Day 14 of the NBA Playoffs was exemplified by intense and dramatic failure.
First up, Toronto vs. Brooklyn.
I swear, they're doing this just to piss us off.
Okay, so it's not new that I'm not a fan of this series and have watched about :30 of it total before switching the channel in disgust.
Somehow, the Raptors have a decided advantage in guard play. And yet, they lost by 14 in Brooklyn, which means they go back home to play Game 7. They won't even have the advantage there, because Pierce and Garnett, being the world-weary veterans that they are, will most likely be raring to go.
Ugh. The last thing I want to see is a Brooklyn/Miami second round series. That just has trouble written all over it.
Also, I really dislike it when teams have a golden opportunity to win a series and instead fold like a cheap suit. It happened two nights ago with Atlanta and last night was the same nonsense.
The series is tied 3-3. Game 7 is Sunday.
Next, San Antonio vs. Dallas.
Basically, more of the same.
One notable difference is that San Antonio was close late, yet somehow inexplicably managed to screw everything up with seconds to go. This is not something we expect the Spurs to do; despite their lack of a title since 2007, no one expects them to lose close and late, especially against Dallas. It might be acceptable, or at least understandable, against a team like Miami or OKC. But not Dallas. Not this Dallas team, at least.
That aside, I like the Spurs again in Game 7. I mean, honestly, anything else would be foolhardy.
I hope I didn't just jinx them.
The series is tied 3-3. Game 7 is Sunday.
Finally, Houston vs. Portland.
These recaps will be posted as normal. But I've been up late writing them, as I alluded to at the top, because of a three-pointer hit by Damian Lillard.
The game was going well enough for the Rockets. As usual, they'd take a lead and then lose it almost immediately after. However, Harden was incredibly efficient, quite unlike the rest of the games in this series. And then Howard took over in the fourth, though he missed four free throws that could have changed the complexion of the game.
There was even that possession with seconds to go where Harden basically iso'd the team into OT...and yet, Parsons ended up with the ball and hit the reverse layup that should have sent this series to Game 7.
Then everything fell apart.
Portland took a timeout to advance the ball. The Rockets came out with a bad defensive scheme, despite the timeout, and took one of their own. Now with Howard on Aldridge and Terrence Jones on the inbounder, things were looking solid. Parsons was covering Lillard and all looked well.
Then the ball was inbounded and Lillard hit a dagger three to end the game and the series.
And as a Rockets fan, I was just...deflated.
Yes, that's how the season ends. A made three-pointer from well behind the line when only :0.9 was on the clock. Ugh.
Obviously, this iteration of the Rockets was not good enough. The conclusion of their season in the first round of the playoffs is evidence enough of that. But to have their season end like that...yeesh.
I'm not even sure what they can do in the wake of that shot. I suspect that it'll take weeks, or even months.
Portland wins the series 4-2. They move on to the second round.
Later today, Game 7 in Indiana, Oklahoma City, and Los Angeles. With any luck, I won't have my guts ripped out three more times. Ugh.
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