THE FUTURE, NOW

This is the other match-up I more look forward to simply because they are young, exciting, and the future of the NBA. Both teams have solid starting fives and reliable back-ups. Oklahoma City's combo of Durant-Westbrook has been their staple, but I think the biggest factor for this team is the play of Serge Ibaka. He has been a beast since he was slided to the starting lineup.  He and mid-season acquired Perkins should match up well with Memphis big men. Serge Ibaka - who leads the league in blocks - has to use his athletic ability to try and contain Zach Randolph who exploited Tim Duncan's old legs during the First Round. Together with Marc Gasol, Z-Bo will take advantage of their size against the Thunder.

Memphis will have to contain Kevin Durant and I think that is no problem having two of the top perimeter defenders in Shane Battier and Tony Allen. The Scoring Champ will have to work overtime in order to get his shots. Russell Westbrook may have a slight advantage over Mike Conley, Jr, but very slim.

I think there are two players that will have to step up bigtime for each team -- OJ  Mayo and James Harden. I think they are going to be the X-factor for their respective teams. I think this is going to be an exciting series as we are seeing two teams that is going to be the face of the NBA in the near future -- they may even arrived at a faster rate than expected.

OKC may try to out ran the Grizzlies, but I think that is solely their game. They have a very suspect halfcourt offense and that is were Memphis is good at with Randolph and Gasol inside.

I wonder what will David Stern do if one of these small market teams go into the Finals?

* As of presstime, the Memphis Grizzlies stole homecourt winning in OKC in Game 1.

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

Playoff Round Up, Day 1

Here a quick Recap of the very first day of the 2011 Playoffs


Chicago 104, Indiana 99 --  The Chicago Bulls used an impressive late rally to top the Indiana Pacers 104-99 in the opening game of their first-round NBA playoff series on Saturday in Chicago. Down 98-88 with 3:28 left in the game, Chicago outscored the Pacers 16-1 the rest of the way to pull out the victory. League MVP favorite Derrick Rose scored five unanswered points during that stretch, finishing with a career-playoff-high 39, to go with six rebounds and six assists. (Yahoo!)


Miami 97, Philadelphia 89 -- Finally finding a way, the Heat worked their way past the Philadelphia 76ers, 97-89, on Saturday at AmericanAirlines Arena in the opener of the best-of-seven first-round NBA playoff series. Bosh closed with 25 points and 12 rebounds, with James finishing with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Wade added 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. (TCPalm)


Atlanta 103, Orlando 93 -- Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard had a record-setting night in the first half Saturday night.  Howard's teammate, point guard Jameer Nelson, had a record-setting third quarter.  Both would just as soon forget Saturday night as a whole, though, as the Atlanta Hawks performed the magic act of the night, making the rest of the Magic players disappear, shooting 51 percent and walking out of Amway Center with a 103-93 victory and a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first round series. (FSSouth)


Dallas 89, Portland 81 --The Portland Trail Blazers overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to grab a 68-63 lead in the fourth quarter, but Dirk Nowitzki tallied 18 fourth-quarter points and the Dallas Mavericks closed the night out with a 23-9 run to pull away and seal the win in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs.  (iamatrailblazersfan)

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.