NBA Playoffs 2013: Playing Fact or Fiction With Round One
The 2013 NBA playoffs are in full swing, with each of the eight first-round series having finished game one. Did anyone guess the home teams would have gone 8-0? Pound that home chalk in Las Vegas! Now that we’ve seen the matchups, we’ve got more questions. Let’s take a look at each series and play “fact or fiction”.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Miami Heat vs. No. 8 Milwaukee Bucks
The Heat could take their opponent for granted be surprised by the Bucks – FICTION
Even with a superhuman effort, the Bucks won’t pull it off. Photo Credit: Pablo Gamez, IsoSports
In game one, the Miami Heat won 110-87 in a game that was awfully one-sided. The Bucks never led and gave up 55.9 percent shooting. Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis played very typical games for them, combining for 48 points and five steals. Despite their games, the Bucks got crushed on the glass 46-31 and LeBron James put up 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists with ease.
No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Boston Celtics
The Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony will be too much for the Celtics to overcome – FICTION
Anthony is an MVP candidate, but he’s not untouchable. Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels, Flickr.com
Anthony scored 36 points in game one and the New York Knicks only won by seven points. The Boston Celtics had to set a franchise record with just eight points in the fourth quarter to lose. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for the Knicks. The Celtics turned it over 20 times and even though Anthony’s heroics carried the Knicks to a game one victory, he’s not going to be able to keep that pace up all series. The Celtics are in it and this one’s going seven.
No. 3 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks
The Pacers are just about the worst possible matchup for the Hawks – FACT
Hibbert controls the paint as well as anyone in the NBA. Photo Credit: IsoSports, Flickr.com
The Atlanta Hawks have an advantage in the frontcourt against most other teams in the NBA. With Al Horford and Josh Smith, opposing teams have trouble matching up with both. The Indiana Pacers have Roy Hibbert, David West and Paul George in their frontcourt, all of which can thwart the Hawks’ big men. In game one, George put up a triple-double and the Pacers beat the Hawks on the glass by a +16 margin.
No. 4 Brooklyn Nets vs. No. 5 Chicago Bulls
Deron Williams makes this Nets team the second best in the Eastern Conference – FACT
Williams is back playing MVP-level basketball. Photo Credit: Mark Runyan,
While the Chicago Bulls are one of the feel-good stories of the Eastern Conference this season, it’s the Brooklyn Nets that deserve more attention. The emergence of Reggie Evans as a tremendous rebounder has made the Nets one of the teams to watch. Deron Williams is back to his Utah Jazz form, Gerald Wallace is healthy and Brook Lopez has been solid. If the Nets can get Andray Blatche and Joe Johnson to perform consistently, they could easily stake their claim as the No. 2 team in the East.
Western Conference
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Houston Rockets
The Rockets can outscore the Thunder – FICTION
They’re a fun tandem to watch, but they’re not getting past the Thunder. Photo Credit: Michael Dunlap, HoopsHabit.com
Make no mistake about it – the Houston Rockets love to play at a frenetic pace. They aren’t going to try to beat you using defense. Unfortunately, they’re paired up with one of the best in the business at playing a fast pace in the Oklahoma City Thunder. A fast game is custom made for Russell Westbrook‘s skillset. He scored 19 points with eight rebounds, 10 assists and two steals in just over 30 minutes. The Rockets have no answer.
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers drew a favorable matchup and can upset the Spurs – FICTION
They’re a tough 1-2 punch, but the Spurs are no pushovers. Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels, Flickr.com
Many were relieved when the Los Angeles Lakers went on a late season run and defeated the Houston Rockets to vault their way up to the No. 7 seed. Many also said the Lakers had a relatively favorable matchup with Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol and would really hurt the San Antonio Spurs in the paint. As it turns out, if you can’t get the ball to the paint, it doesn’t matter. The Lakers turned it over 18 times in game one, only held a 44-43 rebounding advantage and lost despite the Spurs shooting just 37.6 percent.
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors
Despite losing Danilo Gallinari, the Nuggets can win the Western Conference – FACT
Ty Lawson of the Denver Nuggets in a Jan. 25, 2011, game against the Washington Wizards. (Photo by Keith Allison/Flickr.com)
Initially, it looked like the Denver Nuggets would have to struggle through a long series against the Golden State Warriors. Now that David Lee is hurt, it appears as if they’ll cruise. As a team with tremendous depth, the Nuggets can get past the Thunder and Spurs with a premiere defender (Andre Iguodala), a lightning-quick point guard (Ty Lawson), a veteran bench guy (Andre Miller) and a do-it-all stud (Wilson Chandler). Don’t forget that Kenneth Faried should be back shortly.
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis frontcourt has the advantage in this series – FACT
You better believe Randolph will bounce back strong. Photo Credit: Mark Runyon,
There’s really no sugar-coating the fact that the Memphis Grizzlies got waxed in game one, losing 112-91 to the Los Angeles Clippers. Zach Randolph scored 13 with just four rebounds, as he was in big foul trouble and only played 25 minutes. Marc Gasol unbelievably secured just two rebounds in 41 minutes and the Grizzlies got crushed on the glass 47-23. Still, it was a perfect storm for the Clippers. Lamar Odom and Eric Bledsoe aren’t going to combine for 13 boards every game. Blake Griffin isn’t going to get under Randolph’s skin every game, either.