The 2014 NBA Playoffs are officially underway. The Daily Mississippian’s Browning Stubbs breaks down all the matchups.
No. 1 San Antonio vs. No. 8 Dallas
This matchup features not only one of the best rivalries in the NBA but also one of the best individual rivalries between Spurs power forward Tim Duncan and Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki. This will be the sixth playoff series between the two future Hall of Famers, with Duncan leading 4-1. The two teams haven’t met since 2010 and are both very different clubs. Look for the Spurs to double-team Nowitzki to force guards Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon to make outside shots.
Prediction: Spurs in 5
No. 4 Houston vs. No. 5 Portland
Strap your seat belts on, boys and girls, because this is going to be a fun ride. Both of these teams rank in the top five in scoring and rebounding this season. Look for the guard play to be the key in this series as Portland’s Damian Lillard and Houston’s James Harden are becoming the next great future guards in the NBA since Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant are slowing down.
Prediction: Rockets in 7
No. 3 Los Angeles vs. No. 6 Golden State
This is the battle of the West Coast. We got CP3 and Blake versus the Super Splash Brothers. The winner of this series will come down to which duo of stars outscores the other. These teams also have a recent history of getting into scuffles, so look for some “in your face” moments in this series.
Prediction: Clippers in 6
No. 2 Oklahoma City vs. No. 7 Memphis
In a rematch from last year’s Western Conference Semis, the Oklahoma City Thunder look to gain revenge against the Memphis Grizzlies, who knocked them out in five games. This year, Kevin Durant will more than likely be named league MVP after an astonishing 32 point-per-game average. Durant will get his 30, but can the Grizz trade enough punches with perimeter players in Mike Conley, Mike Miller and Courtney Lee making outside shots?
Prediction: Thunder in 7
No. 1 Indiana vs. 8 Atlanta
Let’s be honest — why are the 38-44 Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs? I have no good answer for you other than that the Eastern Conference is the worst it’s been in recent memory. On the other hand, top seed Indiana is struggling after ending the season on a 10-13 note. The key will be to see if Indiana can regain its mojo after such an impressive first half of the season.
Prediction: Pacers in 5
No. 4 Chicago vs. No. 5 Washington
How are the Bulls still one of the best teams in the league after losing Derrick Rose to injury (again) and trading away leading-scorer Luol Deng? The answer is simple: head coach Tom Thibodeau and center Joakim Noah. On the flip side, Washington’s young core of John Wall and Bradley Beal have returned the Wizards to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The big key will to see if Chicago can score enough points to win.
Prediction: Wizards in 6
No. 3 Toronto vs. No. 6 Brooklyn
In a David versus Goliath matchup, we have the young Raptors as David versus the veteran, tested Nets as Goliath. Can the Raptors compete with the Nets with hardly any playoff experience? We will see, as former NBA champions Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have been waiting for the playoffs ever since being traded from Boston last summer.
Prediction: Nets in 6
No. 2 Miami vs. No. 7 Charlotte
The quest for LeBron James and the Miami Heat to three-peat begins, as they will take on the much-improved Bobcats led by Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson. Miami needs to get Dwyane Wade acclimated back into the lineup, as he only played in 54 games in the regular season. With the Pacers struggling, this could seriously be the toughest matchup all playoffs for the Heat.
Prediction: Heat in 5
For more NBA playoffs coverage, follow @browningstubbs on Twitter.
— Browning Stubbs
bbstubbs@go.olemiss.edu
