Will the NBA Playoffs be a slam dunk or an airball? (Editorial)
After an intense season, the 2014 NBA Playoffs will surely be just as interesting.
The National Basketball Association had an incredibly intriguing 2014 season. From the worst losing streak in NBA history to multiple teams fulfilling their expectations, the NBA playoffs for 2014 were officially set Monday night, April 14.
The Eastern Conference had a surprise one seed going into the playoffs. The Indiana Pacers finished one game ahead of the two-time defending champion Miami Heat to receive the one seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Along with the Pacers and the Heat, the Eastern Conference lineup includes: the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Bobcats, and the Atlanta Hawks. The Pacers will play the Hawks for their first round matchup.
The Western Conference, led by the San Antonio Spurs, was no surprise to anyone. The Spurs have dominated their conference for many years, with head coach Gregg Popovich establishing a lineup that can constantly challenge any team. Following the Spurs in the Western Conference are: the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Portland Trailblazers, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs will face the Mavericks for their first round games.
I believe the Eastern Conference will be overcome by the Big Three of the Miami Heat, including LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. All three provide big threats on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court, and they provide match up problems for teams when trying to defend them. The Indiana Pacers seem to be the only team that can provide a challenge in stopping the Heat en route to their third straight title.
The Western Conference can go three potential ways. I believe the Spurs can continue their dominance and advance to the finals. Also, the Thunder with the duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook can overcome the Spurs dominance and win the conference. Lastly, the Clippers could potentially pull an upset with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul providing a big offensive push.
Finally, the Finals will consist of a matchup of the Miami Heat versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Playoffs begin this weekend and the NBA Finals begin June 5.
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This is Tyler’s first year on staff. He is a very dedicated student who also spends a lot of his time playing sports. He plans on going to college...
Bryan Youtzy • Apr 30, 2014 at 8:44 am
I love watching the NBA playoffs every year. I have played basketball my whole life and I enjoyed reading an article about it on this site.