The intense and excitement is in the air as spring rises which only means the NBA playoffs are going on.
The first round Game 1s brought surprises across the board as the Chicago Bulls witness their Most Valuable Player, Derrick Rose, go down in the late minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers with a torn ACL.
The costly injury to Rose has changed the picture in the Eastern Conference playoffs as the Bulls are close to zero percent to win the NBA championship this year.
The clear favorite to come out of the East is now the Miami Heat as it has been tearing up the New York Knicks with a 33-point win in Game 1.
The Knicks have felt the frustration with their 12 game losing streak in the playoffs as Amar'e Stoudemire punched the glass window of a fire extinguisher after the Game 2 loss.
The Boston Celtics are still hanging around as they were able to split the first two games against the Atlanta Hawks as the series heads back to Boston.
The Celtics are still showing they are capable of competing as Paul Pierce led the team to the victory as the team was without its starting guards, Rajon Rondo (who is serving a suspension) and Ray Allen (who has been out with an ankle injury).
In the last series in the East, the Orlando Magic are playing without its superstar center, Dwight Howard, as it has split the first two games with the Indiana Pacers as the series heads back to Orlando.
The Pacers are a young team as they were able to surprise the league this season with an impressive start but the team is inexperience in the postseason and winning the series against the Magic will be an accomplishment for Indiana.
Now the excitement swifts West as the playoff series in the Western Conference has been amazing as always.
The San Antonio Spurs came out swinging and dominating throughout the season as they were able to lock up the top spot in the West and draw a first round match against the Utah Jazz.
The Spurs are gliding through the Jazz and the series is looking to be one-sided and the Spurs will eventually end it in four.
The up and coming Los Angeles Clippers made a big impression in Game 1 versus the Memphis Grizzles as the Clippers were able to come back from 21 points and beat the Grizzles on the road.
The Grizzles have the edge in the series as they made noise last postseason with their first round upset against the Spurs, but with the task of beating the Clippers and Zack Randolph trying to come back from an early season injury, the Grizzles will have a tough time getting passed the Clippers.
The other Los Angeles team, the Lakers, have had their doubts from critics throughout the season but the Lakers are looking great as the postseason moves along.
The Lakers are being pulled by Andrew Bynum, who had a triple double in Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets, and Kobe Bryant, who had 38 points in Game 2 against the Nuggets, and at the same time the Lakers offense is looking solid as the defense is impressive.
The Lakers aren't the clear favorites in the West but they are making it known that they are out to kill and win another NBA championship.
The Lakers are deadly with a healthy Bryant, a dominating Bynum, a skilled Pau Gasol and a supporting cast of talented players such as Ramon Sessions, Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, Metta World-Peace, Devin Ebanks and Jordan Hill.
The last series in the West is between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the defending champion, Dallas Mavericks, the series looks like last year's second playoff series against the Mavericks and Lakers as the first two games could have went either way.
The Thunder lead the series 2-0 at the moment but the first two games have been so close that the Mavericks could have been leading 2-0 right now or at least the series could have been heading back to Dallas tied at one.
The Mavericks are not done yet in the series but they have to find a way to hold late leads because this series can easily go seven games and it would not be a surprised if Dallas wins the series.
The first games of round one have been finalized and it is only the beginning so as the first rounds play out and the postseason continues, the intense and excitement will rise to new stressful levels for the NBA fans.
And on a side note, the Lakers and Heat will be the teams to meet in this year's NBA finals as the Lakers edge the Heat for the championship in seven games.
Showing posts with label NBA playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA playoffs. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Let the revenge begin
Finally after two weeks of amazing basketball, the NBA finals are set, and as the smoke clears, we are left with the two most storied franchised in the NBA.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics will renew their long documented rivalry.
The Celtics were a team that everyone wrote off and were no one's choice to be in this year's NBA Finals, but after a impressive upset over the favorites, Cleveland Cavaliers, and knocking off the defending Eastern Conference Champions, Orlando Magic, the Celtics are back again as the team they were two years ago.
The Lakers were favorites to be back in the finals, and are the favorites to repeat as champions again, but it was not easy for the Lakers to get back to the finals this year.
The Celtics entered the NBA Playoffs with questions on the health of their team.
The Celtics passed the Miami Heat and were up against their next challenge: The Cavaliers. The world was shocked when LeBron James had quit in Games 5 and 6, and give the Celtics the series.
After knocking out the Cavaliers, no one believed the Celtics could do it again against the Magic. The Celtics jumped up to a 3-0 lead in the series, and had people jumping back on their wagon.
The Magic did not quit, instead the team grabbed two wins before the Celtics eliminated them.
For the Lakers, they had a tough season dealing with injuries with their super star Kobe Bryant. Bryant did not let that stop him from playing, he continued playing with the injuries.
The Lakers opened up their road to repeat with the young, athletic Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder did not let them off easily as they took them six games, but the Lakers won the series.
Next were the Utah Jazz, the team was lucky to advance to the second round, after the Denver Nuggets lost control of their team without the leadership of their coach.
The Jazz had no chance against the Lakers. Los Angeles swept them in four games.
Next were the underestimated Phoenix Suns, the team that missed the playoffs last season and were not expected to be in the Western Conference Finals.
No one had the Suns beating the Lakers, but the Suns figured out a way to beat the Lakers after Los Angeles went up 2-0 in the series.
Pheonix went to a zone defense that brought the team back to a 2-2 tie and was keeping them in the series.
Game 5 was the turning point of the series.
With a minute to go and the Lakers up 101-98, Ron Artest took the stupidest shot in Lakers history.
Artest had missed a running shot but Gasol had gotten the offensive rebound and passed it back to Artest, but Artest took another shot with 22 seconds left in the shot clock but missed the shot.
Afterwards Steve Nash brought the ball up and took a three pointer that missed. The Suns grabbed the rebound and Jason Richardson took another three, but he missed and the Suns got another rebound, this time Richardson banked a three with three seconds left in the game.
The Lakers came back with Bryant shooting a three pointer, but it fell short and Artest was there to put it back for the game winning shot.
The win gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the series and allowing Artest to redeem himself for dumb shot he did before.
The Lakers closed out the Suns back in Phoenix and are in the NBA Finals for the third straight year and 31st time in franchise history.
The last time the Lakers and Celtics faced off in the finals, the Lakers were on a roll that was feeding off the trade that brought Gasol to the Lakers.
The Celtics had fire power and great defense that locked up Bryant to allow Boston to beat the Lakers in six games.
This year will be different because the Lakers have the experience, great defense (with the addition of Artest), Andrew Bynum (a player that the Lakers did not have in 2008), and the Celtics are not the same team of 2008.
Artest was brought to Los Angeles to face guys like Paul Pierce. Pierce went off on the Lakers back in 2008, but this time he will be getting locked down by Artest.
The Lakers did not have Bynum in 2008 because he had a knee injury. Bynum has another knee injury, but since he is playing with it, it gives the Lakers another body to fill the post and get rebounds and block shots.
Bynum does not need to lead the Lakers in scoring, any points he gets will be a extra for the Lakers. His defense is what is more important for the Lakers.
The Lakers are favorites this time, because I do not believe the Celtics can take out another elite team for a third time.
Kevin Garnett is not 100 percent, Ray Allen is not going to hurt the Lakers a whole lot, Pierce won't get everything he wants, and the Celtics live and die with Rajon Rondo.
As long as the Lakers continue what they have been doing all season, than Boston should not be a headace.
Boston will get wins, but not all four wins.
The Lakers are well enough prepared to go head to head with the Celtics and they have home court advantage.
Not that I am a Lakers fan, but I do believe the Lakers will beat the Celtics this year.
I pick the Lakers in six games.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics will renew their long documented rivalry.
The Celtics were a team that everyone wrote off and were no one's choice to be in this year's NBA Finals, but after a impressive upset over the favorites, Cleveland Cavaliers, and knocking off the defending Eastern Conference Champions, Orlando Magic, the Celtics are back again as the team they were two years ago.
The Lakers were favorites to be back in the finals, and are the favorites to repeat as champions again, but it was not easy for the Lakers to get back to the finals this year.
The Celtics entered the NBA Playoffs with questions on the health of their team.
The Celtics passed the Miami Heat and were up against their next challenge: The Cavaliers. The world was shocked when LeBron James had quit in Games 5 and 6, and give the Celtics the series.
After knocking out the Cavaliers, no one believed the Celtics could do it again against the Magic. The Celtics jumped up to a 3-0 lead in the series, and had people jumping back on their wagon.
The Magic did not quit, instead the team grabbed two wins before the Celtics eliminated them.
For the Lakers, they had a tough season dealing with injuries with their super star Kobe Bryant. Bryant did not let that stop him from playing, he continued playing with the injuries.
The Lakers opened up their road to repeat with the young, athletic Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder did not let them off easily as they took them six games, but the Lakers won the series.
Next were the Utah Jazz, the team was lucky to advance to the second round, after the Denver Nuggets lost control of their team without the leadership of their coach.
The Jazz had no chance against the Lakers. Los Angeles swept them in four games.
Next were the underestimated Phoenix Suns, the team that missed the playoffs last season and were not expected to be in the Western Conference Finals.
No one had the Suns beating the Lakers, but the Suns figured out a way to beat the Lakers after Los Angeles went up 2-0 in the series.
Pheonix went to a zone defense that brought the team back to a 2-2 tie and was keeping them in the series.
Game 5 was the turning point of the series.
With a minute to go and the Lakers up 101-98, Ron Artest took the stupidest shot in Lakers history.
Artest had missed a running shot but Gasol had gotten the offensive rebound and passed it back to Artest, but Artest took another shot with 22 seconds left in the shot clock but missed the shot.
Afterwards Steve Nash brought the ball up and took a three pointer that missed. The Suns grabbed the rebound and Jason Richardson took another three, but he missed and the Suns got another rebound, this time Richardson banked a three with three seconds left in the game.
The Lakers came back with Bryant shooting a three pointer, but it fell short and Artest was there to put it back for the game winning shot.
The win gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the series and allowing Artest to redeem himself for dumb shot he did before.
The Lakers closed out the Suns back in Phoenix and are in the NBA Finals for the third straight year and 31st time in franchise history.
The last time the Lakers and Celtics faced off in the finals, the Lakers were on a roll that was feeding off the trade that brought Gasol to the Lakers.
The Celtics had fire power and great defense that locked up Bryant to allow Boston to beat the Lakers in six games.
This year will be different because the Lakers have the experience, great defense (with the addition of Artest), Andrew Bynum (a player that the Lakers did not have in 2008), and the Celtics are not the same team of 2008.
Artest was brought to Los Angeles to face guys like Paul Pierce. Pierce went off on the Lakers back in 2008, but this time he will be getting locked down by Artest.
The Lakers did not have Bynum in 2008 because he had a knee injury. Bynum has another knee injury, but since he is playing with it, it gives the Lakers another body to fill the post and get rebounds and block shots.
Bynum does not need to lead the Lakers in scoring, any points he gets will be a extra for the Lakers. His defense is what is more important for the Lakers.
The Lakers are favorites this time, because I do not believe the Celtics can take out another elite team for a third time.
Kevin Garnett is not 100 percent, Ray Allen is not going to hurt the Lakers a whole lot, Pierce won't get everything he wants, and the Celtics live and die with Rajon Rondo.
As long as the Lakers continue what they have been doing all season, than Boston should not be a headace.
Boston will get wins, but not all four wins.
The Lakers are well enough prepared to go head to head with the Celtics and they have home court advantage.
Not that I am a Lakers fan, but I do believe the Lakers will beat the Celtics this year.
I pick the Lakers in six games.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
2010 NBA postseason predictions
The 2009-10 NBA regular season has came to screeching end, and it came down to the 82nd game to determine the seedings for the playoffs.
In the western conference, No. 2 through No. 7 were up for grabs, and all eight western conference teams winning 50 or more games.
In the east, the eighth and final playoff spot was a snail race between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.
The games came and gone and here are the official playoff matches:
Western Conferences playoff bracket.
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder.
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No 6. Portland Blazers
No. 2 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
In the Lakers/ Thunder series, I am going with the Lakers in four games. I don't think the Thunder will be able to steal one game against the defending champs because I am confident the Lakers will finally flip the switch and be the team they were last postseason.
In the Nuggets/ Jazz series, I am leaning towards the Jazz in seven. I think this series will be fun and full of emotion from both teams. The two teams are evenly balance and this series can go all seven games and can go to either team. I will mark this series as a toss up but for now I will go with the Jazz because they have made a late run in their season.
In the Suns/ Blazers series, I am going with the Suns in five games. I don't think the Blazers can recover and win this series without Brandon Roy. They had a great season, but the Suns have been on fire for all of the second season, and if the Suns can continue that, they have a easy chance of making it to the western conference finals.
In the Mavericks/ Spurs series, I am going with the Mavericks in six games. I think this series can be like the Nuggets/ Jazz series because the Spurs are old but not out. The Spurs can definitely challenge the Mavericks and take them to seven games, but I am not sold if they can go the extra mile to win the series. I would not be surprise if the Spurs can do it.
The Eastern Conference bracket.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
No. 4 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Miami Heat
No. 3 Atlanta Hawks vs. No 6 Milwaukee Bucks
No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats
In the Cavaliers/ Bulls series, I am going with the Cavaliers in five. I think the Bulls can sneak a win but I am sure they will not push the Cavaliers to seven games like they did last year against the Celtics. (I would love to see them go seven, but that is just impossible.)
In the Celtics/ Heat series, I am going with the Celtics in six. I think this can be a fun match up, and if the Heat can make it close, than I am sure it will be a home run for the NBA.
In the Hawks/ Bucks series, I am going with the Hawks in five. The Bucks were the team to look out for this postseason, but with the loss of their big man Andrew Bogut, they are a dead fish in the pond. They will be luck to get one win, but they have the rookie of the year, Brandon Jennings to give them something!
In the Magic/ Bobcats series, I am going with the Magic in five. It can be another interesting series because the Bobcats are no kittens to be missed with. They are on fire after getting Stephon Jackson and they can push the Magic to the limits. Dwight Howard will be too much for the cats to handle and that is why I am giving them one game in this series.
Stay tune and check out my second round NBA playoff picks after the excitement of the first round is over.
In the western conference, No. 2 through No. 7 were up for grabs, and all eight western conference teams winning 50 or more games.
In the east, the eighth and final playoff spot was a snail race between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors.
The games came and gone and here are the official playoff matches:
Western Conferences playoff bracket.
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder.
No. 4 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz
No. 3 Phoenix Suns vs. No 6. Portland Blazers
No. 2 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs
In the Lakers/ Thunder series, I am going with the Lakers in four games. I don't think the Thunder will be able to steal one game against the defending champs because I am confident the Lakers will finally flip the switch and be the team they were last postseason.
In the Nuggets/ Jazz series, I am leaning towards the Jazz in seven. I think this series will be fun and full of emotion from both teams. The two teams are evenly balance and this series can go all seven games and can go to either team. I will mark this series as a toss up but for now I will go with the Jazz because they have made a late run in their season.
In the Suns/ Blazers series, I am going with the Suns in five games. I don't think the Blazers can recover and win this series without Brandon Roy. They had a great season, but the Suns have been on fire for all of the second season, and if the Suns can continue that, they have a easy chance of making it to the western conference finals.
In the Mavericks/ Spurs series, I am going with the Mavericks in six games. I think this series can be like the Nuggets/ Jazz series because the Spurs are old but not out. The Spurs can definitely challenge the Mavericks and take them to seven games, but I am not sold if they can go the extra mile to win the series. I would not be surprise if the Spurs can do it.
The Eastern Conference bracket.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls
No. 4 Boston Celtics vs. No. 5 Miami Heat
No. 3 Atlanta Hawks vs. No 6 Milwaukee Bucks
No. 2 Orlando Magic vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats
In the Cavaliers/ Bulls series, I am going with the Cavaliers in five. I think the Bulls can sneak a win but I am sure they will not push the Cavaliers to seven games like they did last year against the Celtics. (I would love to see them go seven, but that is just impossible.)
In the Celtics/ Heat series, I am going with the Celtics in six. I think this can be a fun match up, and if the Heat can make it close, than I am sure it will be a home run for the NBA.
In the Hawks/ Bucks series, I am going with the Hawks in five. The Bucks were the team to look out for this postseason, but with the loss of their big man Andrew Bogut, they are a dead fish in the pond. They will be luck to get one win, but they have the rookie of the year, Brandon Jennings to give them something!
In the Magic/ Bobcats series, I am going with the Magic in five. It can be another interesting series because the Bobcats are no kittens to be missed with. They are on fire after getting Stephon Jackson and they can push the Magic to the limits. Dwight Howard will be too much for the cats to handle and that is why I am giving them one game in this series.
Stay tune and check out my second round NBA playoff picks after the excitement of the first round is over.
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