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NjNets15
@SeanDugan2
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I decided to share my picks for who I believe will make the NBA Finals, and then also who will win it, first the east
Eastern Conference: Boston Celtics
Lebron is a great player, and makes everyone around him better, but he is missing the killer instinct that I believe a great player should need. Michael Jordan would get a look in his eye during the 4th quarter where you as a spectator would absolutely know that the game is over, whether his team had the lead or not. There are only 2 players that have that today in my opinion, being Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade. Because I don't feel that he has the will to just completely take his team thorugh by himself, I believe the better team will pull out hte victory. The Celtics, with or without a 100% Kevin Garnett can bang down low with anybody in the East, the Cavs just simply do not have enough big bodies to deal with Kevin Garnett, Glen "Big Baby" Davis, and Kendrick Perkins. Those guys will pound you over and over and kill you on the offensive glass. The Celtics also have the shooters with guys like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Eddie House. Their 2 big additions in the season of Marbury and Mikki Moore though, are what puts them over the edge for me. When Rondo comes out, Marbury comes in, barely a break for the Cavs guards. When the Celtics big men get into foul trouble Mikki Moore, who lead the NBA in FG% 2 seasons ago comes right in. The Cavs do have a great team, and plenty of great shooters, but I think when it comes down to it, the Celtics are a better team and will be so difficult to beat when they are playing their playoff intensity defense, propelling them towards representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
Western Conference: Los Angeles Lakers
The Western Conference is full of teams with talent, but I don't think any team in the entire conference has enough to match what the Lakers present. Derek Fisher is the perfect point guard for Phil Jackson's triangle offense. He's a willing passer but can hit his open shots when presented, and also is a hard nosed defender. Andrew Bynum is back and appears to be extremely healthy, shooting 7-11 in his first game back with 16 points and 7 boards in 20 minutes. He is a dominant big man offensively. Pau Gasol has become increasingly dominant, and no other team in the Western Conference has the big men to bang down low and defend both Pau and Andrew Bynum. Lamar Odom is coming off the bench, along with Sasha Vujacic, Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar, who could all start on some other teams, and will prove to keep playing at the level of the starting line when the bench players start filtering in. These Lakers are too deep and talented for anyone to keep up. Oh also, they have their Shooting Guard, Kobe Bryant. He is, in my mind, the undisputed most talented player in the NBA right now, and can make shots that others wouldn't think of attempting. And as mentioned above, Kobe has the killer instinct that Jordan had, where he can decide that a game is going to be his, and he will kick you down, and tear your heart out of your chest. The Lakers have also had an improvement in defense this year which is going to make a big difference in the playoffs. Their homecourt advantage will also prove difficult for any team trying to win a game in LA. I see no team really putting up more than 1 or 2 wins in the west against this Lakers team.
My NBA Finals Champion: The Los Angeles Lakers
I think a mixture of being a better defensive team than last year, a hungrier Kobe, and a healthy Bynum and Ariza will be far too much for the Celtics to handle in the finals. Kobe is too good of a player to not win these finals this year with the supporting cast that he has around him now, with these 2 big men, and such a deep bench to come in behind him. When Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are simply role players, being the 4th and 5th scoring options, its going to be too much for anyone to handle. I like this Celtics team and think that they are still hungry, but I don't think any amount of hunger will match what the Lakers are going to throw at them this year. If the Celtics are in the finals, or even if Cavs happen to make it into the Finals, I would pick the Lakers in 6 regardless. Kobe shall regain his title as the best player in the game.
Eastern Conference: Boston Celtics
Lebron is a great player, and makes everyone around him better, but he is missing the killer instinct that I believe a great player should need. Michael Jordan would get a look in his eye during the 4th quarter where you as a spectator would absolutely know that the game is over, whether his team had the lead or not. There are only 2 players that have that today in my opinion, being Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade. Because I don't feel that he has the will to just completely take his team thorugh by himself, I believe the better team will pull out hte victory. The Celtics, with or without a 100% Kevin Garnett can bang down low with anybody in the East, the Cavs just simply do not have enough big bodies to deal with Kevin Garnett, Glen "Big Baby" Davis, and Kendrick Perkins. Those guys will pound you over and over and kill you on the offensive glass. The Celtics also have the shooters with guys like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Eddie House. Their 2 big additions in the season of Marbury and Mikki Moore though, are what puts them over the edge for me. When Rondo comes out, Marbury comes in, barely a break for the Cavs guards. When the Celtics big men get into foul trouble Mikki Moore, who lead the NBA in FG% 2 seasons ago comes right in. The Cavs do have a great team, and plenty of great shooters, but I think when it comes down to it, the Celtics are a better team and will be so difficult to beat when they are playing their playoff intensity defense, propelling them towards representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
Western Conference: Los Angeles Lakers
The Western Conference is full of teams with talent, but I don't think any team in the entire conference has enough to match what the Lakers present. Derek Fisher is the perfect point guard for Phil Jackson's triangle offense. He's a willing passer but can hit his open shots when presented, and also is a hard nosed defender. Andrew Bynum is back and appears to be extremely healthy, shooting 7-11 in his first game back with 16 points and 7 boards in 20 minutes. He is a dominant big man offensively. Pau Gasol has become increasingly dominant, and no other team in the Western Conference has the big men to bang down low and defend both Pau and Andrew Bynum. Lamar Odom is coming off the bench, along with Sasha Vujacic, Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar, who could all start on some other teams, and will prove to keep playing at the level of the starting line when the bench players start filtering in. These Lakers are too deep and talented for anyone to keep up. Oh also, they have their Shooting Guard, Kobe Bryant. He is, in my mind, the undisputed most talented player in the NBA right now, and can make shots that others wouldn't think of attempting. And as mentioned above, Kobe has the killer instinct that Jordan had, where he can decide that a game is going to be his, and he will kick you down, and tear your heart out of your chest. The Lakers have also had an improvement in defense this year which is going to make a big difference in the playoffs. Their homecourt advantage will also prove difficult for any team trying to win a game in LA. I see no team really putting up more than 1 or 2 wins in the west against this Lakers team.
My NBA Finals Champion: The Los Angeles Lakers
I think a mixture of being a better defensive team than last year, a hungrier Kobe, and a healthy Bynum and Ariza will be far too much for the Celtics to handle in the finals. Kobe is too good of a player to not win these finals this year with the supporting cast that he has around him now, with these 2 big men, and such a deep bench to come in behind him. When Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are simply role players, being the 4th and 5th scoring options, its going to be too much for anyone to handle. I like this Celtics team and think that they are still hungry, but I don't think any amount of hunger will match what the Lakers are going to throw at them this year. If the Celtics are in the finals, or even if Cavs happen to make it into the Finals, I would pick the Lakers in 6 regardless. Kobe shall regain his title as the best player in the game.