NBA Western Conference Semifinal Preview: Trail Blazers vs Warriors

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Both the Golden State Warriors, and the Portland Trail Blazers, have arrived to a matchup in the second round in different ways. The Warriors cruised past a dysfunctional Houston Rockets squad in five easy games in the first round.

Portland was a trendy upset pick against the Los Angeles Clippers, after devastating injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Portland would win the series in six games. Portland is in the second round after losing 4 of 5 starters this offseason. Portland has been a matchup problem for Golden State, as Portland was one of only nine teams to beat the Warriors during the regular season.

In fact, Portland demolished Golden State, 137-105 in February. The main x factor of this series will be Stephen Curry’s health. The MVP has a grade 1 MCL sprain, and it was announced he’d be out 2 weeks. However, many have been saying he could be back as quickly as Game 3. Curry averaged 30.1 points during the regular season.

Klay Thompson has been huge for the Warriors during the playoffs. He has averaged 23.4 points in five games. Even without Steph Curry, the Warriors have still had continued success. They won a series in five games in the first round, with Curry not playing a full game. The Warriors still have two All-Stars on their team, and they should only be without Curry for a few games.

The Trail Blazers heavily rely on their star studded backcourt. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum have been the center of the Blazers offense this year. Lillard has averaged 22.0 points during the playoffs, while McCollum has averaged 19.0 points per game. Both teams like to play a fast pace on offense, so we can expect many high scoring games.

Portland will need to get consistent scoring from their role players, as McCollum and Lillard need a solid supporting cast in this series. What will make the difference in this series is the defenses.

We know that both offenses will be highly productive, which makes the performance of both defenses so important. What also will be important is the play in the paint. The Warriors have struggled this year in the paint, and with center Mason Plumlee getting hot, he can present a matchup problem for the Warriors.

NBA Western Conference Semifinal Preview: Spurs vs Thunder

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This could be the most exciting playoff series we will see this postseason. The Spurs and Thunder are both powerhouse teams with superstars on both teams. The Spurs are full of superstars like Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Thunder have two stars of their own in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Westbrook seems like the one to watch out for in this series. He is a triple-double machine, leading the NBA in triple-doubles over the past two seasons.

With all of these stars on each team, this series will definitely be a competitive one. Since the first two games are in San Antonio, the Thunder need to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole or the Spurs will have their way with them for the rest of the series.

All in all, looking at who is playing on each team, this series could easily go seven games. These are two of the top teams in the Western Conference, and with Steph Curry out for the Golden State Warriors, both of these teams have a chance to knock them off and reach the NBA Finals. But first, they must go past one another.

NBA First Round Preview: Pistons vs. Cavaliers

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The Detroit Pistons haven't made the playoffs since 2009. What's their consolation? Lebron James and the defending Eastern Conference Champion, Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs and Pistons square off in the NBA's one-eight matchup. Cleveland is coming off a rocky season that includes the firing of their 30-11 coach, David Blatt, along with social media beefs, unfollows, and other spats that you would only see on reality t.v.

Considering all that's gone on, they've managed to end the season on a high-note. Lebron James has elevated his game and reminded the world why he's been dubbed the best player in the league for nearly the last decade.

In his last 10 games, he's averaging 28.4 points, 8.5 assists, and eight rebounds while shooting 63 percent from the field. In that span, he's also upped his three-point shooting all the way to 52 percent.

The Detroit Pistons have surprised the entire league this season as they've improved by 12 games from last season under the helm of head coach Stan Van Gundy.

 Led by first-time all-star center Andre Drummond, the Pistons have used and efficient pick-and-roll game with Drummond and star point guard Reggie Jackson to lead the team to the playoffs.

The duo also is surrounded athletic wing players who can shoot the three and drive to the rim. Van Gundy added to his strong nucleus in February by trading for Tobias Harris from the Orlando Magic. Harris has been a solid fit for Detroit, scoring nearly 17 points a game since joining the team.

Cleveland will have to cross their fingers and hope that their star-studded lineup stays healthy in this year's playoffs. Last season saw Kevin Love go down in round one versus the Boston Celtics and Kyrie Irving injure his knee in game one of the NBA Finals.

Only three number eight seeds have upstaged a number one seed in the NBA Playoffs, the latest being in 2007.

NBA First Round Preview: Hawks vs Celtics

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In the four seed vs five seed matchup in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs is the Atlanta Hawks against the Boston Celtics. The Hawks took three of the four games these two teams played in the regular season, but that doesn't mean that the Celtics should be worried.

This Boston team is a sleeper team in the East and maybe even in the entire playoffs. They went from an eight seed and a sweep in last season's playoffs against the Cavaliers to a five seed and a very dangerous team. This team could see themselves in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Hawks, on the other hand, have gone downhill. They went from a one seed to a four seed and their record comparison is nowhere near similar. Last season, the Hawks were in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavs. It doesn't look like we'll see more of the same this season.

NBA First Round Preview: Heat vs Hornets

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The 3^rd-seeded Miami Heat will take on the 6^th-seeded Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, starting Sunday, April 17^th, at 5:30 pm in Miami, Florida.

The Heat (48-34) return to the playoffs after missing out last season. The Hornets (48-34) earned the Charlotte franchise a playoff sport for only the third time since 2005. Both of their other two visits resulted in first-round exits. They will look to avoid a similar fate this year.

Miami enters the playoffs with multiple questions about the roster. Chris Bosh has been out since mid-February with blood clotting issues. He has been able to participate in basketball activities since March, but a return to the lineup during the playoffs is still in doubt. If he is healthy and manages log quality minutes, he adds an important threat to the lineup.

Without him, Miami has been getting by with mostly a 9- or 10-man lineup each night. Additionally, it will be interesting to see who gets the starting nod between Hassan Whiteside and Amar’e Stoudemire. Whiteside’s production is miles ahead of Stoudemire’s, but Whiteside’s numbers experienced a noticeable jump during February and March as a dynamic player off the bench. Whiteside started the last three games of the season as Stoudemire was inactive for two of them.

Among those seeing regular minutes is Joe Johnson, who Miami signed on February 27 after he agreed to a buyout with the Brooklyn Nets and cleared waivers. Since joining the Heat, Johnson has averaged over 13 points per game while shooting over 51% from the field. The 7-time All-Star has added even more experience and veteran leadership to a team that is chock-full of it. With Dwyane Wade’s production is at some of its lowest levels across the board, Johnson’s presence has been a necessary addition. Luol Deng and Goran Dragic round out a starting five that knows how to put points up when needed.

Charlotte is a young team ready to show the Eastern Conference what they can do. Led by Kemba Walker’s 21 points and 6 assists per game, Nicolas Batum’s 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, Charlotte’s top two producers are 25 and 27 years old, respectively. Cody Zeller and Al Jefferson are a difficult youth/veteran tag team to match up against, and Marvin Williams’ 3-point shooting stretches the floor and creates matchup problems. Charlotte must utilize those advantages, and hope Walker can have his way with the Miami backcourt, if they want to advance in the playoffs.

The winner of this series will face the winner of the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers in the second round. Miami and Charlotte split the season series, 2-2.

Prediction: Miami in 6

NBA First Round Preview: Pacers vs Raptors

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The Toronto Raptors are coming off their best season in franchise history, and they will look to carry that momentum into the playoffs. Toronto won 56 games this season, which shattered their franchise record. Toronto is the second seed in the Eastern Conference, and they will take on the Indiana Pacers starting on Saturday. 

The Pacers return to the playoffs after missing out last year, because of the horrific injury to Paul George. With George back and better than ever, Indiana has made its return to the postseason. The Pacers have gotten to this point, because of the play of their stingy defense.

Indiana’s defense ranks eight in the league, as they allow 100.5 points per game. Indiana has been relying on the small ball as of late, but they still have an array of bigs to shove at you. George has led the Pacers this season, averaging 23.1 points per game. 

Indiana doesn’t have a very strong offense, which is why they rely on their defense to wear the opponent down. They will look to play at a very slow, deliberate pace. A problem for Indiana this season has been consistency at the point guard spot. 

After George Hill was in and out of the lineup, they brought in Ty Lawson. Lawson failed to produce, so the Pacers don’t have a true point guard to rely on. What has led Toronto to their 56 win season, is their backcourt. Both DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry have been matchup nightmares this season. DeRozan has averaged 23.5 points this season. Lowry has averaged 21 points per game this season. After those two players, Toronto lacks scoring consistency. 

Toronto needs to hope the supporting cast can help out the backcourt, or else we could have a series on our hands. The Raptors won the season series, 3-1 this year. Indiana needs to hope someone can step up at point guard, while Toronto needs some consistency from its bench. 

Toronto has been susceptible to early round exits, including getting swept by Washington in the first round last year. It’s all dependent on Lowry and DeRozan, if Toronto can avoid falling out of the playoffs again.

NBA First Round Preview: Spurs vs Grizzlies

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The San Antonio Spurs enter the playoffs as the best 2-seed in the history of the league. The Memphis Grizzlies are the most outmatched 7-seed ever. With a difference of over .300, the margin between the Spurs and Grizzlies would be a large discrepancy between any two teams, let alone two playoff teams.

The Spurs’ 40-1 home record will be difficult for the Grizzlies to overcome, especially considering Memphis’ lack of earning a win against San Antonio in any of their 4 matchups during the regular season. Additionally, the Grizzlies have lost two of their starting five for the remainder of the season due to injury. Center Marc Gasol  underwent surgery on a fracture in his foot, and point guard Mike Conley is battling tendinitis in his Achilles. Add to that the departures of Courtney Lee and Jeff Green at the trade deadline, and you have a very depleted Grizzlies squad heading into the postseason.

San Antonio has suffered no such bad luck. The starting five of Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Tim Duncan has been mostly intact all season and everyone is available for the playoffs. The bench presence of Kyle Anderson, David West, Boris Diaw and Patty Mills goes mostly unsung, but stands formidable in the vaunted Spurs system. ‘

Even looking optimistically at any hope Memphis could possibly have, and it’s difficult seeing them winning even one game having to rely on anyone beyond Zach Randolph. As talented as Randolph is, he can’t do it alone, and try as they might, Jordan Farmar, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes, and JaMychal Green are not providing that kind of firepower.

Prediction: Spurs in 4

NBA First Round Preview: Warriors vs Rockets

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The Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets will meet in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, starting on Saturday. The Rockets barely got into the playoffs, after a season filled with controversy and injuries. The Rockets reward for getting in: playing the all-time winningest team in NBA history, the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors broke the ’95-96 Bulls record for most wins in one season on Wednesday. The Warriors finished with a record of 73-9, and they have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. These teams met in the Western Conference Finals last season, the Warriors were the victors, winning in five games. The Rockets have had a roller-coaster season this year.

 After success last year, the team got off to an early season slump, which prompted the firing of Kevin McHale. Interim coach J.B Bickerstaff was thrust into the role, and the Rockets were improving on their performance. However, there were still major issues going around the team. Trade rumors about Dwight Howard were swirling, and the team chemistry was suffering. However, a late season turnaround, and a collapse by the Utah Jazz has the Rockets in the playoffs yet again. Both teams will be relying on their offenses during this series.

The Warriors ranked first in the league in total offense this season. They averaged 114 points during the season, and they 41% from beyond the arc. Golden State can also rely on its defense, which gave up an average of 104 points this season. The Rockets have no choice but to rely on their offense. They rank 14^th in total offense, as they average about 106 points per game. The defense for Houston has been a different story.

They rank 26^th in the entire league in defense, and they allow opponents to shoot 45% from the field. What makes the Rockets dangerous is James Harden. Harden is one of the best pure shooters in the game, and he can go off in an instant. Harden is averaging 29 points this year, he also leads the team in assists with 7.5 per game. Houston will need to heavily rely on him, if the Rockets have any chance to compete in this series.

If he plays like he did in the Conference Finals last season, the Rockets will be in big trouble. Not only will they have to worry about Harden’s performance, but they’ll have to worry about guarding Steph Curry. Curry averaged 30 points this season, and he made 402 threes this season, which obliterated his previous record. Klay Thompson averaged 22.6 points this season, and Draymond Green averaged 14 points this season.

This means Houston will have to defend three scorers who averaged just about 15 points or more. Also, don’t forget the Warriors have a bench that includes Marresse Speights, Shaun Livingston, and Andre Iguodala. Other than James Harden, the Rockets have really no one to rely on. With a porous defense, it seems nearly impossible that Houston will be able to compete with Steph Curry and the Warriors. 

NBA First Round Preview: Clippers vs Trailblazers

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While we are in for a superb Western Conference semifinals, there is only one first round western matchup where the favorite has been given less than a 90 percent chance to win by ESPN’s BPI: Clippers vs. Trailblazers.

While the Clippers are still the overwhelming favorite, this is the one western conference first round matchup where there is any possibility of an upset. For the Trailblazers do defy the odds, there are three crucial things that need to happen.

The first, and most important, is that Damian Lillard needs to stay healthy, and catch fire. For the Trailblazers to compete, Lillard is going to have to average more than 30 points per game. He’s going to have to become the star of the series, and the best player on the court.

Second, the Clippers need to continue to struggle with injuries. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, J.J. Reddick and Jamal Crawford all struggled with recurring injuries, especially towards the end of the season. If one or two of those players can’t stay healthy, this series becomes a lot more interesting. If three or four end up out, the momentum quickly shifts towards Portland.

Third, the Trailblazers need to head home with a win. If the Clippers sweep the first two games at home, the momentum will carry them through the series. However, if Portland can steal a game in LA, then it throws the whole series off kilter. Once they win once in LA, they will have the confidence to win every game.

However, I believe the Clippers just have too much talent, and are too big with Jordan inside.

FINAL PREDICTION: Clippers 4-1

NBA First Round Preview: Thunder vs Mavericks

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The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs. The Thunder are the three seed and the Mavericks clinched the sixth seed.

The Thunder are in the playoffs after missing the playoffs last season by one game. They will have their whole team healthy this time around, as Kevin Durant missed the end of last season with injury, forcing Russell Westbrook to lead the team. He's done it again this season, but has had the help of Durant and Serge Ibaka. This Thunder team is coming into this series strong.t

The Mavericks come in to the playoffs just two games over .500. This has not been an easy season for Dallas, but they managed to make it into the playoffs as the sixth seed.

The Thunder swept the season series between these two. The key to success in this series is simple. For the Thunder, Russell Westbrook needs to continue to be a triple-double machine. For the Mavericks, they need to find a way to stop Westbrook and Durant.