ChabDog’s NBA Playoff Update:

• Another repeat 2nd half let down dooms the Celtics against the upbeat Heat. Boston is apparently fuming, with good reason after their double digit lead vaporized faster than you can say Bam. It’s all about leadership, teamwork and having plenty of options to draw upon on offense … and right now Miami is holding those cards in spades. #Heat #Celtics

ChabDog’s NBA Playoff Update:

• The cocky, irresponsible Clippers showed a little too much lip early in the third quarter, up by double digits, and this was all the incentive the battle tested Nuggets needed to wash their collective mouths out with a delicious combo of soap (or maybe it was sanitizer) and humble pie. It was great to see the classy veteran Paul Milsap stick it to Morris and his cohorts with 14 critical points, until Joker and Murray could bring it home with big fourth quarters. And a shout out goes to young Michael Porter, who sunk a critical three in the waning moments, in addition to establishing Denver’s defensive presence down low.

  While a 3-1 lead seemed completely safe, a 3-2 advantage looks tad tenuous. For LAC, a franchise that has never made the Conf. Finals, it’s time for hustling, scrapping and blocking, not talking. #Clippers #Nuggets

• Sadly for Toronto, there were no more miracles in Nurse’s back pocket tonight, and the surging Celtics were able nurse an 8 point lead for four endless minutes en route to another cherished trip to the Eastern Conference finals. They did it with strong point production and leadership from their twin scoring talents Jayson and Jason, and with some game-changing Smart defense, including an absolutely huge block of Van Vleet’s layup with a minute left.
  Boston will be getting Hayward back for the Miami series next week, and that’s welcome news for a team that is a little thin when it comes to bench production.
  Congrats to the the Raptors for going farther without K. Leonard than anyone thought possible, but the fairy tale is now over, and it’s time for Celtic pride to take center stage! #Celtics #Raptors

ChabDog’s NBA Playoff Update:

• Ok, ok…. I know Denver just came back from being down 3-1 to Utah. But this time we’re talking about the relentless Clippers, who tonight had their human locust, Patrick Beverley, terrorizing Murray to no end. And Jokic seemed to have lost all desire to play traffic cop under his own basket. The Nuggets seem to have been worn done to a fine nub. #Clippers #Nuggets
• Resilient Raptors refuse to go away, and now there is a Game 7. Now the pressure really shifts to Boston, which had another prime opportunity to seal the deal. It wasn’t a good sign that their leading scorer went 1 for 3 repeatedly. Where was their big acquisition, Kemba Walker? For this team to move on, he’ll need to do better than 5 puny points, as well as doing better to up his end on defense. #Raptors #Celtics

ChabDog’s NBA Playoff Update:

• Where are those big cojones we’re used to seeing under a Buck? All signs of dominance have deserted the team from ‘Ol Milwaukee; and when the 4th quarter noose got a little too tight, the Heat employed a Butler-Bam 1-2 punch to take full advantage. This series suggests there still is an important, missing leadership piece to the puzzling No. 1 Seeds. #Bucks #Heat
• Once Russell Athletic warmed up come midway into the third, the Fakers were essentially done for. Yes, he still wasn’t hitting his J, but there wasn’t a thing LAL could do about his lightning quick first step to the basket, not to mention his violent and forceful spring. After that, his outside shot began to fall, and when LeBron came back on to the court, it was over. Congratulations to Houston for figuring out how to play tall ball with a midget lineup. #Rockets #Lakers

ChabDog’s NBA Playoff Update:

• Just for tonight’s game, they should rename The Bubble the Chop Shop. This Game 7 was beyond disjointed, without flow, and nearly impossible to watch. Small ball gone appalling. Harden was completely miserable, except for a crucial block of would-be OKC hero Dort. But Houston’s in big, big trouble if it thinks this kind of effort will get it done against the Lakers. To make matters worse, Westbrook looks afraid to take a jumper and there is simply zero inside game. Congratulations Rockets, you’ve earned the right to be executed by All The King’s Men. #Thunder #Rockets
• Poor Milwaukee can talk the talk, but can’t seem to walk the walk … Mr. MVP gets hit with a make up call at the buzzer, and mysterious Miami continues its mastery over the No. 1 Seed. The heroes of this game were starting guard Goran, who played another impressive all-around game (apparently the Bucks don’t have much to offer when it comes to backcourt defenders) and reserve Tyler Herro, who almost outscored the entire Buck bench with a surprising 17. Back to the drawing board, for Budenholzer, who seems like he’s being completely outfoxed by seasoned skipper Spoelstra. #Heat #Bucks

ChabDog’s NBA Playoff Update:

• Jazz get buried by another Murray scoring flurry. Western Union telegram for Quinn … ever heard of that fall back defensive tactic … the double team? For no apparent reason, you never tried this, until 50 seconds were left. Listen to Charles and make someone else beat you in Game 7. #Nuggets #Jazz
• Clippers finally put Dallas out of its misery with a rather workmanlike close out victory; the latest tough guy routine may well pay dividends in the next round, but what about after that..A poor man’s version of the Detroit Bad Boys? Maybe, but they haven’t won anything yet. #Clippers #Mavericks
• As previewed and projected on today’s ChabDog Sports Talk, the Celtics torched Toronto, blowing them out with a huge 1st quarter run, and never looked back. Raptors were left to tread air, flapping their wings nervously as main man Siacam picked up three quick foul and was largely put under wraps (only 13 points), thanks to some stingy Boston defense. 1-game into this Series, the defending champs look like defending chumps. Some things had better change real quick, because there is no home court cushion to fall back on. #Celtics #Raptors

ChabDog’s NBA Update:

• Mavs manufacture a miracle win, after being left for dead in the 3rd quarter, and with no Porzingis. Doncic drops 43, dancing around and through Doc’s defense, including a jaw-dropping trey to close out the game. #Clippers #Mavericks
• Celtics sweep, but have little time to sleep, as the Raptors are on the same schedule. No issue, Embiid? Take a look at the scoreboard once more. You guys need some shot makers. #Sixers #Celtics
• With a bench like this, who needs starters. Doesn’t look like the red hot Raptors needed them tonight against the non-competitive Nets. #Raptors #Nets
• More points than ever before from Murray, which almost keeps up with dead-eye Donovan, but let’s face it… there’s just no D in Denver. Until this gets seriously addressed by the Nuggets, they aren’t getting much of anything done in the NBA’s extra season. #Nuggets #Jazz