Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 29 April 2009 / Leave a comment

Nick Shiambouros reviews the current post-season scene in the NBA.

In what was one of the finest games of this season's play-offs the Chicago Bulls sent the Boston Celtics to the brink of elimination but ended up losing 106-104 in overtime on Tuesday night in Boston. This young Chicago team played like veterans as they turned the screw on the Celtics in the fourth quarter in a pulsating affair.

The Celtics' Ray Allen fouled out for the home team which left them short handed with over five minutes left. However, the world champions staged a magnificent comeback rallying from 10 points down in the fourth and tied the game late at 93 apiece to send it to overtime. Experience triumphed over youth in the end as Chicago wasted plenty of chances to put Boston away, but took low percentage shots at critical stages. This is by far the most exciting series I have seen in years. These two teams meet in game six on Thursday with Boston leading 3-2 but there is still a lot of basketball left to play.

The Orlando Magic had an easier time of it on Tuesday with a comfortable 91-78 win at home against Philadelphia to take a 3-2 lead in the series..This was a much better effort from the Magic and I think they have a good chance of eliminating the 76ers on Thursday

The Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to make it in to the next round of the play-offs by beating the Detroit Pistons 99-78 on Sunday. Cleveland swept the series 4-0 against a team that offered only token resistance against a determined and focused Cavalier team. Make no mistake this is no longer a one man team led by LeBron James.

Mo Williams gave the Cavaliers plenty of help on Sunday scoring 24 points and even Anderson Verejao is becoming more of a presence inside the paint. Cleveland now have at least a week of rest before they meet Atlanta or Miami in the next round.

The Atlanta Hawks host the Miami Heat in game five on Wednesday evening in what promises to be another enthralling encounter. The series is tied at two games apiece so all the pressure will be on the Hawks to hold serve at home. I really think this will be another low scoring affair and I will be backing the under 180.5 points total in this one.

The only other team to make it to the next round are the Los Angeles Lakers who finished off the Utah Jazz 107-96 to win the series 4-1.Lamar Odem had a huge night for the Lakers scoring 26 points and Kobe Bryant put up 31 points in what was a quiet series by his standards. The Lakers will meet Houston or Portland in the next round. The Rockets hold a 3-1 lead but Portland will fight to the bitter end.

The Dallas Mavericks surprisingly lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-1 in a entertaining series but the Spurs are not a team to count out just yet. Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are more than capable of extending the series.

One team that I do not think has any chance of making a comeback is the New Orleans Hornets who have been very disappointing against Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets. Denver lead the series 3-1 and have a chance to finish the series on Wednesday night with a victory.

Recommended wagers: Wednesday, Atlanta v Miami, back under 180.5 total points