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San Antonio Spurs – The Final Nail in the Lakers Coffin
It seems like the San Antonio Spurs kept improving as the series went on, while their rivals sank into great despair with their chances slowly being eliminated off the board. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan didn’t need to play for most of the second half as the Los Angeles Lakers failed to show up for the two home games in the series, getting swept in the most humiliating fashion, barely putting up a fight.
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Miami Heat – LeBron James Sweeps Without Dwyane Wade
Maybe he was envious of how dominant Kevin Durant was without his #2, so LeBron James went out without Dwyane Wade and didn’t let that really hurt him, leading the Miami Heat to another double digit win and earn their first playoff sweep in the Big Three era.
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Boston Celtics – Paul Pierce Keeps the Corpse Kicking
After being criticized for being too old and on their way to the deconstruction yard, the Boston Celtics showed there is still some hope and basketball left in them, led by Paul Pierce, who didn’t get a single second of rest, as he put on his best performance of the series, keeping his team barely, yet still alive in the NBA playoffs.
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Houston Rockets – Jeremy Lin Should Never Have Played in Game 3
For the second straight game, the Houston Rockets lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder by 3 points. Jeremy Lin had another one that he won’t be too proud of, but there’s a good chance that without him the team would have done better – Lin played injured, leaving the game quite early looking quite limited (At best) during the time he did spend on the floor.
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NBA Stars Injured & Missing the Playoffs
The recent string of season-ending injuries to NBA stars like Kobe Bryant and Russell Westbrook has just made the list even longer, with Rajon Rondo, David Lee, Danny Granger, Danilo Gallinari and Derrick Rose being the biggest names that should have been in the postseason.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant Doing it All Alone
He’s never played a playoff game without Russell Westbrook by his side, but Kevin Durant seemed quite comfortable doing everything on his own, despite everyone claiming the Oklahoma City Thunder and their title hopes are now doomed due to the season-ending injury to their All-Star point guard.
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Memphis Grizzlies – The Best Big Man Duo in the NBA
Home games bring out the best in most NBA teams, and the Memphis Grizzlies are no different, especially when it comes to their big man duo, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, who have turned the series around by regaining dominance in the paint on both ends the floor, making it an even series once again, hoping that they take this kind of intensity and defensive success back to the road.
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Atlanta Hawks – Al Horford Being a Monster for Once
The Atlanta Hawks needed to answer with physicality after being bullied and beaten through the first couple of games in the series. Maybe it’s a little bit too late, but at least they showed it’s possibly with Al Horford at his best and Josh Smith attacking the basket often and early to get themselves their first win in the 2013 NBA postseason.
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Chicago Bulls – Surviving the Best NBA Game of the Season
No one thought the Chicago Bulls can play this kind of offense, but with Nate Robinson doing his best Michael Jordan impersonation, double digit fourth quarter comebacks aren’t that much of an obscene word, and neither is advancing in the postseason to the conference semifinals, now only one win away thanks to some impressive heroics and shooting in a triple overtime game.
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Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry Doesn’t Mind Banged Up Ankles
Maybe instead of becoming one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, we’ll remember Stephen Curry as a player that couldn’t beat the injuries that plagued him and specifically his ankle. But for now, in 2013, he’s strong enough to beat and overcome these hurdles to put the Golden State Warriors in a position no one thought they’d be this deep into the season.