2013 NBA Playoffs thread

[Cosmo]

The fun starts Saturday ... really wish Kobe was playing because he had a chance to steal a game or two by himself against the Spurs. Still, three of the West series ought to be really interesting. The Houston-OKC series could be played in the 120s.

The East ... meh, Brooklyn-Chicago will be fun. New York-Boston will be OK. The other two series, ugh.

Anyway, picks everyone?

EAST
Miami over Milwaukee in 4
Chicago over Brooklyn in 6
Indiana over Atlanta in 5
New York over Boston in 6

WEST
Oklahoma City over Houston in 5
L.A. Clippers over Memphis in 7
San Antonio over L.A. Lakers in 5 (hey, Tracy McGrady might finally get to the second round ...)
Golden State over Denver in 6

 

[dreunc1542]

I'll go Denver over the Warriors in 5, Memphis over LAC in 7, and Brooklyn over Chicago in 6. I agree with your other picks.

 

[Cosmo]

Part of me wants Chicago to win just because I think the Bulls will be a tougher out for Miami than the Nets will be.

 

[HanSenSE]

Wish I could be that optimistic about the Warriors, but Denver is one of those teams that's been flying under the radar all season.

 

[Songbird]

Miami from the East.

OKC-Spurs will be a 7-game dogfight in the West finals.

Miami over Thunder in rematch. LeBron MVP.

 

[dreunc1542]

Wish I could be that optimistic about the Warriors, but Denver is one of those teams that's been flying under the radar all season.

Denver has not flown under the radar in the slightest for those who have been paying attention. No team that goes 37-3 at home is flying under the radar. Until the Gallo, Lawson, and Faried injuries, people were speculating about whether or not they could take down the Spurs and/or OKC for the West crown. Lawson is back, but Faried looks like he'll likely have lingering issues, and their ceiling now is probably making it to the WCF.

 

[Cosmo]

Denver is very good ... just seemed weird going with chalk all the way through the first round, and with a few key injuries down the stretch, I could see Steph Curry getting hot and stealing that series, that's all. Of the "upsets" that seems the most likely.

The entire Indiana-Atlanta series should be on NBAtv2.

 

[Small Town Guy]

If Kobe was healthy I could see the Lakers maybe pulling off an upset. Spurs are reeling a bit and the last few years they've been the Patriots of the NBA, former champs who dominate regular season and then run into troubles in the playoffs. Plus, Lakers are actually 28-12 the last 40 games, a pretty decent clip for half a season. But...now I can see them winning maybe 1, possibly 2. Definitely a better matchup than OKC, who would have destroyed them either way, with or without Kobe.

Nuggets-Warriors will be a blast to watch because it will be like a series from 1985 as far as the pace. The East again is blech. Hopefully Celtics-Knicks is a good series though. But right now I don't see anyone beating Miami or OKC.

 

[HanSenSE]

Wish I could be that optimistic about the Warriors, but Denver is one of those teams that's been flying under the radar all season.

Denver has not flown under the radar in the slightest for those who have been paying attention. No team that goes 37-3 at home is flying under the radar. Until the Gallo, Lawson, and Faried injuries, people were speculating about whether or not they could take down the Spurs and/or OKC for the West crown. Lawson is back, but Faried looks like he'll likely have lingering issues, and their ceiling now is probably making it to the WCF.

Exactly ... but as stated, have to be paying attention in this world where what LeBron and Kobe tweet passes for NBA coverage.

 

[MileHigh]

I think the Nuggets are going to win the West. They're in the better half of the draw in that they don't get Oklahoma City until the West finals. It's been a magical season for them, despite the injuries. They're finally running like they should have for the past 40 years at altitude.

The East is one big snoozefest.

The Lakers might win one game, perhaps two.

 

[JackReacher]

Lakers went from +1200 to +700 to advance past the Spurs.

 

[MileHigh]

Lakers went from +1200 to +700 to advance past the Spurs.

I-15 must have been real crowded this morning. And the round trips on Southwest to McCarran.

 

[Roscablo]

I think the Nuggets are going to win the West. They're in the better half of the draw in that they don't get Oklahoma City until the West finals. It's been a magical season for them, despite the injuries. They're finally running like they should have for the past 40 years at altitude.

The East is one big snoozefest.

The Lakers might win one game, perhaps two.

I've heard some "experts" out there wonder if the Nuggets are the new way to build a championship-type team in the NBA. That is with strong and talented depth and interchangeable parts and no real superstar. And that this year's playoffs could be an indicator if it will work. I don't know. It's just so easy for one player to dominate in basketball that I don't know if such a "star" formula will ever change.

That said, if any team can withstand injuries it appears to be the Nuggets. And Lawson looks to be back mostly full strength and I would imagine Faried will be at some point in this series. I think they have the makeup of a pretty deep run. Of course they've also only won two playoff series since their current playoff appearance streak started in 03 and both of those were in the same year.

 

[dreunc1542]

I would be shocked if Denver loses to Golden State, especially with the way they play at home. I would be more shocked if they were able to knock off OKC (assuming they even get to the WCF). That's the series I most want to see, though. Those two teams are a blast to watch on their own, and even more fun when they're playing each other.

 

[MileHigh]

Agree. A Denver-OKC WCF would be fun.

If the Nuggets beat Golden State, they get the Lakers or San Antonio. I like their chances.

 

[Gold]

The only team I can't see Denver beating in the West is Oklahoma City.

 

[dreunc1542]

I agree with Zach Lowe that the toughest series for OKC in the West would be Memphis. They can match up defensively with them and slow the game down. Conley will need to play at an even higher level than he has in the second half, and Randolph needs to play better than he has been for that to happen, though.

 

[Mark2010]

Eastern Conference, first round

Miami over Milwaukee in 4 games
Boston over New York in 6 games
Indiana over Atlanta in 6 games
Chicago over Brooklyn in 6 games

Semifinals
Miami over Chicago in 5 games
Indiana over Boston in 7 games

Finals
Miami over Indiana in 6 games

Western Conference, first round
San Antonio over L.A. Lakers in 5 games
Oklahoma City over Houston in 4 games
Denver over Golden State in 5 games
L.A. Clippers over Memphis in 5 games

Semifinals
San Antonio over Denver in 5 games
Oklahoma City over L.A. Clippers in 6 games

Finals
San Antonio over Oklahoma City in 5 games

NBA FINALS: Miami over San Antonio in 6 games

 

[Mark2010]

Other than that really weird first-round series in 1990, when the Knicks came from 0-2 down to win three straight, including the decisive Game 5 at Boston Garden, when was the last time New York beat Boston in a playoff series? I'm thinking back to the 1970s and can't recall any.

Best one was 1984 when the home team won every game. Larry Bird was unstoppable in Game 7 and outdueled Bernard King and the Celtics eventually won the championship.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

1973, Mark. Knicks won in seven, first time Boston lost a playoff series in a home game seven or at home period. Havlicek had a leg injury earlier in the series and by Game Seven could barely move.