I think I might have underestimated the Lebron winning by himself factor, he made Gilbert "I'm the #1 4th quarter player! ME!!!" look like a little girl down the stretch. They should give him a medal for continuing to win with quite possibly the ugliest supporting cast for a superstar ever, it's quite a feat. Makes me remember why for most of this year, I was terrified of playing Cleveland in round 1.

Chris Paul dominated that second half... an MVP showing for sure

Houston looks like they're in tough, losing by double digits opening at home against anyone isn't a good sign regardless, but with Utah being impossible at home it made it even more crucial. I think the Jazz are probably just superior, I think Deron Williams alone is better than TMac, and then with Booz and Okur and Kirilenko if he plays well like tonight and a pretty good bench... they're real tough. If Utah wins the next game this will probably be a short series.

#1. Boston Celtics vs. #8. Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics lead the series 1-0

Boston Celtics 104 Atlanta Hawks 81
Game 2 - Wed April 23 Atlanta at Boston 8:00PM 8:00PM TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 26 Boston at Atlanta 8:00PM 8:00PM ESPN/R
Game 4 - Mon April 28 Boston at Atlanta 8:00PM 8:00PM TNT
Game 5 * Wed April 30 Atlanta at Boston TBD TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 2 Boston at Atlanta TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 4 Atlanta at Boston TBD TBD TBD

#2 Detroit Pistons vs. #7. Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers lead the series 1-0

Philadelphia 76ers 90 Detroit Pistons 86
Game 2 - Wed April 23 Philadelphia at Detroit 7:30PM 7:30PM NBATV
Game 3 - Fri April 25 Detroit at Philadelphia 7:00PM 7:00PM ESPN2
Game 4 - Sun April 27 Detroit at Philadelphia 7:00PM 7:00PM TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 29 Philadelphia at Detroit TBD TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu May 1 Detroit at Philadelphia TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 3 Philadelphia at Detroit TBD TBD TNT

#3 Orlando Magic vs. #6 Toronto Raptors
Orlando Magic lead the series 2-0

Orlando Magic 114 Toronto Raptors 100
Orlando Magic 104 Toronto Raptors 103
Game 3 - Thu April 24 Orlando at Toronto 7:30PM 7:30PM NBATV
Game 4 - Sat April 26 Orlando at Toronto 3:00PM 3:00PM TNT
Game 5 * Mon April 28 Toronto at Orlando 7:30PM 7:30PM NBATV
Game 6 * Thu May 1 Orlando at Toronto TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 3 Toronto at Orlando TBD TBD TNT

#4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5. Washington Wizards
Cleveland Cavaliers lead series 2-0

Cleveland Cavaliers 93 Washington Wizards 86
Cleveland Cavaliers 116, Washington Wizards 86
Game 3 - Thu April 24 Cleveland at Washington 8:00PM 8:00PM TNT
Game 4 - Sun April 27 Cleveland at Washington 1:00PM 1:00PM ABC
Game 5 * Wed April 30 Washington at Cleveland TBD TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 2 Cleveland at Washington TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 4 Washington at Cleveland TBD TBD TBD

#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #8. Denver Nuggets
Los Angeles Lakers lead the series 1-0

Los Angeles Lakers 128 Denver Nuggets 114
Game 2 - Wed April 23 Denver at L.A. Lakers 7:30PM 10:30PM TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 26 L.A. Lakers at Denver 3:30PM 5:30PM TNT
Game 4 - Mon April 28 L.A. Lakers at Denver 8:30PM 10:30PM TNT
Game 5 * Wed April 30 Denver at L.A. Lakers TBD TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 2 L.A. Lakers at Denver TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 4 Denver at L.A. Lakers TBD TBD TBD

#2. New Orleans Hornets vs. #7. Dallas Mavericks
New Orleans Hornets lead series 2-0

New Orleans Hornets 104, Dallas Mavericks 92
New Orleans Hornets 127, Dallas Mavericks 103
Game 3 - Fri April 25 New Orleans at Dallas 7:00PM 8:00PM ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 27 New Orleans at Dallas 8:30PM 9:30PM TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 29 Dallas at New Orleans TBD TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu May 1 New Orleans at Dallas TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 3 Dallas at New Orleans TBD TBD TNT

#3. San Antonio Spurs vs. #6. Phoenix Suns
San Antonio Spurs lead series 2-0

San Antonio Spurs 117, Phoenix Suns 115 (Double OT)
San Antonio Spurs 102, Phoenix Suns 96
Game 3 - Fri April 25 San Antonio at Phoenix 7:30PM 10:30PM ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 27 San Antonio at Phoenix 12:30PM 3:30PM ABC/R
Game 5 * Tue April 29 Phoenix at San Antonio TBD TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu May 1 San Antonio at Phoenix TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 3 Phoenix at San Antonio TBD TBD TNT

#4. Utah Jazz vs. #5. Houston Rockets
Utah Jazz leads the Series 2-0

Utah Jazz 93, Houston Rockets 82
Utah Jazz 90, Houston Rockets 84
Game 2 - Mon April 21 Utah at Houston 8:30PM 9:30PM TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 24 Houston at Utah 8:30PM 10:30PM TNT
Game 4 - Sat April 26 Houston at Utah 8:30PM 10:30PM ESPN
Game 5 * Tue April 29 Utah at Houston TBD TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 2 Houston at Utah TBD TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 4 Utah at Houston TBD TBD TBD

Hey, someone forgot to tell the Raptors that Orlando is the best shooting team in the league. Double team Howard off the start, 9 (wide open) 3s, 43 points, and 80% shooting in the 1st quarter. WOW.

I also don't know what's more disconcerting, that Sam is clinically insane enough to start Bargnani at small forward and guard the other team's best scorer, or that he's done a better job on d than anybody not named Rasho in the first half.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2006-2007 coach of the year!

Well the lead was cut to 5 in the 4th, but Howard got hot for a couple minutes after that and pushed it to double digits again, and that mostly did it. It was similar to a lot of games in the last third of the season, particularly on the road... fall into a big hole in the 1st thanks to horrible d, work hard for the rest of the game to gradually crawl back in it and make it a game, then run out of gas and let the other team take over in the end.

Also Howard was a beast today, 25/22/5... arr.

first upset of the playoffs.

Sixers steal game one from the Pistons.

Look at the season series, it's really not that much of an upset, the Sixers could (though I don't think they will), win the series.

As of now I'd take the Pistons in 6, maybe 7.

This Boston/Atlanta game is the most lifeless thing I've ever seen. Does anyone particularly want to win it?

Philly plays hard. I envy them, they're the contrary to my more talented but softer than the WNBA jumpshooting team. I think Detroit will still win if they try from now on and don't just expect to waltz in and float through them, but it could be interesting.

And yeah, this Boston-Atlanta game (and series) will be about as interesting as 7 games of the Heat vs the Supersonics. At least the latter has Ricky Davis for comedic value! Boston's playoffs begin in round 2, like Cleveland last year.

The crazy thing is, Philly played awful and still won. AI couldn't hit a jump shot to save his life.

Well, Eagle, it's looking like you were right with your call of Philly giving Detroit more problems than anybody thought.

However, I will say, that as bad as Philly played, Detroit just looked awful. After they had that 15 point lead in the 3rd quarter, they couldn't do anything right - Billups missed 3 of 4 free throws and a wide open layup at the end. They looked really apathetic the whole game - except for Jason Maxiel. Hamilton, Prince, Billups, Stuckey, and McDyess played way under their normal level.

And, Flip Saunders really did a horrendous job... he put in almost the entire bench near the end of the 3rd quarter, and it was painfully obvious the game was going downhill for us, and it took him until midway through the 4th quarter, after it was about tied, to get the starters back in.

I won't say I'm worried about this series yet, but the typical Pistons attitude rearing its ugly head is definitely a bad sign. We'll never get past Boston in a million years playing like this.

Manu Ginobli wins 6th man... DUH. Got 123 of 124 first place votes... the guy who voted for Barbosa should be hanged in the street by meat hooks. Way worse than Bargnani getting our commentator's ROY vote last year, at least you could make the winning team and "only had worse stats because of worse minutes" argument there.

and Gilbert has a sprained wrist for the insanely important game tonight

I think the Wizards screwed with some gypsies or something.

Tony, the thing you have to remember about Philly is they play hard nosed defense and love to run. It's a very odd combo, and it allows them to match up with Detroit very well.

Rasheed dominated Philly in the first half, then disappeared in the second, and that was the difference in the game. Wallace is the only reason I think Detroit eventually should win, because Philly just doesn't have an answer for him.

After all, San Antonio lost their first game last year

But I will say that after that game, I was still confident SA was winning. The Spurs weren't going down to the fucking Nuggets. I'm a bit less assured with Detroit, I'll think they'll win still, but I dunno.

lets go lebron!

The Wizards look disgusting. I wonder if they sell Lebron dartboards in Washington by now.

I dont want the c's to play the cavs!!!

Damon Jones at the end

They looked awful tonight. I think losing game 1 hit them hard.

Washington is done. Pretty disappointing considering that was supposed to be one of the better first round match ups.

It doesn't get much more "Must Win" than tonight's game for Houston.

WOW! Utah going into Salt Lake 2-0

This series is OVER!

haha the damon jones eyeball sandwich was priceless.

Garnett wins defensive player of the year... another obvious one but totally deserved.

Lol, this is awful. The insane Bargnani on Turkoglu move didn't work out horribly in game 1 but in this game it's just This team is confused. I'm kind of hoping for a sweep if we lose this one so we can say goodbye to the Smitch...

Kidd is too slow against Paul & can't shoot worth shit.
Howard/Terry/Stackhouse are all playing like shit.
Dirk is the only saving grace and he ain't MJ.

Here comes back to back first round knockout.