Nov 21, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) stretches on the net in overtime against the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Arena. The Heat defeated the Bucks 113-106 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-US PRESSWIRE

When ranking teams 1-30 numerous factors are taken into account including strength of schedule, point differential, quality wins and overall record. Of course it is still a very young season and there will naturally be fluctuation in these rankings as the 2012-13 season progresses but here are how things currently stand in Week 5.

1. Miami Heat (12-3) – While the Heatles are the top ranked team here at HH, they aren’t without question marks. Dwyane Wade save last night’s 34 point effort in a win over the Brooklyn Nets has been largely inconsistent to start the year, the usual staunch Heat defense is currently ranked 20th in points allowed giving up 99.5 points a night and they seem to at times sleepwalk through the early part of games.

With all that being said, the Heat’s are currently on a six-game winning streak and offense is clicking at a scary rate, Lebron James is following up his 2011-12 MVP campaign with another great start, averaging 24.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists a game and Ray Allen is showing why he was the perfect signing for the defending champs hitting huge shots at the end of games including the go-ahead three he hit to save the Heat from what could have been a disastrous loss to the Duncan, Parker and Ginobili-less San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.

2. San Antonio Spurs (14-4) – The Spurs had as much media scrutiny this past week as any team as a result of Greg Popovich’s decision to bench Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green for a TNT showdown with the Miami Heat and the power trip fine levied by David Stern as a result.

Can you blame Pop though?

The Spurs are a veteran team coming off playing four games in five nights and this is a tactic Pop has used for years to keep his guys fresh. Either way, the Spurs followed up a surprisingly competitive loss to the Heat with an impressive come from behind 99-95 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies last night.

Tim Duncan is looking as good as he has in years, the bench has gained much confidence after Thursday’s game and second year forward Kawhi Leonard is slated to come back from injury soon so the Spurs should keep rolling.

3. Memphis Grizzlies (12-3) – Though the Grizz blew a 15-point lead in their loss to San Antonio Saturday night Memphis has still raised many eyes around the league with some of their big time wins including victories over the Heat, Thunder, Knicks and Lakers.

Behind the top ranked defense in basketball and a greatly improved bench the Grizzlies have forced themselves into the discussion of serious title contenders. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol have been dominant on the inside and Rudy Gay is playing some of the best all-around basketball of his career.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder (14-4) – The Thunder had a dominant week to say the least, going 4-0 winning their games by an average of 25 points. The defending Western Conference champs have not skipped a beat after the shocking James Harden trade as Kevin Martin has filled in admirably in the sixth man role averaging 16.1 points off the bench and they currently have the best point differential in the league at +9.8 points.

Kevin Durant is in the early discussion for MVP and Russell Westbrook has been dynamite as a playmaker dishing out almost 9 assists a game. Serge Ibaka’s improved game has given the Thunder a new dimension as well as OKC is scoring 105.1 points a game which leads the league.

5. New York Knicks (12-4) – The Knicks currently have the second best point differential in the league and Knicks faithful finally have a team they can honestly say they are proud of watching.

Carmelo Anthony seems to have matured greatly from his Olympic experience scoring at a proficient level while playing more inspired defensively. Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd have had a calming influence at the point guard position and J.R. Smith is playing great basketball off the bench.

How Amar’e Stoudemire fits into the teams plans is the looming question going forward but for now the Knicks have been playing excellent basketball. A game people should be very excited for next week is when the Knickerbockers fly down to South Beach for a Thursday night prime time matchup with the defending champs.

6. Brooklyn Nets (11-5)- The Nets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now despite having their five-game win streak snapped by the Miami Heat last night. They have largely been doing it on the defensive end which is a shocker of sorts and have allowed the second fewest points in the league to this point, only allowing opponents to score 91.1 points a game.

Brook Lopez has had a strong start to the season before recently getting injured, leading Brooklyn in scoring with 18.5 points a game while adding 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks and Andray Blatche has had a rebirth of sorts playing well off the bench.

7. Golden State Warriors (10-6) – I must say one of the reasons I am happy to have bought NBA League Pass is being able to watch the Golden State Warriors. Despite losing Andrew Bogut to injuries, the Warriors are one of the hottest teams in the NBA winning seven of their last nine games.

David Lee continues to produce without anyone knowing about it putting up a great all around stat line scoring 17.1 points, grabbing 10.8 rebounds and dishing 3.9 assists a game. Stephen Curry has played every game so far and Golden State has one of the leagues better benches. Klay Thompson has played much better of late after an early season slump and this team looks to be very dangerous in the Wild Wild West.

8. Los Angeles Clippers (10-6) – The other L.A. team has slowed down a bit after a quick start going 2-4 after starting off the season winning eight of their first 10 games. Jamal Crawford leads a balanced attack scoring 17.5 points a game and four other Clippers are averaging at least 10 points a contest with Eric Bledsoe barely behind at 9.9. CP3 is dishing out 9.3 assists a game and Chauncey Billups recently returned from injury but should provide a steady veteran presence.

9. Atlanta Hawks (9-5) - The Hawks haven’t exactly missed Joe Johnson very much and are one of the league’s early surprises with their strong start. A heartbreaking loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night snapped a six-game win streak but Atlanta’s sixth ranked defense and balanced offensive attack have kept them afloat as five players are averaging 10 points a game or better.

10. Los Angeles Lakers (8-8) – As disappointing as the Lake show has been to start the year they still have plenty of time to turn their season around. Despite the team being plagued by injuries, questionable effort at times and shoddy bench play, Kobe Bryant has been phenomenal in the early going, leading the league in scoring with 26.9 points a game while shooting 49.3 percent from the field. It is impossible to assess this team without Steve Nash in action but the Lakers best basketball is ahead of them.

11. Chicago Bulls (8-7) – The Bulls fourth ranked defense keeps them in every game and Joakim Noah is playing at an All-Star level averaging a near double-double of 13.3 points and 9.9 rebounds while adding 4.3 assists and better than 2 blocks a game. Chicago has only allowed 86 points a game in winning three of their last four.

12. Boston Celtics (9-8) - The Celtics have had an up and down start to the season and Wednesday’s senseless altercation with Kris Humphries led to Rajon Rondo’s two-game suspension. Paul Pierce’s timeless game is keeping the C’s competitive and Rondo will return to action on Wednesday against the Minnesota T’Wolves. A home and home with rival Philadelphia this coming weekend will be interesting to watch.

13. Philadelphia 76ers (10-7) - The youth movement is alive and well in Philly with Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner all keeping the Sixers competitive in the highly competitive Atlantic Division despite Andrew Bynum being unable to suit up because of bowling accidents. Jason Richardson has provided the Sixers with a needed outside threat hitting 42.9 percent of his shots from downtown.

14. Houston Rockets (8-8) – The Rockets have won three of their past four games and their third ranked scoring offense is a big reason why. While the Rockets can’t stop anybody these days, James Harden is the fifth leading scorer and Chandler Parsons is enjoying a nice breakout season under the radar and filling up the stat sheet, averaging 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists a contest.

15. Utah Jazz (9-9) – The Utah Jazz are a tale of two different teams. In the friendly confines of their home in Salt Lake City they are undefeated winning all six of their games. However away from home they are 3-9. Luckily for the Jazz five of their next seven games are home. Seven Jazz players average between 9.4 and 16.7 points a game making the Jazz a squad that can hurt you in many ways.

16. Denver Nuggets (8-9) – Not a good week for the Nuggets by any means, losing all three of their games this week on the road. Tough losses to the Jazz and Warriors followed by a three point barrage at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson have struggled greatly to start the season and need to step up in order for the Nuggets to keep up in the West.

17. Milwaukee Bucks (8-7) – The Bucks are currently tied with the Bulls for the Central Division lead which looks like it could be an open race all season long. Ersan Ilyasova’s early season struggles continue to plague Milwaukee though he had a solid performance in yesterday’s win over the Celtics, scoring 15 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists.

18. Indiana Pacers (8-9) – Much like the Denver Nuggets, the Pacers are a young team struggling. While savvy veteran David West has looked great early on, up and coming players Paul George and Roy Hibbert have not been able to build on the momentum from last year. Indiana is ranked 29th in scoring averaging 90.9 points a game so the offense must improve.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves (7-8) - The T’Wolves received some encouraging news when Ricky Rubio was cleared to practice fully for the first time today. Kevin Love is rounding into form averaging 21.7 points and 15.3 rebounds a game and I expect this beat up team to finally get some good fortune coming their way soon.

20. Dallas Mavericks (8-9) – After a strong start out of the gate winning four of their first five games, the Mavs have regressed and gone 4-8 in their last 12 games. O.J. Mayo has been a revelation offensively averaging 20.2 points a game and Dirk Nowitzki should be coming back in the next couple weeks which should help matters in Dallas.

21. Portland Trail Blazers (7-10) - A rough week for the Blazers, losing back to back games to the lowly Detroit Pistons and previously winless Washington Wizards before winning a thriller in overtime last night in Cleveland. Damian Lillard has had the typical rookie growing pains of late but is still the early favorite for Rookie of the Year while Wes Matthews and Nic Batum continue to play solid basketball for Portland.

22. Charlotte Bobcats (7-8) – The Bobcats were down 54 points in their embarrassing loss Monday night to the Thunder and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. I guess it’s not all bad in the Queen City though since Charlotte has already matched their win total from last year. Mike Dunlap has done a commendable job as first year coach of this young team.

23. Phoenix Suns (7-11) – I must say the Suns have performed above expectations despite losing four of their last five including a 40 point beatdown at the hands of the Detroit Pistons. A strong bench has kept Phoenix competitive for the most part and Jermaine O’Neal is looking as healthy as he has in years, hopefully he can keep it up.

24. Orlando Magic (5-10) – I guess that 2-0 start was an abberation after all and there is no Ewing Theory here with this Orlando Magic team. J.J Redick has played quite well for the Magic and is a candidate to be traded to a contender as his outside shooting could certainly help many squads.

25. Detroit Pistons (5-13) – After starting the season 0-8, the Pistons have played much better basketball of late going 5-5 in their last 10 games. Greg Monroe is looking more and more like a franchise cornerstone, leading the team in points (16.1), rebounds (9.7) and steals (1.7) while doing a nice job creating for teammates with 3.4 assists a night.

26. Toronto Raptors (4-13) – The Raptors have been a mild disappointment to start the season. Kyle Lowry has been plagued by injuries after a hot start and Dwane Casey’s guys have reverted to their typical struggling defensive ways. The Raptors are currently allowing 101.2 points a night which is the fifth most points in the league. Jonas Valanciunas has certainly had his moments as a rookie and should post even better numbers provided he stays out of foul trouble.

27. New Orleans Hornets (4-11) – It’s a shame we haven’t seen what this Hornets team could do when they are healthy. Rookie cornerstone Anthony Davis has only played in 6 games and Eric Gordon hasn’t played at all. Greivis Vasquez has turned into a quality point guard though, he is tied for fifth in assists with Russell Westbrook with 8.7 a game.

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-13) – Kyrie Irving’s fractured finger has tempered expectations for the Cavs as he was playing great prior to his injury. Anderson Varejao is the consummate professional and could conceivably be an Eastern Conference All-Star this year, he leads the league in rebounding averaging 15.3 a contest and has scored 15.1 points a game as well. Dion Waiters must improve his shot selection as he is shooting a brutal 36.3 percent from the field.

29. Sacramento Kings (4-12) – The Kings are a mess, they are the most selfish team in basketball ranking last as a team in assists with only 18.4 a game. Demarcus Cousins appears to have regressed as well, shooting an awful 41.7 percent from the field for a big man and has already let his temper get the best of him with his post-game confrontation with Spurs announcer Sean Elliott a few weeks ago.

30. Washington Wizards (1-13) – Bradley Beal guarantees playoffs? Let’s be real fellas you JUST got your first win.

Keyon Dooling sent the ball in to Rajon Rondo, who was stationed several steps above the arc.  Off the pass, Ray Allen curled around a Kevin Garnett screen into the paint, pulling Jrue Holiday and Garnett’s man, Lavoy Allen, with him.  This left a wide open space at the very top of the arc which was quickly filled by Paul Pierce, who had lost Andre Iguodala around a second Garnett pick.  As expected, the whistle blew.  The call: an illegal screen from Kevin Garnett.  The Celtics turned possession over to the Sixers, effectively ending the game.

Of course, Garnett’s screen was illegal; after making initial contact with Iguodala, he continued to press forward with his shoulder and forearm, pushing Young A.I. Kenstein off his plotted path.  Furthermore, it was executed directly under the watchful eye of an official standing a few short steps away.  Even so, 30 Helens agree that no one wants to see a critical playoff moment amputated by a kind-of-borderline off-the-ball foul call, especially one that robs the trailing team of the opportunity to get a shot up, except for maybe school principals and record company fat cats.

As Sekou Smith pointed out in his Hang Time Blog – and as even a person favoring a socks-and-sandals look might be able to tell you (maybe) – one play doesn’t decide a game.  The fourth quarter of Monday’s was a thrilling affair, featuring lightning bolt three-pointers from Mickael Pietrus, Avery Bradley and Ray Allen, tremendous defensive sequences, and a Rondo-to-Garnett alley oop that sent shockwaves of pure, positive energy from the floorboards to the rafters, very nearly exploding the Garden into a blinding ball of rapturous flame.

Unfortunately, this was preceded by a wretched two-quarter slog in which the Celtics scored 24 points – one less than they did in the game’s first 12 minutes – on 24-percent shooting.  The Sixers struggled along with the Celtics, scoring 15 points in the second quarter and only four through the first six-and-a-half minutes of the third, before detonating a 17-point cherry bomb that gave them a 10-point lead with just under a minute left in the period.

The first five minutes and thirty seconds of the third quarter were especially ghastly.  The two teams combined for seven points off three-for-14 shooting and turned the ball over seven times.  If you’ve read this far, here’s your last chance to bail out because we’re about to relive it blow by horrible blow.

“Taking a look at the numbers, and they are not pretty right now.  It doesn’t really matter; that’s the way this game is going.” –Dick Stockton

11:39.  The Sixers take possession to open the half.  After advancing into the front court, they work the ball around the perimeter and in to Spencer Hawes at the mid-post.  Hawes has an apparent matchup advantage, as a little pick-and-pop action with Jrue Holiday has forced Rajon Rondo to switch on to the Sixers’ center.  Hawes angles into a right-shoulder-forward position and attempts to drive past Rondo into the paint.  Rondo allows him through, then wraps his freakishly-long left arm around Hawes’ back, shoving his hand into the dribble.  Hawes falls to the floor as the ball is jarred from his control and into the hands of Ray Allen.

Ray pushes the ball ahead to Rondo, who takes it all the way back for a running righty scoop shot over Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand (BOS 40, PHI 36).

11:15.  Off the make, Jrue Holiday looks to push transition.  The Celtics have three players back with Spencer Hawes ahead of all of them.  In the back court, Rajon Rondo writhes on the floor in pain, stung from jamming his right wrist against the side of Elton Brand’s cinderblock skull after the shot release.  Paul Pierce clips Holiday in the torso as he dribbles past, shutting the play down to allow Rondo time to recover and to force the Sixers to play five-on-five out of a sideline inbound.

The Sixers send the ball in to Iguodala, who sets up at the top of the key in a one-on-one matchup with Pierce.  Iguodala crouches low and crosses between his legs as Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday look to shake themselves loose of their defenders via low-block screens from Hawes and Brand.  Five seconds tick off the shot clock as nothing develops.  Iguodala opts for Plan B, a left-handed drive into the lane for a shot at the rim or a kick-out to one of his teammates.  Iggy blows by Pierce who, like Rondo previously, allows his man to pass before closing behind him and stripping the ball out of his hand.

Pierce sends it forward to Rondo, who advances into the paint at the other end, feints to his right, then elevates for a runner over Holiday that nicks off the front of the rim.  Brandon Bass trails dutifully behind Rondo to clean up his missed shot, picking up a poke in the eye from Spencer Hawes as he drops the ball through the net.  This was Bass’ first make after missing his previous seven shots (BOS 42, PHI 36).

10:25.  Holiday walks the ball up the court and sends it to Evan Turner on the wing.  Turner puts the dribble down and drives into a low-block trap from Ray Allen and Brandon Bass.  He backs toward the corner and sends a bounce pass along the baseline toward Hawes.

Paul Pierce stands above and behind Hawes, watching the play develop.  He breaks in front of the pass before Turner releases it, picking it off cleanly underneath the hoop.  He turns and lofts the ball into the air, in hopes of kicking off another transition run.  The pass is too high and too long, falling just ahead of the fully-extended fingers of a leaping Rajon Rondo.  Andre Iguodala picks it up at the half-court line, turns and fires it forward to Spencer Hawes.

Hawes had started to run back on defense immediately after Pierce collected the turnover.  Seeing that it had returned to Sixer hands, he changed direction and curled in toward the hoop.  As Iguodala releases the ball, Hawes’ head is pointed first toward the sideline, then toward the baseline.  He turns back to the ball just as it enters his three feet of personal space.

The ball bounces off of his shoe toward the foul line.  Elton Brand snatches it up and hurries a jumper that clunks off the front of the rim.  Turner and Hawes wrestle each other for the rebound.  Turner comes away with it and elevates for a shot.  In mid-air, he sees that he is directly underneath the backboard, surrounded by three Celtics, and that Hawes, his nearest teammate, is standing out of bounds.  Just inches from alighting, he manages to flip the ball back to Brand, who pulls out and sends it to Iguodala above the perimeter.

The Sixers swing the ball back and forth around the arc before getting it in to Brand, who hits a nice little fade-away from the bottom of the circle (BOS 42, PHI 38).

10:01.  Rajon Rondo walks the ball up the court and calls out instructions, which appear to be misinterpreted by Ray Allen.  Ray sets a screen for Rondo at the top of the key, which Rajon stares at with what is probably disgust on his face.  Paul Pierce gestures to a spot in the paint, presumably pointing out to Ray where he needs to be.  Kevin Garnett claps his hands impatiently.

Twenty seconds have ticked off the shot clock by the time the play has started to develop.  Ray has dropped away from Rondo, curling around a Brandon Bass screen through the paint.  Bass sets a second screen for Pierce, springing him into the corner for an open look at a three that rims out and into the hands of Evan Turner.

9:49.  Turner advances the ball up the court.  Bass, Garnett and Rondo fill the paint ahead of him.  Turner presses on in spite of them and elevates from the elbow with no real look at a shot.  He turns in mid-air and attempts to bail out to a trailing Spencer Hawes.

The ball winds up nowhere near Hawes, and is instead tipped and recovered by Paul Pierce.  Andre Iguodala races forward cutting off Pierce’s break at the perimeter.  The Captain reverses behind his back, takes three steps toward the rim, then drops the ball off to Rajon Rondo behind him.  Iguodala has planted himself at the semicircle and is well-positioned to contest a shot attempt.  Rondo turns and leaves the ball for a trailing Ray Allen, who is fouled by Iguodala on his way up.

Ray makes one and misses one (BOS 43, PHI 38).

9:33.  At the other end, Iguodala attempts to drive into a pretty congested paint area and squeeze a pass to Elton Brand between Bass and Rondo.  The ball is deflected and bounces off Brand’s knee.  It is very nearly recovered by Rondo before winding up in the hands of Jrue Holiday, who pulls it out above the perimeter and launches a three.  The ball misses the rim entirely, caroming off the backboard’s long side on its way into the ready, steady arms of Paul Pierce.

“About four shots have hit Mr. West in his legs with air balls today.  Teams are not necessarily dead-on.” –Chris Webber

9:15.  Pierce brings the ball up himself, carries it into the corner, then draws a double-team as he attempts a baseline drive.  He bails out from beneath the hoop with a bounce pass to Kevin Garnett, who immediately swings the ball to Ray Allen in the corner.  Holiday puts a good contest on the shot, which bounces off the side of the backboard and into the hands of Lou Williams.

8:59.  After a kicked ball by Paul Pierce at the other end, Holiday looks to find Williams at the wing off a baseline curl.  Williams is open thanks to an illegal screen set by Iguodala, who had one foot out of bounds when he set it.  The Celtics take over possession.

8:43.  With nine seconds left on the shot clock, Paul Pierce winds up with the ball in the corner, defended tightly by Iguodala.  Kevin Garnett drops down to propel Pierce to the wing via a screen.  The whistle blows; another illegal screen.  Garnett first bars Iguodala’s path with an extended leg, then turns to push into him with his upper body as he passes.

To recap: over the last four possessions, the Celtics and Sixers have traded one wildly off-target three-pointer for another, and then brokered an exchange of illegal screens.

8:20.  Spencer Hawes catches the ball above the elbow with 17 seconds left on the shot clock.  Brandon Bass plays him tight to the body, popping him with his forearms and waving his hands in his face.  Hawes backs toward the perimeter, then dribbles down toward the extended elbow.  There are nine seconds left on the clock when he finally manages to get the ball to someone who can do something with it – namely, Lou Williams.

Williams pulls the ball back several strides above the arc.  With five seconds to go, he drives in to the elbow and fires a pass to a now-open Hawes in the corner.  Hawes has plenty of time to load up a shot.  It clanks against the inside of the rim and bounces into Bass’ possession.

7:59.  Bass outlets to Paul Pierce, who crosses the timeline and works a favorable mismatch, using a screen that forces Andre Iguodala to stay home on Ray Allen while Jrue Holiday picks up the Captain on the switch.  Pierce spins his ball hand away from Holiday then proceeds toward the paint.  Holiday lashes his hand at the ball, which causes Pierce to pull to a temporary stop a step off the elbow.  He gathers himself, curls into the lane, leaps and kicks out to Rondo at the wing.

Rondo snaps a pass to Garnett in the corner.  Garnett pivots and starts to work Elton Brand toward the block, drawing a double from Holiday as he does so.  He kicks the ball back out to Pierce, who swings quickly to Rondo.  Rajon has a clean look at a jumper from above the foul line.  It just barely catches the front of the rim before dropping flatly to the floor below.

7:43.  The PA plays that old, familiar double-stomp and clap that Queen so generously gave to us all those years ago as Holiday drives into the paint and gently hands the ball off to Brand.  Elton is quickly doubled by Allen and Rondo a step off of the block, and so rockets a pass to Lou Williams, who is temporarily alone at the top of the key.  Bass races out to defend.  Williams holds the ball and considers his options.

He feints to his right and Bass bites, jumping to his left to stay in front.  Williams brings the ball a step away from Bass and pulls up for an open jumper.  It bounces off the back of the iron.  Ray Allen collects the rebound.

7:26.  Rajon Rondo walks the ball up the court, Paul Pierce at his side.  Allen is set up in the corner, Bass at the top of the arc, and Kevin Garnett on the elbow.  With the Celtics pulled far away from the hoop, the paint is wide open.

Garnett pivots and rushes the basket as Rondo releases a lob.  Here comes the lightning bolt, the high voltage play that will shock this Celtics offense back into the land of the living.  Not so fast; Elton Brand grabs Garnett’s arm before he takes to the air.  The whistle is blown.  The Celtics will inbound from the sideline.

They work an open jumper for Brandon Bass at the wing.  It bounces off the front of the iron into the backboard and then skips away to be snatched out of the air by Lou Williams.

7:11.  Andre Iguodala sends a pass to Spencer Hawes, who is set up a step or two off the elbow, then runs down to the block to post up Ray Allen.  Hawes obliges him with a return pass.  Iggy executes a very nice left shoulder spin, getting himself a clean line on the basket.  Brandon Bass fouls him as he goes up for the slam.  The rim snaps against the backboard; the ball bounces sharply away.

Andre misses both his free throws.

The Celtics have scored one point in the last four minutes.  The Sixers have scored two in the last three.

6:54.  Kevin Garnett catches the ball with his back to the basket at the mid-post, Elton Brand at his back.  He bends low at the waist and pounds the ball into the floor as he pushes toward the paint.  A step inside, he pivots inward.  Brand yanks a left-handed fistful of Garnett’s jersey downward as he raises his right arm high into the air.  Garnett’s jumper skips along the rim.  Brand comes away with the rebound.

6:27.  Mercifully, it ends.

Elton Brand sets a screen for Jrue Holiday at the top of the key, then lumbers toward the basket.  Both Garnett and Ray Allen stay with Holiday, which forces Brandon Bass to leave Spencer Hawes to pick up Brand at the block, and Paul Pierce to shade off Andre Iguodala to pick up Hawes.  This leaves Iggy wide open at the extended elbow for a three-point try.  Holiday finds him with the pass.  The shot is off-mark.

Rondo jogs the ball up in transition.  Bass sprints out ahead of him into an open line on the basket.  Rondo hits him with a chest pass, which he takes into the air from the semicircle.  Lou Williams slashes in front of him and places his hand on top of the ball.  Bass’ arms go up; the ball doesn’t go with it.

Williams pushes toward the half-line and forwards a pass to Iguodala, who is several strides ahead.  Iggy kicks on the nitrous to take it the rest of the way to the hoop.  Kevin Garnett leaps in time with him from the semicircle, clipping him in the head with his right arm as he swipes at the shot attempt.  Iggy pulls the ball down to avoid Garnett’s block, then whips it to his right and launches it into the air.  The whistle blows.  The shot glances high off the backboard and falls through the net.

“Yes!” Iguodala yells.

He misses the free throw (BOS 43, PHI 40).

The worst of it had been endured.  Those who had witnessed the preceding five-and-a-half minutes would find themselves waking in the dead of night for weeks to come, damp with icy sweat, the echoes of clanking rims in their ears, their minds host to a frothing and senseless nightmare parade of bad passes and offensive fouls.  Some turned to the bottle, some turned to worse.  Dreams shattered.  Families dissolved.  Reason lost all purchase.  Only the void remained.

Those who participated?  They wouldn’t be so lucky…

Check out the first 29 installments of “The Avery Bradley Chronicles” at www.krucialkutsblog.com.

May 12, 2012
Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 1: Boston Celtics (1-0) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (0-1)

Aldridge: “As this series goes on, there’s no rest for you guys, there’s a game every other day.  You’re an older team, it may be difficult, how do you…”

Rondo: “It may not be.  Look at us.  We’ll be fine.” [Drops mic, walks away.]

Just prior to the start of the second half of Saturday night’s Eastern Conference Semifinal kick-off between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers, TNT’s Dick Stockton passed along the following bit of statistical ephemera: in 2011-’12, the Celtics were 1-22 in games in which they had trailed by 13 points.

With 3:44 left in the second quarter, Evan Turner knocked down a 15-footer that gave the Sixers a 13-point lead, putting them ahead by a score of 45-32.  The Celtics had trailed for the entire first half, and would continue to do so into the second.  Apart from Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, who had combined for 20 points off eight-of-13 shooting, they had shot the ball horribly.  Those not named Garnett or Allen had managed to connect on only three of their 20 shots.

It was a frustrating watch for Boston’s fans, as the C’s actually appeared to be getting the shots they wanted.  By our count, 13 of the Celtics’ 20 first-quarter field goal attempts were either open jump shots or shots at the rim.  They made only four of them; three Garnett jumpers and one lay-in by Ryan Hollins.

“And here is Bass.  They’ll let him shoot all night.” –Dick Stockton

“Believe it or not, I think this is what Philadelphia wants to give up.  An undersized team, to give up jump shots to the tallest player on the floor.  It’s just unfortunate for them, KG might be one of the best shooters on this Boston Celtics team from 15 feet and in.” –Chris Webber

On two separate occasions in the first quarter, TNT’s announcers suggested that the Sixers’ preferred approach might be to pack the paint and cede open jump shots to the Celtics, specifically to Garnett and Brandon Bass.  If this was indeed the Sixers’ strategy, it certainly was an interesting one: Boston is amongst the league’s best jump shooting teams, averaging 41.1 percent from 10-15 feet (fourth-best in the league), 41.5 from 16-23 feet (third-best) and 36.7 percent from three (seventh-best).  Furthermore, Garnett and Bass practically make their living off mid- to long-range jump shots.  Both are in the top-10 in the NBA from 16-23 feet (minimum two attempts per game) at 48 percent, with Bass topping the league from 10-15 at 48.4 percent.

These numbers are important because, with the Sixers either failing to close out on Boston’s shooters or straight-up giving them shots, it seemed that, as long as the Celtics could continue the elite level of defensive execution that they had maintained all season long, they would find their way back into the game as their shots inevitably began to fall.

The tide began to turn immediately following Turner’s jump shot.  The Celtics closed out the first half with a 10-2 run, during which they collected a pair of turnovers and hit five of their seven shots – three layups, a dunk and a mid-range jumper.  Over the first four minutes of the third quarter, they collected two more turnovers and held the Sixers to one-of-eight shooting, while mixing lay-ins with mid- and long-range jumpers to spark an 11-2 run that put them up by four.

The Celtics’ scoring would ebb once more before one final run would put them up for good.  Down 10 with just under 11 minutes to play, the C’s embarked on a 23-7 mega-run that carried them to the 1:17 mark.  They blocked three shots and picked up two more turnovers.  They held the Sixers to three-for-15 shooting, while connecting on four layups and five jumpers from 17 feet and out.  When the smoke cleared, they were ahead by six.  It was just enough to brace them against a final Philly push and see them exit a game in which only one of their starters made more than half of his shots with a 92-91 win.

So, including the playoffs, the Celtics are now 2-22 in games in which they’ve trailed by at least 13 points.  Here’s a little fun fact about those 24 games: Avery Bradley started in only eight of them.  In the 39 games that Avery Bradley has started this season, the Celtics are 28-11.  Their average largest lead is 15 points; their opponents’ average largest lead is nine.  In the 34 games in which Avery Bradley came off the bench or didn’t play, the Celtics were 16-18.  Their average largest lead in those games was 11 points; their opponents’ average largest lead was 12.

We mention this because, though you may find this difficult to believe, the real story of the evening wasn’t Kevin Garnett’s masterful 29-point, 11-rebound performance, nor the fact that he’s turned in 57 points, 25 rebounds and eight blocks over the past two games.  It wasn’t Rajon Rondo’s second triple-double of the playoffs, which was only three turnovers short of becoming the fourth points-assists-rebounds-turnovers quadruple-double since 1985-’86.  The real story, as always, was Avery Bradley.

It’s been a fairly quiet playoffs for Avery Bradley thus far.  Since his terrific performance in Game Two of the Conference Quarterfinals, in which he scored 14 points off four-of-eight from the floor and six-of-eight from the line while collecting three steals and blocking three shots, he’s seen his offensive production flag and his minutes diminish.  Over the first two games of that series, he averaged 12 points on 40-percent shooting in 35 minutes per game.  In the five games that have followed, he’s fallen off to 5.4 points on 35.3 percent in 22.1 minutes.

The drop-off in production and the reduction in role are the direct result of two events: the return of Ray Allen from an 11-game bone-spur-induced absence, and a Game Three shoulder dislocation, which led Doc Rivers to one of the more colorful descriptions of an injury and its treatment in recent memory:

He’s had that problem all year.  Usually they’re able to – like a Lego – snap it back in.  It wouldn’t go back in.

Over the final month of the regular season, Avery’s offensive game had rounded very nicely into form.  In the season’s first 47 games, he had shot 46.7 percent from the field, including a woeful mark of 15.4 percent from beyond the arc, while scoring 4.4 points in 15.9 minutes per game.  After Ray Allen aggravated his pre-existing ankle condition on March 23, Bradley was inserted into the starting lineup.  He thrived in the role, scoring 15.1 points in 34.5 minutes over the final 19 games.  His field goal percentage jumped to 52.3 percent, with a stunning increase on three-point percentage to 48.8.  Even his free throw percentage improved from 75.7 to 82.9.

A reliable jump shot in Avery’s arsenal supplemented his adept back-door cutting, officially making him a dynamic offensive player.  It also gave the Celtics yet another shooter to spread the floor with.  The shoulder injury has taken that dynamism and flexibility away.  Over the four games that followed the dislocation, he has shot one-of-eight from 10-23 feet and one-of-nine from beyond the arc.

With the jumper in a temporary state of disrepair, Avery has been left with the tools he built his reputation with in the first place: blinding open court speed, a terrific ability to convert at the rim (65.3 percent from up close), and stifling on-the-ball defense.  In the Quarterfinals, he was often tasked with guarding Hawks swingman Joe Johnson who, at 6’8”, is half a foot taller than Avery is.  Even so, he keyed a defensive effort that held Johnson to 37.3 percent from the floor and 25.0 percent from three – both well below his season marks of 45.4 and 38.8.

On Saturday against the Sixers, Bradley rotated between speedy point Jrue Holiday and ace sixth man Lou Williams.  At the 9:35 mark in the first quarter, he showed his defensive chops to be as sharp as ever, picking up Holiday in the back court and pressing him across the half-line.  Holiday cleared into the front court on a diagonal toward the sideline, slowing his dribble to a near stop several strides above the arc.  He crossed left, retreated, crossed right and then dove forward in a futile attempt to shake Bradley loose.  Avery stayed in front of him each step of the way, crouched low and cocked forward at the waist.  His hands jabbed the air dangerously in all directions, slashing at the ball, at Holiday’s chest and into his sightline.

Spencer Hawes stepped forward to set a screen and Holiday advanced toward it.  Bradley nimbly stepped forward, bumping chest-first into Jrue’s shoulder as he passed above the pick.  On the other side, Avery saw an opening in Holiday’s dribble and lunged into it, rocketing fully forward with his right hand in the lead to punch the ball away and out of bounds.

Three minutes later, he had a serious case of the KG-patented jersey untuck going:

Avery scored eight points off four-of-11 shooting.  He took five shots from 16 feet and out and missed all of them.  Everything he got was at the rim, where he went four-of-six.  These included:

• A wide-open transition lay-in with 2:38 left in the second quarter, which saw him beat everyone down the floor to collect a Rajon Rondo pass directly beneath the hoop;
• With 9:45 left in the third, a too-easy back-door cut to convert a Rondo mid-paint drive-and-dish, pulling the Celtics to within one;
• Thirty seconds later, another transition lay-in, this time as he sprung forward to pick up a tap-out off a Sixer miss and push it all the way back for a twisting, driving righty lay in that put the Celtics ahead for the first time in the game;
• With 7:15 left in the game, one last breakaway lay-in as Rondo found him in stride and ahead of the pack with a two-handed chest pass that travelled through the air from foul line to foul line.

Keyon Dooling liked basket number three the best, which swelled his heart to bursting with the bittersweet tears of a man both grateful to have set eyes on such a wondrous sight, and forlorn at the knowledge that he would never witness such rapturous beauty again.

Bradley capped his performance with two critical late-game defensive plays.  The first occurred with 2:58 left in the game.  With the Celtics trailing by one, Rajon Rondo drove hard through the lane and attempted to wrap a pass around Spencer Hawes to Kevin Garnett beneath the hoop.  Hawes deflected the pass, which clipped off Garnett and bounced loosely toward the corner.  Garnett gave chase and batted it back into play just as it crossed the boundary.  The ball squirted past Lou Williams and into the hands of Evan Turner.

Turner whirled and lofted a pass down the sideline to Williams, who was now streaking toward the basket.  The one man separating him from two easy points was Avery Bradley, who paced ahead of him by several steps.  As Bradley entered the paint, he shortened his steps to allow Williams to catch up.  Bradley turned at the semicircle and elevated in time with Williams.  He leapt straight into the air, arms raised above his head.  His momentum carried him backward as Williams drifted into him.  Lou’s shot bounced dully against Avery’s hands before falling into the waiting arms of Rajon Rondo.

At the other end, Rondo dropped the ball off to Kevin Garnett, who got the and-one to go over Spencer Hawes.  He made the free throw, putting the Celtics up by two.

On the subsequent Sixer possession, Lou Williams squared off against Bradley several steps above the arc.  He dribbled in place for a moment, jabbed softly to his right, and then drifted to his left.  He seemed weary, floating on his feet like a boxer listing about the ring in the late rounds.  Williams dug deep and crossed back to his right before driving hard to the hoop.  Avery back-pedaled before him, absorbing soft contact as Williams elevated into his body from the elbow.

The contact jarred the ball loose from Williams’ hands.  Paul Pierce gathered the loose ball and hand-delivered it to Rondo who, at the other end, found Kevin Garnett for a long two that put the Celtics up by four.

These two down front loved it more than just about anyone.