There were no upsets in the last round, but that is a great thing in this case. The better teams advanced to the Conference Finals, and these are going to be two great series. Each team has some great veterans, and the top two players in the league are still in the hunt for their first ring.
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Oklahoma City Thunder
Key Player: Serge Ibaka
Season Series: Spurs won 2-1.
The Thunder are the future team of the NBA, and they are playing against an aging dynasty in San Antonio. Kevin Durant is going to be the best player in the NBA soon, but they are still the underdog to an “old” Spurs team. But Ibaka is going to play such a huge role in this series. He is going to take care of Tim Duncan on defense and has to hit his jump shots if the Thunder are to win. Durant, Westbrook, and Harden can only do so much for their team, so Ibaka has to become a consistent scorer if they continue to leave him open. On the other side, the Spurs have depth unlike any team left, and that is a key reason why they are still in the playoffs. Are the Spurs going to lose a game in these playoffs? They are currently 9-0 in the playoffs, and they are on a 19-game winning streak including the regular season. They most likely going to lose a game, and if they don’t the Spurs have to be considered one of the best teams in NBA history. Again, I don’t think they are that type of team, and I think they will only lose 4 games in the playoffs. Another title will do wonders for Tim Duncan’s legacy, but Durant is going to be the best player on the court, and the Spurs are going to have some difficulty covering him when he is hitting the outside shot. This is going to be a long series either way, and the winner of this series will most likely win the Finals.
Prediction: I said the Spurs would only lose 4 games in the playoffs, but I think that they will all be to the Thunder. Thunder win in 6 games.
(2) Miami Heat vs. (4) Boston Celtics
Key Player: Rajon Rondo
Season Series: Celtics won 3-1.
The Celtics may have beaten the Heat 3 times during the regular season, but this isn’t the regular season. The Celtics are fighting through injuries, and have nobody that can cover LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. The Celtics are losing a lot of players in free agency after this season, so this might be their last chance to win another title. If Rondo can shoot the ball like he did against the 76ers in Game 7, then Boston will have a legitimate chance of pulling of this upset. And if Bosh doesn’t return from his injury, then the Celtics need to take advantage in the paint. There is no reason that the Heat should have 15 more rebounds than the Celtics in Game 1. 15! Shane Battier had a double-double. In order to beat the Heat you have to take advantage down-low, and the Celtics clearly did not do that in Game 1.
Prediction: Wade and James are determined to win a title this year, and they will have their chance after the Heat finish off the Celtics off in 5 games. But the Heat need Bosh to return for the Finals if they want to beat the Spurs or the Thunder.