Hello friends! Tomorrow the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs tips off and without further adu here are my thoughts on each of the 4 series and 1 quick note before I start and that is I will be going in order of when the 4 series start so with that let's kick it off with the 1st 2nd round series to tip off!
(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
Wow who would've thought that this series was coming? Not me boy! But none the less these 2 will tip off the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs at 1PM tomorrow on ABC! The Thunder got here by beating the upstart Denver Nuggets in 5 games while the Grizzlies shocked the NBA world by becoming just the 4th #8 seed to defeat a #1 seed when they upset the top seeded San Antonio Spurs in 6 games! Right now the Grizzlies have the slight advantage going into this series as Memphis took the regular season series from Oklahoma City 3-1! But that was the regular season this is the postseason so the regular season stuff doesn't really mean that much in my opinion! So despite Memphis winning the regular season series I like the Oklahoma City Thunder to win this series in 5 games as I fully expect Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to be the 2 headed monster that they've been all season long! The only way Memphis can pull the upset here is for them to do what they did against the San Antonio Spurs and that is win at least a game or 2 in Oklahoma City and if they do then they just may have a realistic chance to pull off another upset! But in all honesty I don't really see that happening as I think the Thunder are just too talented a team and with San Antonio now out of this postseason the road to the NBA Finals just got a little bit easier for the Thunder and if they should to get to the Western Conference Finals then the winner of the Dallas/Laker series will literally have their work cut out for them but don't sleep on this talented group of Grizzlies as this team could be to this year what the New York Knicks were to 1999 - a #8 seed that reached the NBA Finals! Just saying!
Winners: Oklahoma City Thunder 4 games to 1
(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) Boston Celtics
Before I give you my pick for this series let me just go on the record here and say that this just may be the most anticipated series in NBA Playoff history! Why? Well it's only the original big 3 (Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett) vs. the new big 3 (LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh) Now on to the preview! The Celtics got here by making quick work of the new and improved New York Knicks by sweeping them 4 straight which was very surprising to me because I had that series going 7 but anyways! The Heat got here by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in 5 games! Boston won the regular season series from Miami 3-1 including an 8 point win on opening night! So who wins this series? Well let me just say that the Heat need the win more in order for them to prove themselves and keep their championship dreams alive because remember what I said in my 1st round preview blog - anything short of a championship for the Miami Heat this year will deem their season a complete and utter failure! Which is exactly what the Heat's season will be as I like Boston to win this series in 6 games as I expect not only a big series from the C's big 3 but I also expect a big series from the X factor of this series Rajon Rondo aka the Triple Double Machine! Because aside from the big 3 who else does Miami have to beat the Celtics in this series? Nobody! Boston is just too good and too experienced and that is why I like them to win this series in 6 games but I wouldn't be surprised if this series went 7 but then again I thought the Celtics series with the Knicks was going to go 7 and look how that series turned out!
Winners: Boston Celtics 4 games to 2
(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
So far so good for da Bulls because despite getting tested by the chippy Indiana Pacers the Bulls still managed to make quick work of the Pacers as they took them out in 5 games! Meanwhile the Atlanta Hawks pulled what I consider the upset of the East so far by taking down the Orlando Magic in 6 games! Chicago won the regular season series 2-1 but would've swept the regular season series had they not blown a 17 point lead in Atlanta in their 1st meeting this season! So who wins? Well even though the Hawks will give the Bulls fits like the Pacers did I still like Chicago to win this series in 5 games as I expect the future MVP Derrick Rose to have another big series and I also expect a bounceback series for Carlos Boozer as he really didn't do much against Indiana in that series! Also expect Kyle Korver to continue his clutchlike 3 point shooting and for Joakim Noah to have a double double or 2 as well! Now even though Atlanta has some good talent in Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Al Horford I just don't think that they can overpower Chicago enough to win this series! Case and point Chicago just has too many weapons for Atlanta to overcome!
Winners: Chicago Bulls 4 games to 1
(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks
With the top seeded San Antonio Spurs now out of the mix the road to a 3rd straight NBA title for the Lakers just got a little easier! However this upcoming series won't be! But before I get to my pick for this series let me break it down for you! The Lakers advanced by defeating the New Orleans Hornets in 6 games while the Mavs were in a 6 game dogfight of their own with the Portland Trail Blazers before finally outlasting them! The Lakers won the regular season series from Dallas 2-1! So who wins? Well I like the Lakers to win this series in 6 games as I expect Kobe Bryant to have a big series like he always does but I also expect his band of merry men from Pau Gasol to Lamar Odom to Ron Artest to Derek Fisher to Shannon Brown to all have big series as well! I guess what I'm trying to say is the Lakers are just too good and too complete of a team for Dallas to overcome! Now while the Mavs have Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd who else does Dallas have to beat the 2 time defending champs? Eh nobody!
Winners: Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2
Overall I am looking forward to this 2nd round of NBA Playoff action! I fully expect the Celtics/Heat and Mavs/Lakers to garner all of the headlines as they should and will steal the show! While the Grizzlies/Thunder and Hawks/Bulls series should be good but not as great as the other 2 series will be!
Well friends those are my thoughts on the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs! Thanks for reading and I'll be back in just a moment with my preview of tomorrow night's WWE Extreme Rules PPV! So until then bye bye for now and I'll see you in just a short short!
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I would LOVE!!! to see the Thunder ousted in another upset by the Grizzlies!! I'm a Denver Native and can't stand Russell Westbrook goin' to the line every time someone breathes on him. I have a busy schedule but just got setup with TV Everywhere through my work at DISH Network. Now I use my sling adapter to pipe my live TV and DVR through my iPad and iPhone. I won't miss a single worthless foul on Westbrook now!! Check out how to get it at Dish.com/200HD and GO Grizzlies!!
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