Predictions: 2013 NBA Playoffs – Part 3: Conference Finals

3:25:14 AM | 5/22/2013 | Wednesday

It’s the Final 4 on the greatest basketball show on the planet. Last 2 teams standing, all for the bragging right to bag down the trophy for their respective conferences. Still on the best-of-7 format, who will take home the crown and a huge step forward to the big dance?

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Eastern Conference Finals: Indiana Pacers versus Miami Heat

It’s been almost all season long when the Miami Heat dominated the Eastern conference, owning the league’s second all-time highest winning streak of 27 games. And for the post-season festivities, the Heat needed 8 victories in only 9 games to be at the league’s semifinal stage.

Meanwhile, the Pacers owned the Central Division big time. And by the way, prior to that cruise to 27 straight victories, the Heat lost to the Pacers. And it was February 1. And they managed to stop New York’s train of offensive firepower, considering guys like Melo, J.R. Smith, Tyson Chandler, the returning Kenyon Martin, Raymond Felton and even Jason Kidd running the show there at MSG.

Can Miami do a repeat victory over Indiana? I’ll say probably, considering what happened to them last year. Miami won the first contest, Indiana took the next two, and Miami turned it up around and emerged victorious in the final 3 games.

But rebounding will be another key factor to this one, considering the Heat’s struggle on that department, especially before that advent of their winning run. Thanks to Chris Andersen though, the frontcourt have much interior defense to match Roy Hibbert’s shot-blocking prowess.

The verdict: Heat in 5 games.

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Western Conference Finals: Memphis Grizzlies versus San Antonio Spurs

Youth versus experience; Talent versus age; Heart versus wisdom; Perhaps, it was indeed the battle of two total different sides for these teams. Memphis is in the Western conference semifinals for the first time in their franchise history. And they did it on a much convincing fashion, defeating two of the title-contender teams in their playoff bracket by the names of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On the other hand, San Antonio had won in the West finale for already 4 times in its 8 tries for the past 15 years, considering their only losses were at the expense of the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers, and last year, to the Thunder. And take note of this. Since winning their set on the West championship, they managed to take home that NBA Championship trophy for… well, 4 times too.

But the problem for the Alamo’s crew is they are already aging. Yeah, most of their players are already old compare to their colleagues, especially the triumvirate of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Some went by and gone onto their team. But their winning ways still prevails despite having older age, which is barely a good sign for the veteran Spurs.

But you just can’t underestimate the hunger behind Grizzlies’ mouth. Zach Randolph was definitely a big help on this team. He maybe a veteran just like Tim Duncan, but it’s not bad. They definitely need someone like him to guide them all the way during huge games like this. Also, the athletic-and-defensive wingman Tayshaun Prince is back, whom was part of the Pistons’ squad that San Antonio faced during the 2005 finals, perhaps another guy to help the young team. No OJ Mayo or Rudy Gay? No problem, they may even eat their hearts out as the Grizzlies even managed to advance to the West finals for the first time.

However, I am more seeing the experience team winning the most here. The verdict: Spurs in 6 games.

Well, it’s getting an inch closer. We’ll see who will make it to the world battle for the NBA Championship for this year. The road for the Western Conference is already wide open since Thunder’s downfall. Will they take advantage over it? Or will Miami make a repeat, unless the Pacers managed to pull an upset of their own?

We’ll never know unless we stay tuned to them.

Author: slickmaster | © 2013 september twenty-eight productions