Western Conference Playoff Bracket which would be 1st round "Must see TV..."

[Phenomanul]

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8)

Why it's must see TV?:
1. Rivalry is still very much alive between these two teams.
2. Since 1999 if the Western Conference finalist hasn't been represented by Kobe's Lakers* or Duncan's Spurs' the finalist had to go through one of them to get there.
3. Kobe's guarantee.
4. Kobe Bryant currently enjoys a 4 to 2 playoff series head-to-head edge over Tim Duncan's Spurs. One more chapter in this story would obviously carry great weight to the Legacy of both of these players... except this would be the first time that Kobe would be forced to beat Duncan's/Popovich's Spurs without a) Phil Jackson or b) Derek Fisher.
5. D'Antoni still has a grudge against one Gregg Popovich. This time around Boris Diaw is on the bench with the good guys...
6. Hack-a-Dwight will likely rear its head. Shaq would then face a dilemma: publically attack the strategy, or have a chance to attack Dwight Howard?
7. Since Bruce Bowen's departure no Spurs' player has been able to fill the shoes of his defensive specialist role... Kawhi Leonard is growing leaps and bounds before our collective eyes... A match-up between Kobe and Kawhi would be very fun to watch indeed...


Oklahoma City Thunder (2) vs. Houston Rockets (7)

Why it's must see TV?:
1. Technically, only one reason really needed. "The Beard" James Harden.
2. New rivalry born out of the hubris created by the trade involving the aforementioned bearded one.


Los Angeles Clippers (3) vs. Golden State Warriors(6)

Why it's must see TV?:
1. Both of these California franchises have underwhelmed in the playoffs... and both franchises are trying to overcome that history...
2. Steph Curry vs. Chris Paul. Both guards are great in their own right, both are the face of their respective franchise.
3. Run, Run, Run... both teams want to run. Should these teams face each other you can count on some high-scoring affairs... which is obviously "must see..."


Memphis Grizzlies (4) vs. Denver Nuggets (5)

Why it's must see TV?:
1. The series is a literal coin-flip. What wins out: Denver's high flying act or Memphis' sluggem' out style? Who knows...
2. This is the series in which homecourt matters the most.

*termed this way because Kobe was on the roster. We know two of those victories are mainly cause of Shaq and another because of Derek Fisher's miracle shot...

[jestersmash]

I'd be wary of a Spurs/L.A. matchup. Last season, OKC was robbed of game 3 by dubious reffing (possibly to extend the series to at least 5 so the league/TV partners could milk as much out of the OKC/L.A. matchup as possible."

[Beaverfuzz]

Lakers won't be at #8 when the playoffs come around, Golden State will.

[look_at_g_shred]

Lakers won't be at #8 when the playoffs come around, Golden State will.

More like Utah..

[Beaverfuzz]

Utah >>> Golden Taint

[Arcadian]

I completely agree. I would love to see a Spurs-Lakers round 1. And we would pound their asses, which would help Tim's legacy and hurt Kobe's.

[racm]

A SAS/LAL first round series would be a joke tbh. Would be like 1999 again (or 2011 for the Mavs). Pau's return might actually hurt these guys.

LAC/GSW would be interesting, The Warriors have the season series 3-1.

[LarryDavid]

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8)

Why it's must see TV?:
4. Kobe Bryant currently enjoys a 4 to 2 playoff series head-to-head edge over Tim Duncan's Spurs. One more chapter in this story would obviously carry great weight to the Legacy of both of these players... except this would be the first time that Kobe would be forced to beat Duncan's/Popovich's Spurs without a) Phil Jackson or b) Derek Fisher.
5. D'Antoni still has a grudge against one Gregg Popovich. This time around Boris Diaw is on the bench with the good guys...
6. Hack-a-Dwight will likely rear its head. Shaq would then face a dilemma: publically attack the strategy, or have a chance to attack Dwight Howard?
7. Since Bruce Bowen's departure no Spurs' player has been able to fill the shoes of his defensive specialist role... Kawhi Leonard is growing leaps and bounds before our collective eyes... A match-up between Kobe and Kawhi would be very fun to watch indeed...



None of these reasons make for "Must-Watch" TV tbh. Seriously, D'Antoni vs Popovich as a reason to watch a playoff series?? And Hack-A-whoever is difficult to watch. ZZZZZZZ.....

Of those options, I'd go with Clippers VS Warriors just to watch the atmosphere of the GS home crowd. Plus the games have the potential to be very competitive.

[racm]

None of these reasons make for "Must-Watch" TV tbh. Seriously, D'Antoni vs Popovich as a reason to watch a playoff series?? And Hack-A-whoever is difficult to watch. ZZZZZZZ.....

Of those options, I'd go with Clippers VS Warriors just to watch the atmosphere of the GS home crowd. Plus the games have the potential to be very competitive.

If the Warriors take a game in LA they take the series. Simple as that.

[hater]

If Lakers make it to playoffs the hype around them will be almost impossible to digest. Not to mention Kobe would have to have maintained his after allstar break romp, which would make a Lakers/Heat Finals maybe too monumental to avoid for Stern and company. Plus let's face it, they make it to the playoffs and they will be definition of a team peaking at the right time.

again big IF but Lakers in the playoffs would throw a wrench in many a wester team's plans

[jhfenton]

Golden State has 16 of 22 at home to end the season, so I think they'll beat out Utah and the Lakers. Their recent troubles have been exaggerated by their road-heavy schedule.

I think Houston will be 6th or 7th.

I believe the Lakers will beat out Utah for the 8th spot. And I'd love to see the Spurs take on the Lakers. It makes me a bit nervous to be honest, but I can't rationally expect any trouble for the Spurs in a first-round series with any of those bottom four teams.

[sananspursfan21]

If Lakers make it to playoffs the hype around them will be almost impossible to digest. Not to mention Kobe would have to have maintained his after allstar break romp, which would make a Lakers/Heat Finals maybe too monumental to avoid for Stern and company. Plus let's face it, they make it to the playoffs and they will be definition of a team peaking at the right time.

again big IF but Lakers in the playoffs would throw a wrench in many a wester team's plans

yep, i really dont look for it, they've been up and down all season long, they're "downs" have just lasted longer. but they will be a big spoiler in the west. on paper, spurs could potentially sweep them but we all know stern's pets will steal a game or two if not win the whole series. our good ol commish will try anything to get them past our spurs

[racm]

Golden State has 16 of 22 at home to end the season, so I think they'll beat out Utah and the Lakers. Their recent troubles have been exaggerated by their road-heavy schedule.

I think Houston will be 6th or 7th.

I believe the Lakers will beat out Utah for the 8th spot. And I'd love to see the Spurs take on the Lakers. It makes me a bit nervous to be honest, but I can't rationally expect any trouble for the Spurs in a first-round series with any of those bottom four teams.

Houston also has the best point differential amongst all of these teams. GSW and Utah have negative point differentials whilst LAL has a barely above .500 point differential.

[jestersmash]

I had no idea Golden State was on a 4 game losing streak. In hindsight, I don't mind that loss to GS so much right now, if it means decreasing the probability that the Lakers make the playoffs (by increasing the probability that GSW holds on to one of those 6-8 spots).

I mean, playing L.A. in the first round would be fun. Watching Laker fans squirm as their 4 HOF-studded roster fails to make the playoffs is also fun.

[Tim_duncan21]

I would like to see SAS vs LAL in the first round.

[2centsworth]

Big 3 are in their final days. Nothing would be better than one last battle against our hated rival.

Ideal playoff run would be Lakers > Rockets > Thunder > Heat or NY

[KaiRMD1]

Would love to see SAS v. LAL in the first round. Last time we had D'Antoni in the first round, we embarrassed them then and we'll do it again. Perhaps a Tiago three to send it to overtime? (Yeah, I know.......shut up)

[Libri]

I'm going with Spurs vs Lakers.

[Man In Black]

Fuck that...I think it's more climactic if the Spurs finish them off in the last week of the season. I think that if the LAL needs to play those games as in-season playoffs and then they need that W against the Spurs but don't get....That would be fucking hilarious. That way, none of that conspiracy shit takes place.

If the LAL wants the playoffs, then they better be more cohesive. Lost in the fact that the LAL beat ATL in that last game, was the fact that Bean had to play hero ball to do it, except this time, Hero ball almost did not work against the Hawks.

For the OKC game, let's see who plays more Hero...Bean or Westbrook. Either guy could just as easily shoot his team out of a win as much as he can shoot to give them one.

[spurraider21]

Would be great if Pop rests the big 3 in that last reg season game we have against the Lakers... and our subs beat them to knock them out of the playoff picture :lol

[HarlemHeat37]

Lakers are a lock to make the playoffs, tbh..

They have played well lately, granted it has been against weak competition, but still better than earlier in the season..their schedule is relatively easy, I wouldn't be surprised if they finished as high as 6th..

IMO, it will end up:

6- Houston
7- LA
8- Golden State

I'd be absolutely shocked if Utah makes the playoffs..

[ace3g]

Well right now it is:

Spurs vs Jazz
Thunder vs Rockets
Clippers vs Warriors
Grizz vs Nuggets

[timtonymanu]

Well right now it is:

Spurs vs Jazz
Thunder vs Rockets
Clippers vs Warriors
Grizz vs Nuggets

That is one interesting set of matchups right now, especially Thunder vs Rockets just because of the Harden trade.

[ace3g]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffmatchups

good link to keep active for this thread

[racm]

Would be great if Pop rests the big 3 in that last reg season game we have against the Lakers... and our subs beat them to knock them out of the playoff picture :lol

Mills poured 27 on Nash's no D face in his last game with Phoenix. The Suns were already out of playoff contention after losing at home to Utah but still. :lol

[look_at_g_shred]

I really hope we get Utah in the first round again.

[stnick2261]

How often do you get to root for your rival to miss the playoffs, knowing that they traded away their 1st rd draft pick (no lottery protection)? As much as I'd like to see us beat them in the playoffs, I'd be laughing so much harder at their failed trade

[jhfenton]

How often do you get to root for your rival to miss the playoffs, knowing that they traded away their 1st rd draft pick (no lottery protection)? As much as I'd like to see us beat them in the playoffs, I'd be laughing so much harder at their failed trade

That is a very good point. I do find myself pulling for the Lakers to miss the playoffs. Not because I fear the Spurs playing the Lakers, but because I want to laugh at the Lakers missing the playoffs and a lottery pick.

[emanueldavidginobili]

The Western Conference playoffs is going to be BONKERS! Cant say the same about the Eastern Conference though..

[Captivus]

If I had to choose a team to face the Spurs I'll probably pick Utah.
I would say any Lakers game is a must watch for me.

[Leetonidas]

Bring on the Lakeshow, I've been waiting for 5 years for the Spurs to return the assromping

[Kidd K]

Every first round matchup is going to be interesting unless Utah is involved.

I think every lower seeded team can really make all of the top 3 teams work for the series win. Houston and Golden State are good offensive teams who can steal a game or two from either SA or OKC imo. If there's any significant injury for either of the top two teams, I could see a disappointing first round knockout possibility. Probably less chance of that for the Thunder due to officiating assisting them. Then of course Dever/Memphis can go either way.

Though if you're only picking one, Lakers vs anyone will be the "must-watch series". Lakers vs Spurs. Lakers vs Thunder. Lakers vs Clippers. All of them have good storylines and have a lot of star power. Most of the western conference matchups throughout the playoffs will be worth watching imo.

Eastern conference. . .I honestly can't think of any series that'll be worth watching until the ECF unless Rose comes back to make things interesting. Every eastern conference team below the Heat would struggle against the 8th seed in the west imo.

[Phenomanul]

Every first round matchup is going to be interesting unless Utah is involved.I think every lower seeded team can really make all of the top 3 teams work for the series win. Houston and Golden State are good offensive teams who can steal a game or two from either SA or OKC imo. If there's any significant injury for either of the top two teams, I could see a disappointing first round knockout possibility. Probably less chance of that for the Thunder due to officiating assisting them. Then of course Dever/Memphis can go either way.

Though if you're only picking one, Lakers vs anyone will be the "must-watch series". Lakers vs Spurs. Lakers vs Thunder. Lakers vs Clippers. All of them have good storylines and have a lot of star power. Most of the western conference matchups throughout the playoffs will be worth watching imo.

Eastern conference. . .I honestly can't think of any series that'll be worth watching until the ECF unless Rose comes back to make things interesting. Every eastern conference team below the Heat would struggle against the 8th seed in the west imo.

^^^This...

[ajballer4]

I'd actually much prefer facing the clippers round 2 instead of Memphis. Hopefully Memphis can pass them up

[ace3g]

Playoff Bracket

http://espn.go.com/nba/bracket/_/year/2013

[timtonymanu]

Almost very similar to last year. Spurs/UTA, LAC/MEM, Denver vs a California team, Thunder vs a Texas team.

I still think the Lakers sneak in, but Utah would be a great matchup in our favor.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

I so want to see the Spurs sweep the Lakers in the first round. Preferably by a margin of victory of 30+ points each game.