NBA Playoffs and Observations

Wave goodbye to Da Bulls championship hopes

Hi guys, been busy playing a lot of cards lately, but have been able to watch a lot of the NBA playoffs at the same time.  In 2011, I predicted a Thunder-Bulls final before the playoffs began, and I did the same this year.  However, that dream was shattered as Derrick Rose injured his knee, sidelining him and effectively ending the Bulls championship hopes.  Currently down 3-2 to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bulls have little chance of coming back to win that series.  Considering I don't care for the Miami Heat, I'll be rooting for either Philadelphia or Indiana to make it out of the Eastern Conference.  Both these teams have a young core and have steadily improved throughout the season.  Unfortunately, neither of these teams has the star power to match up with the Miami Heat, but if a few breaks fall their way anything can happen!

In regard to the Western Conference, before the playoffs began I considered three teams as potential opponents to face the winner of the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.  These teams were as follows: San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Los Angeles Lakers.  Currently, that list is down to two, as the Lakers have been relatively disappointing the first round of the playoffs.  Denver was able to snatch Game 5 away last night, leading by fifteen midway through the 4th quarter, yet allowing the Lakers to nearly steal it in the final minute.  Even if the Lakers dispatch the Nuggets and make it into the second round, I don't think they stand a chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Thunder have bodies to contain Bynum and Gasol down low in Nick Collison and Kendrick Perkins, while the Lakers simply don't have the defense to contain Durant, Harden, and Westbrook. 

Parker has been playing like a superstar this playoffs

Finally, the team I like most out of the Western Conference is the San Antonio Spurs.  Yes, it does seem like Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili have been playing together my entire life, yet this team doesn't slow down, at least in terms of winning percentage.  Greg Popovich has done an excellent job coaching this team, as the Spurs have some great pieces to complement their 'Big 3' in DeJuan Blair, Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter, and Stephen Jackson.  Tony Parker has taken over from Duncan as the leader and scorer on this team, averaging over 20 ppg in the series sweep of Utah. 

One aspect of the Spurs that stands out to me: their margin of victory.  The Spurs defeated Utah by an average of +13 points per game in the First Round.  The Thunder, however, were fortunate to win several close games against the Mavericks,winning by an average of +7 points.  One knock against the Spurs is their age, but with a shortened regular season, and ample opportunities to Popovich to rest his star players, I believe the Spurs have it in them to make a title run.

Check back next week for another NBA playoff update.

@RobBrereton