2014 NBA Playoffs- First Round Predictions

It's the most wonderful time of the year! NBA Playoff basketball begins today, and here are my first round predictions.

Western Conference
Spurs in 5 over Mavericks: Gregg Popovich has done it again, as San Antonio has the league's best record. They swept Dallas in the regular season and should carve up the Mavericks mediocre defense in a short series
Rockets in 7 over Blazers: Offensive firepower aplenty on both sides with Harden, Howard, Parsons against Lillard, Aldridge, and Batum. Picking my Rockets to advance behind a little more depth and playoff experience
Clippers in 6 over Warriors: A budding, fierce rivalry that would have truly been a toss-up if Golden State didn't lose center Andrew Bogut to injury. Without Bogut, I think Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan dominate the inside and withstand the shooting of Curry and Thompson.
Thunder in 5 over Grizzlies: Rematch of last year's semifinal series, which OKC lost because they were without Russell Westbrook. He is back this year, and along with MVP Kevin Durant and a better bench overwhelm a Memphis team that will struggle to score enough points in the series.

Eastern Conference
Pacers in 6 over Hawks: There is no way a 38-win team missing its best player (Al Horford) should be able to win two games from the #1 seed, but the Pacers are a shadow of their early-season dominance and they always struggle to play well in the ATL.
Bulls in 6 over Wizards: Washington is on a roll at the moment and their wings (John Wall, Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza) may cause some problems for Chicago. But the series will be won on the inside with Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and Taj Gibson and the Bulls' outstanding team defense.
Raptors in 7 over Nets: Brooklyn lost their last two games on purpose to avoid the Bulls. I think they will regret doing so. I think Toronto's backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan outplay Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, and although playoff experience says otherwise, I see the talent of the Raptors outlasting the playoff experience (old age) of the Nets.
Heat in 4 over Bobcats:  Big Al and the Bobcats have had a great season, making the playoffs for just the second time in team history, but it'll be a short stay, as they won't be able to score enough points against the defending champs. LeBron might not go for 61, but he won't need to.

Bubba Watson Wins Masters

Behind incredibly long tee-shots and gutsy approaches (what else), Bubba Watson shot a final-round 69 at the Masters, to finish at 8-under par and beat fellow American Jordan Spieth and Sweden's Jonas Blixt by three shots. For Watson, who also won the 2012 Masters, it is his second career major championship. 

Down two shots through seven holes on Sunday, Watson trailed the 20-year old Spieth by two shots. But a stunning four-shot swing over the 8th and 9th hole, in which Watson made birdie, birdie and Spieth made bogey, bogey, gave him a lead he would not relinquish over the back nine.

"This one's a lot different," Watson said. "The first one, for me, it was almost like I lucked into it."

2014 NCAA Championship Preview

#8vs. #78:10 PM CT CBS

Tonight, at AT&T Stadium, the 2014 NCAA Basketball champion will be crowned for the first time ever between a #7 seed and an #8 seed.

On one side, Kentucky, the preseason #1, which is so young, yet so talented. Despite a lot of growing pains through the year by the freshmen, John Calipari's team is back in the championship game after missing the tournament a year ago. Their road to the championship has been impressive, as they have taken out three Final Four teams from a year ago (Wichita State, Louisville, Michigan), as well as an experienced, well-coached Wisconsin team on Saturday night. Although the skill and athleticism of future NBA lottery picks Julius Randle, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison (three straight game-winning three-pointers), and James Young has been simply amazing to watch, it has been their poise in crunchtime against more experienced teams that has the team the favorite for the title tonight. 

On the other side, UConn has been equally impressive in pulling upsets on its way to the championship. They've taken out two popular national championship picks by many, in Michigan State and the #1 overall seed, Florida (my pick to win it all at the beginning of the tournament). Riding the incredible play of senior guard Shabazz Napier, junior forward DeAndre Daniels, and junior guard Ryan Boatright, the Huskies have also played shutdown defense through their run to the title, and held a veteran Florida team to just 53 points on Saturday night. 

The key in the game will be the pace of play. While Kentucky wants to play more up-tempo, UConn will want to slow the game down and play a low-scoring game. The key matchup in this game will be in the backcourt, with the Harrison twins against Napier and Boatright. While both Harrisons have NBA-potential and all the talent in the world, Napier and Boatright are more experienced and may use that to their advantage in pressuring the twins into mistakes. In the end, although Kentucky is the favorite and may have more talent, I think UConn wins, based on their experience and defense, giving Kevin Ollie a fairytale end to an amazing second year as a head coach.
My pick: UConn

2014 Final Four Picks

Saturday, April 3

#7 UConn vs. #1 Florida 5:07 PM CT CBS

My pick: Florida

I had UConn upsetting Villanova in the East Region, but did not see them advancing past the Sweet 16. Senior guard Shabazz Napier is on fire at the moment and looks like 2011 Kemba Walker right now. However, Florida is the top seed for a reason and head coach Billy Donovan will be able to implement a game plan that will make Napier work for his points and others like forward DeAndre Daniels and Ryan Boatright will have to step up for the Huskies. In the end, I think SEC player of year Scottie Wilbekin and the Gators' depth inside with Patric Young and Casey Prather is too much for UConn, as my national championship pick advances to Monday.

#8 Kentucky vs. #2 Wisconsin 7:47 PM CT CBS

My pick: Kentucky

Great match up in second game with the upstart Wildcats, finally playing as well as their preseason #1 ranking predicted facing Bo Ryan's veteran Badgers. I correctly predicted Kentucky to upset Wichita State in the round of 32 due to their talent and athleticism, but was surprised by the poise shown by the young Wildcats in taking out more experienced teams in Louisville and Michigan at the regional semifinals and finals. Meanwhile, Bo Ryan's swing offense and veteran team finally got him to his first career Final Four. Center Frank Kaminksy manhandled Arizona in the Elite 8, and the Badgers have great shooting from Ben Brust and Traevon Jackson to score with any team. However, I think Kaminksy will struggle a little against the length and athleticism of Dakari Johnson and Willie Caullie-Stein (if he can play), and the future NBA-stars in Aaron and Andrew Harrison, as well as Julius Randle carry the Wildcats to Monday night.