NBA Playoffs: Conference Semifinals

The guru would like to welcome his friend and colleague BirdofPrey18. He is making his first contribution to the blog, joining the ranks of Mac Attack, D-Money, (Both of whom have qualified for the guru's own expert fantasy league) and, to a lesser extent, RyRy. Considering BirdofPrey18's appreciable sports acumen, it would not come as a shock to see him earn a spot in the prestigious FG37FFEC. Take a moment to read his post on the NBA Playoffs, a topic in which BirdofPrey18 knows considerably more than the guru himself.


On a side note, if you consider yourself qualified (If you have read this blog, you more than likely fulfill this requirement.), feel free to submit an article for the guru's consideration. If he deems the piece suitable, he will post it, under your alias, for all the world to see. If you do not want to write, but rather would like to see a particular topic discussed, let the guru know. He is open to all suggestions. Please send emails to FANTASYguru37@gmail.com.


And without further ado, BirdofPrey18...


While this blog is hardly known for its coverage of the NBA, it is necessary to keep tabs on all the major sports leagues in order to be a good, well-rounded sports fan. (Editor's Note: The guru has discussed basketball in the past, focusing on the much more exciting college version. In fact, he went as far as to sponsor a March Madness Bracket Pool for his loyal readers. His work on the topic can be found here and here.) With the recent, exceptionally exciting series between the elderly Boston Celtics and the LeBron-led (although they may soon be LeBron-less) Cleveland Cavaliers, it would seem a natural time to discuss how the National Basketball Association’s playoffs are shaping up.


It’s no coincidence that critics rag on the NBA for having dominant teams that steamroll through the playoffs, eliminating excitement and drama that is so often seen in the long series of other sports. This year, in the conference semifinal round, three of the four series were not just uncompetitive, but resulted in sweeps by the higher seed. Let’s compare that to the NHL-in hockey’s conference semifinals this year, two series went to seven games, one went to six, and one went to five. But while this dominance by the strongest teams does seem to make NBA series less entertaining, it also nearly ensures that the better team moves on.


This year, an Orlando Magic team that hadn’t gotten nearly the media attention of the other contenders ripped through its first two rounds, looking literally unbeatable. They crushed first the Charlotte Bobcats and then the Atlanta Hawks, consistently winning by big margins and embarrassing both teams. In fact, the Magic officially defeated the Hawks in the most lopsided playoff series ever, winning by an average of just over 30 points per game. Center Dwight Howard is known as one of the best big men in the game and any team with hope of defeating the Magic will also have to worry about Orlando’s perimeter shooters, since the team was first in the NBA this year in three-pointers made during the regular season.


Orlando will meet a seemingly revitalized Celtics team in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston, which was led to a championship two years ago by the “Big Three” (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen), suddenly has its playoff hopes resting on the youthful talent of point guard Rajon Rondo, a rising star in the NBA with superb vision on the court and an uncanny ability to set up the perfect play. Rondo was unquestionably the key player in the Celts’ upset of Cleveland in the conference semifinals. Also vital to Boston’s championship aspirations is the team defense for which the club has been known in recent years. The Big Three are still playing important roles as scorers and defenders and center Kendrick Perkins will be trusted with the seemingly impossible task of guarding Dwight Howard of the Magic.


In the West, the perennially dominant Los Angeles Lakers are deep into the playoffs yet again after dealing with a pesky Oklahoma City team and then sweeping the Utah Jazz. Star guard Kobe Bryant hasn’t been himself for much of the year, but that hasn’t been too much of a problem for the Lakers with forward/center Pau Gasol being a force in the post as always. After winning the NBA title last year and adding talented, if volatile, forward Ron Artest in the offseason, LA was a popular bet to repeat at the beginning of the season. As favorites in the Conference Finals, the Lakers have a good chance to repeat.


Standing between Los Angeles and a third NBA finals appearance in three years are the somewhat surprising Phoenix Suns, a team which handled the Portland Trailblazers in the first round and then took care of the favored San Antonio Spurs in four games. Phoenix traditionally plays a fast and sometimes reckless style, but this year they proved that they can play a traditional and playoff-friendly style in order to succeed in the postseason. Two-time NBA MVP point guard Steve Nash has been great for the Suns and star forward Amar’e Stoudemire, who stayed in Phoenix despite being involved in countless trade rumors before the trade deadline this year, has also played a key role in getting the Suns this far.


While not all of the teams left at this point were expected to make it this far, the NBA’s “final four” are all extremely talented and deep teams, each with a viable chance to bring home a title this year. All of the fans are surely in for an exciting conclusion to playoffs. Let’s just hope that the LeBron Sweepstakes doesn’t upstage the real contest.