The Chicago - Boston series was sure 1 for the ages (a very nice collection of highlights here)...The Bulls played a good game and made it an epic series but the truth is they are still young and inexperienced, let's hope they can capitalize on this year as they have a tendency to get worse after promising seasons...Cleveland, Denver and the Lakers looked great in the first round while Orlando, Dallas and Houston showed that they are capable of moving past solid teams...Round 2 is next with some equally exciting and promising match ups, let's break them down... EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Cleveland vs (4) MiamiAtlanta has a very athletic team and is so dominant playing home but they are such a bad matchup for Cleveland...They might have a chance stealing 1 if the Cavs appear lethargic and grumpy as they haven't played a game for 10 days but on the other side the same Cleveland team lost only 2 games at home this season.. Bibby did a good job defending Wade at times, but he’s too small for Lebron, and while Evans/Johnson are far more athletic they’re also too small. FYI Josh Smith doesn’t do one-on-one defense. Hawks need Joe Johnson to stay HOT through the series but that’s it. Atlanta showed very little in the first series - teams that get blown out three times in a series by Miami don’t exactly earn my vote of confidence.
Prediction: Cavs in 5 (sweep alert)
(2) Celtics vs (3) Magic
Orlando has a great chance of making this a quick series. 
They have to take advantage of Celtic's fatigue and injuries, play some aggressive defense and kill them in 5 or 6 games. Boston has the home court and they've proved that they are too hard to die in a 7 game situation...I just can’t go against guys like Pierce, Ray, Rondo and Doc Rivers down the stretch of a close game..Orlando has a tremendous advantage at the 4 and 5 position: Rashard Lewis should explode as there's no 1 that can defend him on the Celtics team (except if Brian Scalabrine decides he's a actually an NBA player and not a mascot) and Dwight...well he's Superman..Bench production is also gonna be huge, Celts bench nearly cost them the first round series, adding nothing in all but two of the games...Magic were supposed to lose game six in Philly, with Howard being suspended but with the great play of the "Polish Hammer", they were able to handle the ’76ers with ease...
Prediction: Magic in 6 (Boston will win it if it goes to a 7 game series)
They have to take advantage of Celtic's fatigue and injuries, play some aggressive defense and kill them in 5 or 6 games. Boston has the home court and they've proved that they are too hard to die in a 7 game situation...I just can’t go against guys like Pierce, Ray, Rondo and Doc Rivers down the stretch of a close game..Orlando has a tremendous advantage at the 4 and 5 position: Rashard Lewis should explode as there's no 1 that can defend him on the Celtics team (except if Brian Scalabrine decides he's a actually an NBA player and not a mascot) and Dwight...well he's Superman..Bench production is also gonna be huge, Celts bench nearly cost them the first round series, adding nothing in all but two of the games...Magic were supposed to lose game six in Philly, with Howard being suspended but with the great play of the "Polish Hammer", they were able to handle the ’76ers with ease...Prediction: Magic in 6 (Boston will win it if it goes to a 7 game series)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Los Angeles vs (5) Houston
Kobe Bryant missed practice yesterday with a sore throat...I hope he has the swine flu and he contaminates all Lakers fans...ok, excuse me for the outbreak back to reality. The Lakers are just too versatile and Houston is strong enough defensively to slow them down a little....The combination of having to contain the game’s most potent scorer while keeping tabs on two talented postmen is too much for almost anyone..The Rockets are physical and playing extremely well, but the Lakers just survived a team on-par with Houston for physicality (Utah), and besides, I get the feeling LA haven’t even begun to stretch their legs. . If Yao can finally step it up and take advantage of Bynum's injury they might have a chance. Key factor will be the play of Rockets PG Aaron Brooks; if he can constantly score 15 through the series Lakers might be in trouble and again don't forget that home team will be a little rusty for the 1st game.
Prediction: Lakers in 6
(2) Denver vs (6) Dallas
I really like Denver to win it all only because of the solid leadership of Chauncey Billups. Their bench has emerged and they are the best lteam in the league to take a 10 point lead and push it to 30...just check what happened to the poor Hornets..Arguably the two most in-form teams in the playoffs but Denver has the edge here. A final note: JR Smith's nickname should be Morton 'cause he's always pouring salt in wounds...
Prediction: Denver in 5
Kobe Bryant missed practice yesterday with a sore throat...I hope he has the swine flu and he contaminates all Lakers fans...ok, excuse me for the outbreak back to reality. The Lakers are just too versatile and Houston is strong enough defensively to slow them down a little....The combination of having to contain the game’s most potent scorer while keeping tabs on two talented postmen is too much for almost anyone..The Rockets are physical and playing extremely well, but the Lakers just survived a team on-par with Houston for physicality (Utah), and besides, I get the feeling LA haven’t even begun to stretch their legs. . If Yao can finally step it up and take advantage of Bynum's injury they might have a chance. Key factor will be the play of Rockets PG Aaron Brooks; if he can constantly score 15 through the series Lakers might be in trouble and again don't forget that home team will be a little rusty for the 1st game.
Prediction: Lakers in 6
(2) Denver vs (6) Dallas
I really like Denver to win it all only because of the solid leadership of Chauncey Billups. Their bench has emerged and they are the best lteam in the league to take a 10 point lead and push it to 30...just check what happened to the poor Hornets..Arguably the two most in-form teams in the playoffs but Denver has the edge here. A final note: JR Smith's nickname should be Morton 'cause he's always pouring salt in wounds...
Prediction: Denver in 5
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου