PHOTO OF THE DAY: Chris Bosh seems to be enjoying the playoffs experience

As the HEAT takes a commanding lead over the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, Chris Bosh has been the star of the series, scoring 30, 10, 34, and 22. He seems to be relishing his experience late in the playoffs.

At the beginning, he has been an easy target for all the criticism the HEAT has over the season. I think, he has learned from LeBron how to take those thrown at him and make it as a motivation in the game. I am even guilty too, but hey, give the guy a break, not easy being side by side the two top-three players in the NBA. He'll take it though. Now he and the rest of the Heat is one game away for a rematch with the Dallas Mavericks for the NBA Finals.  Game 5 tomorrow in Chicago, as the Bulls are going to be desperate, and its going to be a grind. Hold on to your seats.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Taj Gibson on D-Wade, Uhmp!

Rajon Rondo's NASTY Injury, but that didn't slow him down

Watching this video makes me grimace in pain too. It was like Andrew Bogut's injury a while back. Thought is going to be end of the season for Rondo, but look out he returned to the game and actually played better. Damn!

Watch this layup with a broken elbow. Damn it again!

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

Video: Oh! LeBron!!

Just a reminder, LeBron James is 6-foot-9, 270-pound freak. Karl Malone was about the same size. 

2011 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Preview First Round

The real battle begins.

Today, I put my 2 cents on the First Round of the Eastern Conference. This is going to be an epic one as I am hopeful of an upset or two. I'll give you a my prediction of each match up.

CHICAGO BULLS (1) VS INDIANA PACERS (8)

Regular Season Series: Chicago won 3-1

Chicago will win this one. No upset unfortunately, but neither sweeps. I think the Pacers could steal a game at home where I expect Granger and Hansbrough get one of their out-of-his-mind game.

Chicago in Five

MIAMI HEAT (2) VERSUS PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (7)

Regular Season Series: Miami won 3-0


Philly has been one hell of a team of late. They are well coached, scrappy, and very over-achieving. Qualities to pull of a very scary team in the playoffs.  Sixers bench could expose the Heat's, but the Big Three could just be too strong for the Sixers. I expect a couple of home games for Doug Collins' squad but will eventually bow out of the series.

Miami in Six

BOSTON CELTICS (3) VERSUS NEW YORK KNICKS (6)

Regular Season Series:  Boston won 3-0

This series is going to be the most exciting and tight. Could the C's defense handle the offensive barrage of Melo and STAT? Or could the NYK breaks Boston's defense. I could smell an upset here. Danny Ainge just gave away Boston's defensive anchor in Perkins. I expect one last stand from Boston's own Big Three. This is going to be a battle to the end.

Boston in seven

ORLANDO MAGIC (4) VERSUS ATLANTA HAWKS (5)

Regular Season Series: Atlanta won 3-1

Atlanta may have one the regular season over the Magic, I don't expect them to go farther than 5 games. The ways they are playing right now, they are the most boring them in the East playoffs. Magic wins easy here unless Superman gets another technical or two.

Orlando in five.


Tomorrow I'll give the Part II of this preview featuring the heavy West.

Are You Ready for the PLAYOFFS?

The whole season has been newsworthy asll year long, even before the season begins, but now it has come to this. All teams has at least 3 games left, and both conferences is almost set.  Hold on to your seats folks.

The East is almost done, with the Bulls beating the C's earlier, they are 1 win away to lock the number 1 seed. Led by MVP front runner Derrick Rose, The Bulls surprised everyone with their sudden surge through the top spot. With coach Thibs sick defense, the Bulls sure brought the wind back to the Windy City.

Boston and Miami is still battling the number 2 seed. The Heat Big Three has been up and down all season but enough spurt to land them here at this stage of the regular season. For me, I don't expect them to win the Finals this year the moment LBJ and Bosh decided to come down to South Beach, but sure got me excited.
The Celtics meanwhile though still at the top of their game, but I think age has caught up with them. Adding to that midseason trade of their starting center, the C's has to rely on an old, can't-seem-to-get-healthy Shaq to man the middle. The moment that trade was made, I told myself, Danny Ainge just threw away the season.

And then there's the Magic and Hawks. Well what can I say, they are reeling, as in reeling. The surprise in the East is the Sixers. Man, I love this team play. They are scrappy, gutsy, and just plain hard worker.  Without a legit "star," this team plays like a team. They are my sleeper, they are scary to match up with come playoff time. To sum it up are the Pacers. I like this team too, but they maybe a season or two away to really come up big. They coaching change did them well. 

We go now to the West, 85% of the season I though7, the Spurs are legit to come up with the championship. I mean before Timmy goes down late in the season, they are far away the league best. Their 4 stars played most of the season together and healthy. But injury bug struck them at the least favorable time. Tough still leading, they are now not locked up to win it all.

The 2-time defending champ has gone 15-1 since the All-Star break and just as we thought their getting ready for the playoffs, 3 game losing streak again. Still, if you have a guy named Kobe Bryant in your team, you can relax. Dallas is still battling the Lakers at the 2 spot, but  by the end of it, I think they'll stay at the 3.

Durant and Westbrook have gone a long way for OKC. After their first playoff appearance and grinding it out with the Lakers, now they are battling home court advantage. This young team is getting exciting every year.

After the Melo trade, everyone said, including I, they the Nuggets are going downhill, but wait, the all their acquisitions and getting contributions from all over made them winner of the trade.

It funny how Nate McMillan manages year after year of injury after injury to his team and yet, he still manages to get them in to the playoffs. Watch out for Portland because they can beat anybody here in the west.

I think Chris Paul is not getting the love he deserved. I mean with a rag tag team and a rookie coach, injuries to Meka and D-West, still Paul keeps this team afloat.

And theres Memphis, always dangerous, like the Sixers in the East, this is onbe scrappy ball club, I expect them to give San Antonio a headache if not an upset, but I'm just wishing.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Miami HEAT Big Three

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Another loss decided by 5 or less, another loss after blowing up a double-digit lead, another loss to an elite team.

James' pass off Bosh's face!

Aside from blowing out a 24-point lead to Orlando, the Miami HEAT just had had some highlights or should i say lowlights. One funny sequence is that LeBron James hits Chris Bosh with the ball attempting to pass. Chris Bosh has been a mainstay here in my blog lately, but can't blame me, he just makes bad play after bad plays. Take a look at this:

via the PBT

EPIC FAIL: BOSH-mallow

After hitting just 1 field goal out of 18 attempts (that's 5.6%), the worst percentage by a player taking at least 15 shot since Tim Hardaway went 0/17 in 1991, and then... acted dead, cried, checked his nose in this EPIC FAIL flop.

Dwyane Wade can also do this

courtesy of Peninsula is Mightier

Dwyane Wade should be the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins

Check this out! I mean this one is on the books, may a record for longest alley-oop play in the NBA approximately 90 feet.  And I thought the Golden State's alley-oop was great with Steph Curry and Dorell Wright, but this beats them all. This is what you get when you ahve both of these players.

Rajon Rondo getting into the Heat

I really hate Boston, next to the Lakers. I mean Rondo is a great point guard, top 5 perhaps, and he's the one putting together Boston's rusty old parts. During this game, I was impressed by him guarding LeBron James. But you really have to do this?

Here the video for a little more detail. I agree with Van Gundy here, this is not just right.