NBA 13: The Show Part 2 (The Results Post)

Over the past week I embarked on a weird experiment where I would simulate the NBA Playoff bracket using professional baseball teams. I left The Show's default rosters alone in this simulation. To keep from getting the same results, I cycled through the first four pitchers of each teams starting rotation and alternated home teams in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. I simulated up to the Finals, which I will reveal to you game-by-game.

Here are the results of the first three rounds. Scores in parantheses are listed [series winner's score-series loser's score]:

FIRST ROUND

EAST

#1 Miami Marlins def. #8 Milwaukee Brewers 4 games to 1 (5-4, 5-4 (10), 7-10, 2-1 (11), 1-0)

#4 New York Mets def. #5 Chicago White Sox 4 games to 2 (3-2, 2-6, 5-0, 9-10, 1-0, 3-2 (10))

#6 Atlanta Braves def. #3 Indianapolis Indians 4 games to 0 (8-4, 2-0, 5-0, 7-0)

#2 New York Yankees def. #7 Boston Red Sox 4 games to 2 (8-2, 5-6 (10), 3-0, 3-4 (12), 3-1, 4-2)

WEST

#8 Houston Astros def. #1 Oklahoma City RedHawks 4 games to 2 (0-5, 13-8, 7-4, 5-6, 9-5, 4-0)

#4 Los Angeles Angels def. #5 Memphis Redbirds 4 games to 2 (6-2, 6-0, 7-3 (11), 4-6, 5-8, 4-2)

#6 Oakland Athletics def. #3 Colorado Rockies 4 games to 1 (3-1, 13-8, 7-9, 2-1, 4-1)

#7 Los Angeles Dodgers def. #2 San Antonio Missions 4 games to 0 (13-0, 4-1, 10-2, 6-3)

SEMIFINALS

EAST

#1 Miami Marlins def. #4 New York Mets 4 games to 3 (6-8, 3-0, 1-5, 1-9, 7-6, 5-2, 5-4)

#2 New York Yankees def. #6 Atlanta Braves 4 games to 1 (9-0, 3-4 (14), 5-1, 12-2, 8-4)

WEST

#4 Los Angeles Angels def. #8 Houston Astros 4 games to 0 (13-4, 5-1, 4-0, 3-2 (10))

#6 Oakland Athletics def. #7 Los Angeles Dodgers 4 games to 1 (4-1, 7-5, 7-2, 1-5, 7-2)

CONFERENCE FINALS

EAST

#2 New York Yankees def. #1 Miami Marlins 4 games to 0 (3-0, 12-0, 3-2, 8-7)

WEST

#4 Los Angeles Angels def. #6 Oakland Athletics 4 games to 3 (2-1(11), 1-0, 1-7, 6-7 (12), 3-2, 1-4, 8-0)

So it will be the Yankees and the Angels - representing the Knicks and Clippers respectively in the exercise - facing off in the finals. I'm not particular surprised that the Heat and Spurs aren't facing off like they are in real life, considering their proxies (the Marlins and the Missions).

A lot to unpack from these first three rounds, and I'll just spill my thoughts out in bullet-point form:

• First off, a sadface for my White Sox not getting past the Mets in the First Round [ :-( ]. Considering the season the Sox have had so far though, I'm not too surprised. But the Mets? C'mon man!
• I'm also not surprised that the minor league teams didn't last. A couple of teams did put up a fight, though. The RedHawks gave the sorry Astros a scare by taking 2 games, including Game 1 5-0 behind a strong pitching performance by Erik Bedard. The Memphis Redbirds also went down swinging against the Angels, as they were able to stave off elimination by taking Games 4 and 5. Looks like the PCL has some pretty scrappy teams down there.
• The Marlins/Mets series was particularly intense, with The Fish coming back from down 1 game to 3. Game 7 came was settled by a walk-of homer by Giancarlo Stanton. How cool is that? And how very Mets of the Mets to blow that series lead. Payback for beating my Sox!
• I was excited when I initially had the Yankees and Red Sox slotted to face off. The series delivered, though the Red Sox really had to scrap for those two victories. The road since for the Yankees has been a bit easier, taking down the Braves (which I thought would be closer) and housing the Marlins (of course).
• That Angels/Athletics series was another good one. The Angels really sent a message in Game 7, though, as Jered Weaver pitched a shutout and the LA hitters were able to give him run support and then some.

So the Finals are set: New York vs. LA (well, Anaheim). Who will win it? Will it be the power hitting and tough pitching of the LA Angels? Or will it be those Legendary Damn Yankees? This series will be simulated alongside the NBA Finals, with results revealed the next day. Game 1 is tonight.