The Conference Finals Predictions

Welcome back once again to the most sporadically updated blog on the internet. This week I'll be talking about the future of the Boston Celtics, as well as giving you my predictions for the Conference Finals.

Eastern Conference Finals:

(2) Miami Heat over (1) Chicago Bulls

I know, I know, this series has already started and you're already pointing out how the Bulls trounced the Heat by 21 points in the first game, but hear me out. After watching the Heat dismantle my Celtics in the semi-finals, I have a whole new appreciation for the team in Miami. With Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, the Heat have three guys that have all led teams before and are capable of having a big night. The Bulls NEED to have a big night from MVP Derrick Rose, or they aren't going to win. Not to stay that his supporting cast isn't good, but Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah can only give you so much. The Wade versus Keith Bogans matchup is going to be particularly worrisome for the Bulls. In game 1, Lebron and Wade only combined to score 33 points. This won't happen again. Deng is a good defender and Bogans is passable as well, but Lebron and Wade usually take 33 FREE THROWS combined per game....or maybe it just feels that way. Between the refs helping out the Miami three and Derrick Rose having a couple of off games, I think that Miami is going to win this series and go to the NBA finals.

The Bulls have a chance though, as evidenced by game 1. The key for the Bulls is that they need to dominate the point guard and center match ups in all fashions. They won the rebounding battle in game 1 by a final tally of 45-33 and they won the assist battle in game 1 23-11. These are the two categories that the Bulls need to win. Rose needs to outplay Mike Bibby/Mario Chalmers and Joakim Noah needs to outplay Joel Anthony/Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Not just by a bit, but they need to completely dominate them.

Final Score: Miami Heat 4-3

Western Conference Finals:

(3) Dallas Mavericks over (4) OKC Thunder

5 years old. That's how old Kevin Durant was when Jason Kidd was drafted. He was 9 when Dirk Nowitzki was drafted. This series is the ultimate matchup between New School and Old School, with Dirk and the Mavs going up against Kevin Durant and the Thunder. I think both teams are pretty evenly matched, and this just came down to the team I'm rooting for. Nothing personal against Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, or any of the Thunder but I grew up watching Dirk, Peja, Jet, Shawn Marion, and Jason Kidd. Alternatively hating them for beating my Celtics and loving the way they played. What do they have in common? None of them have a ring, and all came painstakingly close. Dirk and Terry lost to the Heat back in the 2006 NBA Finals in what has to be the worst officiated series of all time. Peja was on the Kings teams back in the early 2000's that came up just short in the Western Conference Finals, and oh by the way Tim Donaghy admitted that the fix was in for the West Finals back in 2002. Shawn Marion was on all those amazingly entertaining Steve Nash led Phoenix Suns teams that seemed to choke every year and Jason Kidd was beaten twice in the finals by Tim Duncan back when he was with New Jersey.

So KD, Perk, Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka will have there time. That team will be back and challenging for a title over the next ten years, but for Dallas this is it. This is the last shot for that team and those players. With the Celtics losing, this is the only team left whose best players were all drafted over 1o years ago. This team needs to win for all those guys who played for so long and never won a title. This one's for Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Tracy Mcgrady, Shawn Kemp, Reggie Miller, and even Dallas stars who never won a title, Michael Finley, Jamal Mashburn, and Steve Nash.

Final Score (I hope): Dallas 4-2

Well that's it for this entry. Hope you enjoyed it and I'd start preparing now for a Chicago vs. OKC finals.