Boston Celtics
 

The Boston Celtics just need to play the same way they played in Game 3. There are definitely no complaints on my end on how fluid the Celtics were. Paul Pierce finally got back on his feet and started his usual scoring. Rajon Rondo was finally taking the shots he needed to take in Game 3 and he is just an assist maestro. Kevin Garnett definitely had a great game. All these were keys to winning Game 3 and they will be the same keys. Ray Allen will need to help out Paul Pierce with the scoring if Pierce shows a bit of inconsistency in Game 4, though.
 

Philadelphia 76ers
 

I feel like the Sixers played with their heads down in Game , figuratively speaking. Once the lead was in double-digits and the Celtics kept pounding them, they looked like they gave up. Igoudala has been the consistent player on this team, but he needs to get his game on the scoring end. Elton Brand will have to grab some boards and capitalize, if ever he grabs the offensive rebounds. Jrue Holiday will need to do a better job than how he played in Game 3. He needs a 23+ point outing with at least six assists.
 

Miami Heat
 

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade did not produce in the second half. Heck, Dwyane Wade failed in the first half. Honestly, without Chris Bosh, this team is nothing. They need that other scorer who can bring it every night. They also need a rebounder, but the Pacers are just able to outrebound the Heat big men. Although they found their other scorer in Mario Chalmers in Game 3, Dwyane Wade just could not get it going. Dwyane will have to bring his “A game” in Game 4 to avoid a 1-3 series deficit.
 

Indiana Pacers
 

I love the way the Indiana Pacers play. I feel like there are no star players on the team, although Danny Granger can arguably be their star player. The great thing about the Pacers is that everyone can be relied on, much like the San Antonio Spurs. Everybody knows their role and they accept the role, which is why they have been playing well. Darren Collison is an excellent player and can be a starter, but he has been producing off the bench. Their starters play well together, as well as their bench players. As long as the Pacers can keep this team play going, they can and most likely will take Game 4.
 

Los Angeles Lakers
 

The Lakers have shown they did adjust and corrected their mistakes they made in Game 1. Game 2 was an amazing game up until the two minute mark of the fourth quarter. The Lakers will need to share the ball. First, they need to pound it down low and let the big men work their magic in the paint. Kobe will be Kobe and jack up shots, but the big men need to be there to anticipate the rebounds. The more rebounds they get, the better chance they have to capitalize to create a big lead. The defenders will need to stop Harden and Westbrook and let Kevin Durant work alone. Metta World Peace is doing a great job on Kevin Durant, so if the Lakers can stop the Thunder “big three,” the Lakers will definitely win the game.
 

Oklahoma City Thunder
 

The big thing for the Thunder was they were jacking up shots and the shots were not even good looks. The Thunder need to set each other up. Durant can score and that’s a given. Westbrook can score and that’s a given. Harden can score and that’s a given. But they all need to either be set up or they will need the help from screens. The Thunder live and die by the jumps hot and if their jump shot is off, they can suffer a loss. The main key is to share the ball and wait for the set up to score.
 

Los Angeles Clippers
 

Like Game 1, the Clippers stuck with the Spurs in the first half. At least, way better than they did in Game 1. The second half was horrendous and the Spurs took over. In Game 3, the Clippers will need to rebound. Blake Griffin only recorded one rebound. Chris Paul will need to get going as he has been very awful in Games 1 and 2. In Game 3, Paul will need to score, assist more than five times, and protect the ball. Seven turnovers is not acceptable on any given night. The Clippers will need to work as a team to beat these Spurs.
 

San Antonio Spurs
 

Tony Parker played a whole lot better in Game 2 and it seems as if he will be back in his rhythm for Game 3. The Spurs work very well as a team. The team is so skilled, anybody can be a killer. Danny Green and Boris Diaw really stepped it up, as Manu Ginobili only scored 10 points from the bench. The Spurs play great basketball and the only key is to keep playing. After all, what more do they need to fix or change? They’re on a surging 16-game win streak.
 

(2) Miami Heat vs (3) Indiana Pacers
 

Quick Breakdown of the Game
 

Miami was firing on all cylinders in the first quarter and they played great defense on the Indiana Pacers. At the end of the first quarter, the Heat led the Pacers by nine, 26-17. In the second quarter, it was the Indiana Pacers who played like how the Miami Heat played in the first quarter. The Pacers shot the ball well and denied some shots from the Miami Heat. At the end of two, the game was tied at 43. The third quarter was all about the Pacers. Indiana were playing great team basketball and their defense was phenomenal as they held the Heat to only 12 points, while they scored 26. The fourth quarter was horrendous for the Heat. The Pacers kept a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter and the starters of both teams took seats on the bench with less than three minutes left to go in the game. The Pacers took Game 3 by 19, 94-75 and they take a 2-1 surprising series lead over the Miami Heat.
 

Miami Heat Top Performers
 

LeBron James collected 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Mario Chalmers led the Heat with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block.
 

Indiana Pacers Top Performers
 

David West scored 14 points and 9 rebounds. Danny Granger had a stat line of 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. George Hill scored 20 points and 5 assists. Roy Hibbert had an amazing game with 19 points and grabbed a career high of 18 rebounds.
 

What to Dwell On?
 

The Pacers take Game 3 and are now ahead 2-1. Is this surprising, considering the excellence of the Miami Heat? Will Dwyane Wade step it up and have a big night next game?
 

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers
 

Quick Breakdown of the Game
 

The Spurs took an early double-digit lead, but Clippers managed to go on a small run to get back into the game. The Spurs led the Clippers by eight after one, 29-21. The Clippers did better in the second quarter. Their defense was quite swell on the Spurs. Los Angeles held the Spurs to only 17 points and the Clippers, as a team, managed to scored 21 points. After two points, the Clippers trailed by four, 46-42. Early in the third quarter, the Spurs pushed their lead back to double-digits, but the Clippers hung in there for a good part of the quarter. With less than two minutes to go, the Clippers trailed again by 11. The end of the third quarter was quite back and forth between the two teams. The defense of both teams was a bit weak, leading both teams to score easily. At the end of three, the Spurs led the Clippers by 11, 78-67. The Spurs just took over the fourth quarter and did not give the Clippers a chance to make a come back. The Spurs won the game by __ and take a 2-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers.
 

Los Angeles Clippers Top Performers
 

Chris Paul scored 10 points on 4-9 shooting. Randy Foye scored 11 points on 4-7 shooting. Blake Griffin scored 20 points on 7-16 shooting.
 

San Antonio Spurs Top Performers
 

Manu Ginobili scored 10 points off the bench. Dany Green scored 13 points on 4-6 shooting. Boris Diaw scored 16 points on 7-7 shooting, 2-2 from beyond the arc. Tim Duncan scored 18 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Tony Parker recorded 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
 

What to Dwell On?
 

The Clippers are now down 0-2 and are headed back to Los Angeles. Will the Clippers get swept? Do they have what it takes to beat the Spurs in Los Angeles?
 

(4) Boston Celtics vs (8) Philadelphia 76ers
 

Quick Breakdown of the Game
 

Philadelphia came out quite strong in the first quarter, but the defense was a bit too light. Though the Sixers scored 33 points, they allowed the Boston Celtics to stick with them after one period with 28. The Boston Celtics turned it around 360 degrees and scored double the points they gave up to the Sixers. The Celtics were able to score 32 as they held the Sixers to only 16. It was the same story for the Celtics in the third period. They just controlled the game from that point. The Sixers scored 17 points in the third and gave up 29 points to the Celtics. At the end of three, the Celtics led the Sixers by 23, 89-66. The Celtics did let up in the fourth quarter, but they had a big lead. The Sixers ended up scoring 25 to a Celtics’ 18. The Celtics took the 2-1 series lead, winning the game by 16, 107-91.
 

Philadelphia 76ers Top Performers
 

Andre Igoudala scored 10 points on 3-6 shooting. Jodie Meeks and Lou Williams each scored 13 points. Jrue Holiday collected 15 points and 9 assists. Thaddeus Young led the Sixers with 22 points on 10-16 shooting.
 

Boston Celtics Top Performers
 

Brandon Bass was able to score 10 points. Mickael Pietrus scored 13 points on 4-8 shooting. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo all recorded double-doubles. Pierce collected 24 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Garnett recorded 27 points and 13 rebounds. Rajon Rondo recorded 23 points, 14 assists, and 6 rebounds.
 

What to Dwell On?
 

The Celtics just took the Sixers by storm and controlled the game from the second quarter to the end of the game. The Sixers did not give all their effort and let the Celtics run them out. Will the Sixers win another game if the Boston Celtics play with the energy they put out in Game 3?
 

(2)Oklahoma City Thunder vs (3) Los Angeles Lakers
 

Quick Breakdown of the Game
 

The game was very close for both teams. It seemed as if the Lakers were able to adjust and fix their mistakes they made from Game 1. The Lakers were able to stick with the Thunder in the first period and led the Thunder after one, 22-21. The Oklahoma City Thunder did a little bit better in the second period. They had the upper hand on the scoreboard heading into halftime. The Thunder led the Lakers by three, 48-45. The Lakers played much better defense in the third quarter, but they had their share of missed shots. The Lakers, though, were able to hold the Thunder to only 12 points while they scored 18. At the end of three, the Lakers led the Thunder by three, 63-60. In the fourth quarter, the Lakers were playing some great defense and pushed the lead up to six points with less than seven minutes remaining in the game. Kevin Durant was able to knock down an important three to cut the six point Laker lead to only three. The Thunder went on an 8-0 run to take the one point lead with 18 seconds left in the game. Thunder went on to win the game by two, 77-75.
 

Los Angeles Lakers Top Performers
 

Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant scored 20 points each. Pau Gasol recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
 

Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers
 

James Harden scored 13 points on 3-8 shooting from the bench. Russell Westbrook scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Kevin Durant recorded 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
 

What to Dwell On?
 

The Lakers did adjust their game very well against the Thunder. They had a good lead, but blew it in the final minutes of the game. Can the Lakers win Games 3 and 4, considering they have adjusted and they are at home?
 

As for Van Gundy, and who his replacement will be, it is unclear now who the Magic are targeting. Van Gundy is a very good coach and I’m not too certain that a lot of great upgrades out there. One name who will be floatedaround quite heavily after the presumed firing of Van Gundy, is former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. Members close to Howard’s camp have made it known that Howard would love Jackson in Orlando, and it just may be the sort of thing that will keep him from jumping ship.

(Via RantsSports)

But the summer will be more than just about plugging holes for the Grizzlies. They’ll have difficult decisions to make with six players entering free agency while trying to manage a payroll that will have little room under the luxury-tax threshold next season.
 

Memphis never solved their point guard situation, either, and Hollins preferred to play starter Mike Conley long minutes most nights rather than rely on rookies Jeremy Pargo and Josh Selby.
 

“I want a point guard who is quick and can guard somebody for as long as we need him to guard, and who can get us into some sort of offensive flow,” Hollins said.
 

Perhaps the biggest question is whether the Grizzlies are willing to or can re-sign restricted free agent O.J. Mayo, who has been considered their best outside threat the past two seasons. But Mayo struggled to adjust to the sixth man role. He also shot just 27 percent in the series against the Clippers.
 

Mayo stated he wants to play point guard going forward, and he’ll certainly be looking for a deal that pays more than the $5.6 million he earned this season. Despite obvious limitations on the ball and inconsistent shooting, what Mayo might command could be too steep for the Grizzlies.
 

Forward Rudy Gay acknowledged that he’ll gladly shift into recruitment mode.
 

“Hopefully, whoever we decide to go after will see the progress we made as a franchise and want to be a part of that,” Gay said. “If it comes to me talking to somebody into coming, I’ll do it. I’ve done it before.”
 

Before the free agent frenzy begins, they Griz must prepare for the draft next month.
 

The Grizzlies will select 25th after the Los Angeles Lakers won a tie-breaker that gave them the 24th pick. They don’t have a second-round pick because the Griz must send the Philadelphia 76ers their 54th selection to satisfy the trade for Speights.
 

(via Commercial Appeal)
 

Teams with cap room who could use a promising wing player and make things difficult for the Trail Blazers are the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
 

Those are some of the teams to keep an eye out for and the San Antonio Spurs would love to add Batum, but will have to get creative in order to land one of Tony Parker’s best friends.
 

The Trail Blazers have until June 30 to extend a qualifying offer of $5.4 million making him a restricted free agent. July 1 is the first day of free agency in which teams can negotiate with players but cannot sign until July 11.
 

(via CSN North West)
 

Cole spoke at Rush University Medical Center alongside Bulls general manager Gar Forman and head athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi.
 

“Derrick is doing great,” Cole said. “The surgery went really well. No surprises.”
 

Cole estimated that Rose would need eight to 12 months for a full recovery, and saw no reason why his performance should be diminished.
 

“It’s impossible to predict tomorrow,” Cole said. “Statistically, he should be that player and then some. That doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed.”
 

Asked if he knew what caused the injury, Cole said, “This could be anything from a completely random event to maybe conditioning. We’ll never know with certainty.”
 

He noted that Rose did not tear his medial collateral ligament, which made his preparation for surgery much smoother.
 

(via Chicago Tribune)
 

“Obviously, Tom’s option will be picked up,” Forman said. “And we started having conversations about an extension with him in the fall. And we hope to continue those discussions now that we’re in the offseason.
 

“Obviously we value Tom greatly. We value what he brings to the organization, what he’s brought to the team. We think he’s one of the finest coaches in the league and we’re hopeful he’ll be our coach long term.”
 

Reports during the season surfaced that Thibodeau, who was the fastest coach to 100 wins in NBA history, was upset that he didn’t already have an extension. He had no head coaching experience when the Bulls hired him before the 2010 season and signed him to a two-year contract with a team option for a third. He then earned Coach of the Year honors his first year and nearly became the first coach in NBA history to win the award in consecutive years.
 

(via ESPN Chicago)
 

Gilbert, who opened his new downtown casino Monday, said he plans to approach the league about hosting a future All-Star weekend. He hopes Cleveland would be able to get one “in the next few years.” The city last hosted the mid-season event in 1997, when the league celebrated its 50th anniversary.
 

Gilbert said Cleveland is again poised to hold such an event because of his casino as well as a downtown convention center under construction.
 

Houston is hosting next year’s game and New Orleans will have it in 2014 after also hosting in 2008. Gilbert noted that before the game was held in Orlando this year it was in a Western Conference city eight consecutive years.
 

(via Akron Beacon Journal Online)
 

When Carlisle arrived on the scene in 2008 as the successor to Avery Johnson, the roster included soon-to-be 30-year-olds in Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Shawn Marion, and a 35-year-old Jason Kidd. Wow, seems like spring chickens.
 

When Carlisle and the Mavs open training camp in October, the roster will include a 34-year-old Nowitzki and …?
 

Who else is the $81 million question, or the $108 million question — the amounts the Mavs or Brooklyn Nets will pay Deron Williams, respectively, whenever he chooses one over the other (interesting, of course, that Johnson coaches the Nets). Terry and Kidd are free agents and Marion isn’t guaranteed to return.
 

Beyond Dirk, Carlisle doesn’t know who will be on the 2012-13 roster in what promises to be a significant transition season coming of the 2011 championship followed by the first-round sweep out of the playoffs by the young hot-shots due north in Oklahoma City. It’s not soft-pedaling things to say that the Mavs will battle mediocrity (36-30 this season) and even relevance, at least to the standard set during Mark Cuban’s 12 years of ownership, if Williams opts to stay with the Nets.
 

(via ESPN.com)