2013 NBA Playoffs: 10 Bold Predictions

2013 NBA Playoffs: 10 Bold Predictions

Anybody could tell you that the Milwaukee Bucks are not going to be raising a banner anytime soon. That's a given. And Steve Nash? He will probably not lead the Los Angeles Lakers in rebounds come the postseason. Also, I hate to say it, but Udonis Haslem will probably not give the Miami Heat any advantage with his three point shooting off the bench.

These are all pretty obvious and quite ridiculous statements, of course. My aim is not to point those out. However, there are some pretty puzzling questions and very intriguing stories to be played out come playoff time.

Will LeBron James and his crew from South Beach be dethroned? If by some crazy happenstance they do, who does it? Will they get bumped out before the NBA Finals? Not if LeBron has anything to say about it. Chances are though, his words aren't going to help them out one bit against the East's elite.

In the West, how will Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers fare if they end up completing their daunting run into the eighth seed? Will they even stand a chance against the likes of Gregg Popovich and his San Antonio Spurs? Will Kobe Bryant show up despite his injury-prone season so far?

How will some newbies take on the pressure of the playoffs? Will Stephen Curry perform as he has all season long and continue scoring at will? Will Kawhi Leonard's second postseason contain many more minutes as he has had an increased role this year? How will Avery Bradley handle playing a more significant role on the injury-ridden Celtics? Maybe some of these questions will be answered in the following slideshow as I reveal my top 10 bold predictions for the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

LeBron James Will Average a Double-Double

With playoff basketball calling for a raise in the level of play, I predict that LeBron James will average a double-double. Even more, I will also predict that he will come just two assists away from averaging a triple double in the playoffs.

The Houston Rockets Will Stretch Series With Oklahoma City Thunder to Seven Games

With all of the drama and juicy story lines this matchup can create, I believe the Houston Rockets will find it within themselves to take the Oklahoma City Thunder to a seven game series in the first round. Might I add, that James Harden will also have a large part to do with this.

Kobe Bryant Will Lead Playoff Scoring

The Los Angeles Lakers may not make it past the first round, but Kobe Bryant won’t make it for lack of trying. I predict Bryant will lead the entire playoffs in scoring in the first round with a flurry of off-balanced shots as he fights through a battered body.

The Memphis Grizzlies Will Take Out the Los Angeles Clippers in the First Round

As entertaining as last year’s series was, this one should be even better. But, I predict that the Memphis Grizzlies will end up prevailing due to their physical style of play and send the Los Angeles Clippers home.

Russell Westbrook Will Lead the Oklahoma City Thunder in Scoring

Although Kevin Durant may be the team’s best player, I predict Russell Westbrook to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder in scoring throughout the playoffs. Durant will do everything else to keep the team going.

The New York Knicks Won't Make it Past the Boston Celtics

In a weird series of events, the Boston Celtics are able to cool off the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony and pull a huge upset by sending the Knicks home packing. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce each have their share of huge games to help lift the Celtics.

Stephen Curry Will Average 30 Points Per Game

The Golden State Warriors may not end up making it past the Denver Nuggets in the very first round. However, Stephen Curry will make sure he does everything he can to make it happen, scoring above 30 points in each of the first round contests.

The Banged Up Chicago Bulls Will Make it to the Second Round

Even with all the injuries they have endured this season, Tom Thibodeau’s Chicago Bulls will find a way to grit themselves to a first round victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Both Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng will have gigantic games to help make this happen.

The Miami Heat Will Not Win the Championship

The Miami Heat look invincible now, but their weaknesses will be exposed in the playoffs. When it’s all said and done, they will not go home with back-to-back championships. Instead, they will go home with nothing except a great regular season followed by a letdown in the postseason.

The Indiana Pacers Will Represent the East in the NBA Finals

With my biggest and boldest prediction of all, I see the Indiana Pacers beating up the Miami Heat and taking the Eastern Conference Champion crown with them to meet the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals. Both David West and Roy Hibbert will enjoy battering each and every Miami Heat player that tries entering the paint, and it will prove to tall a task for them to come back from.