NBA Playoff Notes

With just over 2 minutes left and the Los Angeles Lakers leading by 7 points in game 2 of their series vs the Oklahoma City Thunder it looked as if my prediction that the Lakers would win at least one of the first two games would be correct. However, the Thunder scored the game’s final 9 points “storming” to victory. The defeat for the Lakers was far worse than the pun in the last sentence, but I still ask your pardon.

Likely, the Western Conference finals will match the Thunder with the San Antonio Spurs, who like the Thunder are (6-0) thus far in the playoffs. The Spurs have not been tested while the Thunder have won three close games. No prediction yet, but if and when they meet it shapes up as quite a series. The winner may be favored in the NBA Finals even against the Miami Heat. They would certainly be big favorites, barring injury, vs any other Eastern Conference team.

Meanwhile like most everyone else I more or less conceded the NBA East to the Heat when the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose got hurt (see “Hot Los Angeles teams” May 1, 2012). However, the Heat suffered an injury of their own, losing Chris Bosh and right now the Indiana Pacers, whose Larry Bird was named NBA executive of the year, lead the Heat 2 games to 1 in their quarterfinal series.

The Celtics currently lead the 76ers 2 games to 1 in their quarterfinal series and wouldn’t it be something if Bird’s Pacers play the Celtics, a team Larry played with during his entire great playing career, in the semi-finals. There is still a long way to go but I would be very surprised if the Spurs, Thunder or Celtics did not win their current series.

Finally the LA schedule I have talked about manifested in back to back home games for both the Lakers and Clippers. The amazing NHL Los Angeles Kings play Sunday afternoon looking for their second straight series sweep. They may be favored in the Stanley Cup Finals despite being an 8th seed, the lowest seed, in the NHL West. Sunday night, the Los Angeles Clippers play the Spurs. Tonight it is Thunder/Lakers, tomorrow Spurs/Clippers in the day with Thunder/Lakers at night. All the games are at The Staples Center.