Kobe Bryant's Lakers were dominate against the Utah Jazz, advancing to the Western Semi-conference finals after a relatively short 5 game series. They will face a much tougher team in the Houston Rockets, who beat the Portland Trailblazers in 6 games.
At one point this season, the Rockets looked as if they would be primed to challenge the Lakers for the top spot in the West but as the playoffs neared, the Rockets cooled and fell to fourth in a tightly contested battle for the 2nd seed in the West. The most impressive aspect of the Rockets this season? Winning without star shooting guard Tracy McGrady. The Rockets lost McGrady after he was sidelined with an ailing knee and forced to have surgery. Most expected the team to flop and fall well below the fourth seed in the West, but the Rockets rebounded and quickly became title contenders.
The Lakers will need to show tenacity and bring effort to the court against a physical Rockets team who have been led by stellar play from their bigman, Yao Ming, and the backcourt of Rogers and Lowry, who have stepped up since the trade with Orlando sent the Rockets starting point guard, Alston to the Magic.
Unfortunately for all the Rockets fans, I'm picking the Lakers to win in 6 games, with a possibility of a win in 7 games. Although, the Lakers have not shown that they will constistantly bring the effort and defensive tenacity to win a title every night, I expect them to do so in the games that count. They are the better team and although I always love rooting for the underdogs, I have to go with the better team in this match up.
Moving on to the Denver Nuggets, who completely thrashed the New Orleans Hornets in their first round match up. I'm expecting them to do the same against the undersized and notably soft Dallas Mavericks, alhough I doubt the Mavericks will lose by 58 points like the Hornets managed to do.
I think the Nuggets are much too deep and are playing the best basketball of the playoffs right now and they are doing so as a team. Yes, they have the big names in Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony, but it is the overall contribution from every player on the team, that has the Nuggets playing so well right now.
I think this series will be over quickly, with the Nuggets sweeping the series. The Mavericks will need to add a post up player in the off-season and more depth to their bench if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs next season. As for now, nice series against the San Antonio Spurs but unfortunately your season will be coming to an end very shortly.
That's all for this installment everyone. Enjoy the Western conference Semis.
At one point this season, the Rockets looked as if they would be primed to challenge the Lakers for the top spot in the West but as the playoffs neared, the Rockets cooled and fell to fourth in a tightly contested battle for the 2nd seed in the West. The most impressive aspect of the Rockets this season? Winning without star shooting guard Tracy McGrady. The Rockets lost McGrady after he was sidelined with an ailing knee and forced to have surgery. Most expected the team to flop and fall well below the fourth seed in the West, but the Rockets rebounded and quickly became title contenders.
The Lakers will need to show tenacity and bring effort to the court against a physical Rockets team who have been led by stellar play from their bigman, Yao Ming, and the backcourt of Rogers and Lowry, who have stepped up since the trade with Orlando sent the Rockets starting point guard, Alston to the Magic.
Unfortunately for all the Rockets fans, I'm picking the Lakers to win in 6 games, with a possibility of a win in 7 games. Although, the Lakers have not shown that they will constistantly bring the effort and defensive tenacity to win a title every night, I expect them to do so in the games that count. They are the better team and although I always love rooting for the underdogs, I have to go with the better team in this match up.
Moving on to the Denver Nuggets, who completely thrashed the New Orleans Hornets in their first round match up. I'm expecting them to do the same against the undersized and notably soft Dallas Mavericks, alhough I doubt the Mavericks will lose by 58 points like the Hornets managed to do.
I think the Nuggets are much too deep and are playing the best basketball of the playoffs right now and they are doing so as a team. Yes, they have the big names in Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony, but it is the overall contribution from every player on the team, that has the Nuggets playing so well right now.
I think this series will be over quickly, with the Nuggets sweeping the series. The Mavericks will need to add a post up player in the off-season and more depth to their bench if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs next season. As for now, nice series against the San Antonio Spurs but unfortunately your season will be coming to an end very shortly.
That's all for this installment everyone. Enjoy the Western conference Semis.
No comments:
Post a Comment