2014 NBA Playoffs, Day 12

Slowly but surely, the first round is edging toward a conclusion.

Miami and Washington are already through.  The Hawks have a lead on top-seeded Indiana.  And there was a tie broken in the other East series Wednesday.

The West, on the other hand, is still looking murky.

First up, Dallas vs. San Antonio.

Just like that, the series is headed back to Dallas with the Spurs ahead.

I guess it's inevitable that the Spurs would take control of this.  Duncan and Splitter made sure of that with their complementary lines.

What's troublesome is that San Antonio played so well in the first half and still ended up giving up the lead.  And the final score was close; much closer than it ought to have been, for sure.

Still, San Antonio has more better players.  Kawhi Leonard is still developing, yet he appears to be well on his way.  And Danny Green didn't get a lot of playing time (likely due to issues on defense and someone having to sit to get Ginobili on the floor), but the guy can shoot.  That's been proven already.

San Antonio leads 3-2.  Game 6 is Friday.

Next, Brooklyn vs. Toronto.

Brooklyn was in a hole the entire game, until they put up an astounding 44 points in the fourth.

Of course, that hole was too large, and the Nets lost by two.

It seems like Toronto is really playing with fire.  They'll have to be much sharper if they move on to play Miami.  At least, if they want to give the two-time defending champs any kind of run for their money.

Even with the late-game heroics, this series is the one that I care about (and thus watch) the least.

Toronto leads 3-2.  Game 6 is Friday.

Finally, Portland vs. Houston.

Who's that bearded man making shots for the Rockets?

Why, that's James Harden!

I won't say he's finally out of the wilderness; he was merely 5-15 shooting, after all.  But I think we can conclude from tonight that he's taking the first steps to get out of the horrendous ...whatever this is that he's been in the first four games of this series.

Dwight Howard continued his consistently excellent play, despite foul trouble. Omer Asik fouled out but still made his mark on the game.

But even with Aldridge disappearing for a night, Portland still made it tough on the Rockets.  And that has to be a concern, no matter how well Harden, Howard et al played.  When Wesley Matthews is making jumpers and Robin Lopez is routinely getting to the rim (and getting fouled, thanks refs), problems remain.

Oh, well, I suppose those are problems for another day.  On Wednesday, the Rockets won to stay alive.  They head back to Portland more confident, I would think.  Even without much from Patrick Beverley, who I hope is feeling better by the time Game 6 tips off.  The team needs his toughness and hustle for sure.

Portland leads 3-2.  Game 6 is Friday.

Later today, Game 6 in Atlanta, Memphis, and Golden State.  Atlanta, Memphis, and Los Angeles can move on to the second round if they win.