The Giants: The Eastern Conference Finals Preview

Indiana Pacers (1) vs. Miami Heat (2)

Top Performers: 
Paul George (IND): 19.7ppg, 6.3apg, 2.8apg (vs. WAS)
Lebron James (MIA): 30.0ppg, 6.4rpg, 3.6apg (vs. BKN)

The Pacers In: 
[vs.WAS]
89.0 points scored
86.8 points against

It was about time that the public got too used with how the Pacers played sloppily even after the first round, and expectations were quite lowered. However, it seems that Frank Vogel has quite figured it out by Game 3 of the team's playoff series against the Wizards. Indeed, Game 5 counted as a disappointment, but the Pacers were able to put the finishing touches on the semifinals quite impressively. Now, after 13 games trying to figure things out, they finally meet the team that they are built against, which, since day one of this season they have been waiting for. And it's up to Paul George and Roy Hibbert, who surprisingly performed well against Washington, to fulfill their destiny.

The Heat In:
[vs. BKN]
97.8 points scored
92.4 points against

For the Heat, the semifinals weren't the perfect series that they expected. They scored considerably low than before, indicating that at one point or another they feared that the Nets might take them out of their game. This might not be the case, however, for Lebron James, who just continued his rampage in the playoffs. But more than that, credit goes to playoff veterans Ray Allen and, yes, Chris Bosh, for hitting the shots that mattered the most. It seems that the end is near for Miami, and the celebration can continue in South Beach, but what the Heat need to do as a team is to overcome the last great challenge that lie ahead of them in the East, a Pacers team that can run them down to the ground, and this is not the same script that ran last season.

What could be: With the way Indiana's playing lately, it seems that a fourth straight Finals appearance for Miami is about to happen. Heat in seven.

The Clash: The Western Conference Finals Preview

The Playoffs in the West Coast is down to the two best teams, with one displaying efficiency and the other showing skill.

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2)

Top Performers: 
Tony Parker (SAS): 18.4ppg, 5.2apg, .429 3P%(vs. POR)
Kevin Durant (OKC): 33.2ppg, 9.5rpg, 5.3apg (vs. LAC)

The Spurs In: 
[vs.POR]
108.8 points scored
74.8 points against

In five games, the Spurs have already released a statement that did not sound so obvious in the first round: the inexperienced have no place in the NBA playoffs. The Blazers entered the second round white hot, with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge riding the waves. The Spurs, however, were unmoved, and doused cold water upon them in more ways than one: they protected Aldridge's midrange territory, matched up against Portland's role players (Wesley Matthews and Nic Batum most especially), and schooled, through Tony Parker, Lillard in offense. Once again, the Spurs defied the challenges of Father Time, and are now ready to face their biggest challenge: a healthy Thunder team that can run like crazy. In the end, it's a question of who can set the pace.

The Thunder In:
[vs. LAC]
107.2 points scored
106.3 points against

You can't blame Kevin Durant for ruining Doc Rivers' first year as the Clippers coach. While the Clippers were fully armed with Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Jordan, they do not have any wingman to properly guard Durant and prevent him from hitting thirty in every game. Add to that the fact that Russell Westbrook has outwitted all of Los Angeles' Guards, who couldn't put themselves together again. This time, they are going to enter the Western Conference Finals with Westbrook and an awful game 5 decision at their backs. And perhaps it's not a question of putting themselves together but making it work against a more experienced team whom Coach Scott Brooks know have tricks hidden in their black and silver sleeves. In other words, more is expected from Durant not merely as a scorer but a leader of a competitive team.

What could be: It's the promise of gaining their first ever crown that might lead the Thunder out of an experienced Spurs Team. OKC in seven.

Gaining Momentum: The Eastern Conference Semifinals Preview

Indiana Pacers (1) vs. Washington Wizards (5)
Quarterfinals Top Performers:
Paul George (IND): 23.1ppg, 10.1rpg, 4.6apg (in 8 playoff games)
John Wall (WAS): 17.8ppg, 7.0apg, 2.0spg (in 6 playoff games)

The Pacers In: It's quite a miracle that the Indiana Hawks have survived a resilient Atlanta Hawks team that has nothing on the Pacers except their midrange big men (against which all-star center Roy Hibbert are ineffective against). Coach Frank Vogel owes a lot to Paul George for willing the whole team back into competitive mode following a 3-2 series lead by the Hawks. Now that they are facing another team that perhaps delivers a stronger firepower than the Hawks, the question heading into the second round is how they are going to make adjustments that will guarantee them the win. Perhaps that includes providing a different role for Lance Stephenson and giving way for other bigs such as David West and Luis Scola on the defensive end.

The Wizards In: John Wall and Bradley Beal have already proven their point, and now they can stroll around saying that they are playoff winners in their first appearance ever. For these two, nothing has changed, for they just played their roles quite well during their stretch against the Chicago Bulls. The real surprise comes with frontcourt members Nene and Marcin Gortat, who took their offense on the outside while sealing the paint on the D. They keep this up, and they are headed for another upset.

What could be: If Indiana gets their momentum back, then Washington ought to be afraid of what a number one team can do. Pacers in 6.
[as of press time, the Wizards took Game 1 of the series with a 102-96 win]

Miami Heat (2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)
Quarterfinals Top Performers
LeBron James (MIA): 30.0ppg, 8.0rpg, 11.0ftapg
Paul Pierce (BKN): 13.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 0.465fg%

The Heat In: Technically, the Heat got a free pass into the semifinals. The Charlotte Bobcats, in their last season, had most of their players entering the playoffs for the first time, had their best player at forty percent and hobbling, and as a consequence blew three out of their four playoff games. What Coach Erik Spoelstra has to be concerned with is how Miami can get back into their championship groove, without taking the next opponent lightly, and he can start motivating by displaying LeBron as an example.

The Nets In: One big psychological advantage that the Nets have over the Heat is the fact that they swept all their regular season games against the Heat. This is not a big thing, but it presents a real possibility that they can take the series. But more than just that, their actual advantage comes in the Boston migrants, specifically Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. All the while, these two provided the veteran support needed to keep the Nets afloat, leaving space for Joe Johnson and Deron Williams to do what they're used to. In fact, one can say that with the way the Nets are brightly decorated with stars as the Miami Heat, they really can pull off an upset. It's just a matter of timing and execution.

What could be: Brooklyn might have all the weapons, but Miami still has the time and experience to go back to their playoff ways just in case they have lagged behind. Heat in 7.

No Excuses: The 2014 Western Conference Semifinals Preview

Four teams out, and another four to compete after a tiring first round series. Who's going to survive and who's going home?

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Portland Trailblazers (5)

Quarterfinals top performers:
Tim Duncan (SAS): 17.3ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.9bpg
LaMarcus Aldridge (POR): 26.1ppg, 9.8rpg, 2.3bpg

The Spurs In: Just when everyone predicted that the slightly younger Mavericks team--composed of Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, and newcomer Monta Ellis--can steal the show against the 2013 first runners-up, the "old" Spurs went on a rampage. They left Dallas with a major frustration over Game 6, thanks to Ellis' last minute heroics, and channeled all of the bad vibes on Game 7 with humongous runs that left the Mavs astounded. As they enter the next round of the playoffs, they have one thing that the present Blazers do not have: experience, not to mention that age won't be a big problem considering that there are longer gaps in between. For this series, expect the Spurs to do the same: dump the ball to Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan, and trust that the role players--Kawhi Leonard, Marco Bellinelli, and Boris Diaw among others--can contribute in more ways than one, especially filling in during dire situations.

The Blazers In: There's nothing sweeter than concluding a 14-year hiatus from the second round with a superb last minute shot by Big Game Dame. However, the one who really sent the Rockets home packing after the first round was LaMarcus Aldridge, who went out in all six games with guns firing from the high post. He executed his fade aways and elbow jumpers to perfection, rendering the defense of Dwight Howard and Omer Asik useless in almost the Blazers' games against the Rockets. But with Duncan defending him, it might be nigh time for Damian Lillard to contribute more on both ends (especially on defense!), as well as Nic Batum to step up and revive his inside game. Unless these things happen, things are going to be difficult for Rip City.

What Could Be: Things are exciting for Rip City in the coming days, but don't expect Tim Duncan and his team would allow it to last long. Spurs in 6.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2) vs. L.A. Clippers (3)
Quarterfinals top performers:
Kevin Durant (OKC): 29.9ppg, 9.6rpg, 3.4apg
Blake Griffin (LAC): 23.3ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.6apg

The Thunder In: If there is anything we learned in the past two weeks, it's the fact that the Grizzlies exposed and exploited the Thunder's weaknesses. Tony Allen properly checked and limited Kevin Durant in all those wins by the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies defense forced Russell Westbrook to take over the game, forcing him to run the offense on his own terms. Zach Randolph showed how ineffective Kendrick Perkins really is. And at the end, the Thunder have nothing but Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson, who were both inconsistent in the series, as well as Caron Butler and Derek Fisher, who were reliable guys had they been ten years younger. In fact, the Thunder were fortunate enough that Memphis lost Randolph in the final game, showing how they can dominate when one of the shackles were put loose. This was Memphis, and the Clippers play a different kind of game, relying not on defensive prowess but their ability to run their offense quickly, and this is precisely the perfect match up for Scott Brooks' design.

The Clippers In: Fans of the NBA should be thankful that the Clippers survived the white-hot shooting of Stephen Curry in all those seven games, for this allows them to see a very exciting semifinal matchup. Despite the Donald Sterling scandal, the Clips (save Chris Paul, who was at the most 50 percent effective minus the flopping) have been doing well: Blake Griffin showed how much he improved, DeAndre Jordan making his FTs for every Hack-A-DJ, Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes doing much of the point job in Paul's absence, and JJ Redick hitting threes like he was in Orlando. If they keep this up, everyone will be led to believe that they can actually beat a team with 2 of the best scorers in the league. Legitimately.

What Could Be: As far as we know, Kevin Durant gets better and better as the Thunder go deep into the playoffs, and he can be at a point where no one can stop him, not even an improved Blake Griffin. Thunder in 7.

A Case of Weeding Out: The 2014 Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

Unlike the Western Conference, the first eight teams of the East are considered a surprise, since there is a huge gap between each other in terms of games behind. But this does not mean that things are not going to get excited, because with the East, one ought to be ready for surprises.

(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks

The Pacers In: Coach Frank Vogel and the rest of the Pacers should be able to breathe a sigh of relief after having reached number 1 despite a late season slump. But despite this decline, it still doesn't change the fact that they are one of the teams with the best personnel. They have quality post presence in Roy Hibbert and David West, a formidable playmaking/scoring combo in Paul George and Lance Stephenson, and reliable role players in Evan Turner (although one could put a huge question mark on him) and George Hill. The bottom line here is that we should not even be debating whether the Pacers are going past the first and second rounds. The more important question here is: can they build enough confidence to beat Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals?

The Hawks In: Another season passes for the Hawks, another disappearance for center Al Horford. It's a good thing, though, that for this season, the Hawks are prepared by having former Utah Jazz Paul Millsap at their side. However, despite this, Coach Mike Budenholzer still prefers work from the outside, that is, rely heavily on three-point specialist Kyle Korver to bomb opponents and Jeff Teague to slide in and out. But would this work against a playoff powerhouse that can cover all bases? This perhaps is Budenholzer's moment, as we see how he adjust against an elite team.

What could be: There's even no question here, and there should not be. Pacers in 5.

(4) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Washington Wizards

The Bulls In: It must have been difficult for the Bulls to move on without Derrick Rose for the second straight season, and Coach Tom Thibodeau deserves another round of praise and applause for making plan B work. As of now, the Bulls heavily rely on Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. Oh, and did we mention that Luol Deng is out of the team? The Bulls settled for Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy, and miraculously, they managed to survive. Hopefully, this set up won't be here for the next playoff series, but at least Bulls fans can bank on the confidence of their players and Thib's strategy. But the question here is, up to when will this last?

The Wizards In: Gilbert Arenas. As far as everyone can remember, he is the team's star when the Wizards last entered the playoffs. Thanks to a few maneuvres here and there (which, by the way, doesn't guarantee something any better in the near future), the Wizards are now in the playoffs courtesy of Nene, Marcin Gortat, Martell Webster, and of course John Wall. Certainly, it was Wall who made it possible with his all-star performance, and at least for this season, he got the help that he needed in these three, plus a few contributions here and there by Trevor Ariza (who seems to be back in his old form after having avoided injuries), and young gun Bradley Beal (now in the process of showing that he's not just for show). However, despite this upgrade, it will be difficult to duplicate the success of Arenas' squad before, and its success depends on Wall playing better than what everyone sees right now

What could be: In a loose sense, both of these are recovery projects. However, only one of them can succeed, and the Bulls can nail this one in six games.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats

The Heat In: My, my, Miami. At the beginning of the season, the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, are ready for title defense. Unfortunately, due to the rise of the teams who are out to get their backs, as well as a few injuries at some points in the season, they suffered a little setback. This playoffs is a first in their title defense, as it is expected that they lose their homecourt advantage by the Eastern Conference Finals, and it does not sound so good because they will be doing so only against the Indiana Pacers, with whom they needed a game seven to advance to the Finals. Perhaps coming at this point, one thing that the Heat can do is relax and prepare themselves for whatever comes in the playoffs, for, having a bigger target at them, teams can pull outrageous but surprising tricks that could leave them packing for good.

The 'Cats In: Isn't it fitting for the last season of the Bobcats to at least have a playoff spot, considering that they were denied countless times, with the last time being Gerald Wallace's own work? Now, it seems that Al Jefferson's transfer to the Bobcats had its effects. For the first time in Bobcats history since Emeka Okafor, the team had a legitimate post presence that makes it easier for the offense to slide smooth and tougher for the defense. But will this be effective against the Miami Heat when, besides this, all it has is lots of skill coupled with inexperience in Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller. Let's hope that Gerald Henderson, together with Jefferson, can hold this team up.

What could be: A legitimate question with a legitimate answer: the Heat is going to sweep this one.

(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (6) Brooklyn Nets

The Raptors In: Another celebration ought to be in place for the Raptors, who for the first time secured a legitimate playoff spot since the departure of one Chris Bosh. However, one should note that this isn't a powerhouse team that promises to go deep into the playoffs. If the Raptors have a big problem, it is something that definitely concerns efficiency. DeMar DeRozan isn't exactly the efficient kind, taking 20 or more shots and making only less than half of them. Jonas Valanciunas and Amir Johnson aren't the types to bang bodies with in the course of the seven games. Perhaps the only bright light in this team is Kyle Lowry, who has fully flourished from becoming a backup role to a star point guard for a team that has flashes of brilliance despite being a subpar division leader. Does this mean that they don't deserve the playoff spot, given that the curve of wins in the East is just very low? Let them play and prove something that they have not reached so far.

The Nets In: After acquiring Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry, as well as hiring Jason Kidd as a coach, the Nets have become a running joke from the first part of the season. Fortunately, they were able to turn the tables, transforming themselves into an underrated playoff team, ending up at sixth and probably without any home court advantages to enjoy. But who needs these, when everyone's clicking? Paul Pierce is back in his old Celtics form, and so is Garnett despite age. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are hitting it. The reserves are playing well (case in point, Plums). Everyone makes Jason Kidd look good. And most of all, they have the bragging rights against the defending champions. It's fun to watch the Nets these times, eh?

What could be: Let's not kid(d) ourselves here. Brooklyn can take this in 5 games.

As Close as It Gets: The 2014 Western Conference Playoffs Preview

After a tight regular season in the West, here are the first four playoff series that we have to deal with in the following couple of weeks.

(1) San Antonio Spurs [62-20] vs. (8) Dallas Mavericks [49-33]

The Spurs In: The moment that Coach Gregg Popovich started limiting the starters' playing time in every game is the time when the Spurs overachieved. Up until now, the question still remains as to how long they are going to stay this way, or if ever they can still win the NBA championship given that Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are already beyond the peak of their careers; however, this concern is set aside for the moment, especially when they got that precious 19-win streak. Yes, the Spurs still have the juice to play in the playoffs, and with a schedule that gives much time for breathers, rest periods, and practice, expect them once again to go deep. And as for the Finals? Let's just pray that they can at least get the Larry O'Brien trophy one more time.

The Mavericks In: If you were in the position of the Mavs' head honcho Mark Cuban, would you be satisfied with eighth seed? This is good enough considering that the Mavericks didn't get any of their targets during free agent signing. They had Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon, but they were not enough to power the team past the top 4. This does not mean, however, that being at the bottom of the list makes them the kind that gets to go home quickly. Remember that they still have Nowitzki up and running for this season, as well as holdovers Vince Carter and Shawn Marion, three stars who have so much playoff experience.

What could be: This veteran edition of the Texas showdown is going to be tight, but expect the Spurs to come out in 6.

(4) Houston Rockets [54-28] vs. (5) Portland Trailblazers [54-28]

The Rockets In: It is pretty surprising that the Rockets, with a trio of James Harden, Dwight Howard, and Chandler Parsons, would make it only at fourth place, when they have the potential of grabbing a higher position. For some reason, Dwight Howard deserves both praise and blame for what happened to the Rockets this season. They improved their record thanks to Howard, but at the expense of falling into short slumps this season, leading to where they are right now. Like last year, this series is decided by the way James Harden takes the lead for this team. But this time, they have the upper hand, and with Howard as a significant addition, no excuses are acceptable this time.

The Blazers In: There is no doubt here that Portland is a very talented bunch. They have a young star in Damian Lillard, a quality small forward in Nic Batum, and a multi-talented big man in LaMarcus Aldridge (does Robin Lopez deserve a mention here? Well, maybe he should). This team, however, is on and off: started by winning 24 of their first 29 games, fell after the All-Star break, and rose again in the last few games of the regular season to finally (and luckily) secure the fifth seed. Now that they are in the playoffs, everything and everyone has a fresh start, and they better not mess up and go back to their winning ways. As far as we remember, the Blazers broke team and player records this season, and this is the kind of Portland team that should appear in the playoffs

What could be: The fourth and fifth seed is always a tough battle, especially now that both the Rockets and the Blazers have gone through the same stuff with the same issues and same challenges. However, a seven-game showdown could have the Rockets emerging and entering the second round.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder [59-23] vs. (7) Memphis Grizzlies [50-32]

The Thunder In: Sure, the Oklahoma City Thunder already have some rights to brag, especially with Kevin Durant breaking Michael Jordan's streak by scoring 25 or more points for more or less 41 games. However, that still does not let them get over their playoff woes during the past few years, starting with their defeat in the NBA Finals against the current champions the Miami Heat. With basically the same squad but with a better KD and Westbrook, the big hurdle that the team must face is getting over their misgivings and failures in the past years, especially including those against possible playoff opponents: the Spurs, who beat them last year, and the Heat, who want to keep their championship streak going. But first, a hungry Memphis Grizzlies team.

The Grizzlies In: Perhaps this team has been the most inconsistent of all throughout the season. Marc Gasol's long absence from the team kept their playoff hopes low. But thanks to Zach Randolph and Mike Conley, Jr., they have kept themselves afloat. However, even these two stars have yet to be consistent, and they have to find their game in the midst of this seven-game grind. The team, though, as a whole, still has to hold on to the fact that they are a difficult playoff team to beat in the last few years, and with almost the same people running the show in Tennesse, there is no reason for them to just go easy on this series.

What could be: Despite the strength and the unpredictability of the Grizzlies, KD can still turn the tables in favor of OKC, and can even finish this in six games.

(3) Los Angeles Clippers [57-25] vs. (6) Golden State Warriors [51-31]

The Clippers In: After a long long time, the city of angels will get to watch games without the purple and gold, but instead with the red, blue, and white, and certainly, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will not waste the opportunity to go beyond the first round and actually increase their hopes of entering the Finals. Griffin had 82 games to establish himself as one of the best power forwards in the league this season, showing that he is not only a dunking machine, but one who can work in the post and score off baseline jumpers, not to mention that he can now manhandle the paint alongside DeAndre Jordan. In a nutshell, with lots of former and present stars at the Clippers' disposal, there really are prepared to go deep into the playoffs.

The Warriors In: Everybody enjoyed the Splash Brothers show; however, a lot of things have gone their way which led them to this woeful sixth place, considering the potential that they both have. Having Andre Iguodala around certainly helped them a lot, but the recent loss of Andrew Bogut is going to make things difficult for the Warriors. If they want to go beyond the first round, then they need to make those outside shots, for without a formidable big man in Bogut, it's going to be quite difficult for them to take it inside.

What could be: Athleticism, finesse, and good defense. The Clippers have it, but it's going to take them seven games to send the Warriors back home.

'13-'14 P&G Game 6: vs. Houston Rockets

After getting creamed by the Dallas Mavericks on the road, the Lakers found themselves facing a familiar face in a familiar foe: Dwight Howard wearing the red and white of Houston. Luckily, the purple and gold jumped to an early lead, which was vanquished after several Houston runs in the second quarter. Fortunately, a last-minute play that ended with a swished triple by Steve Blake gave them their third win of the season, 99-98.

Yay of the Game:

11 of the 14 triples in the first half went in for the Lakers, giving them a 14-point lead entering the second half. Unfortunately, the Lakers ended the game with only 16 of 35 triples made total, which means that they only made 5 out of 21 in the second half (the biggest of them all was Blake's triple). Jodie Meeks and Blake shot the lights out as they ended with a combined 9 of 13 triples; Wesley Johnson, however, only went 3 of 8.

Nay of the Game: 

36-17 was the number of fouls between the Lakers and the Rockets respectively. The referees had their whistles locked on the Lakers, as they called even on touch fouls. While the Lakers had a decent 11 of 15 clip from the charity stripe, the Rockets had 52 free throw attempts, and James Harden who ended up with 35 big points, got 14 of his 16. However, the Hack-A-Dwight strategy worked as Howard only got 5 of his 16 charities.

Play of the Game:

Blake Mamba came just in time to make that triple, giving the Lakers the win. It's actually a good play considering that Gasol is ready for the rebound in case the shot misses.




The Lakers are now at...

3-3 (3rd Pacific, 8th West). After this, they have a chance to go above .500 for the second time this season as they face the New Orleans Pelicans, who are hungry for a home win against the Lakers.

Highlights: