There are only eight teams remaining in the postseason and these are the two things that jump out the most after almost a month of the 2013 NBA Playoffs: the Chicago Bulls have to be the luckiest team still playing in the second round and the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies really love playing at home.
Ailing Bulls
Somehow, the Bulls made it this far and the end of their season might just be a few days away. The Miami Heat are too strong of a team to lose to this depleted Bulls lineup. However, this doesn't mean that the Bulls have quit. In all honesty, with what the Bulls have left on their team after injuries to Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich, the Heat should be winning by 46, but they are not. This is why the Bulls are the luckiest team in the second round since they continue to five themselves a chance against the best team in the NBA.
The Bulls could have easily been up 2-1 in the series, the only problem was that they couldn't make baskets at the end of the game. Their guys were fatigued as there were only seven Bulls active after Nazr Mohammed's ejection in the second quarter of Game 3. The Bulls made this a game until the closing minutes of the fourth. They stuck around longer than expected and almost had a chance to take the series lead.
Marco Belinelli appears to have come out of nowhere, but he had playoff experience with the New Orleans Hornets back in 2010-2011. Belinelli along with Jimmy Butler are battling and keeping the Bulls alive. It's only time before the Heat pull away with the series, but as expected the Bulls will give them a fight.
Chicago Bulls 5-5 in 2013 postseason
Perfect Timing
The Pacers and Grizzlies stole a game on the road against their second round opponents. Both teams started their respective series away from home and after bringing a 1-1 series to their cities, they are both up 2-1. So far, the Pacers and Grizzlies are 4-0 when playing on their home court.
The Pacers went 3-0 against the Atlanta Hawks and each home victory seemed to set another big him in the series. Of course, winning Game 1 was pivotal as they set the tone. Winning Game 2 became bigger than expected because the Pacers proceeded to lose two consecutive games in Atlanta. Game 5's home victory was huge because it snapped the losing streaked and brought the Pacers just a victory from advancing to the second round. They wrapped the series up in Game 6 on the road.
The Grizzlies needed home more than anybody in the first round. They were down 0-2 heading back to Memphis against the Los Angeles Clippers. Playing at home set the tone for the rest of the series as they didn't let the Clippers win another game.
The Pacers defeated the New York Knicks in Game 1 and won at home in Game 3 meanwhile the Grizzlies lost Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder only to bounce back and win consecutive games.
Here's what the records are for all the teams remaining:
Miami Heat: 6-1
San Antonio Spurs: 6-2
Indiana Pacers: 6-3
Memphis Grizzlies: 6-3
Golden State Warriors: 6-4
Oklahoma City Thunder: 5-4
New York Knicks: 5-4
Chicago Bulls 5-6 --- Guess the luck ran out as the Heat weren't challenged in Game 4 winning 88-65.
