The playoff seeding is still by no means set but it is shaping up to be a doozy of a first round in the Western Conference. Here are the first round match ups (If the playoffs started today)... Lakers vs San Antonio - I know the Lakers are currently out of the playoffs but they're tied with Utah and have an easy schedule the rest of the way so they should be in it despite being terrible. This is a match up of old rivals with a lot of history. They both play each other hard and Kobe always takes it up a notch when he plays the Spurs. Houston vs OKC - Of course we will all be ecstatic for this one. Rockets finally make the playoffs and get to face off against Harden's old team. Their's the usually intensity that comes with playing in the playoffs and then their is the added intensity of playing against your former team. OKC is more than likely winning this series but Harden will make sure it doesn't come easy. GSW vs Denver - This one should be exciting to watch. Two teams that score and move the ball really well. I can see Curry going off and scoring 30, 40 points a game but I can also see Faried beating the ***** out of David Lee and then going out of his way to push Curry into the 4th row. I hope all of that happens. Clippers vs Memphis - This one will be pretty epic. Both teams despise each other and somehow are always meeting in the playoffs. I don't know what the line is but I would take the over on whatever number of technicals are called in this series. What match up are you looking forward to (Other than Houston vs OKC)?
I don't think there is a team in the top 4 that wouldn't destroy the Rockets. OKC would at least make things more interesting.
Not to be overly pessimistic... But if we face OKC in the first round this year, I see a sweep coming... No way the Thunder are going to let Harden even have a chance at showing them up. They'll be extra fired up.
Lakers easy schedule? vs Mavs, vs Grizzlies, @ Clippers, vs Hornets, @ Blazers, vs Warriors, vs Spurs, vs Rockets Jazz don't have it too much easier either but... vs Blazers, vs Nuggets, vs Hornets, @ Warriors, vs Thunder, vs Timberwolves, @ Timberwolves, @ Grizzlies
I rather we take the 8th spot against Spurs than 7th against OKC, but I agree a series of Den vs. GS & Mem vs. Lac will be great.
That's why the Eastern Conference will have the advantage because everybody out West is going to be battling at a high altitude level while in the East, the competition is weak as ****. By the time the East makes it to the Finals, they have all the energy and stamina on their side while the West will be tired as ****.
Some people argue though that the western team will be battle tested while the Miami Heat will have cruised through the playoff without much worry.
If you read this thread: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=236208 The posters in there would make you think the Nuggets are an easy out in the first round.
Honestly, the east is a joke but I don't think the Heat's road to the Finals will be easy. They have a target on their back and everyone's going to go hard at them, especially the Bulls and Celtics.
If Harden and Lin can go beardsanity for the entire series and not just one or two games, we're gonna have a good chance of beating OKC.
