Three out of the four spots in the NBA Conference Finals have been claimed with Boston and Cleveland still battling it out for the final spot. Here is a look at all five teams and their current odds to win it all.
Los Angeles Lakers 7-5
The Lakers limped into this year’s playoffs, losing six out of their last nine regular season games. Kobe Bryant was dealing with multiple injuries and there were serious questions as to whether or not last season’s World Champs would even make it past the first round. After finding themselves tied with 8th seed Oklahoma City two games apiece in the opening round, these questions suddenly seemed valid. In typical LA fashion, they got things together and won the next two to take the series 4-2. From that point the championship march was on. They took out Utah in four straight games with only one of them being a nail biter.
Kobe Bryant appears to be alright as he has averaged 26.9 points and 4.9 assists in 10 playoff games. Pau Gasol has elevated his game and is averaging 20.2 points and 13.2 rebounds. Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, and Lamar Odom are also back in championship form as they await the start of their conference final series with Phoenix.
The Magic have remained the hottest team in the NBA, tearing through the first two rounds of these playoffs. Coming into the postseason, they had won nine out of their final 10 regular season games. As the #2 seed in the East they faced #7 Charlotte in the opening round. Setting the tone right from the start with a nine point 98-89 win in game one, they rolled to three more victories to sweep the Bobcats 4-0. Expecting a bit more resistance in the second round from Atlanta, they became even more dominant. Not only did the sweep the Hawks in four straight, the average margin of victory was an incredible 25 points.
So far this has been a total team effort for Orlando as Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Mickael Pietrus have all averaged double figures led by Nelson’s 20.5 points per game average. Howard leads the team in rebounds, averaging 11.3 per game. The way they are playing, you would have to think they are licking their chops to take on the winner of the Boston-Cleveland series.
Phoenix Suns 6-1
After finishing the regular season winning 14 out of their last 16 games, Phoenix earned the number three seed in the West behind LA and Dallas. Against Portland in the first round the Suns stumbled out of the gate, dropping game one at home 100-105. They quickly rebounded by winning four out of the next five to win the series 4-2. In the next round they faced San Antonio, a team that had beaten them four straight times in the playoffs. They wasted no time in gaining the edge with a 111-102 win in game one. The momentum built from there as they ended up sweeping the Spurs in four games.
The play of Amar’e Stoudemire, Steve Nash, and Jason Richardson is the primary reason the Suns have advanced to the conference finals. Richardson leads the team in scoring, averaging 21.9 points per game. Stoudemire is averaging 20.5 and leads the team with seven rebounds per game. Nash is dishing out nine assists per game as well as averaging 17.8 points. They should provide a great test for the Lakers in the next series.
As the #4 seed, Boston came into these playoffs with a ton of question marks surrounding the lack of consistency in their play. So far in the two series they have played, the star power of this team has come together to silence their critics. In the opening round the Celtics set the tone right from the start in game one against Miami. Not only did they win 85-76, they did it in a physical, bruising fashion.
After taking the Heat out in five they turned their attention to eliminating LeBron James and the Cavaliers. After losing game one 93-101 they stunned Cleveland at home 104-86 in game two. After getting blown out in game three at home 95-124, the asserted themselves one again with two big wins to take a 3-2 edge in the series. With game six tonight in Boston they have a golden opportunity to eliminate the Cavaliers to earn a date with Orlando in the conference finals.
After dominating the Eastern Conference for the majority of the regular season, it appeared that Cleveland had a clear path to the NBA Finals. After taking out #8 seed Chicago in five games they welcomed the Boston Celtics to town in what they thought would be another routine win in the second round.
After game one went according to plan they were dealt their first real setback of these playoffs with an ugly loss at home in game two. After regaining the home court edge in game three they were stunned again by a 10 point 87-97 loss in game four. Returning home to Cleveland for game five the worst was yet to come. The Celtics took full advantage their laxidasical attitude, handing them a 120-88 beating in front of the home town crowd. They now face a do or die situation having to win the final two games against a team that already has one foot on their neck.
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