Last season I wrote about the NBA and the Olympic team and didn’t even pose a single blog about the regular season. I hope I can blog about it now since the real games are about to start and that is the NBA playoffs. The sweet 16 to the NBA Title has just started with four matches to augur the start of the Playoffs. Let’s see the match ups and have some predictions.
THE EAST - The big story in the East is that the Big Ticket won’t be able to play the entire playoffs. Kevin Garnett has not fully come back from the knee injury he suffered last January. The Cavs are out to win the East and go back to the finals to snare that elusive NBA crown.
CLEVELAND (1) vs. DETROIT (8)
Who says Lebron won’t win the MVP award? It’s a three pronged race for the MVP but if you’d ask Lebron he’d rather get the Finals MVP that Dwayne Wade won three seasons ago. The secret to the success of the Cavaliers has to be the points shared by the other Cavs that makes the team less predictable. There has been “MO” offense specially on the Point guard spot where Mo Williams (17.8 ppg) has made his mark. Delonte West (11.7 ppg), Anderson Verajao (8.6 ppg) and Zarunas Ilgauskas (12.9) all came together as a team
Expect a first round exit for a team that was four years ago on top of the NBA with Richard Hamilton 18.3 ppg) , Tayshaun Prince (14.2 ppg), Antonio McDyess (9.6 ppg) and Rasheed Wallace ((12 ppg) only the ones left to bring back the glory. A welcome surprise is the rise of point guard Rodney Stucky (13.4 ppg) as the team’s lead point guard. Even if Allen Iverson comes back the team will still miss the second round.
The key matchups are how the Point Guards will control the game and feed their stars. The Cavs have a lot of pressure on Lebron who was frustrated in 2007 when they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Lebron is bigger, better and wiser and is ready to claim that elusive title. James is ready for the big games so bring it on. Cavs in 5.
BOSTON (2) vs. CHICAGO (7)
16.2..this is the average winning margin of the Celtics against the Bulls in their wins this season. The Celtics have adjusted to the fact that their top big man Kevin Garnett is said to miss the whole playoffs. Leading their pact is the Truth Paul Pierce. On the other hand veteran guard Ray Allen has been playing great this past few games and will be counted on to shoot the lights out in these playoffs.
What is important now is how the frontline of the Bulls will fare against the depleted frontcourt of the Celtics. Joachim Noah and Tyrus Thomas needs to pound on Kendrick Perkins and the Glen Davis in order to create an advantage. Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose will get a lot of experience playing against Allen and Pierce. The only way they can squeeze a win is for the Bulls to cover the Celtics shooters and make them falter so that their frontline will be forced to score which won’t be that much since KG is out. Rajon Rondo’s matchup with Rose will be a sight to behold.
Boston will take this one in 6 games.
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