The West:
Although the first round of the NBA Playoffs is pretty much over, the playoffs as a whole are still young. For the first time in a while the West is very competitive. Usually you pretty much know that the Spurs and the Lakers are going to be the two power house teams; however this year is a different story. The Lakers and the Spurs are both looking very old and rusty around the edges while teams such as the Nuggets, Oak City and Portland are looking young and energetic! Injuries have plagued the Spurs late in the season and into the playoffs. Though plagued with injuries, The Spurs will probably do what they do and get past the first round, but not any further than that. While the Spurs time is running thin, Oak City is looking very promising. They’re young with playoff experience and with the addition of Perkins they have a very good presence in the paint which will help against teams like the Lakers. This brings me to my next point. If the Lakers can keep Big Soft Bynum healthy they have a good chance of making it to the Western Finals and maybe even winning it all. Each series will be very competitive but in the end I see it being The Black Mamba vs. Duranchula in the Western Conference Finals.
The East:
Now the always interesting East Side of this playoff picture is pretty much what we all have come to expect over the years. Actually it may be even more entertaining now that the Knicks have acquired Mellow Melo and the Heat went out and got King James along with Bosh Spice. On the flip side, Orlando really beefed by going through with that massive Phoenix trade. Their excitement and competitive edge meter dropped drastically and it’s being displayed by this series with Atlanta. Now for the old men of the East aka The Boston Celtics, getting rid of Perkins will hurt them in the long run. He was such a big threat near the hoop which they will need against players that like to drive such as LeBron and D. Rose. The Bulls have the easiest path to the Eastern Conference Finals. I see them making it past the Pacers and either Orlando or Atlanta. D. Rose is playing like a mad man right now and I don’t see any team being able to contain him other than Miami or Boston. Boston will get past the Knicks and The Heat will get past the Sixers which of course mean they will be meeting in the next round. This will be the premier matchup of the playoffs. Although Boston is firing on all cylinders right now, so is Miami. In the end I don’t think Boston can get the best of the Wade, LeBron and Bosh combo in a 7 game series. The Eastern conference finals will be D. Rose vs. Miami.
The Lakers will have a very tough time with the Thunder in the finals, but Kobe’s will to win another championship will get them over that hump and prevail to win the West. Out of the East, Rose will be burnt out by the time he gets to the Heat! Even though he has help around him and great role players, I think the Heat will find a way to prove everyone wrong and come out of the series victorious to win the East. This will give us one hell of a series with The L.A. Lakers Vs. The Miami Heat. I’m going to go against the odds here and say that THE HEAT will be holding the The Larry O’Brien trophy when it’s all said and done.
Although this is my playoff prediction I will also be bringing to you week to week updates on each series along the way. Stay tuned good people.
-Bone