Miami 109 Indiana 100
Two-Point Pct: Miami 44%, Indiana 51%
Three-Pointers: Miami 18/35, Indiana 12/34
Free Throws: Miami 19/28, Indiana 16/20
Rebounds: Miami 41, Indiana 38
Turnovers: Miami 16, Indiana 16
Pace: 98.9
Pointspread: Miami by 4, total of 217
Though the final score was very similar to the opener’s 113-101, Indiana actually increased its defensive intensity. They knocked Miami down from 59% to 44% inside the arc, and forced 16 turnovers instead of nine. But, the Heat shot lights out on treys in a way that trumped all that anyway. Pace jumped about seven possessions, so Indiana’s defensive efficiency mark improved from 122.7 to 110.2 even with all Miami’s treys. Looks like it will take Indiana’s best defensive effort AND a sub-par three-point performance from the Heat for the Pacers to earn a victory in this series. Very hard to see Indiana rallying to win four of the last five games to advance.
Houston 111 Oklahoma City 98
Two-Point Pct: OKC 51%, Houston 54%
Three-Pointers: OKC 11/32, Houston 19/56
Free Throws: OKC 17/19, Houston 16/18
Rebounds: OKC 48, Houston 41
Turnovers: OKC 13, Houston 7
Pace: 91.8 (slow)
Pointspread: Houston by 2, total of 226
Another win and double-digit cover for the Rockets, even though James Harden was a virtual non-entity until late (finishing with 21 points, scoring nine in the final 4:31). Houston’s 3P shooting regressed from the 38% mark in Game 1 to 33.9%, but they took 56 attempts!
Houston once again did a great job of protecting the ball (only 7 turnovers in each game). Series has been played at a slower-than-expected pace, with 98.5 possessions in Game 1, but only 91.8 today. It makes sense that the Rockets are thriving offensively, especially in the halfcourt. Remember these numbers?
They told us that the pace for Houston slowed down, but their offensive efficiency went up when Harden played without Westbrook. That has held true as they averaged 1.2 points per possession overall, 1.04 per play in the halfcort. That’s a really solid mark. I’m a firm believer that they need Westbrook to make a run, but not to win this series.
Milwaukee 111 Orlando 96
Two-Point Pct: Orlando 43%, Milwaukee 56%
Three-Pointers: Orlando 7/33, Milwaukee 15/41
Free Throws: Orlando 27/31, Milwaukee 12/16
Rebounds: Orlando 42, Milwaukee 57
Turnovers: Orlando 11, Milwaukee 20
Pace: 102.9
Pointspread: Milwaukee by 12.5, total of 226.5
Milwaukee’s point total only rose from 110 points in Game 1 to 111 in Game 2, even though the Bucks’ scoreboard margin flipped from -12 to +15. That’s because Milwaukee’s defense made an appearance. Orlando only managed a 93.2 offensive rating, a stark difference from 116.5 rating they posted on Tuesday. The 3P shooting regressed as we discussed last game, as the Magic sank nine fewer treys.
Milwaukee still needs to work on their offensive execution. They were averaging just 1.07 points per possession today, and through two games that rating is 1.06 per possession. The 20 turnovers don’t help. The offense will have to execute more effectively in later rounds vs. better competition than the Magic.
LA Lakers 111, Portland 88
Two-Point Pct: Portland 46%, Lakers 56%
Three-Pointers: Portland 8/29, Lakers 14/38
Free Throws: Portland 12/16, Lakers 9/10
Rebounds: Portland 41, Lakers 50
Turnovers: Portland 17, Lakers 14
Pace: 95.3
Pointspread: Lakers by 6.5, total of 229.5
Los Angeles took command early thanks to a stellar defense, and didn’t take their foot off the gas until the fourth quarter. Through two games in the series Portland is averaging just 94.5 points every 100 possessions! The Lakers were opportunistic too, forcing 17 turnovers. That is impressive in a slow-tempo 95-possession game. Los Angeles is isn’t allowing many easy baskets inside either, limiting Portland to 16/27 (59.3%) at the rim.
The Lakers were wildly better from the arc, going 14/38 (36.8%) from deep. It’s hard to be worse than what they posted in Game 1, but for a team that is a 34.9% shooting team they’ll take it. If they continue to play defense like this then that’s a perfectly reasonable shooting percentage.
Other than that, this was an absolute laugher. Suggests a high ceiling when everything clicks. How often will everything click the next several weeks?
Also, Damian Lillard dislocated his left index finger when it made contact with Anthony Davis’ foot. It doesn’t seem like he will miss time, but if he does do the Trail Blazers win another game in this series?
Hardwood Handicappers 