Today I'm going through four more series to set up the next round, as today's results will officially set up four second round matchups. Will we see any more upsets? Or will home court advantage hold?
Since it's been about two weeks since the games would have started had these games been played in reality, we're all caught up time-wise. Every series is a best-of-seven following a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with home court advantage going to the higher seed based on finish in Group Play. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's see the results.
Larry Bird Bracket
(3) 1977 Portland Trail Blazers vs (2) 2002 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 2: @ '02 Lakers 114, '77 Trail Blazers 91 ('02 Lakers lead 2-0)
Game 3: '02 Lakers 135, @ '77 Trail Blazers 130 (OT) ('02 Lakers lead 3-0)
Game 4: @ '77 Trail Blazers 101, '02 Lakers 99 ('02 Lakers lead 3-1)
Game 5: @ '02 Lakers 116, '77 Trail Blazers 94 ('02 Lakers win 4-1)
The Lakers' frontcourt came ready to play in Game 1, outrebounding Portland 69-40 and riding 32 points from Shaq while the Blazers missed 12 free throws. Game 2 featured better shooting and balanced rebounding, but the Blazers turned the ball over 17 times and saw the Lakers hit 29 of their 31 free throws to hold serve at home. Back home, Portland overcame a 12 point deficit halfway through the fourth quarter of Game 3 and even took a lead with 32 seconds left, but Kobe Bryant tied the game with 13 ticks to go as part of his 37 point outburst. The Blazers couldn't get a stop in the extra session, and Bill Walton fouled out midway through to end any comeback hopes. Portland did crash the glass hard in Game 4 and the Lakers only hit 58 percent of their free throws, allowing the Blazers to stay alive, but the Lakers bounced back in Los Angeles, using a 34-18 advantage in the second quarter to eliminate Portland.
LeBron James Bracket
(4) 1967 Philadelphia 76ers vs (1) 2013 Miami Heat
Game 2: @ '13 Heat 123, '67 76ers 106 ('13 Heat lead 2-0)
Game 3: '13 Heat 116, @ '67 76ers 96 ('13 Heat lead 3-0)
Game 4: '13 Heat 104, @ '67 76ers 93 ('13 Heat win 4-0)
The Heat shot 54.3 percent and forced 18 turnovers in a game where they pulled away in the fourth quarter to take the early advantage. The turnover numbers jumped to 23 in Game 2, and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 59 points to put Philly in a tough bind going home. LeBron went off for 32 points in a Game 3 blowout while Wade added 26, and the Sixers had no answer defensively while Wilt Chamberlain was good, but not dominant. A 35-19 second quarter Miami advantage in Game 4 helped seal the sweep while the Sixers shot just 38 percent in their elimination game.
Magic Johnson Bracket
(3) 1988 Los Angeles Lakers vs (2) 1991 Chicago Bulls
Game 2: '88 Lakers 132, @ '91 Bulls 121 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: '91 Bulls 104, @ '88 Lakers 103 ('91 Bulls lead 2-1)
Game 4: '91 Bulls 107, @ '88 Lakers 96 ('91 Bulls lead 3-1)
Game 5: '88 Lakers 106, @ '91 Bulls 101 ('91 Bulls lead 3-2)
Game 6: '91 Bulls 127, @ '88 Lakers 114 ('91 Bulls win 4-2)
The Bulls overcame an eight point deficit early in the fourth quarter of Game 1 thanks to a team effort, shooting 52.7 percent in the win. Game 2 went the other way behind a triple-double from Magic Johnson, 32 points from Byron Scott, and a throwback performance from Kareem. Chicago controlled the glass in Game 3, and a Michael Jordan jumper with 17 seconds left proved to be the game-winner as James Worthy missed an answer with one second to go. LA committed 21 turnovers in Game 4 and a balanced Chicago attack made it 3-1 going back to the Windy City. The Lakers went into the fourth quarter of Game 5 down nine, but a 14-2 run to open the frame turned the tide, and the Bulls couldn't retake the lead. Back in Los Angeles however, the Bulls shot 50 percent from the floor and Michael Jordan scored 34 points to send the Bulls on to the second round.
Scottie Pippen Bracket
(4) 1970 New York Knicks vs (1) 1992 Chicago Bulls
Game 2: @ '92 Bulls 101, '70 Knicks 84 ('92 Bulls lead 2-0)
Game 3: @ '70 Knicks 123, '92 Bulls 92 ('92 Bulls lead 2-1)
Game 4: '92 Bulls 118, @ '70 Knicks 102 ('92 Bulls lead 3-1)
Game 5: @ '92 Bulls 104, '70 Knicks 91 ('92 Bulls win 4-1)
The Bulls got to the foul line early and often in Game 1, hitting 35 of their 47 free throw attempts, including 12-15 by Michael Jordan, who had 34 points. In Game 2, the Bulls held the Knicks to 36.6 percent shooting and outscored New York 37-16 in the second quarter to make it a laugher. Back at Madison Square Garden though, the Knicks shot 9-16 from beyond the arc in Game 3 and dominated the glass to get back in the series. The Bulls answered back in Game 4 with relentless attacks at the basket, resulting in 44 more free throw attempts and a 52.4 percent day from the floor. Back in Chicago, Scottie Pippen went off for 31 points and 16 rebounds in the clincher while the Knicks shot just 38.8 percent from the floor, including 1-14 from beyond the arc.
So we now have four matchups for the next round set: The second overall seed '86 Celtics will have their hands full against Shaq, Kobe and the '02 Lakers, we have an outstanding battle coming between the '71 Bucks and '13 Heat, the '91 Bulls will face the Laker team from the year before the one they just beat, and the '92 Bulls get the '76 Celtics in their continued quest for redemption for 2013. To see the updated bracket, click here. I'll be back tomorrow with the final results from the Round of 32!
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