This is the time we have all been waiting for. The NBA Finals are 24 hours away! It's been a great postseason with some unbelievable individual and team performances. In October, my preseason NBA Finals prediction was the Lakers and Heat with the Heat winning in six games. Unfortunately for my intelligence, the Lakers were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the conference semifinals. The Miami Heat did make the NBA Finals through all their trials and tribulations this season. This is going to be a great series which will cap off what has been a phenomenal NBA season. Let's get to my prediction and how I see this series playing out.
NBA Finals
2. Miami Heat vs. 3. Dallas Mavericks: Heat in 6
After the Summer of 2010, the Miami Heat will finally cash in and take home their second NBA Championship in franchise history. They have been the most scrutinized team in the NBA since I can remember. They brought much of the scrutiny on themselves, but not all of it has been deserved. I think this series against the Mavericks will be a showcase of how good they are.
True basketball fans will be able to appreciate the quality of basketball this team plays, especially on the defensive end. That's the main reason I'm taking them to beat the Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks have played with their hair on fire all postseason, but they have yet to play a team with this kind of athleticism and defensive tenacity. The Oklahoma City Thunder gave the Mavericks some problems with their athleticism, but were too young to know how to capitalize in a pressure-packed playoff series. I can almost assure you the Heat will not make the type of rookie mistakes the Thunder made.
Dallas simply does not matchup well with Miami. I'm not sure if J.J. Barea will be able to play extensive minutes because he's too much of a liability. Look to see more of DeShawn Stevenson if the Mavericks want to have a chance at slowing down Dwyane Wade. Also Shawn Marion will have the challenge of guarding LeBron James. I'll take James in that matchup anyday of the week. Nowitzki will try and defend Joel Anthony, but with the way Miami uses pick and rolls with James/Chris Bosh or Wade/Bosh, it's going to be hard for him to rest on the defensive end of the floor.
Overall, I just like Miami's balanced attack over Dallas' outstanding offensive attack. The NBA Finals are played with the 2-3-2 format which will put a lot of pressure on both teams. With Miami having homecourt, they should be able to go up early on Dallas in the series. That's something the Mavericks have yet to face all postseason. I'm not sure if they're up for the task. The Heat simply have too much firepower for any team in the NBA. For LeBron and co., it will be the first of many championships they'll win in the next five years.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
DTTWSB NBA Conference Final Predictions
We're just one round away from the NBA Finals ladies and gentleman! There have been some surprises throughout the playoffs so far. I don't think anybody predicted the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers to get swept in the conference semifinals. Also the Grizzlies pushed the Thunder all the way to Game 7 before they lost. So far it's been an entertaining postseason that is going to only get better; especially with the matchups that are on deck. So without further ado, here are my picks for the Eastern and Western Conference Finals.
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls vs. 2. Miami Heat: Heat in 6
The Eastern Conference has yet to have an upset so far this postseason and I don't think we'll get one this round either. Right now the Miami Heat look like the prohibitive favorite to win it all. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have been playing lights out basketball. This won't be an easy series for the Heat though. The MVP of the league Derrick Rose will be a tough task for the Heatles. He's been carrying the Bulls all season and is known to elevate his game against great competition. The matchup that I look forward to seeing is Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer and Heat power forward Chris Bosh. They have been the question marks for both teams and will likely dictate which team wins. I think Bosh is coming into this series with confidence and will win the matchup. This is going to be a physical and defensive series that will be won by the Miami Heat. Give me Miami Thrice to advance.
Western Conference
3. Dallas Mavericks vs. 4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Mavericks in 7
At the start of the playoffs the only person that had this matchup in the Western Conference Finals is TNT analyst Charles Barkley. This is going to be an intriguing series that will go seven games in my opinion. Dallas has been resting for over a week now and is anxious to start playing once again. If Oklahoma City wants to win this series they're going to have to get production from their power forward Serge Ibaka. They need him to make Dirk Nowitzki have to defend. OKC also needs production from their bench as well to match Dallas' bench which is probably the best in the playoffs. I'm going to be watching closely how Dallas tries to defend Thunder small forward Kevin Durant. Like Nowitzki, he's one of those players that is damn near unguardable. I actually think OKC will steal Game 1 due to Dallas being rusty but look for Dallas to steal back homecourt in Game 3 or 4. In the end, I think Dallas' experience will give them the edge they need to win and advance.
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls vs. 2. Miami Heat: Heat in 6
The Eastern Conference has yet to have an upset so far this postseason and I don't think we'll get one this round either. Right now the Miami Heat look like the prohibitive favorite to win it all. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have been playing lights out basketball. This won't be an easy series for the Heat though. The MVP of the league Derrick Rose will be a tough task for the Heatles. He's been carrying the Bulls all season and is known to elevate his game against great competition. The matchup that I look forward to seeing is Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer and Heat power forward Chris Bosh. They have been the question marks for both teams and will likely dictate which team wins. I think Bosh is coming into this series with confidence and will win the matchup. This is going to be a physical and defensive series that will be won by the Miami Heat. Give me Miami Thrice to advance.
Western Conference
3. Dallas Mavericks vs. 4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Mavericks in 7
At the start of the playoffs the only person that had this matchup in the Western Conference Finals is TNT analyst Charles Barkley. This is going to be an intriguing series that will go seven games in my opinion. Dallas has been resting for over a week now and is anxious to start playing once again. If Oklahoma City wants to win this series they're going to have to get production from their power forward Serge Ibaka. They need him to make Dirk Nowitzki have to defend. OKC also needs production from their bench as well to match Dallas' bench which is probably the best in the playoffs. I'm going to be watching closely how Dallas tries to defend Thunder small forward Kevin Durant. Like Nowitzki, he's one of those players that is damn near unguardable. I actually think OKC will steal Game 1 due to Dallas being rusty but look for Dallas to steal back homecourt in Game 3 or 4. In the end, I think Dallas' experience will give them the edge they need to win and advance.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
DTTWSB NBA Conference Semifinal Predictions
Now that the first round of the NBA playoffs are in the books, it's time for the big boys to step up and assert themselves in the conference semifinals. I went five for eight with picks last round. I have to give it up to the Memphis Grizzlies for dominating the Spurs; they had high energy in each game, and showed they were the better team. The conference semifinals are about to start in 15 minutes so I'm going to hurry up and make my picks.
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls vs. 5. Atlanta Hawks: Bulls in 6
This is a very intriguing series to me. The young Bulls team finally has a series underneath their belt, but it was a lot closer than most people thought it would be. Personally I like the Bulls to win this series but the Hawks matchup well with them. Atlanta has the athletes to somewhat contain Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, but I'm not sure if the Hawks will be able to generate enough points to win this series or even push it to seven games.
2. Miami Heat vs. 3. Boston Celtics: Heat in 6
At the beginning of the season we knew these teams would face off in the playoffs. I thought it would be in the conference finals, but we got it earlier than expected. This is the classic matchup between old versus young. I have to go with the team that has the best player in the league and the homecourt advantage. Now that Heat small forward LeBron James has some help against the Celtics, I think he'll be able to get over the hump.
Western Conference
2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 3. Dallas Mavericks: Lakers in 6
We have never seen Kobe and Dirk face off in a series until now. This should be a good one for sure. I'm not too sure that Dallas has the mental toughness to contend with a team like the Lakers. I believe the Lakers have finally waken up from their nap and are ready to turn it on. If they play the way I know they can they shouldn't have trouble beating the Mavericks. Dallas will make it interesting, but at no point in the series will they scare the Lakers.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Memphis Grizzlies: Thunder in 5
First and foremost I would like to congratulate the Grizzlies for winning their first series in franchise history. That was a big accomplishment, but I think the Cindarella story stops once they have to face this dangerous Thunder team. Oklahoma City is a great team on the rise and showed that they are ready to take the next step as a contender for a championship. Last round the Grizzlies had an athletic advantage against an older team, but that will not happen this round. Give me the Thunder in 5.
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls vs. 5. Atlanta Hawks: Bulls in 6
This is a very intriguing series to me. The young Bulls team finally has a series underneath their belt, but it was a lot closer than most people thought it would be. Personally I like the Bulls to win this series but the Hawks matchup well with them. Atlanta has the athletes to somewhat contain Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, but I'm not sure if the Hawks will be able to generate enough points to win this series or even push it to seven games.
2. Miami Heat vs. 3. Boston Celtics: Heat in 6
At the beginning of the season we knew these teams would face off in the playoffs. I thought it would be in the conference finals, but we got it earlier than expected. This is the classic matchup between old versus young. I have to go with the team that has the best player in the league and the homecourt advantage. Now that Heat small forward LeBron James has some help against the Celtics, I think he'll be able to get over the hump.
Western Conference
2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 3. Dallas Mavericks: Lakers in 6
We have never seen Kobe and Dirk face off in a series until now. This should be a good one for sure. I'm not too sure that Dallas has the mental toughness to contend with a team like the Lakers. I believe the Lakers have finally waken up from their nap and are ready to turn it on. If they play the way I know they can they shouldn't have trouble beating the Mavericks. Dallas will make it interesting, but at no point in the series will they scare the Lakers.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Memphis Grizzlies: Thunder in 5
First and foremost I would like to congratulate the Grizzlies for winning their first series in franchise history. That was a big accomplishment, but I think the Cindarella story stops once they have to face this dangerous Thunder team. Oklahoma City is a great team on the rise and showed that they are ready to take the next step as a contender for a championship. Last round the Grizzlies had an athletic advantage against an older team, but that will not happen this round. Give me the Thunder in 5.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
