The NBA playoffs are off into the next stage of the race as the teams who advanced on to the second round are set to start the next series on Sunday.
Surprisingly most of my predictions were right on the winners of the first round series' but the number of games were off badly. (Thanks to my belief I am a true "NBA analyze.")
Although the biggest surprises of the first round was the San Antonio Spurs being knocked out by the Memphis Grizzles and the Atlanta Hawks defeating the Orlando Magic.
So lets get started and lets see if I still have potential to be a NBA analyze.
The follow are the Eastern Conference semi-finals series' and my predictions:
No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks: This is going to be a interesting series. The Bulls had a scare a few times in the series against the Indiana Pacers, as the Bulls nearly lost a few games including Game 1.
The Bulls looked great either way, they were able to handle the Pacers and Derrick Rose had a monster series.
As for the Hawks they had a great series against a mediocre Magic team. Joe Johnson did not have a terriffic series against the Magic but the Hawks were able to play great team ball and hold down Dwight Howard in a few games.
As for the series I think it will be hard for the Hawks to guard Rose. Without Kirk Hinrich for sometime, the Hawks will have trouble keeping up with Rose and with a loose Rose roaming the floor--the Bulls will be able to get anything they want.
I have the Bulls winning the series: 4-2.
No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 3 Boston Celtics: This series is going to be the best second round series. These two teams are building a somewhat rivalry--mainly for this season.
The Celtics own the regular season series, 3-1, and the Celtics were able to handle the Heat well in the three wins. The series against the New York Knicks helped the Celtics regain their energy and confidence to play anyone they face.
The sweep on the Knicks should jump start the Celtics to go off on another run to the finals.
As for the Heat, they were able to hold off the Philadelphia 78ers without breaking a sweat. Without a post game and size in the middle, I highly doubt the Heat can survive in the postseason as they face better teams.
The Celtics are short handed too in the middle but if they can get something out of their bigs in the series than they should be able to hold off the Heat with their big four: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allan, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
I have the Celtics winning the series: 4-2.
Moving from the East to the West, the Spurs will not be moving on after the Grizzles amazingly defeated them in six games. The Grizzles might be a low seed but the Oklahoma City Thunder should not take them lightly.
The following are the Western Conference semi-finals series' and my predictions:
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 3 Dallas Mavericks: This series is second best to the Boston/Miami series.
In the last regular season match, Lakers' Matt Barnes and Mavericks' Jason Terry caused a huge fight after a altercation between Terry and Lakers' Steve Blake. The two teams build a rivalry after that incident and they action picks up again when the two teams face off in this series.
The Lakers started of their first round series slow after dropping Game 1 to the New Orleans Hornets but after Kobe Bryant's great performance in Game 5, the Lakers are on their A-game and are looking like an championship team again.
The Mavericks are looking great as well after taking out the Portland Blazers in six games. The Mavericks are the closes team to match the Lakers length but it is going to take a lot more to take out the champs.
The Lakers are gong to be too hard to control when they have Bryant and Pau Gasol on top of their games while having Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and the supporting cast adding on to that success.
I have the Lakers winning the series, 4-2.
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzles: I am pulling for the Grizzles in this series. They match well with the Thunder. The Grizzles won the regular season series 3-1 and they are dangerous.
Memphis has a solid team although a lot of them are underrated including Zack Randolph. They have a underrated defender in Shane Battier who will be able to keep Kevin Durant under control.
Memphis has a great center, Marc Gasol and a up and coming star, Mike Conley who is making a name for himself in these playoffs.
A lot of people are going to say that the Thunder are too good with Durant and Russell Westbrook leading the way but they are becoming overrated.
This team is still young like the Grizzles and this team is filling in shoes that are too big for them. I doubt there is a difference between the Grizzles and Thunder.
Both teams have a equal chance to win the series and the winner will be determined by who has the most heart and whose bench shows up.
I have the Grizzles winning this series: 4-2.
Stay tuned as the NBA playoffs continue and lets see if my dreams of being a NBA analyze can stay alive.
Showing posts with label Boston Celtics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston Celtics. Show all posts
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Boston Celtics are making a comeback
The Boston Celtics have swept the New York Knicks to advance onto the second round of the NBA playoffs.
The Celtics were not expected to make it back to the NBA finals after making a puzzling trade that left their fans wondering what it was all about.
Without Shaquille O'Neal for the start of the playoffs and most of the regular season, the lack of size was the one cause that kept experts and fans from picking the Celtics to make it back.
Although they might be halfway out the door, I think they still are the team to beat to come out of the East. A sweep in the first round can help this team out a lot.
A postseason ago everyone did not have the Celtics coming out of the East but they did anyway and lost to the Los Anageles Lakers in seven games.
The Celtics can make a hot run in the postseason and they still have their big four: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.
Despite not having their muscle in the post anymore (Kendrick Perkins,) they do have the two O'Neals who can help enough as long as they can stay healthy.
The Celtics are always dangerous as long as they are still alive and whoever they face in the second round (most likely the Miami Heat), they are going to give that team a hard time and possibly make people believe in them again.
At the start of the playoffs I had the Chicago Bulls in the finals but after witnessing the Celtics sweep the Knicks--I feel the Celtics are capable of making another run to the finals like they did a season ago.
The Celtics were not expected to make it back to the NBA finals after making a puzzling trade that left their fans wondering what it was all about.
Without Shaquille O'Neal for the start of the playoffs and most of the regular season, the lack of size was the one cause that kept experts and fans from picking the Celtics to make it back.
Although they might be halfway out the door, I think they still are the team to beat to come out of the East. A sweep in the first round can help this team out a lot.
A postseason ago everyone did not have the Celtics coming out of the East but they did anyway and lost to the Los Anageles Lakers in seven games.
The Celtics can make a hot run in the postseason and they still have their big four: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.
Despite not having their muscle in the post anymore (Kendrick Perkins,) they do have the two O'Neals who can help enough as long as they can stay healthy.
The Celtics are always dangerous as long as they are still alive and whoever they face in the second round (most likely the Miami Heat), they are going to give that team a hard time and possibly make people believe in them again.
At the start of the playoffs I had the Chicago Bulls in the finals but after witnessing the Celtics sweep the Knicks--I feel the Celtics are capable of making another run to the finals like they did a season ago.
Friday, April 15, 2011
NBA first round brings the fun
The NBA playoffs have arrived and the trills and excitement of the NBA regular season increases as the NBA's best of best face off with each other.
16 wins seperate the 16 teams who start the NBA playoffs tomorrow and at this moment each one of these teams have a chance to win the Larry O'Brien.
The Eastern Conference made powerful moves last summer as LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwayne Wade in Miami to create a super team with the Heat. This past NBA deadline the New York Knicks landed Carmelo Anthony to created a dynamic duo with him and A'mare Stoudemire.
The following are the four Eastern Conference playoff series and my prediction for each one:
No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 Indiana Pacers - This is a unfair match for the Pacers. Granted they do have lots of pride to fight for the last playoff seed in the East but their team and record defintely prove they should be a lottery team in the NBA draft.
The Bulls will win the series easily, 4-0. Derrick Rose is the clear favorite to win Most Valuable Player and the Bulls are a team who cannot be beat because they play smart and they share the ball together where they play as a team.
No. 4 Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks - This series is going to be boring. The Hawks are not a contending team like they were in the past few seasons. They are a good team who cannot get out of second gear.
The Magic are a team who has good pieces surrounding Dwight Howard but they seem like they have no where to go. They say they want to win a title but they do not have the identity to do that. The Magic will win this series, 4-2, but I do not see this Magic team doing anything else.
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 New York Knicks - This is going to be a easy series for the Celtics. The Knicks do not play defense and they are a loose team who tries to beat their opponents on quick lay-ups and three-pointers.
The Celtics are still a decent defensive team and they should be able to control the Knicks. The Celtics can use this series to jump start their big four who has been struggling ever since the team traded away its center, Kendrick Perkins.
I have the Celtics winning the series, 4-1.
No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers - Like the Bulls/Pacers series, I do not see the 76ers having success against the Heat. The Heat are good enough without its post game to defeat the 76ers.
James and Wade will have a great series and the Heat will win this series easily. I have the Heat winning the series, 4-0.
As the East got stronger last offseason, the West has been still competitive as years past. The two-time defending champions, Los Angeles Lakers are re-identifying themselves as they start the postseason and the Oklahoma City Thunder grew into men after picking up Perkins from the Celtics at the trade deadline.
The following are the Western Conference playoff series and my prediction for each one:
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzles - The Spurs are starting off the series without Manu Ginobili after he suffered a injury on the last game of the season. Although they do not have their scorning machine who comes off the bench, the Spurs should have not have a problem taking care of the Grizzles.
The Grizzles will be without Rudy Gay and they do not have much to compete against the Spurs.
I have the Spurs winning the series, 4-1.
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Denver Nuggets - This series is a must watch for all basketball fans. The two teams are athletic, explosive and anything can go in this series.
The Thunder are entering the series as clear favorites but they have yet to win a road playoff game and they will have a lot in their hands with the Nuggets. The Nuggets are doing well without Anthony and they have the second best second half record following the NBA All-star weekend.
Either team could have shot at winning the series. This will come down to how the Nuggets defend Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook.
I have the Thunder winning the series, 4-3.
No. 3 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 6 Portland Blazers - If there is going to be a upset in the first round then this series will be where that occurs. The Mavericks are not clear favorites because they are missing their toughness with the injured Caron Butler.
The Blazers have a team capable of matching the Mavericks and guarding the talented Dirk Nowitzki. The series will come down to the Blazers making the games close at crunch time and Brandon Roy being able to close out the games for the Blazers.
I have the Blazers winning the series, 4-2.
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 7 New Orleans Hornets - This series could not have been more favoring to the Lakers. The Lakers are limping into the playoffs with five losses in their last seven games. The Lakers almost received bad luck after center Andrew Bynum hyper-extended his knee but Bynum is set to start the playoffs with the team.
The Hornets will not be able to contend with the Lakers length. The Hornets do not have a chance in the series because they are going to be playing without injured David West.
I have the Lakers winning the series, 4-0.
The first round should be interesting because the 2011 NBA playoffs are going to be one of the best in recent history. Lots of great teams will make a leap and drew closer to the NBA title as the first round series play out.
16 wins seperate the 16 teams who start the NBA playoffs tomorrow and at this moment each one of these teams have a chance to win the Larry O'Brien.
The Eastern Conference made powerful moves last summer as LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwayne Wade in Miami to create a super team with the Heat. This past NBA deadline the New York Knicks landed Carmelo Anthony to created a dynamic duo with him and A'mare Stoudemire.
The following are the four Eastern Conference playoff series and my prediction for each one:
No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 Indiana Pacers - This is a unfair match for the Pacers. Granted they do have lots of pride to fight for the last playoff seed in the East but their team and record defintely prove they should be a lottery team in the NBA draft.
The Bulls will win the series easily, 4-0. Derrick Rose is the clear favorite to win Most Valuable Player and the Bulls are a team who cannot be beat because they play smart and they share the ball together where they play as a team.
No. 4 Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks - This series is going to be boring. The Hawks are not a contending team like they were in the past few seasons. They are a good team who cannot get out of second gear.
The Magic are a team who has good pieces surrounding Dwight Howard but they seem like they have no where to go. They say they want to win a title but they do not have the identity to do that. The Magic will win this series, 4-2, but I do not see this Magic team doing anything else.
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 New York Knicks - This is going to be a easy series for the Celtics. The Knicks do not play defense and they are a loose team who tries to beat their opponents on quick lay-ups and three-pointers.
The Celtics are still a decent defensive team and they should be able to control the Knicks. The Celtics can use this series to jump start their big four who has been struggling ever since the team traded away its center, Kendrick Perkins.
I have the Celtics winning the series, 4-1.
No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers - Like the Bulls/Pacers series, I do not see the 76ers having success against the Heat. The Heat are good enough without its post game to defeat the 76ers.
James and Wade will have a great series and the Heat will win this series easily. I have the Heat winning the series, 4-0.
As the East got stronger last offseason, the West has been still competitive as years past. The two-time defending champions, Los Angeles Lakers are re-identifying themselves as they start the postseason and the Oklahoma City Thunder grew into men after picking up Perkins from the Celtics at the trade deadline.
The following are the Western Conference playoff series and my prediction for each one:
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzles - The Spurs are starting off the series without Manu Ginobili after he suffered a injury on the last game of the season. Although they do not have their scorning machine who comes off the bench, the Spurs should have not have a problem taking care of the Grizzles.
The Grizzles will be without Rudy Gay and they do not have much to compete against the Spurs.
I have the Spurs winning the series, 4-1.
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Denver Nuggets - This series is a must watch for all basketball fans. The two teams are athletic, explosive and anything can go in this series.
The Thunder are entering the series as clear favorites but they have yet to win a road playoff game and they will have a lot in their hands with the Nuggets. The Nuggets are doing well without Anthony and they have the second best second half record following the NBA All-star weekend.
Either team could have shot at winning the series. This will come down to how the Nuggets defend Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook.
I have the Thunder winning the series, 4-3.
No. 3 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 6 Portland Blazers - If there is going to be a upset in the first round then this series will be where that occurs. The Mavericks are not clear favorites because they are missing their toughness with the injured Caron Butler.
The Blazers have a team capable of matching the Mavericks and guarding the talented Dirk Nowitzki. The series will come down to the Blazers making the games close at crunch time and Brandon Roy being able to close out the games for the Blazers.
I have the Blazers winning the series, 4-2.
No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 7 New Orleans Hornets - This series could not have been more favoring to the Lakers. The Lakers are limping into the playoffs with five losses in their last seven games. The Lakers almost received bad luck after center Andrew Bynum hyper-extended his knee but Bynum is set to start the playoffs with the team.
The Hornets will not be able to contend with the Lakers length. The Hornets do not have a chance in the series because they are going to be playing without injured David West.
I have the Lakers winning the series, 4-0.
The first round should be interesting because the 2011 NBA playoffs are going to be one of the best in recent history. Lots of great teams will make a leap and drew closer to the NBA title as the first round series play out.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Chicago Bulls are running away with the East
There is no surprise for why the Chicago Bulls are No. 1 in the NBA Eastern Conference.
According to Coach Nick on the video below, the Bulls have all the ingredients to possibly win the NBA title this June.
Team defense, solid scoring and doing all the little things are all what the Bulls have and those assets are what is going to lead the Bulls to the next level.
The Bulls are back!
According to Coach Nick on the video below, the Bulls have all the ingredients to possibly win the NBA title this June.
Team defense, solid scoring and doing all the little things are all what the Bulls have and those assets are what is going to lead the Bulls to the next level.
The Bulls are back!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Random NBA trades at the deadline
Kendrick Perkins, Deron Williams and Baron Davis all have something in common other than being basketball players.
The three were not notified to being traded by their teams and sent off unexpectly to another NBA team.
The stunned trades began with Williams yesterday when the Utah Jazz traded off its All-star point guard to the New Jersey Nets for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and a future first round pick.
Williams' trade came weeks after the Jazz's long time head coach Jerry Sloan unexpectedly stepped down as the head coach and retired.
Williams and Sloan were believed to be in a heated argument days before Sloan stepped down.
The team denied Williams being the reason for Sloan to quit as head coach but with the trade it seems as if he was all along.
Davis was the next player to be traded without being notified. Davis and Clippers' owner Donald Sterling had their share of disagreements throughout the season.
Davis was being accused of not being interested in the team's season and Sterling was heard criticizing Davis during Clippers' games every time Davis ran pass him.
The Clippers were serching for a team to trade Davis on but Davis is going to be earning over $30 million for the next two seasons and he had a tough contract to move.
The Clippers manged to pull off a trade that sent Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.
The latest trade was the biggest stunner of the NBA trade deadline trades.
The Celtics traded Perkins along with Nate Robinson to the Oaklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green and Nedad Krsitc.
The Celtics were a team set to compete and favorites to win the NBA title this season with the return of their starting center, Perkins, after he returned from a knee injury he suffered in Game 6 of the 2010 NBA finals.
The Celtics had all the pieces in place but now everyone around the association is scratching their head and wondering why did the Celtics make the move.
One theory is the Celtics are trying to pick up Troy Murphy after the Golden State Warriors buy him out but that is not guaranteed.
The trade might hurt the Celtics because the team made another trade a few minutes later that sent two more big men to the Cavaliers for a Cavaliers' second round pick.
Thus far these trades have been unexpected and odd but the biggest trade was Carmelo Anthony being sent to the New York Knicks. All season the Nuggets were trying to move Anthony and they finally got to make it happen and the team ended up getting great pieces back. The trade was great for both teams.
The three were not notified to being traded by their teams and sent off unexpectly to another NBA team.
The stunned trades began with Williams yesterday when the Utah Jazz traded off its All-star point guard to the New Jersey Nets for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and a future first round pick.
Williams' trade came weeks after the Jazz's long time head coach Jerry Sloan unexpectedly stepped down as the head coach and retired.
Williams and Sloan were believed to be in a heated argument days before Sloan stepped down.
The team denied Williams being the reason for Sloan to quit as head coach but with the trade it seems as if he was all along.
Davis was the next player to be traded without being notified. Davis and Clippers' owner Donald Sterling had their share of disagreements throughout the season.
Davis was being accused of not being interested in the team's season and Sterling was heard criticizing Davis during Clippers' games every time Davis ran pass him.
The Clippers were serching for a team to trade Davis on but Davis is going to be earning over $30 million for the next two seasons and he had a tough contract to move.
The Clippers manged to pull off a trade that sent Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon.
The latest trade was the biggest stunner of the NBA trade deadline trades.
The Celtics traded Perkins along with Nate Robinson to the Oaklahoma City Thunder for Jeff Green and Nedad Krsitc.
The Celtics were a team set to compete and favorites to win the NBA title this season with the return of their starting center, Perkins, after he returned from a knee injury he suffered in Game 6 of the 2010 NBA finals.
The Celtics had all the pieces in place but now everyone around the association is scratching their head and wondering why did the Celtics make the move.
One theory is the Celtics are trying to pick up Troy Murphy after the Golden State Warriors buy him out but that is not guaranteed.
The trade might hurt the Celtics because the team made another trade a few minutes later that sent two more big men to the Cavaliers for a Cavaliers' second round pick.
Thus far these trades have been unexpected and odd but the biggest trade was Carmelo Anthony being sent to the New York Knicks. All season the Nuggets were trying to move Anthony and they finally got to make it happen and the team ended up getting great pieces back. The trade was great for both teams.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Biggest game of the season
After a grueling NBA Finals series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, the series comes down to one single game at Staples Center tonight.
The series has been marvelous as both teams have shown that they can rebound from a bad loss and win a game with full dominance.
The Lakers faced elimination in Game 6 and played specular as they held the Celtics to 67 points!
The Lakers cannot let their guard down after that impressive win. If they want to repeat as champions; they must repeat what they did in Game 6 and raise up the notch ten times more then the Celtics.
I am confident the Lakers will prevail in Game 7 and win the NBA's Larry O'Brien Championship for the second time in two years.
It has been a amazing season for the Lakers and winning Game 7 against their arch rivals would just be the perfect ending to the season.
Without Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics will be vulnerable inside the paint, so the Lakers must pound the ball inside to the big man for as long as they can.
The Lakers motto for the series has been, "No rebounds, no rings."
That's exactly what the Lakers also need to do, rebound!
Rebound, rebound, rebound Lakers.
Lets go Lakers. Lets get us another banner!
The series has been marvelous as both teams have shown that they can rebound from a bad loss and win a game with full dominance.
The Lakers faced elimination in Game 6 and played specular as they held the Celtics to 67 points!
The Lakers cannot let their guard down after that impressive win. If they want to repeat as champions; they must repeat what they did in Game 6 and raise up the notch ten times more then the Celtics.
I am confident the Lakers will prevail in Game 7 and win the NBA's Larry O'Brien Championship for the second time in two years.
It has been a amazing season for the Lakers and winning Game 7 against their arch rivals would just be the perfect ending to the season.
Without Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics will be vulnerable inside the paint, so the Lakers must pound the ball inside to the big man for as long as they can.
The Lakers motto for the series has been, "No rebounds, no rings."
That's exactly what the Lakers also need to do, rebound!
Rebound, rebound, rebound Lakers.
Lets go Lakers. Lets get us another banner!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Lakers are down but not out
In the shadow of the the FIFA World Cup, the NBA Finals are heating up as the series is heading back to Los Angeles.
The series has been a pattern as one team would win than the other team would win the following game and etc.
But now that pattern has been stopped as the Boston Celtics are the first team to win back to back games in the series.
The Los Angeles Lakers are now facing elimination for the first time in the postseason since the 2008 NBA Finals.
The Lakers are down 3-2 in the series but they are not discourage, because they have the final two games at home.
Now this series has been unpredictable with all the big performances by random players from both teams.
In Game 2 it was Rajon Rondo, Game 3 it was Derek Fisher, Game 4 it was Glen Davis and Nate Robinson and Game 5 it was Paul Pierce.
No game has been won by the big names like Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett.
But the prediction by NBA Experts like Jalen Rose are on target.
He and many other experts predicted the Lakers to win the title in seven games. They also said each team would win one game on the other team's floor.
Phil Jackson is 47-0 when winning Game 1 of a seven game series.
The Lakers won Game 1.
The winner of Game 3 after a series is tied at 1-1 in a 2-3-2 format goes on to win the title 100 percent.
The Lakers won Game 3.
It does not look like the Lakers are favorites to win at this moment, but they have all the odds with them to come back and win the title.
I predicted the Lakers in six, but I am confident they are going to win the final two games at Staples Center.
I am never going to lose hope.
The series has been a pattern as one team would win than the other team would win the following game and etc.
But now that pattern has been stopped as the Boston Celtics are the first team to win back to back games in the series.
The Los Angeles Lakers are now facing elimination for the first time in the postseason since the 2008 NBA Finals.
The Lakers are down 3-2 in the series but they are not discourage, because they have the final two games at home.
Now this series has been unpredictable with all the big performances by random players from both teams.
In Game 2 it was Rajon Rondo, Game 3 it was Derek Fisher, Game 4 it was Glen Davis and Nate Robinson and Game 5 it was Paul Pierce.
No game has been won by the big names like Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett.
But the prediction by NBA Experts like Jalen Rose are on target.
He and many other experts predicted the Lakers to win the title in seven games. They also said each team would win one game on the other team's floor.
Phil Jackson is 47-0 when winning Game 1 of a seven game series.
The Lakers won Game 1.
The winner of Game 3 after a series is tied at 1-1 in a 2-3-2 format goes on to win the title 100 percent.
The Lakers won Game 3.
It does not look like the Lakers are favorites to win at this moment, but they have all the odds with them to come back and win the title.
I predicted the Lakers in six, but I am confident they are going to win the final two games at Staples Center.
I am never going to lose hope.
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