Omer Asik took one on the chin for his team, but it wasn't enough.
via d.yimg.com
It was tied at 73. Just inside six minutes to go in the game. The Bulls had crept back from a 6 pt deficit at the start of the qtr. Dwyane Wade found an open lane cutting to the hoop on the weak side. Wade received the pass from LeBron James and took off, looking for the jam, but ran into an Asik wall. Wade's elbow collided with Asik's chin on and both players started to bleed. A minute later, someone noticed that Asik's neck and jersey had turned into a CSI crime scene and took him out. Now that's taking it on the chin for the team. After that, the Bulls would only score 2 more pts, while LeBron James closed the game for the Heat by hitting a 3 and a couple of jumpers to even the series.
Was taking out Asik really the turning point of this game? Or did the Bulls simply go cold during crunch time? Well, if you watched the game, then you can tell me! But in any case, the Bulls now need to win at least one in Miami's "white out". But for tonight, it's back to Dallas we go.
Tonight's lineup
| Game | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder @ Dallas Mavericks, Game 2 | 6:00pm PDT | ESPN |
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Dallas Mavericks, Game 2
Dirk Nowitzki was overheard asking about housing prices in the district called "The Free Throw Line".
Dirk Nowitzki: 12/15 fg, 24/24 ft, 48pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 4 blks. That's about as pretty of a playoff stat line as you can get. Kevin Durant thought that after playing physically with the Grizzlies, they got overphysical with Nowitzki, resulting in Thunder foul trouble and Dirk's 24 FT attempts. He said that they will need to make adjusmtments in Game 2.
Let's take a look at all of Dirk's drawn fouls from ESPN's play-by-play info:
1st qtr:
10:38 Kendrick Perkins shooting foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
2nd qtr:
8:00 Nick Collison personal foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
7:52 Serge Ibaka shooting foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
4:54 Serge Ibaka personal foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
2:19 Serge Ibaka shooting foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
3rd qtr:
11:33 Serge Ibaka shooting foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
8:56 Nick Collison personal foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
6:28 Kevin Durant personal foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
6:24 Kevin Durant personal foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
5:48 Thabo Sefolosha shooting foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
2:56 Thabo Sefolosha shooting foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
2:29 Thabo Sefolosha personal foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
4th qtr:
10:57 James Harden shooting foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
3:25 Russell Westbrook personal foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
2:31 Serge Ibaka shooting foul (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
0:19 Russell Westbrook personal take (Dirk Nowitzki draws the foul)
Well, that last one doesn't count since that was an intentional foul. But even from looking at just the play-by-play, you can see how Dirk abused Ibaka and Sefolosha, and to a lesser degree, Durant and Collison. Adjustments, indeed. The Thunder need to adjust and defend Dirk without fouling and take their chances with Dirk shooting over them, which itself is pretty dangerous.
Gameflows: Game 1