HEAT vs CELTICS: RIVALRY BORN

It all boils down to this. The most anticipated match-up of the 2011 NBA season, even surpassing the Finals. It may have come too early, but we'll take it.  And that not even adding the numerous subplots behind this series. Will LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have their revenge on the Celtics in the Playoffs? How about Shaq (if ever he can play) playoff return in Miami. I wouldn't even mention the Delonte West controversies.  Ever since James and Bosh came down to South Beach, they know they have to go through Boston to achieve their "...not five, not six, not seven championships."

This semifinals series features more than half of the Eastern Conference All-Stars. I expect a Finals atmosphere with all the hate each team is getting (remember James' return to Cleveland).  Both of these teams preaches defense, and rightfully so, that these two teams belong in the top five in defense in the league. Who has the better defense?  The Celtics are still big even if they traded away Kendrick Perkins.  Yet the Heat have a better defense in the perimeter with James and Wade.

 The Celtics has an upperhand when it comes to experience (even championship experience) add to that the chemistry of their stars playing a lot more longer together. The key for Boston is the play of their point guard, Rajon Rondo, as he is the one steering this old legs. He had a great series against the Knicks, and where Rondo goes, the Celtics go.  I expect one hell of a series; tough, physical, and close.

Will LeBron James gets his revenge on the Celtics in the Playoffs? This is his third series against Boston. How bout Dwyane Wade's team last season? Like Rondo, Chris Bosh has to step up in order to will this team to the promise land. At the start of the season, we all see Bosh the the whipping lad of the team, but as the season progress, Bosh has been the steady force down low for the Heat. He has to take advantage of the front court of the Celtics now that Perkins is in OKC and Shaq is still questionable. I think his match up against Garnett is the key.

Boston may have been old and tired, but last season showed that they are still deadly. Barely finishing the regular season healthy, they cruised through the Playoffs and went on to play the Finals, eventually losing in game 7.

This season, the Celtics won the series, 3-1, with the Celtics winning at an average of 5 points, while the Heat routed them in their last regular season game.  But all of that is history. This is a whole new ballgame. This is the series that everyone is talking about. People are excited to see whose Big Three is better... Let's get it on!!

My pick: Miami in 7