Anxiety and Drama Surround NBA Playoffs
As the first round of the NBA playoffs comes to a close, one of the most competitive first rounds in recent memory has emerged. Every series has been competitive and potential upsets have appeared throughout the playoff bracket.Normally only the high seeded teams in the NBA playoffs easily pass into the next round, but this year has been unique. Only the two-time defending champs, the Miami Heat, have been able to pass through the playoffs without a loss in their series against the Charlotte Bobcats.After that, only the Washington Wizard vs. Chicago Bulls series has been relatively uncompetitive, as the Wizards passed by somewhat unscathed losing only one game in the series.Other than that only the Houston Rockets have yet to win two games during this year’s playoffs. But despite them being down three to one in the series and being scorched by the Blazer’s power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, the series may be more competitive than any other in the league. An astounding three of the four games in the Houston Rockets (fourth seed) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (fifth seed) series have gone into overtime. Each game has gone to the wire.
Meanwhile both the one and two seeds in the Western conference and the early season favorite and one seeded Indiana Pacers in the Eastern conference have struggled against their respective teams. The one seeded San Antonio Spurs led by aging Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and this year’s NBA Coach of the Year Gregg Popovich are now tied two to two in their series against the Dallas Mavericks led by Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis, and Vince Carter.After barely losing the NBAFinals last year, a loss in the first round of the playoffs would be an incredible surprise.The two seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who many considered to be the best team in the Western Conference, on the other hand have fallen down two to three in their series against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder’s stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have been unable to show any consistency throughout the games. Durant has shot only 40 percent from the field this series: a mighty drop from the 50 percent he shot in the regular season.
Not too mention Durant also missed a game-tying free throw in game five of the series. With the NBA MVP soon to be announced, Durant has not helped himself at all with his subpar performance so far in the series. Meanwhile the Grizzlies led by big fellas Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol along with point guard Mike Conley appear to be in control to lead their team to the next round.Then, in the Eastern conference, there is the one-seeded Indiana Pacers who have fallen to down three to two in their series against the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are by far the worst team in the playoffs, yet the Pacers seem to have no answer for them. The performance of Indiana’s star Paul George has been encouraging, as he struggled mightily in the last stretch of the season, but the rest of the team has shown themselves to be incapable of winning this series. Pacer center Roy Hibbert has been absolutely pathetic, averaging only 4.8 points for the series, and locker room troubles have plagued the team during the series. It seems that the one seeded Pacers will surely fall in the first round.