It looked like the Warriors were going to cruise to the second round early in the 4th quarter. While sloppy play almost got the Nuggets back in the game, the Warriors held on. In 2007, the Warriors had one of the biggest upsets in history as an 8th seed beat a Dallas Mavericks 1 seed that won 67 games and got to the NBA Finals the year before. While the Denver Nuggets were not close to being as good as the Nuggets, it seemed like a similar series in that the Warriors were a lower seed facing significantly higher seed but completely dominated the series. More impressively, they did it without their All-Star power forward David Lee. While the Warriors are young and not ready to beat a team like the San Antonio Spurs in the second round, they have a great future versus their 2007 team that upset the Mavericks and then did not do much the following seasons.
For the Denver Nuggets, it is another first round loss after a great regular season. It highlights the need for a superstar or go to scorer in the playoffs who can take over games. Then again, they had one in Carmelo Anthony for years and only got past the first round during only one of his seasons in Denver.
New York Knicks and Boston Celtics – I picked the Knicks in 6. Obviously, I did not think they were going to jump out to a 3-0 lead and then lose 2 games. While New Yorkers are having flashbacks to 2004 when the Red Sox came back 3-0, this series is very different. The Yankees and Red Sox were even teams. Moreover, the Red Sox had their starting pitching lined up (with 2 Hall of Famers still at the top of their game) after falling down in the series and had one of the best lineups with Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz in the middle of the lineup in their primes. The Celtics are past their prime and lost their best player in Rajon Rondo during the regular season. The Knicks rely heavily on 3 pointers. They did not hit their 3s in Game 5 and are now forced to go back to Boston to try to close it out in Game 6. I expect them to close it out cause they are simply a much better team. Obviously, if the Celtics are able to win Game 6, the Knicks will have the weight of the world and anxious fans on their shoulders.
Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks – The home team has won big in each game of the series. It is a long series but still a boring one. The Hawks may win at home to keep the trend going but I completely expect the Pacers to win this series. Even if there is a Game 7, the outcome of that game and the series will not be in doubt.
Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets – The injury to Russell Westbrook was obviously devastating and will probably be the reason they lose in the second round. However, they were up 3-0 in this series and still have Kevin Durant. I have to believe that the Thunder will find a way to win the series. However, I do not like that they resorted to hacking Omer Asik in Game 5. The Thunder are clearly the better team and it looks desperate that they resorted to the tactic. The Thunder will have to win the series in Game 6. They may not be able to handle the pressure of blowing a 3-0 lead and play tight in a Game 7.
Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies – I picked the Clippers in 6 because I thought the teams were close and Chris Paul would be the difference as a superstar in tight games. However, the injury to Blake Griffin in practice will cost the Clippers the series. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol will be too much for the Clippers now that Griffin is hurt and either out or compromised. I expect Chris Paul to play his heart out but Mike Conley has stepped up the last two games to challenge Paul.
Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls – I never thought the series was over when the Bulls were up 3-1. The Bulls simply do not have someone they can count on to go to at the end of the game. Nate Robinson stepped up in Game 4 but it will be tough for him to replicate it in Game 7. The Nets have three players (Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez) who can take over the game offensively late. As a Chicago Bulls fan, I am proud that they got this far without Derrick Rose. However, this season will come to an end on Saturday in Game 7.