2014 NBA Playoffs Predictions

[K Douglas]

Games begin today, including the Raptors vs Nets. I think this series is going to go 7.

East Winner - Miami Heat
West Winner - San Antonio Spurs
Champion - San Antonio in 6

Raptors/Nets will go 7, I believe it's a toss up. Hoping Raps pull it off. Whoever wins will get throttled by Miami though.

Best 1st round series - LA Clippers vs Golden State Warriors. I ain't missing a game of that one.

 

[mjg1]

The West is so much better than the East. The West winner might be so beat up and tired, allowing for Miami to cruise to another title. I'm going with a upset pick in the West, L.A. clippers, and lose to Miami in 7.

 

[wonkyknee]

Miami tends to go 7games quite a bit too...San Antonio might be the fresher team

 

[mjg1]

Games begin today, including the Raptors vs Nets. I think this series is going to go 7.

East Winner - Miami Heat
West Winner - San Antonio Spurs
Champion - San Antonio in 6

Raptors/Nets will go 7, I believe it's a toss up. Hoping Raps pull it off. Whoever wins will get throttled by Miami though.

Best 1st round series - LA Clippers vs Golden State Warriors. I ain't missing a game of that one.

I agree, Clippers vs. Warriors should be a great 1st rd series!

 

[maurice93]

Miami tends to go 7games quite a bit too...San Antonio might be the fresher team

Its not likely that the Western Champion is fresher than the East Champion, IMO.

First 2 rounds for any Western Champion will be much more difficult than the Heat will face.. although it is possible the East Conference final could go as long or longer.

 

[raptorizedguy]

Its not likely that the Western Champion is fresher than the East Champion, IMO.

First 2 rounds for any Western Champion will be much more difficult than the Heat will face.. although it is possible the East Conference final could go as long or longer.

I do give Lebron all the credit he deserves but playing in the East gives you a easier road to the Finals .... Would he be going for a 3 peat if he was playing for a Western team ..

 

[starzero4]

Best 1st round series - LA Clippers vs Golden State Warriors. I ain't missing a game of that one.

What are your thoughts on game 1 of that series?

Was really impressed with the interior passing of the Warriors in that game especially in the 2nd half. Also nice to see the maturation/evolution of Klay Thompson's game. He is not just a spot-up shooter anymore. He can put the ball on the floor and create for himself and others and is an excellent defender at the 2-guard position. I thought his length really made things difficult on Paul especially in the 1st half.

I still think the Clippers will end up winning the series as this game was tight and Blake was in foul trouble throughout the game - many of them touch fouls . He didn't get to play much and still the Clippers were close. And those turnovers and missed free throws by the Clippers at the end of the game cost them too.

Warriors bigs (Lee/O'neal) played well too in the 2nd half in particular. Lee's passing is underrated and O'neal did a solid job defensively altering/changing shots and drawing charges and did a TREMENDOUS job with his activity on the glass creating extra possessions for the Dubs. When you look at the history of the NBA there are few guys that you can point to and say he was an excellent shot-blocker & charge-drawer. Usually shot-blockers don't draw a lot of charges and vice versa. But when you look at JO's career he has been a very good shot-blocker/changer and charge-drawer.

 

[Born2Star]

I'd love another KD and Lebron showdown !

 

[starzero4]

I'd love another KD and Lebron showdown !

Not a big fan of the brand of basketball OKC plays. Not suggesting it isn't exciting but not sure if it is conducive to winning a title. I am trying to think of a team that has won a title that executed LESS in the halfcourt than OKC does and I am struggling to think of one. What I dont like about OKC is that they do not execute in the halfcourt at all. When you watch their halfcourt sets its too stand-still, too much isolation one-on-one, there isnt much ball-movement, pace, or rhythm . How often do they force a defense to rotate MULTIPLE TIMES - it is very rare. And that was their undoing in the finals against Miami couple years ago. Plus , even though they are exciting in the open-court playoff games and ultimately series are won&lost in the halfcourt. Contrast OKC halfcourt sets with SA or even that championship DAL team from a few years back and it is like night and day. I watch SA halfcourt sets and I feel like I am watching an orchestra. Very different from OKC. Its just the brand of ball that I dont like about OKC. Also think OKC is a little too over-reliant on transition & 3 point scoring. And even when you adjust for the fact that OKC plays a high possession brand of ball they still commit too many turnovers for my liking. And those live-ball turnovers are killers. Russell Westbrook's decision-making/shot-selection still a concern for me at times too.

 

[Big Papa Smurf]

Not a big fan of OKC's offense either, but don't forget that OKC knows how to beat SA. They did it a couple of years ago. If they can hold Parker in check, then you can stall San Antonio's offense. The match up that I would love to see is Durant against Leonard. Leonard has the length and athleticism to match up with Durant.

Tim Duncan putting on a low-post clinic against the Mavs in game 1 was a masterpiece. Makes me reminisce about the days of Olajuwon and McHale.

 

[starzero4]

Not a big fan of OKC's offense either, but don't forget that OKC knows how to beat SA. They did it a couple of years ago. If they can hold Parker in check, then you can stall San Antonio's offense. The match up that I would love to see is Durant against Leonard. Leonard has the length and athleticism to match up with Durant.

Tim Duncan putting on a low-post clinic against the Mavs in game 1 was a masterpiece. Makes me reminisce about the days of Olajuwon and McHale.

Good comments. You are right about Kawhi Leonard. Terrific defensive player and versatile too. And his offense is starting to catch up to the defense too. Pop is using him as a playmaker more this season than last year. And he is really solid in transition too. Also, there are few players who are as good as Kawhi at getting to those 50/50 balls. He just has a knack for getting to those. Excellent offensive rebounder for his position too.

With all due respect to Leonard though my fav perimeter defender in the league might be the guy we saw play some SENSATIONAL defense tonight and that is one TA (Tony Allen). Easily my favorite perimeter defender in the league. KD's point total notwithstanding TA played a sensational game defensively on KD. He made KD work for his points and of course not all the points were on TA as some of it came in transition and some against Prince and Lee. But TA was sensational. TA is another guy who rebounds his position well and can contribute with points more than people think in transition and by moving w/o the basketball and by crashing the off. glass.

MEM did a great job controlling the tempo tonight by executing in the halfcourt. They took care of the ball - avoided the live ball turnovers in particular and OKC was taking the ball out their own net as well so this game for the most part was played in the halfcourt.

 

[MrMessi]

San Antonio VS Miami

Clippers Vs Miami