The NBA playoffs are in full-flow. Round one is in the books. Ironically, the only game remaining in round 1 as I write this is between the Cavs and the Pacers. It obviously features LeBron James, who has almost always breezed through the first round matchups. Not this year, not with this sub-par roster that he is running with. Pacers have given the Cavs all they can handle and would have probably won this thing already if they had home court. But they don't and they have to now go into Cleveland and beat LeBron James. Probably won't happen despite this Cavs team being the worst team LeBron has had since his first stint in Cleveland. He has has great talent around him in Miami and the last 3 years in Cleveland, but now he has to carry them to the second round all by himself. He will get it done tomorrow, but how far can he carry them? He is getting tired late in game and doesn't play great defense consistently or in transition. You can't even blame him. As much as he looks like an alien at times on the basketball court, he is only human and is in his 15th year. It's a mystery he is putting up these amazing numbers, but something's gotta give and this is not sustainable. First things first though for the Cavs. They have to win game 7.
These playoffs have been great so far. It's been very competitive with many interesting storylines. LeBron's buzzer-beater in game 5 was amazing. We have also seen a lot of pushing and shoving and mini-skirmishes as you can clearly see how the intensity and hatred increases as the series goes into games 3, 4, and later. Guys see the same guys defending them and they get sick of each other sooner than later. These series starts gently and ramps up in intensity slowly, but surely. Three of the four Eastern conference round 1 series were long ones. That only confirmed what we all knew already that the East is wide-open wth no clear favorites. Philadelphia 76'ers are the trendy pick and rightfully so. They beat the Heat 4-1, the shortest round 1 series in the East. That's pretty impressive considering the Miami Heat are the kind of well-coached, defensive-minded, tough team that can surprise an unsuspecting higher seed and drag them through a long series. The Sixers didn't let that happen and dispatched the Heat early via an intensely contested gentleman's sweep. Now they get to meet the Celtics and they have to be the favorites. Boston has enough talent to win maybe one game and coach Stevens is worth another win. I'd say the Sixers win this one in 6. The Raptors will face the winner of Cavs-Pacers and they will have their hands full either way. Cavs will beat them in 7 if thats the matchup. If it's the Pacers, Raptors in 7. I did expect the Raptors to go 7 games even against the Wizards, but they wrapped it up in 6 beating my projections by one game much like the Sixers. I did predict correctly that both the Celtics and Cavs series to go seven. I picked the Bucks to get it done, but hedged my bet on that one a bit. So, am not really surprised by a Celtics win. Hoping the Cavs prove me right tomorrow.
In the West, both the Warriors and the Rockets finished their gentleman's sweep. Jazz put the Thunder out of their misery in 6, but lost Rubio to a injury for a few days. That could be costly for them in the next round. I expected the Jazz to be a pain for the Rockets. They have size, a solid home crowd, and Donovan Mitchell to give the Rockets all they can handle. That series might go 7. I pick the Rockets to win and thats only because Rubio is expected to be out for 10 days. I believe the right matchup can derail this Houston team regardless of the round though they did win the first round series a game sooner than I had projected. Both the Jazz and Dubs made me look great by making my projections come true in the first round. The team that made all of us look bad were the Pelicans. I said the Blazers will win in 6, but that series has been the only sweep in these playoffs so far. And, it's the lower seededed Pelican who swept the Blazers out of the playoffs. Great matchup for the pelicans in that one and I immediately thought they won't be able to have that good a time against the Dubs. Matchups are completely different in this one. This was proven today in game 1 as the Dubs kicked off round 2 by kicking the Pelicans rear-end all over Oakland. Dubs should take this series in 6, maybe even 5 if Curry gets cooking soon.
These playoffs have been great so far. It's been very competitive with many interesting storylines. LeBron's buzzer-beater in game 5 was amazing. We have also seen a lot of pushing and shoving and mini-skirmishes as you can clearly see how the intensity and hatred increases as the series goes into games 3, 4, and later. Guys see the same guys defending them and they get sick of each other sooner than later. These series starts gently and ramps up in intensity slowly, but surely. Three of the four Eastern conference round 1 series were long ones. That only confirmed what we all knew already that the East is wide-open wth no clear favorites. Philadelphia 76'ers are the trendy pick and rightfully so. They beat the Heat 4-1, the shortest round 1 series in the East. That's pretty impressive considering the Miami Heat are the kind of well-coached, defensive-minded, tough team that can surprise an unsuspecting higher seed and drag them through a long series. The Sixers didn't let that happen and dispatched the Heat early via an intensely contested gentleman's sweep. Now they get to meet the Celtics and they have to be the favorites. Boston has enough talent to win maybe one game and coach Stevens is worth another win. I'd say the Sixers win this one in 6. The Raptors will face the winner of Cavs-Pacers and they will have their hands full either way. Cavs will beat them in 7 if thats the matchup. If it's the Pacers, Raptors in 7. I did expect the Raptors to go 7 games even against the Wizards, but they wrapped it up in 6 beating my projections by one game much like the Sixers. I did predict correctly that both the Celtics and Cavs series to go seven. I picked the Bucks to get it done, but hedged my bet on that one a bit. So, am not really surprised by a Celtics win. Hoping the Cavs prove me right tomorrow.
In the West, both the Warriors and the Rockets finished their gentleman's sweep. Jazz put the Thunder out of their misery in 6, but lost Rubio to a injury for a few days. That could be costly for them in the next round. I expected the Jazz to be a pain for the Rockets. They have size, a solid home crowd, and Donovan Mitchell to give the Rockets all they can handle. That series might go 7. I pick the Rockets to win and thats only because Rubio is expected to be out for 10 days. I believe the right matchup can derail this Houston team regardless of the round though they did win the first round series a game sooner than I had projected. Both the Jazz and Dubs made me look great by making my projections come true in the first round. The team that made all of us look bad were the Pelicans. I said the Blazers will win in 6, but that series has been the only sweep in these playoffs so far. And, it's the lower seededed Pelican who swept the Blazers out of the playoffs. Great matchup for the pelicans in that one and I immediately thought they won't be able to have that good a time against the Dubs. Matchups are completely different in this one. This was proven today in game 1 as the Dubs kicked off round 2 by kicking the Pelicans rear-end all over Oakland. Dubs should take this series in 6, maybe even 5 if Curry gets cooking soon.
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