It's that time of the year again when the real season begins for most players. You play 82 games for six months just to have the opportunity to play in April. The NBA playoffs 2015 is the place where stars are born and where legacies are cemented. It is also the place where players are exposed. Things are always tougher in the playoffs. Defenses are better and plays are magnified. Let us break down each series starting with the west.
Number 1) Golden State Warriors vs Number 8) New Orleans Pelicans
The warriors are the best team in the NBA with a league leading 67 wins. This assures them of homecourt advantage the rest of the way. Led by the likely MVP Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors were basically killing opponents all year at home or on the road. They have the league's best offense and though undersized with their small lineup, they've managed to win games on defense too. In order for them to win the title, Andrew Bogut has to stay healthy for at least two more months and Draymond Green just has to keep playing like Dray.
The Pelicans, led by Anthony Davis, barely made the playoffs this year. They are a young team and were plagued with injuries all season. Ryan Anderson was gone most of the year and Jrue Holiday was recently activated just in time for the playoffs. the Pels are a young team and will be a mainstay in the playoffs for a long time to come.
The series ended the way everyone thought it would, a sweep. The Pelicans kept it close throughout including game 3 where Curry just went video game mode and literally cut their hearts out. It will forever be known as the Steph Curry game and that probably sealed the deal on the MVP voting.They will play the winner of the Memphis-Portland series.
Number 2) Houston Rockets vs Number 7) Dallas Mavericks
The Houston Rockets have been great all season and the man responsible for their success is James Harden, the real MVP. Without him, Houston would be a 30 win team. Dwight Howard isn't Orlando era Dwight but is still a monster. He's been protecting the rim and cleaning glass like Dennis Rodman. He's had a great first round but we need to see more if the Rockets are to have a chance in the very loaded West.
Dirk Nowitzki is playing on his last legs and the German is starting to show signs of decline. Rajon Rondo was supposed to be the savior but turned out to be a complete dud. The dude messed up team chemistry in the most delicate part of the year. I commend the Mavs for even winning one game. They should have been swept.
The Rockets took the series in 5 games and getting much needed rest while waiting for the winner of the San Antonio- Los Angeles series. That should make for a very exciting series. I give the Spurs the advantage unless the Clips' prayers are answered and they manage to beat the spurs in consecutive games. It's a longshot but it can happen.
Number 3) Los Angeles Clippers vs Number 6) San Antonio Spurs
.This is probably the most exciting series in the first round. The Clippers have been waiting for a breakthrough the last 3 years but end up being eliminated in the first or second round. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin need to step it up to beat the defending champs. This is no small feat and everybody has counted them out even before the series began.
The only things that are constant in this world are death, taxes and the Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs are the defending champions and is the prototype of what a basketball team should be. They have the best coach in Pop, the best power forward of all time in Tim Duncan and the best Frenchman to ever play in the league in Tony Parker. Most importantly, they have Kawhi Leonard, the head of the snake. You cut off the head and the body eventually follows. You shut down Kawhi, you shut down the Spurs. Easier said than done. Probably the best two way player in the league not named Lebron James.
The Spurs lead the series 3-2 and I don't expect anything less than a game 7. A technical foul on Paul and a goaltend on Jordan cost the Clippers game 5. They have to win game 6 in San Antonio or it's time to go fishing again. The Spurs have been doing this every year for the last 15 years. It's hard to understand why people expect anything different.
Number 4) Portland Trailblazers vs Number 5) Memphis Grizzlies
Portland either showed signs of fatigue or they just do not have an answer for Memphis' stingy defense. Damian Lillard is showing he's not a big time player just yet save for his performance in game 4, their only win of the series so far. Lamarcus Aldridge seems to have mentally checked out. It did not help matters that they lost their best two way player when Wes matthews went down in February with a ruptured Achilles. They still have life but they need big time performances from Dame and Aldridge to even have a chance. Meyers Leonard should play more.
Memphis boasts of one of the most formidable frontcourts in the league in Z-bo and the big Spaniard, Marc Gasol. They have dominated the Blazers in the paint for the first four games. Their defense has been tremendous. They lost Mike Conley to a facial fracture in game 3 but might not need him anymore for this series. The bench has stepped up and their defense is where they hang their hat on.
Memphis is up 3-1 and they should be able to close it out in game 5. They will have homecourt and you know how loud it can get in the Grindhouse. If they lock down Lillard like they have since the start of the series, game 5 should not be a problem.
The first round in the loaded West has been wildly entertaining so far. Some series were uncompetitive but entertaining, nonetheless. The beauty of the playoffs is it gets better as the games mean more. The matchups in the second round are gonna be insane. Giddyup.
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