NBA playoffs

[Da Coach]

The Atlanta Hawks finished off the Orlando Magic last night to advance to Round 2 of the NBA playoffs and meet the Bulls.
The LA Lakers and Dallas Mavericks also closed out first round series wins last night. The only remaining playoff to be determined is the Spurs vs. Grizzlies. They play tonight, and the Grizzlies are up 3 games to 2 and are 3 point favorites to win tonight.

Round 2 features great matchups between-
Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
LA Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks
Oklahoma City vs. Memphis Grizzlies/SA Spurs winner

Here is the Bulls-Hawks playoff game schedule-

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/sports/cbsports-up-next-for-bulls-atlanta-hawks-20110428,0,1161248.story

[Da Coach]

Memphis takes out the San Antonio Spurs!
The Grizzlies won game 6 99-91 to take their 1st round series 4 games to 2.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2011042929

The Grizzlies become only the 4th #8 seed to upset a #1 seeded team in the history of NBA playoffs.

[jasonpeoria911]

Great work by Memphis. San Antonio is aging and the wear & tear showed towards the end of the regular season. Lets see what they can do against a fresher run and gun OKC team.

On a side note, Hinrich is out for game 1 for ATL and Boozer will likely be hobbled if he's able to play at all Monday night. Would be a nice advantage for the Bulls if Boozer can gut it out.

Jason

[Da Coach]

I think Boozer will bounce back with a good game. I don't think the Atlanta big men can match up with Chicago's, and their guards can't defend Rose and the other Chicago guards. Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson are good, but I think the Bulls' defense can control them. I don't expect it to be easy, but the Bulls should win this series in 5 games.

[Da Coach]

If anyone saw the Bulls-Atlanta Hawks playoff game last night, the Hawks pulled away in the final minutes to win 100-88, and tie the series at 2 games apiece.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/sports/bulls/ct-spt-0509-bulls-hawks-chicago--20110508,0,1954427.story

But there was controversy. The game stayed close until the final couple minutes. Then with 2:27 left in the game and the Bulls trailing 90-84, Derrick Rose was clobbered by Jamal Crawford on a three point attempt. Rose should have gotten 3 free throws which could have made the score 90-87. Veteran official Bennett Salvatore blew his whistle, but then ruled that it was an inadvertant whistle, and there was no foul. By the NBA rules, an inadvertant whistle results in a jump ball, which the Hawks won, and it lead to a quick basket that made the score 92-84.
The Bulls were forced to start fouling and launching bad shots, and the Hawks pulled away.
Later, Salvatore admitted it was a foul and Rose should have been awarded 3 free throws.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/sports/bulls/ct-spt-0509-bulls-brite--20110508,0,5054270.story

No foul?-