Let’s Get Ready To Rumble The NBA Playoffs are set top blast off Riebeil Durley-Petty
After a long NBA season we’ve finally got to the part everyone’s been looking forward too. Customers have enjoyed the scrumptious appetizers, but now it’s time serve the main course. This year has been one of the most exciting, competitive seasons in recent memory. The playoffs have several intriguing storylines.
We’ve seen the emergence of the Cleveland Cavaliers but will the season end in a kingly coronation for LeBron James? Can the Boston Celtics mobilize to pull off an improbable successful title defense without Kevin Garnett? Can Dwight Howard take advantage of Boston’s misfortune and lead the Orlando Magic to the Eastern Finals? The Western Conference was tighter than a pair of size four daisy duke shorts on comedian Monique. Only six games separated the second and eighth seed. The West side was definitely the best side, as teams battled for survival on a nightly basis. But Los Angeles Lakers were unquestionably the best of the west. Can Kobe finally lead his team to a championship without Shaq? Now that the season’s over it’s time to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Let’s see just who’s legit and who going to get ripped.
#2 Boston Celtics vs. #7 Chicago Bulls
Chicago- It took awhile, but after getting off to a lackluster, underwhelming start the Chicago Bulls rounded into form and were able to secure a playoff spot. Chicago and first year head coach Vinny Del Negro took their lumps and but the team grew exponentially from the beginning to the end of the regular season campaign and overcame the loss of starting small forward Luol Deng. The turning point for the Bulls was the late season acquisitions of center Brad Miller (11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists a game) and John Salmons (18.2 ppg, 4.2 boards, 41.7 percent three’s) from the Sacramento Kings. Chicago ended the season strong winning 7 of their last 10 games. Miller gives the Bulls with a physical true center who knocks down jumpers, grabs boards, is one of the league’s best passing big men and provides veteran leadership and playoff experience the youthful Bulls lacked. Salmons gives The Chi a consistent scoring small forward who can acquire buckets in a variety of ways.
Derrick Rose is the human incarnation of Nascar whip with his supersonic acceleration (16.8 ppg, 6.3 assists, 47.5 percent from field). The frontrunner for Rookie of the Year and Windy City lead all freshman ballers in dimes, has good shot selection, slices opposing defenses like a machete and gets to the cup and finishes with the combination of his strength and bounce. Ben Gordon (20.7 ppg, 3.4 assists, 41.7 treys) is an incendiary bucket machine millennium version of former Detroit Pistons great Vinny “The Microwave” Johnson who can explode and unload at any time. He’s streaky but Gordon will need to cancel Ray Allen’s production.
Sporadic, but kangaroo hoppin ultra sick athlete Tyrus Thomas (10.8 ppg, 6.4 rebounds 1.91 blocks) and Joakim Noah (6.7 ppg, 7.6 boards, 1.38 blocks) are both energizers who will need to outplay the Celtics Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Leon Powe if Chicago wants to make it a series. Though he has a reduced role and burn Kirk Hinrich (9.9 ppg, 3.9 assists, 41 pecent three’s) triple shooting ability, harassment of Rondo and supplying solid relief for Rose will be crucial as well. The Bulls will also have to keep Rajon Rondo out of the and force him to beat them with his wildly erratic jumper.
Boston Celtics- The Celtics jumped out to the best start in NBA history, dashing to 27-2 record. Boston had a little rocky stretch losing 7 of 9 following their blazing historic start, but regained their form and remained in contention for the East’s top seed and home court advantage all season. Yet their quest for a second consecutive title was dealt a catastrophic blow when Kevin Garnett suffered a left knee injury and was officially ruled out of the playoffs last week. Though the Big Ticket’s numbers may have dipped this season (15.8 ppg, 8.5 boards, 1.19 blocks) his value far exceeds his numerical output. KG is the Celtics defensive floor colonel as well as inspirational leader who’s buoyancy and krunkness permeates the crew.
Boston will have to rely heavily on all-stars Paul Pierce (20.5 ppg, 5.6 boards, 3.6 assists) and Ray Allen (18.2 ppg, 3.5 rebounds 41 percent treys) to carry them in the opening round. The Bulls don’t have anyone who can adequately handle The Truth and Ray Ray, who’s been much more comfortable and lethal all year should be able to make it monsoon from the land of plenty off open looks created by Rondo’s penetration.
Rondo (11.9 ppg, 8.2 dimes, 5.2 rebounds) will be the main source for supplementing Garnett’s scoring. Rondo showed dramatic progression from last year. It’s vital the Celts floor liason gets penetration and distributes the pill for easy buckets for Big Baby (7.0 ppg, 4.0 boards) Kendrick Perkins (8.5 ppg, 8.1 boards, 1.97 blocks) and Leon Powe (7.7 ppg, 4.9 rebounds) and well as set up Eddie House (8.5 ppg, 41 percent three’s) for triples. Powe and Big Baby will need to combine to supply Garnett’s vitality and Perkins has to use his imposing frame to bang and swang as well as be a defensive deterrent and punch shots on the interior.
Prediction- The Bulls are a good upstart team stacked with more talent than a loaf of bread and their explosive offense (102 ppg) should help them remain competitive. However, despite the loss of KG the Celts are still too experienced and have to superstars that won’t allow them to bow out this soon. Boston in an entertaining 6 game series.
We’ve seen the emergence of the Cleveland Cavaliers but will the season end in a kingly coronation for LeBron James? Can the Boston Celtics mobilize to pull off an improbable successful title defense without Kevin Garnett? Can Dwight Howard take advantage of Boston’s misfortune and lead the Orlando Magic to the Eastern Finals? The Western Conference was tighter than a pair of size four daisy duke shorts on comedian Monique. Only six games separated the second and eighth seed. The West side was definitely the best side, as teams battled for survival on a nightly basis. But Los Angeles Lakers were unquestionably the best of the west. Can Kobe finally lead his team to a championship without Shaq? Now that the season’s over it’s time to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Let’s see just who’s legit and who going to get ripped.
#2 Boston Celtics vs. #7 Chicago Bulls
Chicago- It took awhile, but after getting off to a lackluster, underwhelming start the Chicago Bulls rounded into form and were able to secure a playoff spot. Chicago and first year head coach Vinny Del Negro took their lumps and but the team grew exponentially from the beginning to the end of the regular season campaign and overcame the loss of starting small forward Luol Deng. The turning point for the Bulls was the late season acquisitions of center Brad Miller (11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists a game) and John Salmons (18.2 ppg, 4.2 boards, 41.7 percent three’s) from the Sacramento Kings. Chicago ended the season strong winning 7 of their last 10 games. Miller gives the Bulls with a physical true center who knocks down jumpers, grabs boards, is one of the league’s best passing big men and provides veteran leadership and playoff experience the youthful Bulls lacked. Salmons gives The Chi a consistent scoring small forward who can acquire buckets in a variety of ways.
Derrick Rose is the human incarnation of Nascar whip with his supersonic acceleration (16.8 ppg, 6.3 assists, 47.5 percent from field). The frontrunner for Rookie of the Year and Windy City lead all freshman ballers in dimes, has good shot selection, slices opposing defenses like a machete and gets to the cup and finishes with the combination of his strength and bounce. Ben Gordon (20.7 ppg, 3.4 assists, 41.7 treys) is an incendiary bucket machine millennium version of former Detroit Pistons great Vinny “The Microwave” Johnson who can explode and unload at any time. He’s streaky but Gordon will need to cancel Ray Allen’s production.
Sporadic, but kangaroo hoppin ultra sick athlete Tyrus Thomas (10.8 ppg, 6.4 rebounds 1.91 blocks) and Joakim Noah (6.7 ppg, 7.6 boards, 1.38 blocks) are both energizers who will need to outplay the Celtics Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Leon Powe if Chicago wants to make it a series. Though he has a reduced role and burn Kirk Hinrich (9.9 ppg, 3.9 assists, 41 pecent three’s) triple shooting ability, harassment of Rondo and supplying solid relief for Rose will be crucial as well. The Bulls will also have to keep Rajon Rondo out of the and force him to beat them with his wildly erratic jumper.
Boston Celtics- The Celtics jumped out to the best start in NBA history, dashing to 27-2 record. Boston had a little rocky stretch losing 7 of 9 following their blazing historic start, but regained their form and remained in contention for the East’s top seed and home court advantage all season. Yet their quest for a second consecutive title was dealt a catastrophic blow when Kevin Garnett suffered a left knee injury and was officially ruled out of the playoffs last week. Though the Big Ticket’s numbers may have dipped this season (15.8 ppg, 8.5 boards, 1.19 blocks) his value far exceeds his numerical output. KG is the Celtics defensive floor colonel as well as inspirational leader who’s buoyancy and krunkness permeates the crew.
Boston will have to rely heavily on all-stars Paul Pierce (20.5 ppg, 5.6 boards, 3.6 assists) and Ray Allen (18.2 ppg, 3.5 rebounds 41 percent treys) to carry them in the opening round. The Bulls don’t have anyone who can adequately handle The Truth and Ray Ray, who’s been much more comfortable and lethal all year should be able to make it monsoon from the land of plenty off open looks created by Rondo’s penetration.
Rondo (11.9 ppg, 8.2 dimes, 5.2 rebounds) will be the main source for supplementing Garnett’s scoring. Rondo showed dramatic progression from last year. It’s vital the Celts floor liason gets penetration and distributes the pill for easy buckets for Big Baby (7.0 ppg, 4.0 boards) Kendrick Perkins (8.5 ppg, 8.1 boards, 1.97 blocks) and Leon Powe (7.7 ppg, 4.9 rebounds) and well as set up Eddie House (8.5 ppg, 41 percent three’s) for triples. Powe and Big Baby will need to combine to supply Garnett’s vitality and Perkins has to use his imposing frame to bang and swang as well as be a defensive deterrent and punch shots on the interior.
Prediction- The Bulls are a good upstart team stacked with more talent than a loaf of bread and their explosive offense (102 ppg) should help them remain competitive. However, despite the loss of KG the Celts are still too experienced and have to superstars that won’t allow them to bow out this soon. Boston in an entertaining 6 game series.
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