So we’re down to the final four of the NBA season in what has to be considered (at least through two rounds) one of the top five playoffs of all-time. But given we still have almost a full month of basketball left, let’s look at the two conference finals, and approach the task at hand. How will each one shake out? So glad you asked, let’s take a look at my expert opinion.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Denver is the fashionable pick to take out Kobe Bryant and the other 11 Europeans he plays with, and this makes fashion sense. The Houston Rockets, minus Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, exposed the Lakers for what they really are, selfish, unprepared, cocky and soft.
The league may want a Bryant/LeBron James’ Finals, but rest assured Chauncey Billups will have no part of that. If Billups can get Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin to continue to play the selfless basketball they have been, the “Kobe” chants in Denver may be enough to cause Bryant to go back to Europe.
This series isn’t going to be short by any means. The Lakers, despite themselves, still have enough talent to run any team off the court. Problem is when they’re not blowing a team out by the fourth quarter, they crumble worse than the Mets in September.
Nuggets in six
Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs have won each of their first eight games by double-digits, expect no difference here. Dwight Howard is not a dominant post player, and the rest of the Magic don’t have the mental maturation to handle the thunder that James and company are going to thrown down. Ron Jeremy Master of Panic Stan Van Gundy will be crying into his copy of “Shaq Fu” by the time this thing is all over.
Remember those 1990s Bulls teams? The ones that came of age, knew they were better than everyone, and came out every night and proved it? This is what Cleveland looks like right now. They don’t just want to beat you, they want to beat you by 20 with the starters resting in the fourth quarter. James wants his legacy to start building now. And as long as he doesn’t have any rape charges filed against him in Denver, it looks like this is the year to do it.
Cleveland in four