DAY TWENTY-THREE - After sweeping Miami people were ready to start planning the Bulls' coronation, but now facing Detroit they're down 0-3 and facing elimination at home. Does Detroit sweep for the second straight series? Or will the Bulls extend their playoff lives? We find out today on day 23 of the NBA Playoffs.
Pistons at Bulls, 3:30 PM, ABC
Winner: Pistons
Thoughts: Ladies and gentlemen, this series is over. I'm a firm believer that in a cases like this, the best chance a team has for holding off elimination was the last game, in other words, game three. It's the position I've taken in all the other series that have ended up sweeps thus far (Detroit/Orlando, Chicago/Miami, Cleveland/Washington) and I've ended up being right so far. Going down 0-3 is essentially losing a series seeing as how team has ever overcome that kind of deficit in NBA history and if a team can't prevent themselves from being put in that situation, they pretty much can't win. Chicago gave a great effort in game three, being up 19 at one point in the third quarter. But Detroit did something that they will always do. At some point in the game they go on a tear, a massive run, usually sparked up shut down defense and either end up blowing you out or making a come back. That's what they did in game three and it's safe to think that's what they'll do in game four. Detroit has taken Chicago's best shot, I think, and they took it well. Series over. Pistons win.
Jazz at Warriors, 9:00 PM, TNT
Winner: Warriors
Thoughts: I said the Warriors would win game three and they did. Why? Because shots just started going down for them. The Warriors are a jump shooting team and they're a streaky team; they go as they success of their jump shots go, which is often an up and down affair. I figured the home crowd would help them along the way and so it did, and it didn't hurt that Golden State toned down the 'jack-it-up' level by taking a more moderate 78 shot attempts. And from three, well they tied a playoff record with 11 first half threes. The truth is the Warriors are a tough team to prediction when they're not playing the Mavs. They play a style that is never going to be consistent because they simply take bad shots, and unlike most teams who see that as a bad thing, that is, in essence, their entire approach - get up as many shots as possible and hope enough go down. Some games they will, some games they won't. But one thing has been a consistent indicator of their success is how they play at home. I think the Warriors come out energetic again and tie up the series. Warriors win.
* all times Eastern
Jordan's Playoff Picks so far:
36/52 - 69%
Tomorrow's games:
Cavaliers at Nets
Suns at Spurs