More than being physical?
EASTERN CONFERENCE
A strong dislike and fierce rivalry is one thing, but the series between the defending champions Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls seems to have transcended the border of strong physical play to a gloveless boxing match. Just three games into the series and there has already been three ejections and a combination of over 10 technical fouls and flagrant fouls called.
Though they lost the first game of the series, the Heat have bounced back with two impressive victories to lead the series 2-1. Their dominance included a 37-point win in Game 2 of the series, which is a franchise best and worst respectively for the Heat and the Bulls.
The series between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, though less physical, is just as intense. The Pacers lead the series 2-1 and later today will be looking to preserve homecourt advantage and go 3-1 up after they snatched it from the Knicks by winning the opening game of the series.
The backcourt George Hill-Paul George combination seems to be standing tall while Roy Hibbert is providing a key presence against the tough Tyson Chandler of the Knicks.
Upsets on the horizon?
WESTERN CONFERENCE
IN both semi-final match-ups in the conference there seems to be a lingering chance of an upset. The Golden State Warriors have matched the San Antonio Spurs stride for stride in that series and entered the week with the series level at 2-2. Klay Thompson and Steph Curry are alternating the big performances and the former is leading his team with performance and heart, playing through an ankle injury in their 97-87 victory in Sunday.
The Memphis Grizzlies seem to have found a way to cripple the supporting cast of Kevin Durant as they surged 2-1 ahead in their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kevin Durant is virtually unstoppable, but the likes of Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin are just as dominant as they were expected to be, given the absence of the explosive Russell Westbrook.
Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are dominating in the paint while the efficient Mike Conley continues to steady the ship for the league’s hallmark blue-collar team, grinding out each and every possession.
