2012/13 NBA Playoffs - 1st round recap - cgalligan's Dynasty

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2012/13 NBA Playoffs - 1st round recap

Posted on December 30, 2012 at 01:16 AM.

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NBA Playoffs - 1st round Complete

#1 Seed in the West Goes down

All Season long we've questioned weather or not the Minnesota Timberwolves for for real, or, were they playing beyond their actual skill level... Well, all Season long they proved us wrong to the tune of a 59-21 record, best in the Western Conference...

Their 1st round matchup would be the #8 Seeded San Antonio Spurs who barely snuck into the playoffs with a 42-40 record... The Spurs are old, its no secret, and this is quite possibly the last run for the Big 3 of Parker, Duncan and Ginobli...

Everything was coming up roses for the T-Wolves in the 1st 2 games of the Series as they were able to take a 2-0 Series lead, winning Game 1 97-96 and Game 2 112-98... The T-Wolves appeared to be more focused, more talented and more energized than the Veteran Spurs... That was until they got to San Antonio in Game 3... The Spurs laid a beat down on the T-Wolves in Game 3, 121-77... The 44 point loss was one of the worst in NBA Playoff History and it seemed to shellshock the young T-Wolves as they would lose Game 4 two nights later 101-86... With the Series Tied at 2-2 and Game 5 back in Minnesota, the Pressure had suddenly shifted onto the T-Wolves... They knew if they lost Game 5 at home, they'd have to win Game 6 in San Antonio and that wouldn't be easy...

The T-Wolves jumped on the Spurs early, taking a 15 point lead in the 1st quarter... They weren't able to maintain that same level of intensity throughout the game however and the Veteran Savy Spurs team would claw their way back into the game... The Spurs would outscore the T-Wolves 85 to 67 the rest of the way on their way to a 100-97 victory and a 3-2 Series lead... Game 6 was a back and forth battle all game long and Tim Duncan and Kevin Love put on a show... Duncan finished the game with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks while Love finished with 36 points and 9 rebounds...

In the end, it was the Spurs Experience that won the game and the Series 118-112...

The Win propels the Spurs to the 2nd round of the playoffs where they will take on the 4th Seeded Oklahoma City Thunder...

Also in the Western Conference the 6th Seeded Phoenix Suns took down the 3rd seeded Dallas Mavericks in 6 games which is an upset, but, not a really big one... The Suns accomplished the upset with amazing all around balance as they had 5 players average 13+ points per game in the Series... It also helped that Mavericks All Star Dirk Nowitski missed the entire series because of a knee injury...

In the Eastern Conference Bracket there weren't really any huge surprises... The Heat took care of the Wizards in 5 games... The 76ers and the Knicks played a fantastic 7 game Series with the Sixers coming out on top... The #3 seeded Indian Pacers were eliminated by the 6th seeded Brooklyn Nets in 5 games... This isn't a huge mind blowing upset, but, that fact that it was done in 5 games is a bit surprising... And, the Bulls took care of the Bucks in 5 games...

2nd round preview

Western Conference

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