NBA Playoffs
The NBA Playoffs has already started and the first round is full of excitement. The big question, of course, is who will succeed to win the coveted 2015 NBA Champiopnship. So far, most of the teams with homecourt advantage has won over the visiting teams. It so hard to predict who will emerge as the ultimate winner, but let me share to you who I think will meet in conference finals.
For the East, my fearless forecast will be the Atlanta Hawks versus the Chicago Bulls. And for the West, it's going to by the Golden State Warriors against the San Antonio Spurs.
EAST FINALS. Atlanta will have a smooth run on the first and second round, thanks to homecourt edge. There are no superstars in this team, which makes them a tough nut to crack. Most notable for Atlanta is Paul Millsap. I don’t even know any player from Atlanta and they have nothing to lose, making them more dangerous.
For Chicago to make the Eastern Finals, their toughest opponent will be LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. But Chicago for me has a more complete lineup, now that Derek Rose made a remarkable comeback. Actually the injury of Rose gave ample time for the bench to step up and season. Now with Rose back on its fold, Chicago suddenly have a very deep bench. And despite coming off an injury, Rose looks superb and has been driving fearlessly through the basket, which is far different compared to his first return from injury when he looks very tentative. Now he is much more confident. One notable player from Chicago is the Montenegro-native Nikola Mirotic. He has been under the radar and Mirotic, 24, averaged 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and about 18 minutes in Games 1 and 2, a dip from his regularseason numbers and definitely from the 17.7 ppg and 6.6 rpg he averaged after March 1. But his presence adds much to the Bulls' versatility on the frontcourt, said center Pau Gasol. Mirotic is hobbled by a left knee and quadriceps injury he suffered against Milwaukee. He will be missed, but it will be a good rest and recovery period for him as his services will be much-needed if they meet Cleveland come the second round.
WEST FINALS. The West will have a tougher path as the contenders are far more formidable compared to their Eastern counterparts.For me, Golden State will cruise to the Eeastern Conference finals without a doubt with my bet for MVP Stephen Curry leading the charge. But one thing stands between winning and losing and it will be health of their big men particularly Australian Andrew Bogut, who will have to deal with Memphis twin towers in Mark Gasol and Zach Randolph. That if they meet in the second round. David Lee’s role in the Warriors' rotation has been declining and it looks like it is turning into a complete non-presence in the playoffs as Lee battles a strained lower back that kept him out the first two games against the Pelicans.Lee needs to comeback in the second rounds to help GSW win. The Warriors are a relatively young team, with Klay Thompson backing up Curry, and a versatile and very experienced coach in Steve Kerr. “We've got to put four quarters together where we're just executing and moving the ball and taking care of it. ... We're still a pretty young team. We still get excited at times and do some crazy things. But I kind of like that fact that we walk that line. It's what makes us who we are,” said Kerr.
This means that the young GSW lack the a killer instinct. They blow their opponents right away but always give them a chance to comeback give chance towards the end of 48 minutes. GSW unwillingly dragged themselves in the end in both games.
As for the Spurs, they tied the series against the Clippers and expect them to make a complete comeback and win the 1st round. The LA Clippers are a much improved team compared to last year but expect them to stretch the series to 7 games. In Game 1, the Spurs shot poorly. “It was a case of bad offense vs. good defense,” said Spurs coach Greg Popvich. In Game 2, the Spurs hang on and sent the game to overtime before finishing Clippers, which had two crucial turnovers in the extension. Expect Kwahi Leonard to step up bigtime after receiving his Defensive Player of the Year trophy.
SIDELINE: It's nine days to go for the 'Fight of the Century' between my Idol Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.