CMan's second round recap.

The NBA Playoff second round ended last night in Indianapolis and round three starts today in San Antonio. For many, the second round went the way they thought it would. For fans in OKC, the season ended a little too early. Lets take a look back at the second round games  and see how we did.

The Eastern Conference:

Miami vs Chicago ( Heat 4-1)

Chicago won the first game of this series  in Miami, in rather convincing fashion. The Bulls had just come off a game 7 in round 1. The Heat had been off for over a week. For a brief moment the Heat looked almost human. In reality, the Bulls woke a sleeping giant and reminded them that they still have to play the games. The Bulls lost the next four in a row and never got close to the Heat again.
CMan's pick: Heat 4-2.

Indiana vs New York (Pacers 4-2)

Indiana continues to methodically roll through the playoffs playing their game. No flash, no sparkle, just basketball. The Knicks tried to make a series out of it early but the end result was never in doubt. The Pacers are not shaken by any opponent or any single game. They seem to expect to win every game and when they lose, they just put the game away and prepare for the next. It's not pretty, but it wins.
CMan's pick: Pacers 4-2

The Western Conference:

Oklahoma City vs Memphis (Grizzlies 4-1)

Ugh.The loss of Russell Westbrook exposed a serious weakness in the Thunder lineup. Without number "0" the Grizzlies focused on Durant and begged the rest of the team to score. KD couldn't get off a decent shot all series and the rest of the starters never showed up at the same time. The bench was ineffective and no one could guard the Grizzlies back court. Gasol and Randolph were contained to an extent but the Memphis guards were explosive and hard to contain. The Thunder simply couldn't replace Westbrook's points consistently and never found an offensive rhythm. I picked the Thunder in this series but frankly, I was afraid of this Memphis team with Westbrook.

One final note, Leave Scott Brooks alone. As a Head Coach you spend 82 regular season games defining a rotation and team unity. You can't take away your floor general and expect to win multiple series. After all, I am confident that Phil Jackson would have won 8 straight titles in Chicago if  Michael Jordan had not decided to play baseball for two years. Ugh!
CMan's pick: Thunder 4-3

San Antonio vs Golden State (Spurs 4-2)

This series shocked the basketball world...for a little while. The Warriors were fresh off the dismantling of the Denver Nuggets and brimming with confidence. The Spurs, like the Heat enjoyed an extended break after the first round. I personally don't think that Denver would have lost the first round series to the Warriors had Gallinari not gone down (See Westbrook) and while they are young and exciting, they weren't going to beat the Spurs. Watch out nest season though. The Warriors and Head Coach Mark Jackson will be back and they will be better. The Spurs will be a year older.
CMan's pick: Spurs 4-2

I should have been undefeated in this round. My Thunder pick was a homer pick and wishful thinking. In reality, OKC went 3-6 without Westbrook. I was concerned about Memphis before the injury to Westbrook and the Houston series was a win either way.

Buster's Second Round Recap

The second round of the NBA playoffs have officially ended. Some people are very happy with the results, others (us Thunder fans) are not! Two out of the four series ended in upsets, although many people predicted them to happen. Take a look at how the second round went.

Eastern Conference:
#1 Miami vs. #5 Chicago (Heat in 5)
Miami handled this series just as everyone thought. I personally thought the series would go to seven. After Chicago stumped Miami in the first game I thought maybe the world was wrong. Miami came out agressive and focused for the next four games. Miami has now won four straight games twice in two years. They won four in a row last year after losing to the Thunder in game 1 of the Finals, and four games in a row this year after losing game 1 to the Bulls. They may have the best player in the world on their team (and every NBA official) but this will be their last series to win this season. The Heat averaged 97.4 points per game in this series.

#2 New York vs. #3 Indiana (Pacers in 6)
I love it when I am right! Indiana took a quick 3-1 lead in this series that looked as if they weren't gonna lose another game. Carmelo Anthony and JR Smith were no match for George Hill and David West as they won this series in game six. I again predicted this series to go to game 7, but I am completely happy with the outcome of this series. The Pacers are a team that could have beaten Miami at this time last year, but lost due to their inexperience and the lack of a solid big man. This team now has both, and with David West joining the roster they are ready to take on the defending champions. The Pacers averaged a low 89.5 points per game in this series.

I went a solid 2-0 in the East! Now lets take a look at how I did in the West...

Western Conference:
#1 Oklahoma City vs. #5 Memphis (Grizzles in 5)
This is one of those ones where I was right, but I am very sad that I predicted it right. I did pick them to beat the Thunder in game 7, but Memphis only needed five to send us on vacation. I am okay with losing to the Grizzlies. They will be in the Finals, and have the best chance of bringing a title home to the West. With the loss of Russell Westbrook and the poor play of all of our big men (not just Kendrick Perkins) we stood no chance against Mike Conley and the big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. They were way to physical for us inside and on the defensive side of the ball. Say what you want, but the Thunder got straight up out played and out hustled. The Grizzlies averaged 93.6 points per game in this series.

#2 San Antonio vs. #6 Golden State (Spurs in 6)
This was the only series that I did not pick correctly. Golden State gave the Spurs all they wanted and more. No doubt in my mind that if David Lee is healthy and playing that the Warriors win this series or at least send it to game 7. San Antonio slipped through this series do to their excellent shooting and experience. The big question is, can they keep this going now that they are tired? I'm not completely sure they can, but I am terrified to doubt them. When you have the best power forward of all time and the most points scored in the playoffs by a point guard on your team it is hard to pick against them. The Spurs averaged the most points in the second round with 102 per game!

I went 1-1 in the West, leaving my total at three out of four. CMan beat me again this round, but I will see if I can get him in the Conference Finals!

Buster's NBA Playoff Second Round Matchups and Predictions

The first round went pretty much as expected with the exception of two games. But who really thought that Golden State would come back on Denver, and that Blake Griffin and the Clippers would be out coached and not physical enough. The first round is all about craziness. Now that things are a little more serious, lets see how I can do on the second round predictions. Lets start with the East and save the conference everyone really cares about for last.

Eastern Conference:

#1 Miami vs. #5 Chicago
Being rested up and 100% is one of the most important parts of being successful in the playoffs. Miami is well rested after the sweep of the Bucks. Chicago however, will be winded considering they just closed out a seven game series against Brooklyn yesterday. This series may be more about the return of Derrick Rose, rather than how this series actually plays out. Even with the return of D Rose, the Bulls cannot hang with the Heat for seven games. Rose will not be in game shape, nor is he likely to be feeling 100% if he does get a few minutes here and there in this series. Chicago will give Miami all they want, but in the long run they are no match for the defense and explosive offense of Miami. Miami wins this series 4-2.

#2 New York vs. #3 Indiana
This series is the one to watch for this second round if you ask me. I strongly believe the winner of this series will beat Miami. Indiana was an outstanding team last year who barely lost to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. They are eager to make it past this round of the tournament, and I think they will do so. As my buddy CMan mentioned Carmelo Anthony is having shoulder problems, and with JR Smith you never know what you are gonna get. One night he comes off the bench and shoots 50% for 19 points and the next he is shooting 21%. This is a series that very well could be finished in just five games. But having the scoring champion and the sixth man of the year will buy the Knicks two, maybe three games. The Pacers win this series 4-3

Western Conference:
#1 Oklahoma City vs. #5 Memphis
I have been dreading writing about this series ever since I found out we would be playing the Grizzlies. It is gonna come down to who I think will win this series, and who I want to win this series. Everything in me wants me to pick the Thunder to win this series, but Memphis is just too quick and physical on the inside. Without the offensive explosiveness of Russell Westbrook I think the Thunder will struggle to score against Tony Allen and the defensive player of the year Marc Gasol. Can the Thunder win this series? Absolutely, and I will be pulling for them as hard as I possibly can. Reggie Jackson will need to continue his play, while Nick Collison gets more minutes off the bench. Kevin Martin is going to have to step up like he did in game 6 against Houston, and Kendrick Perkins is going to have to shut down Zach Randolph on the defensive side of the ball. This series could go either way, but I think the Grizzlies win 4-3.(I hope I am wrong!)

#2 San Antonio vs. #6 Golden State
This is really going to be a fun series to watch! The slow and fundamental play of the Spurs, against the fast pace offense of the Warriors. I think that Golden State will win this series if they play their best possible basketball (I know, I know, I picked two upsets in the West). The question will be if they can play their best possible basketball and shut down Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. Golden State averaged more points than anyone in the playoffs last round with 107.2 points per game. I really do not think that the Spurs can slow them down, or put up the amount of points that Golden State will. Again I am picking a seven game series, Golden State wins 4-3.

There it is, my second round predictions! Make sure you give us a follow on the top right side of the blog so you never miss any of the action! Keep checking in throughout the second round to see how we did on our predictions!

NBA Standings 1/24/13

Eastern Conference Standings

Atlantic:
New York(25-14)
Brooklyn(26-16)
Boston(20-21)
Philadelphia(17-25)
Toronto(15-27)

Central:
Chicago(25-16)
Indiana(26-17)
Milwaukee(22-18)
Detroit(16-26)
Cleveland(11-32)

Southeast:
Miami(27-12)
Atlanta(24-18)
Orlando(14-27)
Charlotte(10-32)
Washington(9-31)

Western Conference Standings

Southwest:
San Antonio(34-11)
Memphis(27-14)
Houston(22-22)
Dallas(18-24)
New Orleans(14-28)

Northwest:
Oklahoma City(33-10)
Denver(26-18)
Utah(23-19)
Portland(21-21)
Minnesota(17-22)

Pacific:
LA Clippers(32-11)
Golden St.(26-15)
LA Lakers(17-25)
Sacramento(16-27)
Phoenix(14-28)

NBA Finals

My predictions for the NBA Finals is the Mavs and the Miami Heat. Personally i would rather have the bulls be in the Finals, but i don't see them beating the Heat, because there aren't enough stars on the team. Now for the finals, I see the Heat winning it all because although the Mavs are a more experienced team, they don't have enough people to guard The Big Three. If you put Barea or Terry on Wade, they might be able to slow him down, but Wade is a smarter and better player. I don't think either one can stop him. Also if you put Peja Stojakovic or Shawn Marion on Lebron, I think Lebron will be able to score on either one of them. The one star i think the Mavs will be able to stop is Chris Bosh. With Dirk guarding him, I don't think Bosh will be able to show up like he normally does. I think although Dirk is one of the best scorers in the league, in the end, the Heat have better scorers and more stars, and will come up with the win.

Playoffs Update

I picked both of my predictions wrong. I had the Thunder beating Dallas therefore I picked them winning game three and four because I thought they must win them to win this series. As for the Miami and Chicago series I picked them to be tied at 2-2 going to Chicago for game five.

WEST
Dallas leads 3-1
4.OKC-105
3.DAL-112 I am going to hold my ground on the Thunder winning this series. It will be tough for them to win three straight. The Thunder have won more in Dallas then they have playing them at home this year. The Thunder will win game five to make the series 3-2 coming home to OKC.

EAST
Miami leads 3-1
1.CHI-93
3.MIA-101 This is another series gone bad for me. Chicago has got to shut down the big three for Miami. Put your worst defenders in the starting five on LeBron and Wade, let them have their points and make Bosh, Bibby, and Ilgauskas beat you. The Bulls will win game five to tie the series 3-2.

NBA Playoffs

The 2011 NBA Playoffs has started off unlike any before. Who would have given the Grizzles a chance to win? Who would have thought that the Thunder would have a chance to sweep the Nuggets? This years post season is going to be one to remember. Lots of upsets, and games that are going to have you so stressed you wont know what to do.

Here I am going to show you the scores from the previous game and predictions for the next.

West


1.SAS 98 93 88
8.MEM 101 87 91 The Spurs will win game 4 to tie the series 2-2.


4.OKC 107 106 97
5.DEN 103 89 94 The Thunder will sweep the Nuggets tonight in Denver.



3.DAL 89 101 92 82
6.POR 81 89 97 84 Dallas will win game 5 to take a 3-2 lead.



2.LAL 100 87 100 88
7.NOH 109 78 86 93 The Hornets will win game 5 to lead the series 3-2.


East


1.CHI 104 96 88 89
2.IND 99 90 84 84 The Bulls will win game five to close this series up.




4.ORL 93 88 84 85
5.ATL 103 82 88 88 The Hawks will win this series in game five.




3.BOS 87 96 113 101
6.NYK 85 93 96 89 Boston swept the Knicks.



2.MIA 97 94 100 82
7.PHI 89 73 94 86 The Heat will win game 5 to close the series 4-1