2014 NBA PLAYOFFS

Round 1

EAST
INDIANA PACERS vs ATLANTA HAWKS:  The top seeded Pacers limp into the playoffs having finished the last 2 months of the season with a record below .500.  The only saving grace is that the Hawks may be the only team in the playoffs to struggle more down the stretch.      PREDICTION: PACERS IN SIX. 

MIAMI HEAT vs CHARLOTTE BOBCATS: The two time defending champs are health and in great shape to become the first team since the 1998 Chicago Bulls to three-peat.  LeBron and the Heat have the experience and know how to close out teams quickly to keep themselves fresh going forward.  The future of the Charlotte Hornets is looking good though.  PREDICTION: HEAT IN FOUR.

TORONTO RAPTORS vs BROOKLYN NETS: The Nets put this team together to compete with the Miami Heat come playoff time.  With the playoffs here, we'll find out if the acquisitions of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were worth it.  While the Raptors have been a feel good story all season, this is Pierce's time of the year.  PREDICTION: NETS IN FIVE.

CHICAGO BULLS vs WASHINGTON WIZARDS: The Wizards match up very well against the Bulls here.  Having Nene and Gortat inside should neutralize the advantage Chicago has in most match ups in the paint and the Wizards have a sizable advantage in the backcourt with John Wall and Brandon Beal.  PREDICTION: WIZARDS IN SIX.

WEST
SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs DALLAS MAVERICKS: Coach Popovich and the Spurs find themselves in a position they've grown accustomed to as the top seed in the Western Conference and facing a familiar foe in Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks.  Luckily for the Spurs, Dirk doesn't have same fire power along side of him as in previous years.  PREDICTION: SPURS IN FIVE.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: Kevin Durant took his game to the next level this season and will likely win his first MVP Award as a result.  Anything short of a trip to the finals has to be viewed as a failure for this team.  PREDICTION: THUNDER IN FIVE.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS vs GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS:  PREDICTION: CLIPPERS IN SEVEN. (We're all going to hear way too much about this series so I'll refrain from bombarding you with more here.)

HOUSTON ROCKETS vs PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: While the Clippers-Warriors series will get the most attention, this will be the best series in the opening round.  PREDICTION: ROCKETS IN SEVEN.

Round 2

EAST
INDIANA PACERS vs WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Indiana's late season struggles will finally catch up to them here and John Wall will be the break out star of this years playoffs.  PREDICTION: WIZARDS IN SIX.

MIAMI HEAT vs BROOKLYN NETS:  One final battle between LeBron and Pierce.  I only wish the Nets didn't tank down the stretch and finish with the sixth seed so that this could have been the Eastern Conference Final.  PREDITION: HEAT IN SEVEN.

WEST
SAN ANTONIO SPURS vs HOUSTON ROCKETS:  Houston swept the regular season match ups 4-0.  With that being said, there's no better coach in all of professional sports at adjusting for match ups than coach Popovich.  I'm conflicted.   PREDICTION: HOUSTON IN SIX.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS:  At some point the Clipper's poor free throw shooting is going to catch up to them in the playoff.  PREDICTION: THUNDER IN SIX.

Conference Finals

EAST
MIAMI HEAT vs WASHINTON WIZARDS: Welcome to the grand stage of the Eastern Conference Finals Wizards.  Have you met the 2 time defending champs?  Awestruck are we?  PREDICTION HEAT IN FIVE.

WEST
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER vs HOUSTON ROCKETS: We'll have an entire series worth of "What if OKC didn't trade Harden away?". They won't regret it in this round.  But in the finals? Well that's a different story.  PREDICTION: THUNDER IN SIX.

NBA Finals

MIAMI HEAT vs OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: The Heat came awfully close to losing in the finals last year and somehow still pulled it out.  I expect seven games that come down to the final few minutes of play.  PREDICTION: HEAT IN SEVEN.