The time that players and fans alike salivate for all year is finally here. After 80-plus games, and plenty of high jinks and untold drama, the league is gearing up for the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Given the stakes and intensity involved, it often feels like a whole different season rears up its head come playoff time. A season 2.0, if you will.
To help you navigate through the first-round scenarios, Sports Jerks will be breaking down all of the matchups for you―offering lineups, schedules, and predictions.
Western Conference:
Houston Rockets (8) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
Schedule:
Game 1 – Sun April 21, Houston at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 – Wed April 24, Houston at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Sat April 27, Oklahoma City at Houston, 9:30 p.m., ESPN/R
Game 4 – Mon April 29, Oklahoma City at Houston, TBD, TBD
Game 5 – Wed May 1, Houston at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6 – Fri May 3, Oklahoma City at Houston, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7 – Sun May 5, Houston at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
It could have been a different story for the Rockets if they had just played better basketball down the stretch. Instead of having a good shot at tiring out an aging Spurs team, they’ll have to face off against a team that has averaged monster numbers against them. Just for starters, OKC posted 121 points a game against Houston this campaign. Video game numbers that will be hard to surmount.
It goes unsaid that for Houston, Harden will be the key to victory. But perhaps Jeremy Lin has more riding on his shoulders. Though The Beard made 46 points in Houston’s victory against the Thunder this season, Lin was equally good, posting 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. In the two losses, Lin was horrendous, posting a total of 13 points. Neither numbers will stand a chance against a bloodthirsty OKC squad.
Though the Thunder still have major offensive issues to sort out (notably Westbrook’s obsession with shooting more than Kevin Durant, Kevin Martin, and Serge Ibaka despite being way more inefficient), they’re good enough to take on any team regardless. Those offensive issues would ideally start to fade as they approach a Finals rematch with the Heat. But even if they don’t, they have too many weapons and a very good defensive mindset to fall to Houston’s barrage.
If Harden wasn’t so good at getting to the line and so offensively potent this might be a sweep. Instead, it’ll just be an old fashioned butt kicking.
Outcome:
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 Houston Rockets
