Western Conference Final match-up

And then there were two……..That is two in the Western Conference. A loaded Western Conference has now been narrowed down to its final two teams. The Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors, play a similar style of game, but who will come out number one.

Golden State is the clear favorite to win this series but they’re some questions that need to be answered about this team. The Warriors leaders “the splash brothers” have proven in the playoffs they can’t be productive if their defender is physical. Their shooting capabilities disappear and they become frustrated. Last time these teams met this observation held true. Steph Curry picked up an early technical foul and was on the verge of receiving a second technical foul after physical play by Patrick Beverly and Trevor Ariza. The Golden State Warriors in order to win this series must keep their composer and stick to what got them this far in the play offs. This starts with their leaders Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Steph Curry can’t be the player, pouting on the bench after going down 2-1 to the Grizzlies.

The Rockets on the flip side have turned a corner. The Rockets haven’t won the title yet but this team is coming into this series with a different mindset. The last time these teams met starting rockets point guard, Patrick Beverly, was a huge defensive road hump for Steph Curry. With Beverly out of the line up, the Rockets have the daunting task of defending Steph Curry, which creates a major problem for the Rockets. Steph Curry can make something out of nothing. Whether it is a play or launching a shot up before a 24 second violation, he is the engine to the Golden State Warriors. You stop him you stop the entire flow of the Warriors.

These teams do a lot of penetrating and dishing it out to the open man on the permeiter. The two guys responsible for this is James Harden and Steph Curry. Which ever team can limit this style of play has the edge. The additional oberservation of the Rockets offence was shown in the Clippers Rockets series. The Rockets ability to pound the ball inside when their shoots from the permierter aren’t falling. This will pose a threat to the warriors because of their size advantage. The Rockets have the size advantage at every position. Their ability to exploit that will be essential in this series.

Both teams have sharp three point shooters on the floor at all times so this match-up will come down to the battle on the glass. While three point shooting allows the rebounds to be long, both teams will have to battle it out on the boards.  I think the Rockets will lose game one but they will make adjustments to start game two. The Warriors will pull it out in 7 games.  

Although I picked the warriors to win this series I would not be shocked if the Rockets pull the upset.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS MATCH-UP SET

The Eastern Conference final is set. While some fans might be disappointed to see LeBron James in his fifth straight Eastern Conference, finals his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, is the clear favorite to come out of the East.  The Atlanta Hawks will be their opponent in the Eastern Conference finals beginning Wednesday.

There are key factors for both of teams in this series. The Cleveland Cavaliers have to spread the floor defensively to stop the high-powered offense of the Hawks. On the offensive end they must continue to make plays whether it be attacking the paint or penetrating to find the open man. The Hawks key factor is to slow down the Cavaliers and force them to turn the ball over.  Transition offense combined with their ability to shoot will be essential in this series. This will move defenders away from the basket leading to easy trips to the rim.

During the regular season these two teams were the top two teams in the Eastern Conference for a reason. Two of the top 10 offensive teams in the league, this series will come down to, who can defend at a high level?  The Cavaliers have the capability, but so do the Hawks. Despite their similar capabilities I believe the Cavaliers can do it for four games to win the series. We often see the player LeBron James without acknowledging the leader LeBron James.  The way he has rallied and lead his inexperienced injured team this post season is something that can’t be measured. The Hawks struggled from beyond the arc against the Wizards and I believe will struggle once again against the defense of the Cavaliers.

The main point is the Hawks don't have the star power to beat the Cavaliers. Team basketball is the name of the game. A true super star and leader will be what it takes to make it to the finals and the Hawks don’t have that. I believe the Cavaliers will win in 6 or less games.