The NBA scheduled a heavy slate of games on Oscar Sunday, with two of the Disney channel games proving excellent.
• Los Angeles Lakers 90, Oklahoma City Thunder 87
Team FIC Differential: Lakers +2.2
When Sam Presti’s blockbuster trade came down Thursday afternoon, the schedule gods looked kindly upon him; the Thunder had Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic on Friday and Andrew Bynum/Pau Gasol’s Lakers on Sunday. If ever there was a time when adding one of the finest interior defenders of his generation to your team, it was this mini two-game run.
But Kendrick Perkins is going to be out even longer than the Celtics estimated a few days ago, so the Thunder were left with Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka and Cole Aldrich to defend those dominant bigs while their newcomer’s famous left knee heals.
The Thunder started strong, but Pau Gasol brought his Black Swan game hours ahead of Natalie Portman’s win. Gasol had 18 points on 13 shots coming from a nice balance between the rim and left baseline, plus 11 boards (five coming on the offensive end). The Thunder did a good job in keeping Kobe Bryant out of the paint, forcing him into jumpers and keeping him off the line entirely for the first time this season. But he did a nice job facilitating and had seven assists.
Andrew Bynum had a game-high +16, putting in excellent work defensively and tied a season high with five blocks. He is the main reason why the Lakers still are my favorites to come out of the Western Conference. If he's healthy and active as he on Sunday, the Lakers are nearly unbeatable over seven.
Kevin Durant continues to struggle against the defense of Ron Artest, needing 20 shots to get 21 points while also turning the ball over five times. Russell Westbrook committed seven turnovers in the game, offsetting his early jumpers.
Credit to the Phil Jackson’s halftime adjustments and the uptick defensively. The Thunder scored just 13 points in the third and 18 in the fourth after scoring 28 in each of the first two periods.
Also, credit to Nick Collison’s volleyball tip on the final possession for the Thunder, which gave James Harden a second look to tie the game after Durant’s initial attempt clanked off.
This will be a different game next time, however, when Perkins arrives.
Game FIC Scores
Andrew Bynum, Lakers – 23.5 (30.3 FIC40)
Pau Gasol, Lakers, Lakers – 13.0
Russell Westbrook, Thunder – 9.8
Serge Ibaka, Thunder – 12.3
• New York Knicks 96, Miami Heat 86
Team FIC Differential: Knicks -1.6
I found all of the Knicks/Heat rivalry retrospectives leading up to this game excessively premature, but the Knicks somehow rebounded from a horrible defensive first quarter to stay within striking distance for Chauncey Billups to hit several huge shots to pull out their first signature win since acquiring Carmelo Anthony. This game had a playoff feel and if we get to see these two teams (as well as the Lakers and Thunder) in late April or early May, we will be very fortunate.
With how porous the Knicks played defensively against the Bucks and Cavaliers, categorically bad offensive teams, I thought the Heat would run them out of the building. That clearly didn’t happen and it was somewhat fitting that the Knicks sealed the victory with excellent team defense against LeBron James on a drive down the left lane, where Anthony cut off his path and Amar’e Stoudemire made a remarkable block coming over from the weakside. The Knicks have a long ways to go defensively in terms of consistency, but this is about as good of a promising step as they could have even scripted. They won a playoff style game.
James and Dwyane Wade did their damage near the bucket, using that simply amazing athleticism, but they both struggled with their jumpers. Wade was 0-for-6 on jump shots and James was just 4-for-14 on his attempts. James began the game with that incredible left-handed lob from Wade and finished the game failing to convert a go-ahead bucket on the drive blocked by Stoudemire and the three-point try that would have tied it.
Chris Bosh showed up for this one (a tidy 20 and 12), but Mario Chalmers, Eddie House, Mike Miller and James Jones combined to go 6-for-21 and that lack of support means Wade can’t be a non-factor down the stretch as he was in this loss.
The Knicks gave up just 90.6 points per 100 possessions, which is their best defensive effort since the middle of January in a road loss against the Kings, and that game belongs in an entirely different category compared to this.
Game FIC Scores
Carmelo Anthony, Knicks – 16.6
Amar’e Stoudemire, Knicks – 13.5
LeBron James, Heat – 17.2
Chris Bosh, Heat – 18.2
Dwyane Wade, Heat – 10.1
• Phoenix Suns 110, Indiana Pacers 108
Team FIC Differential: Suns -3.2
The Suns nearly threw away a vintage Grant Hill performance (34, nine and four), blowing a 15-point lead at Indiana, needing a three-pointer from him to send it into overtime and then a Channing Frye buzzer-beater in overtime to pull out the two-point win. The shot from the right wing on Brandon Rush was more just poise from Frye using the pump-fake than any special X’s and O’s from Alvin Gentry on the sideline out of bounds. Rush defended Frye as well as possible in the situation, with the height differential being the reason why Phoenix went to him to begin with.
Hill’s 34 came on 26 shots from the floor, as his jumper was money throughout. Jared Dudley also played very well, scoring 15 points off the bench on nine shots. In the throwaway department, Vince Carter had a game-high +12, but his seven points on 14 shots is all you need to know.
For the Pacers, this is one of those rare games where they had the FIC advantage but lost the game. They shot far better from distance (11 makes on 23 attempts versus 11 makes on 27 attempts) and at the line (19-for-23 against 10-for-17). The Pacers were +10 in the fourth quarter largely due to the scoring of A.J. Price, who played down the stretch over Darren Collison. Price hadn’t been playing very well after a promising stretch a few weeks ago, so it was a good showing for him in spite of the loss.
Game FIC Scores
Grant Hill, Suns – 23.8
Marcin Gortat, Suns – 14.8
Danny Granger, Pacers – 20.1
A.J. Price, Pacers – 9.8 (16.3 FIC40)
• Minnesota Timberwolves 126, Golden State Warriors 123
Team FIC Differential: Minnesota +6.6
As expected, the Warriors were going to get completely wiped on the glass and they didn’t fail to disappoint. Minnesota had 70 total rebounds compared to just 43 for the Warriors and the offensive rebound differential was +11.
Kevin Love had 37 points on just 13 shots from the floor, going 18-for-23 from the line. This is simply extraordinary work. Add in a 16 and seven on the glass and this is one of the most impressive performances for any player this season.
Wesley Johnson and Anthony Tolliver both gave gritty supporting efforts. Johnson couldn’t get his mid-range jumper going at all, but shot 4-for-9 from distance. Luke Ridnour and Jonny Flynn struggled in their own ways, though nine assists in under 20 minutes for Flynn is a slight silver-lining.
The Warriors exhibited typical softness and if ever there was a time when a David Lee double-double deserves an asterisk, it is in a game like this one and why it is a dubious stat to begin with. Andris Biedrins was typically ineffective. Stephen Curry shot extremely well, scoring 33 points on 21 shots and also impressively collecting 11 boards.
Game FIC Scores
Kevin Love, Wolves – 36.1
Michael Beasley, Wolves – 16.5
Wesley Johnson, Wolves – 16.8
Stephen Curry, Warriors – 26.5
David Lee, Warriors – 17.3
• Orlando Magic 100, Charlotte Bobcats 86
Team FIC Differential: Magic +35.0
Considerably more offense in the first half than in the second, as Dwight Howard continues an utterly dominant run of basketball since the first of the year and Gilbert Arenas begins to shoot his way out of a prolonged slump (16 points on seven shots). The Magic had extremely well-balanced scoring and 74% of their field goals were assisted.
Lonely times for Stephen Jackson, scoring 35 points on 22 shots in the loss. Charlotte is seven games under .500 and you can’t blame them for taking their ball and going home on the season. Joel Przybilla had six boards in 14 minutes in his Bobcats’ debut.
Game FIC Scores
Dwight Howard, Magic – 17.6
Gilbert Arenas, Magic – 11.9 (29.7 FIC40)
Stephen Jackson, Bobcats – 20.0
D.J. Augustin, Bobcats – 4.5
• Philadelphia 76ers 95, Cleveland Cavaliers 91
Team FIC Differential: 76ers +12.7
Nothing pretty about the win, but it is still Philadelphia’s fourth in a row. After a rough start initially, the Sixers got their scoring in order and finished with an eFG% of 52.6%. Jodie Meeks scored 14 points on eight shots and Doug Collins got solid bench scoring from Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner and Louis Williams, which compensated for a miserable outing for Andre Iguodala’s jumper. This outing was similar to the San Antonio win a few weeks ago, but again it didn’t cost the team.
J.J. Hickson turned in another outstanding performance for Cleveland, scoring 22 points on 15 shots to go with 16 boards. That followed his 24, 15 and five against the Knicks. He still has the occasional no-show, but Hickson has played significantly better since that rough patch before the holidays in December.
Game FIC Scores
Jodie Meeks, 76ers – 10.0 (19.0 FIC40)
Jrue Holiday, 76ers – 15.8
J.J. Hikcson, Cavaliers – 22.4
Ramon Sessions, Cavaliers – 15.9
• Dallas Mavericks 114, Toronto Raptors 96
Team FIC Differential: Mavericks +13.0
The Raptors had a seven-point game going into halftime, but this unfortunately wasn’t a 24-minute game and you can’t say ‘Who’s next’ after getting to 60 first. Toronto’s two main obstacles were Dirk Nowitzki and the bench differential.
Nowitzki scored a very typical 31 points to go with 13 boards, while the Dallas bench outscored Toronto by a margin of 64-25. The Mavericks have Jason Terry, Shawn Marion, Jose Barea and Ian Mahinmi playing strong reserve minutes, while Leandro Barbosa and Jerryd Bayless are hot or cold scorers and were clearly cold Sunday night.
James Johnson produced another promising game with the Raptors. His eight points on 12 shots is a bit disconcerting, but he’s making an impact in a lot of different ways and had seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks. His game appears to be an appropriate long-term fit for the team.
Game FIC Scores
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks – 23.3
Shawn Marion, Mavericks – 14.8 (25.7 FIC40)
Jose Calderon, Raptors – 21.3
James Johnson, Raptors – 14.3
• Houston Rockets 91, New Orleans Hornets 89
Team FIC Differential: Rockets -13.4
The Hornets committed an act of self-sabotage to lose this game to a division foe, scoring just 34 points in the second half. Chris Paul basically gave a Thom Yorke-worthy clinic on How To Disappear Completely, scoring just six points on 12 shots and not even attempting any shots down the stretch on his way to a second half shutout. Paul’s 12 assists without a turnover was impressive, but the Hornets need at least a little scoring from him and fewer looks for Willie Green.
Kevin Martin had 33 points on just 15 shots, going 13-for-13 at the line to compensate for six turnovers. Like Martin, Kyle Lowry was 4-for-8 from distance. The Rockets shot 42.3% on 26 shots from beyond the arc, compared to 4-for-13 (30.8%) for the Hornets.
Game FIC Scores
Kevin Martin, Rockets – 20.6
Brad Miller, Rockets – 7.6 (20.3 FIC40)
David West, Hornets – 21.5
Chris Paul, Hornets – 9.5
• San Antonio Spurs 95, Memphis Grizzlies 88
Team FIC Differential: Spurs +18.5
The Spurs needed a 36-25 fourth quarter to keep that excellent home record alive, as both teams played to their strengths. San Antonio had efficient offense (110.0 points per 100 possessions), strong bench play (28 combined points for George Hill and Matt Bonner) and largely limited the Grizzlies’ foul attempts. Memphis killed it on the offensive glass (33.3 offensive rebounding rate). The end result would have likely been far different had Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol managed better efficiency scoring, combining for 30 points on 32 shots.
Manu Ginobili was excellent with 35 points, six rebounds and eight assists while giving the Spurs fourth quarter scoring. Ginobili did his scoring at the bucket and his assists came largely on three-pointers, which is a perfect formula for the Spurs.
Game FIC Scores
Manu Ginobili, Spurs – 22.5
DeJuan Blair, Spurs – 10.5 (21.0 FIC40)
Zach Randolph, Grizzlies – 22.3
Darrell Arthur, Grizzlies – 10.0 (23.5 FIC40)
• Atlanta Hawks 90, Portland Trailblazers 83
Team FIC Differential: Hawks +19.0
This was the kind of game where FIC differential offers a much better idea of how the game went than the final score. Atlanta’s defense was excellent during the first three periods, holding the Blazers to 18, 18 and 13 before the 34-point fourth quarter.
Even though the Blazers have more offensive weapons now, the offense still needs to run through LaMarcus Aldridge and Andre Miller for the team to score efficiently, using those other guys are complements. Gerald Wallace debuted and Marcus Camby returned, so excuses can be mined there and Atlanta’s defense deserves credit for limited the Blazers to 95.3 points per 100 possessions, but unquestionably a disappointing result to follow the two overtime games earlier in the week.
Wallace was a little out of sorts, but Portland was able to see in glimpses the kind of impact he will make and why he is one of the most enjoyable players in the NBA to watch.
Game FIC Scores
Marvin Williams, Hawks – 13.1 (18.8 FIC40)
Zaza Pachulia, Hawks – 12.0 (24.0 FIC40)
Andre Miller, Blazers – 13.4
Gerald Wallace, Blazers – 6.5
• RealGM calculates the Floor Impact Counter using the following formula: (Points + .75 Defensive Rebounds + Offensive Rebounds + Steals + Assists + Blocks - .75 Field Goal Attempts - .375 Free Throw Attempts - Turnovers - .5 Personal Fouls)
Basketball Wiretap RSS Feed