Here we are a week into the playoffs, two teams have already bowed out and a few are very close to it. Some of the series have had quite a few surprises, while others have been as predictable as a Manu GInobili flop when breathed upon by a newborn child. Let’s take a look at the series one at a time and see how my predictions panned out.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets
Russell Westbrook. What a loss. The Thunder were a major favorite to make it all the way to the finals, and potentially win it all (they wouldn’t have). Now, they are in a bit of a scramble. I predicted they would win the series in 5 games, and that still looks like it will hold true, but those deep playoff chances are now in as much trouble as a backboard during a Dwight Howard free throw. In all likelihood Kevin Durant will carry his team to the conference finals, anything beyond that will be a bonus, Westbrook’s loss changes the team that much. It wont be just his stats that will be missing, but the Thunder will be forced to play a different style than they are normally comfortable with.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers
That didn’t take long. Once Kobe went down we knew the Lakers were on borrowed time. Apparently we didn’t know just how short lived their playoff experience would be. The Spurs are a very good team and I can not profess my respect for Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan enough. They simply know how to win and as we’ve seen, they know how to close out a series. I predicted five games, they only needed four. Note to GMs everywhere, Dwight’s not worth the money. He wants a max contract but can’t win a single playoff game, no thanks.
Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors
David Lee, David Lee, we don’t need no stinkin’ David Lee. Chicken, beef, goat, even vegetable, all good forms of curry, but right now, that Steph Curry is as good as it gets. We are watching a future superstar in the making. How does Denver respond? I predicted the Nuggets to win in six and I can clearly say now, I was wrong. Denver wins game five, Warriors close it in six with that insane crowd behind them every step of the way. The Nuggets depth has always been their strength, are we now seeing that they lack that one player who can take over a game, methinks perhaps so.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
It’s getting tight in here… LA came out strong and did their job at home, barely. Once the series shifted to Memphis it started to get interesting. I predicted the Grizzlies in six and I am standing by it like Ray Allen does the three point line. The Grizzlies are a… grizzly team. They’re tough, the Clippers aren’t, that’s what this series is going to come down to.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Varsity against Junior Varsity.
New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
Ok, this is the one I was a bit off on. I kind of picked the Celtics to win in seven games. Doesn’t look like that ones going to happen. The Celtics look lost on offense to put in nicely, the loss of Rondo is so clear in this series and it has cost the Celtics dearly. I expect the Knicks to win at home in game five and end the series, once JR Smith and his elbow (who showed a major lack of intelligence in game 4) comes back, the Knicks will most likely have too much offense for the Celtics to handle. However, if the Celtics somehow are able to muster a victory at MSG, they’re going to win in seven. So that’s kind of a half change of mind. I expected more from the Celtics, and hate hearing from every broadcaster everywhere that KG and Pierce are done, it’s just silly. A victory or loss in ONE game can not determine the entire future of your franchise. The Knicks have been very impressive this series, if Carmelo keeps playing like this and they keep hitting their threes, they’re going to go far. Far being until they play Miami.
Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks
Who are these guys and what have you done with the Atlanta Hawks? I predicted the Pacers in five, and much like Shaq shooting a decent looking free throw, it ain’t happening. I thought the Pacers size and the emergence of Paul George would be far more than the Hawks could handle, that does not appear to be the case. I still think the Pacers will pull this one out, but it may go seven.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls
This one is ending Thursday. The Bulls are a gritty team with a great coach, add that to the performance they are getting out of Nate Robinson and the Nets don’t stand a chance in game six in Chicago. I predicted the Bulls in six and that’s what is going to happen. Don’t be surprised if tomorrow night’s game is not a close one. The Nets have to many “are they” players. Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez are all good players, but “are they” stars? Are they top 5 players at their position? Lopez probably, but he won’t be enough to get it done. Now the Bulls as presently constituted dont even have “are they” players, they have “are not” players, but they are a dictionary example of the sum being greater than the parts.
Bonus**** Just to do you a favor, I’ll kill the suspense, Rose isn’t coming back this year.
This is the current state of the playoffs and it is ever changing, check back and see what happens next.
