NBA Playoff Preview: Western Conference

1) Spurs vs. 8) Grizzlies- Tony Allen and Shane Battier will shut down Manu Ginobili. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol can contain Tim Duncan and Dejuan Blair. The Spurs got very unlucky with this draw and this series is going to wear them down.
Pick: Spurs in 7

2) Lakers vs. 7) Hornets- Chris Paul is the best PG in the game, but no way Lakers come close to losing this series. Kobe, Bynum, Gasol and crew are way too much to handle.
Pick: Lakers in 4

3) Mavericks vs. 6) Blazers- The Blazers have all the right players to cause problems for the Mavericks. LaMarcus Aldridge can guard Nowitzki and who else do the Mavs really have? Gerald Wallace was a huge addition for Portland and him as well as Aldridge Batum and Miller will help Portland win.
Pick: Blazers in 7

4) Nuggets vs. 5) Thunder- This will be the best series in the Western Conference. The Nuggets have the deepest bench in the league and have been committed to defense since Anthony left; but, the Thunder are legit. Kendrick Perkins toughened this team up and although this series will wear on them, they'll get through with the toughness and defense of Perkins and Ibaka and scoring ability of Durant and Westbrook.
Pick: Thunder in 7

Semifinals

1) Spurs vs. 4) Thunder- The Thunder are athletic, better offensively, and have two of the best one on one defenders in the league. No way the Spurs will win this series, they are too reliant on three point shooting and have become less defense oriented.
Pick: Thunder in 6

2) Lakers vs. 6) Blazers- Lakers are the best team in the West, don't see how the Blazers will win. They will put up a fight, but they don't have an answer for Gasol, Odom, and Bynum.
Pick: Lakers in 5


Conference Finals

2) Lakers vs. 4) Thunder- This series is very similar to the Heat and Bulls series. Either team can win but the Lakers have a slight edge. Perkins can stop Bynum and Ibaka can stop Gasol. Sefolosha can contain Bryant and Durant can contain Odom. Every matchup that the Lakers have an advantage over against other teams, the Thunder have an answer for. The Lakers' experience is their biggest advantage and they should win, but don't be surprised if the Thunder pull it out.
Pick: Lakers in 7

NBA FINALS

Lakers vs. Bulls

In this series, the Lakers' size will be too much to handle and although Tom Thibodeau can think of every defensive scheme there isn't really a scheme to stop two fundamentally sound 7 footers and a 6'10" point forward. Phil will get his last three peat and 12th championship and go out on the high road.
Pick: Lakers in 7

NBA Playoff Preview: Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference

1) Chicago vs. 8) Indiana- Indiana should just be happy to be here. They are 10 games under .500, and will be lucky to win one game.
Pick: Chicago in 4


2) Miami vs. 7) Philadelphia- Doug Collins deserves credit for turning Philadelphia around and they have a very strong defensive team; however, they don't have an answer for both Wade and James.
Pick: Miami in 5

3) Boston vs. 6) New York- New York will give Boston a tough time and put more minutes on the aging Pierce, Garnett and Allen; but, Garnett will contain Stoudemire and Jeff Green and Paul Pierce can keep Anthony in check. Ultimately, great team defense is better than a strong offense.
Pick: Boston in 6

4) Orlando vs. 5) Atlanta- Orlando has Dwight Howard. Jameer Nelson is a decent point guard, but besides that Orlando really doesn't have too much. However, the Hawks have less. Joe Johnson is one of the most overpaid players in the league and just looks bored when he plays. Al Horford is a great player, but he can't do everything. Bottom Line: the Hawks have no one to stop Dwight Howard.
Pick: Orlando in 5

Semifinals

2) Miami vs. 3) Boston- This is going to be one hell of a series. Boston hates Miami on and off the court. The X factor is Rajon Rondo, but he seems lost after the Kendrick Perkins trade. I just don't see how Boston can guard Lebron and Wade and still be strong offensively. Ultimately, Lebron's athleticism and size plus Wade's ability to get to the rim and score in crunch time will be too much for the aging Celtics.
Pick: Miami in 7

1) Chicago vs. 4) Orlando- Chicago has got a ton of big bodies to put on Howard and Thibodeau shut down Howard last year on the Boston bench. So, he will do it again, Orlando has no answer for Derrick Rose and Chicago has an answer for Howard.
Pick: Chicago in 6

Finals

1) Chicago vs. 2) Miami- Lebron and Wade have been here before, Derrick Rose has not. Every matchup between the teams this year have been close with Chicago winning at the end. I really could see this going either way. When Lebron and Wade go off and have that look, you can't stop them. Is Chicago's defense going to be able to contain these two? Thibodeau knows how to draw up every defensive scheme in the book to stop these guys. If Lebron and Wade go off, Miami will win, but I don't see that happening.
Pick: Chicago in 7


NBA Finals Prediction in Western Conference Preview

Great Piece about Buster Posey

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2011/04/14/postgame-notes-buster-poseys-picture-is-worth-1000-words-dodgers-are-tone-deaf/