2015 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

#1 Atlanta Hawks vs. #5 Washington Wizards

The Wizards had a week of rest before starting this series against while Atlanta, while the Hawks had just one day of rest. It showed late in yesterday's game when Washington pulled away from Atlanta late to take Game 1 on the road and immediately wrest homecourt advantage away from the Hawks.

Atlanta received balanced offense from their starters in Game 1, but almost nothing from their bench. Drew Gooden and Otto Porter Jr. have been magnificent for Washington coming off the bench in these playoffs and continued that yesterday. The Hawks are known for being a good defensive team but yesterday only were able to force six Wizards turnovers. The Wizards managed to win yesterday despite getting 0 points from Nene as Bradley Beal led the way with 28 points. Beal and Wall both battled through injuries yesterday and their health is obviously tantamount to the Wizards continuing their strong play. Paul Pierce continued to be brilliant for Washington, scoring 19 points even if he was jacking up a few too many threes yesterday. Marcin Gortat struggled to keep up with Al Horford on the boards and that is something to watch as the series progresses.

Washington also can't continue to count on Kyle Korver to struggle like he did in Game 1, shooting just 3 of 11 from three point range. Jeff Teague had his moments in Game 1 but will need to play much better the rest of the series for Atlanta to overcome Washington. All of the Hawks struggled with their shot yesterday, and while some of that might have been heavy legs, credit has to be given to the Wizards defense, which has been superb all year. Pierce had no answer defensively for the Hawks DeMarre Carroll yesterday and Carroll has been Atlanta's best player in these playoffs. Randy Wittman will try to find more ways to put Porter on Carroll, as he has a much better chance of keeping up with him than Pierce.

The Wizards are about equal to Atlanta when it comes to starting five talent. Atlanta's regular season record was much better, and a lot of that has to do with the edge in coaching the Hawks have with Mike Budenholzer over Wittman. However, to Wittman's credit, he is on a pretty hot streak right now when it comes to coaching decisions and he has Washington playing their best basketball at the right time. With Pierce in tow and with how shaky Atlanta has looked in the playoffs, I think the Wizards take a leap from next year and reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

Prediction: Wizards over Hawks, 4-3


#2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #3 Chicago Bulls

Cleveland got past the upstart Boston Celtics in four games in Round 1 but it came with a heavy price. They lost Kevin Love for the rest of the season with a separated shoulder and JR Smith is suspended for the first two games of this series after a dirty play he committed in the Game 4 clincher. Chicago beat Milwaukee in six games, and you never knew which Bulls team would show up from game to game. They laid a huge stinker at home in Game 5, then came back and obliterated Milwaukee on the road in Game 6 to close out the series.

This is easily the best series of the Conference Semi-Finals, mostly due to the insane amount of talent that each team has. The Cavs Kyrie Irving will do battle with Derrick Rose at point guard. For the first two games it will likely be Iman Shumpert starting in place of Smith, going against the incredibly improved Jimmy Butler. LeBron James and Mike Dunleavy will theoretically match up, but I expect Tom Thibodeau to throw many different players on LeBron throughout the series. Tristan Thompson will see his minutes jump with the absence of Love and hell, maybe even Kendrick Perkins' corpse will be exhumed for this series as the Cavs try to fight the size of Chicago's bigs Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah. Cavs center Timofy Mozgov will likely rotate defensively against Noah and Gasol.

You can't tell me that not having Love for this series or Smith the first two games won't have an affect on Cleveland. James is easily the best player in the league and obviously his presence is most important, but Love and Smith aren't chopped liver. Chicago shows signs of easily being the best team in basketball and then other times looks completely average. A main reason for that inconsistency is Rose's inconsistency. Rose has struggled when he gets a lack of rest between games, and his will is going to be tested in this series that is mostly one night on, one night off. But what has changed about Chicago is that it isn't just Rose anymore. Butler can score and Gasol can score, not to mention their bench options like Kirk Hinrich, Aaron Brooks, Taj Gibson, and Nikola Mirotic.

With Love and Smith available for all potential seven games, I would probably pick the Cavs. But I think the Bulls will steal a game in Cleveland to start the series and then make Cleveland play catch up the rest of the way, before ultimately stealing another game in Cleveland in the deciding seventh game, and causing the city of Cleveland another torturous sports moment.

Prediction: Bulls over Cavaliers, 4-3

2015 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference First Round

Best Series: #4 Toronto vs. #5 Washington

The Raptors message for the playoffs will be that maybe they don't have the defense to win a championship, but they have the offense to at least win a first round series. Toronto finished fourth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 104 points per game. However, they also gave up triple digits in points per game, and that has been creeping up as an issue as Toronto limped to the finish line.

The Wizards jumped out to a fast start this season but they also played a lot of medicore to bad teams during that time. Once the schedule got harder the Wizards struggled and things got so bad at times that there was talk that Washington should fire coach Randy Wittman. They have battled various injuries throughout the season, especially SG Bradley Beal, but they enter the playoffs as healthy as they have been. 

The Raptors leading scorer is SG DeMar DeRozan. He will be matched up with the Wizards Bradley Beal. I will detail it more later on in this post but Kyle Lowry versus John Wall will the ultimate matchup to watch. Both teams have equally skilled big men, with Marcin Gortat of the Wizards and Jonas Valanciunas. SF Terrence Ross and PF Amir Johnson round out the Raptors starting five and will face off with SF Paul Pierce and PF Nene. Kris Humphries, Otto Porter Jr., Drew Gooden and Ramon Sessions figure to be part of Wittman's playoff rotation. Patrick Patterson and Greivis Vasquez are the Raptors strongest bench contributors.

The Wizards have a far different identity from the Raptors. They are an average offensive team but very strong defensively. Normally, defense wins out, but I think homecourt advantage will make the difference in this series, as Toronto edges Washington in a thrilling series.


Lowest Seed to Advance: #4 Toronto

I don't foresee any upsets in the First Round. The most competitive series will be Toronto versus Washington, with Milwaukee versus Chicago as the next most competitive series. I think the youth and lack of playoff experience for Boston will make them fall short in stealing a game from LeBron James and Cleveland, while Brooklyn will be lucky to win one game against the Atlanta Hawks.


Best One on One Matchup: Raptors PG Kyle Lowry vs. Wizards PG John Wall

I know this has been a Raptors/Wizards heavy post but it is the only truly intriguing series in the East. Sure seeing Celtics vs. Cavs will be fun for nostalgic reasons but the Celtics are no match for Cleveland. Kyle Lowry missed a few weeks recently with a back injury but returned to the lineup April 10th and appears to have shaken off any rust he had. Lowry averaged 18 points, 7 assists and 5 boards this year. He played well against Wall and the Wizards in the regular season and made some crucial plays down the wire in tight games. Wall rested for most of the last week of the regular season, so he should be raring to go when the series tips off Saturday. Wall also played well against Lowry this season and you can expect both players to come out firing in this series. Wall averaged 18 points as well this season but also had 10 assists per game, giving him the slight advantage over Lowry. Neither player can single-handedly lead their team to victory but whoever wins this one-on-one battle will go a long way to helping their team win.


Predictions:

#1 Atlanta Hawks over #8 Brooklyn Nets, 4-1


#4 Toronto Raptors over #5 Washington Wizards, 4-3

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers over #7 Boston Celtics, 4-0

#3 Chicago Bulls over #6 Milwaukee Bucks, 4-2

2014 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference, First Round

#1 Indiana Pacers (56-26) vs. #8 Atlanta Hawks (38-44)

The Pacers started off the year hot, and then fizzled down the stretch, but still managed to hold off the Miami Heat for the number one seed in the East. Their leader is Paul George, and the team's dip in play has coincided with George's own struggles. The Pacers aren't an exceptional offensive team, but they make up for it with their defensive toughness led by David West and Roy Hibbert. Hibbert has come under some fire recently as his offensive performances have been dreadful and his toughness has been questioned. Somehow Lance Stephenson is the team's leading rebounder over the monstrous Hibbert. George Hill is solid but not spectacular at point guard, and off the bench the Pacers have Luis Scola, Evan Turner, C.J. Watson and Ian Mahinmi to spell their starters.

The Hawks squeak into the playoffs with a horrible record, and have changed from the perfectly average team to the just slightly above bad team. The Hawks are the only team in the Eastern Conference to allow over 100 points per game and make the playoffs. It is slightly commendable that they still managed to make the playoffs despite being without their best play Al Horford for the majority of the season. Also, when you look at a starting lineup that consists of Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Milsap, Cartier Martine, and Pero Antic you realize just how terrible the New York Knicks were that they couldn't make the playoffs over this team. Shelvin Mack, formerly of Butler, and Elton Brand, formerly a player of consequence in the NBA are the Hawks main bench contributors.

The Pacers should use this series as a chance to gain back some of the confidence they may have lost over the past month. The Hawks might be able to steal a game in Atlanta, but otherwise this series should be smooth sailing for the Pacers.

Prediction: Pacers over Hawks, 4-1


#4 Chicago Bulls (48-34) vs. #5 Washington Wizards (44-38)

This is a matchup I would prefer was not happening as I like both teams. The Bulls once again overcame an injury to Derrick Rose, traded away Luol Deng and still managed to win 48 games. Tom Thibodeau is clearly one of the best coaches in the league. The Bulls have a ton of trouble scoring, but win games because they never take plays off and play suffocating defense. Their leading scorer si a guy that doesn't even start for them, D.J. Augustin. However, the biggest reason for the Bulls success this season has been the play of Joakim Noah. Noah led the team in rebounds, assists, and blocks, and averaged a double-double this year. The Bulls are likely parting ways with Carlos Boozer and his massive contract this off-season but for now they will hope that he can string together some good offensive showings to make up for his lack of defense. Jimmy Butler epitomizes the Bulls will as a team and their toughness on defense. Kirk Hinrich provides veteran leadership and steady play at the point guard position. Mike Dunleavy can be dangerous when his shot is hitting, especially from three point land. Taj Gibson isn't always consistent but he is another large component of the Bulls toughness on the defensive end.

The Wizards are back in the playoffs for the first time in six seasons, and their faith in John Wall is starting to be rewarded. Wall led the Wizards in scoring, steals and assists. He continues to improve his outside shooting, and he was reliable, playing in all 82 games this season. Another reason for Washington's return to the playoffs is the play of big men Marcin Gortat and Nene. Gortat played in 81 games this year, and almost averaged a double-double. Nene is injury prone as always but with him healthy going into the playoffs he will provide Washington a huge lift both offensively and defensively. Bradley Beal continues to look like a future franchise player, and Trevor Ariza looks a lot like the Ariza that helped the Los Angeles Lakers to a title in 2009. The Wizards also have a lot of veterans at their disposal off the bench, including Andre Miller, Al Harrington, and Drew Gooden.

I don't like this matchup for the Wizards. While the Bulls can be beat because of their trouble scoring, I believe their defense is going to frustrate some of the Wizards younger players and give someone like Wall fits. I also think that Thibodeau will outcoach Randy Wittman and that edge will be the difference in the close games that I expect to see in this series.

Prediction: Bulls over Wizards, 4-2


#2 Miami Heat (54-28) vs. #7 Charlotte Bobcats (43-39)

The Heat have struggled down the stretch but haven't exactly been trying to win. They decided to rest LeBron James and Chris Bosh for the last few games and basically conceded the one seed to the Pacers. Dwyane Wade did play in the last few games but has been dealing with injuries all season long and is definitely on the tail end of his career. The Heat are looking for the three-peat and whether they get it or not chances are this is the last season of the Big Three of James, Bosh, and Wade. The story is the same for the Heat as it has always been, teams kill them on the glass but they win with their defensive intensity and the fact that they have the best player on the planet in James. Ray Allen continues to defy aging and can still hit a clutch three when you need it. The Birdman, Chris Andersen provides a ton of energy off the bench, and other big men that might see some time are Greg Oden's corpse and the formerly highly touted Michael Beasley.

Michael Jordan was crushed by the media when the Bobcats were the laughing stock of the league, but strangely hasn't received much credit for the Bobcats resurgence this season. Charlotte is one of the better defensive teams in the league and has a nice nucleus of young talent. The addition of Al Jefferson has made a huge difference, and Jefferson is having one of the best seasons of his career. Kemba Walker and Gerald Henderson give the Bobcats a nice scoring punch in the backcourt, while forward Josh McRoberts and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are solid. Off the bench, Cody Zeller has had a promising rookie year and Bismack Biyombo led the Bobcats in blocks this season. Gary Neal is another strong player off the bench and he had a good series against Miami last year in the Finals as a member of the Spurs.

Charlotte comes into the playoffs playing their best basketball of the year but I expect the Heat to quickly regain their dominant form. I think Charlotte has the players to be competitive with Miami, but not the experience to ever make the Heat feel any real danger. I think Charlotte can steal a game at home but otherwise, it will be smooth sailing for Miami.

Prediction: Heat over Bobcats, 4-1


#3 Toronto Raptors (48-34) vs. #6 Brooklyn Nets (44-38)

The Raptors are one of the bigger surprise stories of the season. Not that anyone really gives a crap about divisions in the NBA but the Raptors did win the Atlantic division. Despite this achievement, the rumor is that the Nets basically tanked their final two games so they would face the Raptors in the First Round. The Raptors don't have a ton of sizzle or household players but they play very well together as a team. DeMar DeRozan is Toronto's leading scorer, and Kyle Lowry is one of the bestter point guards in the league that you probably haven't heard of. Center Jonas Valanciunas is a force on the defensive end and glass and also scored in double figures this season. PF Amir Johnson was the team leader in blocks. Depth is not Toronto's strong suit but Grievis Vasquez brings a ton of energy and can light up the scoreboard when he comes off the bench. The Raptors pulled off a lot of trades this year and after a slow start and specifically when they shipped off Rudy Gay they seemed to find themselves as a team.

Brooklyn came into the season with a ton of expectations after trading for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, but then got off to a dreadful start. Seems seemed even bleaker when they lost Brooke Lopez for the season, but after the All-Star break the Nets righted the ship. The Nets are a team with balanced scoring as Joe Johnson led the team with just 15 points per game. Garnett is no longer the scorer he once was but he can still grab rebounds with the best of them. Pierce picks and chooses his spots but is a far cry from the electrifying player he once was. PG Deron Williams has taken a ton of criticism in recent years and injuries have curtailed his game but he can still find the open man as good as anyone in the game. Mason Plumlee has been a real bright spot for Brooklyn this year and played very well coming off the bench. Andray Blatche has also seemed to find a home in Brooklyn, providing the Nets with reliable scoring off the bench.

I don't think the Raptors are going to take too kindly to the Nets basically tanking to set up a matchup with them. While Brooklyn did play much better basketball in the second half of the season, I still am not sold that they have the cohesiveness as a team to make a run in the playoffs. Just because the Raptors don't have a lot of big name players doesn't mean they aren't a strong team. I expect DeRozan to have a huge series and the Raptors to come out on top in a hard fought seven game series.

Prediction: Raptors over Nets, 4-3

2013 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

The Eastern Conference Semi-Finals feature the renewal of a new school rivalry, and the renewal of an old school rivalry. The Bulls and Heat meet in the playoffs for the second time in three years, while the Knicks and Pacers renew their classic rivalry from the 90's. The Heat decimated the Milwaukee Bucks in four games, while the Bulls overcame tons of injuries and sickness to knock off the Brooklyn Nets in seven. The Knicks earned their first playoff series win in 13 seasons, while the Pacers got past the Hawks in the series no one watched. On paper, the East seems to be Miami's to lose, but sports tends to always be unpredictable.


#1 Miami Heat vs. #5 Chicago Bulls

When the series tips off tonight the Heat will be playing their first game in eight days. The Bulls just finished off their First Round series two nights ago and flew straight to Miami after defeating the Nets. Needless to say, the Heat will be much more rested than Chicago. That would already serve as quite the advantage but when you add in the injuries that the Bulls are facing with Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich, it makes that advantage even greater.

The Heat are mostly a juggernaut without weakness, except for their lack of size and rebounding. However, as I have documented many times their talent seems to overcome that and make it irrelevant. In this series against Chicago that won't even really be an issue as the Bulls aren't an overwhelmingly large team, outside of Joakim Noah. What may give the Heat some issue is the Bulls defense, which is one of the best in the league. That defense showed signs of being worn down, and tired though as they had to play a lot of guys who aren't part of their regular rotation. To have any shot of making this a series, the Bulls will have to get Deng and Hinrich back at some point. Otherwise, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and company will have their way. I think Noah can limit Chris Bosh's effectiveness but as long as James and Wade play well, that won't matter. The Bulls will also have to make sure they don't leave Ray Allen alone on the perimeter, as he can still do plenty of damage from downtown.

Chicago will have to play perfect this entire series and that means that Nate Robinson, Marco Bellinelli, and Noah will have to continue to play over their heads. Even guys like Jimmy Butler and Nazr Mohammed made huge contributions in the series win against Brooklyn. Perhaps the most key player for Chicago is Carlos Boozer. Boozer had trouble getting in a rhythm against Brooklyn as their bigs constantly had him in foul trouble. This will be a different series for him as Miami doesn't have as much height, but they have much more athleticism, so Boozer will have to play top notch defense. Anyone talking about the possibility of Derrick Rose returning for this series, just please stop. He isn't playing this year, and the Bulls stopped counting on him coming back long ago.

I see a lot of people predicting a sweep, which to me completely discounts the coaching edge Chicago has with Tom Thibodeau going against Miami's Erik Spoelstra. Not saying that Spoelstra is a bad coach, just that Thibodeau is a great coach and would have an advantage against almost everyone. This Bulls team plays with a ton of passion and adding having a chip on their shoulder makes them dangerous. I definitely believe they can make Miami sweat and steal a game or two, but I'd be crazy to pick against the Heat.

Prediction: Heat over Bulls, 4-2


#2 New York Knicks vs. #3 Indiana Pacers

This series tipped off yesterday and to the surprise of many, the Pacers raced to a relatively easy win at the Garden. Most people were surprised because they haven't bothered watching or paying attention to the Pacers all season. The Pacers are a very physical team, and for a team so reliant on jump shooting like the Knicks, that will pose some problems. The Pacers play tough defense and rebound well.

A key battle in this series will be the battle of the big men between the Pacers Roy Hibbert and the Knicks Tyson Chandler. Yesterday, Hibbert dominated Chandler on the glass and offensively. The Knicks will be beaten rather easily if Carmelo Anthony continues to struggle. He played poorly to end the Boston series and that carried over yesterday, with a 10-28 shooting performance. The Knicks other important shooter, J.R. Smith was just 4-15 yesterday. If the Knicks don't find a way to get those guys going or find some better looks, this series will be over quickly. The Knicks best player on the court yesterday was Raymond Felton. Felton shot the ball well and also played very good defense on Pacers point guard George Hill. The Pacers best player, Paul George struggled with his shot but as all good players do, found other ways to score, and for him that was by getting to the line.

The Pacers second best player, David West played very well yesterday and the Knicks will have to hope that Kenyon Martin can give them some quality minutes and play West tight on defense. For the Knicks to be successful, their perimeter guys will have to get going, which can open some things up for Chandler inside. If the Pacers dominate the paint like they did yesterday, it won't matter how well Anthony or Smith shoot. The Pacers also received a huge boost from their bench yesterday with some great play by D.J. Augustin.

I think that the Knicks can turn things around in this series, even after yesterday's dispirited performance. This is a series where I expect to see the road teams steal a few, ultimately forcing a Game 7 at the Garden, which would be electric. But in a surprise twist, I like this Pacers team to win that Game 7 and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. They are the definition of team, and can hit you from all over. In other words, a very dangerous, playoff ready team.

Prediction: Pacers over Knicks, 4-3

2013 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference, First Round

It is unclear how much drama there will be in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Miami Heat were the dominant team throughout the season, highlighted by their epic 27-game winning streak. It seems inevitable that they will march through the playoffs and then finally be tested in the NBA Finals. However, the New York Knicks and The Indiana Pacers might have something to say about that. The First Round of the NBA Playoffs isn't always that exciting, as the favorites usually dominate. However, the Knicks, Pacers, and Brooklyn Nets will all face challenges in round one.


#1 Miami Heat (66-16) vs. #8 Milwaukee Bucks (38-44)

When the Heat added Ray Allen in the offseason it seemed to cement that they would be repeating as NBA champions. Nothing during the season has changed my opinion of that, and this first round matchup with the hapless Bucks should be a cakewalk. The Heat begin and end with their big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Bosh especially seems more comfortable with his place in the big three and had a very productive year. Allen was exactly what the Heat hoped for, remaining one of the best pure shooters in basketball, despite being 37. Depth issues remain a concern but not nearly as much of one after last season when the Heat proved that it didn't really matter. Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, and Norris Cole have all shown they can step up and contribute when need be.

The Bucks are just lucky to be here. They are well under .500 and quite frankly not really worthy of being a playoff team. Their best player is PG Monta Ellis, who appeared in every game and led the team in scoring and steals. Brandon Jennings is their second best weapon but he has been in and out of the doghouse this season. Larry Sanders and Samuel Dalembert give the Bucks a decent inside tandem, while Mike Dunleavy and J.J. Redick both are strong shooters. The Bucks are a strong rebounding team, but their weaknesses defensively has been their achilles heel this season.

I think the Bucks could potentially steal a game in Milwaukee if they shoot well and dominate the Heat on the boards like they are capable of. But otherwise, I expect James, Wade and Bosh to dominate and the Heat to breeze past Milwaukee.

Prediction: Heat over Bucks, 4-0


#4 Brooklyn Nets (49-33) vs. #5 Chicago Bulls (45-37)

The Nets were up and down the entire season. They got off to a hot start, then struggled and fired Avery Johnson. P.J. Carlesimo was inserted as the interim coach and the team responded, finishing 16 games over .500 and earning a four seed. One of the biggest and I mean biggest reasons for the Nets success was Brook Lopez. Lopez remained mostly healthy this season and led the Nets in scoring and blocks. He would have led the team in rebounding, but Reggie Evans earned that by being an absolute beast on the glass. The Nets have other big men with two infamous players, Kris Humphries and Andray Blatche. Humphries goes in and out of Carlesimo's doghouse so who know how much action he will see. As the Nets envisioned, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson have formed a pretty potent back court. Johnson remains a streaky shooter, but the Nets have seemed to find a way to share shots between him, Williams, and Lopez. The Nets don't have that great of a bench and that has hurt them at times. I mean when Jerry Stackhouse can still get minutes on your team, that's saying something and it isn't good.

The Bulls dealt with the will he or won't he question for most of the season about whether Derrick Rose would return to play. Turns out he hasn't and it looks like he won't. He hasn't been ruled out of the playoffs but I'd be shocked if he came back now. I don't really like how he has handled things, especially with him being medically cleared over a month ago. He basically has barely played two seasons in a row now, and is costing the Bulls a ton of money. The Bulls are clearly a team that takes on their coach's personality in Tom Thibodeau, as they ranked third in defense. Unfortunately, without Rose their offense has struggled, ranking 29th in the league. Luol Deng led the Bulls in scoring, barely edging out Carlos Boozer. Joakim Noah did just about everything, leading the Bulls in rebounds, blocks, and steals. Nate Robins and Kirk Hinrich have taken over at point guard for Rose. Robinson is very hit and miss as always. He can electrify and then he can leave you shaking your head with some of the decisions he makes. Shooting guard remains a weakness for the Bulls as Marco Belinelli is okay, but not anyone teams are afraid of.

For the Bulls to get past the nets Boozer, Deng, and Noah will have to play great in every single game. The Nets have a clear advantage at the guard position so the Bulls will have to win the rebounding battle and maximize their chances of scoring. They also have to play top notch defense and frustrate Williams and Johnson. This should be a good series, filled with close games. I expect it to go 7 and for the Bulls to prevail.

Prediction: Bulls over Nets, 4-3


#2 New York Knicks (54-28) vs. #7 Boston Celtics (41-40)

The Knicks won their first division title since 1994 and were able to overcome injuries to Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and the loss of Jeremy Lin to free agency. Now, the question is, how will they deal with being the favorites? Also, can they win their first playoff series since 1999? Anthony led the league in scoring and the Knicks will go however far he can take them. They also have a fantastic sixth man in J.R. Smith who was only behind Anthony in scoring for New York. The point guard combo of Raymond Felton and 100-year old Jason Kidd has been surprisingly effective, and recently added to that group has been Pablo Prigioni, who is questionable for game 1 due to a sprained ankle. The Knicks are hoping Stoudemire can return from injury for the playoffs, but even if he does how much he can contribute remains to be seen. Defensively, the Knicks improvement over the last few years, has been replacing Mike D'Antoni as coach, and also the presence of Tyson Chandler. Chandler in the middle makes it very difficult for teams to penetrate the lane and he is a weapon that can't be appreciated enough. 

The Celtics have been mired in mediocrity for most of the season. They decided not to be sellers at the trade deadline and see if their group of vets could make one final run. Last year they struggled during the regular season, but then got hot in the playoffs and were just a game away from the NBA Finals. However, last year they had Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo and this year they do not. The Celtics started off hot when Rondo went down with his injury but have leveled off since then and clearly miss him. Avery Bradley is solid but he isn't a game changer like Rondo. The team still revolves around Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, while Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, and Courtney Lee are their other reliable players.

This should be a sexy series just based on name brands alone. Then you have the storyline of Carmelo vs. KG dating back to the regular season, whether the Knicks can finally get over the hump and win a series, and if the Celtics have one last run in them. I expect a hard fought, back and forth series that goes seven games. At that point, it comes down to who has the best player on the court and the Knicks will have that with Anthony, propelling them to the next round.

Prediction: Knicks over Celtics, 4-3


#3 Indiana Pacers (49-32) vs. #6 Atlanta Hawks (44-38)

Both of these teams come limping into the playoffs in what is easily the least interesting first round series. The Hawks are once again stuck in that 5-6 range they can't seem to get out of. The Hawks have talent but have never had that one player that is transcendent and that has prevented them from being serious contenders year after year. Josh Smith is good, but not great and is held back by his penchant for turning the ball over. The Hawks cause wasn't helped when they lost Lou Williams for the season. John Jenkins has played decently as his replacement at shooting guard but isn't consistent. Al Horford and Smith do the bulk of the rebounding for the Hawks because C Zaza Pachulia was also lost for the year with an injury. They have a pretty good point guard in Jeff Teague as he shoots the ball well and is good at finding the open man. He does make a few too many poor choices though and will try to force things. Kyle Korver has been a nice addition and continues doing what he does best, knock down threes.

The Pacers were without Danny Granger for the bulk of the year but otherwise mostly avoided the injury bug to their other key players. Paul George has turned into a star, leading the team in scoring, while Roy Hibbert has continued his ascension as one of the better big men in the league, working as a rebounding and shot blocking machine. Much like Teague, George Hill isn't a household name, but he is an effective point guard and is smart with the ball. David West continues to be reliable year after year and teams up with George to do the bulk of the Pacers scoring. Lance Stephenson rounds out the starting five, while consistent bench guys are Tyler Hansborough, D.J. Augustin, and Ian Mahinmi.

The Pacers aren't great offensively, but they are tough inside and were second in the league in points allowed per game. Their rugged style is going to wear down Atlanta, and frustrate Smith. I expect the series to go back and forth to start, before the Pacers take over and close out the Hawks in six, while America collectively yawns.

Prediction: Pacers over Hawks, 4-2

2012 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference, First Round

The same eight teams that made the playoffs out of the Eastern Conference last season are back this year. The order has changed as none of the first round matchups are rematches from last year. Like last season, the Bulls and Heat are the favorites in the East, with some thinking the old guard of the Celtics might be able to make one final run. The first round of the NBA playoffs is usually devoid of upsets, and I expect that trend to continue this season.


First Round

#1 Chicago Bulls (50-16) vs. #8 Philadelphia 76ers (35-31)

The Bulls should not take the 76ers lightly, even with Philadelphia's late season swoon that dropped them to the 8th seed. The Sixers have given the Bulls fits when they have played the last couple of seasons. However, the Bulls confidence is sky high after winning 50 games during the strike shortened season and doing it for huge stretches of the year without their best player, PG Derrick Rose. Rose should be ready for the playoffs but Bulls fans have to be nervous about how rusty he might be after missing so much time with a litany of injuries. John Lucas and C..J Watson were able to manage the team in Rose's absence, while other players like Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson, and when he actually played, Richard Hamilton all stepped up. The Bulls have tremendous depth and that should serve them well in the playoffs.

The Sixers are led in scoring by PG Lou Williams, who actually plays behind fellow PG Jrue Holiday. Andre Iguodala saw his scoring numbers plunge this year, but his assists and rebounds were above his career average. PF Elton Brand isn't the scorer he used to be but he can still play good defense, and he along with Spencer Hawes can cause problems for teams in the paint. Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young provide the Sixers with some scoring off the bench.

This series will be a defensive slugfest, as neither team is proficient on offense but both are fantastic defensive teams. I think Rose trying to reintegrate himself into the lineup will cause the Bulls some problems in this series and allow the Sixers to make it interesting. Ultimately though the Bulls are too good to lose four game to Philadelphia.

Prediction: Bulls over 76ers, 4-2

#4 Boston Celtics (39-27) vs. #5 Atlanta Hawks (40-26)

The Celtics were expected to fall by the wayside this season with their big three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett supposedly being too worn down to deal with the fast paced schedule of the lockout shortened season. They started off the season very slowly, but following the All Star break they seemed to be a new team and climbed all the way up to the fourth seed and another division title. The Celtics were one of the worst scoring and rebounding teams in the league but with Rajon Rondo running the point, his play along with their fantastic defense has elevated the Celtics to title contention. PF Brandon Bass has played well, and the biggest surprise of the season for the Celtics was the emergence of SG Avery Bradley and his hard nosed defense.

The Hawks are where they seem to be every season, right in the middle of the pack, with the talent to win a First Round series, but not the talent to any further. Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are still the team's main offensive output, but still will disappear during stretches of games. PG Jeff Teague took a huge leap this year, doubling his career scoring average. The Hakws also have the corpses of Tracy McGrady and Jerry Stackhouse taking up minutes but not doing much else. They will be without Al Horford for this series, as they have been for all but 11 games this year.

This will be another defensive series and one that I expect home court will play a major role. Despite having the lower seed, the Hawks get homecourt advantaged based on finishing with a better record. I think home court will be served for most of the series, but come the decisive Game 7, the battle tested Celtics will win in Atlanta and move on.

Prediction: Celtics over Hawks, 4-3

#2 Miami Heat (46-20) vs. #7 New York Knicks (36-30)

This is the most anticipated series of the First Round in the Eastern Conference. For the Knicks sake hopefully that means more than last season, when they were supposed to give the Celtics trouble and instead were swept. The Knicks were up and down all season, their season falling off a cliff to start, before Jeremy Lin and Linsanity emerged and seemed to save Mike D'Antoni's job. Then Carmelo Anthony returned from injury, the team struggled and D'Antoni resigned. Following that, both Lin and Amar'e Stoudemire were hurt, and Anthony carried the team and got them into the playoffs. Stoudemire is back now, and while Lin is not expected to play in this series, they have to feel good about Anthony playing his best basketball since joining the Knicks last season.

The Heat and their Big 2 1/2 are still the focal point, while the rest of their guys are pretty much garbage. They still lack a point guard that can take over a game or even be much of a factor. They also remain weak at center where Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf get the bulk of the time. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are still both incredible and good enough themselves to carry the Heat far in the playoffs. The Heat also remain a strong defensive team and throw that in with the seventh best offense in the league and they are tough to beat, despite having no depth.

I think the Knicks will live up to the hype in this year's playoffs and provide a memorable series against Miami. This series certainly doesn't lack star power and it will basically come down to which team's superstars outplay the other team's superstars. I like James and Wade over Anthony and Stoudemire.

Prediction: Heat over Knicks, 4-2

#3 Indiana Pacers (42-24) vs. #6 Orlando Magic (37-29)

This is the series that will likely be relegated to NBA TV. Despite having the 5th best record in the NBA the Pacers are still under the radar, and the Magic will be without their superstar and top notch whiner, Dwight Howard for the entirety of the playoffs. The Pacers have six players that average double figures in scoring, with SF Danny Granger leading the way with 18.7 ppg. PF David West's scoring is down but he is playing well heading into the playoffs and has some playoff experience. C Roy Hibbert is one of the most improved players in the league and with the absence of Howard give the Pacers a huge advantage down low. Darren Collison got injured and then lost his starting point guard job to SG George Hill, who limits his turnovers better than Collison did.

The Magic may actually be pleased to be without the drama that Howard gave the team all season. With him out, the scoring load will be primarily taken over by PF Ryan Anderson. Anderson had a career year, and he can score both inside and out. SF Hedo Turkoglu will be back from his eye injury, and the Magic hope that the recent hot play of SGs Jason Richardson and J.J. Redick will continue. PF Glen "Big Baby" Davis will also to have a tremendous series, to make up for the absence of Howard.

The Pacers showed signs of their emergence in last year's playoffs when they gave the Bulls all they could handle in the First Round. This year, I think they take the next step and win a playoff series, helped by the Magic being without one of the best players in the league in Howard.

Prediction: Pacers over Magic, 4-2

2011 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference Finals

The two best teams in the Eastern Conference are left standing. However, don't say that to all of the Miami Heat sycophants and bandwagon fans. They were too busy telling everyone that the Heat would wrap this series up in a sweep or five games. Well after last night's complete destruction of the Heat by the Bulls, those fans will have to hope the Heat can beat the Bulls four straight. This series will put to the test the age old question, can superstars alone defeat a cohesive, complete team? The answer is usually no.

Eastern Conference Finals

#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #2 Miami Heat

The Heat have been perhaps the most talked about team in NBA history. Every loss has been treated as the end of the world, while every win has been built to astronomical proportions. A lot of that has to do with LeBron James. Despite having won nothing of note in his NBA career, people constantly want to crown this guy. After beating an aging, injured Boston Celtics team you would have thought the NBA should have just canceled the rest of the NBA playoffs and made the Heat champs. Nevermind that the Bulls led the NBA in wins or were led by the MVP of the league, the sensational Derrick Rose.

Last night, the Bulls stifled James and Dwyane Wade, and Wade was posterized by Taj Gibson in one of the most memorable dunks I have ever seen. The Bulls dominated the offensive glass, especially one of the hardest workers in the league, Joakim Noah. I never thought it possible after he was a Florida Gator, but I am definitely on Team Noah. The only player to do anything of note for the Heat was Charmin-soft Chris Bosh, who poured in 30 points, but it wasn't surprising those points came in a blow-out loss. Lost in all of this is that the Bulls are now 4-0 against the Heat this season.

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect the Bulls to blow out the Heat in every game this series. But maybe it reminded some people that the Heat are still just a 2 1/2 man team. Sure James Jones or Joel Anthony might have a good game here or there, but can you really see a team winning a championship with the following players expected to contribute? Mario Chalmers, Jamaal Magloire, a hobbled Udonis Haslem, 125-year old Juwan Howard, 118-year old Mike Bibby, and Mike Miller. We also may get the pleasure of seeing 144-year old Zydrunas Ilgauskas play meaningful minutes. There is no denying that the Bulls bench blows the Heat's out of the water.

Luol Deng was magnificent in Game 1, making life hell for James, and also contributing on the offensive end, taking some pressure off Rose. Deng will be the Bulls x-factor in this series. The fear for the Bulls was who else would step up and score besides Rose? Deng has to be consistent throughout this series. It will be a lot to ask of him though with guarding James being his primary responsibility. That means that Carlos Boozer has to take the next step in his career and have a solid series on one of the biggest stages. Boozer finally seems to be coming around, and has put together a solid string of games recently.

I will abstain from making a prediction on this series for superstitious purposes but I hope that the basketball Gods will once again make it known, teams always beat superstars.

2011 NBA Playoffs - Eastern and Western Conference Semi-Finals

The First Round of the NBA Playoffs will be a hard act to live up to. While no series went seven games, the games themselves were all very competitive and provided more drama than fans are accustomed to seeing in the opening act of the NBA Playoffs. The East now comes down to the Chicago Bulls taking on the Atlanta Hawks, which is a slight surprise, and then the most anticipated series in the Conference Semi-Finals, the Celtics battling the Heat. In the West, the Memphis Grizzlies made Charles Barkley look like a genius for picking them, as they dismantled the San Antonio Spurs, and now face the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder. The other matchup sees Kobe and the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers battle the Dallas Mavericks.

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #5 Atlanta Hawks

This isn't the matchup that Jameer Nelson envisioned but such a crappy player shouldn't be talking trash as it is. The Hawks proved that their regular season success against the Magic was no fluke. The Bulls got all they could handle from the Indiana Pacers but still managed to close them out in 5 games.

Hopefully that jolt from the Pacers woke the Bulls up and showed them that they will have to earn everything they achieve in the playoffs. Derrick Rose carried the Bulls in that series but struggled mightily shooting the ball. That isn't a problem as long as he can continue to get to the free throw line and hit free throws. Carlos Boozer was completely ineffective against Indiana and now is dealing with turf toe. I think the Bulls are talented enough to win without a major contribution from him against Atlanta, but against either Miami or Boston he has to step up. If he can't be effective offensively then he will need to at least slow down Al Horford. Joakim Noah will have a major advantage over Jason Collins.

The Hawks will be without former Bull and their starting point guard Kirk Hinrich. He strained his hamstring and is not expected to be able to return for the series. That is a huge loss for the Hawks who will now have to rely on either the inexperienced Jeff Teague, or allow Crawford to get more minutes at point guard. Joe Johnson could have a huge series going against the overmatched Keith Bogans,

The Bulls will be tested once again but the Hawks won't be able to slow down Rose and I think Noah could have a monster series.

Prediction: Bulls over Hawks, 4-2

#2 Miami Heat vs. #3 Boston Celtics

This series tipped off yesterday with the Heat dominating the game and defeating Boston to take an early 1-0 series lead. Dwyane Wade was unreal, scoring 38 points and hitting 14 of his 21 shots. Even more unreal were the contributions from James Jones off the bench. He hit 5 three pointers and finished with 25 points.

Game 1 was very chippy and saw Paul Pierce get ejected. That figures to be a running theme throughout the series as neither team cares much for the other. This is the series where I think the Celtics will really miss Kendrick Perkins. Going against a stiff like Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and a little accomplished player in Joel Anthony, are matchups that Perkins could have exploited. Instead, the carcass of Jermaine O'Neal will have to try to do something.

Yesterday's game did give me pause but I still think the Celtics are the better team. Team being the key word. James Jones won't be dropping 25 every game, and when it comes down to it the Heat are still 3 players and a bunch of nobodies. Even the third part of that group, Chris Bosh, is unreliable and won't be dominating the Celtics like he did the 76ers.

It will take consistent bench play for the Heat to beat Boston and I don't think the Heat have the parts to make that happen.

Prediction: Celtics over Heat, 4-3


Western Conference Semi-Finals

#5 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are in an NBA Jam like "On Fire" zone right now. They basically dominated the Spurs and then shot lights out and put the Thunder on notice in Game 1 of their series. Zach Randolph is playing at an insane level right now and can't be slowed down. Marc Gasol has people actually trying to argue that the Grizzlies didn't get swindled in the Pau Gasol trade a few years ago. Tony Allen and Shane Battier are giving the Grizzlies the defensive toughness needed to go far in the playoffs.

All of that being said, the Thunder still have the best player on the court, Kevin Durant. However, Russell Westbrook really needs to step up his game. He is scoring points but is taking way too many shots to get those points and has been turning over the ball too much. Kendrick Perkins will have to wake up as well, he was virtually non-existent in Game 1.

This series will rest on whether Serge Ibaka and Perkins can slow down Gasol and Randolph. As long as the Grizzlies big men continue to play at this high of a level, the Grizz will keep shocking the world. I'm drinking the kool-aid and like the Grizzlies to move on.

Prediction: Grizzlies over Thunder, 4-3

#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #3 Dallas Mavericks

For the first time since 1988, the Lakers and Mavericks meet in the playoffs. Considering how each team has been a mainstay of the playoffs for about a decade, it's pretty amazing they never crossed paths. I can't stand the Mavericks loud-mouthed owner Mark Cuban and would love to see the smug look wiped off his face by LA.

The Mavs surprised me by getting past the Blazers but still choked in spectacular Maverick fashion in Game 4. I expect to see a lot of that from them in this series, and still don't think they have the mental toughness to be champions. I will say that when DeShawn Stevenson is a starter on your team, I can't take you seriously as contenders.

Its the same story as always for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant will consistently contribute and the Lakers success will come down to how Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and the bench play. The Lakers struggled with the Hornets because of the struggles of Gasol and Odom. The Mavericks have size with Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler, but Nowitzki is a big man in height only and rarely plays down low. Bynum and Gasol should each have big series. Also, Derek Fisher won't get tore up defensively, as he gets to face someone even older than him in Jason Kidd.

The Lakers will probably do what they do best and make things more difficult than they should be, but I have no doubt they will be moving on to the Western Conference Finals.

Prediction: Lakers over Mavericks, 4-2

2011 NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference, First Round

Doing things a little differently this year for the NBA playoffs. Instead of just focusing on the Bulls and Lakers, I will preview each First Round series in the NBA Playoffs. I don't think the playoffs truly get interesting until the Conference Semi-Finals, but that doesn't mean the First Round isn't worth talking about. Today, I start off with the Eastern Conference. Four teams are seen as having a legitimate chance of representing the East in the NBA Finals. The Chicago Bulls are the favorites, followed by the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and probably only in Orlando, the Magic. However, the four of them will have to handle their business in the First Round.

First Round

#1 Chicago Bulls (62-20) vs. #8 Indiana Pacers (37-45)

In my preview of the Bulls/Cavs series from last year's playoffs, I wrote this. "It helps that they play in the decidedly weak Eastern Conference but hopefully when they get the right coach in place next season they can finally make some noise." Well, the Bulls landed that coach in the off-season, bringing in Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau. The team bought into his defensive philosophy and went from the 8 seed and 41 wins, to the 1 seed and 62 wins. Soon to be MVP Derrick Rose was steady for the Bulls all season, as they overcame injuries to Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah.

The Pacers are led by Danny Granger, who thinks the Pacers have a shot if they can stop Rose. Sorry Danny boy, but the Pacers have no shot in this series, mostly because they can't match the Bulls defensive intensity. At just 37 wins, the Pacers are just fortunate to even be in the playoffs and will be lucky if they can steal a game.

Prediction: Bulls over Pacers, 4-0

#4 Orlando (52-30) vs. #5 Atlanta (44-38)

This is a rematch from last year's playoffs, when the Magic decimated the Hawks in the Conference Semi-Finals. The Hawks come into this year's playoffs reeling, losers of six in a row. The Magic have been up and down all season, completing a gigantic trade in December that brought them Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas, and Hedo Turkoglu.

The Magic are hoping that JJ Redick will return for the playoffs, after missing the end of the regular season with a lower abdominal strain. Their is a misconception that the Magic don't play defense, but they finished fourth in points allowed per game. Dwight Howard continues to improve and become more and more dominant.

The Hawks have a starting five that can compete with most teams but have a very thin bench. Although all talented, I don't think Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, or Al Horford really scare any teams. The Hawks are stuck in that good enough to compete but not good to win anything zone. They can have some confidence in the fact they beat the Magic three out of four times this season, but it's a whole different animal in the postseason. I think they will play the Magic much harder this year, but ultimately it won't be enough.

Prediction: Magic over Hawks, 4-2

#2 Miami Heat (58-24) vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers (41-41)

For a three man team, it would be hating to say the Heat's 58-24 record this season wasn't impressive. They went through a few trials and tribulations but to win that many games after a complete overhaul of a team is quite the accomplishment. Do I think they will win a title this season? No, but they have shown that given a couple more seasons they should be the best team in the league. The three headed monster of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are the only Heat players that averaged double figures in scoring. Their point guard play has been unsteady all season, and is what I think will eventually be their undoing against the Celtics or Bulls.

The Sixers are a very balanced team. Elton Brand returned from the dead and played a full season, leading Philadelphia in scoring with 15 points per game. Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, and the point guard 1-2 punch of Jrue Holliday and Lou Williams are all capable of putting up points.

The Sixers have some good pieces in place and could be a team to watch as long as coach Doug Collins doesn't lose the team. However, they aren't ready to take down a team as talented as the Heat.

Prediction: Heat over 76ers, 4-1

#3 Boston Celtics (56-26) vs. #6 New York Knicks (42-40)

This is by far the most intriguing First Round series in the East. The Knicks are finally back in the playoffs and have two of the best scorers in the league, Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. They also have a veteran point guard in Chauncey Billups. Unfortunately for them, you can't just win outscoring teams, and the Knicks defense is atrocious. They will be facing the Celtics, who were the best defensive team in the league in the regular season.

The Celtics have seemed out of sorts since the Kendrick Perkins trade and the ultimate success or failure of that trade will be judged on whether the Celtics bring home a championship. Their big four of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett are the least of their concerns. The big questions are, how will Jeff Green play? Will Nenad Kristic add anything? Can Glen Davis remain steady off the bench? Will Shaq suit up?

I think the atmosphere will be great in this series, especially Madison Square Garden in Games 3 and 4. The Celtics are too good defensively and will be able to slow down Anthony and Stoudemire. The Knicks won't be able to get the stops they need, but they will definitely make this series interesting.

Prediction: Celtics over Knicks, 4-2

2010 NBA Playoffs - Chicago Bulls

Eastern Conference First Round

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21) vs. #8 Chicago Bulls (41-41)

The Chicago Bulls waited until the last night of the regular season to finally assure themselves a playoff berth. Their reward? The best team in basketball this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers are of course led by the best player in basketball, LeBron James.

The Bulls have dealt with injuries, General Manager John Paxson and Coach Vinny Del Negro fighting each other, the fact that Vinny Del Negro is their coach, and still made the playoffs. It helps that they play in the decidedly weak Eastern Conference but hopefully when they get the right coach in place next season they can finally make some noise.

The Bulls are led by stud PG Derrick Rose, who led the team in scoring and assists. Much to my surprise C Joakim Noah has become a force. When he was out injured the Bulls lost 10 straight, once he returned is when they were able to right the ship and sneak into the playoffs. SF Luol Deng is the Bulls only other real offensive threat besides Rose.

The Cavaliers are James and then some other pieces. Sure those pieces aren't bad but without James the Cavs would not be nearly as dangerous. He is the reason the Bulls have almost no chance of winning this series. One aspect that will be interesting to watch is how smoothly C Shaquille O'Neal is able to get back into the lineup after missing two months. The Cavs didn't really seem to miss him and almost looked better offensively without him. This isn't anything that should affect them against a .500 team like the Bulls, but against the Magic, who many expect them to face in the Conference Finals, it could be a problem. The Cavs addition of PF Antawn Jamison seems to have been a success so far, while watching PG Mo Williams and Rose square off will be fun.

The Bulls surprised many by giving the Celtics a ton of trouble in the First Round last season. However, that Bulls team was better than this one, and that Celtics team was considerably worse than this Cavs team. I think the Cavs sweep the Bulls with relative ease, and the Bulls kick Vinny Del Negro to the curb.

Prediction: Cavaliers over Bulls, 4-0

Below are my complete predictions for the First Round of the NBA Playoffs.

Eastern Conference

#1 Cleveland over #8 Chicago, 4-0

#4 Boston over #5 Miami, 4-3

#3 Atlanta over #6 Milwaukee, 4-1

#2 Orlando over #7 Charlotte, 4-1

Western Conference

#1 Los Angeles over #8 Oklahoma City, 4-1

#4 Denver over #5 Utah, 4-2

#3 Phoenix over #6 Portland, 4-3

#2 Dallas over #7 San Antonio, 4-2

The Week That Was

The First Round of the NBA Playoffs is finally finished and the Second Round tipped off yesterday. The Los Angeles Lakers are back in action tonight after almost a week off, as they are set to take on the Houston Rockets. The Lakers easily disposed of the Utah Jazz in the First Round, 4-1. Conventional wisdom would say the Rockets should pose a much greater threat, but the Lakers dominated them in the regular season, winning all four meetings. Of course, the playoffs are a completely different animal.

The Chicago Bulls season came to an end as they lost Game 7 at Boston. People seem hesitant to say anything beyond this series being the greatest first round series ever, but to me this was the greatest series I have ever seen. I will not say ever in the history of basketball, but as a basketball fan since I was 6 years old I have never seen a more competitive and entertaining series. Sure both coaches made some bonehead moves but for sheer entertainment value, it doesn't get any better than what I just witnessed over the past 2 weeks.

Check back tomorrow as I will have a full preview and predictions for the Second Round of the playoffs.

The NHL Playoffs are also in to their second round and to the excitement of the Washington, DC area the Washington Capitals are still playing. The Caps recovered from a 3-1 deficit against the New York Rangers, winning that series. That has set up a dream matchup in the Second Round between Alex Ovechkin and the Caps versus Cindy Crosby and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Caps took Game 1 at home in exciting fashion and the series continues with Game 2 tonight. This series could really bring in the casual hockey fan, and possibly provide a boon to the NHL.

The Baltimore Orioles completed a miserable week that saw them go 0-6. They now sit at 9-16 and the wheels are coming off already. The team can't win unless they score 6 runs or more, which is an impossible pace for the offense to maintain. It is just as frustrating as ever to watch this team. No Orioles Magic today, but they start a 2 game road series at Tampa Bay. My expectations are low.

The Week That Was

Trying to find time for the blog over the past week has been difficult to say the least. However, I owe it to my loyal readers to give my best effort. It is one of the best times of year to be a sports fan. The NBA and NHL Playoffs are in full swing, and the NFL continues to dominate headlines, even in its off season, with the NFL Draft.

The Washington Capitals have come back from the brink of elimination to even their series with the New York Rangers, 3-3. Tuesday night the Caps will host the Rangers and try to complete the come back from a 3-1 deficit. If it seems like deja vu from last year that is because it is. The Caps got behind the Philadelphia Flyers last year 3-1, before making a frantic comeback to even the series at 3. They had the deciding seventh game at the Verizon Center but fell in overtime. Hopefully, they can re write a new chapter tomorrow night.

The NBA Playoffs have been very entertaining, with many games coming right down to the final buzzer. The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics are engaged in a tremendous series, that is now 2 apiece after the Bulls overtime win yesterday. I wish I could be watching more of this series as it has been tremendous. Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo continue to play a game of can you top this.

The Los Angeles Lakers got a key victory over the Jazz on Saturday in Utah to take a 3-1 series lead. After a miserable game three, Kobe Bryant went off in game four. It is only a matter of time before the Lakers close out the Jazz.

The NFL Draft was this past Saturday and some of the major picks by the San Franciso 49ers, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles were tremendous. The Niners had Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree fall into their laps after the Oakland Raiders passed on him for Maryland WR Darius Heyward-Bey. Crabtree gives the Niners a young, bonafide receiver and should help take some of the pressure off RB Frank Gore. The Niners could still use some help at the QB position but you can't argue with them taking Crabtree. The Redskins avoided being stupid and trading up for incredibly overrated QB Mark Sanchez out of USC, and instead stuck at #13 and took Texas Defensive End Brian Orakpo. The Redskins are mostly very old on the defensive line but with the additions of Orakpo and Haynesworth in the off-season should be much more improved up front. That could be scary for the rest of the league as the Skins were already the 4th best defense in the NFL last year without those two. The Vikings took WR Percy Harvin of Florida, who had slipped because of character questions. It reminded me of when the Vikings had Randy Moss fall into their laps. I don't think Harvin will have the career of Moss but he is ridiculously talented, and his speed will be in full effect on the Metrodome turf. The Vikings, like the Niners, still need to upgrade the QB position but based on where they were drafting this was the best pick they could have made. The Eagles confused me a bit by taking Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin in the first round, but then made a great pick when they got Pittsburgh RB LeSean McCoy. McCoy will take some pressure off of Brian Westbrook and gives the Eagles another versatile option in their backfield. Adding Maclin to their receiving corps gives the Eagles two young, talented receivers, as Maclin will join last year's rookie sensation DeSean Jackson.

The Week That Was

The second seasons for both the NBA and NHL began this past week, and each had their fair share of surprises. In the NBA, four of the eight road teams won Game 1 of their series. The Chicago Bulls put in an inspired effort, led by stud Derrick Rose's 36 points and knocked off the Celtics in overtime, 105-103. Hopefully, the Bulls can take another game in Boston but even if they don't they at least assured themselves a split. It will be imperative for them to sweep at home if they want to pull off the upset, because the chances of them winning another game in Boston are slim. The biggest upset of the weekend was the Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Orlando Magic. The Sixers were down by as many as 18 in the third quarter but staged a furious rally in the fourth. Andre Iguodala hit a shot at the buzzer to give the Sixers the win, and atone for missing two free throws a minute earlier that could have put the Sixers ahead. Other road teams that won were the Houston Rockets over the Portland Trail Blazers in a rout, and the Dallas Mavericks storming from behind to beat the San Antonio Spurts. The heavy favorites to reach the NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers had no trouble in their Game 1's.

The Washington Capitals had one of their best seasons in franchise history but it appears one thing hasn't changed, they still choke in the playoffs. The Caps dropped the first two games at home against the New York Rangers and now face a must win at Madison Square Garden tonight. The Capitals switched goalies after starting goalie Jose Theodore performed poorly in a 4-3, Game 1 loss. They inserted rookie goaltender, Simeon Varlamov, for Game 2. Varlamov only gave up a goal, but was outplayed by Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Caps star Alexander Ovechkin hasn't scored a goal yet and it is imperative for the Caps that he get off the schneid tonight.

News broke last week that the Washington Wizards are poised to name Flip Saunders their new head coach. Saunders has previously been the head coach of the Minnesota Timeberwolves and Detroit Pistons. Saunders teams have consistently done well in the regular season but faltered and fell short of expectations in the playoffs. Saunders is known as an offensive mastermind, and it is believed he can make the Wizards even more potent on offense than they already are. I think Avery Johnson would have been the better hire. The Wizards haven't lacked scoring punch all of these years, they have lacked defense. I think Johnson could have instilled that toughness. I don't think Saunders is a bad hire, and I think he can get the Wizards into the playoffs, but if the goal is to win championships I think Johnson would have been the better choice.

My flag football team, Ron Burgundy, dropped their first game of the season yesterday, 24-2. The game was closer than the score indicates as we had many scoring opportunities but couldn't punch the ball into the end zone. The team we played, The Show, were very good, especially this one girl they had who burned us for multiple touchdowns. We play again on Sunday, thankfully at 3 PM, as yesterday's 9 AM start time was not fun.

2009 NBA Playoffs - Chicago Bulls (41-41)

Eastern Conference First Round

#2 Boston Celtics (62-20) vs. #7 Chicago Bulls (41-41)

The Chicago Bulls enter the playoffs playing their best basketball of the season. Since bringing in SF John Salmons and C Brad Miller from the Sacramento Kings in a deadline trade, the Bulls have gone 18-11 to finish the season at .500. In a matchup that brings back memories of the 80's they take on the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics.

Offensively, the Bulls are carried by rookie sensation PG Derrick Rose, SG Ben Gordon, and Salmons. Gordon led the team in scoring with 20.7 points per game, Salmons averaged 18.8 per game, and Rose was the one who brought it all together with 16.8 points per game, and 6.3 assists per game. On the defensive end the Bulls rely on PF Tyrus Thomas, who led the team in blocks with 1.9 per game and get contributions on the glass from Miller (7.3 rebounds per game) and C Joakim "Dog Face" Noah (7.6 rebounds per game).

The Celtics are known for their Big Three, SG Ray Allen (18.2 points per game), SF Paul Pierce (20.5 points per game), and PF Kevin Garnett (15.8 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game). Breaking news this morning is that Garnett is likely out for the playoffs. This deals a big blow to the Celtics and greatly enhances the Bulls chances in this series. Oftentimes overlooked but just as important to the Celtics success is PG Rajon Rondo. Rondo put up 8.3 assists per game and was on fire when the season began. He cooled considerably as the season wore on and the Celtics will need him to catch fire again for the playoffs. C Kendrick Perkins quietly had a nice season, leading the team in blocks and rebounds per game. The Celtics also possess considerable depth, PG Eddie House, PF Leon Powe, PF Glen "Big Baby" Davis, and PG Stephon Marbury, can all provide a spark.

The battle between Rose and Rondo will be fun to watch, as will watching Allen on Gordon. The bigs should also be entertaining to watch as the Celtics throw Powe and Davis against Noah, Miller, and Thomas. The Bulls are a better scoring team than the Celtics but are much worse defensively, giving up 9 more points per game. Another factor to consider will be the home courts. The Celtics struggled mightily on the road in the playoffs last year, and playing in Chicago will prove to be a challenge as the Bulls were a very good home team. Conversely, the Cetlics were almost unbeatable at home in the playoffs last year, bad news for the Bulls, who were an awful road team this season.

I like the Bulls chances a lot better now that Garnett won't be playing, however, the Celtics have shown throughout this season that they can win without him. I think the Bulls will take the Celtics to the limit but the home court will prove to be the difference in game 7.

Prediction: Celtics over Bulls, 4-3

The Week That Was

Congratulations to the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions, the North Carolina Tar Heels! The Heels destroyed Michigan State 89-72 to win their 6th national title and their second in five seasons. Roy Williams has done a pretty good job proving the morons wrong that say he can't coach. Much like they have all season, the Tar Heels absolutely decimated the Spartans right from the opening tip. The game was never close and the Heels got dominating performances out of Ty Lawson (21 points, 6 assists, NCAA title game record 8 steals), Tyler Hansbrough (18 points, 7 rebounds), Final Four MVP Wayne Ellington (19 points), and future superstar Ed Davis (11 points, 8 rebounds). Carolina won every tournament game by double digits, with their "closest" margin of victory being a 12 point win over Oklahoma in the Elite Eight. Carolina finishes the year 34-4, with their biggest defeat coming at the hands of Boston College, by just 7 points. This was in my opinion the greatest North Carolina team of all time. Just sheer dominance all season and it was great to see Hansbrough and Danny Green stay all four years and be rewarded with a national title. The Heels will put a vastly different team on the court next year with Hansbrough and Green graduating, and Lawson, Ellington, and Davis all potentially leaving early for the NBA, but that is something to worry about in October, until then the Heels are the best team in the nation!

As college basketball winds down, Major League Baseball had its Opening Day yesterday. I am a huge Baltimore Orioles fan and while the last 10 years have been terrible, one day that always seems to go the O's way is Opening Day. The Orioles defeated the New York Yankees 10-5 at Camden Yards, roughing up the Yankees marquee free agent acquisition pitcher CC Sabathia. The Orioles potent lineup showed how they can dominate as 2B Brian Roberts had three hits, CF Adam Jones had three hits and 2 RBIs, RF Nick Markakis had two hits and 2 RBIs, and even SS Cesar Izturis got in on the act with a HR that sealed the game late. The goal for the Orioles is a winning season, 82-80 would be perfectly fine with me. A quick blog note, starting Friday I will preview every single Orioles series here on CBH Sports.

The NHL and NBA playoffs are also quickly approaching. The Washington Capitals have clinched the Southeast Division and a playoff berth. I barely follow hockey but have seen the Capitals capture the DC area's interest so if anyone out there loves the Capitals and would like to write about their playoff run please contact me at christopher.hirsch@gmail.com. Once the NBA Playoffs start I will do a full preview of the entire playoffs and focus especially on the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.