NBA WIZARD 2011-2012 NBA PLAYOFF (CONFERENCE FINALS PREDICTION)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(2) MIAMI HEAT  (48-18)  VS.  (4) BOSTON CELTICS  (39-27)
The Boston Celtics will definitely pose a threat to the Miami Heat and this is not going to be an easy series, but I still expect the Heat to advance to the Finals.  Bosh pretty much missed the entire series against the Pacers and will probably be out the first two games of this series, but I expect him to rejoin the team by game 3 in Boston.  The good news is, the Heat have been a much better defensive team without Bosh and his absence has created more touches for Lebron and Wade and they did not disappoint in the last series.  I expect them to continue their onslaught, especially because Boston really doesn't have the post presence to stop them.  The key for the Heat will be whether Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller and Shane Battier can make open shots.  Chalmers in particuler will have to average over 12ppg and shoots over 50 percent from the field, this series will be over in 5, if he struggles, it could easily go 6 games.

The Celtics will need Ray Allen and Rondo to combine for over 30ppg and 15 or more assist for the Celtics to have any chance of winning this series.  Pierce and Garnett will also have to combine for 40ppg and 15 or more rebounds.  If that happens, the Celtics could upset Heat, but that's simply not going to happen.


Heat in  6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) SAN ANTONIO SPURS  (50-16)  VS.  (2) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER  (47-19)
I always felt that the Thunder would run into problems if they were ever to face the Spurs, and now the inevitable matchup between the two best teams in the West has come to fruition.  The Spurs have a solid inside game with Duncan leading the way.  They are also an excellent 3-point shooting team and with Manu and Parker, possess two of the game's best drivers in the paint.  To cap it all off, they are still an excellent defensive team and are led by coach Popovich, the winner of this year's NBA Coach of the Year Award.

The Thunder simply have too much to overcome.  For starters, Durant, Westbrook and Harden will have to average over 70 point per game for the Thunder to have any chance of winning this series.  Two , Perkins and Ibaka will have outplay the Spurs bigs led by Duncan, which will also be a tall, if not impossible order.  In terms of in-game adjustments, there is no one better than coach Popovich, which will ultimately be the deciding factor, because I expect him to out-coach the Thunder's Scott Brooks.

Spurs in 6

NBA WIZARD 2011-2012 NBA PLAYOFFS (SEMI FINALS PREDICTIONS)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(2) MIAMI HEAT  (48-18)  VS.  (3) INDIANA PACERS  (42-24)
I expect this series to go 6 games, with the Miami Heat defeating the Pacers in Indiana in game 6.  The Pacers do have a size advantage inside with David West and Roy Hibbert, but the two players only average a combined 25.6ppg and 15.4rpg during the regular season.  I believe Miami will overcome this if Wade and Lebron average 60ppg in this series, which I believe they will.  In order for the Pacers to win this series, Danny Granger and Paul George will have to average a combined 40ppg in this series, but this will be highly unlikely with Lebron and Wade guarding both players.

Heat in 6

(4) BOSTON CELTICS  (39-27)  VS.  (8) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS  (35-31)
Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are in the final year of their contract, so one can expect this to be the Celtics last run with their current collection of aging stars.  This is predominantly the reason why I'm picking the Celtics to win this series and to seriously challenge the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Kevin Garnett seems to have turn back the clock and along with Rondo, will not allow the Celtics to lose more than 2 games, even with Paul Pierce ailing and not being a 100 percent.  I expect this series to go 5 maybe 6 games, but the Celtics are known to have letdowns at times, which is why I'm picking this series to also go 6 games.  The Sixers only chance of winning this series is to score over 100 points in 4 games each, because if they do, they will probably beat the Celtics every time.  If the Celtics allow the Sixers to score over a 100 points in a game, that would mean that their defense was inadequate for the night, and they win by defense not offense.

Celtics in  6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) SAN ANTONIO SPURS  (50-16)  VS.  (5) LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS  (40-26)
The Spurs are on an absolute roll and look unbeatable, and I don't expect the Clippers to slow them down.  The only way the Clippers can win this series is if CP3 and Blake Griffin combine to average 55 or more points per game, which will not happen.  This series will convince Griffin to work on his biggest weakness - his inconsistent jump shot - because that is the only shot the Spurs are going to allow him to get.  I don't expect to see lob-cities or CP3 being left open on pick-and-roll plays, which is why I expect this series to go 5 games.  I expect the Spurs to win the first two in San Antonio, steal one game in L.A and to eventually end the series in game 5 when they return home.

Spurs in  5

(2) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER  (47-19)  VS.  (3) LOS ANGELES LAKERS
OKC like the Spurs are on a mission and the Lakers just happens to be an obstacle in their way.  The Lakers have no answer for Russell Westbrook, which is the key reason they will lose this series.  You add that to Paul Gasol's inconsistent play and you'll have to agree unless you're a Lakers fans, that L.A. have no chance of winning this series.  Well, they probably could if their three stars play out of their minds.  If Kobe, Gasol and Bynum combine to average over 65ppg and 25 or more rebounds while making over 50 percent of their shots, then the Lakers can extend this series and possibly win it in 7 games.  Obviously I do not expect the Lakers trio to average 65-25 on 50 percent shooting, which is why I'm picking this series to go 5 or 6 games.  Realistically, I expect the Thunder to end the series in L.A. in game 6.

Thunder in  6