2013 NBA Playoffs: My Conference Finals Preview

Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs

The Grizzlies locked in on Kevin Durant and knocked out the Russell Westbrook-less Thunder, while the Spurs withstood and wore down Stephen Curry to edge the Warriors, setting up a rematch of a 2011 first round matchup, when the 8th seeded Grizzlies upset the top-seeded Spurs.

I think style of play will be very important in this series. The Spurs can win multiple different ways, but they will want to push the pace of the game and get transition points before the Grizzlies' outstanding half-court defense is set. If they get out early and run, and get role players like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Gary Neal involved early and often, it will make it much harder on Memphis, which thrives on slow-it-down, slugfests by pounding the ball inside to Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. 

Although Randolph/Duncan will be a fun match-up to watch inside, I think the Spurs will double team the post early and often and force the Grizzlies to hit perimeter shots to beat them. As a result, Tayshaun Prince, Tony Allen, Jerryd Bayless, and Quincy Pondexter will have to ready and able to knock down open shots for the Grizzlies to pull off the upset and advance to the Finals.

Most key matchup in this series will be at point guard position, with Mike Conley against Tony Parker. Conley has become a dynamic perimeter scorer, and he will have to defend well against the former Finals MVP in Parker, as well as put pressure on him by scoring himself. 

This series really could go either way, but I think this is Memphis' time (sorry San Antonio, yours is up), and I'm going to take the team that would give the Heat the most problem in a championship series, and hope for the best.
Grizzlies in 7









Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat
The Heat survived an early scare from Bulls, before overwhelming the depleted Bulls in 5. The Pacers, meanwhile, won a gritty series with the Knicks, winning Game 6 at home.

Now it'll be a rematch of last year's East semis, with Miami's Big 3 once again going up against the grit and tenacity of Indiana, with a trip to the Finals on the line. Just like last year, Miami is the better team on paper, especially with the hot shooting of Chris Bosh, Ray Allen and Norris Cole. However, if the Pacers slow the pace of the game down by pounding the Heat inside, with David West and Roy Hibbert, something that they did not do effectively last year, Indiana has a chance of pulling off the upset, especially if George Hill, D.J. Augustin, and Paul George are able to hit outside jumpers, and George is able to somewhat contain LeBron James one-on-one, as he did Carmelo Anthony in the last round. In the end, I think Pacers, even though a better team. suffer same fate as last year.

Heat in 6



Last round: 4-0 
Playoffs record: 10-2