1 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS vs. 8 DETROIT PISTONS Game 1 - Sun. 3PM @CLE Game 2 - Wed. 8PM @CLE Game 3 - 4/22 7PM @DET Game 4 - 4/24 8:30PM @DET Game 5 * 4/26 TBD @CLE Game 6 * 4/28 TBD @DET Game 7 * 4/30 TBD @CLE
2 TORONTO RAPTORS vs. 7 INDIANA PACERS Game 1 - Sat. 12:30PM @TOR Game 2 - Mon. 7PM @TOR Game 3 - 4/21 7:30PM @IND Game 4 - 4/23 3PM @IND Game 5 * 4/26 TBD @TOR Game 6 * 4/29 TBD @IND Game 7 * 5/1 TBD @TOR
3 MIAMI HEAT vs. 6 CHARLOTTE HORNETS Game 1 - Sun. 5:30PM @MIA Game 2 - Wed. 7PM @MIA Game 3 - 4/23 5:30PM @CHA Game 4 - 4/25 TBD @CHA Game 5 * 4/27 TBD @MIA Game 6 * 4/29 TBD @CHA Game 7 * 5/1 TBD @MIA
4 ATLANTA HAWKS vs. 5 BOSTON CELTICS Game 1 - Sat. 7PM @ATL Game 2 - Tue. 7PM @ATL Game 3 - 4/22 8PM @BOS Game 4 - 4/24 6PM @BOS Game 5 * 4/26 TBD @ATL Game 6 * 4/28 TBD @BOS Game 7 * 4/30 TBD @ATL
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS vs. 8 HOUSTON ROCKETS Game 1 - Sat. 3:30PM @GSW Game 2 - Mon. 10:30PM @GSW Game 3 - 4/21 9:30PM @HOU Game 4 - 4/24 3:30PM @HOU Game 5 * 4/27 TBD @GSW Game 6 * 4/29 TBD @HOU Game 7 * 5/1 TBD @GSW
2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs. 7 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Game 1 - Sun. 8PM @SAN Game 2 - Tue. 9:30PM @SAN Game 3 - 4/22 9:30PM @MEM Game 4 - 4/24 1PM @MEM Game 5 * 4/26 TBD @SAN Game 6 * 4/28 TBD @MEM Game 7 * 4/30 TBD @SAN
3 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs. 6 DALLAS MAVERICKS Game 1 - Sat. 9:30PM @OKC Game 2 - Mon. 8PM @OKC Game 3 - 4/21 7PM @DAL Game 4 - 4/23 8PM @DAL Game 5 * 4/25 TBD @OKC Game 6 * 4/28 TBD @DAL Game 7 * 4/30 TBD @OKC
4 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS vs. 5 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Game 1 - Sat. \9:30PM @LAC Game 2 - Mon. 8PM @LAC Game 3 - 4/21 7PM @POR Game 4 - 4/23 8PM @POR Game 5 * 4/25 TBD @LAC Game 6 * 4/28 TBD @POR Game 7 * 4/30 TBD @LAC
* = if necessary All times are Eastern TBD - To Be Determined
I watched a lot of basketball but, as you know, not a lot of playoff teams...but here are my guesses
Cavs in 5 Raptors in 5 Hornets in 7 Hawks in 5
Warriors in 4 Spurs in 6 Mavericks in 7 Blazers in 7
GSW in 4 (duh). POR in 5 (I think the wheels are going to fall off for the Clippers). OKC in 5 (Westbrook + Durant will be too much). SAS in 4 (also duh).
CLE in 5 (gentlemen's sweep). ATL in 7 (probably the closest series). CHA in 6 (I see the Hornets moving on after a solid season). TOR in 5 (Toronto has a deep team, this year they get over the hump).
Warriors in 4 Blazers in 6 Thunder in 5 Spurs in 4
Cavs in 4 Celtics in 7 Heat in 6 Raptors in 5
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
Curry rolled his ankle, which has everyone worried. Won't stop them from trouncing the Rockets though, who backed into the playoffs and will now back out of them.
The Thunder are just outright obliterating the Mavs right now. By far the most intriguing thing about the Thunder during the playoffs isn't if Durant will leave in free agency.
Durant is a top player, one of the best in the league. No debating that at all. It just seems like every time I want him to take over a series, it doesn't happen. If the Slim Reaper doesn't show up, there might be a new comparable for him; David Robinson with a Jump Shot. Note that David Robinson was a great player, but he was "too nice" and overthought things. Hakeem just flat out DESTROYED him in one series - can you not see Curry doing that? Can you not see the Spurs just shutting him down? As I said, intriguing.
PG-13 killed the Raptors, and the sky is already falling up here in North Land. If the Raptors lose Game 2, there's going to be Problems - the kind that I doubt they'd come back from.
Hawks vs Celtics went as expected (close game), and will probably be tied for best most entertaining series.
Next entertaining is Clippers vs Blazers, in which I fully expect the Clippers to collapse. I would not be shocked at all if Chris Paul has a monster game, it gets all sorts of press, then we witness Dame of Thrones. Seriously, few in the league are better when motivated than Dame. If Durant had Dame's attitude, he'd be unstoppable, I'm sure of it.
My Pacers got some love from the Zims today, as Ian Mahinmi guards against a driving DeMar DeRozan on today's Test Pattern. (Of course, for all I know DeRozan made that shot, and it's actually the Raptors getting some love).
In any event, Paul George is clearly the best player in the series; hopefully that will be enough for him to propel the Pacers back into the second round. It won't be easy, though.
I can't imagine any injury to Steph Curry is going to prevent the Warriors from demolishing the Rockets, but they'll need All Hands on Deck in Round 2 against the Clippers or Blazers, to say nothing of a likely Western Conference Finals matchup against the Spurs or Thunder.
The Cleveland/Detroit game, in my mind, should not have been as close as it was.
"What kind of fool are you?" "My own special variety." --Ty Kajada and Odo, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
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Originally posted by El NastioIf the Slim Reaper doesn't show up, there might be a new comparable for him; David Robinson with a Jump Shot.
7-33, 21.2% FG percentage. Just saying.
Just one more in the long list of them that Rick Carlisle is in the "Popavich Tier" of "Coaches that Matter (in a Positive Way)". The series is now tied, and I can't wait to see how Westbrook reacts the next game after not just losing, but having his pre-game dance routine interrupted.
Meanwhile, Huston is done. Done. The game is half over, but they're done. If I was Golden State, I'd shut Curry down for the series because it's in the bag.
Big ups to the Raptors, a must win game and they delivered. Although DeRozen's suddenly hiding is a big concern.
Originally posted by WhitebaconIntentional because they're a poor offensive team, or just a happy coincidental mistake?
The latter. But upon looking up the Urban Directionary definition of "huston", I will retroactively say the former!
I'm not sure where Houston goes from here. Obviously Dwight Howard has aged in dog years, and probably needs a new change of scenery. Harden has a tonne of talent, but I'm seriously beginning to wonder if the OKC/Rockets trade is no longer becoming a "what if", because he's clearly a selfish player who would have tanked the team chemistry - just as he did here.
Meanwhile, OKC has their own problems right now. If they're having trouble with DALLAS, they've got no shot against the Spurs or the Warriors.
I don't know what to make of this, but Bonzi Wells is going home. So much for the Rockets as the dark horse pick. I'm confident that Luther Head can pick up the ball and run with it, but losing Wells is still a huge blow to Houston.
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS vs. 8 
DETROIT PISTONS
TORONTO RAPTORS vs. 7 
INDIANA PACERS
MIAMI HEAT vs. 6 
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
ATLANTA HAWKS vs. 5 
BOSTON CELTICS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS vs. 8 
HOUSTON ROCKETS
SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs. 7 
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs. 6 
DALLAS MAVERICKS
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS vs. 5 
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
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