Beautiful graphic to come later, I'm sure...I'll edit this later when all the "To Be Determined" details have.....been determined. Where available, all times are EDT!
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER v. HOUSTON ROCKETS 8
Game 1: Sun. 9:30PM @OKC Game 2: Wed. 7PM @OKC Game 3: 4/27 9:30PM @HOU Game 4: 4/29 @HOU TBD Game 5: 5/1 @OKC TBD * Game 6: 5/3 @HOU TBD * Game 7: 5/5 @OKC TBD *
2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS v. LOS ANGELES LAKERS 7
Game 1: Sun. 9:30PM @SA Game 2: Wed. 7PM @SA Game 3: 4/26 9:30PM @LAL Game 4: 4/28 7PM @LAL Game 5: 4/30 @SA TBD * Game 6: 5/2 @LAL TBD * Game 7: 5/4 @SA TBD *
3 DENVER NUGGETS v. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 6
Game 1: Sat. 5:30PM @DEN Game 2: Tue. 10:30PM @DEN Game 3: 4/26 10:30PM @GS Game 4: 4/28 9:30PM @GS Game 5: 4/30 @DEN TBD * Game 6: 5/2 @GS TBD * Game 7: 5/4 @DEN TBD *
4 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS v. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 5
Game 1: Sat. 10:30PM @LAC Game 2: Mon. 10:30PM @LAC Game 3: 4/25 9:30PM @MEM Game 4: 4/27 4:30PM @MEM Game 5: 4/30 @LAC TBD * Game 6: 5/3 @MEM TBD * Game 7: 5/5 @LAC TBD *
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1 MIAMI HEAT v. MILWAUKEE BUCKS 8
Game 1: Sun. 7PM @MIA Game 2: Tue. 7:30PM @MIA Game 3: 4/25 7PM @MIL Game 4: 4/28 3:30PM @MIL Game 5: 4/30 @MIA TBD * Game 6: 5/2 @MIL TBD * Game 7: 5/4 @MIA TBD *
2 NEW YORK KNICKS v. BOSTON CELTICS 7
Game 1: Sat. 3PM @NY Game 2: Tue. 8PM @NY Game 3: 4/26 8PM @BOS Game 4: 4/28 1PM @BOS Game 5: 5/1 @NY TBD * Game 6: 5/3 @BOS TBD * Game 7: 5/5 @NY TBD *
3 INDIANA PACERS v. ATLANTA HAWKS 6
Game 1: Sun. 1PM @IND Game 2: Wed. 7:30PM @IND Game 3: 4/27 7PM @ATL Game 4: 4/29 @ATL TBD Game 5: 5/1 @IND TBD * Game 6: 5/3 @ATL TBD * Game 7: 5/5 @IND TBD *
4 BROOKLYN NETS v. CHICAGO BULLS 5
Game 1: Sat. 8PM @BRK Game 2: Mon. 8PM @BRK Game 3: 4/25 8:30PM @CHI Game 4: 4/27 2PM @CHI Game 5: 4/29 @BRK TBD * Game 6: 5/2 @CHI TBD * Game 7: 5/4 @BRK TBD *
Thunder in 7 Spurs in 5 Warriors in 6 Grizzlies in 7
Heat in 4 Celtics in 7 Pacers in 6 Bulls in 7
Now that I look at it, though....there's probably no way this many games will get played. I think I'm ascribing a closeness to many of these matchups that's totally undeserved but when my point of reference is the Timberwolves, most of these teams all look equally better than them. ;-)
Heat in four Knicks in six or seven Pacers in five Bulls in six
Thunder in five Spurs in six Nuggets in five Grizzlies in six
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
Miami in 4 (Sidenote: I hope this isn't like last year where the zebras called every Game 1 one-sided in Miami's favor. Then again, they shouldn't need the help here.) New York in 6 Indiana in 6 Chicago in 7
OKC in 7 (Harden's going to give them fits, for good reason.) Lakers in 7 Warriors in 5 Clippers in 7
I cannot even begin to contain my giddiness of how this all played out. Never will I ever care more about a 1 vs 8 Western Conference series in my ENTIRE life. I can't wait to experience the James Harden Revenge Tour in all its splendor. Poor OKC.
Thunder in 7. Warriors in 6, maybe even 5. Knicks in 5, maybe even 4. Boston is a team full of amnesty meat. Bulls in 6. I might even go to a couple of these games to root against the home team. Hawks in 6. Pacers are hurting bad and I'm a huge homer.
I find it funny and cute that TNT has already been scheduled for game 7 of Heat/Bucks, as though Milwaukee has a snowball's chance in hell to avoid getting swept. Sorry Bucks fans, your city is beautiful, but your team plays ugly. Even if they weren't facing Miami, I wouldn't give them much of a chance based on their recent struggles.
Anyway, this should be an interesting first round, especially in the west. I'll go:
West: Thunder in 5 Spurs in 6 Nuggets in 7 Grizzles in 6
East: Heat in 4 Celtics in 7 Pacers in 5 Bulls in 6
Thread ahead: Source, to ESPN: Relocation committee recommends against relocating Kings Next thread: 2012-3 Conference Semifinals - Schedule & Predictions Previous thread: Russell Westbrook tears meniscus in knee, out indefinitely
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=a0f6e965-8c20-416f-8e59-4524130e9736 I bet if Bibby hadn't injured his thumb, they would have had more support! ;-)