It’s time to introduce a new feature to Off Court Issues named, “Calling Glass.” Anyone who has ever played basketball knows what the term “Calling Glass” means and is very familiar with how and when to use it. It all has to do with the bank shot. If you don’t know what a bank shot is then perhaps you are here by mistake (hint, hint, this is a basketball blog). OK, OK, fine, somehow you may not know what it is, so I’ll let Mr. Duncan show you how it’s done. Now Tim visits the bank quite often and always intentionally, many other players… not so much. The vast majority of the time you see a bank shot in NBA basketball, or really any basketball for that matter, it was accidental. This is where “Calling Glass” comes in. No matter who you are playing with, if you intend to shoot a bank shot, as the ball is leaving your hands, you must say, “Glass.” If you do not say, “Glass,” well then your shot was suspect and presumed accidental. Your entire life will subsequently be called into question, as it should be. Save yourself the trouble, call “Glass” or just admit you got lucky. For the purpose of blogging I am now using the term to announce a prediction(s). So it’s time to call “Glass” and predict the first round of the NBA playoffs.
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 Houston Rockets
This series could be very interesting in that there are a few subplots going on. Of course the major subplot is James Harden facing his former team. Houston is a really fun team to watch with a very bright future, multiple high scoring games are expected from the bearded one, and I expect emotions to be high in this series. However, the Thunder are going to trounce the Rockets. Durant and Westbrook will run rampant, as they often do. This series will never be in doubt, although I do expect the Rockets to win at least one game. Put the brooms away, there will be no sweep.
Winner: 5 games
#2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #7 Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe’s out, their backs are against the wall, they’re playing like scrappy underdogs, will the rejuvenated Lakers continue their emotional journey without their fearless leader? No. Man, this series would have been monumentally more interesting if Kobe was involved. His loss will be too great, Dwight folds in the spotlight time and time again, Nash is injured (although at this point Blake might be the better option anyways), oh yeah, and the Spurs are really good. A playoff tested Spurs with the best coach in the NBA will prove to be insurmountable for the Lake Show. Spurs in 5.
Winner: 5 games
#3 Denver Nuggets vs. #6 Golden State Warriors
This series will be fun to watch, in fact it will most likely be the most exciting series of the first round. In the end Denver will prove to be too deep, but Steph Curry and the Warriors will not go down easily. Just remember kids to set your VCR’s for these games, make sure your VHS cassettes are set to Extended Play and your tracking is adjusted, it’s gonna be fun. This is also the series I see as most likely to go the distance.
Winner: 6 games
#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies
A believer in the Clippers I am not. Chris Paul is a great player and has the grittiness to grind out a playoff series, but the rest of his team will fade when the going gets tough, and against the Grizzlies it will get tough. I picture Blake Griffin having a very bad playoff experience once he realizes he can’t dunk his way into the next round, the Grizzlies will play better defense than your run of the mill Kia. Sorry “Lob City,” Memphis has two seven footers in the paint.
Winner: 6 games
#1 Miami Heat vs. #8 Milwaukee Bucks
Four blowouts in a row.
Winner: 4 games (maybe less)
#2 New York Knicks vs. #7 Boston Celtics
The Knicks are hot. Carmelo is smoldering. The Celtics are old and the Knicks have home court, you do the math. There are a multitude of reasons why the Knicks are going to win their first playoff series in over a decade. The Celtics are going to win. I know what your’re thinking right now, there’s no way this could happen and you are reading the words of a lunatic. This is my playoffs upset and I’m sticking to it. The Celtics will grind out seven games and will tighten up on defense, the Knicks rely to heavily on one player and three point shooting. These are two things that typically fade in the playoffs. Everything is pointing to the Knicks advancing, but they wont because the Celtics might be the best seventh seed ever.
Winner: 7 games
#3 Indiana Pacers vs. #6 Atlanta Hawks
The Pacers have fallen back a little as the season has progressed and aren’t quite as good as initially thought. They’re still good enough to beat the Hawks. George, West and Hibbert will carry Indy to the next round and it probably won’t be too hard for them.
Winner: 5 games
#4 Brooklyn Nets vs. #5 Chicago Bulls
Brooklyn’s going to get some playoff games in their inaugural season, it’s not often that happens. Unfortunately for them, they won’t be hosting playoff games in the second round. Words can not express how impressed I am with the Chicago Bulls. Allow me to point out again that DERRICK ROSE HAS NOT PLAYED ALL SEASON. Despite his absence they still made it to the postseason. A great coach and tough defense will carry the Bulls to the next round. The Nets just don’t have, for lack of a better term, it. Brooklyn will be the team most unprepared for the raised intensity level of the postseason and it will indeed cost them their playoff lives.
Winner: 6 games
These are the predictions of Off Court Issues and they are final. If you disagree, I’d love to hear why. These playoffs should be pretty interesting, other than Miami there is no clear runaway top team. They’re going to win it all again but leading up to that day should be pretty interesting.
