2012 NBA Playoffs: My Conference Finals Preview

Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
The Thunder came through in the clutch time and time again against the Lakers in their five game series, while the Spurs just blitzed the Clippers in a sweep (and are riding an 18-game winning streak!), setting up the most anticipated conference final in the last couple years.

The match-ups in this series should be fun to watch, with All-NBA Second Team point guards Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook going head to head, outstanding Sixth Men Manu Ginobili and James Harden coming off the benches, and an ageless great (Tim Duncan) going for his fifth championship against the two-time NBA Scoring champ (Kevin Durant) looking for his first NBA Finals appearance. I think the key in this series lies in the front-court. The backcourt battle should be great to watch with Parker/Ginobili vs Westbrook/Harden, but it should be pretty even. It comes down to the frontcourt, with a rejuvenated Tim Duncan in the post matching up against the likes of Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka. If OKC can guard Duncan without double teaming (which I don't think they will be able to do), the Spurs won't get as many open three point shots from the likes of Matt Bonner, Danny Green, and Gary Neal. Also key is how well Kawhi Leonard can keep Kevin Durant from getting into the paint and force him into long jump shots.


This series really could go either way, but I will take the experience and red-hot Spurs in a thrilling seven-gamer.
Spurs in 7

Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics vs.  Miami Heat
The Heat survived an early scare from Pacers, riding LeBron and D-Wade to a six game series win. The Celtics, meanwhile, won a gritty series with the upstart 76ers, winning another Game 7 at home.

Unfortunately, for Boston, which is trying to get to the Finals one last time with the Big 3 in place, Miami's stars Dwayne Wade and LeBron James are red hot and looked unstoppable in their last three wins against Indiana, and Boston comes in banged up. Ray Allen has been a shell of his former greatness, struggling mightily with his shot, and without outstanding defender Avery Bradley, who is out for the season, Allen also has the responsibility of somehow slowing down Dwayne Wade, which I don't see happening. With Chris Bosh still hurt, Miami is vulnerable inside, but the Celtics are a jump shooting team and lack a consistent post-up game. Boston's best plan of attack to stay competitive in this series is to continually attack the basket with Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo, while also getting consistent outside shooting from Allen, Brandon Bass, and bench players such as Mikael Pietrus and Keyon Dooling to prevent Miami from getting out and running.


In the end, I just don't see the Celtics hitting enough shots consistently to stop the Wade and James freight train.
Heat in 5


Last round: 4-0 
Playoffs record: 10-2

Heat Advance, Eliminate Pacers

Behind a ridiculous 41 points on 17 of 25 shooting from Dwayne Wade, Miami closes out the Pacers 105-93 in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

What a turnaround from three games ago, with Miami down in the series 2-1 after a humiliating Game 3 defeat in which Dwayne Wade scored just five points, to tonight in which Wade simply took over the game in the second quarter as the Heat hung in the game despite Indiana's hot shooting.

In the second half, as Indiana continued to turn the ball over time and time again, Wade and the Heat built a double digit lead which would be insurmountable for the Pacers.

David West had 24 points and kept Indy close, but in the end, the Pacers simply couldn't execute offensively with consistency, and, as they have the whole series, couldn't solve Miami's fronting post defense.

The Heat will await the winner of the Celtics/76ers Game 7 Saturday night and will host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals Monday back in South Beach.

76ers Force Game 7

It certainly wasn't pretty at times, but in the end, Philadelphia got it done, winning Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the Celtics 82-75 to force a decisive Game 7 back in Boston on Saturday.

With both teams playing top-notch defensive games, and struggling to shoot all game long (Celtics shot 33% for the game, while Philly missed 11 free throws), PG Jrue Holiday and the Sixers' continual dribble penetration in the second half (including Andre Iguodala's sick dunk in video below) proved to be the difference. Holiday finished with 20 points and 6 assists, outplaying Boston PG Rajon Rondo, while Elton Brand banged around to score 13 points and grab 10 rebounds. Paul Pierce had 24 points and Kevin Garnett added 20 for Boston, but they fail to close out a series on the road yet again.

Pacers Lose Granger in Game 5 Blowout Loss

The Pacers struggle for the second straight game in getting the ball in the post and using their superior size and talent inside and suffer the consequences in a Game 5 blowout loss to Miami, 115-83. Instead of reposting, Indy simply threw up bad perimeter outside shots, which led to Miami fastbreak points in the late second and third quarter, which blew apart the game. In addition, when leading scorer Danny Granger turned his ankle late in the first half and was unable to come back in the second half, Indy just lost their poise and LeBron and Wade took over the game, as Miami finished the game shooting a record 61% from the field. The Pacers hobble home for Game 6 Thursday hoping to keep their season alive.

Earlier in the game, an absolutely dirty and malicious foul by the Heat's Udonis Haslem on Pacer forward Tyler Hansbrough occurred in the second quarter. (video below) It definitely warranted a Flagrant-2 foul and the officials were cowards for not ejecting Haslem for such a cheap shot.

LeBron, Wade Erupt as Heat Even Series

For a half, it looked like the Pacers were on their way to a commanding 3-1 series lead, but in the third quarter,  LeBron James and Dwayne Wade combined to score 38 straight Miami points, as the Pacers simply had no answer, allowing Miami to take a lead they would not relinquish, in a 101-93 Game 4 win that evens the series at 2-2. Below, was an MVP-type pass from James to Wade during the third quarter onslaught.



In the end, James had 40 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Wade overcame a rough start to total 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Pacers got 20 points from Danny Granger and 16 off the bench from Darren Collison, but big men David West and Roy Hibbert had very little impact, as Miami outrebounded the Pacers 47-38.

The pivotal Game 5 is Tuesday back in Miami.

2012 NBA Playoffs- Conference Semifinal Predictions

Western Conference

Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs
The Clippers withstood a rugged series with Memphis, but not without Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Caron Butler all picking up injuries. Coming into this series against a rested Spurs team which is firing on all cylinders offensively thanks to PG Tony Parker, this has the opportunity to be a short series if San Antonio continues its hot shooting, and the Clippers continue to become a stagnant offensive team in the fourth quarter of games.
Spurs in 5


Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC swept the defending champs out of the playoffs, while LA struggled to hold off a resilient Denver team in Round 1. The key for the Lakers is the play of their bigs in Gasol and Bynum. They had some issues in having subpar games against Denver's undersized front-line, and now have to face two great defenders in Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins. Should be fun to watch down low. Kevin Durant and Kobe should be great outside, but ultimately the x-factor is Russell Westbrook, who I don't see Ramon Sessions will be able to stop defensively.
Thunder in 6

Eastern Conference
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
Philly took advantage of the depleted top-seeded Bulls in the first round, using absolutely stifling defense to survive and advance. They pulled off the upset despite scoring just 86 points per game in the series. Meanwhile, the Celtics recovered from injuries to Ray Allen and Paul Pierce (in addition to a suspension for Rajon Rondo) to beat a gritty Atlanta team in six games.
I think this series comes down to the playoff experience of the Celtics. Philly, the second youngest team in the postseason, have grown up a lot this year, and have the young legs to pull off the upset if they can continue to force turnovers and get out on the fast break. The veteran Celtics, led by Rondo, though, should be able to take care of the ball, and I don't see enough offense from Philly to keep pace and outgun Pierce, Allen, and a resurgent Kevin Garnett.
Celtics in 6

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat
Indy and Miami both took advantage of depleted opposition in the first round, with Orlando minus Dwight Howard and the Knicks, already without Jeremy Lin, losing Iman Shumpert and Baron Davis, as well as having to endure the idiocy of Amare Stoudamire.
Now it'll be Miami's Big 3 against the grit and tenacity of Indiana in round two. Talentwise, Miami has the chance to run Indiana out of the gym every night. However, the Pacers are a good defensive team anchored by All-Star center Roy Hibbert, and if they slow the game down, Indiana has a chance of putting a scare in Miami by relying on David West and Danny Granger. In the end, though, Miami is just too talented. 
Heat in 6

My First Round Record: 6-2

76ers Take Down Bulls

What a finish in Game 6, as the Philadelphia 76ers become just the fifth #8 seed in NBA history to knock off a #1 seed in the playoffs, beating the Bulls 79-78 in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they will face the Boston Celtics, who eliminated Atlanta later in the evening.

Congrats to Doug Collins, Andre Iguodala and the 76ers, who took full advantage of Chicago's injuries to stars Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah and advance to the second round for the first time since 2003.