May 6, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (1) makes a basket over Chicago Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler (21) as small forward LeBron James (6) and Bulls center Joakim Noah (left) look on in game one of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. The Bulls won 93-86. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

With the couple of days off for the Indiana Pacers, I finally have a moment just to shoot out some thoughts on the other playoff happenings.  It’s hard to believe that every series is 1-1 right now.  Sure we’ve seen blowouts, and we’ve seen some hot shooting, but you just get this sense that any match up could go one way or the other.  We’re are seeing how each game is just a different storyline from the last game.  Let’s start with Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, since we’re all about the Pacers here.  You had the Pacers out muscle the Knicks in game one, and get them flustered at different points.  Even as the lead got down, I never felt like the Knicks were going to come back in that game one.  Then came along game two, and we see the Knicks go on an unprecedented 30-2 run or 30 to whatever the Pacers finally scored.  Pretty much the Pacers didn’t score in almost 13 minutes, and they lost total control of what lead they had in that game.  The only thing you take away is now the Pacers have two games at home, where they’ve shown how much better they are, and we could be seeing the Pacers up 3-1 after all is said and done with the next two games.

Looking at the other side of the Eastern Conference, it’s amazing to see the Chicago Bulls were able to keep their momentum from the tough Brooklyn series to get a win game one.  Nate Robinson was stealing the show, and they probably gave the Miami Heat a wake up call as we witnessed last night.  Talking about the run the Knicks put together against the Pacers, how about that run that Miami put against the Bulls?  60-21 or close to that, to completely blow away the Bulls.  Technical fouls were handed out.  Ejections were handed out.  And the spirit of the Bulls had to be broken, and people are still asking Derrick Rose to come back.  Guess what?  If he was going to come back, he would have already done it.  Maybe I will eat my words tomorrow night as it’s been rumored, he will “dress.”  And guess what if you’re dressed, then you better play.  What’s the point of dressing and not playing if you’re a superstar like Rose?  Can you imagine the talk if Rose dresses, and doesn’t play?  The Heat will probably win this series no matter what, and then see who awaits them on the other side.

Then off to the Western Conference, where things are shaky between all four teams.  If I put a power ranking, I’d probably rank the Memphis Grizzlies as the top team right now.  Yes, you read that right. But look at how tough and physical that team is.  They probably should have won the first game, but they blew the lead.  They are able to get the victory in game two, and now head home to Memphis for two games.  Just like the Pacers, this team has that true team effort going. Personally, that’s the match up I would love to see in the NBA Finals. No one but Memphis and Indiana fans would want to see it, but I would be all about it. Memphis has a great shot at knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are playing without Russell Westbrook. Just think how much these playoffs change if all the stars are there. Ask Boston how the Celtics do with Rajon Rondo.  Ask Golden State how they do with David Lee.

Well we could talk to them right now, and I would say that’s my upset alert.  With the confidence the Warriors are playing with, they are in prime position to knock off the San Antonio Spurs. I would even say if the Warriors lose this series, they’ll gain something from it.  That experience of playing against a tough team.  Experience of what to do in close situations.  Learning how to close out games as they weren’t able to do that in game one.  Just think the talk there if the Warriors are up 2-0 against the Spurs right now.  I think this series ends up seven games unless that home court plays off for the Warriors.  They have some of the best fans in the NBA, and they feed off that energy.  Who knows what theatrics Stephen Curry has up his sleeves?

But truly, this is an exciting time for the NBA, and you’ll get back to action tomorrow night with the Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat, and the Warriors and Spurs.  We’ll have to see what team wants that edge up in the series.  I’ll go with Heat and Warriors as my picks.  The Warriors playing at home with that crowd almost have to win.  What a letdown that would be after such a great win last night.  The Heat are obviously better than the Bulls, and want to prove that by dismantling the Bulls again. I don’t know if it’s such a huge blow out like game two, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all for a double figures win by the Heat.

Yesterday, I wrote about who should be the reserves for the Eastern Conference All Star team. It was a pretty damn good piece of writing. Today, I’m going to try to emulate that type of success by writing about who should be given the honor of backing up Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. This is a list of who SHOULD make the team, not who actually will, because we know this is a Mean Girls-esque popularity contest.

Like yesterday’s column, I’ll pick two guards, two forwards, a center, and the next two best players. The real rosters don’t come out until Thursday, but do not be alarmed when these predictions are pretty much spot on.

Western Conference Reserves

Guards

Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City- This choice is pretty easy. Westbrook is one of the best guards in the entire league, and is having his best season as a pro. He’s third amongst West guards in scoring, second in rebounding, and fourth in assists. Altogether, that’s a pretty impressive resume. If Chris Paul weren’t having an outstanding season, Westbrook could easily slide into a starter’s role on the All Star team. Westbrook also has great style, so I’d like to see what he busts out in Houston.

Stephen Curry, G, Golden State- The Warriors have been surprisingly successful this year, and it’s not a big mystery why. Despite always having talent, the Warriors were derailed in the past by injuries. Not this year. This Ms. Prissypants has managed to avoid missing games and has finally put up the numbers we knew he could. Usually he’s a strong gust of wind from missing a month, but this year he’s stayed on the court and produced 20+ points a game. He rebounds and passes the ball well, and shoots very high percentage shots. He has quick hands and plays exceptional defense on the perimeter. His biggest asset is his ability to run the point, or slide into the shooting guard’s role.

Forwards

David Lee, PF, Golden State- Quick, when was the last time the Golden State Warriors had two All Stars? Seriously, go look it up, I can wait. If my predictions are correct, which they should be, the Lee will be the second player to represent the Warriors and is very worthy of the honor. Lee averages a double-double with 19.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He’s not much of a force on the defensive end, but he shoots over 50% from the field and almost 80% from the free throw line. Lee is more than good enough to make this All Star roster.

LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Portland- Aldridge has secretly been one of the best players in the Western Conference for a couple years. He’s second in the West amongst forwards in scoring, behind Kevin Durant. The Blazers have a triumvirate of fringe All Stars with Aldridge, Damian Lillard, and Nicolas Batum, but the team as a whole isn’t good enough to warrant the inclusion of more than one of these guys. Aldridge is the best player on Portland and has played well enough to earn a spot in Houston.

Center

Marc Gasol, C, Memphis- Gasol has been a dominate force of fundamental nature in the post for the Grizzlies. He’s a big, fat, hairy Spaniard that plays the game like a big, fat, hairy Spaniard. He can shoot a mid-range jumper, he makes free throws, he blocks out and moves people to get his share of the boards, and he probably has a great sense of humor. There aren’t many true centers left in the world, but Gasol is one, and he is a good one.

Best of the Rest

James Harden, SG, Houston- Let the hometown kid play. Best known for his beard, Harden has channeled the power of the chin mop and used his newfound powers to score. Lots. Harden is third in the West in scoring, behind Durant and Kobe Bryant. He sees the court very well for a shooting guard, and it shows in his stat line. Harden averages 5.3 assists a game, which is first among shooting guards in the West. Above average perimeter defense, combined with an outstanding offensive game, make Harden deserving of a spot on the All Star roster.

Tim Duncan, PF/C, San Antonio- Someday Duncan has to start to slow down, right? This year he’s looked like a power forward in his prime, but the man is 36 years old. His 17.3 points per game ranks him fifteenth in the West. He’s shooting over 50% from the field, and is shooting 82% from the free throw line, which is 13% higher than his career average. Where he’s shocked me the most has been on the defensive end. He’s second in the West in blocked shots, at 2.78 per game. Shot blocking is a young man’s skill, but Timmy continues to defy logic and is swatting shots like it’s 1997.