If you thought the first week of the 2011 NBA Playoffs was amazing, you'd be right, but the intensity has now stepped up a notch further with the second week as we move into the second round of the postseason. Let's check out how it all went down with the second bout of 'The Playoff Punch'...
...out in the East Indiana only managed to stop the Bulls charge with one game as Chicago's impressive herd stampeded the Pacers 4-1. No wonder Tom Thibodeau is coach of the year. Series like this show why he's earned it...
...Orlando's magic ran out in the ATL as the Atlanta Hawks beat them to a series of 4 games over 2. Questions about this stacked Florida team will now pile up. Are we near Howard's end in Disneyland? Meanwhile the Hawks keep getting better, sharpening their talons in preparation to claw their next victim...
...Boston brought the brooms out to the old Madison Square Garden in New York as they swept the Knicks up and away with the dust. MSG may be in need of renovation but this new N.Y. Knick team don't need refurbishment however, this experience should be enough...
...the Celtics put the brooms away in the Eastern semis however as the white hot Miami Heat took the first game. This Miami team furthered their impressive run after beating the Philadelphia 76ers band of brothers 4-1 in the first round. Still the Sixers have achieved so much getting this far. It will only get better for them from here on out...
...how about your first round upset in the West? The Memphis Grizzlies lost their glass slippers as they savaged the former league best San Antonio Spurs 4 games to 2. San An had a great season but in the end they mirrored their fellow Texan team Dallas of 2007 by having no bullets left in their gun come playoff time. Memphis also have primed themselves for another upset, putting the umbrellas up against the Thunder, leading them 1-nil in the Western Conference semi-finals. Memphis look to make the only rain be their opponents tears...
...still, the Oklahoma City Thunder showed in the last round that they where the West's best of present and future as they breezed past the Carmelo less-but still great-Denver team. Even in that Mile-High City air Durant, Westbrook, Perkins et al still mined the Nuggets...
...the Dallas Mavericks also blazed Portland's trail as Dirk and his hot shooters ignited the Oregon sides baskets. The Blazers are looking like a better, more balanced team but without Oden the Mavs owned them 4 games to 2...
...now it's time for the Mavs to finally show and prove that they can lasso the Lakers. The defending Los Angeles championship team where stung a couple of times by the Hornets in what could of been another 'where impossible happens' upset. The first game loss reminded the Lake Show of the A.I. led Sixers of 2001. While the next N.O. win in this (4-2, advantage Lakers) series showed us just how strong the team, fans and city of New Orleans really are. Perhaps Chris Paul and the Hornets aren't done after all...
...amazing right? Well we're just getting started. Keep it 24/48/82 for your favourite time of year for the sport you love and check back next week for your next hit from 'The Playoff Punch'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
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