Only four teams remain in the NBA Playoffs, and at the end of the series, only two will hoist the silver ball as the Conference champion and the right to challenge for the NBA championship. This is the NBA Conference Finals.
Not surprisingly, two Western Conference contenders will slug it out for a trip to the Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs deserved to be there, and they rolled through two rounds in convincing fashion. Then again, the West will pit the something-to-prove Thunder with their youthful exuberance and growing confidence against the tried and tested Spurs unit whose links from titles past remain and whose young nucleus kept them competitive. This makes for an exciting and dramatic West final.
In the East, the demise of the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in the first round opened the door for the Miami Heat, or so they thought. Unless the Boston Celtics, whose door seem to have closed until today, still have the legs to roll against the new powerhouse in South Beach. While Miami cruised, Boston struggled at times, but championship pedigree ultimately prevailed. The East final will be a physical, downright ugly series, and a psychological warfare between an aging and a tongue-wagging superpower.
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Oklahoma City Thunder
Regular Season: San Antonio won 2-1
The Spurs will come out well-rested, again. They have swept their way through the first two rounds, and are facing the Thunder that is also on a roll. Then again, since 2005, teams holding an 8-0 playoff record heading into the conference finals failed to even make the finals, and the Spurs have every reason to be concerned. But the Spurs are the Spurs, with championship experience and new-found consistency that is borne of a new coaching philosophy by Gregg Popovich. As for the Thunder, going even deeper will be their priority.
The Spurs will again roll the dice on championship-tested stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, while the Thunder will bank on Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden to lead the young corps. The x-factors for the series will be San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter, Danny Green and Stephen Jackson, and Oklahoma City's Kendrick Perkins, Derek Fisher, Thabo Sefolosha and Serge Ibaka. Unlike the previous two rounds, it won't be a cakewalk for either team, as each game is expected to be competitive and hard-fought. Going six or seven may see how much both teams will grow out of this series.
(2) Miami Heat vs. (4) Boston Celtics
Regular Season: Boston won 3-1
Two days after Christmas, the Miami Heat added to the early season woes of the Boston Celtics with a statement 115-107 win. However, Miami may have underestimated Boston, as the Celtics turned the early-season struggle into a late-season surge, culminating in three victories in April against the Heat, part of a post-All-Star break rally that led to a division title for the green. Then again, just like last year, regular season play won't matter, as Miami have proven last year against Boston. The question is, can it be repeated?
Chris Bosh is expected to return from an abdominal strain sustained in the Indiana series, but is he ready enough? In that series, it was the Wade and LeBron show, as they led Miami's finishing kick with three straight wins to eliminate the Pacers. Meanwhile, Boston seemed a step slow at times against Philadelphia, and even hurt (see Paul Pierce's MCL and Avery Bradley's season-ending shoulder injury), but the 76ers' big-game inexperience ultimately cost them in Game 7. The Heat will have the home-court, the 'championship or bust' attitude, the rest and the fans at their side, while the Celtics will need guts, wisdom and heart to overcome the younger Heat. If this is the war to end all wars, this is it. They have split each playoff series the past two seasons, and the rubber matches expect more of the blood between two powerhouses.
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