Official 2013-2014 NBA Playoffs Thread

[dougp]

That time of the year again, Doug getting banned, errr, NBA Playoffs. This thread is for your predictions and discussions, I'll maintain the brackets after every round.

Brackets will be officially posted after Wednesday, but for now, this is what we have. Teams with an asterisks mean their match-ups could change.

NBA FINALS!
1) San Antonio vs. 2) Miami

Western Conference Finals:
1) San Antonio vs. 2) Oklahoma City

Eastern Conference Finals:
1) Indiana vs. 2) Miami

Western Conference - Round 2:
1) San Antonio vs. 5) Portland
2) Oklahoma City vs. 3) Los Angeles Clippers

Eastern Conference - Round 2:
1) Indiana vs. 5) Washington
2) Miami vs. 6) Brooklyn

Western Conference - Round 1:
1) San Antonio vs. 8) Dallas
2) Oklahoma City vs. 7) Memphis
3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. 6) Golden State
4) Houston vs. 5) Portland

Eastern Conference - Round 1:
1) Indiana vs. 8) Atlanta
2) Miami vs. 7) Charlotte
3) Toronto vs. 6) Brooklyn
4) Chicago vs. 5) Washington

 

[purbeast0]

wizards back in the playoffs for the first time in like 7 or 8 years. i can see em getting to the 2nd round but not much further.

 

[dougp]

My predictions, winners in bold:

Western Conference - Round 1:
1) San Antonio vs. 8) Memphis*
2) Oklahoma City vs. 7) Dallas*
3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. 6) Golden State*
4) Houston vs. 5) Portland

Eastern Conference - Round 1:
1) Indiana vs. 8) Atlanta
2) Miami vs. 7) Charlotte
3) Toronto vs. 6) Washington
4) Chicago vs. 5) Brooklyn

Western Conference - Round 2:
1) San Antonio vs. 5) Portland
3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. 7) Dallas

Eastern Conference - Round 2:
1) Indiana vs. 4) Chicago
2) Miami vs. 3) Toronto

Western Conference - Round 3:
1) San Antonio vs. 3) Los Angeles Clippers

Eastern Conference - Round 3:
2) Miami vs. 4) Chicago

NBA Finals:
1) San Antonio vs. 4) Chicago

Yes, I know, you're all surprised. Honestly, not sure how it'll go - I think the most exciting first round match ups are OKC vs. Dallas and Chicago vs. Brooklyn. I'd love to see Brooklyn go against Miami, which is also entirely possible. Regardless, I don't think Miami will face a challenge until the ECF.

I think both Portland and Houston would give the Spurs a run for their money, but then again, I think both teams lack depth, and Houston lacks defense. Both teams will be playing their starters a lot of minutes in the first round series that will probably go 6-7 games. As for the Clippers - neither team has been full strength when they played, so who knows what that conference finals match-up would be like.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

WC - Round 1
San Antonio over Dallas
OKC over Memphis
Clippers over Warriors
Rockets over Blazers (DAMMIT!)

EC - Round 1
Pacers over Hawks
Heat over Bobcats
Nets over Raptors
Bulls over Wizards

The WC matchups are all interesting and should make for some good games, but I think the top 4 in the west are just a cut above and will ride through to the second round. But I'm rooting for the Blazers in the upset, not just because I'm a Portland fan, but because the Rockets are probably my least favorite team in basketball (Howard and Harden are two of my least favorite players in basketball). I still think they'll win, but I hate everything about them. The second round is where it will get really interesting in the West. The East is a total wash; unless Indiana can get back on form, nothing is stopping the Heat.

-EDIT- Predicting the winners before the matchups were finalized was a silly thing to do... But I'm still taking the Nets in an upset.

 

[purbeast0]

just fyi, the wizards and bobcats aren't set yet either. depends on what happens in their last games. the wizards control their own destiny, but if they lose and the bobcats win, they will be 7th seed because charlotte has the tie breaker.

 

[dougp]

just fyi, the wizards and bobcats aren't set yet either. depends on what happens in their last games. the wizards control their own destiny, but if they lose and the bobcats win, they will be 7th seed because charlotte has the tie breaker.

Same for the Nets, as well. Apparently the Nets are considering sitting 6 players tonight ...

 

[HendrixFan]

I watched a ton of Rockets games this year and they are a really good team and fun to watch. Anyone familiar with NBA threads here over the years will know I'm not a fan of Dwight Howard so enjoying them isn't exactly easy for me. The top four teams in the West all have a legit shot of making it to the Finals.

The Spurs I worry that they are a little ChicagoBulls-ish this year in that they mastered the regular season but can't really gear up too much for the playoffs. OKC has a much higher ceiling but a terrible coach and a PG that can take you out of games can really sting them. The Clippers are improved defensively but I still don't trust them to make stops. The same can be said of the Rockets, though that shifts if McHale is willing to trot out Asik, TJ and Beverley in cruchtime and sit Howard.

 

[darkewaffle]

Man, was really hoping Phoenix would sneak in. I think I'm pulling for the Wizards in the East (John Wall!) and I'd probably root for Spurs in the West. In reality I have a hard time seeing anyone other than Thunder/Spurs coming out of the West or Heat/Pacers from the East though I would at least give a reasonable X factor rating to both Bulls and Nets.

 

[Imported]

Woot. I can finally watch the NBA again.

Hoping the Warriors pull through.

 

[dougp]

Updated the matchups.

 

[HendrixFan]

SA and OKC both got better matchups. I don't see an upset happening against either of them now. Scottie Brooks won't look like a moron playing Perkins big minutes against Memphis and OKC won't get ousted early, leaving him as coach. If they got a round one bounce at the hand of the Mavs (pretty likely) Brooks would be gone. Now Brooks will stay and Durant will be much more likely to leave at the end of his contract. At least if he is smart.

 

[bearxor]

Oh man are the Bobcats going down faster than a senior at her prom.

Was hoping for a six seed do that we might actually win a game.

...

...

GO SPURS!

 

[dbk]

oh man I can't wait for the Spurs to redeem themselves.. plz!!!!! I really hope the Rockets don't get far.. sick of watching Harden shoot 30 free throws every night...

 

[Imported]

Yea Warriors!

 

[dbk]

Jeff teague going off on the Pacers right now. Indy looks bad at both ends..Hibbert playing half awake

 

[HendrixFan]

Jeff teague going off on the Pacers right now. Indy looks bad at both ends..Hibbert playing half awake

The Atlanta win is really the only surprising upset from today. They really aren't any good. The Pacers have struggled for a while but the way they lost this one was just embarrassing. The Pacers will still win the series but they are looking at a second round exit unless the adjust fast.

 

[Miramonti]

One of the most wicked Day 1's I've probably seen in the nba. 3 of 4 road teams win, and the Griz are pummeling the thunder in the 3rd quarter to get back in the game.

 

[HendrixFan]

The Mavs are playing over their heads today. Carlisle is of course great with lineups but some of these performances just aren't repeatable. Duncan banged knees and is sitting so that will be something that might linger. It didn't seem too serious but at his age that could bother him and limit him for some time.

 

[dbk]

What a backbreaker for the Mavs.. thought they had that one in the bag.. but once Timmay came back in the 4th everything changed. Go SPURS!

https://vine.co/v/M1YeruZTpBA

Pop's message to Craig Sager

https://vine.co/v/M1YeruZTpBA

 

[Dirigible]

Yea Warriors!

:thumbsup:

 

[dbk]

Al Jefferson is a stud. Damn!

 

[HendrixFan]

It is just one game, but I have been wondering all year long if Miami had been over resting Wade so he could just explode the playoffs. If so, credit Lebron for really shouldering the load for 82 games to allow Wade that kind of rest. Wade at 100% with Lebron makes the Heat into the unstoppable force they were during their 28 (is that right?) game winning streak last year.

 

[dbk]

nice comeback win by the WizKids.. Bulls have no answer for Nene.. Questionable coaching moves by Thibs.. Where wereBoozer and Dunleavy when they needed points.. I would've played taken Hinrich out too.. Seem like they were leaning on Butler to score at one point (?)

 

[bearxor]

It is just one game, but I have been wondering all year long if Miami had been over resting Wade so he could just explode the playoffs. If so, credit Lebron for really shouldering the load for 82 games to allow Wade that kind of rest. Wade at 100% with Lebron makes the Heat into the unstoppable force they were during their 28 (is that right?) game winning streak last year.

This Bobcat series is going to be over so fast the Heat might as well not even book a hotel for their time in Charlotte.

 

[HendrixFan]

nice comeback win by the WizKids.. Bulls have no answer for Nene.. Questionable coaching moves by Thibs.. Where wereBoozer and Dunleavy when they needed points.. I would've played taken Hinrich out too.. Seem like they were leaning on Butler to score at one point (?)

I don't even need to get started with Thibs, but the Bulls' real answer to this problem is signing Melo this offseason. I read a report that the Bulls were looking at amnestying Boozer to clear room for Melo, and with the estimated $5M salary cap increase they should be able to fit him, Rose and Noah on the payroll.

Meanwhile this Rockets/Blazers game just won't end and I'm liking it. Big time game from Aldridge.