NBA Playoff Schedule 2013: Day 4 Viewing Guide and Predictions for Top Seeds
The 2013 NBA Playoffs are officially in full swing, with every Game 1 and two separate Game 2 contests in the history books. In that time, we've seen all but one team hold down their home court and solidify their status as the favorites in their respective matchups.
The question is, which series will end in as brief a fashion as the opening days of action might suggest?
Thus far, the Western Conference's playoff structure has come together according to plan. The Oklahoma City Thunder lead the Houston Rockets 1-0, the San Antonio Spurs are up on the Los Angeles Lakers by the same mark and the Denver Nuggets took down the Golden State Warriors in Game 1.
The Los Angeles Clippers now own a 2-0 series lead over the Memphis Grizzlies after Chris Paul sank a game-winner with 0.1 seconds remaining.
As for the Eastern Conference, the defending champion Miami Heat took care of business against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1. Joining them with 1-0 leads are the New York Knicks over the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers over the Atlanta Hawks.
The Brooklyn Nets took a 1-0 series lead, but the Chicago Bulls stole one on the road to tie it up at 1-1.
With this in mind, every series remains on pace to end in five games or less. The question is, which series will actually pan out in such a dominant fashion?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, that answer isn't as widespread as it seems.
Miami Heat over Milwaukee Bucks (1-0, Miami)
The Miami Heat took Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks in as impressive a fashion as you could possibly ask for. Behind 27 points from LeBron James and 20 from Ray Allen, the Heat held down their home court by a score of 110-87.
That comes after Milwaukee trailed by just seven points entering the second half.
Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis combined for 48 points during Game 1, combining to shoot 18-of-39 from the field. Despite their best efforts, which included Ellis outperforming All-Star shooting guard Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee fell short.
Very short.
Even as the Bucks prepare to host Games 3 and 4, there is no denying how much of an uphill battle this will be. Even if they are to take one from Miami, the Heat have proven to be more than capable of winning on the road.
4-1 would be a successful series for the young and rising Bucks.
Oklahoma City Thunder over Houston Rockets (1-0, OKC)
There are few series with quite as much hype as this clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. A major reason for the excitement is the return of James Harden to Oklahoma City, where he played for three seasons before being traded.
During Game 1, the competitiveness of the series was at a minimum.
The Thunder took the opening game of the series with a 120-91 victory at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 24 points, while Russell Westbrook tallied 19 points and 10 assists.
Harden led the Rockets with 20 points, but did so while shooting just 6-of-19 from the field.
It's hard to imagine Harden struggling so mightily throughout the duration of the series, as he averaged 25.9 points per game during the 2012-13 NBA regular season. With that being said, the rest of the Rockets have one factor going against them.
Inexperience.
Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons and Donatas Motiejunas are all starters that have never played in the NBA Playoffs. Omer Asik has postseason experience, but is limited in terms of his offensive capabilities.
Although Harden and Carlos Delfino are experienced players with offensive capabilities, the Rockets are in an uphill battle against the class of the Western Conference—the sign of a four-to-five game series.
2013 NBA Playoff Schedule for Round 1 (courtesy of NBA.com)
| Tuesday, April 23 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat (Game 2) | 7:30 p.m. | NBATV |
| Boston Celtics at New York Knicks (Game 2) | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 2) | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 24 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Houston Rockets at OKC Thunder (Game 2) | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers (Game 2) | 7:30 p.m. | NBATV |
| L.A. Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (Game 2) | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Thursday, April 25 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (Game 3) | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls (Game 3) | 8:30 p.m. | NBATV |
| L.A. Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (Game 3) | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Friday, April 26 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Game 3) | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| San Antonio Spurs at L.A. Lakers (Game 3) | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (Game 3) | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, April 27 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls (Game 4) | 2 p.m. | TNT |
| L.A. Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (Game 4) | 4:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (Game 3) | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| OKC Thunder at Houston Rockets (Game 3) | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sunday, April 28 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Game 4) | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (Game 4) | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers (Game 4) | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (Game 4) | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Monday, April 29 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (Game 4) | TBD | TBD |
| Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets (Game 5)* | TBD | TBD |
| Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (Game 4) | TBD | TBD |
| Tuesday, April 30 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| L.A. Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (Game 5)* | TBD | TBD |
| Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets (Game 5)* | TBD | TBD |
| Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat (Game 5)* | TBD | TBD |
| Memphis Grizzlies at L.A. Clippers (Game 5)* | TBD | TBD |
| Wednesday, May 1 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Houston Rockets at OKC Thunder (Game 5)* | TBD | TBD |
| Boston Celtics at New York Knicks (Game 5)* | TBD | TBD |
| Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers (Game 5)* | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, May 2 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| San Antonio Spurs at L.A. Lakers (Game 6)* | TBD | TBD |
| Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (Game 6)* | TBD | TBD |
| Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (Game 6)* | TBD | TBD |
| Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls (Game 6)* | TBD | TBD |
| Friday, May 3 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| OKC Thunder at Houston Rockets (Game 6)* | TBD | TBD |
| New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (Game 6)* | TBD | TBD |
| L.A. Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies (Game 6)* | TBD | TBD |
| Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (Game 6)* | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, May 4 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets (Game 7)* | TBD | TBD |
| L.A. Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (Game 7)* | TBD | TBD |
| Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat (Game 7)* | TBD | TBD |
| Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets (Game 7)* | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, May 5 | ||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | Channel |
| Houston Rockets at OKC Thunder (Game 7)* | TBD | TBD |
| Boston Celtics at New York Knicks (Game 7)* | TBD | TBD |
| Memphis Grizzlies at L.A. Clippers (Game 7)* | TBD | TBD |
| Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers (Game 7)* | TBD | TBD |
*if necessary.
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