Sorry for the lack of posts lately. It is that time in school when the work is piling up and you forget that you created a blog. But I am back, and just in time for the NBA Playoffs!
As of last night the playoff field has been set and it should be a dandy! The Western Conference is going to be a bloodbath and who knows who will represent them in the NBA Finals. The East is honestly a crap-shoot, but headlined by favorites Atlanta and Cleveland. Lets look at some of the first round match-ups.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Atlanta Hawks vs. #8 Brooklyn Nets (ATL won season series 4-0)
ATL
Paul Millsap (16.7 PPG)
Paul Millsap (7.8 RPG)
Jeff Teague (7.0 APG)
BKN
Brook Lopez (17.2 PPG)
Brook Lopez (7.4 RPG)
Deron Williams (6.6 APG)
This should be a quick series for the Hawks in my opinion. The Hawks are trying to prove themselves worthy of a number one seed and the playoffs is the place to do it. Brooklyn is a mess of a team that slid in the playoffs despite a 38-44 record. Atlanta should proceed with caution cause they have given number one seed's a run for their money, twice, as an eighth seed (Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers both 7-game-series). But I think ATL is focused this year and will end this in 4 maybe 5 games.
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #7 Boston Celtics (Regular season series tied 2-2)
CLE
LeBron James (25.3 PPG)
Kevin Love (9.7 RPG)
LeBron James (7.4 APG)
BOS
Isaiah Thomas (19.0 PPG)
Jared Sullinger (7.6 RPG)
Evan Turner (5.5 APG)
Obviously, LeBron James and the Cavaliers are the overwhelming favorite to win this series. It's LeBron vs. the C's yet again, but a little different this time around. No Paul Pierce, KG, Ray Allen or Rondo. Let's give credit to the Brad Stevens and the Celtics though. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them but this team fought hard all year and claimed a playoff berth. Well congratulations Boston, you got LBJ and the favorites to come out of the East. I expect this one to be done in 4.
#3 Chicago Bulls vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks (CHI won season series 3-1)
CHI
Jimmy Butler (20.0 PPG)
Pau Gasol (11.8 RPG)
Derrick Rose (4.9 APG)
MIL
Michael Carter-Williams (14.1 PPG)
Zaza Pachulia (6.8 RPG)
Michael Carter-Williams (5.6 APG)
This is an interesting series. Jason Kidd leads the surprising-young Bucks (no pun intended) to their first playoff appearance since the 2012-2013 season. They will meet their Central Division rival, the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have a lot of questions coming into the playoffs, headlined by the health status of Derrick Rose. If Rose is a 100 percent or anywhere close to that this series could be over quickly. The Bulls are seen as the toughest test for Cleveland in the playoffs if they advance that far. In my opinion, I think this series may be closer than people think, I think the Bucks will be able to win 2 games but eventually fall in 6 to the more experienced Bulls side.
#4 Toronto Raptors vs. #5 Washington Wizards (TOR won season series 3-0)
TOR
DeMar DeRozan (20.1 PPG)
Jonas Valanciunas (8.7 RPG)
Kyle Lowry (6.8 APG)
WAS
John Wall (17.6 PPG)
Marcin Gortat (8.7 RPG)
John Wall (10.0 APG)
From the Eastern side, this is about the only series you could say there is no definitive favorite. Both teams had great years for their respective franchises, and both teams will want to keep their seasons going. The Raptors sort of limped into the playoffs due to some unfortunate injuries to key players, but all the Raptors should be 100 percent ready for the playoffs. The Wizards will be led by their dynamic point guard, John Wall, and his backcourt mate Bradley Beal. I give the edge by a little to the Wizards because I like how Nene and Gortat handle the paint and post. I think that gives them a bit of an edge over Toronto. I expect this one to go 7 and it can go either way but for the sake of making a selection I'll take the Wiz in 7.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Golden State Warriors vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans (GSW won season series 3-1)
GSW
Stephen Curry (23.8 PPG)
Draymond Green (8.2 RPG)
Stephen Curry (7.7 APG)
NOLA
Anthony Davis (24.4 PPG)
Anthony Davis (10.2 RPG)
Jrue Holiday (6.9 APG)
The Pelicans beat out the Thunder to claim the ultra-competitive Western Conference's final playoff berth. Their prize a date with the number one team in the NBA the Golden State Warriors. According to ESPN, the Warriors are the first team since the legendary '95-'96 Bulls to not lose more than 4 games in any month during the regular season...that's really good. Led by first year head coach, Steve Kerr, and presumed-to-be-MVP, Steph Curry, the Warriors in my opinion will handle the Pelicans with ease. Again, who knows the West is full of good teams, but I feel this is the only series where a definitive favorite exists. Expect this series to be a sweep or maybe 5, if NOLA is able to eek one out at home.
#2 Houston Rockets vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (HOU won season series 3-1)
HOU
James Harden (27.4 PPG)
Dwight Howard (10.5 RPG)
James Harden (7.0 APG)
DAL
Monta Ellis (18.9 PPG)
Tyson Chandler (11.5 RPG)
Rajon Rondo (6.5 APG)
A Texas showdown here in round one and ooh it will be a great one! Dallas struggled toward the second half of the season and has struggled with implementing point guard Rajon Rondo into their system. But they are a dangerous playoff team. Houston is led by MVP candidate, James Harden, and for them this looks like the year the Rockets could possibly make a run at the Finals. Houston was dealt a blow when the lost point guard Patrick Beverly for the season, and Dwight Howard's health is always an issue so we will see how that affects them come playoff time. But if all the components are healthy for both sides, I give a slight edge to the Rockets. This will be an awesome series and has the potential to develop into a heated rivalry because these two sides do not like each other. I say Rockets in 6 or 7.
#3 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs (Regular season series tied 2-2)
LAC
Blake Griffin (21.9 PPG)
DeAndre Jordan (15.0 RPG)
Chris Paul (10.2 APG)
SAS
Kawhi Leonard (16.5 PPG)
Tim Duncan (9.1 RPG)
Tony Parker (4.9 APG)
This to me is the most intriguing match-up out of all the first round match-up's, in either conference. You got the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, primed and ready for another deep playoff run. Then you have the Clippers who have actually flown a little bit under the radar this year, but nevertheless a team that has played great basketball all year under Doc Rivers. You have to wonder, if this Clippers team can not get to the Conference Finals again, does the Clipper management think the trio of Griffin, Paul and Jordan can get it done? And they are taking on a red-hot Spurs team who could have easily been a two seed. In my honest opinion, I just can not see anyone beating the Spurs, they are my pick to come from the West. I actually think this may be a relatively short series. I pick the Spurs in 5 or 6.
#4 Portland Trailblazers vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies (MEM won season series 4-0)
POR
LaMarcus Aldridge (23.4 PPG)
LaMarcus Aldridge 10.2 RPG)
Damian Lillard (6.2 APG)
MEM
Marc Gasol (17.4 PPG)
Zach Randolph (10.5 RPG)
Mike Conley (5.4 APG)
The Trailblazers have been marred by the injuries all year and again right before the playoffs. They are going to face a grind-it-out Grizzlies team that has all the tools to make it to the NBA finals (the Grizzlies and Spurs are my picks to make it to the West Finals F
YI). Even Lillard and Aldridge have been playing through injuries all season, so it does not bode well against a team that they were swept by in the regular season. I would pick the Grizzlies in 5, but I think Portland will put up a fight but eventually lose in 6.
GET READY THE PLAYOFFS ARE GONNA BE LIVE!!!!!
PICTURES PROVIDED BY FLICKR.COM
No comments:
Post a Comment