2014 NBA Playoffs Preview

Are you ready for the NBA Playoffs? This is the time of year when fans become focused. Check out the match ups, where you can watch them and what you should be paying attention too in the first round.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Indiana Pacers (56-26) vs. No. 8 Atlanta Hawks (38-44)

The Pacers set out to get the number one seed this season and achieved that. But since February the team has been on a slide. Paul George’s off court issues, Roy Hibbert has disappeared on offense. Battles internally over shots… they picked the worst time to fall off. However, this is the East, and they’re facing off against the Hawks… I mean, we can pretend but…

Pacers in 6. Not because I believe in the Hawks that much, but because I believe the Pacers will lose themselves at least once.

• Game 1 in Indianapolis: Saturday, April 19, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2 in Indianapolis: Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3 in Atlanta: Thursday, April 24, 7 p.m. ET, NBATV
• Game 4 in Atlanta: Saturday, April 26, 2 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5 in Indianapolis (if necessary): Monday, April 28, 8 p.m. ET, NBATV
• Game 6 in Atlanta (if necessary): Thursday, May 1
• Game 7 in Indianapolis (if necessary): Saturday, May 3

No. 2 Miami Heat (54-28) vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats (43-39)

LeBron James had the best game of his career against the Charlotte Bobcats a few months ago when he dropped 61 points on them.

The Heat should dismiss the Bobcats with the quickness. Random interesting note though, the Bobcats owner, NBA LEGEND Michael Jordan, has a jersey hanging in the rafters in the Heat’s American Airlines Arena. I’d say it might be time to take that down.

Heat in 4. Good Job, Good Effort Charlotte!

• Game 1 in Miami: Sunday, April 20, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 2 in Miami: Wednesday, April 23, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3 in Charlotte: Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 4 in Charlotte: Monday, April 28, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5 in Miami (if necessary): Wednesday, April 30
• Game 6 in Charlotte (if necessary): Friday, May 2
• Game 7 in Miami (if necessary): Sunday, May 4

No. 3 Toronto Raptors (48-34) vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets (44-38)

I’m intrigued by this match up. The Raptors haven’t been in the postseason in eons. Both teams were two of the best in the East since January. The Nets finally finding their groove under rookie head coach Jason Kidd. AT times in the huddle, it appears as if Paul Pierce is actually the coach. The Raptors have benefited from stealing the Nuggets former GM Masai Ujiri – you see where the Nuggets are this season… at home – But back to our focus, no back-to-backs means the old guys on the Nets will have time to rest.

Nets in 6

• Game 1 in Toronto: Saturday, April 19, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2 in Toronto: Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
• Game 3 in New York: Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• Game 4 in New York: Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5 in Toronto (if necessary): Wednesday, April 30
• Game 6 in New York (if necessary): Friday, May 2
• Game 7 in Toronto (if necessary): Sunday, May 4

No. 4 Chicago Bulls (48-34) vs. No. 5 Washington Wizards (44-38)

Once again the Bulls are without their star player Derrick Rose in the playoffs. Last season it was Nate Robinson who took over to help the Bulls make it to the second round. But Nate’s gone. Someone always steps up for the Bulls. That’s a testament of great coaching and team who believes in itself. My messy bun inspiration, Joakim Noah is the heart of this team. Both the Bulls and Wizards utilize the corner three.

This is the first playoff appearance for the Wiz in awhile. It’s the first series ever for Wizards All-Star John Wall. This match up should be highly entertaining.

Bulls in 6

• Game 1 in Chicago: Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 2 in Chicago: Tuesday, April 22, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3 in Washington: Friday, April 25, 8 p.m., ESPN
• Game 4 in Washington: Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 5 in Chicago (if necessary): Tuesday, April 29
• Game 6 in Washington (if necessary): Thursday, May 1
• Game 7 in Chicago (if necessary): Saturday, May 3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 San Antonio Spurs (62-20) vs. No. 8 Dallas Mavericks (49-33)

The Spurs have swept the Mavericks the past two seasons. The Mavs battled strong towards the end of the season to earn the eight seed. This will be like Dirk Nowitzki swan song in the playoffs. He might have a few monster moment but it won’t overcome the machine that is the Spurs.

Spurs win EASILY in 4

• Game 1 in San Antonio: Sunday, April 20, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 2 in San Antonio: Wednesday, April 23, 8 p.m. ET, NBATV
• Game 3 in Dallas: Saturday, April 26, 4:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 4 in Dallas: Monday, April 28, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5 in San Antonio (if necessary): Wednesday, April 30
• Game 6 in Dallas (if necessary): Friday, May 2
• Game 7 in San Antonio (if necessary): Sunday, May 4

No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23) vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies (50-32)

Last season the Grizzlies made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals were they lost to the Spurs. The Grizz knocked off the Thunder to make it there. Obviously the huge factor last season was the Thunder losing guard Russell Westbrook to injury in the first round. This season Russ is back, KD has been playing the best basketball of his career and is expected to be named the 2014 league MVP. The Grizzlies are missing Lionel Hollins coaching. Grizzlies’ advantage, their frontline of Mark Gasol and Zach Randolph.

I expect this series to go the distance 6, perhaps 7 games with the Thunder coming out on top.

• Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Saturday, April 19, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Monday, April 21, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3 in Memphis: Thursday, April 24, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 4 in Memphis: Saturday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 5 in Oklahoma City (if necessary): Tuesday, April 29
• Game 6 in Memphis (if necessary): Thursday, May 1
• Game 7 in Oklahoma City (if necessary): Saturday, May 3

No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers (57-25) vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors (51-31)

There is no love loss between the Clippers and the Warriors. The two teams have a strong dislike for each other. So much so in fact,

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. Three point shooting will be big with Steph Curry spalshing for the Warriors and the return of Jamal Crawford and JJ Reddick for the Clippers.
. The Warriors are without the services of their big man in the middle, Andrew Bogut, which means trouble for them. Both Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan have improved their games this season.

I fully expect MY Clippers to send the Warriors on vacation in 6 games.

• Game 1 in Los Angeles: Saturday, April 19, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 2 in Los Angeles: Monday, April 21, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3 in Oakland: Thursday, April 24, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 4 in Oakland: Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
• Game 5 in Los Angeles (if necessary): Tuesday, April 29
• Game 6 in Oakland (if necessary): Thursday, May 1
• Game 7 in Los Angeles (if necessary): Saturday, May 3

No. 4 Houston Rockets (54-28) vs. No. 5 Portland Trail Blazers (54-28)

This season both Dwight Howard and James Harden have lit up the Blazers in their match ups. Portland had some success late this season playing small ball and of course stretching the defense with 3’s. The Blazers are shaky on defense. This match up should be entertaining but expect Houston to make slight work of Portland.

Rockets win in 5

• Game 1 in Houston: Sunday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 2 in Houston: Wednesday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3 in Portland, Ore.: Friday, April 25, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 4 in Portland: Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5 in Houston (if necessary): Wednesday, April 30
• Game 6 in Portland (if necessary): Friday, May 2
• Game 7 in Houston (if necessary): Sunday, May 4

Graphic via @NBA