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NBA Playoffs Near Halfway Mark
May 20, 2010 • by Nathan Zielinski
Filed under Sports
With the two conference finals almost set in the NBA Playoffs, they have not disappointed. With the quality of all the first round match ups; including two seven game series, the second round of play has provided three sweeps performed by the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns, and the Orlando Magic. However, the excitement and energy surrounding the games has not dipped. Also, the last team in the semifinals will include either the Cleveland Cavaliers, or their rival the Boston Celtics. This series is knotted up at two a piece, and Game 5 will go a long way in deciding the winner of the series is.
In this year’s playoffs, a few players are competing at their full potential, and some are even exceeding expectations. Of course, the league’s two best players are off to a hot start, with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant each averaging over 20 points a game. They have provided jump out of your seat moments in the first two rounds, and a match up between the two best players and the two best teams seems likely. For point guard play Phoenix star Steve Nash has lived up to his hype and steered the Phoenix Suns into a Western Conference Finals match up with the Los Angeles Lakers. Not to be outdone, Celtics point man Rajon Rondo has exceeded all expectations with his key performances in the second round including a triple-double that consisted of 29 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 97-87 win on Mother’s Day.
With that in mind, some key players have not stepped up, and their teams have faced the consequences. Atlanta Hawk’s Joe Johnson did not show up to play in their second round match up against the Orlando Magic. Johnson who averaged almost twenty two points a game during the season, but did not even manage to average fifteen points a game in the second round. Also, usually consistent guard Tony Parker, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs was ineffective in the two rounds the Spurs survived in this year’s playoffs. Also, the Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony had a less than desirable first round, losing in six to the Utah Jazz.
Many people believe that the Los Angeles Lakers will repeat as champs in this years playoffs. They have had strong play from both of their star players in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Plus, their bench stepped it up in the second round as they cruised in a four game series against the Jazz. However, I believe the team who will make the run at the championship is the Orlando Magic. Each player on the team has stepped into their role beautifully, and the Magic have not lost a game in the playoffs yet. Four of their five starters are averaging double figures, and their star Center, Dwight Howard is looking unstoppable. The league’s best three-point shooting team is not disappointing in the playoffs. They are scorching the nets from beyond the arc, shooting over 38%. Also, they have a spark plug off the bench in Mickael Pietrus, who is averaging 10.3 points a game, as well as having shot over 50% on his three-pointers thus far. The Magic have a complete, well-rounded team that is poised to make a strong run at the NBA Championship. Enjoy the show.
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