Yesterday saw the beginning of results for the Round of 32. In reality, these games would be getting played over the span of last week and this week, but to save time, I'm simulating a few whole series at a time and posting them this week. Sweeps would, in all likelihood, be close to, if not done by now, while the full seven game series would end up going through Sunday before we start up the Round of 16 next week.
Anyway, in this round we're playing best-of-seven series in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with home court advantage going to the team with the higher seed based on Group Play finish. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com.
Without further ado, let's play some basketball!
Scottie Pippen Pod
Game 1: @ '15 GS 107, '70 NYK 101 ('15 GS leads 1-0)
Game 2: @ '15 GS 96, '70 NYK 87 ('15 GS leads 2-0)
Game 3: '15 GS 111, @ '70 NYK 84 ('15 GS leads 3-0)
Game 4: '15 GS 105, @ '70 NYK 94 ('15 GS wins 4-0)
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson combined to hit eight of Golden State's 10 threes and finished with a combined 49 points to give the Warriors enough cushion to survive a late push from the Knicks and win Game 1. Curry added 12 assists and Andrew Bogut put up 13 points and 13 rebounds in the win. The Knicks managed just nine first quarter points in Game 2 and never recovered as Golden State held serve at home despite not shooting as well from deep, but Curry added 25 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals to lead the way. The Knicks committed 23 turnovers and scored just eight first quarter points in a Game 3 blowout where Klay Thompson scored 25 points. The Knicks tried starting Cazzie Russell in Game 4 and got some success, with Russell scoring a game-high 22 points, and Willis Reed had 20 points and 24 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome a 21 point, 13 assist, five steal night by Curry, 20 points from Thompson, and a 12 point outburst off the bench by David Lee as the Warriors finished the sweep.
Michael Jordan Pod
Game 1: @ '92 CHI 115, '09 LAL 109 ('92 CHI leads 1-0)
Game 2: '09 LAL 113, @ '92 CHI 95 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: @ '09 LAL 110, '92 CHI 104 ('09 LAL leads 2-1)
Game 4: @ '09 LAL 92, '92 CHI 91 ('09 LAL leads 3-1)
Game 5: @ '92 CHI 102, '09 LAL 86 ('09 LAL leads 3-2)
Game 6: '92 CHI 109, @ '09 LAL 107 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: @ '92 CHI 94, '09 LAL 91 ('92 CHI wins 4-3)
The Bulls shot 56 percent from the floor in Game 1 and Michael Jordan scored 40 points to outduel Kobe Bryant, who finished with 39. Scottie Pippen put up 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four steals to outdo 19 points and 13 rebounds from Andrew Bynum. The Lakers attacked the basket more in Game 2, getting to the line 33 times and evening the series behind 22 points and 12 rebounds from Bynum and 17 and 13 from Pau Gasol. Bryant went off for 33 points, Bynum added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Gasol chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists back in LA as the Lakers came back from down seven in the fourth quarter to take the series lead. Bryant buried the Game 4 winner with two seconds left, and Jordan inexplicably passed up a shot at the buzzer and turned it over to spoil a 34 point, eight rebound, five assist night. Gasol finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists in the win. Chicago staved off elimination back at home in Game 5 behind a triple double from Scottie Pippen and the Bulls doubling up the Lakers on free throws. Pippen almost had another in Game 6 with 32 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists while Jordan went off for 30, eight, and seven to force a decisive seventh game. That final game was a tight one, but Jordan scored nine of game-high 26 points in the final quarter to go with seven rebounds and seven assists, Horace Grant had a monster game with 23 points and 17 rebounds, and Pippen finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists while Kobe was held to 21 points, Bynum logged 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Gasol could only muster eight points and 15 rebounds.
Larry Bird Pod
Game 1: @ '11 DAL 123, '76 NYN 105 ('11 DAL leads 1-0)
Game 2: @ '11 DAL 103, '76 NYN 70 ('11 DAL leads 2-0)
Game 3: @ '76 NYN 103, '11 DAL 102 ('11 DAL leads 2-1)
Game 4: '11 DAL 117, @ '76 NYN 103 ('11 DAL leads 3-1)
Game 5: @ '11 DAL 106, '76 NYN 96 ('11 DAL wins 4-1)
The Mavs hit 12 of 24 threes in Game 1 to win going away as seven players scored in double figures. Game 2 saw the Dallas defense come to life and hold the Nets to 34.5 percent shooting while Dirk Nowitzki put up 22 points and 11 rebounds to help the Mavericks hold serve at home. Dirk scored 27 points in Game 3, but Swen Nater buried a jumper at the buzzer to steal a win for the Nets. Nater finished with eight points and 11 rebounds, Julius Erving put up 27 points and seven rebounds, and Ted McClain chipped in 16 points and five assists off the bench. The Mavs bounced right back in Game 4, getting 26 points and seven rebounds out of Dirk while Jason Terry scored 19 points and Jason Kidd finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, and 12 assists. They spoiled a 27 point, 13 rebound, five assist night for Erving. Dr. J finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds in Game 5 back in Dallas, but it wasn't enough as the team shot 37.9 percent, Dirk put up 25 points and seven rebounds, and Jason Kidd finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in the clincher.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Pod
Game 1: @ '12 MIA 106, '68 BOS 104 ('12 MIA leads 1-0)
Game 2: @ '12 MIA 118, '68 BOS 109 ('12 MIA leads 2-0)
Game 3: '12 MIA 116, @ '68 BOS 105 ('12 MIA leads 3-0)
Game 4: '12 MIA 112, @ '68 BOS 93 ('12 MIA wins 4-0)
LeBron James went 2-4 at the free throw line in the final minute to serve as the difference while John Havlicek and Bailey Howell failed to put the Celtics in front or force overtime. James finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals, including one in the closing seconds of Game 1. LeBron finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists while Dwyane Wade added 28, five, seven, and four steals to propel the Heat to a 2-0 series lead, though 25 Celtic turnovers absolutely helped. Miami's Big Three went off in Game 3, as LeBron put up 27 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, Wade added 26, five, and eight, and Chris Bosh went off for 26 points and nine rebounds to push Boston to the brink. LeBron finished off the sweep with a triple-double of 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists as well as four steals, Wade logged 24, six, and five, and the Heat spoiled a 25 point night for Havlicek as Boston goes quietly into the night.
To see the updated bracket, click here.
You'll note now if you look at the bracket that through two days, I haven't revealed any of the Round of 16 matchups yet. I deliberately spaced out my simulations of the series so that this would be the case. Tomorrow, four of the matchups in that next round will be revelaed as I play out a few more series in the Round of 32. That will come in the afternoon following another batch of Consolation Bracket games whose results will be unveiled at noon tomorrow. Check back again for the latest updates on the NBA/ABA Tournament of Champions!
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