NBA Playoffs: Heat, Thunder Win Easily, Take 3-0 Series Leads

In short, as Woodson noted in an interview with ESPN New York’s Chris Hunt, the Heat have ruined other Knicks’ offensive schemes simply by not leaving Steve.

In Thursday night’s loss, Novak got the start, played 22 minutes and was able to get off exactly two shot attempts -- this from a man who is in the NBA solely because of his abilities as a shooter. New York was unable to easily swing the ball to him with D-Wade waiting in the wings and, since Novak’s best use on the court is shooting the corner three-pointer, it isn’t all that difficult to keep an eye on him when the Knicks are on offense.

The 2011 playoff run was completely magical for the Mavericks. They hit every big shot, dug out of big holes time and again, won every close game. For the two months, they were 16-5 overall, never requiring so much as a Game 7 to eliminate their opponents.

Eleven months later, the Mavericks are on the brink of elimination while the Heat would appear to have a relatively easy path back to the NBA Finals. After two narrow losses in Oklahoma City (which prompted someone to deem the Thunder underwhelming), the Mavericks were completely overwhelmed back at home. The Thunder were faster, more aggressive, better and, let’s face it, much, much younger than the Mavericks, and it showed. Dallas’ three losses in the series tell two different stories for this team compared to its championship team.

Oklahoma City put together a 50-41 lead heading into halftime and had no problem holding onto their lead. Dallas will have to win Game 4 in order to keep their season alive.

For more on the Thunder, head over to Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavs, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

For more on the Thunder, head over to Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavs, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

Also, as expected, there go the fans ...

For more on the Thunder, head over to Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavs, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

West was called for a technical foul on the play, which makes sense. The Mavericks are going down, and none of them seem to like it very much.

For more on the Thunder, head over to Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavs, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

For more on the Thunder, head over to Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavs, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

The Thunder led by 15 on two occasions, but some timely shooting from the Mavs has this game sort of reasonable at the half as Dallas looks to avoid going down 3-0.

It’s kind of dire straits for the Mavs: going down 3-0 would be the death knell for their season, and the NBA’s leading scorer is feeling it. But they’re within ten after some less-than-perfect play, so not all is lost.

No words. Just, AAAAHHHH.

For more on the Thunder, head over to Welcome To Loud City. For more on the Mavs, check out Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas.

TNT’s Steve Kerr speculated that Carlisle was trying to fire up his struggling team as much as he was trying to show his displeasure with the call. That’s entirely possible, and it’s really the only logical explanation. Carlisle is known to be a somber, calm head coach that doesn’t lose his cool like this. Maybe the importance of the moment got to him. Maybe his team’s frustrating season finally spilled out. Maybe it was calculated. Who knows.

No matter what it is, it was very, very strange to watch. It remains to be seen whether Carlisle’s outburst has any effect on his team.

It apparently was enough to tick off the Mavericks, though. Or ... I think that’s what happened, because they decided to wear all blue for Thursday’s Game 3.

If you take away the Mavericks’ center-court logo and the blue painted area, you’d think that was Chesapeake Energy Arena, which means ... the Mavericks basically created an environment that all the Thunder players know really, really well. Either the Mavericks have a hell of a sense of irony or they just really, really outsmarted themselves.

The loss was the 13th consecutive playoff defeat for the Knicks, the most in league history, a stat which you surely won’t hear repeated a few million times before Game 4. New York’s chances of winning the series look, well, bleak after going down 3-0, but Knicks fans can hold out hope that that streak won’t continue for another season.

Important GIFs and videos:

I know, LeBron. I know. I couldn’t believe that ending either.

For news and analysis on these two teams, check out Heat outpost Peninsula Is Mightier,Knicks blog Posting And Toasting, and SB Nation New York.

There are two fans, separated by about 15 seats, wearing West jerseys, and they may be connected in some way that we don’t quite understand. Evidence after the jump.

Really just scary. It’s like there’s a Delonte West jersey society.

Never change, Earl.

For news and analysis on these two teams, check out Heat outpost Peninsula Is Mightier,Knicks blog Posting And Toasting, and SB Nation New York.

Just stay behind that line, Mike. It’s safe there.

For news and analysis on these two teams, check out Heat outpost Peninsula Is Mightier,Knicks blog Posting And Toasting, and SB Nation New York.

Two guys on him, both grabbing for the ball, and Anthony banks in the shot anyway. That’s strength right there.

For news and analysis on these two teams, check out Heat outpost Peninsula Is Mightier,Knicks blog Posting And Toasting, and SB Nation New York.

Heat officials might want to hide all the fire extinguishers. You know, just in case.

For news and analysis on these two teams, check out Heat outpost Peninsula Is Mightier,Knicks blog Posting And Toasting, and SB Nation New York.

↵Hey, caption this, friends!

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TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley are training for some sort of “shirt-off,” presumably in which both men will stand without a shirt on as others try to judge which one is closest to having a six-pack. It’s happening on May 15, which gives both men about two weeks to work on their guts.

Shaq has figured out a unique solution to his problem -- one that he can only pull off because he is a large man. Here’s video.

It looked like a repeat of Games 1 and 2 as the Heat pulled out to an early dunk-fueled seven-point lead. But then the Knicks did something they’ve had trouble doing all series: They ratcheted up the intensity on both ends of the floor and neutralized the Heat’s superstars, jumping out to a lead that got as large as 11 points. A 7-0 run allowed the Heat to cut it to four at the break.