CMan's Conference Finals Recaps

Eastern Conference:

 

 

 

The conference finals have ended and while I correctly picked the ultimate winners, I wasn't so good at forecasting one of the two series.

#1 Miami vs #3 Indiana (Heat 4-3)

This series played out like I thought it would, plus 1 game. I knew the Pacers would give the Heat a strong series and they did. In fact, they outplayed Miami in all but two games. They just happened to be games that the Heat looked at as must wins. Despite the obvious strengths that Indiana brought to the series I still believed that Miami would eventually return to the finals for a third straight season.

The Pacers did expose two serious weaknesses of the Heat that, if not corrected, could come back to haunt them in the finals. Miami has gone through the regular season and the playoffs with a sense of arrogance. They seem to be of the mindset that they can win if they want to...if they have to. I think Indiana rattled them a little. The competition got progressively better against the Heat in the playoffs and they could have easily lost this series. LeBron James won it for them. That brings me to the second weakness, Bosh and Wade. For the heat to win the finals they must have game in and game out production from at least two of the big three if not all three. They did not get that kind of support from Wade and Bosh throughout the Pacers series. They're going to need it to beat the Spurs.

 

Western Conference:

 

 

 

#2 San Antonio vs #5 Memphis (Spurs 4-0)

I picked the Spurs to win this series...in seven games. A San Antonio sweep never occurred to me. Especially after the way Golden State pushed the Spurs. Memphis looked unfazed after the Thunder series and while I thought the Spurs would win the series, I thought the Grizzlies would make them work for it. Conventional wisdom says that Memphis used it's entire tank to get out of a tough series with OKC. However, I believe that they just ran in to a superior Spurs team that was irritated by the Warriors and is now focused on one thing. Winning one more NBA title.

Memphis is a tough team with an even tougher coach. San Antonio is a well coached, robotic team that plays as well together as any team, even Miami. The Spurs played 4 systematic, 48 minute games. It didn't matter what city they were playing in or in front of what crowd. In fact, I had to look at center court during a couple of the games just to see where they were playing. As for the outcome of the games, they might as well all been in Texas. Memphis wasn't even in the games. They seemed to be 15 - 20 points down at the beginning of each game, fighting from behind the entire series. By game 4 the Grizzlies were demoralized and resigned to losing the series. The Spurs were business like the entire series and hardly celebrated the fact that they were Western Conference Champions. The job is not finished and they know it.

As for Memphis, we discover after the series that there is turmoil within the organization. The new ownership group, responsible for the Rudy Gay trade, has more mischief up their collective sleeves. This week they granted head coach Lionel Hollins permission to entertain other coaching positions. Hollins is having a difficult time adapting to the micro-management style of the new owners. If they let Hollins leave, Memphis will return to it's previous status as a non factor in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies are who they are because of Lionel Hollins. Without him, they are just another NBA team.

On to the NBA Finals!

Buster's Conference Finals Matchups and Predictions

The second round is over in a very disappointing matter for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City was out maned in the series against Memphis. Now Memphis looks to take it a step farther and advance to the Finals. Miami didn't surprise anyone with their 4-1 victory over the Bulls, and the Pacers upset the Knicks in six games. Now that the Conference Finals have officially ended, lets take a look at the matchups.

Eastern Conference:

 

#1 Miami vs #3 Indiana

 

After a dominating performance from both of these teams in the second round, this is bound to be an outstanding series. These two teams met up in the semifinals last season. It was a series that Indiana very well could have won, but they did not have the experience. LeBron was on a search for his first title and was more focused than ever. Indiana has acquired the two keys that they were lacking last season. They did not have a dominating big man and they did not have experience. The Pacers now have both of these things and are ready to take on the Heat.

It is always scary to pick against LeBron and the Heat, but I have to go with Indiana in this series. I think the Heat will come out too relaxed and unfocused. The Pacers will take a quick jump on this and the series will be too far gone by the time Miami wakes up. I think the Pacers win the battle on the inside with Roy Hibbert. This is honestly a series that could go either way. With Paul George and David West I think the Pacers will win the back court as well. If the Pacers are going to win this series it has to be in six, if it goes to game seven Miami will take advantage. Pacers win in a close series 4-2.

 

Western Conference:

 

 

#2 San Antonio vs #5 Memphis

 

This is going to be a series of some great old school basketball. Both teams are going to play excellent defense and play with fundamentals on offense. Both teams will try to take advantage of the size and experience of their big men. There is no doubt that Memphis has the best front court in the NBA. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph not only play outstanding offense, but they work their butt off on the defensive side of the ball. It will be interesting to see how Tim Duncan responds to the defense of these big guys.

The Spurs are a fantastic team, but I do not think they have the size or energy to play with Memphis. I think the Grizzlies will wear them down in the first two games and then make their move. It will be important for the Spurs to perform well enough to give Duncan and Parker a rest. However, I think Memphis will take advantage of the time that Duncan and Parker spend on the bench and make it almost impossible to give them a breather. Zbo and Gasol are just too physical on the inside for any team to keep up, Memphis wins 4-2.

These series have the potential to make this one of the most entertaining Conference Finals in a long time! I am picking two underdogs, and I am feeling fully confident. Make sure you stay tuned in to see how our picks come out. Maybe I will finally beat CMan!