NBA PLAYOFFS: 3 on 3

HAWKS FLYING HIGH

The Atlanta Hawks are running the Indiana Pacers right out the gym and taking their pride and joy with it. Atlanta "point" guard Jeff Teague cannot be touched literally by Pacers "guard" George Hill while C.J Watson is a standing statue. Indiana's so called bigs are flat footed and are reserved to watch Teague break down the rest of the defense at will. Teague and his cast of unsung heroes have put on a show this first round series and are not backing down to the #1 seed Pacers. A (2-1) series lead for the #8 seeded Hawks and no hesitation to play their style of ball no matter what Indiana tries to bring to the court.  Pacers head coach Frank Vogel is on the verge of being run out of Atlanta and the Pacer sideline with a loss Saturday at Phillips Arena. Atlanta has dominated Indiana in all three games just blowing their lead in game two resulting in q Pacers comeback. Five players scored in double digits Thursday night including Jeff Teague who is averaging 21 points and 6 assist during the playoffs. Paul George has played some defense on Teague but no one has collectively slowed him down.  George a supposedly Superstar, has not shot the ball well in their two losses. Although George does have a double-double in all three games (21 points, 11 boards) he is averaging; (9/29) shooting in the two losses is not going to get it done. This is from the team that made it a necessity to get home court through the playoffs while Atlanta has stolen that. Paul Millsap is a double-double threat and Lou Williams coming off the bench playing well spells more worries for the top seed in the East. Atlanta has attempted 20 more free throws then Indiana, shows you a tougher team in the Hawks. As the mental and physical morale of not just Roy Hibbert but a depleted Pacers team continues to sink in, the Hawks and coach Bud will keep making adjustments. Hibbert is shooting an abysmal 25% worst then he has for his career and this collapse could be epic. Frank Vogel may be changing area codes before it’s all said and done with.

ONE MAN SHOW IN RIP CITY

LA does not mean Los Angeles in the #4 and #5 match-up out West, it stands for LaMarcus Aldridge.  Aldridge has been playing Jordan like with his (46) and (43) points in the first two games of the Rockets-Blazers series. LaMarcus Aldridge along with MJ and Tracy McGrady are the only other two players to start a playoff series scoring 40 points in consecutive games. Aldridge has played phenomenal, whether he has been in the post, driving past defenders or scoring a fade away from 15 feet the guy couldn't be touched in both games during this series. A (2-0) series lead for Portland and both wins come at the expense of being on the road, now Rip City will be rocking for game three. Not since the 2000 Portland team have the Trail Blazers been up (2-0) in a playoff series. The Blazers have a one-two punch between Aldridge and last year's Rookie of the Year Damien Lillard.  Lillard in his playoff debut dropped 31 points and led the Blazers to an overtime victory after LaMarcus fouled out in regulation. Dwight Howard has played two solid games with (27 points, 15 rebounds) in game one and (32 points, 14 rebounds) in game two however; Houston is yet to win a game in the series. James Harden has not showed up when it counts and has left Rockets fans sour in the face. After winning the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2012 with Oklahoma City, James Harden left OKC to be "The Man" in Houston. Not bad performances both games but the 4th quarter in game one he couldn't convert the game winner twice while shooting (8/28). Follow that by the (6/19) shooting in game two and only had four trips to the free throw line the whole game, we expect better from the beard.  Portland head coach Terry Stotts has improved the Blazers record by 21 games after his first campaign last season and with his two All-Stars and a solid rotation, Portland is in good shape to take this series. Not counting out Houston, they have scorers in Parsons and Lin who can assist Harden and Howard but they must bring the same intensity on the defensive side. If no one can slow down Aldridge but 6 fouls it will be a short series regardless.

WIZARDRY IN WASHINGTON

The Washington Wizards have not won a playoff series since the 2007 season. Wizards point guard John Wall promised a playoff berth in the nation’s capital and they seemed poised to get further than that. Wall alongside NeNe, and Bradley Beal have their own rendition of Arenas, Jamison, and Heyward hooping in Washington. The #5 seed Wizards leave the hostile United Center up (2-0) versus the #4 seed Chicago Bulls and welcome the friendly confines of the Verizon Center. The post play of Washington has dominated a Bulls front court led by the Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah. Marcin Gortat and NeNe have been a wrecking force for the Wiz on the glass and in scoring. Gortat and NeNe combined for (39 points, 21 rebounds) in game one, while Bradley Beal's late game efforts to go with 26 points have led them to this series lead. Bulls guard D.J Augustine was playing well until Wizards put a bigger and longer body on him and his offensive game became a thing of the past.  Chicago as a whole ranked 28th in offensive efficiency and with no Derrick Rose on the floor the Bulls are praying for a scorer. To mention their bread and butter which is their defense has lacked and Washington has taken advantage and has been better than Chicago on both sides of the ball. Hard to say that when it's a Tom Thibodau coached team. John Wall has played well but has not been leaned on as in previous years. His teammates have contributed well as Wall has been tremendous fulfilling his role at point. Two things for Chicago. One, they are not going to give up without a fight as long as Noah and Thibs are there. Two, Hinrich, Gibson, and Butler do not sound like an offensive threat. For Washington, one, they have not seen a playoff game in 7 years. Two when John Wall doesn't have to be your leading scorer and you’re winning that is a bad combination.  Chicago failures with finding someone to score may insist Washington pulling out the broom sticks for this series and an early exit for the Bulls.