NBA PLAYOFFS 2012 PREVIEW
Finally the 2012 NBA playoffs have arrived and basketball lovers and
fanatics all around the world should expect the very best and to some
extent the most unpredictable styles of basketball ever seen in the
NBA. Wouldn’t expect anything different though, it’s been a very
strange season not with the whole lockout drama, a shorter season
with fewer games and players conditioning and fitness levels pushed to
the max because of back to back game schedules. The entire series
should be fun
WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
The 2011 season western conference finals was the first finals since
1998 that didn’t include either the San Antonio spurs or the Los
Angeles Lakers. In some quarters most people think that’s why the
Dallas mavericks went all the way to becoming nba champions. We beg to
differ. The mavericks were a tight cohesive unit and thoroughly
deserved to be crowned champions, the lakers and Spurs just didn't get the
right rhythm to both their teams in terms of game play
This season however is very different, even though both the spurs and
the lakers have their numerous problems they still occupy 2 out of the
top 3 seeds and look better prepared to reclaim the title of NBA
champions
The ultimate question is how do they deal with virtually younger and
more energetic teams such as the Grizzlies or the Clippers
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES V LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
This can be termed as the pick of the bunch in the western conference
series. 2 teams with 2 very different styles. The Grizzlies have home
court advantage in an nba playoff series for the first time in
franchise history. They play tough and are a grindy team with their
stock in trade being harrying players and putting pressure on the
ball, with the Grizzlies forcing the most turnovers in the league this season
The clippers on the other hand had the second lowest turnover rate in
the league, it is left to be seen if the grizzlies can stifle the explosive nature
of Blake Griffin. They will stifle him, they will frustrate him and
get all up in his face. Grizzlies are very gritty and its certain
he’ll be given very little room to exhibit his highlight slam dunks
This is the first time that the Grizzlies can actually be considered as serious
contenders in the playoff series due to their exploits last year and not just making up the numbers.
Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph will both have to step up and carry the
team. This is their opportunity to secure super star status
LOS ANGELES LAKERS V DENVER NUGGETS
Contrary to popular belief this isn’t going to be smooth sailing
for the lakers even though on paper it seems so. The
Nuggets are the kings of high pace offense and have been among the
best in terms of break points , percentage of shots taken at the rim,
true shooting percentage and offensive efficiency for most of the
season. However they have been struggling with injuries for the better
part of the second half of the season.
The lakers have their own problems as well. Star man Kobe Bryant’s
fitness is still touch and go at the moment. Then there is a small
matter of Metta world peace’s 7 game suspension giving room for
Denver’s Danilo Gallinari to try and exploit his absence. Running the
offense play through the big boys Bynum and Gasol will give the lakers
a chance to control the pace of the game. The Lakers will aim to slow the
game down and this isn’t going to suit the Nuggets as they’re a pacy
team. I think the lakers will run and control the game and wear the
nuggets down over time
The problem coach Mike Brown has on his hands now is how to delicately
manage the suspension of Metta World Peace. If the Lakers take this series in 5
games against the nuggets he’ll still be absent to face the
Thunder for 2 games in their series. That’s assuming the Thunder get
past the Mavericks. Leaving room for all star MVP and leagues highest
scorer Kevin Durant to take control in those 2 games. Mike Brown has to find the best suitable
balance that favours his Lakers.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER V DALLAS MAVERICKS
The OKC fairytale looks set to continue with this matchup. The Thunder
are hungry and clearly have a point to prove. The mavericks sadly are
not and have played most of the season leaving people wondering if
this was the same team that were champions last season. They let Tyson
Chandler and JJ Barrea go as free agents and seem to have made a
mistake with somewhat downcast and inconsistent Lamar Odom
OKC don’t look like they’re going to have too many problems as such in
winning this matchup, they possess 2 of the leagues top scoring
threats in Russel Westbrook and All star MVP Kevin Durant, there's no way
the Mavericks can cope with the combination of Durant, Westbrook, Harden
and Ibaka .
SAN ANTONIO SPURS V UTAH JAZZ
Defensively these are 2 of the most porous teams in the league this
season. Ironically they are rated 2nd and 4th highest scoring in the
league. The spurs can however rely on experience in this series. The
fire power and combination of Ginobili , Parker ,Duncan and more will
be too much for the jazz to handle. The spurs could win this series in
5 games
EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
In the eastern conference the Miami heat and the Chicago bulls are
still the cream of the crop.
CHICAGO BULLS V PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau has done an amazing job of taking the
bulls to insane heights this season despite lingering injuries to key
players Derrick Rose, Luol Deng , Richard Hamilton among others. The
76 ers are in their 2nd season in the NBA without a recognized
superstar in their ranks. They have made it into the playoffs on a
collective effort. Sadly it may all end here for them
They only stand a chance of causing an upset so long as bulls star
player Derrick Rose struggles to stay injury free and a 100 percent.
Rose is the catalyst, he makes the bulls tick, without him they lose
an edge in the creative third on the floor, Hamilton and Rose
missed a total of 64 games combined. That’s bad luck
The Bulls should take this series in 5 games, a lot will depend on the fitness Derrick Rose.
Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday of the 76ers will have to step their game
up
MIAMI HEAT V NEW YORK KNICKS
The juiciest match up in the Eastern conference series. A mini reunion
of the 2003 NBA draft of Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony , Dwayne wade
and Chris Bosh. The heat have a big point to prove and are still
trying to banish the demons of last seasons NBA finals where
everything just went wrong for them
Carmelo Anthony is one of the form players in the league and has
managed to avoid injury and the entire Knicks team are fairly
confident in their abilities. This is the sort of matchup the Heat
crave because they know the Knicks will test them and ask many
questions. They’re going to have to carry on without Chris Bosh who’s
struggling with a hamstring problem and Dwayne Wade who’s got a
dislocated left index finger
The heat look too strong for the Knicks going into this series and can
only hope they choke and refuse to turn up especially Lebron James in the 4th Quarter;like last year.
INDIANA PACERS V ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic are in total free fall. Dwight Howard has sunk them. Coach
Van Gundy has been said to leave at the end of the season all
because of Howard’s want away theatrics.
The Pacers possess a balanced attacking threat and can take full
advantage of the numerous problems encountered by the magic but they
have to be cautious as the magic are not going to go down without a
fight
If the magic can rally together and somehow defeat the pacers with
little contribution from Dwight Howard ,questions will be asked and the magic
management may reconsider exactly how valuable each of these
assets really are; Van Gundy or Howard
ATLANTA HAWKS V BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics seem to have this series in the bag but they will have to
work for it. They are an ageing team and this is the last chance for
this group of players to get into another NBA final. Both teams
are evenly matched meaning that the factor of home court advantage is
somewhat irrelevant. The difference is Rajon Rondo he will have to
lift the celtics team
up
MIAMI HEAT V NEW YORK KNICKS
The juiciest match up in the Eastern conference series. A mini reunion
of the 2003 NBA draft of Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony , Dwayne wade
and Chris Bosh. The heat have a big point to prove and are still
trying to banish the demons of last seasons NBA finals where
everything just went wrong for them
Carmelo Anthony is one of the form players in the league and has
managed to avoid injury and the entire Knicks team are fairly
confident in their abilities. This is the sort of matchup the Heat
crave because they know the Knicks will test them and ask many
questions. They’re going to have to carry on without Chris Bosh who’s
struggling with a hamstring problem and Dwayne Wade who’s got a
dislocated left index finger
The heat look too strong for the Knicks going into this series and can
only hope they choke and refuse to turn up especially Lebron James in the 4th Quarter;like last year.
INDIANA PACERS V ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic are in total free fall. Dwight Howard has sunk them. Coach
Van Gundy has been said to leave at the end of the season all
because of Howard’s want away theatrics.
The Pacers possess a balanced attacking threat and can take full
advantage of the numerous problems encountered by the magic but they
have to be cautious as the magic are not going to go down without a
fight
If the magic can rally together and somehow defeat the pacers with
little contribution from Dwight Howard ,questions will be asked and the magic
management may reconsider exactly how valuable each of these
assets really are; Van Gundy or Howard
ATLANTA HAWKS V BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics seem to have this series in the bag but they will have to
work for it. They are an ageing team and this is the last chance for
this group of players to get into another NBA final. Both teams
are evenly matched meaning that the factor of home court advantage is
somewhat irrelevant. The difference is Rajon Rondo he will have to
lift the celtics team
Seyi Ajayi
Head; Media & Publicity
Tactics IQ Limited
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