NBA Playoffs - Eastern and Western Conference Semifinal Preview

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies are set to square off in NBA Western Conference Semifinal action
(photo via espn.com)

Heat vs Celtics, Hawks vs Bulls in the East.

Grizzlies vs Thunder, Lakers vs Mavericks in the West.

P&B break down both Conference's Semifinal series:

VS

Regular season series:  Memphis leads 3-1

Analysis:  Memphis is coming off an absolutely monumental first round upset victory over the San Antonio Spurs.  The Party on Beale Street after Friday night's victory must've been off the chain!  OKC are really starting to gel, and their convincing first round victory over the Denver Nuggets certainly gives this team more confidence moving forward.  

The key here will be if OKC's big men, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, can neutralize the Grizzlies' Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol on the inside.  Randolph was lights out in the San Antonio series, including a playoff career-best 31 points in Friday series-closing victory.  Is Memphis merely satisfied with beating the Spurs, or are they ready to prove they're for real?  This will be a tightly contested series.

Prediction: OKC in 7

VS

Regular season series:  Boston leads 3-1

Analysis:  Boston made some very quick work of the New York Knicks in the first round, sweeping the series in four games.  This may prove to be a key factor for them, as the additional days off before this series with the Heat should help their older players get some rest.  Rajon Rondo has been absolutely dominate as of late, and Miami doesn't really have a defensive point guard that can stop him (Mike Bibby?  Are you kidding me?)

Now the question is ... Can the overall talent of Miami carry them to victory in this series?  The Heat played a lot better during the latter part of the regular season, and with both Dwyane Wade and Lebron James firing on all cylinders, they might be able to overcome Boston's veteran savvy.

Or maybe not.

Prediction:  Boston in 7

VS

Regular season series:  Chicago leads 2-1

Analysis:  The Hawks caught a few people off guard with just how easily they handled Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs.  They don't really play a "sexy" brand of basketball, but they win by slowing down the tempo of the game, and by out-rebounding and clamping down defensively on their opponents.  Joe Johnson has got to take his game to the next level ... it's as simple as that.  Dude is very reserved and he's not the flashiest guy in the league, but for all the money he's getting (somewhere in the neighbourhood of $119 milli over 6 years), it's time to step things up! This is the playoffs, man ... no more fucking around. 

The Bulls, meanwhile, play a very similar style to Atlanta.  They grind out a lot of their victories, which has led many to question whether this team has the moxie to go all the way.  However the way that Derrick Rose has been playing, plus the support of big men Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, and the surprising solid outside shooting of Kyle Korver, the Bulls should be able to squeeze this series out. But it won't be pretty.

Prediction:  Bulls in 6

VS

Regular season series:  Lakers lead 2-1

Analysis:  Los Angeles enters this series with their big men playing exceptional basketball.  There was a tremendous amount of concern in Laker Land when centre Andrew Bynum went down with a knee injury late in the season, but he proved in the first round against New Orleans that everything's fine.  Pau Gasol is also being his usual self by dominating the paint with his killer lost post moves.  There was also a great deal of uncertainty regarding the status of Kobe Bryant's ankle injury .... but we all know how much of a "drama queen" he can be.  He was just playing it up a little to garner some attention.  He is ready to once again dominate in this series.

The Mavs will need significant contributions from some of their role players, namely Tyson Chandler on the defensive end.  Dirk Nowitzki is going to get his points, as LA might have trouble defending a player like him out on the perimeter.  But the key for Dallas will be if other players like Jason Terry, or even a bench player like Deshawn Stevenson can give them some scoring punch from beyond the 3-point arc.

Prediction:  Lakers in 6

-Turnbull

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