The 2013 NBA Playoffs standings will shift after today and my predictions have the home team with the advantage in these two games. Who's playing? The Denver Nuggets host the Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m. ET, while, immediately following this game, the Memphis Grizzlies take their momentum to Los Angeles to play the Clippers at 10:30 p.m. ET. These are both Game 5's and one is more critical than the other. Find out who will change the playoff standings and how.
The Nuggets play at home. That right there gives them a huge advantage. They are 39-4 in 2013 at home while playing at the Pepsi Center. They already dropped Game 2 while playing in front of their home crowd. The Nuggets then proceeded to lose Games 3 and 4 on the road. Denver is now one game away from elimination.
The Factors
It's called desperation. The Nuggets are the No. 3 seed and are about to lose to a No. 6 seed. Though the Warriors are talented, you better believe the Nuggets do not want to go out in just five games. The odds are against them, yes, but the last thing they will do is lay down and allow the Warriors to trample them and advance to the second round of the playoffs.
The Nuggets are a tough team to defend. With the Oklahoma City Thunder losing their star point guard, the gates in the Western Conference have opened up and it seems like anybody can win it now. The Nuggets might look at this as motivation to make a push for Game 6 and then Game 7.
Clippers vs. Grizzlies
The same factors could be applied to the Clippers. However, their game is less urgent. Yes, they don't want to go down 2-3 in the series with Game 6 in Memphis, but they at least have more room for error in case they can't win Game 5.
They truly have the home court advantage. The Grizzlies are a completely different team on the road. They won both games in Memphis by double-digits, but when in L.A. they looked weak and undisciplined. Zach Randolph was pretty much the only positive factor in the first two games of the series. He was consistent and manning up to the Clippers.
The only danger with the Clippers is that the Grizzlies have the momentum. Look for this game to be close like Game 2. The Grizzlies might have discovered themselves back at home, but you have to like the way the Clippers play when they are at home and in front of their fans.
Final Score and Series Prediction:
Nuggets defeat Warriors: 120-112
Warriors lead series 3-2, with Game 6 at home
Clippers beat Grizzlies- 105-100
Clippers take 3-2 series lead.
