We are going to make today’s wrap quick. If you haven’t heard, there was some news that came out last night that will have our web team pretty busy today.
Charlotte’s Steve Clifford is known as being one of the better defensive coaches in the NBA.
That was the opposite of what was on display in last night’s 115-103 loss to the Miami Heat, falling to 0-2 in the series. The Heat shot 57.9 percent from the field and 9-for-16 from the 3-point line. Dwyane Wade led the way with 28 points (11-for-22), while Hassan Whiteside was a perfect 8-for-8.
There was a time in the second quarter when it seemed impossible the Heat would ever miss a shot again. They did. But still scored 43 points in the quarter.
The series heads to Charlotte and the Hornets will need to win Game 3 to make this first round interesting.
Cleveland shot 20-for-38 from the 3-point line in Wednesday’s win over the Detroit Pistons. JR Smith was 7-for-11. Kyrie Irving was 4-for-7. Our old friend Kevin Love was 3-for-7. Richard Jefferson still plays and hit one off the bench.
(I didn’t believe it, either. The proof is at the 37-second mark.)
The Pistons were in this game at half, trailing by just two, but then the Cavaliers outscored the Pistons 27-15 in the third, forcing us to catch up on the last two episodes of “New Girl.”
I emailed my roommate before last night’s games and predicted the Heat, Cavs and Blazers would win.
The Clippers and Blazers series was supposed to be fun and I legitimately thought the Blazers could pull off the upset. When you have guys like Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, it feels like you should be able to steal one on the road.
Last night’s game was ugly and not fun to watch. The Blazers lost by 21, but were outscored by 15 in the fourth, so it wasn’t that bad of a blowout. But still.
Lillard and McCollum combined to shoot 12-for-39, which isn’t good.
Maybe the real story here is that the Clippers are still a good team despite how annoying they are. This intrigues me for a second round matchup against the Warriors which will probably end in a sweep.
There was the funny story about the Clippers being a better team without Blake Griffin, which is funny. Griffin only scored 12 points last night, but he’s still easing himself back into the game.
OR IS HE?
He’s going to have a 35-point, 15-rebound game that reminds us that he’s still really, really good. And so are the Clippers.
