Conference Finals Begin Tuesday Night

Conference Finals Begin Tuesday Night

5/19/09
Author: Brian Stankich
U. S. Sports Media, Inc

There will be a new NBA champion crowned this summer. With the Celtic loss to Orlando, three of the four remaining teams have never won an NBA title. Only the Los Angeles Lakers have the sought after banner hanging from their rafters. Tuesday night, the Lakers open their best of seven series against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. In the East, the Magic take on the favored Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 Wednesday.

Most experts pick and most fans prefer a Kobe (Lakers) vs. LeBron (Cavs) final. Selling the Nuggets and Magic short, however, would be like turning on your microwave with nothing inside: if you're smart, don't do it.

#1 Lakers vs. #2 Nuggets

The Lakers played less than stellar basketball against Houston, showing up only in every other game. That kind of effort against a determined, talented, and deep Nuggets team will leave LA hearts disappointed. The Nuggets, on the other hand, have played the best basketball in the West during the playoffs.

Chauncey Billups' leadership has made the difference in this Nuggets team, bringing his championship experience from Detroit along with a defensive mindset. He has elevated the play of Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith, and Nene. Anthony's scoring ability has reached star status and Laker forward Trevor Ariza will have his hands full trying to limit Carmelo's touches.

The Lakers have no answer for Billups, so look for Chauncey to dominate. Denver's bigs should be versatile enough to handle LA's tall front line, an area where LA, on paper, has an edge. The Nuggets need to decide whether or not to let Kobe play his game, or attempt to limit his points and force his teammates to make shots.

Somehow the all-world Kobe was not the focus of the Lakers offense against Houston. If the Lakers don't let Kobe dominate, or if the Nuggets defense is just good enough to slow Bryant down, Phil Jackson may consider a return to retirement.

Prediction: Nuggets in six games. Look for Denver to win one of the first two games in LA, then hold serve at home the rest of the way.

#1 Cavaliers vs. #3 Magic

The Cavaliers have been resting for like 3 months, it seems, since they discarded Atlanta. LeBron James is sure to have his boys ready though for a Magic team that may be starstruck in their first conference finals appearance in 13 years. The Boston series was an opportunity for the Magic to mature as a team, to take the next step in the course of winning a championship. They were criticized for their outside-inside approach to scoring, but in Game 7 their style proved effective and superior.

Most assume that the Cavaliers will win this series, but apparently it isn't widely known that the Magic have dominated the Cavs in recent years, including a 29 point drubbing six weeks ago, a game in which the Magic led by 40 points in the third quarter. The Cavs play good team defense, but their matchups against the Magic' Lewis, Turkoglu, Lee, and Pietrus will be shaky, not to mention trying to guard Dwight Howard.

The Magic have to figure out how to stop MVP and MAE (Mister All-Everything) LeBron. LeBron is clearly the best player in the league, having developed his game to eliminate every weakness. His shoulders are broad enough to carry the Cavs to the finals again but the Magic are bigger, deeper, and more talented.

Prediction: Magic in six games. I see both teams winning at home until Orlando pulls a Game 5 upset.

Source: http://www.BasketballDailyNews.com, U. S. Sports Media, Inc