West:
San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
-The Spurs swept the Clippers last series, and the Thunder took care of the Lakers in five games.
Thunder: Led by superstars Durant and Westbrook, the Thunder impressively defeated the Lakers in five games. Their youth has served them well, up to this point. Scotty Brooks is a great coach, and playing in the Oklahoma City arena is a challenge of its own. This young Thunder squad have momentum, and belief in themselves. They won't play scared of this Spurs team, whom they were beaten by two out of three times this year. James Harden as their 3rd scorer is electric, and Sefolosha is a lock-down defender. Ibaka and Perkins are a solid defensive front-court. The Thunder are much younger than the Spurs, and certainly more explosive. However, they really struggle against the pick-and-roll with Parker and Duncan. Durant is making a case for the NBA's best player this playoffs, and is the game's best scorer and closer.
Spurs: The Spurs are 29-2 in their last 31 games. Yes, 29-2. And have not lost in the 2012 playoffs. They made quick riddance of the Jazz and Clippers. Popovich is a mastermind as a coach, and the Spurs' trio of Ginobili, Parker, and Duncan have been dominant. The Spurs feature the NBA's most deep bench, with a basically 11 man rotation. Their depth is incredible, and they have tons of shooters. The Spurs are a veteran team who play with chemistry and experience. Their passing makes them a beautiful thing to watch. Tony Parker will be a headache for the Thunder to guard. They really struggle to contain him in pick-and-roll situations. How the Spurs try to slow down Durant is key to the series.
Prediction: Spurs in six games. The Thunder have more talent. More athleticism. More youth. More speed. But like the Mavericks last year, the Spurs are the best TEAM. They may not be as exciting as the Thunder, but they will get the job done.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
2012 NBA Playoffs- Eastern Conference Final Review/Prediction
East:
Miami Heat (2) vs. Boston Celtics (4)
-The Heat defeated the Pacers in six games last round, and the Celtics defeated the Sixers in seven games.
Celtics: Ray Allen is playing on a gimpy ankle, and struggled mightily last series. Paul Pierce has been LeBron's "kryptonite", but he is not 100% either. Avery Bradley, the Celtics' best on-ball defender, is out for the post-season for shoulder surgery. But K.G. and Rajon Rondo came up big, and led them to a game 7 win against the young 76ers. The Celtics' have arguably the sport's best coach, tons of experience, and savvy. Rondo will be a tough match-up for the Heat, for sure. The Celtics play the best team defense in basketball, but struggle to score.
Heat: With Chris Bosh out indefinitely, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have played their best basketball together since they started playing together. They took over the Indiana series entirely, without a major supporting cast. Chris Bosh will be missed, as he is not expected to return. Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers will need to play well for the Heat. They are much more rested, and much younger, than the Celtics. With Bradley out, Wade and James need to continue to force the issue and dominate the scoring.
Prediction: Heat in 6 games. LeBron and D-Wade are firing on all cylinders, and the Celtics limp into this series, injured and tired. The Celtics will play with intensity and pride, but that won't be enough. The Celtics struggle to score, and the Heat are an offensive juggernaut. This, sadly, is the end of the run of the Big 3.
The Heat move on to the NBA finals.,
Miami Heat (2) vs. Boston Celtics (4)
-The Heat defeated the Pacers in six games last round, and the Celtics defeated the Sixers in seven games.
Celtics: Ray Allen is playing on a gimpy ankle, and struggled mightily last series. Paul Pierce has been LeBron's "kryptonite", but he is not 100% either. Avery Bradley, the Celtics' best on-ball defender, is out for the post-season for shoulder surgery. But K.G. and Rajon Rondo came up big, and led them to a game 7 win against the young 76ers. The Celtics' have arguably the sport's best coach, tons of experience, and savvy. Rondo will be a tough match-up for the Heat, for sure. The Celtics play the best team defense in basketball, but struggle to score.
Heat: With Chris Bosh out indefinitely, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have played their best basketball together since they started playing together. They took over the Indiana series entirely, without a major supporting cast. Chris Bosh will be missed, as he is not expected to return. Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers will need to play well for the Heat. They are much more rested, and much younger, than the Celtics. With Bradley out, Wade and James need to continue to force the issue and dominate the scoring.
Prediction: Heat in 6 games. LeBron and D-Wade are firing on all cylinders, and the Celtics limp into this series, injured and tired. The Celtics will play with intensity and pride, but that won't be enough. The Celtics struggle to score, and the Heat are an offensive juggernaut. This, sadly, is the end of the run of the Big 3.
The Heat move on to the NBA finals.,
Sunday, May 13, 2012
2012 NBA Playoffs Round 2 Predictions
EAST
Celtics over 76ers in six games (Key match-up: Andre Igoudala v. Paul Pierce)
---The Celtics experience and defense will overcome the Sixers' youth and athleticism.
Heat over Pacers in six games (Key match-up: Roy Hibbert vs Miami's front line)
---Paul George is a great defender, Granger is a pure scorer, and Hibbert will give Miami problems, but in the end, LeBron is a man on a mission, and the Heat are just too good.
WEST
Spurs over Clippers in five games (Key match-up: Chris Paul vs. Tony Parker)
---The Clippers match-up pretty well with the Spurs, actually. But the Clippers struggle offensively, and the Spurs were the league's highest scoring team, and are solid defensively. The Spurs' experience, and overall team play will be the difference in a pretty easy series.
Thunder over Lakers in seven games (Key match-up: Bynum/Gasol vs Thunder bigs)
---It's hard to ever doubt Kobe. And Bynum/Gasol COULD dominate this series. The key to this match-up is in the hands of Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins. We know what we're going to get from Durant, Harden, and Westbrook/ But if Perkins/Ibaka can rebound, stay OUT of foul trouble, and Ibaka can block shots, they will win. Thabo Sefolosha will play a big role in shutting down Kobe. Do not underestimate this young Thunder team; they have what it takes to win it all.
***BEST series: Thunder vs. Lakers.
Celtics over 76ers in six games (Key match-up: Andre Igoudala v. Paul Pierce)
---The Celtics experience and defense will overcome the Sixers' youth and athleticism.
Heat over Pacers in six games (Key match-up: Roy Hibbert vs Miami's front line)
---Paul George is a great defender, Granger is a pure scorer, and Hibbert will give Miami problems, but in the end, LeBron is a man on a mission, and the Heat are just too good.
WEST
Spurs over Clippers in five games (Key match-up: Chris Paul vs. Tony Parker)
---The Clippers match-up pretty well with the Spurs, actually. But the Clippers struggle offensively, and the Spurs were the league's highest scoring team, and are solid defensively. The Spurs' experience, and overall team play will be the difference in a pretty easy series.
Thunder over Lakers in seven games (Key match-up: Bynum/Gasol vs Thunder bigs)
---It's hard to ever doubt Kobe. And Bynum/Gasol COULD dominate this series. The key to this match-up is in the hands of Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins. We know what we're going to get from Durant, Harden, and Westbrook/ But if Perkins/Ibaka can rebound, stay OUT of foul trouble, and Ibaka can block shots, they will win. Thabo Sefolosha will play a big role in shutting down Kobe. Do not underestimate this young Thunder team; they have what it takes to win it all.
***BEST series: Thunder vs. Lakers.
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