Western and Eastern Conference Post Game One predictions

Predicting NBA playoff series winners before a series begins is standard operating procedure. National media outlets, cable networks, and print media always have their experts predict series before the series begins. On Major Sports Review I will make predictions after Game One. By waiting until after Game One I can see what the offensive and defensive game plans are and how the players are doing mentally and physically. What cannot be predicted is how the games will be officiated and that really makes predictions difficult(especially in the NBA).

I. Western Conference
Chauncey Billups is known for hitting big shots and being a "go to" player during important parts of basketball games. Coach Karl is in the Western Conference Finals because of Chauncey Billups(and the reimergence of Birdman Andersen) and he should set up pick and roll plays between Billups and Birdman Andersen. This would make Billups the focal point of the offense. The Nuggets are at their best when Billups has the ball in his hands and is able to decide whether to shoot the ball himself, alley oop to Birdman, or pass to Carmelo Anthony. Coach Karl needs to reign in JR Smith and Anthony Carter because Billups needs to have the ball in his hands especially in the second half.

All things being equal(free throws and turnovers etc.) the Lakers won Game One because of their coaching. Phil Jackson(who is a complete turd. Leon Powe is pronounced like Edgar Allen Poe) knows that Kobe Bryant is his best player. He allowed Kobe to take control of the team offensively in the second half. Kobe got to the free throw line, hit shots, and had a couple key assists. I am sure that if George Karl gave Chauncey Billups the opportunity to take over the Nuggets offense that Chauncey would have done the exact same thing as Kobe. Ultimately given the lead the Nuggets had in the second half Chauncey would have won the game for the Nuggets if Coach Karl gave him the opportunity.

Game One highlighted an injury to Nuggets backup Point Guard Anthony Carter. I do not think anyone was aware that Carter was injured before the series began(so you see how making predictions after Game One is important). This injury may be beneficial to the Nuggets. It may force George Karl to use Chauncey Billups more. Billups played 41 minutes but in the second half it did not seems like he was involved to the extent that he should be offensively.

Game One ENDED UP being a great game. As was noted throughout the broadcast and subsequent evaluation by media outlets, the Denver Nuggets missed twelve free throws out of thirty-five attempts. If the Nuggets hit half of those misses they would have had an additional 6 points and would have won the game easily(as NBA games go). The point that is being missed is that the Nuggets got 35 free throw attempts and the Lakers got 24. That is almost 50% more free throws for the Nuggets. This indicates that the Nuggets were more proactive during this game. It will be interesting to see if the Lakers are able to generate more free throw attemtps and how that impacts future games.

Western Conference Finals Prediction:
The Nuggets are new to being this deep in the playoffs. They are a more athletic and talented team than the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets have Chauncey Billups who is a clutch player and Championship winner. That being said, the Lakers have Phil Jackson who is a superior coach and they have Kobe who wants to win more than anyone else. The Lakers will win this series. They played average basketball in Game One and won. Any increase in effort will result in better play and more wins for the Lakers.


II. Eastern Conference Finals
The head coach of the Orlando Magic Stan Van Gundy "has no idea how to defend" Lebron James. Hell, that sounds like a great defensive philosophy. No kidding. If I were coaching the Magic I would make Hedo "Weird Hair" Turkoglu the primary defender on Lebron James. We would give Lebron the outside shot and funnel him towards Dwight Howard. All of our other defenders would be playing denial defense which would force the other Cavs toward Dwight Howard and away from the free throw line. Essentially this would push everyone on the court away fom the three point line or outside of their comfort zone.

The Magic like the Nuggets are a better overall team than their opponent. However, the Magic are a lot better than the Cavaliers. Lebron shot 20 for 30 from the floor, scored 49 points, lost the game at home, and got injured near the end of the game. Lebron cannot play better than he did in Game One. Lebron's teammates could contribute more. Given the superior talent of the Magic and their superior "team defense" it is hard to ask more out of the Lebron's teammates. The Orlando Magic will win this series.


Eastern Conference Finals Prediciton:
Lebron is a great teammate, a great supporter of his coach, and a great supporter of his community. The Orlando Magic have more talented players. The Orlando coach, who may appear or seem aloof, is a far superior tactician and coaches according to statistics. The Magic will win this series in six or seven games. Prior to the series I thought that the Cleveland Cavaliers would lose game one and then win the series but after Game One I began to dislike Cleveland. I do not like: their public address announcer, the fact that they play crappy rap/ dance music throughout the game, and it seemed like Lebron was "acting" like he was hurt after the game because he blew the final play. Again, Orlando Magic is six or seven games.