The New York Knicks have not won a Playoff game since 2001. Coming into Game 3 there was little expectation that they would get that win with All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire sidelined with an injured left hand. Without Amar’e the Knicks showed signs of maybe getting that elusive W, as both the Knicks and the Heat shot poorly throughout the game. Then the 4th quarter came and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra put LeBron James back in after he had sat nearly 9 minutes due to foul trouble.

The 4th quarter has not been fond to James, but he single handily kept the Knicks from getting the win, and gave his Miami Heat a commanding 3-0 lead. James scored 32 points, including 17 in the 4th quarter, the Knicks had 14 points in the 4th quarter.  On Sunday the Knicks will attempt to stop their 13 game playoff losing streak and hopefully send the series back to Miami. HEAT lead series 3-0. 

The Knicks tied the NBA record for the “shot-clock era” of 38 straight playoff games with fewer than 100 points.

Meanwhile in Dallas, the defending NBA champs were also faced with a 2-0 deficit placed upon them by the Oklahoma City Thunder. If there was any indication that Tyson Chandler made the wrong decision this offseason, it is made clear by his current situation with the Knicks and the fate of his former team.

The first two games in OKC were close games that came down to the last possession, but Game 3 was an exact opposite. Kevin Durant got off to a hot start finishing with 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting, and an easy OKC win 95-79.

The Mavericks are one loss away from becoming the fifth defending champion in NBA history to fail to win a playoff game the following season. The 2006-07 Heat are the only defending champs to be swept in the first round under the current best-of-seven format. THUNDER lead series 3-0.

NO NBA TEAM HAS EVER COME BACK FROM A 3-0 DEFICIT.

With a weekend full of emotions the Playoffs rolled into Monday with three games on the bill. Up first was the overly-hyped Heat-Knicks which followed most of the script from the first game. LeBron containing Melo, while the rest of the Knicks struggle to score, especially Amar’e Stoudemire. Amar’e has had a tumultuous season; the lost of his brother led to a tattoo tear and cornrows from 20 years ago. Following the 104-94 Heat win, Amar’e decided to take his rage out on a fire extinguisher, and the extinguisher won, lacerating Stoudemire’s hand leading to stiches and locker room floors covered in blood. This Knicks season has been a New York Times best seller in the making. Knicks know head back to NY without Amar’e and still no wins in the Playoffs since 01′, but Game 3 has the potential to be the game where Melo goes for 50. HEAT lead series 2-0.

In Game 2, the Indiana Pacers made up for 2-20 shooting from deep, with plan, and simple hustle. The Pacers outscored the Magic 30-13 in the third leading to a 93-78 victory. Series is tied 1-1. 

Oklahoma City, and Dallas should be forced to play a best out of 20 games. After Kevin Durant stole Game 1 with a buzzer beater, Game 2 came down to two Jason Terry deep shot’s, but ending with a narrow Thunder win 102-99. For the 28th time this season, Russell Westbrook took more shots than Kevin Durant and, perhaps surprisingly, the Thunder are 23-5 when that happens. Westbrook ended with 29 points, Durant added 26 on 5 of 17 shooting. Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle decided to vent during the postgame interview about the physicality of the series; He was talking to you Kendrick Perkins.

“It’s playoff basketball. It’s physical. We don’t like the cheap shots when they give them, and they don’t like them if we give them. That’s the nature of competition,” Carlisle said. “I love hard-played, clean, competitive playoff series. You throw the ball up and may the best team win.

“The dirty (expletive) has got to stop. We don’t want anybody getting hurt out there, either way.” THUNDER lead series 2-0.

REUTERS/Jim Young

The first day of the 2011-12′ NBA Playoffs started dreadful early on, but ended in an exceptional way. In the first game of the day the Chicago Bulls made easy work of the Philadelphia 76ers winning 103-91. Then the 1:10 mark of the 4th quarter, and if you don’t know what happens next then you have no business on this website. Injuries happen all the time, but to a player like Derrick Rose, in Game 1, at home, in a blowout…Why Basketball God’s? Why?

The injury virus immediately flew to Miami where the Heat put on one of the greatest defensive performances in NBA history holding the Knicks to 36% shooting, and forcing 24 turnovers. Similar to the Bulls-Sixers game, the outcome had been decided but as fate would have it left knees were ready to give out, and down went Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert with a torn ACL. The injury bug ruined what was a utterly ridiculous game from LeBron James. LeBron joined Allen Iverson as the only player to single-handedly outscore the opposing starters combined, in a playoff game, since the NBA began tracking starters in the 1970-71 season. Iverson scored 52 points on May 16, 2001 against the Raptors.

The two night games Pacers-Magic and Thunder-Mavs were without injuries and far from blowouts.

Indiana unable to buy a bucket down the stretch lose the game and h0me-court advantage in a 81-77 Magic win. Pacers center Roy Hibbert had a block party with 9 denials, but the Magic went small and stole Game 1, much to the delight of Dwight Howard.

Now we knew Thunder Mavs would be astounding, and it lived up to its billing. The Mavs advanced to the Finals after beating the Thunder last year, but a last second prayer by the scoring champ Kevin Durant in Game 1, helped the Thunder squeak by 99-98. The Thunder trailed by seven with 2 1/2 minutes left before rallying to victory. Dirk had 25 and Jason Terry had 20 for Dallas.

The season that began on Christmas day and crammed 66 games down our throats (pause) in the process has finally came to an end. Even in a shortened season there were many exceptional moments, and in this years NBA playoffs there isn’t one series that you want to miss. Okay maybe you can skip the Pacers sweeping the Howard-less Magic. Here is what to watch for in each of the first round match-ups.

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau consistent nagging of defense, defense, defense, and the unusual amount of BIGS the Bulls have, has made the loss of Derrick Rose throughout the season barely noticeable. Of course this is the year where Derrick Rose figures it all out, and carries his team to the Finals and Scottie Pippen gets to photobomb everyone in the locker room when they celebrate. At least thats how Bulls fans would love for it to go, but the Basketball Gods never make it easy. Unfortunately for the 76ers, Muppet-Evan Turner decided to throw a quick jab Chicago’s way stating that the Sizers lost to the Knicks (which helped the Sixers avoid the Heat in the 1st Round) earlier this week was “Dodging the better team.” Not like the Bulls needed any more motivation but if anything can give Rip Hamilton reason to sharpen his fingernails then watch out.

Philadelphia has been one of my favorite teams to watch this season, and I will enjoy watching them put up a fun-filled effort, but the upset is going to take a miracle, or an absentee Derrick Rose. BULLS in 5

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks

REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES)

Gonna leave  @knicks247 to this one. Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James meeting in the NBA Playoffs for the first time and 10 years since their high school battles…swoon.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic

Regardless of Dwight Howard’s back condition, the Magic wanted no part of the NBA Playoffs after the trade deadline had passed and “chocolate shoulders” was still around. This is the coming out party for the Indiana Pacers, and ultimately a first-round bye. PACERS in 4

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

We have been overtly bias of the Celtics, mainly due to the old adage of “respecting your elders”, and this by all accounts could be the last hurrah of Garnett, Pierce, and Allen. Everyone thought last year’s Playoff defeat by the Heat was the last time we would seee the Big 3 but due to the purchase of a hot tub time machine the Celtics(Spurs) are poised for yet another Finals run.  The Big 3, are now of course the Big 4 with Rajon Rondo reaching Superstar-Status. There is also Avery Bradley who should make Joe Johnson’s bones uneasy. Rondo has a knack for exceptional play when games are televised, and with every Playoff game being televised, look for Rondo to win at least 2 games by just diving for the ball a bunch of times.

Once again the Atlanta Hawks are back in the Playoffs!! The Atlanta Hawks are the NBA version of Temazepam. CELTICS in 6

 WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Western Conference, where teams over .500 miss the Playoffs (Rockets, Suns).

MAY METTA WORLD PEACE ELBOW HAVE MERCY ON US ALL! 

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Utah Jazz

This is ridiculous. How can the Spurs be the best team in the Western Conference again. Tim, Tony, Manu, and the bunch(Blair, Neal, Splitter, Leonard, Bonner, Jackson) will make easy work of the Utah Jazz. The mighty Spurs will have a tough time in the next round regardless of the team (Clippers, Grizzlies). SPURS in 4

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks

The rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals, Dirk and Durant attempt to set indoor shooting records as Dallas prays that Oklahoma City doesn’t realize Tyson Chandler is gone. Oklahoma City will have to possibly play the Mavs, Lakers, and Spurs to get to the Finals. Can you imagine the Lakers-Thunder matchup? THUNDER in 6

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Denver Nuggets

I’m sick of seeing these two teams play. Same result every time…Javale McGee vs. Andrew Bynum will be entertaining. Same result every time. LAKERS in 6

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are the 5th seed in the Western Conference. Well done NBA, amazing how transformed that team is thanks to your decision making. By amazing I’m referring to the POINT GOD himself Chris Paul, who deserves to be the MVP this year but won’t get it.  Chris Paul and the Yellow Hulk, Blake Griffin will be going up against a Memphis team that knew it would be back. Didn’t think Zach Randolph would be back though. GRIZZLIES in 7

ATLANTA HAWKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of why we gave Joe Johnson so much damn money. He does lead us in points, but will we make it deep in the playoffs….of course not. ( same as last years resolution)

BOSTON CELTICS

We the Boston Celtics resolve to let Rondo shoot nothing but threes for an entire game, just to see what happens….

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

I, Paul Silas resolve to survive the entire season.

CHICAGO BULLS

I, Derrick Rose resolve to continue dominating basketball, postgame interviews  and my acne.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

We resolve to continue to be a horrible team until Dan Gilbert can finally complete the cloning of LeBron James, let the clone grow to 18 years of age, then draft him with the #1 pick in the 2030 Draft.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

I, Lamar Odom will drive to Galveston Beach each off day so I can look at the ocean and remember what once was.

DETROIT PISTONS

We the Pistons resolve to find some food for Austin Daye, and to have Ben Gordons arms chopped off!

DENVER NUGGETS

We the Nuggets resolve to be extremely grateful that Coach Karl is back and healthy!

GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS

I, Coach Mark Jackson resolve to stop yelling “Hands down, man down” to everyone on the team, every possession.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

We the Houston Rockets resolve to continue pitting Chase Budinger, and Chandler Parsons against each other until they are forced to fight to the death.

INDIANA PACERS

We resolve to let Physcho T run into the stands at least once this season.

L.A. CLIPPERS

We resolve to keep our racist ass owner away from Chris Paul, and keep Chris thinking that Frankie Muniz is indeed the owner of the team.

L.A. LAKERS

We resolve to plant testosterone tablets in Pau Gasol’s drinks throughout the season.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

We resolve to get Tony Allen as far away from our team as possible.

MIAMI HEAT

We resolve to win the Finals, not for LeBron but for original man: Juwan Howard.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of signing of Mike Dunleavy Jr.!

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

I, Kevin Love resolve to rebound every ball, on every shot, from every basketball game in the world.

NEW JERSEY NETS

We resolve to play in Brooklyn until Brooklyn realizes that the Nets play in Brooklyn, then we haul ass to Russia! #NYETS

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

We the NBA speak for the Hornets, and the Hornets have nothing to say!

NEW YORK KNICKS

I, Carmelo Anthony resolve to remember that I, Carmelo am the only option, and I need to shoot every single time!

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

We resolve to do whatever we can to keep Russell Westbrook from becoming Stephon Marbury and eventually eating Vaseline on Twitter!

ORLANDO MAGIC

I, Dwight Howard resolve to ask, demand, then say pretty please for a trade.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

We resolve to hire Michael Vick as soon as the NFL season is over. He will suit up and be in the starting lineup, just for the player introductions, but he wont play any minutes.

PHOENIX SUNS

I, Steve Nash resolve to never leave the Suns, and continue playing until they can find a point guard better then I.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

We resolve to burn some Sage in the Rose Garden, because our team is definitely cursed!

SACRAMENTO KINGS

We resolve to remind all those fans that fought to keep the team in Sacramento that the team is still in Sacramento

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

We resolve to casually ignore the age of our Big 3, but encourage fans to purchase DeJuan Blair Bears from the gift shop

TORONTO RAPTORS

We resolve to call the NBA everyday, and send flowers so that they remember there is a team in Toronto.

UTAH JAZZ

We resolve to remind the Jazz players that the sign that said “Team of Misfit Players” was not funny.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

We resolve to let John Wall do whatever he wants to and to continue letting Glbert Arenas in the locker room so he can shit in Rashard Lewis’s shoes.

REUTERS/Tim Sharp

Welcome to Texas Lamar and Vince, but before you get too comfortable there are a few things(rules) you have to be aware of. While enjoying the Dallas nightlife or noticing shell casings on the grassy knoll, always remember to have your identification.

At any time in Texas you can be asked for your identification from a police officer, and if you don’t have it you will be detained.  Of course Lamar and Vince your NBA-player status may help you to avoid these issues in other states with the police, but Texas doesn’t play nice with athletes not born in Texas. A passport in Texas is like a golden ticket, mainly due to Texas being a foreign country.

During the next couple months you may notice a large number of horses, and chuck wagons appear throughout the city.  Do not be alarmed, it is only the arrival of the rodeo and tons of horse manure.

Still in disbelief of the Lakers decision, Lamar Odom is now a Dallas Mavericks. Joining the defending champs will give the Mavs the needed height with the loss of Tyson Chandler to the Knicks. Lamar Odom, Dirk, and Jason Kidd on the break will be fun to watch.

The Lakers get an $8.9 million trade exception for the 32-year-old Odom, who is going into the third year of a four-year deal. He has averaged 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds in 829 games over 12 NBA seasons, four with the Clippers, one in Miami and the last seven with the Lakers.

The 34-year-old Carter had to clear waivers after playing for Phoenix last season. The Mavericks announced Monday night that Carter had signed a contract that reunites him with Jason Kidd, his teammate for three seasons in New Jersey.

Dallas didn’t provide details of Carter’s deal, but it is expected to be a mid-level exception of $3 million for this season.

(AP Photo/LM Otero)

Carter has 20,250 career points, eighth among active players and 35th on the NBA career loss. He was originally the fifth overall selection in the 1998 draft by Toronto, and has played 925 career games for the Raptors, New Jersey, Orlando and Phoenix.

(Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

Since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semis against Boston the Heat have turned up the heat, treating the Celtics like white kids playing basketball with swim trunks on.

Dallas also had Caron Butler on the floor in those two wins early in the season. Butler has been out since tearing a tendon in his right knee on Jan. 1. He was averaging 14 points and 4.1 rebounds in almost 30 minutes per game. He averaged 18 points in Dallas’ two regular-season wins over Miami. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said Friday that Butler’s availability for this series is “unlikely, but I’m not sure.”

This series, like all basketball will be based on matchups.

With or without Butler the Mavericks are in for their toughest matchup this postseason.

The Mavs were built to get past the Lakers and they succeeded at that, unfortunately no team in the NBA is designed to handle the Heat. Dallas will utilize the zone defense to make up for their matchup problems.

In the two-game regular-season series against Dallas, Wade and LeBron James were a combined 3 of 17 versus the zone, according to Synergy, which provides a statistical analysis of each playoff game.

Miami has plenty of matchup issues as well. The most compelling is of course, Who holds Dirk?

Chris Bosh should get the majority of the assignments, along with Udonis Haslem. During the Eastern Conference Semis, LeBron James turned Derrick Rose, the league’s MVP into an average point guard. The world will await the  moment when LeBron and Dirk square off against each other, and in many situations the game will depend on how well LeBron can defend without fouling Dirk.

Dirk has shot 130-140(93%) from the free throw line this postseason.

According to StatsCube, there is one thing that the Heat and Mavs have had in common in these playoffs: incredible success in late-game situations.

In “clutch” situations in the postseason, the Mavs have outscored their opponents 97-42, while the Heat have outscored their opponents 98-55. Neither of those totals encompasses the complete comebacks by Dallas in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals (when the Mavs rallied from 15 down with five minutes to go) and Miami’s effort in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals (when the Heat came back from 12 down with less than four minutes left).

Clutch situation = Last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with a score differential of five points or less

Dallas has been the best offensive team in clutch situations, scoring an estimated 148 points per 100 possessions. Miami has been the best defensive team in clutch situations, allowing just 69 points per 100 possessions.

As well as Dirk has played this postseason, you can’t help but notice the Miami Heat ‘Big 3′ becoming comfortable with each other. The Heat weren’t assembled to win regular season awards, or have the best record. They took their talents to South Beach to win championships, and Dallas is all that stands in the way of accomplishing that goal.

Should the Heat win the series, then they’d join the group of multiple winners and it would mean every champion since 1984 will have won at least 2 titles and that the seven franchises would have combined to make 39 NBA Finals appearances.

TRUTHSPORTS PREDICTION: HEAT IN 5

Dallas didn’t lead until Nowitzki hit two free throws 16 seconds into overtime, needing to rally from a 99-84 deficit in the final 5 minutes of regulation.

Kevin Durant finished with 29 points and 15 boards, and Serge Ibaka had 18 points and 10 boards for Oklahoma City. Russell Westbrook added 19 points, eight boards and eight dimes.Durant had nine of the Thunder’s 26 turnovers, including the one that led to Kidd’s big shot.

Kidd stripped him as he went up for a shot with just over a minute left in overtime, then took a pass from Nowitzki, pump-faked to get Westbrook in the air and stepped up and drilled a 3-pointer to put Dallas up 108-105 with 40.3 seconds left.

On a night the Thunder appeared to be minutes away from tying up the series, the loss of James Harden to fouls spelled disaster on the offensive end. Since returning home the Thunder have shot 3-30 from deep.

The Thunder out-rebounded the Mavericks 55-33 (+22) in the Game 4 loss. That’s the largest rebounding advantage in a postseason loss since the 76ers lost to the Bullets April 18, 1986 despite out-rebounding them by 58-29 (+29).

Only two teams have come back from 3-1 deficits in NBA history without the benefit of home-court advantage in Game 7 — Houston in the 1995 West semifinals and Boston in the 1968 East finals.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Dallas on ESPN/ Mavs lead series 3-1

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

In Game 3, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant decided to take a backseat and let their teams have at it. It resulted in a Mavs 93-87 victory for the Mavericks and a 2-1 series lead.  Durant and Nowitzki combined to shoot 14-43. Fortunately for the Mavericks, Dirk decided to help out in the 4th quarter, making 10 of 11 possessions at one point, finishing with 18 points.

“He’s our guy. In the fourth quarters, he’s going to touch the ball as frequently as we can get it to him,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.

Kevin Durant finished with 24 points and 12 boards, but was 0-8 from deep. Russell Westbrook rebounded from being benched in the 4th quarter of Game 2, with 30 points. The Thunder missed their first 16 3-pointers — including all eight by Durant — before Westbrook made one in the final minute. 1-17 from deep was the majority of the problems the Thunder faced. The Thunder three-point shooting tied for the second worst postseason 3-point percentage in the last 20 years.

Game 4 is Monday at 9ET on ESPN/ Mavs lead 2-1