...The "Bakit Sila" Mentality: Keeping a Third World Country Where It Is...

We hate our government.

The Philippines I grew up to, the "free" Philippines not anymore limited by the dictatorial rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos, has always been plagued by corruption. As far as we're concerned, the word "government" is so synonymous with "corruption" that no one would be surprised if they were seen in each other's entry in the thesaurus.

I have been vocal of my support for President Noynoy Aquino during his presidential campaign. After enduring 10 years of crap from the previous administration, everyone wanted positive change. We each had our views, and ultimately, the yellow campaign won. Looking at the state of the government now, it seems as if nothing has actually changed much. Corrupt and/or unqualified politicians are still voted into power and we still loathe the government because of how much tax they deduct from our salaries, only to give back so little.

Despite how loud we shout for change, though, we seem to just let tradition drag us down, then blame it all on the government. Despite our clamor for change, we continue to cultivate our traditions. It shows on the political families that dominate the local scene. And it shows on our everyday lives.

The "Bakit Sila" Mentality 

We Filipinos are creatures of imitation. From movies inspired by Western media to fashion inspired by our neighboring countries. This same drive to imitate is that which keeps us from being a developed country, but it may also serve as an inspiration to finally start change within ourselves. Let me cite some negative examples of this mentality:

On Mall/Train Lines - It's usually chaotic, going to a mall during rush hour, or lining up to get to a train station in the morning. Lines are crazy and people continually bump you to be able to get in first. People with baggage line up at the "express/no bag" lane and guards still check them and let them in. Those who see this do the same, thinking "bakit sila, pumila dun?" and do the same thing. 

On Traffic Rules - Traffic lights. Traffic signs. They're there to be followed, not merely suggest. If it says "yellow" you should slow down, "red" to stop, a sign that crosses out an inverted "U" means you can't make a u-turn on that street. Basic rules and regulations people need to know before being able to acquire a license. Yet because of people who break these rules, those who wonder "eh bakit sila, pwedeng gawin yun?" follow suit, resulting to more chaos on the roads.

Cultivating Corruption - A respected friend of mine was known to be a man of principle back in his college days. Eventually, he got a position in the government and enjoyed the perks it brought. I remember him telling me that its either you let the system eat you up, or fail in that field. The government has become a "survival of the fittest" kind of game, and newbies entering it would have that "bakit sila, ganun kumita?" line of thought, and eventually learn to play the same game the older TraPos play. 

Discipline and Change

I think genuine change still lies within ourselves. Refraining from the negative "bakit sila" mentality and turning it into a positive thought. We envy the roads of Singapore and resign to thinking that its not possible to emulate here, however, we can see traces of it in Subic. How come we can do it in Subic, but can't do it in freakin Quezon City? We shouldn't keep thinking and acting on "bakit sila, pwedeng mag-counterflow" when we should be thinking and acting on "bakit sila, maayos ang disiplina sa kalsada?". 

I do not wish to defend the government, I'm as disappointed as most Filipinos are. While it is easy to blame everything on the government, no change will come to us if we don't trust in it. So, why would we wait for positive changes in a government we can't learn to trust, when we can start change within ourselves by doing ordinary things guided by discipline and not by what others do? Rules are meant to be followed in order to avoid chaos. While breaking some of it allows temporary relief for us, it does not help our cause in aspiring to be a better country to live in.

So I say, stop ranting and start doing. If politicians can't make our country better, why can't we? 

...Afternoon Pakialaman: Spot the Not!...

Sa nuknukan ng pagkabato ko, nagbabasa ako ng mga comments sa websites at fanpages. Ang napala ko ay sakit ng ulo dahil sa maling paggamit ng mga salita. At upang ipamahagi bahagya ang sakit ng ulo ko, idadamay na lang kita.

Nais ko sanang gawing parang pagsusulit ang blog na ito at pahulaan kung ano ang mali, pero habang umuusok ang ilong ko kakaisip at hindi pagsasalita laban sa mga pagkakamaling nakita ko, naisip kong gawin na lang silang katatawanan. Dahil UAAP ang usapan, naniniwala akong tapos na o kasalukuyang nasa kolehiyo pa ang mga naguusap. At punyetang mga pagkakamali yan. Subukan nyo na lang i-tama ang mga pinakialaman kong mga hirit. 

Isang mensahe sa mga tao: wag nang piliting mag-Ingles para magmukhang aral dahil mas nagmumukha ka lang tanga kung di ka talaga marunong.

1. "It seems to me that they lost their esteem when UST started firing back to back to back 3's." 

- Ang daming back! At esteem talaga yung nawala? Lakas pala ng 3 pointers. Kakanood mo ng TV di mo iniintindi. Di porke't pareho ng tunog eh yun din yun.

2. "They are just proving na worth it sila sa final 4 this year"

- Worth what? Ano yung "it"? 

3. "Mga looser kasi kayo." 

- Ano, taga-pagpaluwag? Ito siguro ang salin sa Ingles ng mga kasali sa Paluwagan. (weh!)

4. "This is just an opinion and my insights regarding on how Falcons play."

- Teka, opinion, naging insights, pero is? Ano ba talaga gusto mo palabasin? 

5. "Bawat team gusto makuha ang championship ng walang hustle parang kayo..." 

- Defense wins championships. Not hustle. So may point naman siya. Hassle nga lang basahin comment nya. 

...Panginigalam ng Pakialamero: Oo, Pinoy Ako!...

May mga bagay na gustuhin man natin o hindi, tila naka-imprint na sa pagkatao natin. Marahil dala ng pagpapalaki sa tin, marahil sa kapaligirang nakagisnan natin, marahil sa mga kaibigang nakakasama natin parati. Pero may mga bagay na magkaiba man ang mga pangyayari sa buhay natin, ay mei pagkapare-pareho pa rin sa tin sa kadahilanan lamang na Pilipino tayo. 

Ito ang ilan sa mga bagay na napansin kong hindi nawawala sa ating mga Pilipino saan man sa mundo, kahit paano pa pinalaki ng magulang. Mga bagay na pinakikialaman ko habang pinapanood ang mga tao sa paligid.

"Kain tayo"

Likas sa atin ang isali ang mga tao sa paligid sa kung ano ang ginagawa natin. Ilang beses na rin ako naaya ng mga taong kumakain para saluhan sila. Napadaan ka habang kumakain sila, bigla kang aayain nang "kain tayo!" na kala mo naman buffet yung nasa harap nila. Madalas, baon naman o sariling order ng pagkain ang meron ang meron sa harap nila.

Alam kong nagmamagandang loob lang, at nagpapaka-Pilipino lamang sila. Pero minsan ko na rin naisip na mang-trip lang at makikain talaga. Makihati nga ako sa kinakain nila.

"Malapit na ko"

Dito sa Pilipinas ang ibig sabihin dapat ng "malapit" ay maaaring abot-kamay, dalawang tumbling, o ilang kandirit na lang. Pero madalas, ang katagang "malapit na ko" ay ginagamit lamang para manlinlang ng tao upang di masyadong mainip sa kakaantay.

Meron kasing tinatawag na "Filipino Time" o ang oras na tayong mga Pilipino lang ang nakakaintindi. Basta sigurado, ang oras na ito ay hindi eksakto sa tinakdang oras. Sa mga hindi pa nakakakintindi nito, o kung negatibo ang dating ng katagang "Filipino Time", mas mainam nga namang sabihing "malapit na ako". 

"Basta libre, pwede!"

Nakapagtataka na para sa isang mahirap na bansa, sobrang daming mamamayan ang bukas-loob na gagastos, lalo na pag may sale. At pag may libre, asahan mong dudumugin yan kahit ano pa man yan.

Likas sa ating mga Pilipino ang maghanap ng "free taste" sa mga grocery, o di kaya'y mga sale sa kung saan saan, na tila isang beses lang mangyayari sa buhay ng tao ang sale na yun. Kaya nga lumalakas ngayon ang mga website na nagbibigay ng mga sale, tulad ng DealGrocer at Ensogo.

"Ikaw ang boss ko"

Kilala ang katagang binitawan ni P-Noy noong unang SONA nya. Tayong mga mamamayan daw ang boss nya. Parang bago sa mga pandinig natin, pero di ba totoo naman para sa karamihan ng mga Pilipino? 

Kakain ka sa restaurant, ang tawag mo sa waiter, "boss". Magbabayad ka sa jeep, ang sasabihin mo eh "boss, bayad po". Tatanong sa sikyo ng direksyon, "boss, san po ba dito yung.."

Meron ba tayong inferiority complex na tila lahat na lang ng tao sa paligid eh "boss" natin?=P 

Ang Walang Lamang "Kamusta"

Ano ba ang salitang Pilipino sa Ingles na "Hi"? Tila "kamusta?" ang nagiging katumbas nito. Nakakatawa lang minsan kasi, wala ka naman talagang interes na kamustahin ang tao, gusto mo lang siyang batiin. Pero dahil Pilipino ka, nasasabi mo na lang bigla ang "kamusta?"

Madalas, ang unang nasasagot ng nasabihan nito ay "ito.." na tila hinahayaan ang kausap na husgahan na kung anong tingin nya sa kalagayaan ng taong kinumusta. Walang tama o maling sagot. "Hi" lang ang gustong sabihin, simpleng ngiti, onting kaway, posibleng beso, pero wala lang naman; gusto lang nyang ipaalam sa iyo na kilala ka pa rin nya. 

Pero minsan, parang trip kong kwentuhan ng buhay ko yung biglang magsabi nyan. Yung tipong, makasalubong ko sa mall habang nagmamadali siya, tapos kakamayan ko pag sinabi nyang "kamusta?" sabay kwento ng mala-teleseryeng kwento ng buhay ko nung mga nakalipas na araw. Tingnan ko lang kung di siya matutong mag-"hi" na lang sa susunod.

Kamustahan ng Obvious

Eto naman ang karugtong ng tanong na "kamusta?". Natural lang sa atin ang mangamusta sa ating mga kaibigang matagal na nating hindi nakikita. Ngunit hinding hindi naman mawawala sa kamustahan ang unang bati: "tumataba ka na ah!" Pag mga bata naman ang pinag-uusapan, ang unang nasasabi ay "ang laki laki mo na!" susundan pa ng "parang kelan lang, karga karga lang kita, ngayon.." 

Tila ata may hilig tayong mga Pilipino na pansinin ang mga bagay na kapansin pansin naman, o di kaya'y obvious na. Siyempre lalaki na lang yung bata, sa alanganamang lumiit pa yan? Eh kung patpatin yung tao nung huli mong nakita, sa alanganamang pumayat pa lalo yan sa susunod ninyong pagkikita? Pucha yung mataba nga minsan nasasabihan pang "tumataba ka ah!" dahil lang sa habit ng pagbati ng pagtaba ng tao eh.

Suggested Answers:

1. Kaw din!

2. Yumayaman eh. May pang-kain.

3. Tapos na ko lumaki ng pahaba, palapad naman.

*Hindi sinama sa suggested answers ang posibleng sagutin ng bata. Masamang ehemplo ang pinapakita natin kung turuan na silang sumagot sa murang edad.

"Mind your own business"

Ito siguro ang isa sa mga katagang hindi naman talaga pwede sa ting mga Pilipino. Kahapon lang, habang naghihintay magsimula ang misa sa Padre Pio, may nagbubukas ng pintuan at medyo maingay. Ang mga tao naman sa paligid ko, tingin ng tingin sa pintuan na tila tatahimik ang mundo pag nakatingin sila.

Ilang aberya na ba meron sa kalsada ang nakita mo na pinagkaguluhan ng mga "usi" kung tawagin natin? May nagsisigawang mag-asawa, mei magkukumpulang tao. May nasiraan ng kotse, magkukumpulan ang tao. May umiiyak na bata, may magkukumpulang tao. Sa 10 tao na magkukumpulan, 5 lang ang magtatanong, at siguro, 2 lang ang tutulong, pero isa lang marahil ang makatulong talaga. 

Tapos nagtataka ka pa kung bakit kasali sa pambansang balita ang "Chika Minute" at "Showbiz Patrol" na tila nakasalalay ang progreso ng bansa sa susunod na ka-love team ni John Lloyd.

Kung iniisip mo na hindi ka interesado, pwes... Akala mo lang yun.

"Babay na talaga."

Ang pagpapaalam siguro ang pinakamahirap na gawin nating mga Pilipino. Pag nagkikita kita, madalas ay matinding paalamanan muna bago kayo tuluyang magkahiwa-hiwalay. Halimbawa, bumisita ka sa bahay ng kaibigan. Tapos, magpapaalam ka na. Nariyan na ang beso, ang kamayan, ang tawanan, ang "next time ulit", ang pasalamatan, at kung ano ano pa. Nandun pa rin kayo sa pwesto nyo, pero nakatayo na kayo. Pag mei nakapansin, sisimula na ang paglalakad palabas. Siyempre bilang maybahay, ihahatid ka nila palabas. Pagdating sa labas, mei kwentuhan pa rin na pahabol. Tapos pag medyo nakatagal tagal nanaman, mei papansin nanaman nyan, at saka lang tuluyang makakaalis.

Sige, sabihin mo sa kin na mabilis ka lang magbabay. Kita tayo.=P 

==================================================================

Ito'y mga bagay na di ko naman pinipigilan. Dahil di naman kaya, bilang mga Pilipino tayo. Di ko rin naman kinukutya dahil minsan mei mga nagagawa din ako dyan. Pinapansin ko lang at sinusulat. Pakialamero kasi ako.:P

…On Sunday Masses and Religion…

"I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-Mahatma Gandhi

I am a Catholic Christian, though not a “model” example. But I do take to heart the Apostle’s Creed. I do firmly believe in God. In my own way, I believe that I have a strong faith in Him. I was schooled in Christian schools ever since I was a kid. I am thankful that the formative years of my faith were spent within Don Bosco Mandaluyong, because I think they built a strong enough foundation for me to always put Him ahead of everything that I do.

Now that I got that out of the way, let me make my points. I rarely go to Church on Sundays since college. I don’t blame my being a Philosophy major, even though people tend to attribute it to that. Philosophy didn’t teach me to think, but it inspired me to be more critical. And being critical made me sad, as a Catholic Christian, that parishioners have somewhat become mindless drones who go to Church without knowing why they’re really there. The hourly masses at Baclaran on Sundays have become like free-seating movies; people come in anytime, and leave after they reach the same part of the next mass. At another church, some old people who seem like regular church-goers don’t seem to know when to sit and stand without some lector telling them to. Everyone is looking at everyone else feeling out what they would do.

I still go to mass occasionally, but only because it’s family time. I sometimes refuse, because I find it hypocritical for me to go there and not want to be there. I want to hear mass because my heart openly wants to hear the word of the Lord and to be with my family, not because I am dragged to go out of obligation and to have the opinions of men shoved into my system. While it is nice to know that the men who serve the Lord are all keeping up to date with current events, I’m a bit disappointed that they use the Homily to spread their cause. I write not because of my inclination towards the issue, but rather because I feel as if my religion is being alienated by political intentions.

My high school Religion teacher (now a priest), on the issue of EDSA 2, did explain to me why the Church had to be involved. “To protect the morality of the nation from an immoral leader,” was the gist of what I learned from him. Today, the RH Bill and the Divorce bill are prominent topics that are inserted to Homilies I hear. I do not wish to defend any side; both have their pros and cons. But I do want to defend my Church. If I wanted to hear the Church’s view on the matter, I would gladly listen through different avenues (public forums, interviews, debates, etc) than in the House of God.

The Philippines may be the biggest/only Catholic country in Asia, but we have to understand that the constitution separated the Church and the state for a reason. As our population grew, so did the number of religions our country plays host to. Why, then, should the Church be so vocal to the extent of dedicating part of the Sunday Mass to discuss the “perils” of the proposed bills?

I am more inclined to believe that despite such a growing population, our nation is still not prepared for such radical changes. There are still the malleable minds of those parishioners I spoke of above, who will blindly follow what has been “taught” to them during the Homily. And to be fair, there are the media puppets, who dance to the tune of whatever is being thrown at them, blindly defending something they know only “parts” of, and not the whole picture.  

I just want my Church back.

...On Filipino Hospitality...

We, as a nation, are known to be generally hospitable. We accommodate visitors pretty well, we smile at people often, we talk to strangers, and we are just, generally nice. Best example; if you're walking on the road or even the mall, then someone stops to ask for directions, do you not try to help out? We just can't be rude. 

On Invitations and Greetings

We have this "nakakahihiya kasi" mentality that sometimes gets us to a situation we're uncomfortable with. While talking casually with people, we tend to sometimes bring up plans that they're not included, and we usually end up trying to invite them without the intention of really inviting them. For example:

1. "Gusto mo sumama?" - after opening a plan that originally didn't include person you're talking to, but it's with common friends. 

2. "Kain tayo!" - while munching on a burger for yourself, with no extra food on the table.

3. "Kamusta?" - the most generic greeting, and the first you would get from an acquaintance you haven't seen in a while.

These are the most common invitations we get. And just because we can't be rude and decline outrightly, we have these following answers:

Replies to invitations to an invitation or event you won't go to:

1. "Try ko." - They probably won't even try, but the effort has to be shown that you're interested, so as not to be rude. 

2. "Text text!" - You won't get any. They probably wouldn't text you either, anyway. 

3. "Habol ako." - Probably won't. But personally, I usually do.=P

Replies to above-mentioned eating invites:

1. "Sige lang, *add smile*" - Nicest way of saying "nakasubo na kaya lahat ng pagkain nyo para sa inyo"

2. "Ok lang, kakakain ko lang din" - But you haven't. Nakakahiya lang makiupo at maging masiba. 

Replies to "kamustahan":

1. "Eto, ok lang, ikaw?" - Basic conversation killer. You'd probably get the same "ok lang" reply, and conversation ends there. Then person pulls out the "pumapayat/tumataba ka" card.

2. 

On Ending Conversations

"Like"

"Haha"

"Oo nga eh"

...Playoffs 2011: The Second Round...

The playoffs mark the start of separating the boys from the men. But it's relatively easy to determine who the contenders are and who outdid themselves. The second round is where the battle really begins: my predictions now are more based on my faith in the teams rather than an assessment of their first round performance. Sure the first round matters. But, as I said, I will predict based more on emotions, as all the series could go either way.

*I was 2 series off in the first round, relying too much on Spurs' experience (though in analysis, had the Grizz actually capable of an upset), and hating the Celtics too much to hope that Knicks could have a chance against them.

The East

(1) Chicago Bulls vs (5) Atlanta Hawks

How they got here:

Chicago was somewhat pushed to the limit by a nothing-to-lose Indiana Pacers team. They played their hearts out and almost pulled an upset over the top-seeded Bulls. Derrick Rose anchored the Bulls series win with amazing performances in every game. Pacers limited the Chicago bigs, especially Carlos Boozer, who was expected to anchor the Bulls offense inside. As expected, Pacers gave them a fight which they ultimately won. The series did nothing more than solidify Rose's case for MVP.

The Hawks pulled off the expected upset of the slightly-favored Orlando Magic. It may be argued that they won on 2 bad shots, one that went in (Jamaal Crawford's far 3 pointer in the closing moments of Game 4), and one that didn't (Hedo Turkgolu's forced 3-pointer as time expired in Game 5, despite an open, unbelievably hot Gilbert Arenas waiting for the pass). But a win is a win, and they bested one of the favored teams in the East. 

Prediction: Bulls in 7

As mentioned in my first round prediction, I believe that the Hawks are strong as a team. But the playoffs is about match ups. They got through the Orlando series because they match up well against them, and since the offensive playbook of the Magic revolves around Dwight Howard, it was fairly easy for them to advance because they had nice bigs to go against him one on one, making it difficult for the Magic to create other scoring opportunities (the idea behind the Magic offense is to pull everything to a monster force down low, so that the opposing team would double on him, and he'll find the open shooter). Now this is a pretty interesting match up, really.

Against Chicago, the Hawks' biggest piece is Kirk Hinrich. He was the face of the Chicago franchise before Rose came in and was essentially handed the keys to the team. It's not that Captain Kirk wasn't needed in the Bulls lineup anymore; he was a necessary sacrifice to pull off a transition to the Rose era. He's still an able defender, and having played with Rose for a full year last year, would have a pretty good idea how to defend his successor.

The Bulls' supposed advantage down low is the agile big men they have in Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. However, that can easily be offset by moving Al Horford back to the Center position to match up with Noah, and move Josh Smith back to the 4 spot to go up against Boozer.

Despite these match ups, I peg Chicago to win because of two things: Luol Deng and clutch situations. With everybody busy drooling over every play Derrick Rose makes, Deng will do the dirty stuff like clearing the boards and other intangibles like off-ball defense and stuff. Joe Johnson will have to work for his shots because they might slide Deng over to him if another able defender in Keith Bogans is on the bench. As for clutch, Atlanta relies heavily on sheer dumb luck rather than skill. Most of their close games were won because of a lapse on the part of the opposing team or a bad shot that just miraculously fell through. Their best clutch player would be Joe Johnson, and he will be defended well. Chicago has Rose who will create on an isolation, and once he gets that first step on his first defender, it doesn't matter if there were 5 guys who goes up against him.

Prediction goes otherwise if: 

Derrick Rose's ankle injury gets worse. The Bullls go as far as D-Rose takes them, despite the abundance of talent in that lineup. 

*AFTER REVIEW FROM HAWKS.COM: After MRI on his ankle, it was revealed that Kirk Hinrich suffered a significant injury that could keep him out of the Chicago series. This is a huge blow that could drive Chicago to sweep or drop just one game. 

(2)Miami Heat vs (3) Boston Celtics

How they got here:

Miami had a fairly easy time against Philadelphia, but they did not leave that series unchallenged. Philly gave a good fight, but the three superstars responded well to the challenge. It was great for them to lose a game to the over-performing/well-coached Sixers, because it eliminates the illusion of invincibility in the team. They saw what happens when LeBron has the ball in close, end game situations, and when they put the ball in Wade's hands. What they do with what they know is up to them, but will probably dictate the series.

The defending East champs swept the Knicks, but that doesn't mean they didn't get a scare. The series came down to who had more big time players. Rondo played like it was the first half of the season again, and KG came up clutch in Game 2, which was a big blow to the morale of the Knicks. To some extent, they might have had the luck of the draw when Amar'e got injured, but that is no excuse. The C's is a good team that is a legit contender for the NBA Title. I daresay that whoever comes out of this series will win the East, no matter who comes out of the other East series. This is a true test of fire for both teams predicted to be on top of the East during the preseason.

Prediction: Miami in 7

This is a series that could go either way, no matter how Celtics fans insist that this is going to be easy for them. The biggest thing Miami has now that they never had against a favored opponent is home court advantage. This year, they start at home, coming off a win to close out the Philadelphia series. They still have momentum in the building, while the C's have rested a bit. I expect this series to be a home and home series, with no team stealing one on the road. They have genuine hate for each other, with trash thrown each other's ways directly, indirectly, in-game, and off-the court. 

The season series showed how Celtics can dominate the Miami Superfriends, but if it's any indication, Miami won the final encounter between the two teams. Have they figured out how to beat the Celtics? Or was it a lucky break? For certain, the Celtics couldn't have tanked that matchup, since they were both in the running for the top or second spot in the east then, and they would probably choose to lose against the Wizards or something rather than lose to Miami.

This series can't be dissected into match ups, because this is about pride for both teams more than anything else. Well, probably second to LeBron's diva-esque need to "take revenge" on the Celtics for beating him twice as a member of the Cavaliers in the past 3 years. Checking out the match ups though; the Center position is not too much of a factor since Perk was traded away. Essentially, it is the weak spot for the Heat, but Joel Anthony has gone unnoticed throughout the season, but is actually an underrated player. He plays the role that Perk once did for the C's when they had their championship run; with all the attention on the Big Three, Perk was essentially the anchor in the middle that enabled KG to extend his range. For Anthony, he has improved his offensive awareness and has greater confidence now, understanding that he has to contribute in order for his team to win. Early on in the season, he will pump fake or hesitate if he gets the ball inside. Now, he just goes up strong. For the C's, they are still hoping for Shaq to come back to play for them, but they have a plethora of big men to fill up space in the middle. Not as good as Perk, but enough to offset Anthony.

The PF spot is a no contest, with KG dominating that spot. Bosh was never known to be a tenacious defender, but he can most certainly try. They essentially play the same role on offense; stretch the D with range, and mix in some post up moves occasionally. On defense, though, KG could eat Bosh on both ends.

The 3 spot is a marquee match up against the Diva, er.. "King" and The Truth. It's always a joy to watch both players going at it, with Pierce's range and clutch shooting offsetting James' "talent" and athleticism.

The battle at the two spot features two players who can beat the other's team in their own ways; Allen can shoot the lights out on the other team while Wade can dissect the defense to create for himself.

At the point, Rondo's superior ability to orchestrate the Boston offense can be a huge problem for the Heat. They have Mario Chalmers who can try to stop him, but not much anyone else. Mike Bibby and Eddie House are essentially the same players; shooters, but defends like a high school girl. The difference would probably be the confidence that Chalmers carries over from their last win against Philadelphia; he was fed with the ball and was asked to shoot. With guys like LeBron and Wade egging you to shoot, and giving you that much confidence in a closeout game, how can you not trust yourself?

Prediction goes otherwise if: 

The bench players of Boston produce as they're expected to. Clearly, talent-wise, Boston is stacked while Miami is so-so because they spent their cash on bringing in "talents" for their team. They do have Mike Miller and possibly Udonis Haslem, but how much can that match up against a more confident Jeff Green and an energized Glen Davis? 

The West

(4)Oklahoma City Thunder vs (8)Memphis Grizzlies

How they got here: 

Oklahoma got the better of a well-coached team in Denver, crushing Denver's hopes of becoming the second team since the 03/04  (I forgot which) Detroit team that went all the way to the finals despite not having a legit star. But people expected much from OKC since pushing the Lakers to 7 games last season, and Kevin Durant nearly winning the MVP title last year. This year, Westbrook's improvement "dimmed" Durant's chance to challenge for the MVP title. They combined masterfully to conquer the scrappy Denver team, and despite the 4-1 series win, they didn't go through it unchallenged. 

As mentioned in my West prediction blog, the Grizz are a dangerous team more than capable of pulling off an upset over the Spurs. I did not think that they'd do it this year, but Manu Ginobili playing hurt throughout the series may have affected the play of the Spurs, not to mention the ever-efficient Tim Duncan getting dominated by Zach Randolph. Tony Allen has been huge for the Grizz, more for his intangibles than anything; championship experience, defense, energy, and pure love for the game and constant desire to improve. Marc Gasol has been big for the Grizz in the series, literally and figuratively. He has been the better Gasol in the postseason so far. 

Prediction: Oklahoma in 6

The Thunder was a Pau Gasol tip in away from preventing the Lakers from a 3-peat. This year, they have a dramatically improved team; Westbrook has been phenomenal, and Kendrick Perkins has changed their defensive make-up, allowing Serge I-blocka to slide down to the 4 to provide outstanding interior defense that they didn't have last year. As I mentioned, the post season is all about match ups, and this one just doesn't happen to favor the Grizz too much, especially considering their first round performance. 

The Grizz relied heavily on their leader, Zach Randolph throughout the season and against the Spurs. Marc Gasol performed excellent as well against the San Antonio bigs. The difference now is that they have Perkins and Ibaka manning the middle for the Thunder, rendering Gasol's post up moves, and pretty much every Grizzly drive to the hole, a low-percentage shot. On offense, Z-bo can probably stretch Ibaka out to the perimeter, but can't do the same for Perk. Z-bo and Gasol are going to be beaten up with Ibaka and Perk pounding their chests in the middle. 

The Grizz have two defensive specialists in their lineup as well; Tony Allen and Shane Battier to cover Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook's offense, which is good news. The bad news for them; the Thunder still has James Harden, who will be left unguarded in their offense should Allen slide down to defend Westbrook. Mike Conley is an able playmaker, but won't do much for defense, either on Westbrook or on Harden.

I maintain that Z-bo's 3 pointer in game 3 in the closing minutes of the game was the difference in the San Antonio series. It generally destroyed the morale of the team in that game, and the negative psyche of being down 3-1 didn't help the young core of players I expected to help the Spurs in this series. Had Z-bo missed that shot, this series would've easily gone 2-2, with the Spurs closing out at home in 7. That said, the Thunder have two closers/clutch players in Westbrook and Durant, while the Grizz will be a bit predictable; turning to Z-bo in the clutch. 

Prediction goes otherwise if: 

Harden fails to show up for the Thunder. With Westbrook and Durant clearly being marked men, the Thunder will have to rely on other players to pick up the slack and give Memphis all that it could handle. 

(2)Los Angeles Lakers vs (3) Dallas Mavericks

How they got here: 

The defending champs met a bit of a roadblock in New Orleans, when the latter stunned them at home in game 1 of their series, which was expected to be swept by the Lakers after the Hornets' leading scorer, David West, went down at the end of the season. Chris Paul was sensational in the series, and it took a Kobe Bryant dunk to wake the boys in Purple and Gold. They Lakers eventually took care of business, but not without showing chinks in their armor.

The Mavericks have always been criticized for their defense, and as I recognized (won't so much as claim that I had the original idea, since I did read from several authors), their team make up changed when they picked up Tyson Chandler in the offseason. The series could have easily gone either way, but ultimately, the Mavs prevailed thanks to the ever-reliable Diggler. It's not the lack of talent that doomed the Blazers, nor is it the lack of will (see Brandon Roy's performance in game 4). I daresay that it is the dramatic improvement of the Mavericks, finally claiming to have a "D" in Dallas. 

Prediction: Lakers in 6

Despite the improved team, the Mavericks won't be able to overcome the Lakers. I honestly want to give the Mavs their home wins, but I think, with the swagger that the Lakers are carrying now, they would make a statement and close out on game 6 in Dallas. The Mavs are too hyped up and too good to be swept in this round. And yes, I would bet on that.

The Lakers have Matt Barnes back and Ron Artest flexing his muscles again, not to mention Steve Blake back to provide stability in the back court. This cast of supporting players can shut down a wide array of Dallas weapons, from the starting lineup to the bench. And we haven't talked about the huge Laker frontcourt in Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom.

The huge advantage Dallas had over the Blazers was clutch play. Brandon Roy wasn't the same player he was before he got injured. Now, Dirk's clutch play will be offset by arguably the best closer in the game; the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant.

Shawn Marion has been pretty much the most consistent player in the Mavs lineup since the start of the season, but he's not the same Matrix as he was some years back in Phoenix. He can still defend and give the intangibles on the court, but with the stack of talent in LA, you can't just stop Kobe and expect the whole team to collapse. 

Pau Gasol has been criticized throughout their series with the Hornets, considering he didn't have to defend a David West. However, he didn't dominate the paint as he was expected to, prompting critics to burn Pau by saying the better Gasol is in Memphis right now. If Marion can successfully defend Kobe, Gasol's effectiveness will play a huge part in the Lakers' success. 

Prediction goes otherwise if:

Kobe Bryant's ankle injury is legit. It's one thing to miss Kobe for a few minutes, but it's another to miss him all throughout. Other than that, there aren't too many scenarios where Lakers will lose this round. It's not to underestimate the Mavs, I understand how good a team they are, but the Lakers are just too much for the Mavs to handle. The season-ending injury to Caron Butler may have doomed their chances for a deep playoff run even before the playoffs began. 

====================================================================

I'm going for games going 6-7 games deep not to play safe, but more because these games are just too close to call (except the Bulls series if Hinrich is out of commission). These are the best of the NBA, and it would be interesting to see the winners of the Miami-Boston series and the Dallas-LA series, as they would come out better teams after being tested by such quality teams. 

...The Playoffs 2011: The West...

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (8) Memphis Grizzlies

Roster: 
SAN ANTONIO                                                     MEMPHIS

G Tony Parker                                                  PG Mike Conley
G Manu Ginobili                                                SG Xavier Henry
F Richard Jefferson                                            SF Sam Young
PF Tim Duncan                                                  PF Zach Randolph
C Antonio McDyess                                           C  Marc Gasol

The Bench 

G Gary Neal                                                      G O.J. Mayo
G George Hill                                                    G Greivis Vasquez
F/C Matt Bonner                                               F Darell Arthur
F/C DaJuan Blair                                               F Shane Battier 
C Tiago Splitter                                                 F Leon Powe
F Steve Novak                                                 G Ish Smith
G Chris Quinn                                               G/F Tony Allen
G/F Danny Green                                             C Hamed Haddadi
G James Anderson                                           G Jason Williams
F Da’Sean Butler                                         

Key Players: Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph

Watch out for: Youth vs Experience

Season series: Series split 2-2

How the roster stacks up:

The Spurs is probably only second to The Celtics of last year when it comes to being counted out early in the playoffs despite having a stacked lineup. The Celtics proved naysayers wrong last season, and the Spurs surprised many this season. Who would have thought that they could still post the best record in the NBA despite an “aging” lineup? Much credit must be given to the commitment that Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker gave to the Spurs organization, by choosing not to play in international tournaments last summer. Tim Duncan isn’t posting MVP numbers, but has been as reliable as ever. Gary Neal is a rookie by contract, but plays as well as any veteran. George Hill has earned the respect of Greg Poppovic, and is looking like the future of the Spurs. Tiago Splitter is a big guy they want to build around on, and he has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season (when healthy). DaJuan Blair makes a triumvirate of young stars the spurs can build on, with Hill and Splitter. Their frontcourt is stacked with other options, with Antonio McDyess and Matt Bonner providing different looks for their team at the 5. Steve Novak is a solid contributing player, and will know how to pick his spots.

For the first time in a long while, the Grizzlies have come back to the postseason. Sure, they haven’t won any games during the playoffs, but don’t tell that to these guys. They are more than capable of pulling off an upset over the well-seasoned Spurs. Zach Randolph has had a solid season for the team, and a surprising leader, considering his issues in the past. Marc Gasol has been good enough to at least show Pop that the swap for him and brother Pau wasn’t as lopsided as he thought. The Grizz has a stacked backcourt, with Mike Conley, Xavier Henry, Tony Allen, Greivis Vasquez and Ish Smith. Their wing players are also not that bad, with Shane Battier and Sam Young giving them a couple of dimensions at that spot. The frontcourt is deep, with Leon Powe, Darrell Arthur and even Hamed Haddadi being able to spell for their starters. And no, I did not forget about O.J. Mayo; he gets a special mention because he hasn’t been contributing as much as expected this season. Not his choice, really, but rather because he hasn’t won the favor of Coach Lionel Hollins. There have been attitude issues here and there, but if the Grizz can win these much games without much help from Mayo, imagine how good this team could be if Mayo can get his rookie form back.

Prediction: Spurs win, 4-2

The Memphis Grizzlies are due for a win in the playoffs, and they’d probably win a couple of games at home, but this probably isn’t the year that they’d advance. Not taking away anything from the Grizz, as I said, they are a dangerous team capable of pulling off an upset. But the Spurs, much like the Celtics of last year, are made for the playoffs. There was a year when they looked vulnerable and got edged by the Mavericks, but this is a different Spurs team with a different identity. When before they were anchored on an aging and battered core of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker, right now, they have their future intertwining with their glory-days lineup; Ginobili and Parker playing way beyond expectations this year and Duncan playing his usual consistent self have the core of George Hill, DaJuan Blair, and Tiago Splitter ready and able to already fill the Spurs 3’s shoes, but not just yet. The Grizz, while solid, will have a successful season this year having made the playoffs, but they just have to wait for their turn at advancing to the next round.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs (7) New Orleans Hornets

Roster:

      LOS ANGELES                                           NEW ORLEANS

PG Derek Fisher                                              PG Chris Paul
SG Kobe Bryant                                              SG Marco Bellineli
SF Ron Artest                                                 SF Trevor Ariza
PF Lamar Odom                                             PF Carl Landry
C Pau Gasol                                                     C Emeka Okafor

The Bench

F Luke Walton                                                 C Aaron Gray
G Shannon Brown                                            G Willie Green
C Joe Smith                                                     G Quincy Pondexter
G Steve Blake                                              F/C Jason Smith
F Matt Barnes                                                 G Jarret Jack
F Derrick Caracter                                          C D.J. Mbenga
C Theo Ratliff                                                  F Patrick Ewing, Jr.

Key Players:  Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul

Watch out for: Shannon Brown, Jarret Jack

Season series: Los Angeles won, 4-0

How the roster stacks up:

The Lakers are eyeing another 3-peat with the their slightly intact roster from when they won last year. They only got stronger with the offseason addition of Matt Barnes, but he’s been hampered by injury throughout the season. Steve Blake was acquired to hit big shots and provide veteran presence in the backcourt. Joe Smith and Theo Ratliff are somewhat of an upgrade from DJ Mbenga. Their frontcourt depth was put to the test when Andrew Bynum got hurt, but it doesn’t necessarily cripple their team. Lamar Odom can fill in nicely for Bynum at the starting lineup, but Pau Gasol has to slide to the 5, which isn’t his preferred position. The frontcourt of Gasol, Odom, and Ron Artest should still create matchup problems, but it’s not as intimidating as Gasol and Bynum down low. Their bench, usually sparked by Odom, will not lose too much energy and spark, with Shannon Brown effectively bringing it. Luke Walton has been a dependable player since his rookie season, and knows his role in the team.

Funny how when Chris Paul got injured last season, the Hornets didn’t lose much in the point guard spot, with rookies Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison effectively filling up Paul’s void. One summer of uncertainty later, the new management decide to trade away Collison to Indiana, in a move seen as a vote of confidence for Paul, to assure him that this is still HIS team. Then at the trade deadline, they decide to trade away the equally effective Thornton for Carl Landry. While that last move essentially traded away the two most important sparks of the Hornets last season, it became a somewhat important move for them when all-star David West hurt himself. With Landry coming off the bench, they had that much talent in their frontcourt, with an improved Jason Smith and a young Aaron Gray. But with West hurt, the frontcourt looked that much thinner. If the young journeyman Patrick Ewing Jr. can show glimpses of his father’s game, then maybe their frontcourt can compete. They are also vulnerable at the wing spot, with Ariza being the only true wing player they have. Quincy Pondexter showed he can perform when given the chance, and Jarret Jack has always been a reliable player. Marco Bellineli was finally given minutes, and his game made it that much easier for the Hornets to stop waiting on Peja Stojakovic to get healthy.

Prediction: Lakers sweep

No matter how hard the Hornets play to win, they effectively lost any hope of advancing past the first round when David West got hurt. They can fill out the void with Carl Landry, but not only does West bring with him 10 points more than Landry’s output, he also deprives them of the clutch performances and leadership that he brings to the team. They can probably give the Lakers a scare, but talent-wise, they are going to get eaten alive by the Lakers. With all the negative flak Kobe and the rest of the team has been getting for their poor finish of the regular season, expect the Lakers to come out on fire to start the playoffs, and make an example of the Hornets to remind the other contenders that they are still the team to beat.

(3) Dallas Mavericks vs (6) Portland Trail Blazers

Roster:

      DALLAS                                                              PORTLAND

PG Jason Kidd                                               PG Andre Miller
SG Rodrigue Beaubois                                   SG Brandon Roy
SF Shawn Marion                                          SF Nicolas Batum
PF Dirk Nowitzki                                           PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Tyson Chandler                                            C Marcus Camby

The Bench
 
G Jason Terry                                                  F Rudy Fernandez
G DeShawn Stevenson                                    G Wesley Matthews
C Brendan Haywood                                       F Gerald Wallace
F Brian Cardinal                                              F Patrick Mills
G J.J. Barea                                                    F Luke Babbit
F Corey Brewer                                             G Armon Johnson
C Ian Mahinmi                                               C Earl Barron
F Peja Stojakovic                                          C Chris Johnson
G Caron Butler                                                

Key Players: Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge

Watch out for: Tyson Chandler/Jason Kidd, Brandon Roy/Gerald Wallace

Season series: Series tied, 2-2

How the roster stacks up:

Dirk Nowitzki’s success has carried the Mavericks to consecutive playoff appearances. He’s won a season MVP award, and has taken his team to the NBA Finals at one point. But all these years, despite great success in the regular season and having a stacked roster, they were never really able to duplicate that Finals run. Heck, they were, at one point, upset by the 8^th seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs after posting the best record in the NBA. This season, they challenged for at least the 2^nd spot of the West, and was one of the hottest teams in the league at one point, before injuries to Caron Butler and Dirk Nowitzki crippled their team greatly. They bounced back, and settled for third in the West. The return of Rodrigue Beaubois sparked a run for their team. Jason Kidd and Dirk recognize what Beaubois brings to the team, and speak highly of him. Speaking of Kidd, he’s still bringing it night in and night out like he wasn’t one of the senior statesmen in the NBA. He is probably the only player I’ve seen who can affect the outcome of the game without scoring a single point. Jason Terry is a pseudo-sixth man of the team, not starting, but playing starters’ minutes. J.J. Barea is a ball of energy off the bench. Tyson Chandler, brought in at the offseason, drastically changed the image of Dallas; they can finally claim to have a “D”. Shawn Marion is far removed from his “Matrix” days, but he can still stuff the stat sheet and brings important intangibles to help their team win. The acquisition of Corey Brewer and Peja Stojakovic (if healthy) can give Dallas a couple of looks at the wing spot; a defensive-minded athletic wing, and a sharp shooting sniper.

For Portland, LaMarcus Aldridge has made this season Portland’s transition from having Brandon Roy as the face of the franchise, to him carrying the team on his back. He was a borderline all-star this season, and many felt disappointment that he got snubbed. He responds by a string of monster performances when he’d have 40-point night with monster boards. With the help of Wesley Matthews, Rudy Fernandez, and Nicolas Batum, Aldridge carried this team to gutsy wins over the course of the season. Brandon Roy came back, as he is a warrior and all that, but he’s not as good as the player he was a couple of seasons ago. Sure, the basketball IQ can’t be taken away from him, but he isn’t at the same level as he was before he drained his knees. His IQ and personality makes him a still valuable player for the Blazers, as there is no doubt that he can evolve into a different player that the team needs him to be in order to win. Losing Steve Blake in the offseason probably hurt them a bit in terms of backcourt depth, but this was a vote of confidence for Andre Miller, who, as I remember, complained about playing time while Blake was still with the team. It even led to Coach Nate McMillan playing a 3-guard rotation with Roy, Blake, and Miller playing at the same time. The acquisition of Gerald Wallace at the trade deadline was a steal for the Blazers. They have a scary wing rotation with Batum, Matthews, Wallace, and Fernandez constantly bringing energy, hustle, and scoring.

Prediction: Dallas in 7

This is a series that could go either way, really. But someone has to win. I think ultimately, Dallas would win this one out only because of Jason Kidd’s hunger. He knows his window is closing, and with a looming lockout next season, he’s already contemplating retirement. With that in mind, he may be thinking that this would be his last shot at winning the big one. Still, Portland is a very dangerous team, and Dallas has always been the favorite top seed to be upset by a lower seeded team. They’ve built a reputation of being a really good regular season team, but they haven’t done much to prove to critics that they’re just as good a team in the postseason. But defensive identity that Tyson Chandler brings to the team may probably be the biggest difference in this particular postseason. Shawn Marion will have his work cut out for him chasing around Portland’s wings, which may still swing the series in favor of Portland.

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (5) Denver Nuggets

Roster:

   OKLAHOMA                                                                     DENVER

PG Russel Westbrook                                    PG Ty Lawson
SG Thabo Sefolosha                                      SG Aaron Aflalo
SF Kevin Durant                                            SF Danilo Gallinari              
PF Serge Ibaka                                              PF Kenyon Martin
C Kendrick Perkins                                         C Nene

The Bench 
 
C Nazi Mohammed                                         G Raymond Felton
G/F James Harden                                           F Wilson Chandler
G Eric Maynor                                                C Kosta Koufos
C Byron Mullens                                             F Gary Forbes
G Daequan Cook                                            G J.R. Smith
G Nate Robinson                                            C Chris Andersen
G Royal Ivey                                                  C Timofrey Mozgov
C Cole Aldrich                                                F Al Harrington
F Nick Collison                                               F Melvin Ely

Key Players: Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook, Ty Lawson/Kenyon Martin

Watch out for: Kendrick Perkins, J.R. Smith

Season series: Oklahoma City won, 3-1

How the roster stacks up:

David Aldridge pointed out in his Morning Tip in NBA.com that Russell Westbrook somehow “hurt” teammate Kevin Durant’s chances at winning an MVP award this season by simply being spectacular. If I were in KD’s shoes, I’d take not winning the individual award if it means more team success on their part. And more team success is expected from this team with Kendrick Perkins bringing the muscle they lacked last year when they pushed the top seeded Lakers to their limit and needed a timely tip in from Pau Gasol to overcome the upstart Thunder team. James Harden has been brilliant whenever his number is called. Thabo Sefolosha is a player that the Thunder management has had their eyes on since he made himself available at the draft board and they are getting what they expected from him. Eric Maynor was one of the good pickups the Jazz had last year and his departure made then-star Deron Williams wonder about the direction the team is going to. Nate Robinson is a bit of a Westbrook clone, minus the D; he’s undersized, but explosive on the offense. Daequan Cook was a one-time 3-point shootout winner, and he was had his spots back in his Miami days. Cole Aldrich is a solid rookie pickup, and Nick Collison is still a reliable 4. Serge Ibaka is playing his natural 4 spot, which changes the interior makeup of the Thunder.

The Nuggets were expected to drop following the departure of franchise player Carmelo Anthony. But surprise! They’ve locked up the 5^th seed in the West, and won more games than New York post-trade. I’m not sure who in NBA.com pointed it out, but Kenyon Martin has apparently rose to the occasion when the team needed a leader. The Nuggets not only lost their franchise player in the trade, they also lost a couple of veteran voices in the locker room in Chauncey Billups and Anthony Carter. But their desire to win was only fueled even more with critics saying their team is going to the dumps. Danilo Gallinari is still a solid piece to build around on. Wilson Chandler is a young, athletic player who can man both forward spots and effectively fill it with defense and some range in offense. Aaron Afflalo carried the scoring load for the team when they needed it at some points in the season. Nene has emerged as a solid inside presence, as he has always been when healthy. Chris Andersen, likewise, provides the energy they need off the bench. Raymond Felton was playing an all-star caliber season pre-trade, and it really doesn’t matter if he and Ty Lawson interchange at the starting point guard spot because the team doesn’t really lose anything at that position. Gary Forbes also had his moments in the regular season, so the team knows that he will contribute when called upon. And how can we forget that J.R. Smith is on their team? Starting or off the bench, Smith generates excitement, flair, swagger, and energy that contributes greatly to their team’s success. Al Harrington is also a nice stretch 4 that could create some matchup problems with his ability to shoot outside, but won’t help too much on defense and rebounds with him constantly hanging around the perimeter.

Prediction: Oklahoma in 7

This is another series that could go either way, but I’m going with the home team here. The Nuggets can upset anybody at the level that they’re playing right now, but I don’t think their talent and momentum is enough to upset the more favored Thunder. I say more favored because while Denver has no legit superstar in their lineup, the Thunder has two. And while the Pistons of 2003 (?) showed how to win against a star-studded team (Kobe, Shaq, Payton, and Malone) without a legit superstar, what I think the Nuggets lack that the Pistons of old had is team identity. The Pistons of old was a defensive-oriented team, they win with defense. Right now, the Nuggets may have one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league, but they are just a bunch of scrappy players who play really hard to win. While “scrappy” may be an identity, I don’t think it’s enough to carry them out of the first round. Besides, many believed that the Thunder was only one big piece in the middle away from upsetting the Lakers last season. Now that they got that big piece in Kendrick Perkins, there should be no doubt that the Thunder is in for a deep playoff run. I may be wrong again with this prediction, but for certain, this would be one of the most exciting matchups in the first round of the playoffs. 

...The Playoffs 2011: The East...

It's that time of the season again, where the top 16 teams separate themselves from the rest of the pack, and slug it out for the biggest prize in the league: the NBA Championship. I give annual predictions for the playoffs, and I think I have a pretty decent positive percentage. These predictions earn me nothing, and this writing this does me no good. But I just like the feeling of being right and actually having proof that I was.=)) 

This year, with all the Fantasy Basketball knowledge that I have, I can give a more in-depth analysis on my predictions and not just base it on stats. I have also decided to make predictions per round, if in case I get some predictions wrong. For the time being, the West seedings are still a bit blurry for me, but at least I got to finish The East already. 

(1) Chicago Bulls vs (8) Indiana Pacers

Roster:
INDIANA         CHICAGO

G Darren Collison                                            PG Derrick Rose
G Paul George                                                SG Ronnie Brewer
F Danny Granger                                             SF Luol Deng
PF Tyler Hansborough                                      PF Carlos Boozer
C Roy Hibbert                                                   C  Joakim Noah

The Bench

G Tj Ford                                                          C Omer Asik
C Jeff Foster                                                   SG Keith Bogans
G/F Mike Dunleavy                                         G/F Rasual Butler
G Dahntay Jones                                               F Taj Gibson
C Solomon Jones                                           G/F Kyle Korver
F Josh McRoberts                                             G John Lucas III
G/F James Posey                                             G Jannero Pargo
G A.J. Price                                                   F/C Brian Scalabrine
G/F Brandon Rush                                          F/C Kurt Thomas
G Lance Stephenson                                         G C.J. Watson

Key Players: Derrick Rose, Danny Granger

Watch out for: Bench players on both teams

Season series: Chicago won, 3-1

How the roster stacks up:

Derrick Rose is playing an incredible season. Sure the Spurs have played well throughout the season, but the Bulls have been just as good after a slow start. Unlike last year when there were debates flaring out about who the MVP was, this season, Rose has emerged as the heavy favorite, with no one close to even try and take that away from him (except Dwight Howard, of course). They are virtually an unstoppable team, with the 2 spot being the only apparent weakness. And to think they can fill that out with defensive specialist Ronnie Brewer, bench sparkplug C.J. Watson, sharpshooter Kyle Korver, and veteran starter Keith Bogans. Old reliable Jannero Pargo can also fill that spot up. Taj Gibson and Omer Asik won’t do much scoring but will definitely make offensive players work for their shots, and rebounding can be a bitch with those two manning the paint. Brian Scalabrine and Kurt Thomas give veteran presence when they are called. 

Indiana, for its part, is one of the few teams in the league that can go 15-deep in their lineup. Though not as talented as 8-deep lineups, they have an infinite number of combinations they can use. Tyler Hansborough and Josh McRoberts have shown great improvements this season. If Roy Hibbert can stay out of foul trouble and regain his dominant form at the start of the season before getting injured, he surely would be a force to reckon with inside. Rookie Paul George has shown flashes of brilliance to complement Danny Granger’s lackluster performances as of late. Mike Dunleavy is an effective scorer when healthy. Dahntay Jones can provide energy, a defensive presence, and a bit of a scoring punch off the bench. And people forget how good T.J. Ford is. Jeff Foster is also an underrated center.

Prediction: Bulls win, 4-0

This is a series that can’t be placed on a storybook type of scenario. No team can play the part of villain because both teams are filled with so much heroes. They all play hard, and they’re all talented from the starting 5 to the 15^th player on the bench. However, as good as the Pacers have been all season, they’re not as good as the red-hot Bulls right now. Not to take anything away from the great season that the Pacers have had, but I do think that the first experience of being in the playoffs would prove to be too much for the young guys in the team to be able to perform at the level they’re playing now. This will be a competitive series, and games will be close, but ultimately, the Pacers won’t win in Chicago, and the Bulls have too much momentum on their side by Game 3, that by Game 4, the Pacers will have already been too demoralized to win.

(4) Orlando vs (5) Atlanta

Roster:

      ORLANDO         ATLANTA

PG Jameer Nelson                                           PG Kirk Hinrich
SG Jason Richardson                                      SG Joe Johnson
SF Hedo Turkgolu                                            SF Marvin Williams
PF Brandon Bass                                            PF Josh Smith
C Dwight Howard                                               C Al Horford

The Bench

F Ryan Anderson                                           G/F Jamaal Crawford
G Chris Duhon                                                  C Zaza Pachulia
F/C Earl Clark                                                G/F Damien Wilkins
F Malik Allen                                                    G Jeff Teague
G Gilbert Arenas                                               F Josh Powell
G JJ Reddick                                                    C Hilton Armstrong
G/F Quentin Richardson                                    C Jason Collins

Key Players: Dwight Howard, Al Horford

Watch out for: Jameer Nelson, Atlanta bigs

Season series: Atlanta won, 3-1

How the roster stacks up:

The early season trade that Orlando pulled off took the league by surprise. It drastically improved the Magic’s roster by getting back arguably their MVP during their Finals run in Hedo Turkgolu, traded a former all-star for another former all-star (Gilbert Arenas for Rashard Lewis), and got a borderline all-star in Jason Richardson. But things didn’t run as smoothly as expected, and they eventually fell to the 4^th spot in the East, after being a heavy favorite back in the preseason. They still have a wide arsenal at their command; Ryan Anderson is a stretch 4 in the Hedo mold without the playmaking ability; Jameer Nelson still has something to prove after being criticized for making a comeback in their finals run despite Rafer Alston and Jason Williams capably manning the point at that time; Brandon Bass is a workhorse that takes care of the boards ably; and JJ Reddick has improved his defense drastically to become a major part of the rotation. These facts, added to the fact that Dwight Howard is on their team, make the Magic that much scarier to face in the first round. What could be scarier is if Gilbert Arenas regains his playoff form circa 2006.

Atlanta has had its hot and cold streaks all season. The trade that blindsided starting point guard Mike Bibby and sent him to Washington in exchange for Kirk Hinrich didn’t seem like it would matter, but I think the defense that Kirk Hinrich brings to the team is a valuable asset for the Hawks. And no matter how clutch Joe Johnson is and that he’s the man for Atlanta, the Hawks can only go as far as Al Horford will take them. Josh Smith is an all-around player that will contribute greatly on both ends of the floor. Marvin Williams still has to prove his worth after being picked before Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Jamaal Crawford is a 6^th man playing starters’ minutes, and he’s been playing at a starter’s level. Jeff Teague has been handed the reins and will perform when called. Hilton Armstrong, Josh Powell, Zaza Pachulia, and Jason Collins have bodies wide enough to fill up the paint. Damien Wilkins is a solid bench player that knows his role in the rotation.

Prediction: Atlanta in 6

After careful deliberation and research, I have come to the conclusion that Atlanta is a more sound team than Orlando coming in to the playoffs. Despite the big names and all that talent in the Magic bench, they still have not figured out how to optimize their roster. For Atlanta, they just got better with Hinrich-for-Bibby swap. They’ve been a project for several years, and this might be the peak of their team in terms of talent. The team has been solid with few roster shakeups as compared to the Magic and their drastic changes over the course of the season. With the Magic anchored so much on Dwight Howard, they get to win games because he is so dominant down low. However, the Hawks have able bodies in Pachulia, Collins, Armstrong, and Powell who are not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the big fella and take him one on one. With everybody else not leaving to double on Dwight, it makes it that much difficult for him because he has to create his own shots, and not be able to kick out to shooters because no one’s open. I see a shocker in Game 1, with Atlanta taking it, and the rest of the games for the home team to take the wins.

(3) Boston vs (6) New York

Roster:

      BOSTON NEW YORK

PG Rajon Rondo                                               PG Chauncey Billups
SG Ray Allen                                                   SG Landry Fields
SF Paul Pierce                                                 SF Carmelo Anthony
PF Kevin Garnett                                              PF Amare Stoudemire
C Jermaine O’Neal                                              C Ronnie Turiaf

The Bench
 
F Jeff Green                                                        F Jared Jeffries
F/C Glen Davis                                                   G Roger Mason Jr
C Nenad Kristic                                                  G Toney Douglas
F Troy Murphy                                                    G Anthony Carter
G Carlos Arroyo                                                  F Derrick Brown
F Sasha Pavlovic                                                F Renaldo Balkman
G/F Von Wafer                                                   F Shelden Williams
C Shaquille O’Neal                                             G Shawne Williams
G Delonte West                                                 G Bill Walker

Key Players: Rajon Rondo, Amar’e Stoudemire

Watch out for: The vets vs superstar pairing

Season series: Boston won, 3-1

How the roster stacks up:

Boston is in stuck in the middle of rebuild and championship push. While their team was performing well, they decide to ship Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma to find a player that would fill up Paul Pierce’s spot in the team. The future of the Celtics looks like Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis being the anchors, and they needed a third young player preferably at the wing position to build the team around on in the future. They got that in Jeff Green, but in the process, lost the big body and physicality Perkins can give the team inside. Now, it seems that they need to get the O’Neals healthy again, because Troy Murphy and Nenad Kristic aren’t those strong, physical types. Carlos Arroyo seems like a solid pickup, especially with the talented, but fragile Delonte West being their backup point. Sasha Pavlovic offers defense and some perimeter shooting, but they won’t look to him so much to contribute. If Von Wafer finds his form when he was in Houston, he would be a very valuable asset to this team. Much has been said about the Big Three, and their performances would dictate what happens to this team in the postseason, but this run is the team’s transition of handing the team over to Rajon Rondo.

After striking out in the free agent bonanza of 2010, New York “settled” for Amar’e Stoudemire and his unsure knees. Then he breaks out and goes for monstrous performances night in and night out, and literally carry the team on his back. Then he even got his wish when management decided to turn the roster over and grab the disgruntled Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets. Chauncy Billups is a solid bonus in that trade, as well as the veteran locker room presence of Anthony Carter. These two should keep the young superstar tandem of the apostrophed ones’ egos at bay. Wilson Chandler was playing so well for the team that his loss was supposed to hurt the team. But then they got Jared Jeffries, New York’s Wilson Chandler before there ever was a Wilson Chandler. Landry Fields is a scrappy guard that can defend and give outside shooting when needed. Toney Douglas will also contribute greatly to their cause from the bench. Mike D’Antoni uses a short bench, so the other bench players not named Jeffries or Douglas would have to split the remaining minutes.

Prediction: New York in 6

I have been in this position 3 times last year, when I discounted the Celtics in every round they got into. But this year, I am a little bit more confident that they won’t get past the still excited New York Knicks, simply because of the loss of Kendrick Perkins. Other than physicality, he was somewhat the heart of the team. Yes, the Knicks are new to this postseason thing, but Carmelo and Amare are not. They can carry this team on their shoulders, as they have their previous teams. Despite the short bench, the starting unit is loaded with talents, so they wouldn’t need to rely too heavily on their bench. And with the core being young as they are, they would have enough energy to keep up with the Big 4 and veteran bench of Boston. On the other side of the spectrum, Boston’s age was a red flag for me last year, and it is still a red flag for me now. Their low post looks much too different with Nenad Kristic being a stretch 5 rather than a hulking force that was Perkins. Shaq’s health and Jermaine’s performance would greatly swing the series in favor of the Celts. But with health being a major issue at this point in time for Boston, the early to mid season run of the Celts may have been their last hurrah before full rebuild.

(2) Miami vs (7) Philadelphia

Roster:

   PHILADELPHIA MIAMI

PG Jrue Holiday                                                  PG Mike Bibby
SG Jodie Meeks                                                 SG Dwayne Wade
SF Andre Iguodala                                               SF LeBron James             
PF Elton Brand                                                   PF Chris Bosh
C Spencer Hawes                                                 C Zydrunas Ilgauskas

The Bench
 
G/F Evan Turner                                                   G Mario Chalmers
F Thaddeus Young                                               C Joel Anthony
F Andres Nocioni                                               G/F Mike Miller
G/F Antonio Daniels                                              F James Jones
F/C Mareese Speights                                           F Juwan Howard
G Lou Williams                                                     G Eddie House
C Tony Battie                                                       C Jamaal Magloire
G/F Jason Kapono                                                C Erik Dampier
F Darius Songaila                                                 F Udonis Haslem

Key Players: Andre Iguodala, LeBron James

Watch out for: The other Miami players

Season series: Miami won, 3-0

How the roster stacks up:

Philadelphia’s success this season has been attributed more to the coaching change rather than a drastic spike in player performances. That is not to take away anything from the talent in the roster. Elton Brand had a stretch of double-double performances in the season, and was a solid player for them in the post; not his Clipper-playoff run self, but at least better than his first year in Philly. Andre Iguodala was expected to be the face of the franchise, and though he wouldn’t post eye-popping numbers, he did put stats across the board that helped his team get much needed wins for a playoff push. Jrue Holiday has emerged as a solid point guard for their team. Evan Turner, the second pick in the draft, was solid, but not good enough to even challenge for the top rookie honors. He’s not franchise-player-of-the-future material, but he could be a very good Scottie Pippen, should Philly find a Micheal Jordan. Spencer Hawes has been solid as well. Mareese Speights still hasn’t been a consistent performer, but there’s potential there. Lou Williams was groomed to be the starting point guard before getting hurt and Holiday’s emergence, so there’s no lack of talent there. Thaddeus Young and Jodie Meeks will be the X-factors in this series for Philadelphia.

As expected when they first got together, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh will be heavily-relied on. Then they got a bunch of veteran players who were willing to take less pay and a lesser role if only to win a championship or two. Mike Miller was supposed to be their 6^th man, but despite his rebounds and court presence, he hasn’t done what he was brought here to do: shoot the ball from the outside. That need was filled up by James Jones when they needed it, and the ever-dependable Eddie House. Newly-acquired Mike Bibby now needs to channel his Sacramento days for Miami to win it all. Mario Chalmers provides solid defense at the point, and he can drain the occasional 3 ball. Joel Anthony has been so underrated this season, but he’s been their Dwight in the middle. While Z and Dampier can provide the size and veteran savvy (more for Z than Damp; Damp provides false inside presence, really. He’s one of the big factors why Miami won the championship against his Dallas team in 2006) inside, it really is Joel Anthony’s inside presence that greatly improves the team’s defense. With Udonis Haslem set to return by the playoffs, Miami will have a deep frontcourt come playoff time.

Prediction: Miami wins 4-1

Speaking not just a fanboy, but also on a basketball perspective, Miami is going to have a cakewalk in this series. Not that Philadelphia isn’t dangerous enough, but rather, Miami would just be too much for them to handle. Brand hasn’t been known for his defense, and Hawes would be a foul-prone young center. Thaddeus Young and Speights could probably provide defense, but against a team loaded with talents, two good defenders wouldn’t be enough. The problem that Miami will have to deal with is who gets the ball at the end of games. This has been Dwayne Wade’s team since day one until LeBron came to town. Carrying his MVP trophies and media hype, the diva in “King” James had to be satisfied by handing him the ball at the most crucial times of the game. There’s a reason why the Cavs never won it all despite having all the talents they needed, and there’s a reason why LeBron is never mentioned in the same breath as Kobe, Melo, and even Brandon Roy as the game’s best closer. Wade has been too good of a teammate focused on winning that he’d rather give the ball up to LeBron at the end of games just so ‘Bron won’t whine about not having it. I think this problem will cost them at least one game in this series, but ultimately knock some sense into *choker* LeBron and finally let Wade take control of his team.