BleacherCoaches.com

EASTERN
Boston Celtics Vs. Orlando Magic

Perkins C Howard
Garnett PF Lewis
Pierce SF Barnes
Allen SG Carter
Rondo PG Nelson
BENCH
Big Baby Pietrus
Sheed Williams
Tony Allen Reddick

Doc Rivers Stan Van Gundy

The Magic have had no trouble whatsoever with their first 2 playoff rounds. 8-0. They have a distinct inside advantage with Howard over Perkins. Dwight can dominate a game easily. Perkins played well though and is a solid player for Boston though. The other matchups seem pretty intriguing. Especially Nelson vs. Rondo. Both havent seen a PG as good as each other yet this playoffs. Rondo is the mix that stirs the drink for the Celtics. He is the best player wearing green and white. Sorry Big 3but the young gun has taken over. The Magic will finally get tested. To me this is an even series. Orlando made the finals last year, while Boston did it 2 years ago. Rivers and Van Gundy are both good coaches. Nice mix of veterans, younger players, role players and stars. Each team can bring it. And although Orlando won the season series 3-1, I think Boston has been playing better ball. This is a good good matchup.

Give me Orlando in 7. I love Rondo, I am on the Band wagon, but Nelson is a pretty good guard himself that can hold his own. Howard can and will be the dominant force this series.


WESTERN
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Collins C Bynum
Stoudemire PF Gasol
Hill SF Artest
Richardson SG Bryant
Nash PG Fisher

Frye Odom
Barbosa Brown
Dudley Farmar
Dragic

The Defending Champs struggled a bit with the Thunder in the first round, but easily eliminated Utah. The Lakers are just so hard to defend because they start 2 7 footers that can score the ball. They won last year for a reason. And of course the got the man himself, Kobe Bryant. ESPN and TNT was all over him saying he has lost a step. Guess what he's in this position and he still making fade aways with 3 guys in his face. He's still the best. Artest can take away your best defender and Fisher is just a consistent veteran Point Guard. Odom is a great weapon off the bench. The Suns are still going to run and gun, Nash is an incredible Guard all around, theres a reason he is a two time MVP. He plays less and less minutes but still completely controls the game when he's in there. Stoudemire is an explosive post player, he is going to finish inside and i don't think will be bothered with the twin towers of LA. The key for Phoenix is to find that third go to guy to help out the stars.Richardson has been doing it sometimes, he needs to do it all series. And the Suns need the 3's to rain from Frye,Barbosa, and Dudley off the bench.

I like the Suns, I want Nash to get a title. But LA is too good. I'll take LA in 6

So looks like im picking a rematch for the Finals

I agree with the picks. I like the Lakers in 5 rather than 6 and I like the Magic in 5 also. I think there will be a tendancy to overrate the Celtics after they beat the Caveliers, but LeBron was not himself for those last two games. I think the ability of the Magic to hit threes will be key. Paul Pierce is great at drawing fouls and Dwight Howard is not great at avoiding them. However, the Magic are such a tough matchup at both ends that I cannot see an aging Celtics team beating them.

The Lakers should dominate the Phoenix series. With the Lakers, it is all about motivation. When they play well, they are unbeatable. When they take nights off, they can be beaten by anyone. They have too many players who do not show up every night (Lamar Odom is the biggest culprit here). However, they are loaded and should roll through these playoffs. This is the strongest Lakers team in years and they should repeat. Think, if Bynum and Ariza hadn't had injuries two years ago, the Lakers could be going for a three-peat.