2011 NBA Playoff Recap: Are Upsets in the Making and Sleepers Ready To Strike?

Chicago vs Indiana

Is it just me, or do the Chicago Bulls really need to step up and start playing better? Derrick Rose is amazing, but can Derrick Rose beat a team five-on-one? I don't think so.

He did it Saturday.

Rose scored 39 and was huge in Chicago rallying from down 12 to beat Indiana and take a 1-0 series lead. Luol Deng and Joakim Noah helped Rose by putting up double-doubles and Kyle Korver hit a tiebreaking three with under one minute left.

Chicago wasn't allowing many inside shots, but Indiana wasn't being pressured into taking terrible shots. Instead, they started drilling open outside shots and the Pacers built up a lead. Chicago wasn't playing smart.

Chicago was able to stay in the game during the first half, with Kyle Korver finding the net on a couple of threes, Kurt Thomas scoring a couple baskets and Derrick Rose hittings his free throws.

In the third quarter, no one other than Derrick Rose and Luol Deng scored for 9:33. Deng hit some jumpers, Rose hit 19 of his 21 free throws on the game and scored on drives to the hoop.

Kurt Thomas opened up the fourth with a jumper, but Danny Granger extended the Pacer lead to nine. Luol Deng and Kyle Korver boosted Chicago with a pair of threes and the Bulls were back in the game. They began executing their defensive plan a little better, but they still trailed by 10 with under 3:30 left.

The Bulls finally got the hang of their defensive plan in the nick of time. Joakim Noah scored back-to-back buckets to make it a four-point game. After Indiana extended the lead to five, Rose took over.

First, he took the ball to the rack down the middle, made a basket and drew a foul. After drilling the free throw, Rose scored another improbable basket to tie the game. With 48 seconds left, he finished off the game with another drive to the hole and a kick-out to Kyle Korver.

Korver put up a three and the ball hit the back rim and dropped through the hoop. The shot gave the Bulls their first lead. With 14 seconds left, two more free throws from Rose put the game away and gave Chicago the momentum they needed.

Portland vs. Dallas (brief)

Brandon Roy was asked to step up for the Portland Trailblazers. He tried, but I guess he just couldn't do anything in the 26 minutes he had. Is he past his prime? Looks like it.

Dirk scored 28, Jason Kidd added 24 to Dallas' side and Dallas beat Portland 89-81 to take a 1-0 series lead on the Trailblazers. Kidd nailed six threes and Dirk made a huge shot late to swing the momentum in favor of Dallas.

The game was pretty even for the first 18:40, but the Mavs teamed up, forced bad shots and took a big lead. Portland got back in the game with the efforts of LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace, who helped Portland take a 72-66 lead late.

A fadeaway from Kidd and two foul shots from Dirk cut the deficit to two, and two more free throws from Nowitzki tied the game. After Portland went up two, the momentum swung with one shot.

Dirk drained a three and drained the life out of the Blazers with that same shot, as Dirk, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry helped finish the game. With the score 82-78 in favor of Dallas, Kidd stepped up and took a three. It went in, and Dallas had the game in their pocket.

Upset pick

Atlanta; Dwight Howard scored 46 and grabbed 19 rebounds. Jameer Nelson scored 27. How often do you see Orlando losing when this happens? Maybe 1 in a 100 times. Well, bad luck struck the Magic.

Joe Johnson scored 25, Jamal Crawford added 23 and Atlanta beat Orlando 103-93 to take a 1-0 series lead on the team that ousted them in the most lopsided series in playoff history.