Playoffs summed up

The Conference Semi-Finals both just came to an end, in the East and West. As we enter the Conference Finals, and ultimately the Final match-up in the next few weeks, the look back at the preceding rounds makes the remainder of the play-offs very appealing. The competition of the Second round and the intrigue of the Conference Finals are evident in one major fact: both Conferences had to go to a Game 7. The first thing this points out is that the competition at this level of the tournament is high. As was anticipated, the Boston and Orlando match-up was a highly-contested series that went back and worth and down to the wire in most of the games. These are the 2 and 3 seeds in the East, respectively, and the teams hold two of the top four records in the regular season.

However, the Los Angeles Lakers match-up with Houston went to a surprising seventh game. Houston at its best in the regular season was inconsistent and ended up as the fifth seed to L.A.'s first seed. More so, the Rockets entered the play-offs without their injured star, Tracy McGrady, and lost both of their centers in Dikembe Mutombo and international phenom Yao Ming. Yet, they still brought the series against the defending Western Conference Champion Lakers to the brink, through tough play,hard- fought individual battles, and overall determined team play. What this shows is that perhaps Los Angeles is not as dominant as they, and the league, had projected this entire year.

So the Game 7's that took place this past Sunday exposed competition on a few levels. As mentioned, the remaining teams (Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, and Orlando) are strong and capable of contending for the title. Also, the "dominant" franchise of the Lakers does not have an easy road or an obvious advantage over any of the other teams in contention.

The fact that there were two Game 7's also highlights another aspect that shows even more: the fact that the other two series did not have a Game 7. Actually, the other two series of the final four did not even barely had a Game 6. Cleveland swept Atlanta in four fast and high- energy games, while Denver defeated Dallas in five (barely losing the one game to Dallas). Basketball enthusiasts have been drooling over this fact for the past week, for a few reasons.

In reference to dominance, while the Lakers have not maintained that which they had once supposedly established, Cleveland has done nothing but dominate. In fact, the Cavaliers swept the first two series in four games each and are undefeated at 8-0 in the post-season, with double-digit victories in each game. Also, LeBron James was named league Most Valuable Player and has proven his title, averaging 32.9 points a game, on 53% field goal percentage, with nearly 10 rebounds and 7 assists per game.

With respect to Denver, they have been a re-vamped team in the 2009 Playoffs. Though inconsistent through the regular season, the Nuggets have been playing at a level just shy of the Cavaliers and much higher than any other team. They are now led by veteran and former Finals MVP, Chauncey Billups and have the "swag" to compete with any one.

So the scene is set for the Conference Finals, and seemingly afterwards. Cleveland is matched with Orlando and Los Angeles against Denver. This means three of the top four regular season records are still going for the league title. Plus, every team has their strengths, weaknesses, and variables. In the immediate series, it is easy to analyze the match-ups.

Cleveland has been untouchable the entire play-offs, but the one team they probably did not want to face is Orlando. This is plainly because the most dominant center and this year's Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, is a big factor. LeBron has been strolling through the lane and dunking on anyone in the paint for the entire post- season. However, with Howard occupying the middle it makes doing so a challenge. So if LeBron can't drive and is forced to shoot or pass more than he already does, then the Cleveland offense will depend on the MVP being able to make those shots consistently and keep the defense spread, enabling the rest of the Cavaliers to make plays. Regardless of whatever James will be forced to do, he is versatile enough and his team mates have been productive enough that I think they will beat Orlando.

In the West, Los Angeles versus Denver is up for grabs. I don't think this series will be determined by talent, but by composure. Denver has played as the best team in the West in the play-offs, however, until they are awarded the Conference trophy, this remains unproven. So either Los Angeles will have to raise their level of play to match Denver or they will have to find a way to slow them down in order to win. I have a feeling that they will have to resort to the latter. Referring back to the last series, with Houston, and the article I wrote from last week, I think L.A. will end up doing some dirty antics in order to throw Denver off their game.

Just as last series was engrossed by flagrant fouls and ejections, to which L.A. benefited, I can easily see the same thing happening between L.A. and Denver. Just as Houston's notorious hotheaded superstar, Ron Artest, was ejected from two games of the seven last series due to confrontations with Laker players, Denver is highly susceptible. Specifically, while Houston had Artest, Denver has three notable hotheads in Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, and Nene. Just as I suggested that "if you can't beat 'em, BEAT 'em," I foresee a potential beat down (physically); resulting in loss of composure by Denver. If the game is played straight up, I think the Nuggets will advance to the Finals.

So my ultimate predictions: the Cavaliers will make it to the Finals and be the NBA Champions. Granted they will play a worthy team along the way, in either L.A. or Denver, but I think they will overcome either. Between the Nuggets and Lakers, I think Denver will win, but in either case the Finals looks well-worth watching. If Denver wins it will be the "LeBron vs. Melo" hype, especially since both entered the league at the same time and played one another growing up. On the otherhand, if Lakers face Cleveland in the Finals, it will be "Kobe vs. LeBron: Battle of the Century " caliber commercialization, being that much debate has gone on to which of these two is the best player in the world.