Well I’m sorry to say the Grizz came up short yesterday but they proved that they are going to be a force to reckoned with for years to come. In fact the Thunder and Grizz are starting to look like the new Lakers and Spurs. Let’s not forget that the Grizz made this run without their second best player, Rudy Gay. How many other teams could have done what they did without their second best player? They will be back and back in a big way. But the conference finals separate the feel good stories from the legit contenders, and both the east and the west should be highly entertaining with 4 out of the top 5 scorers in the league this past season still playing.
The East: Bulls vs. Heat
Lets start in the East. For the first time ever we have the current MVP facing off against the player that won the MVP the previous year in D Rose vs. Lebron. Rose is simply playing on a different level right now. Transcendent stuff that is really fun to watch every night. The advantage that the Bulls have at the point position is going to decide this series. Mario Chalmers and Mike Bibby shouldn’t even be in the same building as Rose. The funny thing about this series is that you can’t help but remember that last summer Lebron and Wade could have gone to Chicago to play with Rose instead of Bosh. That’s right, for those who forget Chicago had the cap-space to sign both Lebron and Wade to max deals. Maybe they didn’t want to do that because it would have been so unfair to the rest of the league. But honestly what the fuck were they thinking not doing that? Will they be thinking about that decision every time Rose blows past them at 60 mph and scores a 360 windmill layup through 8 defenders while Bosh is watching from the top of the key?
Regardless, that point segues nicely to one of the real interesting subplots of this series - the battle of underachieving, highly overpaid, power forwards who signed big money deals in the off-season because Lebron and Wade stupidly didn’t sign with Chicago. I’m of course talking about the Chris vs. Carlos show, Boozer and Bosh. They are going to guarding each other, so it will really be a battle for who can be less of a disappointment. My money is on Bosh to get out of his funk and only be a slight disappointment instead of a huge disappointment that Boozer will probably be. And believe me, Chris Bosh will take slight diappointment in a Miami second at this point. Oh and Chris Bosh makes more money than Wade or Lebron. Let's not forget that.
At the center position, Joel Anthony and Joakim Noah perform virtually identical functions for their respective teams. They are the hustling, rebounding, charge-taking energy players who are crucial for their teams success. The only difference is that Noah is a lot more annoying, constantly screaming and throwing his arms in the air to make sure we all notice him.
The pick: Chicago in 6 - I’m sure no one will believe me or cares but I made this pick yesterday afternoon before Chicago ass raped Miami by 20 points. I just think Miami’s lack of depth and big men will finally be exposed by the most complete team in the playoffs with the best player in the playoffs. I think we’re headed toward a classic 7 game NBA finals between the Bulls and Dallas and I think Lebron will realize that he’s now closer to 30 than 20 and there’s a new dominant team in the East that he could have played on. Oh well.
The West: Thunder vs. Mavericks:
The classic matchup of the up and coming, hungry young team against the historically soft playoff team that’s finally trying to get over the hump. This series features arguably the two best offensive players in the league, in wonderboy Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzski. Durant finished second in the league in scoring average this year with 28 points per game and Dirk finished fourth, just a shade below him at 26.5 points per game. Both players are long, incredibly athletic, and have very similar games. They are all about the mid-range game and if left open they will take the 3 without a moment’s hesitation. Dirk is probably more polished and Durant more athletic, but they are clearly the two most important players to their respective teams. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the opposing teams attempt to defend them. On the Thunder side, I fully expect Serge Ibaka, the uber-athletic African swingman to draw the assignment of covering Dirk. He has the size to cover him inside and the quick feet to at least try and stay with him off the dribble. On the other side of the ball, the Mavs made an under the radar waiver pick up of swingman Corey Brewer mid-season. He has the reputation of a defensive stopper and his playing time should increase if Rick Carlisle feels that he presents the best matchup against Durant. It’s obviously an important assignment because, if the Grizzlies showed us anything, it’s that the Thunder really can’t survive a shitty KD performance and still win.
The one area where the Thunder have a decisive advantage is at the 1. Believe it or not, Jason Kidd has not gotten any faster in his old age. In these playoffs up until now, that hasn’t been a huge problem. In the first round he squared off against the slow Andre Miller and in the second round the slower Derek Fischer. Now he has to try and stop the lightning quick Russell Westbrook who is coming off his best game of the playoffs in game 7. He simply won’t be able to stop him without serious defensive help, which will leave the perimeter open for 3 point shots. If James Harden is hitting his 3s, as he was in game 7 against the Grizz, watch out.
The pick: Dallas in 5 - Dallas is due. This is the best team they’ve ever had with Tyson Chandler roaming the middle and between Jason Terry, Peja Stoyakavich, and that French guy that sometimes gets on the floor surround Dirk as shooters. I think Dallas wins it all.
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