NBA Update

While J.B. Holmes was wrapping up his victory, John Wall was preparing for the second-round showdown between his Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers.  There was a lot of sturm und drang in the first round of the NBA Tournament, but none of the major contenders were eliminated and the Miami Heat advanced without breaking a sweat.  Here are the results from the first round (higher-seeded team listed first):

EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Indiana 4 - 3 Atlanta (8)
(4) Chicago 1 - 4 Washington (5)
(2) Miami 4 - 0 Charlotte (7)
(3) Toronto 3 - 4 Brooklyn (6)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) San Antonio 4 - 3 Dallas (8)
(4) Houston 2 - 4 Portland (5)
(2) Oklahoma City 4 - 3 Memphis (7)
(3) L.A. Clippers 4 - 3 Golden St. (6)

There was excitement in Washington (which reached the Conference Semi-Finals for only the second time since 1982, Portland (which won a playoff series for the first time since 2000), and Brooklyn (which won a post-season series for the first time since the Dodgers won the 1955 World Series).  But the big guns -- Miami, San Antonio, Indiana, and OKC -- are all still playing.

Here are the match-ups for the Conference Semi-Finals:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Indiana - Washington (5)
(2) Miami - Brooklyn (6)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) San Antonio - Portland (5)
(2) Oklahoma City - L.A. Clippers (3)

Unless you have a strong rooting interest, I still think it makes sense not to watch until Miami loses three games in a series.