2013 NBA Playoffs: 10 Things Learned From Game One

After a great weekend of basketball, we stop to reflect on things learned from watching Game One of the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

1. The Miami Heat Are Damn Good!

– No secret that they are the best team in the NBA, and if not, then you don’t know what a 28 game win streak means. They would only need 16 to win back-to-back championships. Watching them tonight, was like watching Jordan’s Bulls teams. You know they are going to win, but the make the game must-see-TV. Birdman hyping the crowd, Lebron and D. Wade flying above the rim, and Rhianna courtside. Welcome to Miami!

2. The Chicago Bulls Need Derrick Rose

– No disrespect to parties involved, but you can’t blow’d out by the Nets bro…The Bulls have winning with tough defense, but if your going to allow Brooklyn to shoot 55.8%, your going to need Derrick Rose to keep up.

3. Golden State Warriors + Denver Nuggets = Late Night TV

– After the best of all the Game One’s, I have totally invested in this series. That means buy more coffee. and plan for late morning. David Lee’s hip injury will not change to the intensity of this series. No matter who wins, Stephen Curry comes out a winner on this big stage.

4. Who Is Danny Granger Again?

– The Indiana Pacers pushed the Miami Heat to their limit in last year’s playoffs and have been where tagged early as “the team to beat the Heat”. We all thought Danny Grainger would be the franchise in Indiana, but when a player has a triple-double in the playoffs, while shooting 3-13, you got your guy. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Paul George.

5. The Los Angeles Lakers are indeed the Los Angeles Lakers (Without Kobe Bryant)

– Just in the case the tweet that Kobe Bryant sent from his theater room did not make it clear, the Los Angeles Lakers are without the Black Mamba. They are missing the floor general telling Pau, “get your a** on the block”, or talking to Mike D’Antoni in Italian. #Vino

6. The New York Knicks Have A Real Chance To Get To The Finals

– You have to be impressed with the Knicks battling the Boston Celtics in the first half of the game. Overcoming Jeff Green’s 20 points in the first half is one thing, but limiting the Celtics to only 8 points in the 4th quarter is screaming contender.

7. Blake Griffin vs Zach Randolph Will Be Good

– Zach Randolph finished with 13 points and 4 boards. Blake Griffin has 10 points and 5 boards. Both had 4 rebounds on the defensive end and at  least 2 turnovers guarding each other. One player is going to have to make their move eventually. They can’t just cancel each other out, right?

8. #1 Seeds Are #1 For A Reason

– The Miami Heat win by 23 points. The Oklahoma City Thunder win by 29 points. At least Milwaukee Bucks fans and Houston Rockets fans get to watch get their to watch their teams 3 more times. You can always legitimately cheer for the team the beat you without feeling awkward. It’s an unwritten NBA fan rule.

9. The Series Does Not Start Until You Win A Road Game

– All the home teams won game one. Some of us will now look to right teams off like travel expenses, but let’s not forget what history has taught us all.  You have to win on the road to win the series. Don’t get to excited New York City.

10. Missing The Mavs

– Hey, before you roll your eyes, your reading The Smoking Cuban by the way. It’s been 12 years since I have watched all the playoff series and not been able to talk about the Dallas Mavericks. No chance to debate if Rick Carlisle had the right game plan, if Dirk Nowitzki got the ball enough, or  what matchup will make the difference in the series. It just feels weird.