2014 NBA Playoffs Recap As Told Through GIFs

Image via Complex Original

Date: 4/19/2014
Game: Hawks @ Pacers

Roy Hibbert—already an awkward player to watch because his offensive skills and rebounding seem to come short of the expectations that his obvious physical tools produce—had a crappy postseason. His rebounding and point production dropped off, and his importance as the anchor of the Pacers defense was diminished.

Date: 4/20/2014
Game: Warriors @ Clippers

That fan now has a great story to tell in relationship building conversations.

Date: 4/22/2014
Game: Nets @ Raptors

Drake is like the 7th most popular NBA player now.

Date: 4/22/2014
Game: Grizzlies @ Thunder

Having to wait an entire summer to watch him play again will be painful. Refer to this GIF repeatedly if withdrawl symptoms appear.

Date: 4/22/2014
Game: Grizzlies @ Thunder

It was apparent that the Thunder had serious holes in their title resume after the Grizzlies gave them such a tough time.

Date: 4/24/2014
Game: Pacers @ Hawks

The Pacers' were pushed to seven games from the East's 8th seed (which is kind of like being 8th best in a remedial pre-calc class) thanks to insane shots from players like Jeff Teague.

Date: 4/26/2014
Game: Heat @ Bobcats

Lame hot take opinion: "Maybe if LeBron was less concerned about showing up the legend Michael Jordan to assert his own, he'd have a Game 6 to play." Lol.

Date: 4/26/2014
Game: Spurs @ Mavericks

The Mavericks were able to nick this game off the Spurs in the first round thanks to some throwback playoff magic from Vince Carter.

Date: 4/27/2014
Game: Warriors @ Clippers

One of the most powerful moments in NBA history.

Date: 4/27/2014
Game: Clippers @ Warriors

Steph Curry put up 23 PPG this postseason, but it wasn't enough to prevent his team from having a new coach next season.

Date: 5/2/2014
Game: Spurs @ Mavericks

The flopping this postseason was one of its only low-lights.

Date: 5/2/2014
Game: Rockets @ Trailblazers

Chandler Parsons got beat off the inbound and Damian Lillard delivered the Trailblazers' first playoff series win since 2000.

Date: 5/4/2014
Game: Nets @ Raptors

This block on Kyle Lowry sealed a Game 7 win on the road for the Nets, who managed to get their shit together after an awful start to the regular season. For a team with the highest payroll in basketball history, however, a second-round exit is a failure.

Date: 5/21/2014
Game: Thunder @ Spurs

A perfect modern NBA offense.

Date: 5/25/2014
Game: Spurs @ Thunder

The Thunder's disappointing end to the postseason was oftened by how embarrassing the Heat looked overall to the Spurs, but that still will not quiet the critics of #LetWestbrookBeWestbrook.

Date: 5/28/2014
Game: Heat @ Pacers

Lance Stephenson, with the Pacers' struggles, his own inconsistent play, flopping, and weird incidents like this, did not have a great postseason. He's still going to get paid this offseason though as a 23-year-old free agent, who can potentially become a championship-caliber two guard for the next decade. Someone's bound to offer him something a notch below a max contract.

Date: 6/10/2014
Game: Spurs @ Heat

This is how you beat a two-time defending NBA franchise with the best player alive starting against you.

Date: 6/12/2014
Game: Spurs @ Heat

Boris Diaw was lowkey one of the most important parts of the Spurs' Finals success. Diaw, who only started 24 games in the regular season, started the two most important games of their season: the last two. His minutes also increased to 35 per night. 32 year old Boris Diaw was legitimately a starting power forward on an NBA championship team. His passing and cutting in the paint helped tee up proper plays to keep the offense moving in a factory-like manner. Of all the role players in this series, Diaw was the best.

Date: 6/12/2014
Game: Spurs @ Heat

We all knew he was capable of a series like this. His defense was already worthy of an All-NBA Second Team spot, but his role in the Spurs' offense often shifted, and Kawhi Leonard never fully took advantage of one clear role at any point in the regular season. He'd occasionally go off for 26 against the Grizzlies while contributing solidly in other areas (6.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.7 SPG are good box score stat averages to eyeball), but he only scored over 20 points in three games in the regular season. That number climbed to five in the postseason, including three straight 20-plus point nights to close out the Finals.

Date: 6/15/2014
Game: Heat @ Spurs

Call it the "Paul George Leap." Kawhi Leonard, a Spurs' rotation player who didn't have the kind of breakout regular season that people were expecting after an impactful 2013 NBA Finals, is now the MVP of the 2014 NBA Finals. (For clarity: George had a much better regular season and breakout postseason in the 2013-14 season than Leonard.) Leonard played three of the best two-way games you'll ever see in an NBA Finals. The initial stats may not be eye popping (17.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG), but he also did all of that while matched up with LeBron James. James, who had a brilliant series himself, appeared gassed at times, and turned the ball over 18 times over the first four games of the series. Leonard bothered him.

Of course, the depth of the Spurs, their expert passing and cohesiveness, and their coaching is what ultimately put the Spurs in the drivers seat to give Leonard the opportunity to become the player he now is. With the possibility of a few of those guys below retiring this summer, Leonard is primed to become the next Spurs superstar. From David Robinson to Duncan to now Leonard?