2013 NBA playoff predictions

The 2013 NBA playoffs are shaping up to be a postseason to remember.

 

The Miami Heat should have little trouble advancing through their half of the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, but no shortage of juicy match ups await them in the conference finals.

 The Western Conference playoffs should be very entertainment, though. Every single first-round series will be must-see TV, despite Kobe Bryant's torn Achilles all but ending the Los Angeles Lakers' chances of playing first-round spoiler to the San Antonio Spurs.

 While it's not exactly a bold prediction to place the Heat in their third straight NBA Finals, there's no way to be certain who will emerge from the minefield that is the Western Conference playoff bracket.
 Here's one man's best series-by-series guess as to who will take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy this June.

Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors: Curry sat out last night’s game against Cleveland as expected, his first missed action since injuring his ankle on Monday. The Warriors ended up winning, even without him, 108-95. As far as a return, we don’t have a hard date, but Curry is considered day-to-day. Expect him to be back in there tomorrow against the Mavericks or Saturday against the Suns.

Will Cain Velasquez and Junior fight again?

There are several factors that will determine when, where and against whom Velasquez will begin his title defense — or if he'll face dos Santos again. Chief among them is the health of dos Santos, who took a beating for 25 minutes that left his face swollen and resulted in a trip to an area hospital.
Dos Santos was treated and released without any major injuries, although UFC president Dana White said dos Santos will need some downtime.
“I think it will be a while before he’s able to fight again,” White said. “This isn’t like losing a regular fight. He was beat up pretty bad.”

Victor Cruz honors Sandy Hook victim Jack Pinto, 6, who idolized Giants receiver

Victor Cruz fought back tears as he listened to Jack Pinto's family try to explain just how important the Giants wide receiver was in their son's life. And he could barely contain his emotions when he found out that the 6-year-old boy might be buried in his No. 80 jersey.

Does the NFL have a drinking problem?

Since January 2000, NFL players have been arrested at least 624 times on various charges, including 42 times this year, according to data compiled by USA TODAY Sports.
Of those 624 arrests, 177 (28%) were arrested because they were suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jerry Brown became the latest victim early Saturday when police say teammate Josh Brent drove drunk, hit a curb and flipped his car, killing Brown, who was riding with him.

Gun used in Belcher's murder-suicide was legally owned

 Jovan Belcher legally owned the handgun police say he used to fatally shoot his girlfriend and himself on Saturday.
Kansas City Police spokesman Darin Snapp said he believes Belcher used the same gun in both shootings, which happened within about 20 minutes of each other Saturday morning.

LSU

Les Miles has a new seven-year contract at LSU that also will result in a pay raise for one of the most successful coaches in the history of the Tigers’ football program. “I’m a LSU head coach and will be a LSU head coach for as long as I can be,” Miles said Wednesday. “Hopefully, we’ll look up seven years from now and I’ll be looking for another seven-year extension.”