In the best of seven NBA playoff format, the higher-seeded team always gets to host the first two games of the series.  The idea is that the better regular season team has earned the right to get ahead in the series by playing at home. 

So, for the visiting team, it is important for them not to get into the anticipated 0-2 deficit.  If the team does get in that situation, it puts added emphasis on their home games and a loss would put an unofficial end to their postseason run.

The San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz were both able to avoid the dreaded 2-game hole by pulling out Game 2 victories in their respective series.  And on Friday night, they were both able to maintain their newly gained home court advantage with Game 3 victories on their on courts.

For San Antonio, it looked like happy days were here again – Tony Parker and Tim Duncan controlled the flow of their offense with 23 and 25 points.  George Hill chipped in with 17 and Manu Ginobili was the playmaker for the Spurs, ending with 15 points and 7 helpers.  The Spurs didn’t convert on any of their 3-point attempts (0-7), but they were relentless with their desire to get the ball into the paint.  They went to the free throw line 26 times, while the Mavs only attempted 14 freebies.  In the end, that discrepancy proved to be the difference in the game’s outcome.

The Mavericks are indeed a good perimeter team.  When they are on, they are a tough team team to beat.  But if they aren’t on, their best player is a seven-footer who posts up at the free throw line extended.  It’s very hard to manufacture offense without having a player with a bonfide back-to-the-basket game.  This is a big reason that Dallas has been unable to advance very far in the postseason.  This is not a knock against Dirk Nowitzki – I think he is one of the most refined offensive players the NBA has ever seen.  In his typical fashion, Nowitzki put up 35 last night on 13-23 shooting.  But with all of his talent and skill, the fact is that the Mavs need someone that can score in the post or create mismatches and draw double-teams to open up shots for teammates.

22 points and 19 rebounds were postseason career-higs for Utha Jazz forward Paul Milsap.

In the late game, the Utah Jazz used strong second and third quarters to cruise past the Denver Nuggets, 105-93.

Many players suited up for the Nuggets, but only two came out to play.  Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups had 25 points apiece, while no others Nuggets scored in double figures.  By contrast, the Jazz had 5 players contribute double-digits in the scoring column – led by All-Star Deron Williams’ 24 points and 10 assists.  Paul Milsap had playoff highs of 22 points and 19 rebounds, and his fellow power forward Carols Boozer added 18 points and 8 boards.  All seven of the Jazz players who scored put at least 8 points on the board.  This was definitely attributable to the Jerry Sloan way of execution.  Sloan is one of the few coaches who consistently employs offensive sets with continuous motion, which gives the ball handler multiple options on each play.  It certainly paid off for the Jazz.

The Nuggets have to find a way to get a regular third scorer.  J.R. Smith is usually the guy filling the role, but he’s inconsistent.  In Game 3, he was 3-9 and had only 9 points.  That’s simply not going to get the job done in the playoffs.

For Denver and Dallas, all it takes is one road win to turn the tide back in their favors.  And over the course of the season, they’ve proven that they can compete away from home.  They’ll both need Game 4 wins to get them back into their series.

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