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Unreal, Chicago misses 4 straight free throws and Melo just tied it (Original Post) JonLP24 Apr 2012 OP
Melo's been really clutch this game JonLP24 Apr 2012 #1
Chicago, OKC and Miami...three teams that looked invincible... joeybee12 Apr 2012 #2
The schedule is catching up to these teams JonLP24 Apr 2012 #3

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
1. Melo's been really clutch this game
Sun Apr 8, 2012, 03:55 PM
Apr 2012

Last edited Sun Apr 8, 2012, 04:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Game tying 3-pointer in the 4th with 11 seconds left. 3 here to take 1-point lead with 8.2 seconds left. Chicago squandered another lead with over a minute left but it wasn't as ugly this time.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
3. The schedule is catching up to these teams
Sun Apr 8, 2012, 04:39 PM
Apr 2012

Chicago is different because they were without Rose and they can't really use the schedule as an excuse in this game as they had plenty of rest with a well rested Rose coming in. They just simply collapsed in final minutes of overtime & 4th and Melo hit 3-pointers when he often came up short this season in similar situations.

Look at losses for Miami and OKC, they either came on the road or in back-to-back situations. Miami's loss to Memphis at home can be attributed to a letdown factor which exists when teams came off a win against a top team(OKC) to struggle against a lesser opponent. Gambler strategy is to spot those type of games because it makes sense for teams to prepare extra hard & have the motivation factor that doesn't exist in simply another game. Miami's other recent losses were on the road against Boston after coming from Toronto. OKC & Indiana in back-to-back nights. Chicago & Orlando back-to-back nights.

Oklahoma City is coming off losses in Miami & Indiana. The home loss to Memphis could be attributed to letdown after win against Chicago. Their other loss was on the road in Utah which is just a very tough place to play. I don't know what it is about that place.

It is frustrating that analysts are overreacting to unfavorable match-ups when it is easy to predict where teams will win depending on scheduling factors (several teams have had stretches of 5 games in 6 days) or road games where they are tougher than ever this season without mentioning this. I thought what Chicago did in Orlando by holding them to 59 points was unbelievable until a sports writer from other than ESPN pointed out that Orlando was on the second game of a back-to-back with the first game a relatively close loss on the road against Miami while Chicago was coming off a favorable stretch of home games on their first road trip with a day rest. I really hope there isn't another year like this because there has been some awful basketball going on.

Point is I fully expect those three teams to advance in playoff series that sensible scheduled with appropriate rest. I think if Indiana falls back they could be a tough draw. Philadelphia is one of the best defensive teams in the league and those types could always make things difficult. I don't know what to make of this short-handed Knicks team that manages to keep winning. Of course if Phoenix makes it, they will most likely be an #8 seed so obviously I hope OKC doesn't make it past them.

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