2014 Conference Finals Preview

WEST


vs


OKC rolled off 48 wins in the regular season, good enough for a #2 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs... They have taken care of Denver and Sacramento, two good, young up and coming teams in the first two rounds of these playoffs... Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have taken their games to another level in these playoffs... Combined they are averaging 56.2 points, 15.6 rebounds, 14 assists and 3.6 steals per game... They have put the team on their back and the Thunder will go only as far as these two superstars can take them... With James Harden leaving and heading to Houston, its going to be interesting to see who will step up if either Westbrook or Durant were to have a bad game...

At the Trade deadline the T'Wolves sent former #2 pick Derrick Williams to Boston in exchange for Celtic Legend Paul Pierce... Pierce was brought over to bring veteran leadership and savy and he has done just that... Since the trade the T'Wolves have gone 19-11 and, as I said made a late push just to get into the playoffs... They took care of #1 seeded Houston in the 1st round and 4th seeded Phoenix in the 2nd round... With Pierce in the mix, the Wolves finally have "that guy" that can get his own when the game is on the line... As good as Kevin Love is, he's not the closer that Pierce has proved himself to be throughout his storied career...

KEY MATCHUPS

Kevin Love vs Serge Ibaka



Love is one of the best scoring big men in the game today, however, he does allot of his work from midrage and three point teritory... It will be interesting to see if Ibaka will follow Love out onto the perimeter, because doing so will open up driving lanes for Rubio and Pierce...

Russell Westbrook vs Ricky Robio



We all know that Westbrook is one of the most explosive point gaurds in the league and, on paper this matchup would clearly favor OKC... However, looking deeper you'll see that Rubio has turned into one of the best on the ball defenders in the league and during the regular season he ranked in the Top 5 in steals averaging 2.3 per game... If Rubio can slow down Westbrook, at least a little, the T'Wolves will have a much better chance of pulling off the Upset...

Kevin Durant vs Anyone...



Minnesota is going to have to find someone to slow down Durant.. Paul Pierce, at this age isn't going to be that guy so the Wolves are going to have to get creative and try and figure out a way to defend Durant... We all know, on most nights KD is going to get his, however, the Wolves can't let him dominate the game and score 35 or 45 points because if the do, its going to be a quick series...

PREDICTION

I just don't see how the Timberwolves are going to slow down Durant and Westbrook during a long Series... I know the T'Wolves have heart and grit and toughness but I think OKC is just too talented from top to bottom... I'll take OKC to advance to the NBA Finals in six games...


EAST


vs


If you've been following up to this point, you already know that the 76ers haven't lost a game this post-season. They are a perfect 8-0 heading into the East Finals... Easily taking care of business vs the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards, the 76ers enter the Easter finals having not played a game in over a week... Will they be rusty? Or will they be even more focused?

Their Opponent was counted out after the loss of SG Joe Johnson early in their 1st round series vs the Bulls, somehow they have managed to transform their philosophies in the middle of this magical playoff run... They went from a predominately perimeter based team to a team that will literally fight you in the paint... Pau Gasol was brought in at the trade deadline to help bolster the front line and add more Offense and Defense in the low post... Pau has never been known for his physical play, however, since joining the Nets he's been playing with a mean streak that he's never shown before... He and Brook Lopez are seven foot duo that is one of the best the league has seen in awhile...

The Sixers are, in my estimation the best all around team in the NBA and have been for the last two seasons... Their 62-20 record in the regular season was only a preview of things to come as they have rolled through their first two opponents in back to back sweeps... Jrue Holiday is becoming a SuperStar point guard in this league and players like Evan Turner and Thadeus Young aren't far behind... Down low they have the 2nd best center in the game in Andrew Bynum and the addition of SG Manu Ginobli in Free Agency last year has given them the leader that they lacked last year...

KEY MATCHUPS

Jrue Holiday vs Darren Williams



This is going to be fun to watch as two of the leagues premier point guards get ready to do battle.. Williams has been carrying the team during this postseason run averaging 23.5 points, and 8.2 assists per game... Holiday, in eight games has averaged 19 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game... I think William's is a little stronger than Holiday so, I'll give him the edge, but, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Holiday steps up and outplays him...

Andre Bynum vs Brook Lopez / Pau Gasol



In the playoffs Lopez and Gasol have combined to average 36.3 points, 18.1 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game... Andrew Bynum has been no slouch putting up 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per night through the post-season... Bynum however, has not gone up against a team with two players players as skilled as Lopez and Gasol... I think the team that can win the battle in the paint and on the boards is going to win this series

Gerald Wallace vs Evan Turner



The battle at the Small Forward position is going to be another fun one to watch as the veteran Defensive Stopper Gerald Wallace looks to slow down the young legs of future superstar Evan Turner... Turner has a fantastic all around game and can do it all on the floor... He's putting up 17.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game this post-season.. Wallace, doesn't really score like he once used to, so, his #1 job this series will be to slow down Turner...

PREDICTION

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Philadelphia 76ers are the most complete team in the NBA, and I'll pick them to win this series in Six games to advance to the NBA Finals...