The big difference, of course, is that I've been following basketball since I was a kid, so I know a bit more about the game. At least, I'm not a total amateur who just started following basketball in 2013.
First up, Brooklyn vs. Toronto.
An interesting 3-6 matchup here since Toronto came on strong after the All-Star Break and put up 48 wins. Brooklyn wasn't too shabby in 2014 either, though they tanked a couple of games to move down to the 6-seed.
In a way, the results of this one hearkened back to the middle of last decade. We had Deron Williams and Joe Johnson putting up huge numbers and winning a playoff game.
Despite the setback, however, I figure that Toronto has a better effort waiting for the next game. I still think they'll take the series, too. They're just flat-out better, and now Kyle Lowry has the national stage to show off his immense talent. The Rockets made a mistake in letting him go for nothing.
Next, Golden State vs. LA Clippers.
Something that should be known up front: I look at this matchup as the battle of the overrated so-called contenders. Both teams were propped up by the media as recently as the offseason, with the foolish thinking that either one was somehow ready to "win it all". I find this notion to be ...well, damn foolish. Championships aren't won on paper and just because the Clippers traded coaches doesn't mean that they're somehow better than the team that's gotten knocked out early the last couple years.
And what do you know, even Golden State has their number.
Okay, so it's just the first game. And this one seemed to hinge on a Chris Paul turnover, so you know full well something like that won't happen a second time. But with Curry and Thompson shooting it up (I still don't see a person or people on the Clippers that can defend either one, much less both) and Iguodala for backup and defensive assistance, I'm not sure how Golden State loses this series, other than something crazy happening to Mark Jackson right in the middle of it.
What might happen to Mark Jackson? Let's be clear, nothing ought to happen to him; much as I disliked him in the booth, the man can coach and is having success with the F-ing Warriors. This team was not successful before his arrival and it damn sure didn't do so consistently.
Next up, Atlanta vs. Indiana.
Is it possible the #1 team in the East got more than they bargained for?
Um, yeah. Obviously.
Much like every other observer, I have no clue what the Pacers' problem is. Could be coaching, could be the players...hell, it could be Bird's meddling that saw Danny Granger leave and Andrew Bynum/Evan Turner come in.
Honestly, it's difficult to know what the problem is because none of us have the full story. I think something is going to come out in the offseason once the Pacers have inevitably crashed and burned. Maybe heads will roll, who knows.
There's no way that Indiana should have lost this game. But given how they've played over the last couple months, it's not exactly a surprise.
Finally, Memphis vs. Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are great. And Memphis aren't.
Of course, it's not really that simple. This game was in OKC, where the Thunder have a significant advantage. Surely, Memphis will play better in Game 2, and they ought to be much better in their home games.
They don't call that place the "Grindhouse" for nothing, after all.
But in Game 1, Memphis got fairly well beat. I tend to think that Durant and Ibaka are the mainstays on the team, given Westbrook's demeanor and penchant for hogging the ball. But even Westbrook looked determined to punch Memphis in the mouth first and ask questions later.
Sunday, the rest of the series open up, with games in Miami, San Antonio, Chicago, and Houston. I'll be back early Monday morning to cover it all.
In a way, the results of this one hearkened back to the middle of last decade. We had Deron Williams and Joe Johnson putting up huge numbers and winning a playoff game.
Despite the setback, however, I figure that Toronto has a better effort waiting for the next game. I still think they'll take the series, too. They're just flat-out better, and now Kyle Lowry has the national stage to show off his immense talent. The Rockets made a mistake in letting him go for nothing.
Next, Golden State vs. LA Clippers.
Something that should be known up front: I look at this matchup as the battle of the overrated so-called contenders. Both teams were propped up by the media as recently as the offseason, with the foolish thinking that either one was somehow ready to "win it all". I find this notion to be ...well, damn foolish. Championships aren't won on paper and just because the Clippers traded coaches doesn't mean that they're somehow better than the team that's gotten knocked out early the last couple years.
And what do you know, even Golden State has their number.
Okay, so it's just the first game. And this one seemed to hinge on a Chris Paul turnover, so you know full well something like that won't happen a second time. But with Curry and Thompson shooting it up (I still don't see a person or people on the Clippers that can defend either one, much less both) and Iguodala for backup and defensive assistance, I'm not sure how Golden State loses this series, other than something crazy happening to Mark Jackson right in the middle of it.
What might happen to Mark Jackson? Let's be clear, nothing ought to happen to him; much as I disliked him in the booth, the man can coach and is having success with the F-ing Warriors. This team was not successful before his arrival and it damn sure didn't do so consistently.
Next up, Atlanta vs. Indiana.
Is it possible the #1 team in the East got more than they bargained for?
Um, yeah. Obviously.
Much like every other observer, I have no clue what the Pacers' problem is. Could be coaching, could be the players...hell, it could be Bird's meddling that saw Danny Granger leave and Andrew Bynum/Evan Turner come in.
Honestly, it's difficult to know what the problem is because none of us have the full story. I think something is going to come out in the offseason once the Pacers have inevitably crashed and burned. Maybe heads will roll, who knows.
There's no way that Indiana should have lost this game. But given how they've played over the last couple months, it's not exactly a surprise.
Finally, Memphis vs. Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are great. And Memphis aren't.
Of course, it's not really that simple. This game was in OKC, where the Thunder have a significant advantage. Surely, Memphis will play better in Game 2, and they ought to be much better in their home games.
They don't call that place the "Grindhouse" for nothing, after all.
But in Game 1, Memphis got fairly well beat. I tend to think that Durant and Ibaka are the mainstays on the team, given Westbrook's demeanor and penchant for hogging the ball. But even Westbrook looked determined to punch Memphis in the mouth first and ask questions later.
Sunday, the rest of the series open up, with games in Miami, San Antonio, Chicago, and Houston. I'll be back early Monday morning to cover it all.
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