2. Blazers' Roy Makes A Triumphant Return
By John Hollinger
ESPN.com
PORTLAND, Ore. -- We'd been hearing the whispers all week: that All-Star guard Brandon Roy's knee surgery was far less invasive than originally expected, that he had basically popped off the operating table and into the workout room, that his recovery had been amazingly pain-free, and that he might be able to return before the end of the first round.
Still, nobody expected this. Just eight days after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, Roy returned and scored 10 points to lift Portland to a 96-87 win over Phoenix and tie their best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
The Blazers had been hoping to tread water until Roy could return, and as his recovery gained steam, that scenario loomed as more likely. Over the past few days, what started as "maybe Game 7," became "probably Game 6," and then suddenly ramped up to "How about now?"
To read the entire column, click here.
3. Nelson Comes Up Big For Magic
By Eddy Rivera
TrueHoop Network
Entering Game 3, the Charlotte Bobcats were looking to do something they had never done before -- win a playoff game. The Bobcats whiffed on their first two chances to do it against the Orlando Magic on the road in Games 1 and 2. However, Charlotte had a golden opportunity to get the proverbial monkey off its back in front of a sellout crowd at Time Warner Cable Arena in Sunday's game.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Jameer Nelson ruined the party.
For Nelson, who had torched Raymond Felton & Co. in Game 1 on Sunday by scoring 32 points, it was déjà vu all over again, but with a twist. Yes, Nelson scored 32 points for the second time in three games, tying his playoff career high, but this time he set a franchise playoff record by scoring the most points in a quarter (19 in the first). Considering that the Magic's postseason history includes prolific scorers like Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway and Tracy McGrady, just to name a few, it's an impressive accomplishment for Nelson.
How did he do it?
Nelson scored a majority of his 19 points in spot-up situations, contrary to the first quarter in Game 1, when he scored either in the pick-and-roll with Dwight Howard or in transition. Nelson did an excellent job of staying ready and being decisive on the perimeter when he received the basketball off a pass from Howard, Rashard Lewis or whomever else.
Perhaps what was most impressive about Nelson was his court awareness on the final play of the first quarter. After a missed shot from Stephen Jackson, Nelson raced down the floor and looked to put up a desperation heave before the buzzer. In the process of crossing half court, Nelson drew a foul after Felton was reaching in and hoisted a 35-foot 3-pointer immediately after the referee blew his whistle with 1.3 seconds left.
The shot went in on the continuation -- after brief deliberation from the officials -- and Nelson was able to connect on the ensuing free throw to make a four-point play.
It was that kind of outing for Nelson, who is quickly reminding everyone why he was named an All-Star in 2009 and, in the process, putting the Magic in the driver's seat to sweep the Bobcats.
To read more from Rivera, check out Magic Basketball.
5. Extreme Behavior
ESPN.com
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SATURDAY'S BEST
Aldridge LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers
All the Portland headlines are about Brandon Roy, but it was Aldridge who played the starring role for the Blazers, scoring 31 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the win over the Suns. -
SATURDAY'S WORST
Nash Steve Nash, Suns
He led the league in assists during the regular season but struggled with the ball in the loss to the Blazers, committing six turnovers while giving out eight assists -- three fewer than his average. QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We've got a tough fight, and it should be fun."
-- Kobe Bryant on the top-seeded Lakers being even with the eighth-seeded Thunder after four games
7. Bobcats Feeling Rejected
(Mike Zarrilli/NBAE/Getty)
8. Practice Notes: Jazz-Nuggets
ESPN.com
Carmelo Anthony vocally called out the Denver Nuggets' effort after Game 3, and conversation continued Saturday.
"That was the main thing we talked about this morning in the locker room," Anthony said. "We've got to get out of our own heads. [Friday] night I didn't see it in us. The body language wasn't there. People didn't seem focused throughout the game. As far as X's and O's, we know what they're going to do and they know what we're going to do. We just have to want it more than them."
This line of reasoning was less persuasive to Adrian Dantley, who shrugged when asked about the Nuggets' effort Friday night. "Whenever you lose, you're always going to say 'lack of effort,'" Dantley said. "You just have to come with better effort and match their energy."
Dantley joked that to amp his guys up, he was going to find an old clip of a Woody Paige story that characterized Dantley as a dog when Dantley's Jazz team trailed the Nuggets in a postseason series. "We came back and won the series," Dantley said. "Maybe I'll bring that to them."
To read the entire blog entry, click here.
9. Bucks Shoot Past Hawks
TrueHoop Network
I remember walking out of the Bradley Center on March 28 feeling very good about things. The Bucks had just defeated the Grizzlies, the day was still young after the early game, the temperature was in the 60s and a possible successful playoff run was on the horizon. Now, less than one month later, clouds draped the air on a cold and damp Saturday afternoon when I approached. It was almost too perfect a representation of Milwaukee's season.
What was once so bright had turned so dim that the light was nearly off.
And then Brandon Jennings hit a 3 and busted out the 3-point monocle. And then he did it again. And again.
Then John Salmons got involved. When it was all said and done, Milwaukee was up 36-19 after one quarter, the Jennings/Salmons duo was 9-for-10 and the brightness had officially returned to Milwaukee's season.
Surprise seems to be the appropriate reaction, but should anyone be shocked? Atlanta was a below-average road team this season, Milwaukee was an above-average home team and Milwaukee had shot very poorly from 3 in the first two games. All those factors seemed to work in Milwaukee's favor.
Aside from the playoff victory, I saw things from Milwaukee that I haven't in years.
For example, the mild-mannered Luke Ridnour holding his pose on a 3 with the shot clock running down to put the Bucks up 93-65. If you think Jennings isn't the rookie of the year, I get that. But don't try to tell me he didn't have a greater impact on a team than any other rookie. This one started with Jennings and the monocle and ended with Ridnour holding his pose. These are not your slightly older brother's Bucks NBA fans.
To read more from Schmidt, check out Bucksketball .
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