THE PLAYOFF PUNCH-WEEK 4

With four weeks into the NBA Playoffs we are now left with four teams after a month of some incredible action that has left us with the fact that their will be a new champion on both coasts and eventual winner, but who will have their name scribed next to Larry O' Brien this year? 'The Playoff Punch' continues...

...after Dallas buckaroo'd Los Angeles out of the playoffs the champion dethroners had a lot of time off following their sweep. This was because Memphis and our new favourite to win it all, Oklahoma engaged in an epic seven games. It was a close call like this years referee's but in the end the Thunder looked more gnarly then the Grizz, whetting them 105-90 en route to a 4-3 series win. We told you there was a storm coming (http://basketball244882.blogspot.com/2011/02/theres-storm-coming.html)...

...Chicago and Atlanta also got into the dramatics searching for their own epic. This one went to six games however as Chicago bull-rided the Hawks four games to two. In the crucial last game the Hawks looked to pull a game back and make it a series but Chi-town took out their talons with a 20 point, 93-73 blowout...

...on the other hand the epic Boston/Miami matchup turned out to be more straightforward for the Heat as they cooled down the Celtics four games to one. The reigning Eastern champs fought hard but they where done after five once Miami beat them by 10 (97-87). Now can the Heat go all the way...

...well they are certainly going about it the wrong way as Miami are down 1-0 to Chicago in the Eastern Finals after the Bulls rode them 103-82. As the Windy City team changed the tide of the Heat's flow they did this in Miami. A crucial win at Miami's homecourt disadvantage means that the Bulls are one win away from taking this series by the horns. Still the Miami have a lot of Heat left in them, so the fans better keep those white-hot t-shirts on...

...so it's Miami and Chicago and Oklahoma and Dallas out West which starts tomorrow, but who will meet in the finals. We like Chicago and Oklahoma, but right now it's anybodies game and trophy. All these teams look so good and that's why the NBA this year is so great, it's hard to pick a champion or a finalist, but we may find out the second by next week. Be sure to check back then for your next hit from 'The Playoff Punch'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.