It’s go time, fellas
I must disclose, before you read this, that I am a casual NBA fan – meaning I catch two or three quarters of each game as they’re broadcasted on the major networks. My knowledge of the league derives from anything that might be (re)tweeted by one of the non-NBA sports journalists I follow on Twitter, the hours and hours of college basketball I’ve watched this past year, or any other news that is highlighted by ESPN from day to day.
Instead, I religiously follow the MLB and NFL with a little hockey thrown in. The only reason I watch professional basketball in America is because of the level of talent that exists in the league, which subsequently leads to exciting and athletic plays from guys like LeBron James and Chris Paul.
With all of this being said, I am a sports fan at heart and strive to predict the playoff outcomes in any sport as correctly as possible. I will be watching the NBA playoffs this spring and summer, simply because the best teams will be playing and that’s the only thing about the NBA that I find enjoyable. Well, here goes nothing.
(1) Miami Heat vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks
I’m not going to spend too much time on this. LeBron, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh fully healthy versus a team who’s best player only scored 19 points a game this season. But don’t count out Monta Ellis; he can ball from what I’ve seen. Final word: Sweep.
(4) Brooklyn Nets vs. (5) Chicago Bulls
Normally, I wouldn’t hesitate to go with the Bulls here – except for the fact that Derrick Rose isn’t playing. So they’re basically screwed. Plus, the Nets have an old-school coach in P.J. Carlesimo leading some big stars like Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Reggie Evans. Judging from the Nets’ homepage, they’re having a blackout at their home games during the playoffs. It’s ovah!
(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
Arguably the best player on the Pacers, Danny Granger, is out for the season with an injury. On the other hand, the Hawks have quality All-Stars in Josh Smith, Al Horford and Jeff Teague. This is literally a toss-up for me, simply because I don’t know enough about each team. I’ll say Hawks just because I like Smith better than anyone on the Pacers.
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Boston Celtics
Rivalry time! New York-Boston is one of those classics (at least in baseball…). However this series is over already. The Knicks have the season’s leading scorer (Carmelo Anthony), one of the best big men (Tyson Chandler), and an NBA starter that comes off the bench (J.R. Smith). The Celtics are old and injured. Without Rajon Rondo, they have no chance.
(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) Houston Rockets
We all wanted to see it: James Harden versus his old team in the playoffs. At least I did because it’ll be fun to watch. But, as I’ve seen this season in their head-to-head matchups, the Thunder will dominate the Rockets. The combination of Durant and Westbrook rivals LeBron and Wade as the best in the league.
(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies
I’m as surprised as you are to see the Clippers as only the fourth-best team in the Western Conference. I thought for sure that they were second only to the Thunder. I guess that shows how much I know about the NBA. Either way, Lob City will advance with ease. Did I mention they throw alley-oops all the time?
(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
I will be honest – I know nothing about either of these teams’ talent levels. How’s that for analysis? On the flip side, here are some nuggets (pun not intended) to ponder: Andre Iguodala can dunk, Stephen Curry can shoot three’s and Kenneth Faried is an animal. Nuggets move on.
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
Remember when the Lakers were one of the worst teams in the league? Remember when Kobe Bryant guaranteed a playoff berth? And then Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard all got hurt at some point? And then Kobe goes down for the season, except they still make the playoffs? But let’s be honest with each other; the Lakers aren’t the same without Kobe. Now to some this may make Howard better as a player, or the team is doomed against the Spurs. I’ll take the latter. There’s only so much the Lakers center can do – and the Spurs will stop him with Tim Duncan leading the way.
After the first round, my NBA Finals matchup is already clear-cut: Miami Heat in a rematch with the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was predicted back in June right after the Thunder lost the six-game series to the Heat, and I fully believe it now. For the Heat, the Knicks are the only threat – and it’s not a huge one. You know a small kitchen fire that started from the stove? Expect LeBron to just toss some water on the flames and put out Carmelo and Co.
In the West, though, it’s a little more up in the air. I could see the Spurs making a run for the sole fact that they are a very experienced team in the playoffs with a coach that knows what he’s doing. The Clippers could also do something similar, but because of different reasons. They’re young, athletic and talented with a coach that doesn’t know how what he’s doing.
All in all, no one is stopping the most athletic man on the planet, LeBron James and his noble steeds in D-Wade and Bosh. Make it two titles in a row for the King. Now he only needs six more to match his guarantee back in 2010.
