Jose Arredondo
TBS Editor-in-Chief
There has been some blowout professional basketball victories in the NBA along with some thriller games. These contests have consisted of horrific injuries to high profile superstars and key players.
To advance from this point on to the finals, each team in the playoffs must win four games to win their respective series. The NBA is currently in its second round of playoffs with the NBA finals approaching in several weeks.
Before the Indiana Pacers eliminated the Orlando Magic, superstar center Dwight Howard felt the injury wrath which has plagued the league. In Howard’s case, he suffered back issues and then watched his team bow out to the Pacers in five games.
Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose suffered a torn ACL, which sidelined him for the playoffs. The no.1 ranked Bulls, who finished with home court priveledges throughout the playoffs, fell in three straight games to the Philadelphia 76ers following Rose’s injury casting doubt on how far the team would advance. The 76ers currently hold a 3-2 game edge and can eliminate the Bulls in Philadelphia upon their next meeting on the court. Bulls center Joahkim Noah is questionable for his team’s next game due in part to a sprained ankle suffered in game four.
The New York Knicks suffered multiple injuries leading to and during the playoffs with guard Lin unable to play. Reserve Knicks point guard Iman Shumpert, also tore his ACL and Knicks power forward Baron Davis dislocated his knee. The Knicks were eliminated by the Miami Heat in five games.
Roosevelt U.S. History teacher Patoney Krider chimed in on the injury bug sweeping the NBA.
“Derrick Rose getting hurt was a big blow to the Bulls, but they have played without him all season,” Krider said.
Some teams have dominated others with the San Antonio Spurs sweeping the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder taking out the Dallas Mavericks in four games. The Los Angelos Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies are still battling it out for who will meet the Spurs in the second round. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics, a team with age and experience, send the Atlanta Hawks home with solid play from Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo.
“A lot of lopsided first round games, but it’s the first round. What else would you expect?” Roosevelt basketball coach Brad Wyatt said.
The second round playoffs will likely be great for basketball fans with the Spurs facing the Memphis-LA Clippers series winner, the Los Angelos Lakers taking on the Thunder, and a possible Boston-Philadelphia matchup assuming Chicago is finished.
“I can’t wait for (the) second round. I will try to watch as many games as I can,” Bo Serros, said.
