basketball, because I've been busy. And I haven't really had a chance to think about that much. I'm just kind of living life day-to-day. It's strange, but I've never done this before. Just relax, enjoy myself, visit with my kids. I'm a pretty simple guy. It doesn't take a lot to entertain me. I haven't watched a lot of basketball.”

Video: RECAP OF TRAIL BLAZERS WIN OVER THE MAVERICKS, 97-92 (GAME 3)

Video: RECAP OF BULLS WIN OVER THE PACERS, 88-84 (GAME 3)

Video: RECAP OF HEAT WIN OVER THE 76ERS, 100-94 (GAME 3)

NOBODY BUT GINOBILI

(AP Photo)

When the Western Conference top-seed San Antonio Spurs dropped a shocking loss in game one to the last-seed Memphis Grizzlies, pundits kept pointing to one missing factor for the Spurs: Manu Ginobili. The 33-year-old Argentine ageless wonder missed the series opener due to a badly-sprained right elbow. Until game-time of the second game, Ginobili remains a big question mark but the Spurs can not afford another defeat that will put them in a hole with games 3 and 4 scheduled in Elvisland. Ginobili did return and what a factor he was as he pumped in 17 big points and helped the Spurs win, 93-87 to level up their series at one game apiece. Ginobili says he was uncomfortable with the brace that he wore to protect his injured elbow but that did not stop him from dishing out a decent game enough for the Spurs to win, according to Yahoo! Sports.

“It was uncomfortable. But I felt I did OK. I took some risk. I went for some steals and rebounds and it wasn’t that I played worried about getting hit or something. I haven’t played in 10 days. It’s not that much, but when you come from 80 games, playing every other game, I was a little rusty. Hopefully by the next one, I’ll feel better. Used to wearing the thing (brace). Truth is I didn’t feel I was having a good offensive game.”

Video: RECAP OF SPURS WIN OVER THE GRIZZLIES, 93-87 (GAME 2)

Video: RECAP OF THUNDER WIN OVER THE NUGGETS, 106-89 (GAME 2)

Video: RECAP OF LAKERS WIN OVER THE HORNETS, 87-78 (GAME2)

Video: RECAP OF CELTICS WIN OVER THE KNICKS, 96-93 (GAME 2)

Video: RECAP OF MAVERICKS WIN OVER THE TRAIL BLAZERS, 101-89 (GAME 2)

Video: RECAP OF MAGIC WIN OVER THE HAWKS, 88-82 (GAME 2)

POOR OFFICIATING ROBBED NUGGETS OF A WIN IN SERIES-OPENER

(Getty Images).

Now it can be told. In what is suppose to be an exciting game one between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets in the first round Western Conference series had turned out into a tainted one following a big officiating blunder in the final moments of the game won by the Thunder, 107-103. A basket by Thunder big man Kendrick Perkins was counted in by the officials even though it was very clear that Perkins committed an offensive basket interference. The basket gave the Thunder a two-point lead going into the last minute of the ballgame. The NBA had issued a statement confirming the crucial officiating let-down, according to the league’s official website.

“Kendrick Perkins was improperly credited with a basket that should have been ruled offensive basket interference with 1:05 remaining in last night’s game. Although a player is permitted to touch the net while the ball is in the cylinder above the rim, Perkins also touched the ball while it was still in the cylinder which is a violation and constitutes goaltending.”

D-ROSE SCORING IS CRUCIAL TO BULLS CAMPAIGN

The Chicago Bulls has become a one-man wrecking crew in their opening round series against the Indiana Pacers. Derrick Rose is averaging an astonishing 37.5 points per game or an equivalent of nearly 40% of the Bulls scoring average in their two wins. Pundits believe this is dangerous because of the predictability in the offensive game of the Bulls but Chicago head coach Tim Thibodeu has no plans of changing the team’s strategy. He strongly believes that the scoring of Rose remains their strongest point in the playoffs, according to the Bulls official website.

“The game dictates the scoring. He’s the primary scorer. The ball is in his hands a lot. We need him to score and he’s done it. Now he’s playing more (minutes) than in the regular season, so he’ll get more opportunities to score. I’m comfortable with his decision making. He’s the leader. He’s earned everything he’s gotten. He runs our team great and I think he wants the challenge.

“It’s the playoffs. Wins are hard to come by. They’re a good team. I want us to play better. I want us to improve. But you have to give them credit, also. We’re not going to change our approach.”

DEFENSE PROPELS HEAT TO GREATER HEIGHTS

With the celebrated trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, it is normal to expect a fiery offensive game for the Miami Heat in their first round playoff duel with the Philadelphia 76ers. But hey, their 2-0 lead can all be accredited to their monster defensive game. Just look at the scores of the first two games, 97-89 and 94-73. The Heat’s switching defense left the Sixers struggling bigtime in their offensive attack. Wade says the Heat had always been a defensive-minded team even before he, James and Bosh arrived in South Beach, according to CBS Sports. 

“We have a staple here in Miami since I've been here and before I got here they always preached defense. It's a philosophy. It's every man to help their brothers out. The defense is all about being on a string and even when we wasn't as good offensively as a lot of teams, even the last couple of years were one of the top defensive teams in the league.

“Our defense always gave us a chance to win. So now add talent to that on the offensive end and then defensively, good defenders to our scheme. It took a little while for it to come together because everyone had to get used to what we were doing and I think we are one of the best defensive teams in the league.”

END OF THE LINE FOR THE WHITE CHOCOLATE

With his fancy game of breath-taking court-to-court passes and incredible playmaking abilities, Jason Williams will be best remembered as one of the most colorful point guards in NBA history. Williams, who is popularly known as the “White Chocolate”, was part of the showtime era with the Sacramento Kings together with Chris Webber from 1998 to 2001. The 6-1, former University of Florida star, who was the 7th pick over-all of the Kings in the 1998 draft, compiled career averages of 10.5 ppg, 5.9 apg and 2.3 rpg in 788 total games with the Kings, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies (twice). He was a member of the 2006 Heat championship squad. Williams has finally called it a day after playing 27 games this season with the Magic and The Grizzlies, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

“Point guard Jason Williams announced his retirement Monday, ending his 12-year NBA career and a brief reunion with the Grizzlies this season. 

“Williams, 35, signed with Memphis as a free agent on Feb. 7 but missed the team's final 17 regular-season games with a sore lower back. In addition to two stints with the Griz, Williams played for the Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. The 6-1 guard won the 2006 NBA Championship with Miami.”

NO NEW STRATEGY FOR THE CELTICS

(Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics are currently showing the way against the New York Knicks, two games to nil in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference first round playoff series. The first two games were nip-and-tuck affair and could have gone either way but the Beantown outfit proved to be the better team in the clutch. Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is happy that his boys followed their game plan to the letter. Rivers says he did not made any adjustments during the two games even though they were nail-biters, according to ESPN Boston.

“We didn't do anything different; we just did what we should have been doing. We didn't make one defensive adjustment the entire game. But if you looked at the two halves, you would have said, 'Man, they changed a lot.”

STEADY IN THE CLUTCH

(Getty Images)

End-game woes is a perennial problem for the Dallas Mavericks in past playoffs. But that was before. The Mavericks has now improved tremendously in this year’s edition of the post-season play. They are currently leading the dangerous Portland Trail Blazers, 2-0 in their best-of-seven first round series. And twice they out-gunned and out-hustled the Rose City outfit in the clutch to win, 89-81 and 101-89 at home.  Mavericks star forward Dirk Nowitzki says their improvement can be the result of what they have been working on during the last two weeks of the regular season and that is to become much steadier in the final quarter, according to ESPN Dallas.

“That's what we've been working on the last couple weeks of the season. Sometimes we lost our composure there in the fourth quarters when the games got tight. We can't do that in the playoffs. We've got to stick together.”

CHICAGO FEELS THE PRESSURE

Even though the Chicago Bulls are up 2-0 against the much-improved Indiana Pacers, they are now feeling the pressure of being the top dogs in the playoffs. And unless they finish the job well, coach Tim Thibodeau and his charges will feel how lonely life can be as the other teams go after them night after night. It is like a “You and Me against the World” scenario for the league’s top-seeded squad. Bulls superstar Derrick Rose says his team must be efficient in each game to attain their goal of winning every playoff series, according to the Sporting News.

“We’re happy to be here. But our play has to be better. We have to be smoother, more efficient.”

A TERROR IN THE PAINT

During the start of the season, Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh was reluctant to play more minutes at the center position. But in their current first round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bosh has become a terror in the paint while playing the slot for the Heat. Bosh is submitting impressive norms of 23.0 ppg and 11.5 rpg in the first two games of the Sixers series. Bosh admitted his fear in playing center during the regular season but says he is now comfortable manning the five position in the playoffs, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“It just took some time to get comfortable to it. At first, I was kind of frightened. I didn't really want to play the five. I know I've said that a bunch of times. It's just a matter of building chemistry with that lineup because some things are going to be a little different.”

ENTER THE DRAGONS

(ABL Photo).

Internal conflicts within its country's basketball organization cost the Chang Thailand Slammers, the recently-crowned ASEAN Basketball League champions, to represent the ABL in the forthcoming 22nd FIBA Asia Champions Challenge Cup in Manila on May 28 to June 5. Due to said conflicts, FIBA, the World’s governing body for basketball, has temporarily suspended Thailand from participating in FIBA-recognized events. With the Slammers out of the picture, the ABL will now be represented by the Westports Kuala Lumpur Dragons. The Philippines as host country will be bannered by its National team, Smart Gilas, and that prevented the participation of ABL runner-ups, the Philippine Patriots, as only one team per nation is allowed in the tournament, according to ABL’s official website.

“Discussions between Kuhan Foo, CEO of the ABL and FIBA Asia led to the election of the Westports KL Dragons as the new representatives for the region in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup. The Dragons ended the regular season ranked 3rd in the ABL having fielded one of the strongest squads in the league. 

 

“The 2nd placed AirAsia Philippine Patriots were excluded from the selection as only 1 team is allowed per country. The Philippines will already be represented by the Smart Gilas, who would be representing the host nation for the tournament.”

Video: LOOKING BACK - TOP MVP CANDIDATE DERRICK ROSE OF THE BULLS

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Video: SUPERMAN WINS 3RD DEFENSIVE POY AWARD

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VOGEL MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN INDIANA

Despite losing the first two games of their opening round best-of-seven series against the Eastern Conference top seed, the Chicago Bulls, the Indiana Pacers has raised not a few eyebrows with their gutsy showing. Those two defeats were close ones and could have gone either way. In the first place, nobody expected the Pacers to gate-crash this year’s post-season play. But thanks largely to the coaching prowess of interim head coach Frank Vogel, the Pacers finished the regular season winning 20 of their last 38 games or since the time Vogel took over from the fired Jim O’Brien. Vogel, who is currently the youngest head coach in the NBA at 37, says he knows the Pacers can play with the Bulls heads-up but he also noted that they have to play 48 minutes not 47, 46 or 45 of consistent basketball to win, according to FOX59 Sports.

“We felt lousy we lost the game, but we are encouraged, we know we're a good basketball team and we know we can play with this team.  We played a great basketball game for 45 minutes, and they got the best of us down the stretch.”

Video: RECAP OF BULLS WIN OVER THE PACERS, 96-90 (GAME 2)

Video: RECAP OF HEAT WIN OVER THE 76ERS, 94-73 (GAME 2)

MIKE MILLER: KEY TO HEAT TITLE DRIVE

Role players will spell the difference in a long post-season play. If a team plays all four best-of-seven series to the limit, that will be a total of 28 grueling games en route to the championship. The stars will definitely need help from everybody just to sustain the much-needed momentum towards a title run. That is what veteran sharp-shooter Mike Miller brings to the Miami Heat. With all the focus on defense concentrated on Miami’s deadly trio of Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, role players like Miller could be considered as the x-factor. Miller, who has not won a single playoff series in his pro career, certainly loves his role in the Heat line-up and adds that there are lot of positive things a role player can bring to a team, according to the Sporting News.

“I don’t think role player necessarily means you’re not any good. There are role players who can do a lot of things. But at the same time, we’ve got to be able to be accountable for what we’re supposed to do on the floor. With D-Wade, LeBron and C.B., they’re going to ask us to do different things than they’d ask us to do on different teams. Those are our roles. It doesn’t mean we’re not any good.”

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Video: RECAP OF HORNETS WIN OVER THE LAKERS, 109-100 (GAME ONE)