2014 NBA Playoffs

The 2014 NBA Playoffs are underway! Many of the same teams return, eyeing a shot at ending the Heat's bid for a 3-peat. The Heat and Pacers appeared to be on a collision course to meet in the Eastern Conference Finals all season. That doesn't seem like such a sure bet anymore. Both teams stumbled down the stretch, but managed to finish as the rope seeds in the East. With that said, Miami is still the favorite to win the East for a fourth consecutive season. The West is much more competitive, with all eight teams winning at least 49 games. The Spurs are favored to come out of the West for the second straight year. The Thunder, Clippers, and Rockets should be the biggest challengers to San Antonio. Let's take a look at how I expect the NBA Playoffs to unfold.

For the opening round, I have listed all of the individual matchups in each series with the player I give the advantage to listed in bold.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

1 Indiana (-625) vs. 8 Atlanta (+460)

PG - George Hill vs. Jeff Teague
SG - Lance Stephenson vs. Kyle Korver
SF - Paul George vs. Cartier Martin
PF - David West vs. Paul Millsap
C - Roy Hibbert vs. Pero Antic
Bench - Indiana vs. Atlanta
Coach - Frank Vogel vs. Mike Budenholzer

The Pacers were dominant in the first half of the season, but the wheels fell off the wagon heading down the stretch. Despite their poor play of late, they managed to secure home court advantage. Atlanta played Indiana tough in the regular season. The Pavers are fragile right now, so expect the Hawks to be competitive. At the end of the day, Indiana should be able to advance.

Prediction - Indiana over Atlanta 4-2

4 Chicago (-200) vs. 5 Washington (+170)

PG - Kirk Hinrich vs. John Wall
SG - Jimmy Butler vs. Bradley Beal
SF - Mike Dunleavy vs. Trevor Ariza
PF - Carlos Boozer vs. Michael Booker
C - Joakim Noah vs. Marcin Gortat
Bench - Chicago vs. Washington
Coach - Tom Thibodeau vs. Randy Wittman

The Chicago Bulls have overachieved more than any team in the NBA over the last couple seasons. The Bulls simply out work teams. The Wizards probably have more individual talent than the Bulls, but do they have the spirit needed to win a 7-game series against a team as hard-nosed as Chicago? There is very little playoff experience for Washington, so his could be a tough draw for the.

Prediction - Chicago over Washington 4-3

3 Toronto (-105) vs. 6 Brooklyn (-115)

PG - Kyle Lowry vs. Derron Williams
SG - Terrance Ross vs. Shaun Livingston
SF - DeMar DeRozan vs. Joe Johnson
PF - Amir Johnson vs. Paul Pierce
C - Jonas Valenciunas vs. Kevin Garnett
Bench - Toronto vs. Brooklyn
Coach - Dwayne Casey vs. Jason Kidd

This isn't a sexy series. Primarily because of the Raptors. The average basketball fan has no idea how good Toronto is this season. They have a number of players having career years, and play very well
together. Since a 7-12 start, the Raptors have the best record in the East. The Nets underachieved all season long, but this team was built to win the playoffs. They will have a tough go of it.

Prediction - Toronto vs Brooklyn 4-3

2 Miami (-3400) vs. 7 Charlotte (+1600)

PG - Mario Chalmers vs. Kemba Walker
SG - Dwayne Wade vs. Gerald Henderson
SF - LeBron James vs. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
PF - Shane Battier vs. Josh McRoberts
C - Chris Bosh vs. Al Jefferson
Bench - Miami vs. Charlotte
Coach - Erik Spoelstra vs. Steve Clifford

There is always a lot of attention drawn to the Heat regardless of who their opponent is. The Bobcats don't come with a lot of fan fare, but that doesn't mean that this series will not get attention. This is a battle of two teams heading in opposite directions. Miami did not play at a a championship level for much of the year. Charlotte was one of the most improved teams in the league. The Bobcats will learn from the playoff experience, but they have no chance to advance.

Prediction - Miami over Charlotte 4-1

Western Conference Quarterfinals

1 San Antonio (-1000) vs. 8 Dallas (+650)

PG - Tony Parker vs. Jose Calderon
SG - Danny Green vs. Monta Ellis
SF - Kawhi Leonard vs. Shawn Marion
PF - Tim Duncan vs. Dirk Nowitzki
C - Tiago Splitter vs. Samuel Dalembert
Bench - San Antonio vs. Dallas
Coach - Gregg Popovich vs. Randy Carlisle

San Antonio and Dallas have been battling it out for Texan supremacy for over a decade now. Even as their core players get long in the tooth, they find themselves in the postseason year after year. After the Spurs lost the NBA Finals in heartbreaking fashion last season, meny questioned whether they had had their last run. But here they are with the best record in the NBA. The Mavs are a talented team, unfortunately for them, the Spurs have that pep in their step again.

Prediction - San Antonio over Dallas 4-1

4 Houston (-220) vs. 5 Portland (+185)

PG - Patrick Beverley vs. Damian Lillard
SG - James Harden vs. Wesley Matthews
SF - Chandler Parsons vs. Nicolas Batum
PF - Terrence Jones vs. LaMarcus Aldridge
C - Dwight Howard vs. Robin Lopez
Bench - Houston vs. Portland
Coach - Kevin McHale vs. Terry Stotts

This could be the most entertaining series of the opening round. It has the potential to be first team to score 120 wins. The Rockets are one of those teams that are capable of beating anyone, but could also lose to just about anyone. The Blazers came of age this year as Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge blossomed into stars. This will be their first playoff experience though. That gives Houston the advantage.

Prediction - Houston over Portland 4-2

3 LA Clippers (-360) vs. 6 Golden State (+280)

PG - Chris Paul vs. Stephen Curry
SG - JJ Redick vs. Klay Thompson
SF - Matt Barnes vs. Andre Iguodala
PF - Blake Griffin vs. David Lee
C - DeAndre Jordan vs. Jermaine O'Neal
Bench - LA Clippers vs. Golden State
Coach - Doc Rivers vs. Mark Jackson

The Clippers and Warriors have enveloped a dislike for one another and have a budding rivalry. Now that both teams are relevant and meeting in the postseason, the drama will be at an all time high. Klay Thompson and Blake Griffin have already began to jaw. The play on the court is what really matters though. The Clippes have more talent and should March on.

Prediction - LA Clippers over Golden State 4-2

2 Oklahoma City (-460) vs. 7 Memphis (+360)

PG - Russell Westbrook vs. Mike Conley
SG - Thabo Sefolosha vs. Courtney Lee
SF - Kevin Durant vs. Tayshaun Prince
PF - Serge Ibaka vs. Zach Randolph
C - Steven Adams vs. Marc Gasol
Bench - Oklahoma City vs. Memphis
Coach - Scott Brooks vs. David Joerger

The West is just brutal. You win 59 games and get the 2 seed and your reward is playing a 50-win team that made it to the Conference Finals last year. That is what faces the Oklahoma City Thunder as they prepare to face the Memphis Grizzlies. This seems a bit unfair, but at least it provides a compelling matchup for the fans. In the end, Durant has had way too good of a year for him to go home early.

Prediction - Oklahoma City over Memphis 4-3


And here are my picks for the rest of the 2014 NBA Playoffs.

Eastern Conference Semifinals
1 Indiana over 4 Chicago 4-2
2 Miami over 3 Toronto 4-1

Western Conference Semifinals
1 San Antonio over 4 Houston 4-3
3 LA Clippers over 2 Oklahoma City 4-2

Eastern Conference Finals
2 Miami over 1 Indiana 4-3

Western Conference Finals
1 San Antonio over 3 LA Clippers 4-3

NBA Finals
2 Miami over 1 San Antonio 4-2

For the third straight year the Miami Heat will win the Larry O'Brien trophy, and for the second straight year it will be against the San Antonio Spurs. LeBron and D-Wade will join the likes of Jordan and Pippen, and Shaq and Kobe, as terrific tandems that accomplished a 3-peat.