THE PLAYOFF PUNCH-WEEK 1

It's been an exciting, dramatic and of course amazing first week of NBA Playoff basketball. The second season really is the reason this sport is the best in the world. Lets take a look and break down how the first week went...

...Right now the Chicago Bulls are one game away from stampeding the Indiana Pacers out of town (3-1) thanks to some great play by Rose, whose injury turned out to be just a little prick. Still with one win in the bank Indiana are keeping up pace looking to cash in more returns...

...Dwight Howard may have deservedly taken the Defensive Player of the Year, but his Orlando side have been unwelcome to Atlanta. The Magic are 2-1 down to the Hawks and will need to pull some of Dwight's D out their bag of tricks to tie the series and avoid being two games behind and one away from elimination...

...the impressive, new, New York Knicks are also one game away from being taken out of the game by the Boston Celtics (3-0). 'Melo, Amar'e and Mr. Big Shot will have to prove this big three can best Boston's fab four and so much more, otherwise the Sandman from the Apollo Theatre may as well come and sweep them away, because the Knicks are almost dust...

...Boston aren't the only team holding the brooms. There's more at stake in Philly then cheese. The Sixers are three zip down to the white hot Miami Heat and with not a black shirt in the American Airlines Arena house the stands along with the big three critics are a white-out...

...in the West the San Antonio Spurs may have started this season the best but right now their being rocked by Memphis. Just two more losses from mirroring fellow Texan team Dallas from 2006/2007 the Spurs need to click into gear as their 2-1 down to the savaging Grizzlies. All that hard work couldn't have been for nothing. Could it?...

...Oklahoma are looking better then ever as they are thundering a 3-0 lead on Denver. These 'melo'd out Rocky Mountain team are just another loss away from having no Nuggets left. OK town mean business. The Lakers better watch out. This is our sleeper pick for the West and the whole championship...

...the only first round series tied up like Western cowboy's on train tracks is the series between Texan Mavericks Dallas and Northwest Trailblazers Portland. You can thank Brandon Roy's playoff heroics for this. Just think months ago his career was on ice as his knees where on bone. Now he's truly back to his old self. These gun slingers could go 7 rounds. Who will be left standing is anybodies guess...

...finally the two-time defending champions finally have their eyes on one thing...the prize. The Los Angeles Lakers are 2 games up to 1 of the impressive New Orleans Hornets and finally looking like their old winning selves after looking like the team they've been at times this season following their Game 1 loss. If Pau Gasol and the rest of the Lakers get back on form showtime should go on (thank God for 'Sixth Man of the Year' Lamar Odom) but don't count out the spirit of New Orleans, we all know they're fighters...

...can't wait for week two right? Keep it 24/48/82 in the game we love. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

THROUGH THE WIRE 24/48/82: LAMAR ODOM-SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR

"It's been a long time coming" Lamar Odom said in his 'Sixth Man Of The Year' presser. I mean really were they ever going to give it to anybody else? I mean could they even give it to anybody else? 14 points, 9 rebounds all 82 games and the one main reason the Los Angeles Lakers are still even in the championship hunt (due word to New Orleans). He should be a starter, he should be an All-Star (that's surely next-'Odom A Favour' (http://basketball244882.blogspot.com/2011/01/odom-favour.html) is still relevant) and he should have been honored sooner. Still the NBA finally recognised Lamar Odom's sacrifice to his Los Angeles Lakers by naming him the 2011 'Sixth Man Of The Year'. Kobe Bryant was first out his seat to lead a standing applause and 'O' for the NBA's new 'Big O'.

The biggest, most dynamic, versatile threat off the bench has given the three-peat plugging but at times sluggish Lakers the spark and different dimension they truly need. Still Odom told everyone attending the press conference to sit down, acknowledged his team and growing family and humbly broke down as he truly thanked the people who he wished where there to see him. In a touching moment we really saw how much this selfless, sacrificing soldier has lost and all he has overcome to be there for others first. The truest sixth man of recent years he really personifies the truest sense of the 'teammate' phrase that embodies this award. Don't think this will be the last time his career will be recognised for this. This is only the beginning. Thank you and congratulations Lamar...you've truly earned it. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

(N.B. Apologies we have been out of action over the last few critical weeks in basketball, but we are back for that playoff push).

EAST COAST ROAD TRIPPIN': PART 3

In the conclusion to our 'East Coast Road Trippin' trilogy, BASKETBALL 24/48/82 finishes up in the U.S. by way of Miami, checking out a crucial, playoff prelude match-ups.

DAY 3: Miami Inked


MIAMI HEAT 100-77 BOSTON CELTICS

The Miami Heat hadn't beaten the Boston Celtics this season and in this prelude to a potential playoff-prime matchup it looked like they wouldn't again due to a cold start to the first quarter. Still thanks to three quarters, some dimes and bucks from LeBron James, some super Mario Chalmers three point money balls and a beefed up, pound for pound game from the new slim-line, 'Big Z' Ilgauskas Boston and their recent poor, post-all-star form gave in to Miami's heat. With all sorts of players in both the big-three teams also inconsistent this clash had a classic college element to it just like Boston's previous loss to the Bulls this week on our East Coast road trip.

This was a great game for everyone involved in this sell-out. From Heat legend Alonzo Mourning (who was honoured at half-time for his community work, where some of the concession hungry fans should have stayed and payed their respects to a true legend instead) to top rapper Drake, this was the best they ever had all season. Tempers also heated up in Miami as the visiting Boston side had the same technical problems like they did in the dramatic contest with other conference contender Chicago. As Wade, James and Pierce for Boston all picked up 'T's', it was clear that they where all down for their sides to the letter. Still, as the amateur dramatics squared up one too many times-when things got testy-it was clear these guys needed to grow a set...of fundamentals that is.

So LeBron led the way, adding 27 to the burn, while Wade and Bosh where also warm with 14 and 13 a piece. While for the C's, Pierce had 24, Garnett a Minnesota jersey of 21 and Allen a lucky 13, showing that right into the playoffs both teams big trios are as primed as they are passionate. A concern for Boston however is the form of Rondo (7 points) who had some difficulties at the lay-up line like he did against Chicago. Regardless Miami burnt Boston anyway giving the reigning Eastern Conference champions some notice for the postseason, which is-however-a completely different ball-game. Expect Rondo and everyone else to be on the same page to end this month, headed by the word 'amazing'. It's about to happen. You ready for the playoffs? Expect them to be white hot with this Miami team. Soak it up! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

(N.B. Our 'THROUGH THE WIRE' news section has been out of action for a few weeks but it will return after the postseason. Meanwhile look out for our brand-new 'PLAYOFF PUNCH' feature highlighting all that goes down in the most exciting part of the basketball season. Enjoy and keep it 24/48/82!)

EAST COAST ROAD TRIPPIN': PART 2

This week, BASKETBALL 24/48/82 is in the U.S. Travelling from New York to Miami, checking out some perennial teams in some prime match-ups.

DAY 2: Chicago Hope

CHICAGO BULLS 97-81 BOSTON CELTICS

There's a changing wind on the East Coast right now. last night Chicago bull-dozed the sleeping Boston Celtics in the perfect prelude to the playoffs that told us one thing; this time the Bulls could run down Boston in seven games. If this epic battle will take place remains to be likely seen, but even if it doesn't last night was a Michael Jackson, a thrilling classic. March Madness turned into April absurdity as this tense, hard-fought game had the elements of a classic, college clash. For a change it wasn't just Glen Davis who was taking baby shots. All of the talented 1 through 12's that both deep teams fielded flirted between inconsistency and potentially big plays from Paul Pierce to Kyle Korver.

In this concrete-tough game it was Rose (30 points) who grew, bloomed and blossomed, thrusting a thorn in the Celtic side and pride. Derrick showed just why Kevin Durant, everyone in the United Centre (which from the 'Bullpen' to the 'Bull Market' and the fans (even the Celtic ones) and all-round entertainment throughout the arena is among the leagues best) and almost everyone with the right mind in the Association considers him M-V-P. D-Rose dished, dunked and screamed his way to victory like it was an Adidas advert as this Point Guard and his Bulls are all in for the top spot of East, taking charge and about to take the clinch. The Rondo versus Rose matchup (which more then rivals that of Deron Williams and Chris Paul) again was the highlight but Rajon and his Boston big-three just couldn't get it going like the untouchable Bulls who took more shots then Kevin Costner channelling Elliott Ness down the stairs of Union Station.

Still, through all this however the greatest moment of the night came when legend Scottie Pippen was honoured at halftime with a bronze bust from the makers of the legendary Jordan statue. It was a shame that 'His Airness' nor the about to be enshrined Rodman et al where there but this was all about Scottie who-with his family-humbly and proudly accepted his just deserves. As the underrated, unselfish, unique superstar thanked presented and legend John Paxson and the thousands of elated fans there where few dry eyes. Still after Chicago got back to the game and the final buzzer sounded 24 minutes later it turned out the real bust was Boston. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

EAST COAST ROAD TRIPPIN': PART 1

This week, BASKETBALL 24/48/82 is in the U.S. Travelling from New York to Miami, checking out some perennial teams in some prime match-ups.

DAY 1: Live From New York City

NEW YORK KNICKS 123-107 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

You know when Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' 'Empire State Of Mind' epically plays to thousands of happy MSG customers as two of the leagues best players take the floor your in for a treat and things are only getting better in a city that's waited a long time for it's basketball to get on the same page as everything else in New York. If you've been a regular at Madison Square Garden you know what to expect; good food, bad prices, timeless venue, dated facilities and either floor seats where you could trip out over seeing Spike Lee, or more seats up where you can expect the third escalator to really be an expensive set of stairs. It's all however, just part of the class, character, beauty and pageantry of a Knick game.

One thing now that you thankfully don't have to expect is losses. Still the Knicks almost blew three potential whiteouts before finally blowing the Cleveland Cavaliers candles out like Gerald Green dunking in February. You see the Knicks may match up to the Heat, Bulls, Magic and even the reigning East kings North in Boston, but they have had great difficulty in beating smaller teams. Still New York got the better of Cleveland like they had signed LeBron this season, spotting them and clinching a playoff seed in the process. N.Y.'s big three of Anthony, Billups and Stoudemire's stats where all in the 20 point range as 'Melo's automatic jumpers and Mr. Billups big shots gave the Knicks the Nuggets they needed to strike gold against the Cavaliers. Sure rising rookie Landry couldn't field a dunk but Bill Walker ran down, stuffing the Cavs and that embarrassment.

Cleveland may be a bad team but they still had a good fight in them. J.J. Hickson was dunking and exploiting the Knicks bad D so much, his similar, sensational put-downs looked like a video game. Baron Davis also showed he was still number one with 11 points in around 15 seconds, you could even hear the Knicks play-by-play guy sigh before he drolly announced Davis name once again. The way B-Diddy was playing in that catalyst of a mini-Cavalier comeback he could have made his jersey number in points if his hot-streak wasn't cooled off by halftime. New York's play may have been a bit sloppy at times but hey that's Knick basketball and like a die-hard told his friend post-game "Hey they won! What more do you want?" N.Y.'s performance was good enough for the best crowd in the association, featuring hardcore, hard-to-please MSG fans and celebs like Whoopi, 50, Mayweather and that dude they lost in the first 'Hangover' movie. Even Knick, alumni legend Larry Johnson was on hand to a standing 'L'. In the end though the Knicks got the W and a wide berth on Cleveland...a playoff berth. TIM DAVID HARVEY.