First round of the NBA Playoffs has been settled and here’s a look at the remaining teams battling it out in the Semifinals of the NBA:
Western Conference
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (5) Portland Trailblazers
Regular Season:
11/02/2013 @ Portland
Blazers win over Spurs (115 – 105)
01/17/2014 @ San Antonio
Blazers win over Spurs (109 – 100)
02/19/2014 @ Portland
Spurs win over Blazers (109 – 111)
03/12/2014 @ San Antonio
Spurs win over Blazers (103 – 90)
Key Matchups:
(SA) Tony Parker vs (POR) Damian Lillard
Why Spurs Would Win
- Defense
- Experience
- Coaching
- Bench Productivity
Why Blazers Would Win
- Offense
- Breakout performances from Aldridge and Lillard
Prediction: Spurs in 7 Games
(2) Oklahoma Thunder vs (3) Los Angeles Clippers
Regular Season:
11/13/2013 @ Los Angeles
Clippers 111 – Thunder 103
11/21/2013 @ Oklahoma
Thunder 105 – Clippers 91
02/23/2014 @ Oklahoma
Clippers 125 – Thunder 117
04/09/2014 @ Los Angeles
Thunder 107 – Clippers 101
Key Matchups:
(LAC) DeAndre Jordan vs (OKC) Serge Ibaka
Why Thunder Would Win
- Clippers does not have a good matchup against Kevin Durant
- Impressive performance from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
- Steve Adams mess with Blake Griffin on defense
Why Clippers Would Win
- Blake Griffin is a nightmare matchup for Thunder
- Chris Paul would outplay Russell Westbrook
- Clippers bench scoring
Prediction: Clippers in 6 Games
Eastern Conference
(1) Indiana Pacers vs (5) Washington Wizards
Regular Season
11/29/2013 @ Indiana
Pacers 93 – Wizards 73
01/10/2014 @ Indiana
Pacers 93 – Wizards 66
03/28/2014 @ Washington
Wizards 91 – Pacers 78
Key Matchups:
(IND) Paul George vs (WAS) Bradley Beal
Why Pacers Would Win
- Deliberate Offense
- Coaching
- Inside Play
Why Wizards Would Win
- Fastbreak
- Capitalize on Pacers slump
- Defense
Prediction: Wizards in 6 Games
(2) Miami Heat vs (6) Brooklyn Nets
Regular Season
11/01/2013 @ Brooklyn
Nets 101 – Heat 100
01/10/2014 @ Brooklyn
Nets 104 – Heat 95
03/12/2014 @ Miami
Nets 96 – Heat 95
04/08/2014 @ Miami
Nets 88 – Heat 87
Key Matchups:
(MIA) Lebron James vs (BKN) Paul Pierce
Why Heat Would Win
- Lebron plays at a different level on the playoffs
- Stifling small ball defense
- Experience
Why Nets Would Win
- Capitalize on regular season success
- Resurgence of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in the playoffs
- Balanced scoring
Prediction: Heat in 5 Games
