NBA Finals Preview

Photo credit: Sportslogos.net

 

Finally the main event is here. After nearly two months of hard-fought playoff basketball it has come down to just two teams, the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs, battling for the NBA’s ultimate prize. Will it be the low-key Spurs who capture their fifth title since 1999? Or the flashy Heat who capture their second-straight title? Below is my prediction.

2 San Antonio Spurs vs 1 Miami Heat

Finally the Heat had a formidable opponent to deal with last round in the Indiana Pacers. After two laughable series wins over Milwaukee and Chicago in nine total games, the Heat had their hands full with Indiana. Don’t let the game seven blowout fool you, this was a tough series and Miami had to work for almost every basket. The Spurs on the other hand are coming off a dominant series sweep of the inexperienced Grizzlies, who were playing in their first Conference Final and looked clearly over-matched. The first two games in this series will be absolutely crucial in my opinion. If San Antonio comes out rested against the Heat, who have had just three days of rest since last round, they could easily steal a game or even two on the road and turn the tide of this series. If they come out rusty and look their age which, let’s be honest hasn’t yet happened…ever, then Miami should coast to an early advantage. These are two incredibly talented teams who are both battle-tested in playoff basketball. There’s no reason to believe that this series doesn’t go seven, and I like Miami to outlast the Spurs in a seventh game on their way to a second straight title.

Prediction: Heat in 7

 

NBA Playoffs: Conference Finals Preview

As we move into the Conference Finals round of the NBA playoffs, here are my predictions for each series.

Eastern Conference

1. Miami Heat vs 3. Indiana Pacers

Prediction: Heat in 6

Indiana’s height advantage and style of play really were the two deciding factors in their series victory over the Knicks last round. They really dominated New York on the boards while harassing them defensively, and that will likely continue in this series. Miami’s big-men simply don’t match up well with what the Pacers have in guys like Roy Hibbert and David West. But I have three (well really two) reasons as to why Miami will win this hard-fought series. First is Indiana’s turnover problem. You simply cannot turn the ball over 15 times a game and expect to compete with the Heat, who love to get out in transition for easy baskets. Second I do not think that if Paul George is matched up with LeBron James he will be able to contain him like he did Carmelo Anthony at certain points during the last round. LeBron’s a completely different, and much more difficult player to guard than Carmelo. Finally the Heat are simply better than the Pacers, and with a rested Dwyane Wade they should take this series in six.

Western Conference

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 5 Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction: Grizzlies in 7

In their romping of the hobbled Oklahoma City Thunder last round, the Grizzlies implemented a certain grind-it-out style of play similar to that of the Pacers, and it helped them easily get by in five games. As many including myself predicted, Thunder big-men Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins just couldn’t stop the Memphis inside game. But now the Grizzlies go up against a completely different foe in the Spurs. They have never faced a team as defensively precise as San Antonio, with guys like Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair anchoring the paint. The difference in this series will deeply involve those two as it will really come down to whether or not they can slow down the offense that Memphis big-men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol provide. While I know it’s never a good idea to pick against Greg Popovich the ageless Spurs in a toss-up series, I’ll pick Memphis to make their first NBA Finals appearance in their young franchise history.

NBA Playoffs: Conference Semifinals Preview

After seeing how well my first round predictions went (that bold prediction of the Heat sweeping Milwaukee really paid off), I figure that I’ll push my luck and make some predictions for this round as well.

Eastern Conference

1. Miami Heat vs. 5. Chicago Bulls

Prediction: Heat in 5

Miami absolutely rolled through the Bucks last week in a four-game sweep, and that should play a huge factor in this series as Dwyane Wade should be rested and healthy. On the other hand the Bulls are coming off a hard-fought seven game series in which crucial players Loul Deng and Kirk Hinrich each suffered nagging injuries. Chicago has been able to split the season series 2-2 with the Heat, but I see those injuries piling up on them as they are ousted in five games.

2. New York Knicks vs. 3. Indiana Pacers

Prediction: Knicks in 7

It’s been 13 years since these two teams met in a playoff series but this one will likely be worth the wait. The Knicks should be a bit concerned with the recent play of sixth man JR Smith, who has struggled mightily in the past few games, as they will certainly be counting on him for big points off of the bench. I think that if he will no doubt be the deciding player in this series. If he plays well the Knicks should have no trouble scoring as the pressure is taken off of Carmelo Anthony. But if he continues to struggle shooting then they could be in a world of trouble.

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction: Grizzlies in 7

Memphis really surprised me after winning four straight over the Clippers, who I picked to win that series. But what I was most surprised with was the ability of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol to really take over those final four games, in which they each dominated the injured Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. In my opinion, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins will have to be forces down low and prevent those two from taking over the series if the Thunder want to prevail. I don’t see that happening though and I’ll take Memphis in seven

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 6. Golden State Warriors

Prediction: Spurs in 6

Coming into this series, San Antonio has to know that there will be at least one or two games in which Stephen Curry will be absolutely lights out from beyond the arc. Their main focus should then turn to stopping every other shooter that Golden State has. Players like Jarrett Jack, Harrison Barnes, and Klay Thompson all had huge scoring nights in one or more of their four wins over Denver, which was the difference in that series. If  the Spurs make it so that Curry has to beat them virtually by himself, they should not have any problems in this one.

NBA Playoffs: First Round Preview

When the average person hears the phrase “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” they most likely will think of the cold weeks leading up to Christmas day. A time for rejoicing, catching up with family, and hopefully receiving a nice present or two. When the average NBA player or coach hears this phrase he may have a slightly different time period in mind. He is most likely thinking of these next two months, a time when the league’s new champion will be crowned. There will certainly be rejoicing, some catching up with old friends and enemies, and at the end every player and coach hopes he receives a nice present in the Larry O’Brien Trophy. This is the NBA’s Christmas except it doesn’t last just one day; it carries on for two months.  So who will it be this year? The Miami Heat in a repeat effort? The “aging” San Antonio Spurs with one last ride? The now experienced Oklahoma City Thunder? Or even, dare I say, the New York Knicks? 16 teams remain alive in their quest for a title, and now is when it all begins. Here are my first round picks.

Eastern Conference:

1 Miami Heat vs. 8 Milwaukee Bucks

Prediction: Heat in 4

It seems like the Heat have been resting their starters for months now ever since their historic winning streak came to an end. You can bet that they’ll be rested and ready for a first round romp of Milwaukee. Anything less than a berth in the NBA Finals will be an extreme disappointment in Miami this year and there’s no way that they’ll let the sub-500 Bucks stop them.

2 New York Knicks vs. 7 Boston Celtics

Prediction: Knicks in 5

Originally I had this one going six or maybe even the full seven games, but New York has been an outstanding team on the road this season and they should be able to steal one at the Celtics. Rajon Rondo has been a huge factor in past matchups between these two and his absence should have an adverse effect on the Celtics in this series.

3 Indiana Pacers vs. 6 Atlanta Hawks

Prediction: Pacers in 5

The Hawks, losers of five of their last seven, come into this series without a whole lot of momentum. Many believe that they favored a matchup with the Pacers instead of playing Brooklyn, but I get the feeling that they’ll be regretting that very soon. Atlanta’s always been a shaky playoff team and I see them going down relatively easily to the Pacers, who are primed for a second round matchup with the Knicks.

4 Brooklyn Nets vs. 5 Chicago Bulls

Prediction: Bulls in 7

This series is looking like it will by far be the best and most entertaining matchup of the Eastern Conference this round. These are two defensive-minded teams who will both look to win low-scoring and hard-fought games this series and beyond. If Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah can both stay on the court, they should be able to have their way with Nets big-men Brook Lopez and Reggie Evans. That may be the deciding factor in what should be an extremely close series.

Western Conference:

1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8 Houston Rockets

Prediction: Thunder in 6

Am I the only one who was seriously rooting hard for this matchup to come to fruition months ago? There is clearly some bad blood between the Rockets James Harden and his former OKC teammates, and this is finally his chance to prove to them what he’s worth. His play coupled with Houston’s high-scoring capabilities should spell trouble for the Thunder in some games, but Oklahoma City should win a hard-fought series here.

2 San Antonio Spurs vs. 7 Los Angeles Lakers

Prediction: Spurs in 6

San Antonio has dealt with their share of injuries this season, but that’s nothing compared to what has hit the Lakers. All of their five opening day starters have missed significant time this season due to injury, with the latest being superstar Kobe Bryant. Now it’s time for Dwight Howard to put this team on his back and prove that he is worth the big money that he’ll inevitably receive in the offseason. I believe that he is capable of doing so, but the Spurs should still be able to outlast Los Angeles and finally end their circus season.

3 Denver Nuggets vs. 6 Golden State Warriors

Prediction: Nuggets in 5

If you’re a fan of fast-paced, energetic, and high-scoring basketball, than this is the series for you. Both of these teams are capable of dropping 130 on a defense if given the opportunity, and I wouldn’t rule that out from happening in a game. Even without Danilo Gallinari the Nuggets are still a dominant home team and they should be able to steal a win in Golden State, setting up a rather uneventful series victory in five games.

4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5 Memphis Grizzlies

Prediction: Clippers in 7

It just seems as if these two are destined to once again go the distance in a series doesn’t it? Last year it ended with a huge game 7 road win for the Clippers in Memphis, but this year they should have a little less trouble at home. The Grizzlies will have to rely on someone other than Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol to step up for them in this series, and that should be a very tall task for them to achieve throughout.

So there’s my picks, just as with my March Madness bracket I plan on them being completely wrong within a few days of the actual games beginning. Enjoy the games everybody.

2012 NBA Western Conference Predictions

I apologize for the delay of this post as I have been without power since Monday due to Hurricane Sandy. Because the season has already started I won’t go as in-depth with my predictions for the Western Conference, but I will still post a short thought for each team.

1. Los Angeles Lakers 60-22– Despite the slow start I still expect the Lakers to come together and gel by the end of the year just as Miami did two years ago.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder 57-25– In my opinion one of the main things that they had over the Lakers going into the year was chemistry. They lost that after trading Harden.

3. San Antonio Spurs 54-28– Yet again going into the season people are complaining about the Spurs old age. I do think that it will catch up with them eventually, but not this season.

4. Denver Nuggets 53-29– Has any team been run better than the Nuggets since the Carmelo trade? This off-season they made another great move acquiring guard Andre Iguodala from the Sixers. Look for them to make noise this year.

5. Memphis Grizzlies 50-32– The Grizzlies didn’t make much noise in the off-season but I don’t look at that as a negative. Their starting five should gel as they should have a very good regular season.

6. Los Angeles Clippers 47-35– I don’t really like the addition of Jamal Crawford this off-season and I still don’t know if they can consistently stay healthy. They still can’t play with the big boys of the west in my opinion.

7.  Utah Jazz 43-39– Two of their top players, Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, are in contract years. They should play well throughout the regular season.

8. Dallas Mavericks 41-41– This may be the final time that Dirk Nowitzki makes the playoffs in his career. Without him for an extended period of time the Mavericks shouldn’t make much noise this season.

9. Houston Rockets 40-42– This may be a bit of an overreaction pick after their first two games, but if James Harden plays anywhere near this level for the rest of the year, the Rockets could make a splash.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves 40-42– The Timberwolves really could have had something special going this season, but they’ve lost both Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love for long periods of time. That’s too much for them to overcome.

11. Golden State Warriors 38-44– The Warriors are loaded with young talent and they will be a factor for years to come. But this year they will have to go through some struggles.

12. New Orleans Hornets 35-47– Anthony Davis already looks like an absolute stud. He and Eric Gordon should be able to carry the  Hornets to a halfway decent season.

13. Phoenix Suns 32-50– The Suns are playing their first season in a very long time without Steve Nash running the offense. They have some decent talent, but it will take a while for them to adapt to life without Nash.

14. Portland Trail Blazers 25-57– LaMarcus Aldridge seems like the only player on this team that can be counted on to score consistently. Look for them to be picking in the top five next June.

15. Sacramento Kings 20-62– They have some building blocks for the future in DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans, but can those two mature quickly enough to make the Kings competitive? I don’t think so.

 

2012 NBA Eastern Conference Preview/Predictions

Last year going into the playoffs, it looked like the Eastern Conference would be won by either the Chicago Bulls or the Miami Heat. Both teams had stellar regular seasons and were the conferences top two seeds. But that all changed on the postseasons first day as the Bulls lost their star Derrick Rose to a gruesome knee injury. This substantially weakened Chicago’s playoff chances and caused them to be bounced in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. But this still didn’t cause the Heat’s run to a championship to become any easier. They still had to get through tough series with the Indiana Pacers (6 games), and the Boston Celtics (7 games). In my opinion, this is the strongest that the Eastern Conference has been in a very long time. It seems like Miami is the consensus top seed for many, but after that it could really go anywhere. Here are my personal picks for the 2012-2013 season.

1. Miami Heat

In my opinion this years Heat squad could challenge the 95-96 Bulls record of 72 wins in a season. If their stars stay healthy, there is no reason why they can’t be absolutely dominant. Their big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh have another year together to mesh, and they have only improved their supporting cast with the addition of sharpshooter Ray Allen. This team can and will be scary good. Projected W-L Record: 67-15

2. Boston Celtics

The Celtics did lose a lot when Ray Allen skipped town and took his talents to South Beach. But what they lost in Allen, they certainly made up for in other off-season acquisitions. The additions of key role players like Jason Terry, Leandro Barbosa, and Courtney Lee should all have a huge impact on the Celtics this season. If stars like Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce can continue to play at a high level, they could compete with Miami for the east’s top seed. Projected W-L Record: 55-27

3. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are one of those teams in my opinion that will build on an outstanding postseason last year. They took the Heat to six games in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series last year, and were a immortal LeBron James performance away from forcing a seventh. They didn’t really add any big names in the off-season, but they didn’t lose anyone either. If their backcourt of George Hill and Paul George can continue to develop, they could make a deep playoff run this year. Projected W-L Record: 52-30

4. New York Knicks

The Knicks had just about the biggest roller coaster ride of a season last year that any NBA team could have. Between the emergence of Jeremy Lin, the firing of Mike D’Antoni, and the Amare Stoudemire playoff breakdown, Knicks fans could not have witnessed a more crazy season. But all of that lead to a first round embarrassing defeat to Miami. This season I think that the additions of Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, and Marcus Camby, could actually help them, and if they actually play some defense who knows what could happen. Projected W-L Record: 49-33

5. Brooklyn Nets

I’ve never seen a team and a fan-base become as energized as the Nets and their fans are after their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn. A new-look team and an improved roster has people finally talking about the Nets for the first time since their back-to-back runs to the NBA Finals. The key factor with this team will be its supporting cast though. We all know that stars like Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Kris Humphries will be there, but can MarShon Brooks duplicate his stellar rookie season? And can Brook Lopez stay healthy for a whole year on a team who has very little depth at that five? Projected W-L Record: 47-35

6. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls could easily be the best team in the conference if they had the 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose for a full season. But they don’t and role players like Kirk Hinrich and Marco Belinelli will have to step up in his absence. I think that the entire regular season could be just about waiting for their star to come back to make a big playoff run. But don’t think that this team is incapable of playing well without Rose, because they certainly are. But in order to make a deep playoff run, they will need their star at 100 percent. Projected W-L Record: 44-38

7. Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers are certainly capable of making the playoffs this season, and I think that they will. But in my opinion they are a but worse than they were last year. I can see why they would trade Andre Iguodala with his upcoming contract situation, but I just don’t know if they can rely on Andrew Bynum. He played very well in his time as a Laker and even showed flashes of brilliance at times. But can he carry a team by himself? Besides Bynum, they don’t have a projected starter who averages more than 14 points per game. Where is the scoring going to come from, and more importantly, who is the go-to guy in crunch time? Projected W-L Record: 42-40

8. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks seem like they should’ve been a whole lot better last year than they actually were. When you have two scorers like Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis on the floor at the same time, you should be one of the most feared offensive teams in the league, and they were last year. Their problem was defense in 2011-12 as they ranked 22nd in the league. The addition of Samuel Dalembert should sure up the D and help this team sneak into the playoffs as an eight seed. Projected W-L Record: 40-42

9. Toronto Raptors

I really like what the Raptors have been doing in the past few seasons to keep up with others in the very competitive Atlantic division. In my opinion Andrea Bargnani is on his way to becoming a star and should only get better this year. I also like the moves that they made getting Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields to sure up the bench. All that being said, I still think that they will miss out on the playoffs this year due to their schedule. Just think how many games they will have to play against the Celtics, Knicks, Nets, and Sixers. They will be a playoff contender in the future though. Projected W-L Record: 36-46

10. Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks traded their star player Joe Johnson to Brooklyn in the off-season, but I don’t think that they got what they should’ve for him. They had budding star MarShon Brooks there for the taking, but instead settled for a deal highlighted by Anthony Morrow. I don’t disagree with people who say that this was a good move as they got rid of Johnson’s huge contract, but they now have to rely on Josh Smith to be the star and I don’t know if he’s ready for that. Projected W-L Record: 33-49

11. Cleveland Cavaliers

I really like what they have going in their backcourt with young star Kyrie Irving and draft pick Dion Waiters. Both of them could form a partnership that could run for years to come. But this teams problem is going to be their incredibly weak frontcourt. Right now their projected frontcourt starters are Alonzo Gee, Tristan Thompson, and Anderson Varejao. If I’m an opposing team none of those guys even remotely begin to scare me. The Cavs are going to have to rely on Irving staying healthy all year, and for someone to step up in the frontcourt for them to make a run at the playoffs. Projected W-L Record: 30-52

12. Detroit Pistons

Contrary to what many believe, the Pistons may actually be able to compete for a playoff spot this year. Do I think that they will actually make the playoffs? No, but their fans should certainly be excited for this teams future. Brandon Knight, Greg Monroe, and Rodney Stuckey are just 20,22, and 26 years of age respectively. Those three could form a homemade big three of their own for years to come, just not quite this season. Projected W-L Record: 27-55

13. Orlando Magic

Let’s get this straight, the Orlando Magic are not going to be a very good team this season. But I do not think that they will have the type of fallout that the Cavaliers had after they lost LeBron James. For years these players have had to deal with Dwight Howard and his senseless trade rumors plaguing their performance. Now all of that is gone, there is a new head coach in Jacque Vaughn, and there is a new mentality in Orlando. They will not seriously threaten for a playoff spot, but they will play teams competitive this year. Projected W-L Record: 25-57

14. Washington Wizards

The fate of this team for the upcoming season will rest completely on John Wall and his mentality. If he can play responsible and get his teammates involved, then the Wizards could have a decent team this year. Surrounding Wall they’ve got their top pick Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza, Nene, and Emeka Okafor. That’s not a terrible starting five. But if Wall plays selfish and doesn’t get his teammates involved, it could be a long year for this team as they become sellers at the trade deadline. I see more of that this season. Projected W-L Record: 22-60

15. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats had one of the worst seasons in NBA history last year going just 7-59. They will certainly improve off of that pitiful record this year, but it will still be a tough season for them. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has the potential to be a star, but he’s no Anthony Davis and he certainly won’t have a huge impact this year. I liked their off-season move getting Ben Gordon for Corey Maggette, but that’s certainly not enough to change the mentality in Charlotte. They will have to endure another season of very bad basketball and draft smart next season to have a shot at fielding a competitive team. Projected W-L Record: 19-63

(Credit to sportslogos.net for team logos)