Eastern Conference Playoff Preview (Rd 2)

1) Cleveland Cavs vs 4) Atlanta Hawks

Preview -Cleveland absolutely demolished the Detroit Pistons in the first round. Every game was decided by a dozen or more, and none of the games were in question in the 4th quarter. The Hawks played a strange series against the Heat, every game was a blowout, but the series went 7 games. The Hawks are a much improved team, and from time to time look like a very good team. The problem is that sometimes they look like a team that should not have made the playoffs.

Prediction -Cavs in 4. I just cannot see a team that lost by 20 points 3 times against a one man team beating the Cavaliers. Lebron is too good, and for once he has help. Mo Williams and Delonte West have brought their games up this year, and the bigs are better in Cleveland than Atlanta.

2) Boston Celtics vs 3) Orlando Magic

Preview - Orlando dispatched of the 76ers in 6 games, they actually beat the Sixers in Philly without Dwight. To beat Boston, Dwight will need to be closer to 30 Points than 20 a night. Boston has problems inside, Leon Powe was added to the Injured List, joining KG. Boston had a series that by now everyone knows about. Almost every game was long, and exhausting. That could have a factor, especially in games 1 and 2 which are in Boston. Ray Allen played at a superstar level versus the Bulls and will need to continue that against Orlando.

Prediction - Celtics in 7. I think this will be another long series. Boston is more talented than most give them credit. They still have 2 Hall of Famers on this team, they lack depth inside, but can attack from the perimeter as good as anyone. Expect Dwight to put up HUGE numbers, but not big enough. Great series though, should be good for TV ratings.

The Worst 7 Game Series of All-time

The Hawks whooped the Heat today behind a tremendous performance from their star player, Joe Johnson. The series was decided by an average of almost 20 ppg. I don't even know how this can happen, how does a series go to 7 games when teams win by 20 every night, just doesn't seem right.

THERE WERE ZERO LEAD CHANGES IN THE ENTIRE SERIES AFTER THE 1ST QUARTER.

Western Conference Playoff Preview (Rd 2)

1) Los Angeles Lakers vs 5) Houston Rockets

Preview - Can the Rockets score enough to make this a series. They match up defensively as good as anyone possibly could against LA. Battier and Artest give you 12 fouls and two stud defenders to play against Kobe. Yao can match up inside,and Scola even matches up decently with Odom when the Lakers go small and play Lamar at the 4. The series will be decided by the offense of players like Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Von Wafer, Battier, and Artest.

Prediction -Lakers in 6. I believe in Houston's defense, but still do not believe in their offense enough to beat a team like L.A.. Yao has become a stud player inside, but still seems to have nights where he just doesn't command the ball enough for the player of his caliber.

2) Denver Nuggets vs 7) Dallas Mavericks

Preview - Once again, I think the Nuggets are flying under the radar, as everyone just expects LA to roll over everyone. The Nuggets and Mavericks both impressed me a ton in round one. Dirk looks like MVP Dirk, and Kidd is playing like the Jason Kidd that led great teams throughout his career. However, Carmelo knows that what he has been missing is winning in the playoffs, and this is his oppurtunity to do just that. He also has THE BEST floor general in the league, Billups will make the plays when they need them and they will advance.

Prediction - Nuggets in 7. Too much Melo and Billups, they are both real HUNGRY.

Celtics Win Amazing Series

I hate to say it since there is still a whole lot of playoffs remaining. But, it is hard for me to believe we will get a series the rest of the way that even remotely resembles this one. Game 7 was not the thriller that the rest of the series provided nightly, but it was still a very competitive game with two good teams fighting for their playoff lives. The Celtics prevailed, because in the end they have more talent, and there secondary guys stepped up big including Eddie House. House was 5/5 from the 3 pt line including the dagger late in the 4th quarter.

I for one am tired of the haters, saying that this series was overrated because these were two "mediocre teams". Remember that when it's Boston who is in the Conference Finals versus Lebron without any help from their MVP Kevin Garnett. Take away a Hall of Famer from any of the other teams and see how well they perform. I am sure the Cavs would do just fine with Delonte West as their second option (ha,ha, ha).

The Bulls will be back, with or without Ben Gordon. They have a young talented nucleus that seems to like playing with each other. If Paxson is smart, and he is, he will keep his core together for the next 5-6 years and then they will challenge in the East. Derrick Rose will be facing off with Lebron in the future. Those series will be great.

Game 7 (CHI/BOS) Preview

This series has been talked about a lot lately, and no doubt has this series been one of the best in NBA History. But, what hasn't been talked about is that one of these two teams' season is about to end. Whoever it is, they played one heck of a series, but that will not matter when they are sitting in the locker room and their next game on the schedule isn't until the fall.

Game 7 is in Boston, and that is the one advantage that we know will be there. But, the young Bulls have proven already that they can win in Boston, and overall home court has meant very little in this series. The games just go to the final 30 seconds and it comes down to who makes the last big play.

So, Who will make that late play today in Game 7?

or perhaps, will this game be a little bit of a tease, as the extremely casual NBA fans will be picking this series up for the first time today.

To me, this will be another tight game. Ben Gordon will have to hit for 30 for the Bulls, and the role players will once again need to score in double figures. I expect a lot today from Paul Pierce, if anyone in this series has been criticized a little bit, it would be Pierce. He has missed some big shots, and pretty much no one else has in this insane series. Today, Pierce will lead the Celtics, and Ray Allen will hit 7 more 3 pointers.

Derrick Rose will be leading the Bulls offense, and he will need to limit those turnovers. Rajon Rondo will be running the point for the Celtics, and they have figured out exactly how to turn Rondo from a great defensive point guard, into just a great player. Rondo has proven in this series that he can go to the rack on just about anyone, as well as hit 17 foot jumpers from time to time. The quickness of these two Point Guards will be tough to match in any other NBA playoff series.

I will be rooting for this young Bulls team, how could you not. The youthful exuberance of this team is unmatched in sports right now. The future is so bright for this team, even if they lose Ben Gordon to Free Agency. Rose/Gordon/Hienrich/Salmons/Tyrus Thomas/B Miller/Noah now that is a wonderful group to build around.

Celtics will win, but it will be another great game.

In case you missed it, TOP TEN PLAYS FROM THIS SERIES (ESPN)

Best Series of All-Time?

This is now a decent question. I think it is about 50/50 from my talks with NBA fans. Some say yes, pretty much every game has came down to the final seconds, plus overtimes. Others say it lacks the Star power (which I don't understand, more of Paul Pierce not getting his due, and that's not to mention Ben Gordon or Ray Allen and his 50+ Points last night)

Either way that you argue you cannot deny the greatness of this series. You expect players to make fall away 3-pt shots at the end of games, because that is the way this series has gone. Whether it's Ben Gordon going ballistic, shooting and hitting shots most players in the NBA aren't allowed by their coaches to take. Or, if it is Paul Pierce taking a game over late. Maybe it is Ray Allen hitting shots over 7 footers while falling out of bounds.

All series there have been great plays, you could make a half hour highlight show that people would love to watch, just from the first 6 games of the series. Joakim Noah means something for the first time since he was a gator. Tyrus Thomas is not a bust, he is an emerging star. Derrick Rose is reminding people how amazing he was last year at Memphis. Ben Gordon is earning himself some cash, as he is an upcoming Free Agent (can I say, that I am happy he didnt opt to play in europe). Brad Miller is the goat one game, and then scores 5 points in 20 seconds to put the do or die game 6 to Overtime. John Salmons has even at times been unstoppable, what a showing by the young Bulls squad.

For the Celtics Ray Allen has been insane. He is sizzling. He tied his own record last night for playoff 3 pointers in one game, and that was pretty much the norm for this series. Ray-Ray has hit game winners, game tying shots, you name it he has nailed it, and in most cases right in someone's grill. Jesus Saves! Buy the tshirt.

I will go on record as saying this is the best series I have ever seen. Every night is must see action, where you cannot figure out for a second who is going to win the game and how. Every game has a person hitting a GW shot, or you think, and then a better shot gets nailed on the other end. 7 footers are going coast to coast for and-1 dunks. Brad Miller is hitting 3s in the final seconds. Big Baby Davis is hitting fade aways like HE IS KG.

It doesn't matter to me that it is a first round series in the East, if you aren't watching this series, you are seriously missing out on some good basketball.

Check out ESPN's top ten plays from this series, AMAZING!!!

Melo Advances for the First Time

Melo is now out of the first round for the first time in his career. He now doesn't have to worry about carrying that on his shoulders like KG did forever, and T-Mac still does. Chauncey Billups has that team playing controlled and explosive. The Nuggets are the team no one talks about but they are insanely dangerous. The Nuggets have a Superstar in Melo, and has size inside to go with a great floor general.

CP3 is everyone's best PG in the world, and he got ran out of the playoffs by Mr. Big Shot. The Nuggets rolled over the Hornets easily and took the series in just 5 easy games. The Nuggets will go on to play another team playing very strong, the Dallas Mavericks. This will be a tough series for the Nuggets, but I think they will prevail in a hard fought series.

Somehow, Carmelo Anthony has become the forgotten NBA Superstar. He has a hard time making an All-Star team. His play is beginning to remind NBA fans that he was a leader on the USA Gold Medal team, and gets the ball in the basket when it matters for the Nuggets. I for one will enjoy watching the Nuggets play in the remainder of the Western Conference Playoffs. This team plays solid all around basketball and is built with everything other than a ton of depth. These Nuggets will be playing basketball for quite a while longer.