The NBA Playoffs are off to the races, with few surprises thus far. Taking a look at the Western Conference, each game has been decided by at least seven points. Most have been decided by at least ten points, including the largest-and maybe most surprising-victory in which the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 107-92 in Game 1.
The Clippers got off to a hot start against the defending champs, leading by 12 at the end of the first quarter. The backcourt for San Antonio was off to a slow start, while the frontcourt for the Clippers had a noticeable advantage over the Spurs' big men. DeAndre Jordan had four blocks and 14 rebounds to go along with nine points, while Blake Griffin had three blocks, six assists, 12 rebounds, and 26 points, which included a couple of highlight-reel dunks. Meanwhile, Chris Paul had a game-high 32 points alongside six assists and seven rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs with 18 points, while Tim Duncan added a double-double. Tony Parker was held to ten points and only contributed one assist in Game 1. But the main difference was the shooting, as the Clippers shot over 50 percent from all over the floor, including 55 percent from three-point range. The Spurs on the other hand, were held to 30 percent shooting from beyond the arc. While the Clippers set the tone at home in the first game of the series, a better shooting performance by the Spurs coupled with better defense on Griffin will allow them to even the series.
The top-seeded Golden State Warriors are the only Western Conference team with a 2-0 series advantage. The New Orleans Pelicans have hung tough, especially in Game 2, which was tied late in the fourth quarter. Anthony Davis has a combined 61 points through two games, along with a combined 17 rebounds. Quincy Pondexter and Norris Cole have played well, reminding us of a couple of key moves the Pelicans made during the regular season that filled out their lineup.
While the Pelicans held a lead for the majority of the first half in Game 2, the Warriors' play only elevated as the game progressed. Through two games, the Pelicans have stayed with the Splash Brothers, but the Warriors' offensive firepower has proven to be too much at the end of the day.
Looking at the matchup of the middle teams in the West, the Grizzlies were able to steal home court advantage from the Portland Trail Blazers and win Game 1 by a score of 100-86. Although LaMarcus Aldridge had a game-high 32 points and 14 rebounds, he did not have much help from his teammates, especially Damian Lillard, who was held to 14 points on 5-for-21 shooting.
As for the Grizzlies, an unsung hero in Beno Udrih led the way with 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph each had a double-double and, while Aldridge had a big game, the dynamic frontcourt duo for the Griz had the advantage. Game 1 was not close and the Blazers will look to have a much-needed presence in Arron Afflalo return for Game 2.
Last but not least, the second-seed Houston Rockets got off to a hot start and handled the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1, 118-108. Seven Rockets scored in double figures, led by 24 points from James Harden. Harden also had 11 of the team's 26 assists as every player got involved on offense. Trevor Ariza notched a double-double, while a relatively quiet Dwight Howard was nullified by the combined presence of Josh Smith and Corey Brewer.
The Mavs, however, also had seven players in double figures and were guided by 24 points from Dirk Nowitzki. They even got solid performances out of Rajon Rondo (14 points, 5 assists) and Amar'e Stoudemire (10 points, 5 rebounds), but fell short in Game 1. What the score may not indicate is the first game of the series was close across the board and the Texas-based matchup will be a grind on both sides.