There's three games on the NBA Playoff schedule for Friday, but before we get to that, how about them Knicks. The New York Knicks are now officially the worst playoff team in NBA history and they are (almost) officially done in this series. New York was back home and desperately needed a win over the Miami Heat, but instead their defensive issues were exposed right along with their lack of alternate scoring options, cohesion, depth, and coaching. LeBron James took over the fourth quarter (gasp!) and the Miami Heat rolled to a 17-point win and are up 3-0 in the series.
Goodbye, New York.
We can also say goodbye to the Dallas Mavericks who also got whooped on their home court and are also down 0-3 in their series to the Oklahoma City Thunder. If you are a Thunder fan, you have to be encouraged that your team played its best game so far on the road. They won two close ones late despite playing poorly and stepped up their game in a hostile environment. Can we call this the Derek Fisher Effect?
NBA Playoff schedule for Friday, May 4:
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN
It's not certain, but it sounds like Josh Smith (knee) will be able to go which is good for the Hawks who need every weapon they have to deal with the Celtics execution. Boston will also have Rajon Rondo back and he'll be pissed. You won't like Rondo when he's pissed (if you are Hawks fan).
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT on ESPN2
The Bulls defense was MIA in game two and now they find themselves on the road tied 1-1. They can still win this series without Derrick Rose but not if they don't get their act together and get some many stops.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN
Some people think that the Nuggets will somehow play better at home and make this a series. We'll see. Don't be surprised if Kobe and friends take a game one of the next two games off, but that doesn't mean Denver has a chance. L.A. will go home up 3-1, it's just a matter of which game they lose.
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