At the beginning of July, we had the last 64 NBA champs ready to do battle with each other. We're down to 16, but today, we look at how the field narrows to eight.
Fun side note before we get to this though: I do still have the spreadsheet where stats are being kept for the tournament, but I'm doing a better job now. While I'm still way behind on pool play (448 games is just too many), I have player stats from the entire Elimination Round in the respective tab on that Google sheet. Check it out, as these will be the main factor in picking out an All Tournament Team in a couple months.
Now to the games. Like last round, these series will be a best of seven played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. Home court advantage goes once again to the higher seed based on finish in group play. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it.
Stephen Curry Bracket
(2) 1983 Philadelphia 76ers vs (1) 2015 Golden State Warriors
Game 2: @ '15 Warriors 93, '83 76ers 78 ('15 Warriors lead 2-0)
Game 3: '15 Warriors 102, @ '83 76ers 101 ('15 Warriors lead 3-0)
Game 4: '15 Warriors 115, @ '83 76ers 106 ('15 Warriors win 4-0)
The Warriors overcame an 11 point halftime deficit in Game 1 and came back to force 24 turnovers in a narrow win. The Sixers followed up that tough loss with a clunker in Game 2, hitting just 50 percent of their free throws while turning the ball over 21 more times, rendering them unable to take advantage of a good defensive performance against the hot-shooting Warriors. Philly made a furious comeback late in Game 3, going on an 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to cancel out a Golden State lead and taking a lead of their own late, but Andrew Toney missed a dagger with 23 seconds left (and plenty of time on the shot clock), allowing Klay Thompson to bury the game winner from the free throw line. That line was a familiar place for the Warriors in Game 4, as they completed the sweep behind 51 free throw attempts and a strong day for both Thompson and Steph Curry overcame heroic performances by Moses Malone, Julius Erving and Andrew Toney.
Larry Bird Bracket
(2) 2002 Los Angeles Lakers vs (1) 1986 Boston Celtics
Game 2: '02 Lakers 111, @ '86 Celtics 94 ('02 Lakers lead 2-0)
Game 3: '86 Celtics 121, @ '02 Lakers 103 ('02 Lakers lead 2-1)
Game 4: @ '02 Lakers 117, '86 Celtics 113 ('02 Lakers lead 3-1)
Game 5: @ '86 Celtics 110, '02 Lakers 74 ('02 Lakers lead 3-2)
Game 6: '86 Celtics 109, @ '02 Lakers 98 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: @ '86 Celtics 129, '02 Lakers 94 ('86 Celtics win 4-3)
The Celtics had no answer for Shaq, who went off for 41 points in Game 1, including a respectable 11-16 day at the free throw line while Boston's front line aside from Kevin McHale couldn't answer. O'Neal added 30 more in Game 2 while Kobe Bryant scored 33 in a game they controlled throughout. The Celtics used a balanced attack in Game 3 and complete domination on the boards, including 23 on the offensive glass, to right the ship. Game 4 was a back and forth affair that was tied at 108 with about two minutes to go, but Bryant nine of his 45 points in the final two minutes, accounting for all of the Lakers' scoring in that span to give them the first home win of the series. Back home facing elimination, the Celtics got three three's apiece from Larry Bird and Scott Wedman while Kobe cooled off and Shaq only managed 21 points as Boston forced the series back to LA. Robert Parish continued his resurgence in Game 6 with 24 points and 16 rebounds and the Celtics held the Lakers under 40 percent shooting, while Los Angeles missed 10 free throws to squander their chance to clinch at home. Parish led the way again in Game 7 with 34 points and 16 rebounds, Larry Bird had a triple-double of 18 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Celtics shot 56.7 percent as a team to complete the amazing comeback.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bracket
(2) 1994 Houston Rockets vs (1) 1996 Chicago Bulls
Game 2: @ '96 Bulls 100, '94 Rockets 93 ('96 Bulls lead 2-0)
Game 3: '96 Bulls 99, @ '94 Rockets 93 ('96 Bulls lead 3-0)
Game 4: @ '94 Rockets 109, '96 Bulls 98 ('96 Bulls lead 3-1)
Game 5: @ '96 Bulls 96, '94 Rockets 79 ('96 Bulls win 4-1)
The Bulls' defense locked down the Rockets in Game 1, holding them to 41 percent shooting including a 12-31 day by Hakeem Olajuwon while Steve Kerr and Toni Kukoc combined for 33 points off the bench to give Chicago the early advantage. Michael Jordan had 29 points in Game 2 to help overcome a better game from Houston, especially Olajuwon who came close to a quintuple-nickel. The Rockets made a late surge but couldn't overcome scoring just 10 points in the third quarter while Chicago piled on 31. Scottie Pippen came alive in Game 3 with 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, including a key three with 48 seconds left to seal the win. Hakeem continued his surge in Game 4 with 34 points and 11 rebounds to overcome 32 from MJ, as the rest of the Bulls struggled a bit from the field. Back in Chicago though, the Bulls got to the line 38 times compared to Houston's eight and a balanced attack combined with a strong defensive performance holding Houston to 33 of 80 shooting clinched the series.
Magic Johnson Bracket
(2) 1991 Chicago Bulls vs (1) 1987 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 2: '91 Bulls 122, @ '87 Lakers 110 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: @ '91 Bulls 115, '87 Lakers 106 ('91 Bulls lead 2-1)
Game 4: '87 Lakers 114, @ '91 Bulls 96 (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: @ '87 Lakers 118, '91 Bulls 95 ('87 Lakers lead 3-2)
Game 6: @ '91 Bulls 111, '87 Lakers 81 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: '91 Bulls 118, @ '87 Lakers 102 ('91 Bulls win 4-3)
The Bulls were completely unprepared for Showtime, giving up 43 first quarter points in Game 1 while only getting 14 minutes out of Horace Grant due to foul trouble. Magic Johnson dropped 30 points in the blowout win. Michael Jordan let that fuel him to 33 points in Game 2 while Scottie Pippen added 25 in a 54.1 percent shooting day for the Bulls to even the series. Grant redeemed himself for Game 1 with 20 points, MJ added 28, and the Bulls held the Lakers under 50 percent shooting while getting 27 free throws to LA's 10. The Lakers bounced back in Game 4 to over 50 percent shooting, got to the line 35 times and held the Bulls to 42.7 percent shooting. The Lakers forced 22 turnovers in Game 5 and used a 30-16 second quarter to put the Bulls on the brink. Chicago bounced back at home, however, holding LA to 41.2 percent shooting and seeing their starting lineup post 99 points to force a deciding Game 7 in Los Angeles. In Game 7, the Bulls owned the glass, hit five of their eight threes, and got 26 points from MJ as well as a 16 point, eight rebound, 10 assist night from Pippen to pull the upset and advance to the quarterfinals.
To see the updated bracket, click here. You'll notice that the way I set up the results reveal, no matchups for next round have been decided. The '91 Bulls will open on the road in the quarterfinals no matter what, while three of the top four seeds have all advanced as well. Tomorrow, the #3 seed will have its chance to advance, while the two remaining Bulls squads try to make it to the quarters as well, and we have the one low-seed matchup set to go. Check back tomorrow to see the matchups get set for the Quarterfinals!
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