CAVS.SPACE

Most NBA fans are familiar with Tracy McGrady's struggles to get past the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Technically, McGrady was out for the season when his Houston Rockets advanced last season. Yet, people tend to forget about his former teammate from Orlando: Grant Hill. Hill finally got a chance to advance past the first round, as he had not won a playoff series during his days with the Detroit Pistons or the Orlando Magic. It was only fitting that Doug Collins--who coached Hill in Detroit--was one of the commentators for the Suns' clinching game versus the Blazers. Of course, Hill has fallen out of the public eye due to his injury problems over the last decade. Now, Grant Hill's Phoenix Suns will take on Tim Duncan's San Antonio Spurs. Oddly enough, when Hill joined the Orlando Magic in 2000, Duncan was expected to join him there. This was highly speculated in part because they had the same agent. However, Duncan opted to stay loyal to San Antonio--winning 3 tit

The San Antonio Spurs knocked out the Dallas Mavericks from the 2010 NBA Playoffs, closing the best-of-seven series with a 97-87 Game 6 victory in San Antonio. As TNT displayed on the television screen at the end of the game , the Spurs are the first #7 seed in the best-of-seven first round format to advance past the first round. They are only the fifth #7 seed to advance in NBA playoff history and the first since the New York Knicks beat the Miami Heat in 1998. Sadly for the Mavericks, they were also the first #1 seed to lose in the best-of-seven first round format era when they fell at the hands of the Golden State Warriors in 2007. Interestingly enough, the Heat followed their first round loss as a #2 seed in 1998 with a first round loss as a #1 seed in the lockout-shortened season of 1999 (to the rival Knicks, nonetheless). Then again, the Western Conference was as competitive as can be this year, with all 8 playoff teams winning at least 50 games. And, with a team that had won 4 o

> Employee #34 : Former Boston Celtic Antonie Walker was nicknamed "Employee #8" when starring for the Celtics a few years back. Yet, it is Paul Pierce who has stuck around and become the heart of the franchise. Pierce added another clutch basket to his clutch portfolio last night, hitting a shot over Dorell Wright at the buzzer to give the Celtics a 3-0 series lead over the Miami Heat. While Pierce made it look easy, Wright made it easier by allowing Pierce go to his strong side (his right). For any future defenders covering Pierce in the clutch, as much as possible prevent him from going to his right. > Forgotten Point Guard and Head Coaches in Utah : Frequently, players such as Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Tony Parker, and Jason Kidd are named as the best point guards in the league. Yet, Deron Williams only gets mentioned after at least one of the other guys is mentioned. Williams continues to quietly be one of the best point guards--and players--in the NBA. Last

Yesterday, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year . Howard is the first back-to-back winner since Ben Wallace took the award in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Behind Howard in voting were Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks and Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats. Overall, the top 5 vote-getters came from the Eastern Conference. In 6th place in voting was Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers, who received the award as a member of the Indiana Pacers in 2003-2004. Regarding team defense , Orlando (with both Howard and Matt Barnes nominated for the award)was 4th in points per game allowed (95.3 PPG) and tied for 1st in field goal percentage allowed (43.9 FG%). Atlanta ranked tied for 9th in points per game allowed (97.0 PPG) and 16th in field goal percentage allowed (46.0 FG%). Charlotte finished ranked 1st in points per game allowed (93.8 PPG) and tied for 6th in field goal percentage allowed (44.8%). The Cleveland Cavaliers, with reigning