It's the time of the year again for NBA fans to gather and cheer their hearts out to give support to their teams. This year's match-ups are packed with talent-loaded teams and will be one for the books. So, without further redo, We will break down every series and will predict who will walk away as the winner and get to the second round.
Eastern Conference: Indiana Pacers (1) vs. Atlanta Hawks (8)
Regular Season Series: Split, 2-2
Indiana might have had a free fall and after All-Star Break, but expect All-Star Paul George, David West and Roy Hibbert to have the sense of urgency and step up their game, while most improve player candidate Lance Stephenson and Evan Turner will be also provide big boost to Indiana's playoff campaign.
Meanwhile, the Hawks, despite losing their All-Star Al Horford, will not back down easily and expect Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague to put the team on their back. The biggest difference is the Star power of both teams, Indiana have more established players and also have a deeper bench than Atlanta.
Prediction: Pacers in five.
Eastern Conference: Miami Heat (2) vs. Charlotte Bobcats (7)
Regular Season Series: Heat swept series, 4-0
It is a great day for Bobcats fans for they will see their team in the Playoffs again. Only thing though, is that they will face the defending champs, Miami Heat.
To be fair to Charlotte, it played the Heat close enough to force overtime in one meeting and lose by a single point in another. So it's not like the Heat blew the Kitties out four straight times.
But LeBron James erupted for 61 points the last time these teams met, and Dwyane Wade only suited up for two of the four matchups.
Prediction: Heat in four.
Eastern Conference: Toronto Raptors (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)
Regular Season Series: Split, 2-2
If Brook Lopez hasn't been injured, Brooklyn Nets might be the one entering the next round. The Nets, after a poor start, has regained momentum and developed great chemistry as the season went on. However, the Raptors are playing the best basketball they have played since Chris Bosh era.
After trading Rudy Gay, the Raptors were not expected to miss the Playoffs again. But the opposite happened, DeMar Derozan finally lived up to his All Star potential and Kyle Lowry played the best season of his career. On the year, DeRozan and Lowry both averaged 22 points per game on 50 percent shooting against Brooklyn, per NBA.com.
Prediction: Raptors in six.
Eastern Conference: Chicago Bulls (4) vs. Washington Wizards (5)
Regular Season Series: Wizards won, 2-1
Analysts say that this would be the closest match-up in the Eastern Conference. Despite losing All-Star Point Guard Derrick Rose, the team has been carried by their other All-Star Joakim Noah and nobody expected the Bulls to win 48 games.
Washington, on the other hand, will be back in the playoffs after a very long drought. Although they might have a strong showing in the regular season, inexperience might kick in where the seasoned Bulls veterans will take advantage of.
Prediction: Bulls in seven.
Western Conference: San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (8)
Nowitzki has had a brilliant season at age 35, and he's got the unique scoring knack to get makeable looks even against the Spurs' stout defense. But he's not a miracle-worker.
One particularly glaring weakness for the Mavs is its backcourt defense. Neither Monta Ellis nor Jose Calderon will have any success keeping Tony Parker out of the lane, and as soon as the Spurs' point guard gets into space in the middle of the floor, high-percentage shots come fast and furious.
Though a marginally better offensive team during the regular season, Dallas just doesn't have the balance or depth to compete with the Spurs on equal terms.
Prediction: Spurs in four.
Western Conference: Oklahoma City Thunder (2) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (7)
The Thunder are a team without many weaknesses, so if the underdog Grizzlies are to have any hope of notching an upset, they'd have to focus on stopping the likely 2013-2014 MVP, Kevin Durant.
The Griz have all the tools to do that as they have ace defender Tony Allen and James Johnson to contain Durant. However, he would not be named MVP for nothing. There will definitely be games where Durant will pour it on, and with Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka behind him, it will just be too much for Memphis to handle.
Prediction: Thunder in six.
Western Conference: Los Angeles Clippers (3) vs. Golden State Warriors (6)
Regular Season Series: Split, 2-2
If Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson can turn in a Splash Brother-y effort from beyond the arc, Golden State can win a couple of games. But these Dubs forged their identity as a defensive force with Bogut on the floor, so any attempt to redefine themselves at this late juncture should be viewed as the last-ditch gimmick it truly is.
Jermaine O'Neal will see a few minutes here and there, but Lee looks to be the Warriors' answer at center. That means respectable interior defense is absolutely out of the question. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan are going to have a field day. You can call this series the 'Highlight Hub'.
Prediction: Clippers in five.
Western Conference: Houston Rockets (4) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (5)
Regular Season Series: Rockets won, 3-1
Expect this series to be a slugfest. Both rosters are equal and matches well against the other. But the biggest difference is if the Blazers can contain the Rockets offense.
If Lopez can somehow force Harden and Co. into taking difficult shots without fouling, the Blazers will be able to get out in transition against Houston's own shaky defense. That's a tall order, even for an interior defender as imposing as the Blazers center.
Portland's offense is dangerous, and LaMarcus Aldridge presents a matchup problem for every frontcourt player on Houston's roster. Expect the Blazers to put together one or two red-hot shooting games from the perimeter against the Rockets' occasionally disengaged defense, but don't bank on a series upset.
The Blazers are just too generous on defense for more than a six-game series.
Prediction: Rockets in six.
