Dallas 102, Memphis 76 (Dallas swept the series, 4-0)
I guess the Clippers had the right idea. Lose that game against Memphis on April 18th and, as a reward, get home court advantage in the first round against a vulnerable Denver squad. With that victory, Memphis clinched the fifth seed and a date with Dallas, the second best team in the conference. Two weeks later, the Grizzlies have been swept. The Mavericks have been great and look like the hottest team in the league. Dirk Nowitzki averaged 31.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in the series, playing like he’s ticked off that he wasn’t named the MVP. Dallas gets to sit back and wait for the victor of the Spurs/Kings series, which looks like it might go seven games.
Detroit 109, Milwaukee 99 (Detroit leads series, 3-1)
This game was a lot closer than the final score would indicate. The Bucks held a 86-85 lead with 5:54 to play, but the Pistons showed a lot of fortitude in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on a short Milwaukee shooting drought to pull away down the stretch. The young Bucks are going to lose this series, but they will take some valuable playoff experience into next season.
LA Clippers 101, Denver 83 (Clippers win series, 4-1)
The Clippers advanced in the playoffs for the first time in 30 years with a blowout victory over the Nuggets. Five Clippers scored in double figures, with Corey Maggette, Elton Brand and Cuttino Mobley all going for 20+. Though there are rumors that Maggette might be on the trading block this offseason, the team should seriously consider keeping him. Unless his foot is going to be an ongoing problem, Maggette has as much upside as just about any small forward in the league. More and more it is looking like there will be a “Hallway Series” out West, with the Clippers and the Lakers squaring off in round 2. This will be a golden opportunity for the Clippers to establish themselves as the premier team in Los Angeles. That’s assuming, of course, that the Lakers don’t blow a 3-1 series lead against the Suns.
