Celtics vs Heat Series Preview

I’m really excited about this series. It’s going to get extremely gritty and intense and I can’t wait. For me, this series will be tough for both teams to win. In terms of game 1, I think the Heat will take this one. Not only because they’re at home but because the old and veteran Celtics just finished their series with Philadelphia two days ago. They grinded it out in 7 games and right now they must be exhausted. I don’t think they will be ready for the explosiveness and fast-breaking pace of the Heat right out of the gate. In terms of the series as a whole it should go down to 6 probably 7 games. If I were the Celtics I would be relatively worried about the Heat right now. They play just as good defense as the Pacers and the Pacers are quicker and even they couldn’t stop Lebron and Dwyane Wade from sheer dominance in the last three games. The two superstars are feeling it, especially Wade who is playing some of his best basketball of all season. They got the Heat at the wrong time. I’m just wondering if the Pacers couldn’t keep Lebron and Wade to under 25 points, then how will the Celtics be able to? The Celtics, a team who don’t matchup as well with the Heat and aren’t as quick along the perimeter. If Lebron and Wade continue to score 30-40 ppg then the series is over because when those two are playing like that and working together they are the best team in the NBA. The Celtics have to limit their turnovers, because if you choke up the ball too much to Miami they will eat you alive. The Celtics also have to take advantage of KG down low. He’s been playing amazing basketball of late, while carrying the Celtics offensively. Nobody can guard him on the Heat, he should isolate a lot down on the block and definitely get his usual  free throw line jump shot on the pick and roll. For KG, he even might get a few straight line drives because one pump fake off the pick and roll against a slower defender he can get straight to the basket. The Heat have to take advantage of Dwyane Wade. He is playing the best basketball he’s played all season and now since Avery Bradley is out of the picture, he’ll have Ray Allen guarding him. Ray Allen is not only slower but Wade won’t exactly have to do much to break Ray’s ankles either. They have to take advantage of that matchup because if he can get Ray into trouble then there goes their 6th man early and that takes away a lot of the Celtic offense and disables them to spread the floor like they love to do. Then the simple thing has to happen, the bench has to get involved. Like Shane Battier, Mike Miller, they have to make their open threes to take some pressure of the usual suspects. They need Mario Chalmers to be more agressive to the hole and then they should be fine, because their team defense is unbelievable. All in all, I think the Heat are destined for the finals once again because they’re the Heat, because their superstars are playing the best basketball in the world right now and because they’re younger, quicker and their best players outmatch the Celtics offensively. I’ll go Heat in 7.

Game 7: The Beginning Or The End?

Who’s going to win game 7? The one question on everybody’s mind, as we near closer and closer to the 8:00 tip off at the TD Garden. This game could really define the future. If the Celtics lose, this will most definitely be the last game that the big 3 ever play together. It will also mean the 76′ers beginning  a new dynasty in the NBA and will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. If Boston wins they have a good chance at making the finals against a shorthanded Miami team. It will also mean that the 76er playoff success will be ended short and they will have to head back to the drawing board and probably shake up their roster so they can get a closer or a star.

I think Boston will win this game. One, because they’re at home. They will have the home crowd behind them and it will be an especially rowdy crowd considering it’s a game 7 and every fan in the building knows that this could be the last game they will ever see their original big 3 together again. Second, because the veteran squad of Boston knows what’s on the line. They don’t need a reminder, nobody is going to be shying away from the spotlight tonight. These are the types of games that Pierce, Allen, Garnett and Rondo thrive off of. They will step up and squeeze Boston through to the Eastern Conference Finals. Thirdly, they are disgustingly ashamed of their game 6 performance. It was very ugly to watch, and the Celtics just looked old, tired and out of it. Those types of games show glimpses of the near retirement of the Big 3. It shows the deterioration of their bodies and their inability to keep up with the younger teams in the league. Based on history, we can expect a huge performance tonight from the Big 4 and that will carry them to victory. The 76′ers will lose because I think this game is too much for them psychologically. They’re all very young players, I don’t know if they’ll be able to handle the intensity and effort the Celtics will exude on the court tonight. Doug Collins will need to become a complete zen master to keep his players composed and comfortable out there tonight, I don’t know if he’ll be able to do it. We’ll see. The 76′ers definitely have the youth and talent but will that translate into a win and will that match the pure heart of the Celtics?

 

Laker Exit Raises Questions About Future

The Lakers used to be on top of the basketball world. It was just two years ago that they completed a back to back as NBA champions. Just last night they were eliminated by the young and extremely talented Oklahoma City Thunder. It wasn’t a surprise, the Thunder are arguably the best team in the NBA right now and the Lakers didn’t seem to have the energy to match OKC. What happens now, nobody really knows. Like Kobe said the Lakers aren’t a very patient organization and he isn’t either. He wants his 6th ring, and he wants it now. Well, like not actually now, because they were just eliminated but you know, it’s a figure of speech. Ok, so back to this article. The blaring spot in this roster is really the bench. All the other flaws in their game can be fixed through communication and more nights in the gym. Stuff like Pau actually looking at the basket once in a while, Bynum playing offense and then you know playing defense, and of course Sessions knocking down a jumper here and there. They desperately need a bench, I think the most obvious move to make this summer would be to re-sign Lamar Odom and bring him back as a 6th man. He cried for months because he couldn’t shoot Khloe and Lamar in Los Angeles anymore so bring him back, get his reality show career back on track and he’ll be putting up 12 4 and 4 once again. Jordan Hill was a great pickup, Steve Blake is a nice piece but the other 5 players on the team are just trash. They desperately need a trade or a free agent signing this summer to build up their depth. Maybe even get a young prospect in the draft, this years draft is very deep and they could get lucky. Youth would be nice, someone like a Kawhi Leonard and what he did for the Spurs. Someone to jolt some energy into the Lakers. Another option you might ponder would be seeing what Pau’s value is this summer. Pau is so inconsistent, and passive on the offensive end that he can’t produce on a game to game basis when you need him. Bynum has years to develop, Pau is 33 and the Lakers may want to see who they can get for him. Ideally, they need youth and energy. Someone who can speed up their tempo and provide some fresh legs for this team.

Something needs to change because two second round exits in a row isn’t good enough for the Lakers. They need a smart move this summer to put them back on track.

Celtics vs 76′ers Matchup

I really like this series because it features two very different teams. Philadelphia is young and are just emerging as an elite squad, while the Boston Celtics are proven winners probably on their last championship run with this current roster.

Game 1 was very close. Both teams played excellent basketball, the only thing I would say about Philadelphia’s game was their lack of fast-break opportunities. They only had 13 fast-break points. They’re much younger, faster and athletic then Boston and should be looking to push at every opportunity that they can. They did a great job getting everyone involved as usual, but Jrue Holliday has to try to get more involved in the offense. He only had 8 points and 4 assists in 37 minutes on the court. He needs to match Rondo’s intensity and be the point guard that Philly needs him to be. Even if he’s not scoring they need a playmaker besides Igoudala to get everybody involved. Their late game breakdown really just shows the 76′ers have a lot that still needs to be learned. They are young and some of these guys have never won a playoff series before. They just need to stay composed and put the rowdy Boston crowd away and stick with their game-plan late in the game. They also might want to re-think about how they guard Kevin Garnett. He scored 29 points in game 1, on 12 for 20 shooting. Most of his points are from pick and rolls with Rondo. The Philly defense wants to stay with Rondo considering how dangerous he is near the hoop but that is leaving Garnett open time after time. He has a jump shot, we all know that. They have to tighten up on him for the future. The Celtics did a great job of sharing the wealth in this game, they played great defense, they exuded confidence and composure in the 4th quarter to come back and win the game but they have to try and get Paul Pierce in better scoring opportunities. He only shot 3-11 from the field for 14 points. His injury is bothering him a little bit, but they need to get him better looks going forward.

Game 2 was another tense finish. And once again, was a great basketball game to watch. Philly came away victorious this time and I think that has to be credited to Doug Collins. They had a late game meltdown in game 1 and whatever Doug said to them this game really helped them out. For a young team like this all they need is confidence and a little voice in their head keeping them composed. Doug was that voice in game 2 and helped them seal the deal in the final seconds of the game. They did a much better job in this game of getting Jrue Holliday involved, who finished with 18 points in this game. The wealth was shared once again as they had 4 players finish in double digits in the scoring department. They also did a much better job defensively in this game. They held Paul Pierce to 7 points and Rondo to 8 points while keeping Garnett to 15. They really locked down defensively and got back to doing what they do best and that’s defending with relentless intensity and passion. For the Boston Celtics I would just look for them to get Paul Pierce more involved. His MCL is probably bothering him at this point, which is why it’s so vital for them to get him into positions to score early so he can gather a rhythm.

Game 3 was a nice change of pace from the first two games that were both won by one point. The Celtics blew Philadelphia out at home. The key in this game was defense. After giving up 33 points in the first quarter the Celtics held the 76′ers to a combined 33 points in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. Thats a true sign of a championship contending team, they knew when to turn up the defense and that was the key for them to win this game. Offensively, everybody was rolling in this game. 5 players were in double figures in the scoring department, while Rondo, Pierce and Garnett all scored 23+ points in this game. Finally, Pierce got in his rhythm and when he’s hot it really spreads the floor for Boston and gives them more opportunities down low. So much attention is directed toward the Truth when he is hot, that other players can really get in a rhythm. I’d also like to mention that Kevin Garnett is playing the best basketball he’s played all season. Luckily, for the Celtics, it’s at the perfect time. If he continues to score at this pace, the Celtics have a very good chance at getting through to the conference finals. For the 76′ers they let up defensively. They played so well defensively in games 1 and 2 and in every game against Chicago but they collapsed here in game 3. They gave up 61 points through the 2nd and 3rd quarters and that was the difference maker. It’s ok to let up defensively if you’re shooting almost perfectly from the field but they weren’t. You can’t expect to score 33 points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, give up 61 and expect to have a chance at winning. Another thing i’ve noticed is they aren’t getting out in transition as much as they should. They are so much younger then the Celtics and can easily beat them up the floor, they just have to create more fast-break opportunities for the future.

Looking to the future, the 76′ers need to re-gather their confidence, and compose themselves. They played great until their meltdown in game 3, they have to get back into playing well defensively. If they do that, everything will flow from there on. The Celtics are playing excellent basketball, if they continue to get everyone involved then they can win this series. I think this series comes down to composure and defense. Whichever team can stay locked in defensively and stay composed down the stretch will have the final laugh. I’ll give this series to the Celtics in 7 games.

Thunder vs Lakers Matchup

I love this series. Not only because the two best scorers in the game are featured, but because two seasons ago when the Thunder dynasty was new to the elite group of teams it was the Lakers who crushed their dreams. It’s awesome to see that this season the Thunder will get revenge at the Lakers. Also, because I’m hoping Ron… I mean Metta World Peace has another elbow spasm and starts more controversy. I also love when he contradicts his new name. Anyway, back to the series.

I think the main reason why the Lakers won’t win this series is because the Thunder are the only team in the league with enough premier post defenders to stop them from scoring inside. For the Lakers, their interior scoring is their biggest strength. The Thunder have Perkins, Collison, Mohammed, and Ibaka who are all defensive minded players who can limit Pau and Bynum. Pau was held to 10 points and Bynum was held to 20 in game 1. Game 1 was a blow out and a few things contributed to that. Kobe couldn’t get into a rythm. The Thunder had too many ways to stop him defensively, and they did. He shot a poor 38% from the field and was limited to 20 points. Sefolosha, Harden, and even Durant all took turns frustrating Kobe. Additionally, Ramon Sessions couldn’t put the ball in the hoop. He shot 1-7 from the field for 2 points. That attributes to the Thunder defense, and Russell Westbrook’s job on him. When Kobe is limited, Pau is being held to 10 points and Sessions is being held to 2, the Lakers will never win a game. That’s simply because the supporting cast behind them are pretty terrible. The bench scored 26 of the Lakers’ 90 points. Their depth will definitely be exposed in this series, considering the Thunder are such a deep team. They did a good job on the glass, but had no answer for Westbrook and Durant. If both of them continue to score 25+ for the rest of the series then this will be easy.

In game 2, the Lakers were close but couldn’t hold onto the lead for a full 48 minutes. That is credited to poor late game execution, which isn’t characteristic of the Lakers. They got a good last shot, but gave up a 9 point run to the Thunder in the final 2 minutes. To be quite honest, they only held the lead because the Thunder weren’t knocking down shots. It wasn’t because they were playing stellar basketball. Ramon Sessions was once again held to 2 points. He only took 3 shots though, so either he has to be more assertive or they just have to stop watching Kobe shoot the ball, which he isn’t doing efficiently by the way. He shot a poor 36% from 9-25 from the field. That was again credited to the strong perimeter defense of the Thunder. Once again the Laker bench was atrocious, scoring only 11 of the Lakers 75 points. They definitely need to step up, the Thunder have very good match-ups defensively against the Lakers starting unit so they desperately need some spark. Once again though, they did a great job on the glass out-rebounding the Thunder by 5. For the Thunder they have to be more aggressive. In game 1 and 2 they took way too many jump shots and that’s ok when you’re making them like in game 1. However, in game 2 when Harden is 3-8 and Westbrook is 5-17 they need scoring from inside. I’d look for them to be more aggressive down low, because they almost lost this game due to settling for jumpers.

For the future, I think the Thunder have to be more aggressive with the basketball. Maybe try to get more driving opportunities and get the Laker big men in trouble. For the Lakers, they need to take another look at their offensive strategy. Kobe is struggling this series shooting a combined 37% from the field. Sessions is struggling and the bench just can’t play basketball at this point. They should try utilize Bynum more in games 3 and 4, although the Thunder have interior defenders he has a size mismatch on everybody. They should play more of an inside out game through the rest of the series, that way they can get Bynum hot early and free up space for Sessions and Kobe.

I’m going to have to take the Thunder in this series in 5 games.

Spurs vs Clippers Matchup

To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed with this matchup, not because it won’t be close and exciting but because I was hoping the Grizzlies would advance and this would be a grittier more aggressive series. Instead it will probably be a high scoring shootout. Either way, this should be an exciting series.

In game 1, both teams put up 29 after the first quarter. Proving my theory of a shootout. Then in the second quarter we saw the difference between the Clippers and the Spurs. The ability to lock in defensively. The Spurs held the Clippers to 20 points, and the Spurs put up 28 points giving them a 8 point lead into halftime. I mean both teams shot above 44% from the field but the Spurs held L.A to 92 points. This game was a strange one, the main contributor from each team scored in single digits. Tony Parker and Chris Paul scored a combined 13 points for 4-22 shooting. With both of them being non factors in getting the ball in the hoop it let us compare the supporting cast of the two teams. They are both very deep. Both teams have a 10+ player rotation. It makes this series all the more unpredictable because we really don’t know who will step up. In Game 1, Eric Bledsoe broke out for 23 points and for the Spurs, Danny Green had 15. They’re both exceptionally deep teams and they may cancel each other out offensively. That’s why the Spurs veteran leadership and defensive experience will come into play, to see if they can lock in and change this series from a shootout to a good playoff series. What I did notice in this series is Blake Griffin isn’t ready for intense playoff games yet. He isn’t playing like an all-star. He is playing like a solid role player, he is clearly scared of the spotlight and his game isn’t yet developed for this type of series. He put up 15 points, 4 assists and 9 rebounds. Those aren’t all-star numbers, rookie of the year numbers, or super star numbers. His offensive game really revolves around athleticism and consists mainly of dunks, spin off alley-oops and the occasional offensive rebound. I’ve never been a fan of Blake Griffin, I’ve always remembered what Charles Barkley said last year. Something like, I can’t wait until he becomes a basketball player instead of an exceptional athlete.I think this series will really show his offensive limitations. Especially being guarded by the bigger Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter. For the Clippers, they desperately need to rebound the ball. They allowed 47 rebounds to the Spurs as supposed to their 34 rebounds. Of the Spurs 47 rebounds, 11 were offensive boards. Additionally, of the Spurs 108 points, 42 were in the paint. I think the interior defense of Griffin and Jordan have to step up. They can’t just catch lobs and expect to win a championship, they need to play defense instead of relying on the smaller Kenyon Martin and Reggie Evans.

For the future, I think both point guards will definitely pick up their games. I look for a big game 2 from both of those guys. I expect both benches to continue to produce. For the Clippers, they desperately need Blake Griffin to step it up on both sides of the floor. He needs to be a leader and a star. The Spurs need to continue to share the ball like they did in game 1, and continue to lock in defensively like they did after the 1st quarter. I think the interior defense of the Spurs need to stay sharp. Even though they’re not as athletic they need to keep Jordan and Griffin contained. In game 1, they held the two to a combined 22 points. If they can continue to hold down the paint it puts a lot of pressure on the perimeter players on the Clippers who are much smaller then the perimeter defenders of the Spurs and could find it hard to score. I’ll give this series to the Spurs in 5.

Heat vs Pacers Matchup

I like this series, it’s like the popular kids vs the nerds (or any other stereotype comparing two completely different groups of people. Watch High school musical if you’re wondering what I mean.)   Already 2 games have gone by and that just shows how equally matched this series actually is. Of course the roles in this series are defined. The Heat is the superstar studded team who is the favorite to win. The Pacers; the underdogs that nobody knows how far they can go.

In the Game 1 loss for Indiana, they failed to do anything to stop Dwyane Wade and Lebron James who recorded 29 and 32 points each. The Pacers almost have their work cut out for them on defense. Besides Lebron, Wade and previously Bosh, nobody else seems to want to put the ball in the hoop or play… basketball for that matter. They really need to focus on limiting Wade and Lebron. They also have to continue to get it to Hibbert down low, even increase his touches if they can. He is 7’2 and the biggest man on the floor for Miami is only 6’11. He has a huge mismatch down in the post, and if they can utilize him on isolations by the block then they’ll be at their strongest. They also have to get more guys involved and get them hot early. For example, Granger who finished with 7 points on 1-10 shooting, or Paul George who finished with 6 points on 1-5 shooting. Paul George has to get more shots, and the Pacers have to find a way to free up Granger from the defensive chokehold of Lebron James. Their biggest strength is their depth and their depth could actually win them the series, so they need everybody in their rotation putting up at least 10 points.

In Game 2, the Pacers proved many critics wrong. They won a game on the road and a close one at that. This proved that they’re mature enough and experienced enough to win a game on the road in the playoffs. However, it also exposed their lack of a closer. They missed 3 of 4 free throws in the last 1:20 of the game, if they had sunk their free throws then America wouldn’t have had to watch the rest of the game while holding their breath and sitting on the edge of their seat. If they had got Hibbert involved, this game would have been over before it started. He only got 6 shots in this game. Chris Bosh wasn’t even playing, so imagine if they had gotten it to Hibbert early and he had gotten the Heat big men into foul trouble. This game would’ve been in the bag. They have to utilize their advantage down low, if they don’t then this series will be a very difficult one to win. I think overall the ball isn’t being shared enough among the Pacers players. Their offense has been mostly focused around perimeter scorers, which is the wrong way to play the Heat. They have Lebron, Wade, and Battier who are all premier defenders on the perimeter. They have to share the ball more. In this game, Granger, George, West, and Barbosa took a combined 48 shots. The rest of the team took 26 shots. This team is very deep, but if they don’t use their depth, they can forget about advancing. The Heat’s flaws are the same as ever. No depth, no big men. They’re lucky Wade and Lebron can carry them to a certain point because otherwise they would be finished. In game 2, Lebron and Wade combined for 52 of the Heat’s 75 points. In a game without Bosh, they needed a third scorer and they couldn’t find one. Anywhere. They need someone to step up, especially against such a deep team like Indiana. Finally, I don’t want to be a Lebron hater but the MVP showed glimpses of another choke filled playoffs in game 2. He missed both free throws in the final minute that could’ve got the Heat within 1.

For the future, the Pacers need to really share the ball and get everybody involved. They need to remember they hold arguably the most valuable advantage down low and they have to use it. Also, keep up the defense. They’re holding the Heat to 37% shooting from the field and can’t afford to loosen up when they get home. They have to be confident in themselves when they get to Indiana, they beat the Heat at home and hopefully that will encourage guys to step up and score more. They also have the crowd behind them and that will be huge for their possible success. In general, they have to remember that there is no pressure on them right now. They are the underdogs and they have already exceeded expectations. The pressure is on the Heat, not only because they’re the Heat but because they gave one up at home and because Bosh is out for the rest of the playoffs. They have to relax and continue to force the Heat to feel the heat, for lack of a better pun. For the Heat, they desperately need someone to step up. Lebron and Wade won’t win them the NBA championship by themselves. They need someone to score off the bench for them. Now more then ever, considering Bosh is out for the series, their lack of depth will be exposed. Who will be the hero to help out Miami?

I’ll give this series to the Pacers in 7 games. The Heat just won’t be able to match the depth without Bosh in the lineup, but the Heat being the Heat will still be able to squeeze out 3 wins from Lebron and Wade on their own.

D-Rose Out For Postseason

Funny how an injury to one guy can shake up the whole postseason. Derrick Rose tore his ACL with 1:10 left in game one against the 76′ers. He went up for a layup, and when he came down the whole building went silent with fear. Derrick Rose is out. What does that mean for the Bulls? Well, they can still beat the 76′ers considering they only have to win 3 games. They have homecourt advantage. And most of all they are used to playing sans Rose. They are 18-9 without Rose this season, meaning they have the players to step up and a strong enough defense to make up for his loss. Against the 76′ers the Bulls are safe. But when they reach the second round they will be beaten by the Celtics, considering they win their matchup against Atlanta. Without Rose against an intense, experienced team like the Celtics they don’t have a closer. A closer becomes less necessary when facing the 76′ers but against Boston they are going to need one.

This kind of paved the way for the rest of the playoffs in my mind. Heat beat the Knicks. Bulls beat Philly. Boston beats Atlanta. Indiana beats Orlando. Boston beats Chicago. Miami beats Indiana. Miami beats Boston. Miami loses to either OKC or the Spurs.

It’s terribly unfortunate for Chicago’s dreams to slip away so suddenly. They had the chance to win the NBA title this year but that was torn along with Rose’s ACL. I can’t believe he’s done, after such an extraordinary season for the Bulls, once again clinching the #1 seed in the East. This team is better then last year’s team as well, as a result of the addition of Rip Hamilton and the development of CJ Watson. They really had a chance, but like I said that’s all gone now.

Oh and on another note, I no longer give my coach of the year honors to Tom Thibodeau. Why the hell was Rose in the game when the Bulls were up 12 with a 1:10 remaining? Why wasn’t he resting his star for game 2? Why not play John Lucas III who hadn’t played a single minute in that game? Sending a no mercy message is a good way to begin a series, but at what cost? Certainly, the price of the title dreams is too steep. Just a silly mistake for a coach who had had a near perfect season up until now. Cheers to Gregg Popovich.

NBA Playoffs: First Round Matchups

Western Conference Playoffs:

#1 Spurs vs #8 Jazz:

The Jazz did a great job to rebuild back into a playoff contender so quickly after Deron Williams’ departure. They did a great job to edge out Houston and Phoenix, but unfortunately that’s as far as it goes for this team. The Spurs, unfortunately are just better at almost every position. They are better coached, they play better defense and they have more playoff experience. Plus, Tony Parker is having arguably his best season of his career. The only way the Jazz have a chance to steal a few games in this series is to use their youth and outrun the Spurs for 48 minutes. If you let the Spurs set up in a half court defense it is very hard to score against them. Overall, they have a younger and fresher team and if they fast break this team they may have a chance to steal a game. Don’t expect another #8 seed upset against the Spurs this year. Sure the Jazz have the height down low like the Grizzlies but they’re not as gritty, defensive minded or deep. They have no chance at winning this series. Spurs win 4-1.

#2 Thunder vs # 7 Mavericks:

This series is a given through my eyes. The Thunder are younger, quicker, better, faster, and more talented as a team. Besides the Mavericks’ success this season, they never really created this team for this season. It’s all about free agency this summer. When they gave up Chandler, Barea, Butler and Stevenson they gave up a chance of winning another championship. Especially when their Lamar Odom experiment failed they lost more depth and a chance at a repeat. The Thunder are younger and more talented, they will outrun the Mavs they will shut the Mavs down and they should have their way with this team. They are also wiser and more experienced of a bunch this year. But look for Dirk to still put up 30 a night, unfortunately it won’t mean much because the Thunder will win in 5.

#3 Lakers vs # 6 Nuggets:

This series is tough one, out of all the match-ups this is is the one that would most likely be a possible upset. However, i’m taking the Lakers in this series. I think the Lakers are just too big for the Nuggets. When Bynum is playing like the future Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol is dishing, rebounding and scoring the Lakers are unstoppable. McGee is big, sure, but he isn’t a good defender in the post. It should be a battle down low, and if Bynum can use a variety of post moves then he should give the Lakers the edge. When the Lakers play an effective inside out game they’re unstoppable, with Kobe knocking down his shots and Bynum dominating the post they’re unguardable. They have three players who command full attention from defenses, and best of all all three command attention from different areas on the floor, which always guarantees an opening somewhere. The Lakers need to have everyone score the ball for them in this series. If they stand around and stare at Kobe all day they won’t last long in the playoffs. If they get everyone involved, they should do very well.  The key for the Nuggets to win the series is for their bench to overproduce. The Lakers are very thin, especially with the absence of Metta World Peace due to his elbow to the head of James Harden. The Lakers don’t have a very solid bench so if the Nuggets can hit LA with a balanced attack the Nuggets can have a solid chance at an upset. They’re also going to need Afflalo to play the toughest defense he’s ever played against Kobe to give them a chance. If Kobe gets hot in the postseason there is no slowing him down. They have to shut him down early. Lakers win in 6.

#4 Grizzlies vs #5 Clippers:

The winner of this series is also a toss up for me. But I’ll go with the Grizzlies on this one. I think the Grizzlies are too good a team defensively to lose this series. They have a better front court then the Clippers, they have more depth and when they clinched home-court I knew the Grizzlies would win this series. Remember last year when the Memphis fans almost won them the Thunder series and did win them the series against the Spurs. Their crowd is rowdy and really boost this team.  The Clippers are just as talented as the Grizzlies but have a very incomplete team. CP3 is unstoppable, Blake Griffin is unstoppable but the rest of their roster is lacking. When they lost Chauncey Billups their bench suffered as well. They’re going to need CP3 and Blake Griffin to go crazy in this series for them to win, because the Grizzlies are better everywhere else. The Grizzlies are going to need their bench to outplay the Clippers bench and they need Z-BO to shut down Griffin and Tony Allen to really bother CP3. If he can disrupt CP3 then their whole offense is gone. Grizzlies win in 7.

Eastern Conference Playoffs:

#1 Bulls vs #8 76′ers:

This match-up should be an easy one for Chicago. Hell, most match-ups should be easy for Chicago. But if Rose isn’t 100% this may be a harder series to win. The 76′ers are a very good team, very young, deep, and well coached. If Rose is 100% in this series, it’s a given for Chicago. Chicago’s defense is just too suffocating for any team to score on. If he’s not 100%, if he dabbles with injuries or anything like that the Bulls will have a harder time. Key word harder. There is a difference between a longer series and an upset for Philly. The Bulls will win this no doubt, it just depends on Rose’s health. Bulls in 5.

#2 Heat vs #7 Knicks:

Being the Knicks fan I am, it pains me to say that the Knicks have probably won’t win this series. They sure could make it hard though. The Heat have too much star power for the Knicks to compete with. They play one of the best defenses in the league and they just outmatch the Knicks. However, There are a few ways the Knicks can pull of an upset though. The first is if Amar’e gets his legs back in time and dominates Chris Bosh down low. He is the X factor for the series. Carmelo will have his hands full with Lebron, Dwyane Wade will have his hands full with Shumpert and that leaves Amar’e to really do work. If he can get 25 a night in this series then he can carry the Knicks. The other key for them is for their bench to keep producing at a very high level. The Knicks have a very deep bench. The Heat on the other hand have a very thin and inconsistent bench. If J.R Smith, Fields, Novak, Douglas, even Jeffries can impact the game and dominate the Heat’s second unit then the Knicks can win this series and pull of an upset. If Shumpert can shut down Dwyane Wade the Knicks would also have a better chance. Shumpert is one of the best defenders in the entire league and if he can contain Dwyane Wade that limits the Heat to Lebron James considering Bosh is shut down by Chandler. As well as Tyson Chandler dominating the paint, and making himself a presence down low. The Heat are a very small team, and Chandler is 7’1 and should out-rebound everyone. In their last match-up the Heat out-rebounded the Knicks, that shouldn’t happen in this series. Besides that, the obvious thing to remember is don’t turn the ball over. The Heat are the best team in fast-break points and they will kill the Knicks if they make lousy turnovers.  Otherwise, the Heat will take this series in 6 or 7.

#3 Pacers vs #6 Magic:

Charles Barkeley said it best, the Magic are just waiting for a way out. It’s so true. The Magic are the most discombobulated team in the playoffs, and the worst team in the playoffs. Without Dwight this team is awful, the whole offense of this team with Dwight is get it inside to Howard, let him draw a double team and then dish it out to one of the three point shooters who are wide open. Without Howard the Magic take contested threes and they become normal shooters now. They can’t create shots off the dribble, they can’t even defend without Howard. Roy Hibbert should also have a field day inside. It won’t even be fair. He’ll get about 25 and 12 a game for this series. He just outsizes the whole team, and will have his way in the post. We’ll really get to see the development of Hibbert and his arsenal of moves against Orlando. The Pacers are a very solid team, very balanced, young. They’re not showy they’re just very good. They will kill the Magic and especially with their home court advantage they should kill Orlando. The Pacers fans haven’t had so much to be excited about since Reggie Miller was in town. The crowd will be eccentric, crazy and scare the Magic out of Indiana. Indiana sweeps this series.

#4 Celtics vs #5 Hawks:

The Celtics will most definitely win this series. They really put together a good run toward the end of the season. They did a great job of inserting Avery Bradley into the starting lineup to play his lockdown defense and provide fresh legs. Then bring Ray Allen off the bench and let him dominate against second units, as well as rain three pointers from off the bench. Rajon Rondo is as always playing amazing, the whole team seems to be gelling and Doc Rivers has included Stiesma into the lineup and he has responded effectively. The Celtics have more experience a better homecourt and a better team. Especially without the inside presence of Al Horford, Kevin Garnett should have fun scoring on whoever dares to get embarrassed. Celtics will win in 6.

Regular Season Awards

As the season winds down it’s time for awards. You know that awkward time where you have to choose the select few who are worthy of recognition for their roles this year. I’m not one of those people who lighten the mood and say everyone’s a winner… everyone deserves it. Blah blah blah. No, so… let’s begin.

MVP: LeBron James

January Prediction: Kevin Durant

Honorable Mention: Kevin Durant

The fight for MVP has been close all season, going back and forth between candidates. But LeBron seemed to have that one extra special game over Durant and if you put things in perspective, for LeBron to get the numbers he does while playing with Bosh and Wade is surreal. Sharing the spotlight with 2 all-stars and still recording the same numbers when he was the lone star in Cleveland just shows the superiority LeBron has over the rest of the league.  His numbers scream dominance. Recording about 27 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists a game is astounding. And it doesn’t happen often. He gets that extra inch over Durant for two reasons. First, Durant is averaging about 28 points 8 rebounds but 3 assists. Their numbers are almost identical until the assist column hits us square in the face. LeBron manages to average 27 while leading his team in assists. Durant only averages 3. That’s what separates them; Durant’s game is still developing while LeBron’s game is so well rounded that he could play 4 positions on any team in the league. Second, the Miami Heat are currently on a 5 game winning streak with a good chance of grabbing the #1 seed in the East. Not to mention LeBron’s takeover of most of those games while Wade sat out. During all of this the Thunder have been a bit up and down and have lost their grip on the #1 seed. The success of the Heat has rested significantly on LeBron’s shoulders and he has risen to the challenge, Durant is a scorer first and an all around player second, so I guess LeBron continues his legacy with his third MVP. Only thing missing now is a… yeah I figure everyone was thinking it anyway, I won’t bother finishing the sentence.

Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau

January Prediction: Mike Brown

Honorable Mention: Gregg Popovich

When the Bulls surprised everybody last year with the best record in the East, we all pointed to Derrick Rose and Tom Thibodeau. Why wouldn’t we, I mean the MVP and the coach of the year led that team to a surprise takedown of the Eastern Conference let alone the league in a season where health was an issue for Rose’s two supporting guys. So this year when they still manage to grab the best record in the East while Rose missed 26 games we have to emphasize Tom Thibodeau’s effect on this team. They still managed to really dominate the league without their superstar. Their defense suffocated teams and their role players stepped up every night. How can any other coach win this award? No other coach had to deal with their star player missing almost half the season. No other coach would be capable of keeping his team in gear to a #1 seed in the East without his superstar. No coach would be able to enforce a top 5 defense without the leadership of their superstar. I applaud Tom Thibodeau’s work this year, it is something that is taken for granted. The way he managed to keep everybody focused and winning even with the absence of the league’s MVP. Look at the Bulls without Rose; they should be a downgrade from the 76′ers, however they ended up being an upgrade from the Heat.

Defensive Player of the Year: Tyson Chandler

January Prediction: Dwight Howard

Honorable Mention: Serge Ibaka

The reigning champions all hailed Tyson Chandler after their championship for being the X factor for their team. He was praised for being the guy that brought toughness, grit and a defensive mindset to a relatively soft team. They worshipped him in Dallas for turning their team into a defensive monster. We recognized him for that last season, however this season the definition of ‘X Factor’ was taken to a whole new level. The Knicks ranked 28th last year in points allowed with a discouraging 105.7 points per game. However, this year since the addition of Chandler and partially Shumpert the Knicks rank 13th in points allowed with 94. 84 points a game. For those who aren’t too fond of math, that’s a 10.86 difference from last year to this last year. The Knicks have become one of the best defensive teams in the league through Chandler’s input vocally and physically. He is exactly the player the Knicks needed. I mean it almost sounds wrong, to be calling the Knicks a good defensive team but strangely enough they are. This season the Knicks have given up an average of 116.5 points per game in the 4 games that Chandler hasn’t played so. His impact on this team is undeniable and his emphasis on the defensive end has completely reshaped the Knicks’ culture. Even his individual stats scream defensive stopper. Averaging 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this season. Sure Ibaka may be blocking every shot that is comes into the paint, he hasn’t transformed the team defensively. They’ve been consistent defensively for years, and he has a whole team full of defensive oriented players, while Chandler is dealing with a mainly offensive minded squad.

Rookie of the Year: Kyrie Irving

January Prediction: Iman Shumpert/Kemba Walker

Honorable Mention: Kenneth Faried

To be honest I think this race was decided once Rubio busted his knee earlier this season. Kyrie Irving has been playing like a veteran. There are no signs of immaturity and he has taken on the responsibility of carrying a Lebronless Cleveland team who are still sulking over the man who has the same amount of hair as he does rings. He doesn’t seem to be phased by any pressure. Look January 29th vs. Boston, or March 7th vs. Denver. He not only gave hope to a essentially depressed Cleveland fan base but he averaged about 19 points, 4 assists and 5 and a half rebounds a game. He will only continue to develop in the future, and could easily be an all-star by next season.

Most Improved Player: Jeremy Lin

January Prediction: Ryan Anderson/Kyle Lowry

Honorable Mention: Ersan Ilyasova

Wow. I mean really though. Wow. It’s unbelievable. It is, for a lack of a better pun, a Linderella story. In fact it’s Linsane. It’s Linsanity, I tell you. Linsanity. He’s the only player I use on my Lintendo DS nowadays. (I’m on a roll,) ok but back to his season. First off, he probably got a lot of NBA scouts fired. He embarrassed Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Deron Williams and brought the Knicks much needed success. I don’t think a most improved player award could go to someone more worthy. He didn’t let his past failures stop him from being successful. He kept striving and working and eventually found an invaluable spot on a team that needed him more then anybody can measure in wins and losses. I also don’t think any player has defined this award better then Jeremy Lin did this year. A most improved player award is given to a player who strives to success and isn’t content with his production. Jeremy Lin went from the guy at the end of the bench whose ear you maybe see on the corner of your screen, to a guy who had the whole world begging for interviews and hailing at his feet. Last year he averaged 9 minutes per game in 29 games for Golden State and only averaged 3 points, 1 steal and 1 assist. This season he played 35 games started 25 games and averaged 15 points, 6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Before the all-star break the Knicks had a 12-3 record with Lin playing major minutes. He holds the record for most points scored in his first 5 starts with 136 total points. Some might counter with he only played three weeks in this season. They would have a point if they wanted to deprive Lin of this award, he did miss a significant chunk of the season. I just think his season can’t be dismissed without an award.

6th Man Of The Year: James Harden

January Prediction: James Harden

Honorable Mention: Lou Williams

James Harden is no doubt the unsung hero on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Imagine how selfless a player has to be to accept a 6th man role when he could be the best player on more then half of the teams in the league. He is the epitome of providing energy and scoring off the bench. He has averaged about 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists a game. He just continues to grow… a beard and as a player. He is the X factor for this team and could very well be the difference makers in a close series come playoff time. No team in the NBA can match his intensity off the bench, which puts everyone at a disadvantage when they play their second unit. Nobody can really handle him. He is a lockdown defender, a part of his game that isn’t mentioned enough. He’s also versatile scorer. If he keeps this role throughout the rest of his career he could possibly win this award every year for the next half of a decade. As well as being on several all-star teams in the future.

If you disagree with these conclusions, feel free to comment with your opinion. And hey, while you’re at it, subscribe. Hit that subscribe button that says Hell Yes! I want to subscribe. I won’t let you down.