NBA Playoffs 2013: What We’ve Learned So Far In Round Two

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors have a chance to upset the San Antonio Spurs. (NBA.com photo)

We’re roughly halfway through the second round of the 2013 NBA playoffs and we’ve already learned so much about all eight teams contending for an NBA title.

The physical series between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls encompasses everything that playoff basketball is about and ultimately reminds NBA fans of how basketball used to be played.

But that’s just one series.

What else have we learned from Round 2?

Let’s take a gander.

K.D. Can’t Do It All Himself

Kevin Durant has been sensational during the playoffs, but he can’t do it all without Russell Westbrook. (Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com)

Kevin Durant did enough to get the Oklahoma City Thunder out of the first round against the Houston Rockets, but it may not be enough against a much better Western Conference opponent in the Memphis Grizzlies.

Durant is averaging 32.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game against the Grizzlies, but is seeing his Thunder trail Memphis 2-1 in the series, as OKC has dropped the past two games in a row. K.D. has been the best scorer during the postseason, as ESPN Stats & Info tells us, but all that effort is undoubtedly wearing the 24-year-old down.

Reggie Jackson has stepped up in Russell Westbrook‘s absence, but there’s not another player out there who can bring what Westbrook brings to the Thunder franchise.

Without Westbrook on the court and Durant having to do all of the work, I have the Grizzlies advancing to the Western Conference finals.

The Warriors Are Legit

After surrendering a 16-point fourth quarter lead and losing to the San Antonio Spurs in overtime of Game 1, it looked as though the Golden State Warriors were deflated and didn’t have what it took to hang with the Spurs.

Guess again.

Golden State has battled back against San Antonio to even the series at two games apiece, even without David Lee playing many minutes (h/t ESPN).

Rookie Harrison Barnes and veteran Jarrett Jack have been spark plugs for the Warriors while Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry have continued to establish themselves as one of the best backcourt shooing tandems in the NBA.

If Curry continues outplaying Tony Parker and his supporting cast chips in, the Warriors are going to knock off the Spurs.

A Championship Isn’t Coming to New York Anytime Soon

The New York Knicks aren’t going anywhere as long as Carmelo Anthony continues taking too many shots. (Flickr.com photo by Keith Allison)

The New York Knicks can’t even handle the Indiana Pacers; how are they supposed to hang with the Miami Heat or San Antonio Spurs?

As good as Carmelo Anthony is at scoring the basketball, he takes way too many shots and doesn’t look to make his teammates better, which is why there’s no shot at a championship coming to New York anytime soon.

The Knicks live and die by the 3 and when you have guys like Anthony and J.R. Smith chucking up so many shots, the odds aren’t going to be in your favor. It’s not often that I agree with Skip Bayless, but I think he summed it up perfectly with this tweet:

I picked the Pacers in seven games when this series started and with Indiana holding a 2-1 series lead, I’m feeling pretty good right now. The Knicks don’t have an answer for Roy Hibbert on the inside and Paul George is continuing to show us why he was voted the Most Improved Player this season.

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