The NBA playoffs, after all the concerns about the Indiana Pacers, and after all the worries that San Antonio and Oklahoma City would be knocked out in the first round, have produced the top two seeds in each conference finals series. The four best teams in professional basketball will meet for the two spots in the 2014 NBA Finals. The hype machine is ready to crank into overdrive, and basketball fans could not be happier.
Western Conference Final Preview
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
Odds To Win Series: Spurs -220
This matchup is blanketed in mystery, because two of the key players in the series have injury questions attached to them. Tony Parker suffered a tight hamstring in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Portland Trail Blazers, and Serge Ibaka suffered an injury in the second half of Game 6 of the West semifinals against the Los Angeles Clippers. San Antonio looks like they’ll still get the services of Parker during the West final but it looks like Ibaka will be out for the Thunder. That’s a huge blow for the Thunder, who will be missing their best rim protector. Considering how many baskets the Spurs score around the rim, this is going to be a big loss. Although the Thunder won all four meetings between the teams, Ibaka averaged 14.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game in those contests. He was a huge part of that.
It looks like the Thunder will be snake-bitten by the injury bug once more. Unless Ibaka is back, it’s hard to see them outlasting the Spurs – especially since they don’t have homecourt advantage.
NBA Betting Series Pick: San Antonio in 7
Eastern Conference Final Preview
Miami Heat @ Indiana Pacers
Odds To Win Series: Spurs -220
The Pacers have managed to fight through a lot of distractions, internal squabbles, horrible games, and poor home-court performances to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. A lot of people expected the Washington Wizards to beat the Pacers in the second round, especially after Indiana played so terribly at home in Game 1 and lost to the number five seed in the East. However, Indiana did something that readjusted the nature of its locker room. The Pacers, before Game 2 against Washington, booted Andrew Bynum off the team. Promptly, Roy Hibbert, the center who had been stinking it up in the playoffs, came to life with three great performances in road games against the Wizards. Hibbert is much closer to his normal self, and Hibbert might be ready to play his best basketball against the Heat, a team he loves playing against. Hibbert is also comfortable playing against the Heat, who do not have a quality center. This matchup is a good one for Indiana. The Pacers are not playing complete games on offense, but their defense is usually able to slow down Miami’s offense. If the Pacers make this an ugly series, they can take it to seven games and then win Game 7 at home.
NBA Betting Series Pick: Indiana In 7
