Keys to Playoffs Round 2

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 4. Boston Celtics

Well, this should be a dandy match.  And might I add a tough one to conclude.  As much as I am for the Celtics winning this series, I don't think it is going to happen.  If they are able to win in 6, then yes Celtics in 6.  But if it goes to a game 7, I expect Cleveland's home court advantage to take effect.  The Cavs every answer for the Celts and I don't think it is likely that the Celts can win.  The only way for the Celts to win is if the Cavs falter in the post, along with Rondo running circles around Mo Williams.  Paul Pierce will be most likely locked up by LBJ, and KG and Kendrick both struggled against Miami...

WildCard : Cleveland Cavaliers - 3 point shooting, Boston Celtics - Senior citizen's bench

Result: Cleveland in 5 or 7, Celts in 6..(unlikely)
Actual: Celtics in 6 (what do you know.) haha

2. Orlando Magic vs 3 Atlanta Hawks

This match up is in favor of the Orlando Magic.  There is no upset the Hawks can provide since they lack heart.  The only one who shows heart is Al Horford, who will be upset when Dwight Howard dunks on him.  haha  Vince Carter is warming up, and Jameer Nelson's on a roll.  Mike Bibby can't guard anyone, and Marvin Williams and Mo Evans are two guards that will try to contain Vince.  I might add that, Rashard Lewis has been shooting the ball relatively well.  Joe Johnson has been struggling too.  If the Hawks want to win, they'll need to play like Utah.  Hungry and heavy-hearted.  It depends on their stars, Joe Johnson and Al Horford, to carry and lead the team.  But there's also going to be a sufficient amount of supporting cast in Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams, ZaZa Pachulia, and Josh Smith.

Wildcard: Orlando Magic- 3 point shooting Atlanta Hawks- Winning on the road...Josh Smith
Result: Orlando in 5.  They are a great road team unlike Atlanta, and they show more poise and heart.
Actual:Orlando in 4

Western Conference
 1. Los Angeles Lakers vs 5. Utah Jazz

This match up isn't a fair match up because the Jazz have been plagued with injury like Portland and Golden State.  Well, Portland didn't make it, and Golden State didn't even show up.  I don't think the Utah Jazz have enough in them for another upset.   Actually, being a 5th seed isn't really an upset.. but yeah.  The Lakers are still the best overall team in the NBA even though they got ran by OKC.  The Jazz don't have enough speed to do that, and they don't have a superstar shooter named Kevin Durant.  The only way the Jazz will win this game is if Kobe gets locked down, and Pau gets in foul trouble.  Oh and on the opposite side, The Jazz need Matthews, Milsap, and Miles to step up their game.  If the Jazz do this, they'll get a victory, or two. Oh and Ronnie Price needs to run the bench like Shannon Brown does, cause we all know Ronnie can get up almost as high as Shannon.


Wildcard: Los Angeles Lakers: Andrew Bynum Utah Jazz: Carlos Boozer and AK47
Result: LA in 5.
 Actual: LA in 4
3. Phoenix Suns vs 6 San Antonio Spurs

Haha well this match up is in favor of the Spurs.  I don't care about seeding. Whoever thinks the Suns can beat the Spurs, good luck to you.  Steve Nash and Amare are awesome along with J Rich.  But their bench is too inconsistent to play San Antonio and their defense. I think the Suns have a better chance and better team than their previous matchups, but I still think San Antonio will dominate in the paint with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.  The Suns are very good this year, but I believe San Antonio is like Boston...They know they can win, they just didn't do it consistently this year.  Well it's  understandable because they were saving themselves for the playoffs! haha  If the Suns want to win, their 3point shooting needs to be off the chains.  If the Spurs want to win, then they'll need penetration from Ginobili and Tony Parker

Wildcard: Phoenix Suns 3 point shooting San Antonio : George Hill and Dejuan Blair
Result: San Antonio in 5, 6, Phoenix in 7
Actual: Phoenix in 4

NBA and School lifee update.

Sorry, No pictures for this post. Just wanted to update this thing since I have 3 posts in the last 2 months.  School is hectic right now, haven't had time to shoot photos.  Instead, I've been working on a resume and cover letter for English 398.  For my gang's class, I have had to research a gang-related article for the local area, read My Bloody Life : The Making of a Latin King, and write an 8 page paper on it.  In my terrorism and counter-terrorism class, I have a 6 page mid-term paper about a terrorist group, and a group project of a similar paper.  For my race class, I have weekly internet exercises and a 3 page paper due.  And lastly, I have an Anthropology paper due on syphilis.  Fun, yes I know. 

I recommend, My Bloody Life : The Making of a Latin King.  I hate reading, but that book got me hooked.  I even got the sequel, My Bloody Life : The unMaking of a Latin King.

As for the NBA trades...disappointed the Heat didn't get Amare.  The Kings finally got rid of Kevin Martin.  Didn't get that much, but hey we got rid of Martin and Rodriguez.  Speaking of Rodriguez, Ashley Rodriguez from Boston, on American Idol, is HOT. And she can sing. Lol.  The Wizards traded away half the team, to get nothing but Josh Howard and Al Thornton.  Good pickups.  The Cavs were dominating without Jamison, and now they'll be awesome. Just be patient cause there's a 3 game losing streak with him.  These things take time.  Look for them to give the Magic, Celtics, and maybe Lakers, a run...

Rockets traded Tmac for Kevin Martin.  That's the upside, I think.  But they lost Carl Landry, a very upgraded Dejuan Blair.  Okay maybe not that big of an upgrade.  If you think about that, the Kings had a chance to get Blair...Yes, instead we got Brockman who?  Brockman upsets offenses at time, but Blair would've been a better pick. And he has no ACL's..Sav! The Celtics kept their big three, gave up Eddie House, and got Nate Robinson. Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley say it's a good upgrade from House, but I don't know about that one... And House proved in the New York loss that he could score (24 points). 

Financially, the Jazz traded Corey Brewer to ? for nothing...Don't know if I'd agree.  The Bobcats got some depth in Tyrus Thomas.. and the Trailblazes got a big man..Hopefully, he doesn't follow Oden and Pryzbilla..

New NBA favorites for this year: Rajon Rondoooo, Dejuan Blair, and Kevin Durant.

What to watch: Charles Barkley and Kenny "the Jet" Smith.  Hilarious.
Song of the week. Chris Brown ft Pleasure P - Can't let you Go

Quote of the week . " I went to the woods because I wish to live deliberately to front only the essential things of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."- Henry David Thoreau

And that's the Stat us of the NBA.

The Conference Finals

Well, series were tied 1-1 on both the East and West sides.  Last night, the Lakers beat the Nuggets to go up 2-1.  

It's kind of heart breaking after watching over and over, Lebron tie up the series with the 3 point dagger at the end of game 1.  I think that shot alone will change the entire series.  The Orlando Magic would've had a 2 game lead in the best of 4 match up.  Half way there, with home court advantage, all taken away in that last 1 second shot.  AMAZING.   I don't really mind LbJ so for him to hit his first playoff game winner was pretty impressive.  

On the other side, the Lakers beat out the Nuggets.  It's still impressive that all of the Conference Finals games have been pretty darn close.  It's pitiful to see the Lakers and Kobe beat out the Nuggets, especially after watching the Birdman terrorize the Lakers defense.  Anyways, this one like Game 1, got away from the Nuggets.  And now they're on the brinks of falling behind 3-1 if they can't stop Kobe .