The NBA Conference Finals get underway tonight starting in the West with the Nuggets and Lakers. The Eastern conference takes center stage tomorrow evening in Cleveland between the Cavs and Magic.Let’s take a look at the matchups…
Lakers holding the home court advantage in this series could be very critical. L.A. has not played well on the road as of late so having a game seven in their place is something that can’t be overlooked. The Lakers took the season series against Denver 3-1, but you can throw those regular season numbers out the window.The Nuggets are playing as good of basketball as anyone right now and I think they have the parts to matchup with the Lakers length.
L.A. is the most talented and deep team in the league but they aren’t playing with consistency. They should have never been blown out by the Rockets, and that series should not have went seven games once Yao went down.I love the way Denver is playing right now and they seem to have to killer instinct. Outside of Kobe, who is playing that well for the Lakers? Gasol or Ariza? Maybe.Not Bynum or Fisher, that is for sure…
PPG
RPG
APG
FG%
3P%
NUGGETS
104.3
41.6
22.2
46.974
.371
LAKERS
106.9
43.9
23.3
47.371
.361
Angry Trey’s Prediction: Nuggets in 6
In the Eastern Conference, we should have an interesting matchup.A lot of “experts” are writing Orlando off, but I’m not so sure that is a good idea. The Magic play well against the Cavs and even took the season series 2-1. I know that doesn’t matter in the playoffs, but it does show that Orlando can play with LeBron and the boys.
Cleveland has swept both their series, but they haven’t really been challenged. Detroit had already packed their season in, and Atlanta was no contest.
I would be tempted to go with the Magic here if Jameer Nelson was healthy, but I can’t. The Cavs have looked dominant as of late, and I think they pull this series out. It won’t be easy though.
