By Josh Cohen
March 30, 2008: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
We now have a three-way tie for the seventh and eighth spots in the Western Conference after the Warriors edged the Mavericks on Sunday night.Rocky Widner/Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"Last night I made sure I got to bed early. Got up early. My wife cooked me a good breakfast. ... I was ready to go."-- Michael Finley, after he racked up 22 points to help the Spurs trounce the Rockets on Sunday for their seventh straight win and a share of the top spot in the West standings.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Sunday's top play: LeBron James catches a lob pass and flushes it home.
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NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
Already planning your attack in this year’s Drive to the Finals fantasy game? Strategizing which players you will choose in the first round and others you will save for later on if they are still available? Fantasy guru Jon Loomer explains all the details about the game in his latest feature, but as a very important piece of advice, if you think Kevin Garnett and the Celtics will advance far in the playoffs, save him! For more fantasy 411, dial up our Fantasy Index.
SHOOTING STUDS
David West, Hornets118-111 win at Raptors
32 pts, 13-21 FG
Jamal Crawford, Knicks
114-109 loss at Hawks
39 pts, 14-25 FG, 7-10 3-pt FG
Josh Howard, Mavericks
114-104 loss at Warriors
36 pts, 13-25 FG, 9-9 FT
STAT SHEET STUFFER
Generally, we define a “Stat Sheet Stuffer” as a single player who racked up exorbitant points, rebounds, assists, blocks and/or steals. But instead of it being routed immediately to a “Lockdown of the Night” category, can team defense be part of a “Stat Sheet Stuffer?” Even if normally not, Sunday night may be a rare exception after the Celtics limited Miami to an NBA all-time low 17 total field goals made in another victory.
SHOOTING DUDS
Tracy McGrady, Rockets109-88 loss at Spurs
13 pts, 5-22 FG, 0-2 3-pt FG
Ray Allen, Celtics
88-62 win vs. Heat
10 pts, 4-15 FG, 2-8 3-pt FG
Andrea Bargnani, Raptors
118-111 loss vs. Hornets
4 pts, 0-4 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG
WHAT DETERMINES THE OUTCOME OF A GAME?
When analysts on NBA TV, for example, study the results of a game after it is complete, there are many statistical factors they explore. They may examine shooting percentages, points off turnovers or in the paint, rebounding totals, 3-point attempts and makes, etc. There are essentially countless stats to analyze. Let’s dissect some of Sunday’s matchups and see if we can make sense of any of it. In New Orleans’ triumph over Toronto, a contest between the two best 3-point shooting teams in the league this season, the Hornets shot a blistering 53 percent from downtown, while the Raptors didn’t even take a trey in the first quarter and finished at 43 percent. In San Antonio’s victory over Houston, on the other hand, the Spurs eclipsed 100 points – which when they do have only lost once this season – while the Rockets have lost 11 times when they surrender 100 or more. In Atlanta’s win over New York, the Hawks utilized their power game against an undersized lineup to outscore the Knicks by 18 in the paint. When the Cavaliers play, get familiar with game-winning shots by LeBron James, who hit a go-ahead driving banker with 19.3 seconds remaining to silence the Sixers.
PLEASE CALL THE INJURY DEPT. AND TELL THEM TO STOP
Injuries to a team are like those nagging fruit flies around a picnic table during a summer barbecue. They are disturbing, annoying and have a habit of distrupting our fun. Many teams around the league are trying to swat those insects away as we approach the postseason. The Lakers, who managed to clip the Wizards in overtime on Sunday, are competing without Pau Gasol (ankle) and Andrew Bynum (knee) and are coping with Kobe Bryant’s pinkie finger fracture and Derek Fisher’s foot injury. Washington, meanwhile, is still awaiting the return of Gilbert Arenas (knee). The Cavaliers, who squeaked past the Sixers, just got Daniel Gibson back but are now missing Ben Wallace (back). The Blazers, who have been without Greg Oden (knee) for the season, saw their slim playoff hopes cut to shreds when they discovered that Brandon Roy (groin) will miss some time. We already know about the absences of Dirk Nowitzki (leg) and Yao Ming (foot) for their respective teams, while Jermaine O’Neal (knee) is expected to rejoin the Pacers this week. How will injuries impact the playoffs? Stay tuned on NBA.com to find out.
UPSET OF THE NIGHT
The Jazz have split personalities. They are a governing, dynamic squad when playing at home (32-4) and an aggravated, dubious team when playing on the road (16-22). Nothing changed Sunday when Utah suffered a setback to host Minnesota, a state the Jazz can’t find their rhythm in. Now 0-2 this season in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Utah shot a dismal 1-for-12 from downtown as repeated rallies in the fourth quarter were not enough. Al Jefferson posted 22 points and eight rebounds in the victory.
COOL/CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
It will always be remembered as one of the most shocking upsets in sports history. We will recall it for years to come just like we remember those funky costumes we wore for Halloween during our grade school days. Warriors fans will always reflect on the fun they had when their team stunned the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs last season. It was a similar depiction on Sunday when Golden State cruised past Dirk-Less Dallas to cause a three-way tie for seventh place in the West. Monta Ellis recorded 30 points on 13-of-26 shooting in the triumph.
D-LEAGUE STAR OF THE NIGHT
Kids every day at the park or in their driveways reenact game-winning buzzer-beaters and last-second pressure-packed free throws. Errick Craven got the chance to reflect on those moments Sunday when he calmly drained a pair of free throws to snap a tie with 5.1 seconds remaining and lift the D-Fenders to a 111-110 triumph over the Arsenal. Craven finished with 11 points as Los Angeles pulled within a half-game behind West-Division leading Idaho. Sean Banks posted a team-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field for the winners.
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