Awesome April ... 16 teams enter but only one will triumph. Source: FOX SPORTS
March Madness is over and it's time for Awesome April as the attention of the basketball world moves to the NBA playoffs.
After 82 games just 16 teams are left and now begins what could be one of the hardest roads to a championship in world sport.
The first round is arguably the most unpredicatable with top teams taking on battle-hardened squads who had to fight just to make the post-season.
The likes of reigning champions Miami Heat and runners-up Oklahoma City Thunder booked their playoff ticket some time ago while the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks squeezed in at the last minute.
The Heat and Thunder enter as favourites to return to the finals once again but the re-invention of New York Knicks and LA Clippers should make for fascinating watching.
WEST
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) v Houston Rockets (8)
Regular season: Thunder 2 - Rockets 1
A series full of headlines with the return of James Harden to OKC - along with Lin-sanity - against the dynamic duo that is Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
The Rockets only just scrapped into the playoffs after finishing third in their division but can score heavily on their day.
They are two teams similar in style but expect the Thunder to have too much firepower for the Rockets.
Look for Thaba Sefalosha to shut down Harden and Kevin Martin to shoot lights out from behind the arc.
San Antonio Spurs (2) v LA Lakers (7)
Regular season: Spurs 2 - Lakers 1
The Lakers made the playoffs, which was a great effort considering where they came from after a horrible start to the season. However, this could be one of the most one-sided series we see during the playoffs.
Kobe Bryant's Achilles will see him miss the action and the Spurs' evergreen trio of Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are all fit.
Throw in Aussie pair Aron Baynes and Patty Mills and there's a reason for every neutral to take an interest in this series.
The Lakers have plenty of experience with Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace to step up in the absence of Bryant but lack the killer instinct of the Black Mamba.
Denver Nuggets (3) v Golden State Warriors (4)
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Regular season: Nuggets 3 - Warriors 1
The Nuggets have been travelling under the radar all season as even their 15-game win streak was overshadowed by the Heat's amazing run.
The Nuggets have been almost unbeatable at home this season and boast an incredible 38-3 record.
However, GSW playmaker Stephen Curry is argubably one of the best players in the NBA and in the final game of the season he broke Ray Allen's all-time record for most three-pointers in a season.
The Nuggets are one of the quickest teams in the NBA and if the Warriors are to have any chance they will have to stop the transition play of Andre Iguodala, Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried.
Look for another Aussie hoping to make a playoffs impact with Andrew Bogut forming one of the best one-two bigmen combinations with Warriors teammate David Lee.
LA Clippers (4) v Memphis Grizzlies (5)
Regular season: Clippers 3 - Grizzlies 1
A replay of last year's first round series and two teams who might count themselves a little unlucky to be facing elimiation in round one once again.
The Clippers triumphed last year and clinched their first Pacific Division title in many years this season while
Memphis finished just two games behind the Spurs.
In superstars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin the Clippers have genuine match winners but add in Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler and Eric Bledsoe and this team has weapons across the roster.
The Grizzlies should not be discounted after they disposed of No.1 seed San Antonio in 2010-11 but they will need big performances from Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley to reverse last year's exit.
EAST
Miami Heat (1) v Milwaukee Bucks (8)
Regular season: Heat 3 - Bucks 1
Can anyone stop the reigning champions? If it does happen, chances are it won't be the Bucks.
LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh have done as they pleased this season.
The star trio even sat out a late-season game against Cleveland Cavaliers and the Heat still won thanks to Norris Cole, Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen.
The Bucks have fought tooth and nail to grab the No.8 seed so expect them to put up a good fight.
Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis lead the team while the likes of Ersan Ilyasova and Luc Mbah a Moute provide strength down low.
New York Knicks (2) v Boston Celtics (7)
Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Regular season: Knicks 3 - Celtics 1
We've asked who can beat the Heat; the Knicks are certainly capable of it and the Celtics almost pulled it off last season. However, only one team can progress from this series.
The Celtics will be full of emotion after the Boston Marathon tragedy but you have to doubt if that will get them through a seven-game series.
Fresh off winning the NBA scoring title, Carmelo Anthony will be key to the Knicks' hopes while JR Smith, Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton provide the secondary scoring.
Indiana Pacers (3) v Atlanta Hawks (6)
Regular season: Pacers 2 - Hawks 2
The Pacers are another team that have been excellent all season yet have been overshadowed despite making a strong playoff run in 2011-12.
In contrast, some didn't expect the Hawks to return to the post season after trading away Joe Johnson and they finished 22 games behind division rivals Miami.
Yet, as they say you've got to be in it to win it and the Hawks will give themselves every chance.
They hung onto Josh Smith at the trade deadline and the likes of Al Horford and Jeff Teague are genuine threats.
The Pacers are full of young talent and after gaining valuable experience last season Paul George, Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert and veteran David West are primed for a deep run.
Brooklyn Nets (4) v Chicago Bulls (5)
Regular season: Nets 1 - Bulls 3
Two of the more interesting stories in 2013.
The Nets have made some big moves recently picking up Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace while Brook Lopez continues to deliver in the paint.
The Bulls in comparison have had to achieve their success without superstar guard Derrick Rose.
Kirk Hinrich, Rip Hamilton and Nate Robinson have filled in admirably while Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah continue to deliver at an elite level.
The Bulls have the edge after the regular season and on experience could claim to be favourites.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Ultimate NBA Playoffs preview
Dengan url
http://sportlivestyle.blogspot.com/2013/04/ultimate-nba-playoffs-preview.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Ultimate NBA Playoffs preview
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar