Today is technically the end of play for the Round of 32, so were this being played in reality, many of these series would be done by now. However, because this tournament is simulated, I've been taking individual series and covering them a few at a time. This is the final batch and the one that will set up the remaining matchups that will come in the next couple weeks.
Like the remainder of this round, and all remaining rounds, every series is a best-of-seven played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. Home court advantage in this round goes to the higher seed based on finish in Group Play. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's set up the Sweet 16.
Stephen Curry Bracket
(3) 2011 Dallas Mavericks vs (2) 1983 Philadelphia 76ers
Game 2: @ '83 76ers 108, '11 Mavericks 87 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: '83 76ers 116, @ '11 Mavericks 107 ('83 76ers lead 2-1)
Game 4: '83 76ers 104, @ '11 Mavericks 93 ('83 76ers lead 3-1)
Game 5: '11 Mavericks 123, @ '83 76ers 117 ('83 76ers lead 3-2)
Game 6: @ '11 Mavericks 121, '83 76ers 107 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: @ '83 76ers 109, '11 Mavericks 99 ('83 76ers win 4-3)
The Mavericks used a 23-24 day at the free throw line to take control of Game 1 as well as posting a 6-13 day from beyond the arc. The Sixers responded in Game 2 with a defensive fury, holding the Mavs to 34.9 percent shooting while posting a 54.1 percent clip at the other end to even the series. In Dallas, Philly shot 54.1 percent and forced 22 turnovers in Game 3, taking a 38-23 lead after one quarter and cruising from there. The Mavericks struggled a bit from beyond the arc in Game 4, hitting less than 30 percent from out there in an 11 point loss while Moses Malone put up 29 points and 18 rebounds. Game 5 back in Philly was worse for the Mavs from outside, but they hit 34 of their 43 free throws to overcome a bad day on the glass as well and stay alive for another game. Dirk Nowitzki put up 40 points in Game 6 to force a Game 7 back in Philly, where a 37-15 third quarter advantage for the hosts, including Philly scoring the frame's first 15 points, advanced the Sixers to the next round.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bracket
(4) 1972 Los Angeles Lakers vs (1) 1996 Chicago Bulls
Game 2: @ '96 Bulls 109, '72 Lakers 96 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: @ '72 Lakers 115, '96 Bulls 100 ('72 Lakers lead 2-1)
Game 4: '96 Bulls 111, @ '82 Lakers 105 (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: '72 Lakers 108, @ '96 Bulls 105 ('72 Lakers lead 3-2)
Game 6: '96 Bulls 127, @ '72 Lakers 103 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: @ '96 Bulls 119, '72 Lakers 110 ('96 Bulls win 4-3)
The Bulls managed just 11 points in the opening quarter of the series as the Lakers took a surprising Game 1 win at the United Center. Scottie Pippen helped the Bulls bounce back in Game 2 thanks to four threes, while Michael Jordan had 20 points and 10 rebounds. In Game 3, Wilt Chamberlain was perfect from the floor and Jerry West had 33 points to give the Lakers a convincing win, partially thanks to Pippen fouling out and only playing 25 minutes. An enraged MJ went off for 42 points in Game 4, but the Bulls barely escaped with the victory. Chicago blew a nine point fourth quarter lead in Game 5, spoiling another MJ masterpiece in the wake of Jerry West putting up 27 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Facing elimination, the defending Champion of Champions hit over 50 percent of their shots in Game 6, including an 8-13 day from deep to force a deciding seventh game. The Bulls got to the line 35 times in Game 7, hitting 24 of them as Michael Jordan led the way with 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to push the Bulls onward.
Dwyane Wade Bracket
(4) 1999 San Antonio Spurs vs (1) 2006 Miami Heat
Game 2: '99 Spurs 109, @ '06 Heat 102 (OT) (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: @ '99 Spurs 92, '06 Heat 83 ('99 Spurs lead 2-1)
Game 4: '06 Heat 111, @ '99 Spurs 94 (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: @ '06 Heat 95, '99 Spurs 94 ('06 Heat lead 3-2)
Game 6: @ '99 Spurs 100, '06 Heat 88 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: '99 Spurs 95, @ '06 Heat 86 ('99 Spurs win 4-3)
Dwyane Wade went off for 40 points in Game 1 as part of a 54.1 percent day from the floor for Miami to take early control of the series. In Game 2, Tim Duncan split a pair of free throws with nine seconds left to put San Antonio up two, but Wade hit a jumper from eight feet to force overtime. The Spurs scored nine of the first 11 points in the extra session to open up a lead, though the Heat would make it close with a late barrage of threes. Back in San Antonio, Duncan blocked eight shots in Game 3 and the Heat managed just 30 second half points as the Spurs made a fourth quarter comeback to win. Miami brought the defense to Game 4, holding the Spurs to 11 second quarter points while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor to re-tie the series. In Game 5, Duncan tied the game with 12 seconds left, but Avery Johnson fouled Shaquille O'Neal on a shot at the buzzer, and he hit one free throw to win the game. San Antonio shot 54.8 percent and forced 21 turnovers in Game 6 to force a final deciding game. In that game, the Heat hit just 10 of 17 free throws and only made 43.2 percent of their shots while the Spurs went on two separate 8-0 runs in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win, with David Robinson closing the series with a strong 25 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks.
Michael Jordan Bracket
(3) 1973 New York Knicks vs (2) 2001 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 2: '73 Knicks 105, @ '01 Lakers 95 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: @ '73 Knicks 108, '01 Lakers 97 ('73 Knicks lead 2-1)
Game 4: '01 Lakers 95, @ '73 Knicks 85 (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: @ '01 Lakers 99, '73 Knicks 89 ('01 Lakers lead 3-2)
Game 6: '01 Lakers 102, @ '73 Knicks 82 ('01 Lakers win 4-2)
LA scored as many points in the first quarter as the Knicks did in the first half, shooting 52.3 percent for the contest in a Game 1 blowout. The Knicks turned the tables in Game 2, utilizing Willis Reed more and getting a defensive boost from it as the Lakers shot just 38 percent from the floor. The Lakers controlled the glass in Game 3, but turned it over 24 times while the Knicks hit 22 of 28 free throws in the win. Shaquille O'Neal went off for 36 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks to help the Lakers to a fourth quarter comeback in Game 4 while the Knicks dropped below 40 percent shooting in the game, including an 0-11 day from deep. Shaq had 29 points while Kobe Bryant added 26 in Game 5, pushing New York to the brink. The Knicks committed 21 turnovers and sent the Lakers to the line 30 times in Game 6, and they took advantage to advance to the second round.
So the top half of the bracket's matchups in the next round are set. The '83 Sixers will go off to face the top-seeded Warriors from this past season, the '96 Bulls escape only to have to deal with the '94 Rockets, the '99 Spurs become the only 4 seed to advance as they prepare for the '85 Lakers, and the '01 Lakers get a shot at the '97 Bulls. To see the updated Sweet 16 bracket, click here.
The Tournament of Champions will resume following all these seven game series this weekend were the tournament being played in reality. I will do a pair of posts in a couple weeks with results from the second round. Congratulations to the 16 teams still standing, and good luck in the rest of the Tournament!
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