It's crunch time now, though. With eight days left to go, teams have anywhere between two and four games left to play, and with that, a minimal amount of time to carve out a spot in the continuation of this tournament. Yet of the 32 spots in the Elimination Stage, only three have already been claimed. On the other end of the spectrum, nine teams have already been eliminated from contention and are only here to play out the string for pride.
Today's schedule boasts Groups A and B topping off a back-to-back, while Groups G and H got yesterday off and return to action today. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it!
Group B
@ '85 Los Angeles Lakers 123, '73 Indiana Pacers 116
The Lakers shot 54.9 percent from the floor to win their seventh game of the tournament and push the Pacers to the brink of elimination. Magic Johnson led the way with 18 points, eight rebounds, and 12 assists for Los Angeles, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar notched 25 points and eight rebounds, Byron Scott scored 23 points, and James Worthy chipped in 18 points and six rebounds. They spoiled a 34 point, 18 rebound night for George McGinnis, while Mel Daniels added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Billy Keller chipped in 17 points and eight assists for the Pacers.
@ '75 Golden State Warriors 129, '69 Oakland Oaks 109
The Oaks are guaranteed to finish with a losing record and also find themselves on the brink of elimination after turning the ball over 19 times, going 0-7 from three, and allowing the Warriors to shoot 51.4 percent from the floor. Clifford Ray paced Golden State with 25 points and 11 rebounds, '75 Rick Barry added 12 points and seven assists, and Charles Johnson had maybe his best game of the tournament with 24 points and nine rebounds. '69 Rick Barry paced Oakland with 25 points and 12 rebounds, Warren Jabali added 22 and 11, Gary Bradds contributed 12 and 11, and Ira Harge finished with 11 and 10.
A Bill Cartwright dunk with 32 seconds left gave the Bulls a 113-111 lead, but the Knicks got an offensive rebound off a Bill Bradley miss, drained a one-hander from the baseline at the buzzer to force overtime. Dick Barnett then won the game with a three with 22 seconds left in the extra session, and a Walt Frazier steal with eight ticks left sealed it. Reed led the way with 26 points and 18 rebounds, Frazier added 14 points and 11 assists, Dick Barnett scored 20 points, and Dave DeBusschere finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists for New York. Michael Jordan's eight turnovers hurt an otherwise stellar night of 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four blocks, while Scottie Pippen's triple-double of 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists got spoiled, and B.J. Armstrong also scored 23 points for the Bulls.
@ '90 Detroit Pistons 109, '74 New York Nets 89
Detroit puts an end to New York's contention for the Elimination Stage and clinches Group B's number one seed with the group title. Isiah Thomas helped deliver the title with 12 points, seven rebounds, and 14 assists, Bill Laimbeer added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and James Edwards scored 21 points off the bench for the Pistons. Larry Kenon had 15 points and 12 rebounds to pace New York, Julius Erving added 14 and 14, and Billy Paultz finished with 10 and 10.
Group G
@ '66 Boston Celtics 117, '72 Indiana Pacers 114
Sam Jones converted an old-fashioned three point play with 20 seconds left to give Boston the lead, Mel Daniels missed a go-ahead look, Jones hit a couple more free throws, and Roger A. Brown missed a three at the buzzer to give the Celtics their eighth win for them to stay within striking distance of the fourth and final spot out of Group G. The Pacers, combined with the Nets' later win in Boston, are now eliminated from contention. Jones finished with 21 points, Bill Russell exploded for 21 points, 29 rebounds, and eight assists, John Havlicek poured in 18 points, and K.C. Jones chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds for Boston. Bob Netolicky led the Pacers with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks, Mel Daniels added 11 points and 19 rebounds, and Roger A. Brown finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The Bulls shot just 37 percent from the floor, but dominated the glass and made 20 of their 27 free throws while the Lakers shot a tournament-low 40 percent from the stripe. Chicago cements the head to head tiebreaker behind 22 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists from Michael Jordan, while Toni Kukoc scored 20 points, Scottie Pippen added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Dennis Rodman pulled down 20 rebounds. Shaquille O'Neal paced the Lakers with 28 points and 11 rebounds, Kobe Bryant added 11 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, and Robert Horry and Samaki Walker each put up eight points and seven rebounds.
@ '58 St. Louis Hawks 144, '67 Philadelphia 76ers 124
The Hawks shot 50 percent from the floor and made 50 trips to the free throw line in playing their best game of the tournament despite already being eliminated from contention. The Sixers shot 51.6 percent from the floor, but got outrebounded and turned the ball over 22 times in the loss which, combined with the '76 Nets win, eliminates Philly from contention. Bob Pettit had 31 points and 11 rebounds to lead St. Louis, Cliff Hagan added 20 and 10, and Jack Coleman chipped in 11 and seven off the bench. Wilt Chamberlain finished with 20 points, 21 rebounds, and seven assists to lead the Sixers, while Wali Jones added 23 points and six assists and Billy Cunningham scored 18 points off the bench.
'76 New York Nets 109, @ '64 Boston Celtics 98
The Nets keep their hold on the fourth Elimination Stage spot from the group while eliminating a pair of other teams, making this a five team race. New York won the rebounding battle and made more free throws (28) than Boston attempted (27). Julius Erving led the way with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, John Williamson scored 20 points, and Swen Nater chipped in 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets. Bill Russell paced Boston with 16 points, 23 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, Sam Jones added 23 points and six rebounds, and Frank Ramsey scored 11 points off the bench.
Group A
Houston stays right in the thick of things after forcing 24 turnovers and shot over 50 percent from inside the three point arc to grab their ninth win of the tournament. Hakeem Olajuwon exploded for 39 points and eight rebounds, Clyde Drexler finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, and Otis Thorpe chipped in 12 points and 18 rebounds for the Rockets. Bob Netolicky paced Indiana with 10 points and 12 rebounds, Mel Daniels added 19 and nine, and Roger A. Brown logged 18 and five.
'83 Philadelphia 76ers 107, @ '06 Miami Heat 99
A 15-4 Sixers run in the fourth quarter turned a tie game into a game well in Philly's control, and with it they eliminate the Heat from contention. Julius Erving destroyed Miami's defense to the tune of 35 points and nine rebounds, while Moses Malone added 14 and 13, Andrew Toney had 13 points and five assists, and Maurice Cheeks finished with 12 points, five assists, and four steals. Dwyane Wade had 21 points, six assists, and four steals for Miami, while Shaquille O'Neal notched 18 points and 15 rebounds and Jason Williams scored 13 points.
'14 San Antonio Spurs 116, @ '74 Boston Celtics 105
The Spurs get to the 10 win plateau and move into a tie with the '72 Lakers by taking great care of the ball, taking advantage of their free throws, and shooting 48.9 percent from the floor. Boston had no answer for Tony Parker, who broke out for 26 points and seven assists, while Tim Duncan added 15 points and 13 rebounds and Kawhi Leonard chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists for San Antonio. Dave Cowens paced the Celtics with 15 points and 14 rebounds, Don Chaney added 19 and seven, Jo Jo White had 16 and seven, and Paul Silas contributed 15 and seven.
'91 Chicago Bulls 119, @ '65 Boston Celtics 99
The Bulls shot 55.1 percent and led by 23 at the half to grab their tenth win against a Celtics team still looking for that elusive first win. Boston ultimately had no answer for Michael Jordan, who went off for 39 points and six rebounds, while Scottie Pippen added 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, Will Perdue had 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, and Craig Hodges scored 11 points. Sam Jones had 22 points and six rebounds for the Celtics, Bill Russell logged 12 points and 16 rebounds, and John Havlicek scored 20 points.
Group H
@ '73 New York Knicks 127, '59 Boston Celtics 122
The Knicks only forced five Celtics turnovers and needed a late rally sparked by a Dave DeBusschere dunk and Walt Frazier free throw line jumper that proved to be the game winner, both in the final minute. Frazier finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, DeBusschere had 15 and 17, Earl Monroe dropped 19 points and nine assists, and Willis Reed added 18 points and 10 rebounds for New York. Bill Russell had 16 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists for Boston, Bill Sharman scored 24 points, Tommy Heinsohn added 20 points and seven rebounds, and Bob Cousy chipped in 12 points and nine assists. Combined with the 2010 Lakers' win, the Celtics, who won the Play In Tournament, have been eliminated from contention for the Elimination Stage.
The Lakers earn the split with Milwaukee and jump a half game ahead of the Bucks for second place with a strong surge to start the fourth quarter that gave them control of the game. Los Angeles hit 28 of 36 free throws and shot 52.4 percent from the floor in their ninth win. '80 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the way with 26 points and six rebounds, Jamaal Wilkes added 21 and six, and Magic Johnson contributed 18 points, nine assists, and seven steals for LA. Oscar Robertson had a near triple-double for Milwaukee with 23 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists, '71 Kareem had 20 points and 16 rebounds, and Jon McGlocklin finished with 12 points and five assists.
'94 Houston Rockets 99, @ '03 San Antonio Spurs 90
Houston held the Spurs to 40.9 percent shooting and forced 16 turnovers in a win that doesn't help them any since they've already been eliminated, but they play the role of spoiler in knocking San Antonio down a peg. Hakeem Olajuwon led the way with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks, Robert Horry had 16 points, five rebounds, and four steals, and Vernon Maxwell contributed 14 points and five assists for the Rockets. Tim Duncan had 22 points, 21 rebounds, and six assists for the Spurs, Tony Parker added 16 points and seven assists, and Malik Rose scored 10 points off the bench. Despite the win, Houston is still eliminated from contention due to the 2010 Lakers' win.
'10 Los Angeles Lakers 115, @ '57 Boston Celtics 106 (OT)
The Lakers blew a 10 point lead with four minutes to go, but Pau Gasol tied the game with 31 seconds to go to force overtime. Despite his miss at the regulation buzzer, Gasol scored what wound up being the game-winning basket in the extra session. Kobe Bryant led the way with 31 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals for Los Angeles, while Gasol added 15 points and 15 rebounds, Lamar Odom added eight points and 15 rebounds, and Ron Artest scored 13 points. Bob Cousy had 22 points, five rebounds, and nine assists, Bill Russell notched 18 points, 23 rebounds, and four blocks, and Tommy Heinsohn logged 24 points and 11 rebounds for Boston.
No comments:
Post a Comment