Blog by Haz Bey
Finally, the playoffs are here. No more guessing games on who will win it all this year, the time is now. 16 teams qualified for this years post-season tournament, but who are the true contenders that will have a realistic chance of hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy this year.
1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
I don't care if Game 7 of the Finals is in L.A., Boston, Miami, Chicago, Tokyo or Baghdad, when you possess all that size & skill combined with the best player in the league in Kobe Bryant, how can you go wrong? L.A. for the second straight season has coasted through the NBA regular season allowing folks to jump-on & jump-off their band-wagon. The Lakers have been to the Finals the last 3 years & are the 2-time defending champs, not to mention that was with a limited, but very injured Andrew Bynum. Now with a much healthier Bynum & a deeper bench expect my Lakers to win it all for a third straight season.
2. Boston Celtics
Game 7 of last year's Finals still haunts the Big 4. I mean they played their hearts out, but fell short to their arch-rival Lakers. Now the playoffs are here & I'm telling all of you right now... The C's are ready. Shaq is ready as well. He has fresh legs & is prepared to give Boston heavy minutes. The Celtics starting five are all familiar with winning championships with 8 championship rings between them. Rondo is the floor general & will put the other veterans in great position to succeed. K.G. will anchor the defense & has plenty left in the tank. Look for the last Finals match-up we will witness between L.A. & Boston this June for maybe a long time as teams like Miami, OKC, NY & Chicago will probably own the NBA for the new 5-10 seasons.
3. Chicago Bulls
They possess the league's MVP in Derrick Rose & in my eyes the sixth best player on the planet. D-Rose is a bad man & definitely has the game to carry the Bulls to their first NBA Finals since number 23 shot down The Mailman's hopes in June 1998. With Deng, Noah, Boozer, Brewer, Gibson, Korver & Watson, Chicago presents the a great supportive cast to compliment D-Rose's special abilities. The Bulls play outstanding defense all game long, then Derrick Rose throws daggers in the hearts of teams down the stretch. This team has all the ingredients to have an potential dynasty, but this year I feel that they will come up short to a veteran Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals that is poised to make one last run.
4. Miami Heat
So much star power, so much talent, so much potential. Miami are for real & at the end of the day they have two of the top 3 ball players on the Earth. D-Wade & LeBron will wear-down teams through a 7 game series. I think with them finishing ahead of Boston is a big plus. Now the playing field between the 2 teams are more level & if Chris Bosh can establish himself in the paint, than Miami might win that series, but let's be real for a second. Chris Bosh, "Post Player", yeah... alright... It's not happening, not against Boston. Not this year. Miami might win multiple championships, but their first won't come this year. Boston will knock them out the second round.
5. San Antonio Spurs
Duncan, Parker & Ginobili have enough championship experience and enough hatred for the Lakers to get back to the Finals. In their hearts, I'm sure the Spurs feel that the Lakers took a few of those championship runs away from them & would love nothing but to end the Lakers chances to 3-Peat. And you know what, the Spurs will get that chance. Those teams will meet in the Western Conference Finals, but if all things are equal the Lakers will win that series in 6 games. The Lakers are too big & too talented for the Spurs to deal with through a 7 game series. Now if the Spurs can prove me wrong, I think going through Memphis, OKC & L.A. would potentially be too much to overcome to then face Boston, Chicago or Miami, but if they win it all... do not be shocked.
So that's how I see it. Sorry to OKC, New York & Dallas fans, I'm just not feeling your chances on even getting to the Finals this season, but I am not a profit & don't claim to be, so what I'm saying may all be non-sense. Time will tell & that's why they play the games.
Finally, the playoffs are here. No more guessing games on who will win it all this year, the time is now. 16 teams qualified for this years post-season tournament, but who are the true contenders that will have a realistic chance of hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy this year.
1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
I don't care if Game 7 of the Finals is in L.A., Boston, Miami, Chicago, Tokyo or Baghdad, when you possess all that size & skill combined with the best player in the league in Kobe Bryant, how can you go wrong? L.A. for the second straight season has coasted through the NBA regular season allowing folks to jump-on & jump-off their band-wagon. The Lakers have been to the Finals the last 3 years & are the 2-time defending champs, not to mention that was with a limited, but very injured Andrew Bynum. Now with a much healthier Bynum & a deeper bench expect my Lakers to win it all for a third straight season.
2. Boston Celtics
Game 7 of last year's Finals still haunts the Big 4. I mean they played their hearts out, but fell short to their arch-rival Lakers. Now the playoffs are here & I'm telling all of you right now... The C's are ready. Shaq is ready as well. He has fresh legs & is prepared to give Boston heavy minutes. The Celtics starting five are all familiar with winning championships with 8 championship rings between them. Rondo is the floor general & will put the other veterans in great position to succeed. K.G. will anchor the defense & has plenty left in the tank. Look for the last Finals match-up we will witness between L.A. & Boston this June for maybe a long time as teams like Miami, OKC, NY & Chicago will probably own the NBA for the new 5-10 seasons.
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Miami Heat
5. San Antonio Spurs
So that's how I see it. Sorry to OKC, New York & Dallas fans, I'm just not feeling your chances on even getting to the Finals this season, but I am not a profit & don't claim to be, so what I'm saying may all be non-sense. Time will tell & that's why they play the games.
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