Playoffs Recap: The Ray Allen Effect
Apr 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Ray Allen (34) drives to the basket as Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson (9) defends in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
You forget about Ray Allen until you need Ray Allen. The Miami Heat did not need him until the second half. In the first half they were blasé and casual as they exerted just enough energy. Even they know the Nets are not a threat. But Mira Teletovich had himself quite a first half for Brooklyn. He made five three pointers and created spacing for the Nets on the inside. Teletovich, a streaky shooter from Bosnia, was in one of his zones and when that happens the Nets trick you into thinking they can compete with the Heat. Paul Pierce had a couple of threes and Joe Johnson had the shots he wanted. Lebron James barely broke a sweat as the Nets have given up on defending him with any sort of grit. Lebron did whatever he wanted to do until the fourth quarter when his shots rattled in and out. In the second half the Nets were abysmal on offense. Deron Wlliams was 0-9 for the game. It was all the opportunity Ray Allen needed. He scored 13 points in the second half, he chased down rebounds and turned a one point deficit into a double digit lead. The Nets were tough inside, Kevin Garnett was big for them on the offensive boards but if they weren’t making threes the rest of their game was mediocre. Joe Johnson had 13 points but he took 14 shots. The Nets missed 6 free throws. 82 points scored will win zero games in the NBA playoffs. Miami 94 Brooklyn 82.
May 8, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball as Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and center Robin Lopez (center) defend in game two of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
San Antonio 114 Portand 97: The Blazers had the right energy and it was a close game in the first quarter. But the Blazers bench has been terrible all year. The Spurs went on a huge run starting in the second quarter and never looked back. They scored 41 points in the quarter. They had crisp passing and incredible shooting- some of them open shots- behind the three point line. By half the Spurs were up 19. They had scored 70 points on the Blazers woeful defense. In the 4th quarter the Blazers made a small comeback. LaMarcus Aldridge who had struggled all night made shots down the stretch but the Blazers could not get stops. The lead was eight with five minutes left. But the Blazers had no answer for Tony Parker or for anyone else that mattered. So the lead mushroomed to double digits. And that was that. The Spurs up 2-0 in the series. Nicolas Batum had 21 points and 9 rebounds. Damian Lillard had 19 points. But it wasn’t enough.