The NBA playoffs standings for the 2014 second round has the Oklahoma City Thunder and the LA Clippers facing off in Round 2 and the series is 0-0 with Game 1 coming on Monday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena and has Kevin Durant facing off against Chris Paul in the matchup of superstars and names like Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook and Jamal Crawford will have a big impact on the series.
The Clippers advanced to the second round after winning Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors, while the Thunder made it in after winning their own Game 7 against the Grizzlies. Zach Randolph was suspended for that game and while that may have played a big factor, the thunder were favored in that matchup and now they have advanced to the second round once again after doing it last season. The Thunder lost to the Grizzlies last year in the second round, but they didn't have Westbrook for that and now he is healthy, while Durant is playing like the MVP that he is expected to be named this week.
Durant averaged 32 points per game during the season to lead the league and now he is averaging close to 30 in the playoffs and he was one of the main reasons why OKC was able to advance. Westbrook is averaging over 25 points per game and that means Griffin and Paul will have to step up along with DeAndre Jordan, who played very well in the last series and he could be the x factor while matching up with Kendrick Perkins.
The Thunder played very well at home during the season and they only lost seven games in OKC and now they must battle with a Clippers team that is dealing with some adversity heading into the second round. The team has the whole Donald Sterling situation coming down around them and while they were able to bounce back after their Game 4 loss to win Game 5 and then eventually Game 7, the team may have more trouble with OKC. The team won't be back in the Staples Center until Game 3 and that could actually be a relief after all that has gone on recently for the franchise.
Blake Griffin comes in after leading the team in scoring in the last game, while Jordan had 18 rebounds and Paul had 14 assists and that is they type of game the teams will need to play later to get past the Thunder. The matchup on Monday night starts up at 9:30 pm ET and comes on TNT as the second game of a doubleheader with the Indiana Pacers hosting the Washington Wizards.
Check here for the NBA playoffs standings and schedule for the second round.