2014 NBA Playoffs: Paul George steps up, keeps Pacers season alive

(1) Indiana Pacers 93, (2) Miami Heat 90
Paul George: 37 points (15-28 FG,) 6 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 assists
Dwyane Wade: 18 points (7-14 FG,) 8 rebounds, 7 assists

With his team down 3-1 in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, and his season on the brink, Paul George took full responsibility in extending Indiana's season and forcing a Game 6 against the Miami Heat.

George registered one of the most stellar Pacer playoff performances in recent memory, as his 37 points (31 in the 2nd half,) 6 rebounds and 6 steals propelled Indy to a season salvaging victory.

21 of his 31 2nd half points came in the all important fourth quarter, where some legacies are molded or simply erode away.

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James was parked on the bench for majority of the game, as some iffy foul calls forced him to the sideline. James played only 24 minutes, scored only 7 points (2-10 FG) and had 4 assists and 2 rebounds.

James' 7 points is the fewest he's ever had in a playoff game.

With LeBron being strapped to the bench for the bulk of the game, Paul George drew the assignment of stopping the league's best shooting guard in Dwyane Wade. This task proved to be less tedious and strenuous on George, who looked fresh and engaged in the final period of the contest.

In the fourth, George had his legs and wasn't experiencing that crippling exhaustion that usually stems from having to contain LeBron James over the 48 minutes in a professional basketball game.

From 6:22 on in the 4th quarter, George had 4 of Indiana's 5 field goals and 13 of their final 17 points. This includes Paul nailing a huge three pointer with 46 seconds left after Heat big man Chris Bosh nailed a three the prior possession to cut it to a one point Pacer lead.

It was my belief, that if this game came down to big shot making and taking, Miami would march away victorious. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade would be too much to overcome, and the threats multiply as Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen all have the capability of making the dagger shot.

Usually, Indiana tends to cower away in the big moments, plagued by uncertainty and stagnation on the offensive end. Many become unsure of who will take and make the big shot, but Paul George put a stern dismissal to these notions tonight.

George was focused, fearless and fiery, countering every big Miami play with a dazzling maneuver of his own. George's dominance was not restricted to the offensive end, as his elite defense was in full throttle during tonight's contest.

George and Lance Stephenson refused to rest on their laurels, picking up Wade, Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole at almost full court, forcing them to squander away the rhythm Miami had for the entire first half.

George's game was a blend of activity, assertiveness and bounciness. He imposed his will all over the court, borrowing some of that aggression and energy Lance Stephenson seems to have such a high dosage of.

Many fans question if Paul George has entered the realm of superstardom that LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul dwell in. George is one of the most debated figures when it comes to discussing top ten NBA players, and Wednesday night he showcased to the entire world that he's worthy of being mentioned amongst the NBA's elite.

For some eerie reason, their seems to be an unwritten rule that Paul George must accomplish what it takes some stars ten plus years to accomplish in the beginning stages of his career. George is only 24, his best days are ahead of him and he shouldn't be faulted for Indiana falling victim to an all-time great Miami Heat team.

Miami boasts championship experience, deep, poised veteran talent, an extremely skilled forward in Chris Bosh, the league's best shooting guard in Dwyane Wade and the world's best player in LeBron James.

Miami never seems panicked when Indiana starts to rally, or muster up a great deal of momentum. They remain unfazed, with their mind fixated on victory. Indiana eventually wants to mimic this strong mental makeup, the makeup that is usually associated with a championship caliber team.

As each grueling game unfolds, it's illustrated to George and these Pacers what's needed to have their name spewed out when mentioning the league's top tier teams. They want to abandon the inconsistencies that have hampered them for the entire second half of the season, for more gritty and brute play.

They want to develop that sense of calmness that Miami firmly grasps onto even in the most chaotic of situations. Showings such as this simply paint George as the reliable figure who can deliver a victory even when the odds seem to be stacked against you.

With every attack of the basket, George pushed Miami back on their heels. With each flick of the wrist, Paul George gave the Indiana faithful a reason to leap out of their chair and cheer. Each and every one of George's basket restored the faith that Miami had done an excellent job of stripping away in Games 2, 3 and 4.

Now, Indiana must venture into Miami, and face an eager and angered Heat team who lost the opportunity to close this Indiana team out in Game 5. Despite LeBron James not leaving his usually massive imprint on this game, the Heat still had the opportunity to emerge victorious.

They only lost by three points, and will look to bury this Indy team once and for all on Friday in front of their sure to be hysterical home crowd.

But for tonight, the exciting Pacer play was led by Paul George who pushed himself one step closer into the elite player conversation with this performance. George is in the intermediate stages of shaping his legacy, and this game tonight was a mesmerizing start.

Does Indiana have a chance in Game 6? Will this series go to a Game 7? Share thoughts and opinions on Twitter (@wcboyer24) and continue to support The Basketball Society.

2014 NBA Playoffs: Roy Hibbert emerges when Pacers need him most

Pacers 86, Wizards 82 (Series tied 1-1)
Roy Hibbert: 28 points (10-13 FG,) 9 rebounds, 2 blocks
Marcin Gortat: 21 points (10-15 FG,) 11 rebounds

Roy Hibbert's 2014 NBA Playoff experience has simply been a disastrous whirlwind, as he's registered a number of lowly performances for a player that was named an NBA all-star. His statistical shortcomings have been well documented, and subject to mocking from former NBA stars Tracy McGrady and Gilbert Arenas, in addition to the faithful patrons on forums and other forms of social media.

The Pacers dreaded the thought of being down 2-0 in the eastern conference semifinals, and having to march into Washington D.C. to play a third and fourth game in front of what is sure to be psychotic Wizards crowd.

Roy Hibbert's 28 point, 9 rebound and 2 block performance ensured Indiana a tie in the series at 1-1, and an improved sense of confidence as the series changes scenery to the nation's capital.

In his previous four games, Hibbert's output was downright embarrassing and laughable, as he totaled 13 points, 6 made field goals and 9 rebounds in a total of 73 minutes. In three of those four games, Hibbert remained scoreless, parked on the bench, head hung low and his confidence in shambles.

His body language reeked of doubt and worry, as he became the subject of much scrunity and criticism. Many of those in the realm of social media called for the benching of Roy, and other analysts and media outlets beckoned for the Pacers to play what has seemingly become the norm in the association in "small ball."

The Pacers however, vowed never to abandon their all-star, even as he became the first player since the 1960's to be named an all-star in the regular season and not score in back to back postseason contests.

After the Pacers were trumped 102-96 in game one of the semis, Paul George exclaimed "we really need Roy Hibbert, and we need him now."

Tonight, Hibbert answered George's call, but one has to wonder if Roy will turn into a reliable interior figure for the remainder of the postseason? Roy produced an all-star performance tonight, but the superstars in this league make these type of marquee performances a consistent thing throughout the regular season and playoffs.

The former Georgetown Hoya acknowledged his ongoing battle with consistency, as he stated post game "I just want to string a few games together. Consistency hasn't been my biggest friend this year." For Hibbert and especially the Pacers, improving their rocky relationship with the concept of consistency isn't such a bad idea, even if it's coming at such a late juncture in the season.

From Washington's standpoint, they will live with Hibbert's breakout performance, as they surly do not fear a Roy Hibbert eccentric offense as much as they fear a Paul George and or Lance Stephenson eccentric offense that is sure to present big plays and some perimeter magic. 

George and Stephenson both struggled tonight, going 5-13 and 3-12 respectively, but they both hit key buckets when their ballclub needed them most.

Most importantly, they provided Hibbert with a flicker of hope and a temporary sense of confidence. They actively looked for Hibbert, who maintained aggressiveness all night long. He punished the Wizard's defense with quick striking, powerful moves. 
He was as impressive as he's been all postseason and possibly since the all-star break, as Indiana looks to break out of the lengthy lull they've been in, and hit a stride that will allow fans to recognize them as the true title contender many thought them to be at the beginning of the 2013-14 regular season.

For too long, the Pacers have flirted with an unexpected early playoff flameout. They have come frighteningly close with the prospect of waltzing off into a summer of frustration and an intense irateness. 

With every fantastic Hibbert performance, the Pacers will continue to distance themselves from this horrific notion. Tonight at Banker's Life Fieldhouse the crowd and world got their first glimpse of this fact. Hibbert's energy was at it's zenith, and his dominance was in full force. 

Roy may not ever possess the offensive wit that makes Tim Duncan one of the greatest players of all time. He may never leave imprints on a game physically or athletically like Dwight Howard is able to on a nightly basis. Hibbert may never hone his skills, and add a sleek and impressive polish to his game such as Blake Griffin has been able to.

What Hibbert can do is continue to work hard and  be thankful for the opportunity afforded to him. Under any other circumstance, a coach would've yanked Hibbert from the starting unit, and sat him on the bench as the playoff wars waged on.

Frank Vogel, under an intense amount of pressure from the media and even those in Indiana's front office, stood by his convictions and it finally proved to pay off. Roy Hibbert blocked out all the uncertainty tonight and showcased a great deal of promise for this Pacers squad.

He exerted maximum energy on the defensive end, and his eagerness to succeed along with his assertive nature resulted in a buzz worthy performance.

Will Hibbert continue to produce like this going forward? Truth be told, seeing this type of production out of Roy on a nightly basis would be a pleasant and welcomed surprised for Indy. But, if Roy can mimic this performance in the slightest bit, the glimmer of hope for Indiana's championship run just got much bigger and brighter. 

Roy Hibbert vowed to be more aggressive in game two. He answered the call, and exceeded all expectations. Even though it's just one game and one night, this is a huge stepping stone for Roy and this Pacers team. Has the giant finally awoken from his extended slumber? Where Indiana end's up finishing this season may be the perfect indicator for this. But for now, Hibbert must continue to take it one game at a time. 

Is this the beginning of a string of dominant performances for Hibbert, or simply just a fluke? Share thoughts and opinions with me on Twitter (@wcboyer24) and continue to support The Basketball Society. 

2014 NBA Playoffs: ATL, The Underdogs or Favorites?

What if I told you that a team would barely get into the postseason as an eighth seed and then outplay a number one seed to the point where they look like the favorites to win?  Would you believe me?  Well, that's just what the Atlanta Hawks have been doing.  This Hawks team is the only team in the postseason with a losing record and they just barely got in over the Knicks.  Injuries have plagued the Hawks all year long and this has caused them to draw the eighth seed.  So, going into the series with the reeling Pacers, the Hawks looked like they may have drawn the better matchup.  However, the Pacers may have been on a skid heading into the postseason, but they were still the number one seed for a reason.  They tout one of the best defenses in the league and they still have a rising star in Paul George who has been talked about as one of the best all-around players in the game.  Meanwhile, one of Atlanta's best players in Al Horford was lost for the season back on just the twenty-ninth game of the season.  They also lost Lou Williams for 22 games, Millsap and Korver for a few games, and they lost bench players Ayon and Jenkins for the year as well.  So, I bet the question now is, how are the Hawks playing in a game seven against the Pacers?

Well, let's start with Jeff Teague, the leader of this Atlanta squad.  During the regular season Teague averaged a 16.5 points per game, 6.7 assists per game, and 2.6 rebounds per game all while shooting 43.8% from the floor and and 84.6% from the free throw line.  Now, against one of the top rated defenses Teague is averaging 19.8, 5.3, and 3.8 while shooting 40.6% and 90.1%.  Although his field goal percentage has taken a small hit, he has been taking 3 more shots per game and scoring 3 more points per game too.  Teague has been taking over for the Hawks and leading them to big wins over Indiana.  His two best scoring games in game 1 and game 6 resulted in a 1-1 record, but his best overall game came in game 3 when Atlanta beat the Pacers by a big 13 points.  Now, compare Teague to his counterpart George Hill.  Hill has been averaging 12.7, 4.0, and 3.3 and he also has just a mere 12.6 player efficiency rating.  Teague boasts a 19.3 PER, and he is obviously out performing George Hill in almost every facet of the game.  To go along with the guard play, the Hawks' guards have been raining threes.  The Pacers have been more efficient from three point than the Hawks, but the Hawks have still made 17 more threes than Indiana.  Throughout the series it has seemed like Hawks can catch fire at any moment.

So, how about the big men battling in the paint?  Everyone has heard about the demise of Roy Hibbert this year, thanks to social media, but in comparison to the Hawks is it that much of an impact?  Hibbert has been averaging 4.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, while shooting 30% from the floor and carrying an abysmal 0.6 PER.  This was the man who has been their starting center and was an all-star too.  David West, meanwhile, has been pulling the weight he's been expected to carry.  He's carrying averages of 15.0, 5.0, and 5.8 while shooting 51%.  Their big men on the bench have been ok, but they're not anything write home about.  Mahinmi hasn't been a force on offense at all, but he has played a part in shutting down the paint against Atlanta.  Now, let's see how that stacks up against the Hawks' big men.  Paul Millsap is playing exceptionally well this series, he has averages of 20.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 2.7 apg while shooting 42.7% from the floor.  Millsap has really been a force for Atlanta in this series.  He's been playing great defense, and he's also been making the Indiana big men look bad.  Millsap has been setting the tone for this team when the guards can't.  If a shot isn't falling they pass the ball down low to Millsap and let him go to work.  Once they see Millsap make some shots, the whole team starts to get confidence in their own shot and they start rolling.  Pero Antic and Mike Scott have been able to give Atlanta some big plays as well.  Antic has been a wall on defense and even more so on the boards.  Mike Scott has been able to deliver big plays that get the crowd going in Atlanta.  Scott has been almost like a diamond in the rough for the Hawks and a lot more people are finding out who he is.  The Hawks get the nod as far as the big men go, due to the tremendous play of Millsap and the disappearing act of Roy Hibbert.

It's time for you to decide now, who do you think is the actual favorite in this series?  Let me know on twitter what you think @Sixers_RunWitUs.

- Alex Fischbein

2014 NBA Playoffs: Playoff MVP's

In typical postseason fashion, some players have beckoned to the call of greatness and other's have been swept away by the immense pressure and demanding excellence that comes with playoff basketball. Which players production has us fans ranting and raving? The Basketball Society is here to highlight the MVP's of the playoffs so far.


Honorable Mention:

Paul George (F, Indiana Pacers):

Although the Pacers have failed to resemble the title contender many branded them as at the beginning of the season, they are still in an unexpected position to claim victory in their first round series with the Atlanta Hawks.

I say unexpected, because nobody anticipated this series going the distance, as Atlanta's offensive scheme has parked disgruntled big man Roy Hibbert on the bench for the majority of the series. Indiana has struggled in this one, including getting walloped twice on their home floor. Although they have played poorly at times, their main cog Paul George has been extremely reliable in this series.

George has shown flashes of dominance on both ends of the floor, and although it's no foreign matter for him to be a commanding figure on the defensive end, the success he's been having offensively is encouraging for Indy.

Paul has been engaged defensively, doing the majority of the defensive anchoring, which usually falls squarely on the shoulders of Roy Hibbert. As mentioned before, Hibbert's abysmal play and ATL's offensive system has minimized his impact, so George has been forced to step up.

This hasn't been much of a challenge for Paul, as he's rebounding, attempting to put the Hawks perimeter attack to a screeching halt, and fighting through screens to cause pandemonium for Atlanta.

George is averaging 22.8 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 4.8 APG and is shooting 45% from the floor and 46% from three. He has upped all of his statistics from the regular season, and is top ten among all players in the postseason in scoring, rebounding, and three point field goal percentage. PG is also tied with Dwight Howard for playoff double-double's at 5. Although Indiana has endured a severe struggle, the 24 year old Paul George has been playing exceptional basketball.

Hopefully for Indiana, he can register a solid performance Saturday against the Hawks as them and the  Pacers will duel in what is sure to be a dramatic game seven.


Nene (PF, Washington Wizards):

The Washington Wizards marched onto the second round of the playoffs after thrashing the offensively anemic Chicago Bulls in five games. The basketball world watched amazed as John Wall, Bradley Beal and Trevor Ariza picked apart the seemingly indestructible Bulls defense with crisp passes, good reads and poised play.

The unheralded component of Washington's surprising domination of Chicago was Nene's play. Although his numbers aren't eye popping, (17.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.3 APG and 54% shooting,) Nene's play when pitted against defensive player of the year Joakim Noah was extremely promising.

The offense often ran through Nene, who's catches at the high post usually resulted in something great for the Wizards. Nene was hitting his jumper, steamrolling to the rim and making great reads to open up opportunities for others. Also, for a team who's best players never allotted one minute in a playoff game prior to this year, his experience and toughness was an important aspect in getting the youngsters (Wall and Beal,) ready.

Nene shredded through Chicago's highly respected defense, leaving Noah and the other members of the ball club frustrated. These frustrations became even more apparent in game three, as Nene and Bulls guard Jimmy Butler got in an altercation that resulted in the ejection of Nene and him being suspended for game four.

Nene's value to this team has been apparent all year, as they clung to the hope that better basketball would be played when he returned from injury. Now that he's back, healthy and engaged, Washington may prove to be a formidable foe for any eastern conference team.

Manu Ginobili (G, San Antonio Spurs):

Manu Ginobili had an abysmal 2013 NBA Finals. He averaged 11.6 PPG, 4.3 APG, 2.1 RPG and shot 43% from the floor and 25% behind the arc. He constantly made mistakes, as the ball handling duties landed right into his hands when Tony Parker went to the bench for a rest.

Silly turnovers, questionable decisions and injuries prevented Ginobili from making the positive impact that he's accustomed to making for San Antonio

So far in the 2014 postseason, Ginobili has been exceptional, providing the Spurs with that powerful and potent punch that San Antonio so desperately needs at times. Although Dallas isn't the most intimidating of teams defensively (9th in opponents points allowed this postseason at 98.4, tied for 1st in opponents field goal percentage at 47%,) Ginobili has still been puncturing Dallas' D, showing the flashes of brilliance that eluded him all of last year's playoffs.

Manu is averaging 19.6 PPG (which leads the team,) on 46% shooting (41% from behind the arc,) 4.0 RPG, 4.4 APG and 1.8 SPG. These are all up from the regular season, as are his minutes (29 per game compared to 22.8 in the regular season.) He's showing us the vintage Manu Ginobili that wows with big time plays and a craftiness that seems to be so unique to Manu.

What's most impressive to me is that Manu is 6th in PER this postseason (I'm excluding DeJuan Blair who statistically is first, because he's only playing 9.3 MPG.) His time on the floor has been efficient and effective, which was not a commonality in last year's postseason campaign.

With star point guard Tony Parker nursing an ankle injury, Ginobili's value to the team increases even more, as the veteran Spurs hope to reclaim their position as the league's champion. With the talent and coaching the Spurs have, this thought isn't too far fetched. With Manu providing a spark like this, the reality of another team defeating the Spurs in a seven game series becomes grim.


Now for the actual rankings...

3. LeBron James (F, Miami Heat):

What would this list be without the league's best player? LeBron James registered a rather quiet 30 PPG, 6.0 APG, 8.0 RPG and 2.3 SPG in the Heat's first round sweep of the Bobcats. Although majority of the basketball world established a new respect for the Charlotte, LeBron and company were simply reestablishing themselves.

As the end of the regular season drew closer, a lot of hoopla livened up about Miami possibly faltering and falling to the Brooklyn Nets or Indiana Pacers in the postseason. A dominant series has all the naysayers hushed temporarily, as LBJ relaxes at home patiently waiting for the second round to begin.

Charlotte was no match for Miami, as big man Al Jefferson was fostering a foot injury that limited him completely. The Cats had no legitimate perimeter scoring option with the exception of Kemba Walker, and their lack of experience didn't help either.

Miami remained clam, cool and collected all series, and it's easy to see why. With a player like LeBron James at the helm, even the most challenging moments can be transformed into a major triumph. James is leading the Heat in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals and is second in FG% behind Chris Andersen.

In addition to leading his team in every major statistical category, he is 1st in scoring among all playoff participants, 1st in field goal percentage among players shooting over fifteen times a game and is 9th in assists. He is also first in PER (again, excluding DeJuan Blair.)

James has been anchoring the Heat all year long, that trend will surely continue as we march deeper into the playoffs. This is very intriguing, because us fans get to see what the best player in the world has up his sleeves to ensure his team a shot at claiming a third straight championship.

2. Dwight Howard (C, Houston Rockets): 

When things go awry in Houston, Dwight Howard is usually the one to blame. Some salivate at the chance to exclaim things like "Coward" or "soft" right in Howard's direction. The slander at times is ridiculous, mostly led by legendary big man Shaquille O'Neal, who isn't shy about pointing out Howard's ineffectiveness on the offensive end.

Instead of preparing to disregard Dwight, fans should take a different approach and learn to appreciate his dominance. Yes I said it, dominance! Where has superstar James Harden been this series? Taking horrible shots, making poor decisions and having his notoriously bad defense in full force. Harden is averaging the same amount of points in this series as he did in the regular season (25.4) but is shooting ten percentage points lower from the floor, and eleven percentage points lower from downtown.

Howard on the other hand understands the ante has been upped majorly. In this series, Dwight is averaging 26.0 PPG, 14.2 RPG and 3.0 BPG. With the exception of field goal percentage (shooting 54% in the series) Howard has seen a rise his numbers from the regular season, including field goal attempts per game (17.6 this series, 11.3 in the postseason.)

He's exerting maximum energy, which could visibly been seen at the conclusion of game five when Howard was simply exhausted in his post game interview with TNT.

DH12 is leading Houston in points, rebounds, blocks and is second in field goal percentage behind newcomer Troy Daniels. For Portland, it's possible that a Dwight Howard eccentric offense is a little less frightening than a James Harden one, but with numbers like these, Howard is striking major fear in the Blazers.

Dwight is leading a ball club who happens to be the youngest out of all participating teams this postseason, and for those that claim Howard is "silly" or "immature," just look at the impact he's having on this series.

He's anchoring the defense which has always been his specialty, but due to Harden's struggles anchoring the offense as well. Most would assume that anchoring an offense is not in Howard's nature, but he's proving that he's extremely capable of doing so.

How much of the offensive load is Howard shouldering? He's taking the second most shots on the team behind Harden's 23.6 per game. After Howard and Parsons 17.6 attempts per game, nobody is attempting more than 11.

Out of all the players on the Rockets shooting more than 8 times per game, only one is shooting better than 45%: Dwight Howard.

He's 4th this postseason in scoring, 2nd in rebounds, 3rd in field goal percentage among players shooting more than 15 times a game, is tied for 3rd in blocks, and is tied for 1st in double-double's with Paul George. To top all of this off, he's 3rd in PER (again, excluding DeJuan Blair.)

Dwight has been fantastic this postseason, again cementing his status as the league's best center. How long he remains the alpha dog at this position remains to be seen, but highly regarded threats Roy Hibbert and Joakim Noah simply don't compare.

Noah is at home pondering what else he can sprinkle into his game to stave off early elimination next year, and majority of fans are calling for the benching of Roy Hibbert immediately. Hibbert's the first all-star to have back to back scoreless playoff games since the 60's, how could that ever compare to Howard's production?

To compare, Noah averaged 10.4 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and 4.6 APG this postseason in route to being bounced by the Wizards 4-1.

Hibbert is averaging 4.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG and is shooting 30% from the floor. How does that warrant praise as the league's top center?

Am I in no way attempting to undermine the accomplishments of Joakim and Roy, as they are fantastic talents and contribute to their teams in fantastic fashion, but rather fully illustrate Howard's dominance.

Of course, if Houston loses majority of fans will poke fun at Howard for departing Los Angeles just to endure another first round heartbreak, but maybe some will be able to appreciate his excellent play in this series.

It's somewhat fair to place a pinch of blame on Howard if they lose the series, because his acquisition was suppose to place them over the top, but it would be silly to discard his numbers in this series just for pure enjoyment. He's been great, and will have to continue to be if Houston hopes to make more noise this postseason.


1. LaMarcus Aldridge (F, Portland Trailblazers)

Aldridge's consecutive 40 point games in game one and two contribute heavily to this ranking, but he's been solid all around in the Blazers first round matchup with the Houston Rockets.

In the opening contest of the series, Aldridge splurged onto the playoff scene in a forceful fashion, posting a 46 point, 18 rebound stat line en-route to a surprising Blazers win. How would he follow up this mesmerizing performance? Aldridge again ushered in a stint of dominance by posting 43 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks as the Blazers claimed victory and a 2-0 series lead.

LaMarcus is a huge reason why Portland maintains a 3-2 series lead, and has the fantastic opportunity to close the series out tonight in Portland. His 29.8 PPG average makes him the 2nd highest scorer this postseason, and his 10.8 RPG makes him the 4th highest rebounder.

He's leading PDX in rebounding, scoring, blocks and is 2nd on the squad in field goal percentage behind Robin Lopez.

His scoring numbers are up from the regular season campaign, which saw LaMarcus average 23.2 PPG, on 45% shooting.

He's butting heads with Dwight Howard, and attacking fearless and aggressively. His bravery in the paint has turned into utter dominance, as he's launching shots over the freakishly athletic Howard and connecting with great accuracy.

LaMarcus is shooting 50% from the field, promising to be efficient when he touches the ball. His effective has LMA been? He's 2nd in PER this postseason (for the last time excluding DeJuan Blair,) and is leading an elite Portland offense.

Everyone in Portland's starting 5 with the exception of center Robin Lopez possesses the ability to shoot the ball and pass exceptionally well.

This puts immense pressure on Houston's defense to minimize mistakes, or get burnt from every nook and cranny of the court. LaMarcus has pierced the defense with a flurry of midrange jumpers, but also some attacks of the paint.

This mixed bag makes it hard for Houston to hone in on the former Texas Longhorn, explaining why they elected to start Omer Asik and combat Portland with a "twin towers" look. This notion, paired with Howard's incredible effort in game five stalled what Portland hopes to be in the inevitable: Houston's departure from the postseason.

In game five, Aldridge played poorly, only pouring in 8 points on 3-12 shooting and 8 rebounds. Knowing LaMarcus, expect him to bounce back fiercely, especially being backed by the bonkers Portland crowd.

What's also been extremely impressive in this series is Aldridge's strength on the defensive end. He's averaging 3.2 blocks per game, which is 2nd highest in the postseason. Being paired with the defensive minded Robin Lopez has done wonders for LaMarcus, who is becoming more dependable on that end of the floor.

LaMarcus has been fantastic, and for the Blazers excellence to be sustained, he will have to lengthen the string of dominance he's reeled out in this series.


Who do YOU believe is the MVP of the playoffs so far? Hit me with thoughts and opinions on Twitter (@wcboyer24) and continue to support The Basketball Society. 

#9 - Indiana Pacers

For the Indiana Pacers, it's about time and experience. Their valiant stint against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals led to a dismal Game 7 of 21 turnovers, losing the rebound battle, and a flustered, fouled out Paul George with a grand total of 7 points. They were expectedly outmatched, but it still adds to their experience. The story most associated with Indiana now is the return of Danny Granger, who is now doubtful for the Pacers' season opener next week. Granger's knee injury kept him out of 75 games and the playoffs last season and reportedly suffered a minor calf injury during the preseason. The Pacers need time for Danny Granger.

Still this list is only about the added pieces, and I wrote that Indiana won in July when they traded for Phoenix Suns forward Luis Scola. The Pacers now have more experience on their bench and even more ruggedness to accompany David West and Roy Hibbert. Scola will bring the same tenacity as a Tyler Hanbrough, who signed with Toronto as an unrestricted free agent, but with much more skill and savvy. You still have Lance Stephenson as a spark plug; you replace D.J. Augustin with a seasoned back-up point guard in C.J. Watson, and add an extra spark plug in former Knick Chris Copeland, and Tom Ziller from SB Nation thinks you might be looking at the best team in the East. With some time and a little more experience, not to mention Paul George's vital emergence as a star and a smooth return for Granger, they're more equipped to make the argument.

- Martin S. @marley_mcfly

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