# NBA Playoffs 2014
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [April 26, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016 "2014-04-26T02:51:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/1 "2014-04-26T02:51:29Z")
We’re pretty deep into the 1st round already.
As of right now:
**EAST**
Atlanta 2 - Indiana 1
Miami 2 - Charlotte 0
Brooklyn 2 - Toronto 1
Washington 2 - Chicago 1
**WEST**
Dallas 1 - San Antonio 1
Memphis 2 - Oklahoma City 1
Clippers 2 - Golden State 1
Portland 2 - Houston 0
WAS-CHI just ended, POR-HOU just started.
Bulls needed that one; teams down 0-3 are 0-108 in the series all time. So far the road team has won all 3 games in this series. Getting Nene ejected killed the Wizards. Trevor Booker is just not a sufficient substitute for Nene. Having him out the next game does not bode well for Washington either. Even if he’s not scoring, just having his big body in there to bang around with Noah is an advantage for the Wizards.
---
### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/2 "2014-04-26T02:53:42Z")
I kinda dislike “having” a team in the playoffs. It’s much less stressful when your team is effectively eliminated from the playoffs before the All-Star break. 😉
---
### Author:  [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/3 "2014-04-26T02:58:54Z")
My Pacers need to get their act together.
---
### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/4 "2014-04-26T03:03:00Z")
Nice to see the Bulls won’t get swept.
---
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/5 "2014-04-26T10:50:03Z")
The East is pretty bad overall, but still it’s fun to see some teams we haven’t seen in a while doing well. The Wizards going Twin Towers (Gortat and Nene) was really working for them (and Ariza contributing a lot); having Nene gone for a game after he stupidly grabbed the other dude’s head will now make that a very competitive series.
Even Charlotte has been giving mighty Miami a run for their money. A few points here and there, Charlotte could have been up 2-0 by now!
A few months ago, it sure looked like a fun OKC-Indiana finals was a possibility. Now, Indiana has had an epic month-long meltdown, and OKC looks somewhat vulnerable as well.
I think the best first-round series – it has a built-in potential rivalry, and lots of eager young talent – is Clippers-Warriors. (Memphis-OKC is a close second). Blake Griffin is starting to show that he can be more than just a monster dunkfest.
Nice to see Brooklyn settling into being a good-but-not-great team – maybe Jason Kidd has the makings of a decent coach after all. Paul Pierce still has some quality minutes in him – impressive.
---
### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/6 "2014-04-26T13:13:53Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#):
>
> The East is pretty bad overall, but still it’s fun to see some teams we haven’t seen in a while doing well. The Wizards going Twin Towers (Gortat and Nene) was really working for them (and Ariza contributing a lot); having Nene gone for a game after he stupidly grabbed the other dude’s head will now make that a very competitive series.
I’m still pretty confident Washington takes the series. Even with Nene out, where are the points coming from for the Bulls? Mike Dunleavy’s not going to put up 30+ a game. Take him away and that game is not even close.
---
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/7 "2014-04-26T13:29:25Z")
> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> I’m still pretty confident Washington takes the series. Even with Nene out, where are the points coming from for the Bulls? Mike Dunleavy’s not going to put up 30+ a game. Take him away and that game is not even close.
Agreed.
Moving west…let’s not count San Antonio out. They are crafty, and know how to expend their energy wisely. As a recent _Slam_ article points out, Tony Parker is one of the most underrated point guards in recent memory.
---
### Author:  [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/8 "2014-04-26T16:02:37Z")
Don’t expect much. Pretty sure golf is more popular on this board than the NBA.
Troy Daniels who?
For all around competitiveness this is probably the best first round I’ve seen in my life. How many OTs have there been? I’m enjoying the Harden-Lin-Dwight and Durant-Westbrook mini-chemistry meltdowns. Also all the big men stepping up. Always a fan of big men working the post and mid-range.
As for the Pacers, well…damn. I didn’t think they’d have a realistic shot at beating the Heat, but I thought they’d at least get to the ECF. Haven’t seen a team this good collapse this hard before. At least, not without an injury. Hibbert always had confidence issues, hot/cold stretches, and I know he was seeing a sports psychologist a couple years back, but **good lord**! He’s a bonafide scrub now. Did he get that threatened by Bynum? Did the pressure and expectations get to him?
I know Paul George let the hype go to his head. Dude turned into a preening primma donna chucking up Kobe shots. And Lance is always a bit of a bonehead but at least he always tries hard. And their point guard situation is dubious at best but that was the case all year. We seriously gonna lose to a Horford-less Atlanta? smh.
---
### Author:  [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/9 "2014-04-26T17:26:31Z")
> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> I’m still pretty confident Washington takes the series. Even with Nene out, where are the points coming from for the Bulls? Mike Dunleavy’s not going to put up 30+ a game. Take him away and that game is not even close.
Have they said Nene’s been suspended for game 4? I haven’t seen anything. And he really shouldn’t be, the ejection was enough.
This has been a great 1st round so far. With all the road team wins, it’s almost been like the NHL playoffs.
Am I crazy for liking Portland to make the Finals (assuming Lillard maintains his stellar play)?
---
### Author:  [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/10 "2014-04-26T17:28:46Z")
> [@marshmallow](#):
>
> As for the Pacers, well…damn. I didn’t think they’d have a realistic shot at beating the Heat, but I thought they’d at least get to the ECF. Haven’t seen a team this good collapse this hard before. At least, not without an injury. Hibbert always had confidence issues, hot/cold stretches, and I know he was seeing a sports psychologist a couple years back, but **good lord**! He’s a bonafide scrub now. Did he get that threatened by Bynum? Did the pressure and expectations get to him?
>
> I know Paul George let the hype go to his head. Dude turned into a preening primma donna chucking up Kobe shots. And Lance is always a bit of a bonehead but at least he always tries hard. And their point guard situation is dubious at best but that was the case all year. We seriously gonna lose to a Horford-less Atlanta? smh.
For a 1 seed, I can’t believe how inept they look offensively. Nobody on the floor looks like they know what they’re doing.
---
### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/11 "2014-04-26T17:33:00Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#):
>
> Have they said Nene’s been suspended for game 4? I haven’t seen anything. And he really shouldn’t be, the ejection was enough.
Not that I’ve seen yet, but the possibility exists and could drastically effect the game.
As far as I’m concerned the West is wide open. Portland has as good a chance as anyone right now.
---
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/12 "2014-04-26T23:17:46Z")
Vinsanity!
(Vince Carter just made a 3-point buzzer beater to propel Dallas past San Antonio).
---
### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/13 "2014-04-27T01:36:55Z")
It’s official, Nene is suspended.
The problem was Nene instigated the entire thing. The head but wasn’t too bad but he crossed the line when he grabbed Butler by the back of the head and tried to push him to the ground.
Worth a suspension? Maybe, maybe not, but the refs can’t afford to lose control of the game and if you pull that kind of nonsense you’re gonna get bit.
---
### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2014, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/14 "2014-04-27T12:04:00Z")
_Another_ close, exciting game in this first round! (OKC beat Memphis in OT). The subsequent rounds are sure to be a letdown after all this fun.
---
### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/15 "2014-04-27T16:17:59Z")
Is there a free, legal way to stream radio coverage of the playoffs to my iPhone? I work until 8 PM Central time Mon-Thurs and often have to leave work right in the middle of a good game!
---
### Author:  [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/16 "2014-04-27T17:46:10Z")
Last year Nate Robinson had one of the best playoffs of any player ever, at points he carried the Bulls entire offensive load by himself. He took over quarters and looked like prime Iverson out there. And the Bulls let him go, because apparently you only need one player who can score per team.
---
### Author:  [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/17 "2014-04-27T18:21:57Z")
The Bulls’ starters have made 7 field goals total in the first half.
---
### Author:  [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/18 "2014-04-27T19:19:45Z")
> [@DigitalC](#):
>
> Last year Nate Robinson had one of the best playoffs of any player ever, at points he carried the Bulls entire offensive load by himself.
He had a very memorable stretch; right there with you on that. And the numbers don’t tell the full story.
But let’s not go bonkers here. He averaged 16 points on 44% shooting. Pretty much half an Iverson.
---
### Author:  [@Cali2K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cali2K)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/19 "2014-04-27T20:48:25Z")
Golden State Warrior looks like they have this game in the bag. Steph Curry is super spicy this game.
---
### Author:  [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016/20 "2014-04-27T20:54:17Z")
Didn’t really expect the Clippers to win with all that’s going on with them, i did like their protest though.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-2014/687016.md?page=2)