The NBA playoffs are
here!! The NBA playoffs are here!!
After a very exciting
season, the teams are set for their first round matchups. Let’s start by
previewing the 4 Eastern Conference matchups.
Miami Heat
vs Milwaukee Bucks
Every year there is always a series in the first round that
could result in a sweep and this matchup between the Heat and Bucks has the
most potential to result in just that.
The Heat have been able to win the season series 3 -1 and
although we all know that games in the playoffs and season possess totally
different intensities and level of play, the season is a good indicator to see
exactly how the two teams fare against each other.
This past season, Miami has achieved the amazing
accomplishment of going on a 27 game winning streak, second highest in NBA
history. Not only has Lebron James turned into a superhuman freak during this
streak but the role players have had to step up on a number of occasions and
this has no doubt boosted their confidence and the overall team morale.
The Milwaukee Bucks have not been in the playoffs since 2010
and have returned after having a decent season due to the great guard play of
Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis and the emergence of centre Larry Sanders. Solid
play from power forward Ersan İlyasova and the addition of J.J. Redick at the
trade deadline in February has ensured that the Bucks have returned to the
playoffs.
Although the Bucks have the better point guard and centre in
Brandon Jennings and Larry Sanders (two weaknesses of the Heat) and have played
Miami very tough during the season, the Heat have the deeper team and more
playoff and championship experience. There is absolutely no doubt that Miami
will be favoured to win this series as the Bucks just don’t have the talent to
deny the Heat entry to the second round.
Anything less than repeating as NBA champions will be
considered a failure for the Miami Heat.
Miami Heat win
4-0
New York
Knicks vs Boston Celtics
This series will definitely be the most entertaining in the
East due to the rivalry of these two teams which dates back to the 1950s.
The Knicks made their return to the playoffs in 2011 after
failing to qualify for 7 straight years. The Celtics swept the Knicks 4-0 in
the first round of 2011 playoffs making it the second series sweep for the
Knicks as they were also swept in the first round of the 2004 playoffs by the
New Jersey Nets.
In both these situations the Knicks were the lower ranked
seed. This time around the Knicks are the 2nd seed in the conference
Eastern conference.
Carmelo Anthony has elevated his play to a superstar level
which has not only seen him win the scoring champion title this season but also
has put his team in a position to advance past the first round since 2000 NBA
playoffs. Veterans such as Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby and Tyson Chandler have
added leadership and toughness to the team while role players such as JR Smith,
Steve Novak and Kenyon Martin make up a solid bench that enables the Knicks to
compete with the elite in the league.
The Boston Celtics possess a wealth of championship swagger
and experience that will definitely need to be tapped into if they want to
advance in the playoffs, especially with the absence of their All Star point
guard Rajon Rondo. The Celtics’ performance has been up and down this season
but their play has been decent enough for them to make the playoffs. They have
veteran leadership in Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, good role players in Jason
Terry, Brandon Bass and Avery Bradley and a potential all-star in Jeff Green
who has shown flashes of great play in the second half of the season.
The Knicks definitely have the deeper and younger team
however the Celtics have a more experienced and physical team as their players
have been together longer and play more tenacious defense. The Knicks have the
edge with this matchup as the ageing legs of Boston and the inconsistent play
of Kevin Garnett maybe issues too great for the Celtics to overcome.
We all cannot forget the ‘Honey Nut Cheerios’ debacle at the
Garden earlier this year. Allegedly, during a game Kevin Garnett apparently
told Carmelo Anthony that his wife LaLa ‘tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios’. This infuriated
Carmelo Anthony which threw him off of his game and allowed the Celtics to win
that night. That same alleged statement led to Carmelo Anthony attempting to
confront Garnett at the team bus outside the arena later that night which
resulted in Carmelo Anthony getting a one game suspension from the NBA. There
is no doubt this is still in the mind of Anthony and will be extra motivation
to beat the Celtics.
Knicks win
4 - 2
Brooklyn
Nets vs Chicago Bulls
Both of these teams are evenly matched in this series.
The Brooklyn Nets made one of the biggest splashes with
their cash in the offseason by securing Deron Williams to a big contract,
resigning Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace and making a trade for Joe Johnson.
In addition their centre Brook Lopez has raised his performance this year which
saw him earn an all-star berth. The Nets have also done a very good job with
surrounding Williams and Lopez with solid role players. As a result the Nets
have started off the season very well but slumped a bit until they were able to
pick up their performance once they fired Avery Johnson and replaced him with
PJ Carlesimo.
This Brooklyn team is better than a lot of people think.
The biggest questions surrounding the Bulls as they begin
their playoff run is whether or not Derrick Rose will make any sort of on court
appearance in the playoffs. Chicago has had to weather the storm during the
season due to the absence of their superstar point guard and have surprised
many at how well they have performed. No one would have expected the Bulls to
be seeded 5th in the Eastern conference this season.
Although this Bulls team is not as deep as they were last
year, they still have amazing front court in Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah and
Luol Deng, a good point guard in Kirk Hinrich and a spark plug off the bench in
Nate Robinson.
As these two teams are evenly matched, it could really go
either way as to who advances to the second round. However the Bulls have more
chemistry and cohesion as they have been together longer as a team since most
of the players on the Nets have only been assembled this past season. Deron
Williams will have an advantage at the point guard position over Nate Robinson
and Kirk Hinrich, unless Derrick Rose comes back. However Brook Lopez will have
his hands full up front dealing with Noah and Boozer.
Due to their tenacious defense, the cohesion that exists
between the players as a result of their past playoff experience and their
tough minded coach, the edge will have to go to the Bulls in this matchup.
Bull wins 4
– 2
Indiana
Pacers vs Atlanta Hawks
This series is probably the least interesting matchup in the
East.
Both of these teams have experienced inconsistent play
towards the end of the season. The Indiana Pacers were seeded 2nd a
few weeks ago but have dropped to the 3rd seed while the Atlanta
Hawks dropped from the 5th seed to the 6th seed.
The Indiana Pacers can attribute their season success to
their small forward Paul George who has performed at a level this season that
saw him get his first All-star berth. Also Roy Hibbert and David West round out
their front court and with their defensive prowess and outstanding offensive
abilities they pose a great threat to their opponents’ big men. Other players
such as George Hill, Tyler Hansbrough, Lance Stephenson and Gerald Green
provide contributions which makes the Pacers a solid team.
The Atlanta Hawks have been in the playoffs for the 6th
consecutive year now after being absent for the previous 9 years. The Hawks
have managed to reach the second round but have yet to go beyond that. Although
this team has achieved some sort of success in the playoffs, they have been
gradually declining as they have shown inconsistencies on the defense end and
droughts in scoring. This puts doubt into whether this ball club has what it
takes to compete with contenders in the eastern conference.
Their best player is Josh Smith whose talents and athletic
ability make it very difficult for other teams to match up against him. Al
Horford is an undersized centre but is effective and Jeff Teague is a young
talented point guard that has a bright future. Kyle Korver, Devin Harris and
Deshawn Stevenson are decent role players but will they have enough to combat
against the role players of Indiana.
The Pacers are younger, more talented and a deeper team than
the Atlanta Hawks. They have a bigger front court and the Hawks do not have
anyone who can match up against Paul George. Although the Pacers are without
Danny Granger due to injury they are still a dangerous team and will most
likely still win this series.
Pacers win
4 - 1
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