NBA Playoffs Heating Up!

I'll start with this. Yesterday's NBA action brought more excitement than the entire 2009 NCAA Tournament. 3 of the 4 games were decided by 3 points or less, and the other game, you got to see more Lebron James domination.

Bulls even series at 2 with dramatic double overtime victory against Celtics

Once this game went to the first overtime, it was already considered the most exciting series of the first round (I think Orlando/Philly might have something to say about that now). Up 3 with time running out, Chicago had the game won in regulation but then decided not to cover Ray Allen. Allen nailed a wide open 3 point bomb to tie the game and send it to overtime. Remember Allen won Game 2 for Boston on a last second 3.

In the first OT, the Celtics went up by 5. Chicago hung in there and where down 3 with 9 seconds left. Boston was looking to foul but somehow Ben Gordon was able to get an open look and bury the tying 3 pointer.

The second OT, Chicago never trailed. John Salmons finished with 20 points including hitting 4-4 from the foul line in the last 26 seconds. Down 3, Boston still had a chance to tie the game. But it was Salmons again coming up big blocking Paul Pierce's 3 point shot to end the game as the Bulls held on, 121-118.

The Bulls had all 7 players who took a shot score in double figures.

Derrick Rose finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, but also had 7 turnovers.

Rajon Rondo, looking like the best player in green, had his second triple double of the series-25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

End of an Era as Pistons swept by Cavs

For the last 6 years, Detroit has been in the Eastern Conference Finals. This year is a changing of the guard as the Piston's were barely a bug hitting the windshield on Lebron and the Cavs' drive to the Finals.

Cleveland played Game 4 like the previous 3, they won by double digits. There may have been more Cavs' fans at The Palace in Auburn Hills as Cleveland won 99-78.

For the series, Lebron James averaged 32 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists.

This was also probably the last game for Rasheed Wallace as a Piston.

Orlando blows another lead, Turkoglu's 3 bails them out

Here's what we've had in the other exciting first round series:

Game 1 was Andre Iguodala.
Game 3 was Thaddeus Young.
And Game 4 was Hedo Turkoglu and Orlando's turn for last second magic.

If we've learned anything from this series, it's no lead is safe, Dwight Howard can actually hit free throws, and chances are, the game is gonna come down to the final seconds.

Orlando led by 10 points with 4:30 remaining in the game. Then Philly went on a 12-2 run and tied the game at 81 on Samuel Dalembert's easy bucket with just under 15 seconds left.

Orlando had the last shot and it was Hedo Turkoglu's 3 point shot that gave the Magic a 84-81 win and tie the series at 2 apiece.

Rockets lose early lead, comeback to survive Game 4

Houston was finally able to get their big man back into the series. After going perfect in Game 1, Yao Ming had not been nearly as dominant in Games 2 and 3.

Yao came back in Game 4 with a solid performance as the Rockets held off the Trailblazers, 89-88 to go up 3-1. Yao finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

The Rockets were up 50-44 at halftime, but lost the lead as Portland finished the third quarter on a 13-1 run to go up 70-64 after three.

Offensive rebounds and second chance points were key for the Rockets in this game, especially in the 4th quarter. Shane Battier hit a couple of three's to put Houston ahead for good. Battier was huge with 14 points, 8 boards, 6 assists and shot 4-6 from downtown. Houston as a team was 9-16 from downtown compared to Portland's 7-15 from behind the arc.

After averaging 20.3 ppg through the first 3 games, Aaron Brooks was a no show with only 5 points. In fact Rick Adelman kept Brooks on the bench a good chunk of the game. Brooks and Kyle Lowry both played 24 minutes. Neither really helped their team as Lowry finished with just 4 points on 1-6 shooting.

Brandon Roy again led all scorers with 31 points. He was 13-13 from the charity stripe. But he was the only one getting to the line for the Trailblazers, as they were 17-17 as a team, Roy getting 13 of the 17 foul shots.

Yao Ming has been dominant against Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla. The two Portland centers have been almost nonexistent. Last night they combined for 4 points on 2-3 shooting and 15 reboudns. Oden had no points and 3 rebounds alone.

Roy Leads Blazers To Even Series

The Portland Trailblazers adjusted from Game 1's blowout loss. The adjustment, stop Yao Ming. Ming got into trouble early in the 3rd quarter and Portland was just barely able to take advantage.

After going perfect in Game 1, Yao only attempted 6 shots in Game 2 and finished with just 11 points, as the Blazers were able to hold on to a 107-103 victory.

The series is now even at one apiece with Game 3 Friday night at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Brandon Roy led Portland with 42 points, tying Clyde Drexler for second place for most points in Blazer franchise history.

Drexler actually was courtside providing commentary for Houston's local affiliate. Drexler and the rest of the Houston press criticized the officiating throughout the entire game. True, the game was called a lot tighter than Game 1 and even seemed to favor the hometown Blazers, but Yao Ming allowing attempting 6 shots the entire game was the difference and had nothing to do with the officiating.

I could call out the officiating too, saying it was definitely one sided in favor of Portland, but I'm just not going to that. It was. And I could give you many examples.

At halftime, Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge had 35 of Portland's 53 points. When it was said and done, the duo accounted for 69 of the team's 107 points.

Von Wafer provide a huge spark off the bench for the Rockets, finished with 21 points. Ron Artest was hot from the start. He had 15 points in the first half, but was failed to show in the second when his team needed him most, scoring just 4 points.

After scoring just 2 points in the first half, Game 1 hero Aaron Brooks awoke in the second putting up 21. Shane Battier failed to show on both ends of the court with only 3 points on 1-2 from the field.

Both teams shot just over 50% for the game.

Yao Perfect As Rockets Blast Blazers

This was maybe the most anticipated series of the Playoffs. But in Game 1, the young Blazers looked way overmatched.

Yao Ming was perfect from the field going 9-9 and 6-6 from the foul line. Ming finished with 24 points and 9 rebounds while playing only 24 minutes as the Rockets cruised, 108-81.

The Blazers combo of Greg Oden and Joel "the Vanilla Gorilla" Przybilla were both overmatched and had no answer for Yao. Yao scored 9 of Houston's first 11 points and the Rockets never looked back from there.

Houston took the hostile crowd out of the game early as the Rockets went up 34-23 at the end of the first quarter. Houston shot 75% from the field in the first.

The Rockets were so dominant, that really didn't even need Yao in the second half. Dikembe Mutumbo put in some solid play off the bench grabbing 9 rebounds and blocking 2 shots.

And what a homecoming it was for Aaron Brooks. Brooks finished with 27 points and 7 assists, both game highs. Brooks also shot 5-8 from 3 point land.

For the game, the Rockets shot nearly 59% from the floor, compared to 42% for the Blazers.

Portland was a lethal 3 point shooting team on the season, but were only 1-11! last night.