The two best games of the playoffs thus far have clearly been Game 4 between the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls and Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, which had a number of similarities.
Both games went multiple overtimes. Both games had plenty of big shots. Both games had role players becoming unlikely heroes.
And unfortunately for the Nets and Warriors, both games had huge collapses late in regulation.
Without diminishing the efforts of the Bulls and Spurs, the leads squandered by the Nets and
Warriors were borderline inexcusable for a playoff game.
Below is a neat little (well, not so little) box delineating the similarities and differences of the two games. Enjoy.
| TEAM | BROOKLYN NETS | GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS |
| Series Game | 4 | 1 |
| Opponent | Chicago Bulls | San Antonio Spurs |
| On The Road? | Yes | Yes |
| Last Win There | Feb. 18, 2012 | Feb. 14, 1997 |
| Among the Referees | Tony Brothers | Tony Brothers |
| Late Lead | 109-95 | 104-88 |
| Time Remaining | 3:45 | 4:31 |
| Opposing Star on Bench | Derrick Rose | Tim Duncan |
| Outscored By | 16-2 | 18-2 |
| Collapse FGs | 0-of-5 | 1-of-9 |
| Collapse FTs | 2-of-6 | 0-of-2 |
| Collapse Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Veteran Missing FTs | Reggie Evans, Gerald Wallace | Richard Jefferson |
| Veteran’s Salary | $1.6 million, $9.7 million | $10.1 million |
| Bonehead Play | C.J. Watson missed dunk | Carl Landry loose ball foul |
| We Can’t Guard … | Nate Robinson | Tony Parker |
| Extra Minutes Forced to Play | 15 | 10 |
| Players With 50 Minutes | 3 | 2 |
| Players Fouling Out | 2 | 2 |
| Vanishing Point Guard | Deron Williams | Stephen Curry |
| Point Guard’s Clutch Stats | 1-of-8 FG, 1 ast, 1 TO | 2-of-9 FG, 1 ast, 1 TO |
| Point Guard’s Salary | $17.2 million | $3.96 million |
| Largest Lead in OT | 3 | 5 |
| Gave Away Lead in … | 2:23 | 1:38 |
| Tying Shot Offering Obvious Sign of False Hope | Joe Johnson’s floater at buzzer of first OT | Jarrett Jack’s layup with 20 seconds left in first OT |
| Biggest OT Deficit | 8 | 5 |
| Staged a Comeback? | Not even close | Remarkably, yes |
| Go-Ahead Basket | Not Until Game 5 | Kent Bazemore layup with 3.9 seconds left |
| Second Bonehead Play | Take Your Pick | Jarrett Jack & Harrison Barnes leaving Manu Ginobili |
| Time of Game | 3:12 | 3:57 |
| Covered the Spread | No | Yes |
| Sheridan Hoops staffer placed on suicide watch | Moke Hamilton | Jim Park |