A Quick Rundown of the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs [so far]

It's Wednesday, and that means more playoff basketball in the NBA. Here's a recap of last night's games, as well as a preview of tonight's:

May 6, 2014

#6 seed Brooklyn Nets @ #2 seed Miami Heat 

Nets 86-107 Heat 

The Heat are the preliminary favorites in the East, thanks in large part because they have won back-to-back championships and their biggest competition in the East, the #1-seeded Indiana Pacers, lost to the Washington Wizards in Game 1 of their second-round match-up. Some people, [not including myself,] thought that the Nets had a great chance of beating Miami in this series, and a big reason was because of their sheer veteran-leadership. This is an old roster stacked with veterans, such as former Celtics and future Hall-of-Famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Although I saw this series being competitive, I didn't see the Heat losing BEFORE the Conference Finals so I picked Miami in 7 games. And although it IS just one game, it looks like I thought too highly of the Nets. They got BLOWN out Tuesday night, and to a team that they have openly admitted that they "hate." After a competitive Round One series against the Toronto Raptors, which they just barely won in 7 games, this old group of guys past their prime just doesn't seem to have the energy to be consistently competitive against a younger Miami squad. 

Game 1 MVP: Heat Forward Lebron James, 22 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists  

Updated series prediction: Heat in 5 games 

#5 seed Portland Trailblazers @ #1 seed San Antonio Spurs 

Trailblazers 92-116 Spurs 

When I first looked at this series for my Round Two predictions, my first thought was, "This is going to be a great series." Well, so far it hasn't exactly been that way. The Spurs came out and absolutely DOMINATED in the 1st quarter, outscoring the Blazers 29-16 in the first period of play. Then in the 2nd quarter, they outscored Portland by 13 points AGAIN, 36-23. And while the Trailblazers actually outscored San Antonio in the second half, the 26-point lead was too much for them to overcome. Going into to this series my gut told me to pick Portland, while my head told me the logical thing to do was to go with my head and pick the Spurs. And I'm sure glad I did. 

Game 1 MVP: Spurs Point Guard Tony Parker, 33 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists

Updated series prediction: Spurs in 6 games 

May 7, 2014 

7:00 PM ET 

#5 seed Washington Wizards @ #1 seed Indiana Pacers 

Wizards lead series 1-0

This is it. Game 2. A must-win for the Indiana Pacers. In Game 1 the Wiz held All-Star Center Roy Hibbert to 0 points and 0 rebounds and a plus-minus of -17. Stars Lance Stephenson and Paul George shot a combined 8-of-30 from the field. And it helped the Wizards that Forward Trevor Ariza shot 6-of-6 from three-point range and second-year Guard Bradley Beal poured in 25 points. If the Pacers are going to win Game 2, they have to get out to the three-point line and shut down the three-ball, make sure they get good shots on their offensive possessions and that Stephenson and George are not just popping 30 contested jump-shots, and they MUST GET ROY HIBBERT GOING. He's been a non-factor thus far in the playoffs averaging just 4.3 points per game. I originally picked the Wizards to win this series in 6 and I'm sticking by that. 

Prediction for tonight's game: Pacers 97-93 Wizards 

9:30 PM ET

#3 seed Los Angeles Clippers @ #2 seed Oklahoma City Thunder  

Clippers lead series 1-0 

Originally I picked the Thunder to win this series in 7, but after losing 122-105 at home, I'm not so sure if I made the right choice. Kevin Durant scored 25 points, but had a whopping -26 plus-minus. What is plus-minus? The point-differential of a player's team when he is on the floor. That means Oklahoma City was outscored by 26 points when Durant was on the floor. That's just not an acceptable playoff-performance from a guy who recently won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Although, it also helped that the Clippers' superstar Point Guard, Chris "CP3" Paul, knocked down 8 three-pointers. I don't see CP3 going off for 32 points again Wednesday, and after winning the MVP Award, Durant will be hungry. 

Prediction for tonight's game: Thunder 107-98 Clippers 

 

Updated NBA Playoffs Prediction

The First Round of the NBA Playoffs are over, with the Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Pacers, and Nets beating the Mavericks, Grizzlies, Warriors, Hawks and Raptors, respectively, in 7 games. The Miami Heat won against the Charlotte Bobcats in 4 games, the Washington Wizards defeated the Chicago Bulls in 5 games, and the Portland Trailblazers upset the Houston Rockets in 6 games. Now, here are my "updated" playoff predictions:

EAST 

Conference Semifinals 

#5 seed Washington Wizards over #1 Indiana Pacers in 6 games

Game 1: Wizards 

Game 2: Pacers 

Game 3: Wizards 

Game 4: Wizards 

Game 5: Pacers

Game 6: Wizards 

Series MVP: WAS C Nene 

#2 seed Miami Heat over #6 seed Brooklyn Nets in 6 games 

Game 1: Heat 

Game 2: Nets 

Game 3: Heat 

Game 4: Heat 

Game 5: Nets

Game 6: Heat 

Series MVP: MIA F Lebron James

Conference Finals 

#2 seed Miami Heat over #5 seed Washington Wizards in 6 games

Game 1: Heat 

Game 2: Wizards 

Game 3: Wizards 

Game 4: Heat 

Game 5: Heat 

Game 6: Heat 

Series MVP: MIA F Lebron James 

WEST 

Conference Semifinals 

#1 seed San Antonio Spurs over #5 seed Portland Trailblazers in 7 games 

Game 1: Trailblazers 

Game 2: Spurs 

Game 3: Trailblazers 

Game 4: Spurs 

Game 5: Spurs 

Game 6: Trailblazers 

Game 7: Spurs

Series MVP: SAS C Tiago Splitter 

Oklahoma City Thunder over Los Angeles Clippers in 7 games 

Game 1: Thunder 

Game 2: Clippers 

Game 3: Thunder

Game 4: Clippers

Game 5: Thunder 

Game 6: Clippers

Game 7: Thunder

Series MVP: OKC F Kevin Durant 

Conference Finals 

#1 seed San Antonio Spurs over #2 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in 7 games 

Game 1: Thunder 

Game 2: Spurs 

Game 3: Spurs

Game 4: Thunder 

Game 5: Thunder 

Game 6: Spurs 

Game 7: Spurs 

Series MVP: SAS G Tony Parker 

NBA FINALS 

Game 1: Spurs 
Game 2: Heat 
Game 3: Heat 
Game 4: Spurs 
Game 5: Heat 
Game 6: Spurs 
Game 7: Spurs 
FINALS MVP: Spurs G Tony Parker 
NBA CHAMPIONS: San Antonio Spurs




The NBA Awards have been announced, here's who took home the league's most prestigious awards: 
League MVP: Oklahoma City Thunder SF/SG/PF Kevin Durant 
Defensive Player of the Year: Chicago Bulls C Joakim Noah 
Rookie of the Year: Philadelphia 76ers PG Michael Carter-Williams 
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs 
Most Improved Player: Phoenix Suns PG/SG Goran Dragic 
Sixth Man of the Year: Los Angeles Clippers SG/PG Jamal Crawford

 

NBA Playoff Power Rankings

1. #2 seed Miami Heat [lead Bobcats 2-0]
2. #5 seed Portland Trailblazers [lead Rockets]
3. #5 seed Washington Wizards [lead Bulls 2-0]
4. #4 seed Los Angeles Clippers [lead Warriors 2-1]
5. #7 Memphis Grizzlies [lead Thunder 2-1]
6. Atlanta Hawks [lead Pacers 2-1]
7. Dallas Mavericks [tied with Spurs 1-1]
8. Brooklyn Nets [tied with Raptors 1-1]
9. Toronto Raptors [tied with Nets 1-1]
10. San Antonio Spurs [tied with Mavericks 1-1]
11. Oklahoma City Thunder [trail Grizzlies 2-1]
12. Golden State Warriors [trail Clippers 2-1]
13. Indiana Pacers [trail Hawks 2-1]
14. Houston Rockets [trail Trailblazers 2-0]
15. Chicago Bulls [trail Wizards 2-0]
16. Charlotte Bobcats [trail Heat 2-0]

Current Playoff Predictions

Round One 

Indiana Pacers over Atlanta Hawks 4-3

Original Prediction: Pacers in 5

Miami Heat over Charlotte Bobcats 4-1

Original Prediction: Heat in 5

Brooklyn Nets over Toronto Raptors 4-3

Original Prediction: Nets in 7 

Washington Wizards over Chicago Bulls 4-1

Original Prediction: Bulls in 6

San Antonio Spurs over Dallas Mavericks 4-2

Original Prediction: Spurs in 6 

Oklahoma City Thunder over Memphis Grizzlies 4-3

Original Prediction: Thunder in 7

Los Angeles Clippers over Golden State Warriors 4-2

Original Prediction: Clippers in 6

Portland Trailblazers over Houston Rockets 4-1

Original Prediction: Rockets in 6 

Round Two 

Washington Wizards over Indiana Pacers 4-1

Original Prediction: Pacers in 6 

Miami Heat over Brooklyn Nets 4-2

Original Prediction: Heat in 5 

San Antonio Spurs over Portland Trailblazers 4-2

Original Prediction: Spurs in 6

Oklahoma City Thunder over Los Angeles Clippers 4-2

Original Prediction: Clippers in 6 

Conference Finals 

Miami Heat over Washington Wizards 4-1 

Original Prediction: Pacers in [sigh] 7

San Antonio Spurs over Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2

Original Prediction: Spurs in 6 

FINALS 

San Antonio Spurs over Miami Heat 4-3

Original Prediction: [sigh, sigh, sigh…] Pacers in 6 

Finals MVP: PG Tony Parker, Spurs 

Original Finals MVP Pick: SF Paul George, Indiana Pacers 

Don't forget to...

Don't forget to…check out the new NBA Playoffs voting polls at the bottom of the page!

What does Larry Legend have to say to the team he built?

Editor's note: When this title references Larry Legend, it means Larry Bird. 

                  (Larry Bird)

Pop it Paul:

Paul George hindered the Pacers' efforts against the Hawks by taking many shots like this one. 

The #1 seed in the East, the 55-27 Indiana Pacers, lost 101-93 to the 37-45 #8 seed Atlanta Hawks in Indiana. The Pacers were out of sync all game, at one point dropping down by 20 points. The Hawks were at the top of their game, with Point Guard Jeff Teague scoring 28 points. Teague was too quick for anyone on the Pacers and scored in the lane at will. Paul George was continually popping long-isolation 2-pointers, while Lance Stephenson took multiple 360 layups with three players on him that ended up getting stuffed. Roy Hibbert and David West were no-shows, and Frank Vogel could simply could not get the defense onto the explosive Teague or get Lance and George to PASS the ball. The reason I think that Lance was such a flat-out ball-hog is that he is trying too hard to prove to people that he was wrongly snubbed from the All-Star game. PG-24's reason for being a selfish ball-hog: with all the talk during the beginning of the year about Paul George for MVP have given George a puffed-up head and he is forcing shots, trying to force a takeover of the game, rather than letting the game come to him. And if I was Larry Legend, and I was in THAT demoralized, head-hanging locker room I would flat out let the Indiana guys HAVE IT. This is what I envision he will likely say (without the foul language:) 

"Paul, pass the ball! You look like Carmelo [Anthony] out there! You might be a budding star, but you're no superstar. It's a team game. 

"Every one of you can be replaced. Even you, Paul. Even you, Roy. 

"Lance!!! You have teammates!! Pass the ball!!!!!

"David, we need more out of you. You have to play like the veteran-leader that you are. 

"Roy! You didn't show up tonight! Where were you? We were playing against the Hawks tonight, but I didn't see you're defense. Actually, I didn't see any OFFENSE from you either. You might win Defensive Player of the Year, but you can STILL be replaced. 

"George [Hill], you played the best out of anyone in our starting lineup, but you have to step it up and be more of a leader on the court. It's time to earn your 8 million dollar contract. 

"If you have a problem with Frank [Vogel], then I'll show you where the door is. Frank is going to be the coach of this team next year, so if your not OK with that, then maybe you shouldn't be here. Because tonight, you sure weren't playing like you wanted to be here. So next game, you'd better play a whole lot better if you want to be here next year." 

Happy Resurrection Day (Easter!)

He is risen!

The NBA Playoff Picture

In the NBA, all 8 playoff spots have been locked up, and now we just have a few more battles over seeding remaining in the season's final days. Below is the current standings and my projections as well as my award picks for the year.

Eastern Conference

1. Indiana Pacers 

Current record: 55-26

Prediction: 55-27

With their last game of the season being Wednesday at home against the 23-57 Magic, the Pacers have no reason to play their starters against Orlando seeing as how they've already clinched the #1 seed in the East. Which is relieving for Pacers fans since their starters desperately need rest. 

2. Miami Heat
Current record: 54-27
Prediction: 55-27
Although the Heat have nothing left to play for in the regular-season, they should be able to grind out an ugly win against the 18-63 76ers in their season-closer. Right now, getting the Big 3 healthy for the playoffs is a bigger concern though.
3. Toronto Raptors
Current record: 48-33
Prediction: 49-33
With Wednesday night's showdown in New York against the nothing-left-to-play-for Knicks looming, the Raptors have as good a chance of securing the #3 seed [and thus avoiding Brooklyn in round one] as they do of losing it. They own the tiebreaker over the Bulls, with whom they are tied in the win-loss column, and a win against New York would give them the #3 seed.
4. Chicago Bulls 
Current record: 48-33
Prediction: 49-33
The Bulls should win their last game of the season Wednesday night against the Bobcats [who are settled in as the East's #7 seed], but even then it is unlikely that they will get the #3 seed. I don't see Toronto pulling off a huge blunder and settling for a first-round matchup with the dark-horse Nets.
5. Brooklyn Nets 
Current record: 44-36
Prediction: 45-37
Although technically they haven't yet mathematically clinched the East's #5 seed, they will likely win one of their two final games against mediocre New York and Cleveland. But here's an interesting question: Would you rather have the #6 seed? If they got it they would have an easier first-round matchup against Toronto and [if they won the series] would [almost definitely] face rival Miami in the second-round. The same Miami that are looking for a three-peat and the same Miami that Brooklyn swept 4-0 in the season-series.
6. Washington Wizards 
Current record: 43-38
Prediction: 44-38
The Wizards have what should be an easy-win in their last game of the season Wednesday night against the 25-56 Celtics in Boston. Why is getting the #6 seed so important? Because with it Washington can avoid facing the Heat in the first-round, and rather face a more-winnable Toronto.
7. Charlotte Bobcats 
Current record: 42-39
Prediction: 42-40
The Bobcats were in position to snag the #6 seed a few weeks ago, but a hot-streak by Washington has put them back down to #7 in the East. Even if the Wizards lose, it'll be tough to win against a Chicago team that still has quite a lot to play for. Although they'll likely be defeated handily by Miami in Round One of the playoffs, it has been a breakthrough year for a team not expected to make the playoffs anyway.
8. Atlanta Hawks 
Current record: 37-44
Prediction: 37-45
The Hawks lost one of their best players [Josh Smith] in free agency, but added a player that has proven to be just as good if not better than Smith in first-time All-Star Paul Millsap, and the Hawks were headed for the #4 seed in the East. Then their two best players [Millsap and Center Al Horford] went down to injury and they struggled greatly. Now they've limped to the finish-line and just barely made it to the playoffs. They might have been better suited purposely missing the playoffs and settling for a lottery-pick, because the odds of them beating Indiana in Round One are…not exactly great.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals 

Indiana Pacers [55-27] over Atlanta Hawks [37-45] 

Game 1: Pacers 

Game 2: Pacers 

Game 3: Hawks 

Game 4: Pacers 

Game 5: Pacers 

Miami Heat [55-27] over Charlotte Bobcats [42-40]

Game 1: Heat 

Game 2: Bobcats

Game 3: Heat 

Game 4: Heat

Game 5: Heat 

Washington Wizards [44-38] over Toronto Raptors [49-33] 

Game 1: Raptors

Game 2: Wizards 

Game 3: Wizards 

Game 4: Raptors

Game 5: Raptors 

Game 6: Wizards 

Game 7: Wizards 

Chicago Bulls [49-33] over Brooklyn Nets [45-37] 

Game 1: Bulls 

Game 2: Nets 

Game 3: Bulls 

Game 4: Bulls 

Game 5: Nets 

Game 6: Bulls 

Eastern Conference Semifinals 

Indiana Pacers [55-27] over Chicago Bulls [49-33] 

Game 1: Bulls 

Game 2: Pacers 

Game 3: Bulls 

Game 4: Pacers 

Game 5: Pacers 

Game 6: Pacers 

Miami Heat [55-27] over Washington Wizards [44-38] 

Game 1: Heat 

Game 2: Heat 

Game 3: Heat 

Game 4: Wizards 

Game 5: Heat 

Eastern Conference Finals 

Indiana Pacers [55-27] Miami Heat [55-27]

Game 1: Pacers 

Game 2: Heat 

Game 3: Pacers 

Game 4: Heat 

Game 5: Pacers

Game 6: Heat 

Game 7: Pacers 

Western Conference 

1. San Antonio Spurs 

Current record: 62-19

Prediction: 62-20 

The Spurs are the only team in the league to win 60 games this year, and they will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. If they make it to the Finals, that is. 

2. Oklahoma City Thunder 

Current record: 58-23

Prediction: 59-23 

It would take the Thunder losing their final game [an easy win against Detroit], and the Clippers winning their final two games for OKC to somehow slip out of the #2 spot in the West. In other words, they're locked-in as the #2 seed. 

#KDForMVP 

3. Los Angeles Clippers 

Current record: 56-24

Prediction: 57-25

As I stated above, it would take some unforeseen calamity for the Thunder to slip down to the West's #3 seed. With games on consecutive nights coming up, the Clippers will go 1-1 in their final two games. 

4. Houston Rockets 

Current record: 54-27 

Prediction: 54-28

The Rockets are locked-in as the #4 seed, and that should be the deciding factor in their Round One series against the Trailblazers. However, home-court won't matter at all if they can't get starting Point Guard Patrick Beverly [torn meniscus] healthy for the playoffs. 

5. Portland Trailblazers 

Current record: 53-28

Prediction: 54-28 

The Blazers' last game of the season, against the Clippers, will most-likely be a game in which neither team has anything to play for. And it'll be on national television. But the Clippers will be on the second-night of a back-to-back so I see Portland winning it in a somebody-has-to-win contest. 

6. Golden State Warriors 

Current record: 50-31 

Prediction: 50-32

Locking up the #6 seed was huge for this team, but their chances of upsetting the Clippers took a devastating blow when starting Center [and defensive-anchor] Andrew Bogut went down with a broken rib that will likely sideline him for the entire playoffs. 

7. Memphis Grizzlies 

Current record: 49-32 

Prediction: 50-32 

8. Dallas Mavericks 

Current record: 49-32

Prediction: 49-33

These teams have fought hard through the entire season and they managed to knock a deserving Phoenix Suns team out of playoff-contention. They will play each other Wednesday night in Memphis in a game that will decide the #7 seed in the West. In my book, the game being played in Memphis gives the Grizzlies an advantage. 

Western Conference Quarterfinals 

San Antonio Spurs [62-20] over Dallas Mavericks [50-32] 

Game 1: Spurs 

Game 2: Mavericks 

Game 3: Spurs 

Game 4: Spurs 

Game 5: Mavericks 

Game 6: Spurs 

Oklahoma City Thunder [59-23] over Memphis Grizzlies [50-32] 

Game 1: Thunder 

Game 2: Thunder 

Game 3: Grizzlies 

Game 4: Grizzlies 

Game 5: Grizzlies 

Game 6: Thunder 

Game 7: Thunder 

Los Angeles Clippers [57-25] over Golden State Warriors [50-32]

Game 1: Clippers 

Game 2: Clippers

Game 3: Warriors 

Game 4: Clippers 

Game 5: Warriors 

Game 6: Clippers 

Houston Rockets [54-28] over Portland Trailblazers [54-28] 

Game 1: Rockets 

Game 2: Trailblazers 

Game 3: Rockets 

Game 4: Trailblazers 

Game 5: Rockets 

Game 6: Rockets 

Western Conference Semifinals 

San Antonio Spurs [62-20] over Houston Rockets [54-28]

Game 1: Rockets 

Game 2: Spurs 

Game 3: Spurs 

Game 4: Spurs 

Game 5: Rockets 

Game 6: Spurs 

Oklahoma City Thunder [59-23] Los Angeles Clippers [57-25] 

Game 1: Clippers 

Game 2: Thunder 

Game 3: Clippers 

Game 4: Thunder 

Game 5: Clippers 

Game 6: Clippers 

Western Conference Finals 

San Antonio Spurs [62-20] over Los Angeles Clippers [57-25]

Game 1: Spurs 

Game 2: Spurs 

Game 3: Clippers 

Game 4: Clippers 

Game 5: Spurs 

Game 6: Spurs 

NBA Finals 

Indiana Pacers [55-27] over San Antonio Spurs [62-20] 

Game 1: Pacers 

Game 2: Spurs 

Game 3: Pacers 

Game 4: Pacers 

Game 5: Spurs 

Game 6: Pacers 

Finals MVP: IND SF Paul George 

Award Picks 

Most Valuable Player [Top 5]: 

1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder 

2. Lebron James, Miami Heat 

3. Paul George, Indiana Pacers 

4. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors 

5. Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves 

Defensive Player of the Year [Top 5]: 

1. Paul George, Indiana Pacers 

2. Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers 

3. Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls 

4. Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets 

5. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs 

Most Improved Player [Top 5:] 

1. Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers 

2. Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns 

3. Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns 

4. Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns 

5. Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings

Coach of the Year [Top 5:]

1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs 

2. Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls 

3. Frank Vogel, Indiana Pacers 

4. Terry Stotts, Portland Trailblazers 

5. Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks 

Rookie of the Year [Top 5:] 

1. Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic 

2. Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers 

3. Trey Burke, Utah Jazz 

4. Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks 

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

6th Man of the Year [Top 5:]

1. Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers 

2. Nick "Swaggy P" Young, Los Angeles Lakers 

3. Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls

4. Manu Ginobli, San Antonio Spurs

5. Jeremy Lin, Houston Rockets 

Least Valuable Player Compared To Their Contract [Top 5:] 

1. Gilbert Arenas, Free Agent 

Salary: $20,300,000

2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers 

Salary: $30,453,805

3. Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks 

Salary: $21,679,893

4. Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets 

Salary: $18,166,430 

5. Kevin Garnett 

Salary: $12,433,735