Eastern Conference Finals Preview

                               THEY MEET AGAIN


We have been here before. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade could never get by the Boston Celtics once the big three joined forces before the 2007-08 season. James and Wade were a combined 0-3 in the playoffs vs. Boston before last year. They both tried to single handily will their teams over the big three (and Rondo). James was 0-2 against Boston in the playoffs while with Cleveland, and knew his Cavaliers would never get past the Celtics. You think this played a big part on why he took his talents to South Beach? Hmmmm. OF COURSE! The King made the right decision. Since joining up with his boys,  Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, guess what their record is against Boston in the playoffs? Ya, you guessed right, a perfect 1-0. Lebron and Wade finally got that Boston monkey off their back. They knocked the Celtics out of the playoffs in five games during the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. 



Judging from game one last night, it sure looks like the new big three will be 2-0 against the old big three. However, it was just one game, and last time I checked this is a best of seven series. Everyone knew Boston would come out slow in game one and probably end up losing by double-digits. Unless of course you are Paul Pierce. He said he felt good about his team leading up to game one. (Yeah, this is the same guy who says his sprained left knee is 100%.) They just finished beating a very good young Philadelphia 76ers team in seven. Then, they had to jump on a plane Sunday to get ready for game one on Monday. Not much time off for an old team means one thing: an ugly 48 minutes of basketball. Now they are settled in Miami and should have a stronger performance in game two. It will still be hard for the Celtics to steal game two with the way Lebron James and Dwyane Wade have been playing during Miami’s four-game winning-streak. During this stretch James is averaging 32.5 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.5 BPG, and 1.8 SPG. Wade is putting up 30.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.3 BPG, and 1.5 SPG. I’d be laughing in Kevin Garnett’s face too if I was putting up insane numbers like that.

The five technical fouls the Celtics were dealt in game one had nothing to do with their 93-79 loss. They simply got outplayed and looked tired. Now that game one is over, let’s take a look at some important match-ups that will determine how the series plays out.

BATMAN & ROBIN vs. RONDO & THE BIG 3

It was evident leading up to this series that it would be on Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. With Chris Bosh still out indefinitely with his abdominal strain, it is solely on James and Wade. In game one they answered the bell. Wade and James combined for 54 points making 21-35 shots (60%). The C's big four combined for 57 points and struggled from the field. They shot 23-61 combining for a horrific 38% from the floor. Pierce and Allen struggled mildly, combining to shoot 6-25 (24%). 

I love how everyone says Lebron James always chokes in the playoffs. Those people don't know what they are talking about. This guy has been money in the playoffs. (Click this if you don't believe me) Yeah, he did not perform well in the NBA Finals last year, but this does not take away from what he has done during his playoff career. This is James seventh year in the post-season and his playoff career stats are: 28.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1 BPG. Not too shabby. The guy shows up in the post-season and he is proving it again this year. Everyone just loves to hate him because of the way he handled "The Decision." Who cares. It was nearly two years ago. Get over it. Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. The guy is arguably the best player in the world, but no one will grant him this until he gets some jewelry. I'll agree with that because you need to win it all before you can mentioned as being one of the best. 

Dwyane Wade does not have that same problem. He has a ring. He is a former NBA Finals MVP. If he wants to add to his collection he needs to keep playing the way he has during the last four games. Wade had his worse career playoff game against the Indiana Pacers in game three in the previous round. Wade finished with 5 points on 2-13 shooting. He had as many turnovers as points. Him and Head Coach Erik Spoelstra got into a heated exchange on the bench during a timeout in the 3rd quarter. Everyone was writing off the Heat after they feel behind 2-1 to Indiana. Well, except for the Miami Heat. Since that loss they have played lights out and especially D-Wade. As Wade goes, so goes Miami. We all know Lebron is always going to fill up the stat sheet. If Wade has an off game usually things do not bode well for Miami. If Wade and James keeps this up there is no way Boston will beat them in a seven game series. Wade getting his knee drained after that horrific performance in game three has brought back the real D-Wade. 

If Boston wants to win this series it all starts with Rajon Rondo. He is the engine that starts the Oldsmobile for the C's. When he is playing his best, the C's are a very tough team to beat. When you can force Rondo to get out of his comfort zone the rest of the team struggles. Against the 76ers in the semi's, game six and game seven were the blueprint for the C's. In game six, Rondo's stats were: 9 pts., 9 rebs., 6 assists, and 28% from the floor. In game seven, Rondo's stats were: 18 pts., 10 rebs., 10 assists, and 46% from the field. When Pierce fouled out, with just under five minutes left in game seven, Rondo took over. He put the team on his back and scored nine straight leading the C's past the 76ers. He sets the tone for the rest of the team, and more importantly, the other three future Hall of Famers. 

Two of the three big three are banged up. Pierce is battling through a sprained MCL and Allen is fighting through a sprained ankle. This makes Rondo an even more important player for the Celtics. Ray Allen is clearly not the same. His 60% from the free-throw line show he is out of his usual rhythm. Paul Pierce can't get the lift off his knee's to be the player he is capable to be. Both of these guys are showing their toughness, but that will not matter one bit if they can't find their rhythm. 

Kevin Garnett is arguably playing his best basketball for the Celtics since his first year in Boston. He is putting up 19 and 11 during these playoffs. Since Doc Rivers moved him to center after the All-star break he has been playing amazing basketball. The Celtics are going to need the best Kevin Garnett if they want a chance in this series. They will need the Big Ticket to get at least 20 and 10 every night. More importantly, they need Garnett to be the defensive force he was during their 2008 Championship. 

HEAD COACHING: DOC vs. SPOELSTRA

This is where the Celtics have the significant edge in this series. However, with the talent of Lebron and D-Wade, the coaching experience might not be that big of a factor. Especially with the way these two have been playing lately. However, if the game is close down the stretch this is where Rivers' becomes a huge factor for the Celtics. Rivers' is one of the best coaches in the NBA on making in-game adjustments. Erik Spoelstra is a good coach, but when comparing him with Rivers, it is not even close. Doc Rivers is the second best Head Coach in the NBA. Gregg Popovich is easily the top Head Coach in the game since Phil Jackson retired. 

A lot of people say Erik Spoelstra does not make that big of an impact for the Heat. I disagree. He preaches one thing: defense. Miami has been one of the best defensive teams in the NBA since he took over before the 2008-09 season. Miami has been the second best defensive team in this category during the playoffs. During the last three seasons Miami has been in the top five in opponent field-goal %. Dwyane Wade was never the defensive player he was until Spoelstra took over. Wade is arguably the best shot blocker among all guards. The guy knows how to get the best out of his team on the defensive end. Game one against Boston was evident of how good Miami is on the defensive end. Boston shot under 40% from the floor and Miami had 11 blocked shots making the Celtics earn every bucket. We will soon find out if this was because the Celtics were tired from their seven-game series against Philly, or if it had more to do with Miami's defense. I really do not think people realize just how good of a defensive player Lebron James is. He is arguably one of the top three defenders in the game. He does it all. Defensive rebounding: check. Block shots: check. Getting in the passing lane causing turnovers: check. You want him to guard your best player, whether you are a guard, forward, or center: check. Spoelstra brings the best out of Lebron on the defensive end. Lebron was a good defender with Cleveland, but with Spoelstra, he has become one of the best in the game. 

Doc Rivers still has the edge in coaching. His experience is a major factor. This is his 12th year being a Head Coach in the league. Spoelstra is currently in his 4th season. If these games are close down the stretch it will be crucial for Rivers to out-duel his counterpart. If he doesn't, there is no way Boston can make this a series. It is obvious Miami has two of the best players on the planet, but Boston still has capable players, so coaching in this series could end up being a factor. If Rivers can't find a way to limit James and Wade this series could be over quick. We all know in this sport the players make the difference, but coaching is still an area that can be crucial in winning and losing. This has arguably been Rivers best year as a Head Coach in his 12-year career. Boston struggled from the start of the season and were two games under .500 at the All-star break. They dealt with injuries all season long, but Rivers still found a way to get the best out of his team to win the Atlantic Division. However, this will soon be forgotten if Boston can not make this a competitive series against Miami. 

ROLE PLAYERS

If Miami's role players play well they are near impossible to beat. Heat players not named Lebron James or Dwyane Wade combined for 39 points in game one. This was a huge factor for Miami beating Boston easily in game one. Especially, with Chris Bosh still being out. It is still unclear when Bosh will be returning, if he returns at all, so Miami will need their role players to play well. 

Mario Chalmers is a guy who can score for this squad. He is averaging a playoff career high in points and rebounds during the 2012 playoffs. Chalmers is capable of hitting some big shots. We all remember when he hit that three in the NCAA National Championship with 2.1 seconds left against Memphis to send the game to overtime. (3 against Memphis to tie) Chalmers led Kansas to a 2008 National Championship against Derrick Rose's Memphis team. He is not scared of the moment. He sets the tone for Miami's role players. He is a very confident young player who has had his best year in his four-year career.  

It will be crucial that Shane Battier keeps up his defensive intensity and knocks down open three's. They need Joel Anthony to continue playing good interior defense to shut down easy points in the paint for Boston. Udonis Haslem has not been the force he usually is in these playoffs, but he showed in game four against Indiana he can still knock down big shots. If Mike Miller and James Jones can come in off the bench and continue to knock down three's, it will be icing on the cake for the Heat.

Boston started this series without their best role player. Avery Bradley quickly became one of the best perimeter defenders in the game this season. His shoulder surgery forced him out of the playoffs. He tried to battle through it, but after his shoulder separated on three different occasions during the playoffs, it was time to shut him down. This puts more weight on the rest of the roster.


The Celtics need Brandon Bass and Mickael Pietrus to step their game up. They combined to shoot 4-12 and scored just nine points in game one. This is not going to get it done for the C's. They need these guys to put up at least 20 combined points if they want a chance. With Pierce and Allen banged up they need some help from their other guys. Boston does not have much help on their bench so it will be crucial for Bass and Pietrus to contribute offensively. During the regular season they combined to average 20 PPG. However, during the playoffs they are putting up 14 PPG. Pietrus is only putting up 3.5 PPG, shooting under 35% from the floor, and shooting 23% from deep. That is not going to get it done for Boston if they want to compete with Miami. 


Role players usually always determine whether or not a team wins or loses a championship. Dallas had a ton of role players step up last season. Miami didn't. In 2010, the Lakers role players outplayed the Celtics role players. Role players are what make the difference in June. If Miami's role players keep playing like they did in game one they will get by Boston easily, but more importantly, it would give them a good chance to beat the winner of the San Antonio/Oklahoma City series in the NBA finals. 

PREDICTION

 A lot will be figured out in game two. We will find out if the Celtics are too old to hang with two of the top players in the game. The Celtics are banged up and it is affecting Ray Allen and Paul Pierce tremendously. However, one thing the Celtics have always had is heart. These guys battle. They always go into every game thinking they are going to win. They make the opponents earn it. During these playoffs they have not lost back-to-back games. San Antonio is the only other team in the playoffs that can say that. Boston has been one of the most resilient teams in the game since the big three joined forces. The Celtics need to find a way to keep Wade and James out of the paint. The way to beat Miami is to make them a jump shooting team because they struggle from the perimeter. In game one Miami was 5-25 from long range. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade got to the paint at will in game one and made a huge difference. How bad do the Celtics wish they still had Kendrick Perkins to dish out some hard fouls when Wade and James get in the paint. The lack of size and toughness inside is an issue for the C's. 


Miami has been playing great ball during this four-game stretch and if they keep it up I do not know if anyone can beat them. Even without one of their stars, Chris Bosh, they still are a very dangerous team. With Bosh out, this just allows James and Wade more touches throughout the game. I feel this has made Miami an even more dangerous team. This allows them to be a lot more aggressive and get a better feel for the game. It is still up in the air if Bosh will come back during this series and they might not need him against a banged up Boston team. However, if Miami does advance to the NBA Finals they will definitely need Chris Bosh against a high scoring San Antonio or Oklahoma City team. 


I think Boston is just too banged up at this point of the season to knock off Miami. You can see Paul Pierce struggling to find his shot. He has no lift off the ground with his sprained MCL. Ray Allen just can't get any rhythm in his shot. Not even from the charity stripe. If both of these guys can't find their shot the Celtics might not even win one game. The Celtics are too dependent on Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo right now. They need them to almost match the play of Wade and James with Pierce and Allen banged up. We all know that is not going to happen. James and Wade are two of the best players in the game, and with the way they are playing right now, they are near impossible to stop. 


I feel Boston will find a way to win a game or two, but I do not see them moving on to the NBA Finals. I see Miami winning in five or six. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade would love to knock off Boston in Boston's backyard. After losing to Boston so many times, and especially in close out games at the TD Garden. The relief for James and Wade to hear the Boston fans' silent would be a great accomplishment for these two. This could be the last time we see the big three together in Boston. The Celtics will probably feel like they underachieved only winning one championship. However, it could have been more if it wasn't for injuries. Garnett missed the 2009 playoffs with a knee injury. Kendrick Perkins tore his ACL in game six of the NBA Finals with his Celtics up 3-2 against the Lakers. Too bad injuries are part of the game and this stuff happens. I see Boston giving everything they have against the Heat, but it simply won't be enough. Injuries will once again cost Boston a chance at holding up banner number 18. 

                                                       MIAMI HEAT IN 6

-NBA Finals preview coming soon

UFC 146 Preview

                                         THE HEAVYWEIGHTS


Dana White is thrilled that UFC 146 is just hours away. This has been a tough stretch leading up to this card. Alistair Overeem had to withdraw from the card after he failed a pre-fight drug test that has him suspended until late December. Mark Hunt and Gabriel Gonzaga suffered injuries forcing them off the card. Light Heavyweight champ, Jon Jones, was arrested for a DUI earlier this week. He is the only fighter who is sponsored by the UFC. It has been a nightmare for the UFC leading up to this card. Luckily, they can take a deep breath because once      6:45 PM (ET) rolls around on Saturday it is time for some action. 

This is the first time in UFC history that all five fights on the main card will feature Heavyweights. Finally, Heavyweight champ, Junior dos Santos, will defend his belt for the first time against one of the best UFC Heavyweights of all-time. Also on the card, former Heavyweight champ, Cain Velasquez, welcomes Antonio "Big Foot" Silva to the Octagon. Roy "Big Country" Nelson is squaring off against a very underrated Dave "Pee-wee" Herman. Stipe Miocic and Shane del Rosario will meet in the center of the Octagon to try and get a big win to catapult into the top-10 Heavyweight rankings. The fifth Heavyweight fight features the tallest man in the UFC, 6'11", Stefan Struve, against the heavy-handed Lavar Johnson. Despite all the craziness leading up to UFC 146, it is still a very stacked card that should provide some exciting fights. There are some very entertaining fights on the prelim card that I will give a quick break down of after the main card. Let's jump right in and break down the five fights on the pay-per-view card.




HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT: JUNIOR DOS SANTOS vs. FRANK MIR


Junior dos Santos has dominated all eight of his opponents inside the Octagon. There has never been a moment where it looked like dos Santos was going to lose. On November 12th, 2011, dos Santos knocked out the Heavyweight champ, Cain Velasquez, to win the belt. This was the biggest night for the UFC as they made their network debut on Fox. Junior dos Santos definitely stole the show, and did it in just 64-seconds. He has compiled a 14-1 career MMA record with 10 (T)KO's and two submission victories. He is a perfect 8-0 since making his Octagon debut in October 2008. He has beaten the likes of Cain Velasquez, Shane Carwin, Roy Nelson, Gabriel Gonzaga, Gilbert Yvel, Mirko Cro-Cop, Stefan Struve, and Fabricio Werdum. He is the best boxer in the Heavyweight division, and no one is even close to his level. He averages over two knockdowns per 15-minutes, which is second best in UFC history. Just ask Shane Carwin who thought he had the edge standing up. By the third round Carwin was trying to secure a takedown because dos Santos was toying with him on the feet. However, Frank Mir is a different type of animal than any of the other eight opponents dos Santos has faced in the UFC.


In Frank Mir's last fight he snapped Antonio "Big Nog" Nogueira's arm in half. Big Nog is Junior dos Santos' mentor, so this definitely adds some spice to the fight. Frank Mir is 2-0 against Big Nog, being the only man to ever submit him, and the first to ever knock him out. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is one of the best Heavyweights in MMA history, and Frank Mir made him look like an amateur. Mir has the most wins in the history of the Heavyweight division with 14. He is tied with Anderson Silva with the 7th most wins inside the Octagon. His eight career submission victories are tied with Nate Diaz and Kenny Florian for most in UFC history. He is a two-time Heavyweight champion. You want to talk about battling adversity, Frank Mir can make the claim no one has had to go through the road he has. After breaking Tim Sylvia's arm and winning the UFC Heavyweight belt in the summer of 2004, he was on top of the world. It did not last too long. Mir crashed his motorcycle five months after winning the belt and was seriously injured. His MMA career took years to get back on track. Battles with alcohol and drugs during this time almost cost Mir a chance at returning. When Mir returned to the Octagon 17-months after the motorcycle accident, it was evident he was not the same. He lost two of his first three fights. He thought about leaving the sport, but thank his wife, Jennifer Mir, for not allowing that to be an option. She challenged him to get back to the level he was once at, and get even better. Frank is a smart man, he listened. He's won seven of his last nine fights inside the Octagon. Mir has beaten the likes of Antonio "Big Nog" Nogueira (2x), Roy Nelson, Mirko Cro-Cop, Cheick Kongo, Brock Lesnar, Antoni Hardonk, Tim Sylvia, and Tank Abbott. If Mir can add dos Santos to the list, he will become a three-time Heavyweight champion. There will be no question on who is the best Heavyweight to ever step inside the UFC Octagon if Mir can pull off the upset. 


PREDICTION
I keep going back and forth on this one. I feel Frank Mir has a better chance than most people are giving him. Dos Santos is currently a 4:1 favorite in Vegas. I understand that dos Santos has made it look easy inside the Octagon, but he is going up against the guy who is 2-0 against "Big Nog", the guy who mentored dos Santos. This fight is pretty simple to break down. Mir needs to get it to the ground and dos Santos needs to keep the fight standing up. In dos Santos' only career loss, he lost via armbar. I really do not think that plays any role in this because it was nearly five years ago. In all five of Mir's losses, he has been TKO'ed. I think this will end up being a tough fight for Mir. Junior dos Santos is outstanding at takedown defense. He has only been taken down two times in his eight fights inside the Octagon. The guy knows how to sprawl. The only way I see Mir getting it to the ground is by pulling guard or landing a reversal on dos Santos if he gets on top of Mir. I do not see either of those situations going down. I think this is going to end up being a quick and devastating knockout. Junior dos Santos will defend his belt successfully and earn his ninth straight victory inside the Octagon. 


                               JUNIOR DOS SANTOS - 1ST RD. TKO

CO-MAIN EVENT: CAIN VELASQUEZ vs. ANTONIO SILVA


Cain Velasquez has not fought since losing his belt last November to Junior dos Santos. He is ready to get back in the Octagon and start another winning streak. He wants another crack at dos Santos, but he will have to get through a tough challenger tomorrow night first. I really think Cain Velasquez is still the best Heavyweight in the UFC. He was battling through some injuries that affected him tremendously against Junior dos Santos. Velasquez is the most well-rounded fighter in the Heavyweight division. He has the best wrestling in the division. He has some very good hands, which he keeps improving on. He trains at the American Kickboxing Academy, which is one of the top gyms in the world. He is going to keep getting better. I feel the setback he suffered in his last fight will soon be forgotten. He was coming off surgery on his shoulder and hurt his knee while training for dos Santos. Before Velasquez lost his belt he was dominating his opponents. He was a perfect 9-0 in his MMA career, and 7-0 inside the Octagon. Eight of nine victories were knock out wins. He has beaten the likes of Brock Lesnar, Antonio "Big Nog" Nogueira, Ben Rothwell, and Cheick Kongo. I honestly feel he would of had a good chance at being 10-0 if he was not banged up for the dos Santos fight. However, injuries happen, and as a result, the former Arizona State wrestling star is 9-1. 

Antonio "Big Foot" Silva is a monster. Big Foot is the perfect nickname for Silva because he is a huge dude. Silva is not as popular as a lot of the fighters on this card because he spent the last five years fighting for Strikeforce and EliteXC. He had a lot of success in Strikeforce and the EliteXC posting a 7-2 record. He is 16-3 overall and only two of his wins have gone the distance. He has 11 career (T)KO's and 3 submission victories. However, Strikeforce and the EliteXC do not provide the same talent level as the UFC. Silva has beaten the likes of Fedor Emelienko, Mike Kyle, Andrei Arlovski, Justin Eilers, and Ricco Rodriguez. Let's not get carried away though. He beat Fedor when Fedor was washed up. Mike Kyle is not that great. Arlovski was clearly over the hill. Justin Eilers and Ricco Rodriguez were both washed up and out of shape when Big Foot beat them. This is a huge step up for Antonio Silva. This will be the toughest fight  for Antonio Silva and he better be prepared for the best Cain Velasquez. 


PREDICTION
This is an easy fight to predict. Cain Velasquez has the edge in just about every category except for size. Velasquez's speed will be too much for Silva to handle. I see this fight playing out just like Antonio Silva's last fight. Silva got knocked out in the first round by Daniel Cormier, a training partner at AKA with Velasquez, and I see Velasquez coming out with the same game plan. The only difference I see in this fight, is I do not think it will take Velasquez 3:56 seconds to knock him out. I see this being an early TKO win for Velasquez. Ground and pound gets the former champ back near the top to challenge for the Heavyweight belt. Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II could be in the near future. 


                                     CAIN VELASQUEZ - 1ST RD. TKO

ROY "BIG COUNTRY" NELSON vs. DAVE "PEE-WEE" HERMAN


This is going to be a very ENTERTAINING fight, if both guys come in prepared. This has been an issue for both of these fighters. Dave Herman looked great in the first round against Stefan Struve in his last fight. Then, the second round came, and he gassed out, which resulted in a 2nd-rd. TKO loss. Big Country has lost three of four and needs a win badly. Roy Nelson could be a really good fighter if he would take his job a little more serious. He comes in with a respectable 16-7 MMA record. However, he has always come up short against the top-tier fighters. He has beaten the likes of Mirko Cro-Cop, Brenden Schuab, and Stefan Struve, but has fallen short against the likes of Frank Mir, Fabricio Werdum, and Junior dos Santos. He has never taken advantage of winning the one fight that will put him among the top Heavyweights. He will always be a mid-tier fighter unless he gets in better shape. He was originally slated to take on Gabriel Gonzaga, but Gonzaga had to withdraw with an injury. I feel this is going to be a tougher fight for Nelson facing Dave Herman.

Pee-Wee is one of the most underrated fighters in MMA. Largely because he has been fighting for Sengoku, Bellator, and other MMA promotions that are not as well-known as the UFC. Also, Herman has not faced the toughest competition during his MMA career. He has a very impressive record of 21-3, with 15 (T)KO's and five submission victories, but he has not fought the cream of the crop. This is his perfect opportunity for him to make a name for himself in the UFC. Herman is 1-1 inside the Octagon. He won fight of the night honors in his 2nd-rd. TKO victory against John Olav Einemo. However, he could not build any momentum after that win, and lost his next fight in the UFC. He looked good in the first round against Stefan Struve, but gassed in the second, making it an easy ground and pound victory for Struve. This will be the main vocal point for Herman in this fight. If he comes in great shape he should present a tough challenge for Nelson. We will see how the training camp has gone for Herman, because he took this fight on short notice in late April, so fatigue could be an issue once again for Pee-Wee. 


PREDICTION
This has a really good chance to be the most exciting fight of the night. However, it will depend heavily on these guys coming into this fight in shape. Also, Roy Nelson was originally slated to face Antonio Silva, then Gabriel Gonzaga, and now Dave Herman. (Thank Alistair Overeem for all the confusion leading up to this card.) This could play a role in this fight as Nelson was originally training for "Big Foot" Silva and now gets a totally different fighter in Dave Herman. Herman took this fight on short notice so this could play a factor in this fight. Herman gassed in both his previous fights in the Octagon, and taking this fight on short notice, could very well result in the same outcome. This is a very tough fight to predict. Roy Nelson is a badass who can probably take more damage than any other fighter in the UFC. Dave Herman, if in shape, is one of the most talented fighters in the world. I am taking Roy Nelson via decision. I think Herman will come out strong in the opening frame but will gas in the 2nd and 3rd round. Nelson takes advantage of his granite chin and withstands the damage in the first round. He will outwork Herman in the last two rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory. Roy Nelson will fight the winner of the Shane del Rosario/Stipe Miocic after this win in my opinion.


                             ROY NELSON - UNANIMOUS DECISION

BATTLE OF THE FUTURE: SHANE DEL ROSARIO vs. STIPE MIOCIC


Get your popcorn ready for this fight. This fight features two of the top prospects in the UFC's Heavyweight division. Shane del Rosario went through a very similar predicament as Frank Mir. Just over a year ago, a drunk driver ran into del Rosario's car while he was stopped at a red light. His MMA career was close to being over. He was close to losing his life. Luckily, for del Rosario, he is a very strong individual and battled back relentlessly to get back to this point. He was originally slated to face off against Daniel Cormier in Strikeforce to show who was the best young Heavyweight in Strikeforce. Unfortunately, the car accident occurred before this fight took place. Cormier went on to secure the Strikefoce Heavyweight Grand Prix title last Saturday against Josh Barnett. Shane del Rosario gets a chance to prove himself in the UFC. He comes in with a perfect 11-0 MMA record. Del Rosario has finished all 11 of his opponents, and only one has made it through the first round. He is making his Octagon debut in a matter of hours. Del Rosario proved himself in Strikeforce to make a name for himself. He showed how good of a fighter he is in his last fight against Lavar Johnson. He withstood Johnson's power shots in the early part of the opening frame and submitted Johnson late in round one with an armbar. This was del Rosario's last fight before the car accident took place. He is hoping the 17-month layoff won't affect him on Saturday night. 

Stipe Miocic is an absolute monster and should make every Heavyweight in the UFC nervous. This up-and-coming fighter brings a lot to the table. Like del Rosario, Miocic has not tasted defeat yet. He is 8-0 in his MMA career with 6 (T)KO's and one submission victory. He is a perfect 2-0 in the UFC. He beat a very tough Joey Beltran easily in his Octagon debut and then knocked out a previously undefeated Phillip De Fries in :43 seconds. Stipe Miocic could very well end up being the Jon Jones of the Heavyweight division. The potential is through the roof for the 29-year old Heavyweight. The former baseball and wrestling star from Cleveland State is a very athletic Heavyweight. If he wanted to pursue a baseball career he could very well be playing in the majors right now. Not only is he an absolute athlete, he is also very intelligent. He is a former Golden Gloves champ too. This is going to be a very tough fight for both of these young prospects. The winner of this fight will be on the right path at earning a title shot in the next couple of years. 


PREDICTION
This is definitely a pick em' fight. Both these guys are young studs who have the potential to be the Heavyweight champ down the road. Shane del Rosario showed his toughness when he submitted Lavar Johnson. When Johnson hits you, you usually go down, (just ask Joey Beltran or Pat Barry) but not Shane del Rosario. I think this is going to be a very close and competitive fight. Stipe Miocic is taking this fight on short notice so that could be a factor in the fight. However, del Rosario is coming off a 17-month layoff and is fighting for the first time since his car accident. Also, it will be his Octagon debut so there could be some jitters for Shane del Rosario. I give the slight edge to Miocic in this fight. as I see him earning a split-decision victory. Miocic is a very well-rounded fighter who is comfortable in all areas and I think he will be able to control the pace of the fight. I definitely think this fight could capture fight of the night honors. 


                                     STIPE MIOCIC - SPLIT DECISION

BONES vs. MUSCLE: STEFAN STRUVE vs. LAVAR JOHNSON




Stefan Struve was originally slated to take on Mark Hunt. Hunt was rapidly rising up on the Heavyweight charts after running through Cheick Kongo with ease. With a win against Struve it would have guaranteed him his 4th straight win and a top-5 Heavyweight in his next fight. Unfortunately, Hunt had to pull out with an injury. Up next for Struve is the hard-hitting Lavar Johnson. Not many people took notice of Johnson when he came to the UFC from Strikeforce. There really wasn't reason to. He dropped his final two fights in Strikeforce. Wow, how things have changed quickly for Johnson. He has been wrecking havoc since making his Octagon debut against Joey Beltran in January. He knocked Beltran out in the first round, a guy who was known for having a granite chin. He made his next fight in the UFC look pretty easy too. He knocked out Pat Barry in the first round. Just like that Lavar Johnson is making noise in the Octagon. Lavar Johnson stepped up to the plate when Dana White called him asking if he would step in to face Struve. He fought 20 days ago when he knocked out Pat Barry, so he is making a quick turnaround accepting this fight on short notice. (Chris Leben isn't the only guy who will take a fight with less than three weeks to train.) Lavar Johnson brings a 17-5 MMA record into the Octagon and has knocked out 15 of his 17 opponents in his victories. I think it is safe to say this dude comes to throw down. Also, let's not forget he trains with the American Kickboxing Academy so he is getting some of the best training in the world. 


Stefan Struve is no joke. This kid is as tough as they come. He can take some shots. Every Stefan Struve fight I have watched goes like this: he gets his ass whooped in the first round then becomes a new fighter in the second round and finds a way to either get the TKO or the submission victory. Struve would be smart to try and get this fight to the ground because you do not want to get in a slug fest with Lavar Johnson. If Struve goes that route he could be asleep very early on Saturday night. Struve has compiled a 23-5 professional MMA record with 15 wins coming via submission and six (T)KO victories. He has become a young UFC veteran. He will be making his 11th appearance in the Octagon tomorrow night and has won seven of his 10 fights in the UFC. The Skyscraper comes in at 6'11" making him the tallest fighter to ever step foot in the Octagon. Even though he has already had 10 fights inside the Octagon, he is still very young at the age of 24. The sky is limit for this kid and if he continues to tighten up his game he could become a top-ten Heavyweight in the near future. 


PREDICTION
The winner of this fight will be the guy who can dictate where the fight goes. If it stays standing up it will be Lavar Johnson's fight to win. If Struve can get it to the ground, it gives him a great opportunity to win this one. Struve has only lost five times, but in four of those five losses he was knocked out. Lavar Johnson is hoping to be the fifth guy to knock out the Skyscraper. Johnson has only lost five times, but in four of those five losses he was submitted. Stefan Struve is hoping to be lucky number five in that department. I think Struve is still a young fighter, and will go away from the game plan and get in a slug fest with Lavar Johnson. This will be a horrible decision for Struve as Johnson knocks the Skyscraper out in the first frame. Johnson wins his 3rd fight in a row, and 2nd in three weeks. I see a fight with him and Mark Hunt coming up after Hunt heals up from his injury. 


                                    LAVAR JOHNSON - 1ST RD. TKO

                 




                   PRELIMINARY BOUT PREDICTIONS


           Diego Brandao (14-7) vs. Darren Elkins (13-2)

Diego Brandao armbar (Dennis Bermudez)

Diego Brandao is not getting anything handed to him in his first fight since winning The Ultimate Fighter season 14 finale. Darren Elkins is making his 5th appearance inside the Octagon and has a 3-1 record in the UFC. Brandao busted out a sick armbar on Dennis Bermudez to capture the six-figure UFC contract. I expect Brandao to be challenged in this fight, but I see him pulling out with a knockout victory over a very game opponent in Elkins.


PREDICTION: DIEGO BRANDAO - 2ND RD. TKO




                  Edson Barboza (10-0) vs. Jamie Varner (19-6-1)

Edson Barboza (left)       Jamie Varner (right)

Edson Barboza is the best fighter that no one knows about. Only MMA junkies know how skilled this young Brazilian is. In his last fight he busted out a spinning wheel kick that knocked Terry Etim out cold. It could very well win knockout of the year. (Barboza sick KO) Barboza has a well-rounded attack and has some nasty leg kicks. He is very reminiscent of Jose Aldo. Jamie Varner comes into this fight in a win-win situation. Varner is the former Lightweight champion of the WEC. A few years ago he was one of the top 155-pounders in the world. Things have changed over the last couple of years. He went 1-4-1 before recently going on a two-fight win streak. He was battling through some problems mentally, but it seems like he has got things under control. He took this fight on short notice after Evan Dunham had to pull out with an injury. Varner was not even under contract with the UFC before he accepted this fight. This will be his first fight inside the Octagon since he submitted Jason Gilliam in March 2007 at UFC 68. If he can put on a good performance, he has a good chance to earn some more paychecks from Zuffa. However, I see Barboza dominating this fight. His leg kicks will slow Varner down and I expect him to get the TKO victory later in the fight. 


PREDICTION: EDSON BARBOZA - 3RD RD. TKO




    C.B. Dolloway (11-4) vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller (23-8)

Jason Miller (left)             C.B. Dolloway (right)

C.B. Dolloway finally looked like he found his groove inside the Octagon reeling off three straight wins. That quickly evaporated as he comes into this fight a loser of two in a row. The former Ultimate Fighter runner-up can't find any consistency inside the Octagon. Mayhem Miller on the other hand, blew a golden opportunity after being the coach on last season's Ultimate Fighter. He showed up to his fight against Michael Bisping out of shape. He gassed before the opening bell even sounded. It was pathetic. Both of these fighters are fighting to just stay in the UFC. The loser of this fight will more than likely receive a pink slip. Jason Miller has the edge in experience as he has fought all over the world during his MMA career. C.B. Dolloway has had glimpses were he looks like he can be a really good fighter, but then has phases were he simply looks lost. I think this is going to be a close fight as both try and get back on the winning side. This has the potential to be like a chess match, which usually means one thing: it won't be too exciting. 


PREDICTION: JASON "MAYHEM" MILLER - SPLIT DECISION




                   Dan Hardy (23-10) vs. Duane Ludwig (21-12)

Duane Ludwig

Dan Hardy

This is going to be a stand up war. Both these guys love to stand and trade blows. I do not see either one of these guys backing down from one another and it should live up to the hype. This could very well steal fight of the night if neither fighter gets knocked out early. Things have changed for Dan Hardy since he was fighting for the Welterweight belt in March 2010. He has dropped his last four fights and has shown no improvement at being able to stuff a takedown. He recently took some time off, and focused on refining his game training in Las Vegas with the likes of Frank Mir, Big Country Nelson, and others, to improve on his weak ground game. Luckily for him he should not need it in this fight. Duane "Bang" Ludwig comes to throw down. His nickname says it all. This should be a stand up war and both guys will look to land the big KO punch. I think it is about time for Dan Hardy to get back on the winning track. His chin is a lot stronger than Ludwig's. Ludwig has been knocked out five times. Hardy has only been knocked out once, and that was to the Interim Welterweight Champ, Carlos Condit. 


PREDICTION: DAN HARDY - 1ST RD. KO





               Glover Teixeira (17-2) vs. Kyle Kingsbury (11-3)

Glover Teixeira 

If Edson Barboza is the best fighter no one has ever heard about, Glover Teixeira is the second best. This 205-pounder is an absolute beast. He has not lost in over six years and has won 15-fights in a row. He has not fight the top competition but he ran through everyone they put in front of him. Teixeira has worked with John Hackleman's camp and has worked on his stand up with Chuck Liddell. However,
Kyle Kingsbury is no joke. He trains with the American Kickboxing Academy and is training with one of the best camps in the world. Kingsbury was riding a four-fight win streak until he ran into Stephan Bonnar in his last fight. Kingsbury is 4-2 in his UFC career and his Octagon experience could play a role in spoiling Teixeira's UFC debut. However, I do not see it playing out like that. I see Teixeira dominating the fight wherever it ends up. 


PREDICTION: GLOVER TEIXEIRA - UNANIMOUS DECISION




            Paul Sass (12-0) vs. Jacob Volkmann (14-2)

Jacob Volkmann (left)                                  Paul Sass (right)

This is a huge fight for both of these guys. They are on the cusp of being considered legitimate contenders in the Lightweight division. They are trying to earn the right to start getting those tough fights that will be shown on the main card. Sass is 2-0 in his UFC career and his heel hook victory over Michael Johnson is looking more and more impressive. Johnson has been on a tear since that defeat and beat Shane Roller and Tony Ferguson (TUF season 13 winner). The 23-year old, from Liverpool, England, submitted Johnson in the opening frame and made it look easy. If he can get through a tough Volkmann it will put him on the map. Jacob Volkmann is no joke. Volkmann started off his UFC career on the wrong side. He dropped back-to-back losses to Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. Volkmann was smart, after those two fights, he dropped down a weight class to 155 lbs. Since then, he is 5-0 inside the Octagon. This is going to be a very strategic fight for both guys. All five of Volkmann's UFC victories have been via decision. If Volkmann can control the fight and take Sass down he could very well win his 6th straight inside the Octagon. It is obvious what Sass wants to do: get the submission victory. 11 of his 12 wins have come via submission.


PREDICTION: PAUL SASS - TRIANGLE CHOKE RD. 2




            Mike Thomas Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7)

Mike Brown against Faber

Daniel Pineda

Mike Thomas Brown use to be known as the guy who was running the 145 lb. division. Funny how things change when a guy named Jose Aldo comes around. Since Aldo took Brown's Featherweight belt in the WEC. he has gone 3-3 in his last six fights. He beat a tough Nam Phan is his last fight, but Phan is nothing to get excited about. The road is coming to an end for Mike Brown. He will still be remembered for the guy who finally knocked off Urijah Faber in the WEC. Not too shabby to be remembered for. This is a golden opportunity for Daniel Pineda to add a recognizable name to his list of wins. Pineda is 2-0 in the UFC, and is currently riding a 7-fight winning streak. This is Pineda's shot to earn some respect in the Featherweight division. Mike Brown is going to give Pineda the toughest fight of his life. It'll be crucial to see how Pineda handles Brown to determine if he is a guy to potentially watch out for in the 145 lb. division. I think Pineda is going to shine against the former WEC Featherweight champion and pull out the submission victory.


PREDICTION: DANIEL PINEDA - REAR NAKED CHOKE RD. 1






PREDICTION RECAP


JUNIOR DOS SANTOS over FRANK MIR (1ST RD. TKO)


CAIN VELASQUEZ over ANTONIO SILVA (1ST RD. TKO)


ROY NELSON over DAVE HERMAN (UNANIMOUS DECISION)


STIPE MIOCIC over SHANE DEL ROSARIO (SPLIT DECISION)


LAVAR JOHNSON over STEFAN STRUVE (1ST RD. TKO)


DIEGO BRANDAO over DARREN ELKINS (2ND RD. TKO)


EDSON BARBOZA over JAMIE VARNER (3RD RD. TKO)


JASON MILLER over C.B. DOLLOWAY (SPLIT DECISION)


DAN HARDY over DUANE LUDWIG (1ST RD. KO)


GLOVER TEIXEIRA over KYLE KINGSBURY (UNANIMOUS DECISION)


PAUL SASS over JACOB VOLKMANN (2ND RD. TRIANGLE CHOKE)


DANIEL PINEDA over MIKE THOMAS BROWN (1ST RD. REAR NAKED CHOKE)






                

Preview of Western Conference Finals

BATTLE IN THE MIDWEST

The two best teams in the Western Conference made it look pretty easy to get to this point. The Spurs and Thunder were a combined 16-1 in the first two rounds of the playoffs. San Antonio cruised through Utah and Los Angeles (Clippers) winning three out of four by double-digits in each series. The Thunder have shown they can win games at the end with their young stars. Kevin Durant has already made three game-winning shots in the playoffs. Russell Westbrook and James Harden have shown they can be trusted down the stretch.  Everyone figured it would be these two teams hooking up in the Western Conference Finals and we all got our wish. There are going to be some exciting match-ups to pay attention to that will decide who moves on to the NBA Finals. 

                                       

POINT GUARD 

MATCH-UP

          

This is going to be a match-up that plays a huge role in deciding this series. Tony Parker is having his best year as a pro. Russell Westbrook has emerged as a top-five point guard in the game. Westbrook has matured dramatically since last season. Last year, during the playoffs, Westbrook struggled. This year has been a different story for the fourth-year veteran. Westbrook is shooting nearly 50% from the field in the playoffs, compared to 39% last year. This is a very intriguing match-up that is going to play a significant role in who moves on. 

Tony Parker was one of the top players in the NBA this year and was the main reason why the Spurs finished with the best record in the West. Parker finished fifth in the MVP voting this year, averaging 18 PPG and over 7 APG. This was the first time in Parker's 11-year career that he averaged at least seven dimes a game. He has been the main cog in the Spurs recent 18-game winning streak. Only nine other teams have ever won 18-games in a row in NBA history. Six of the nine won it all. (14 of 18 games during win streak have been double-digit wins.) During the regular season match-ups between these two teams, Parker made a huge difference. San Antonio won two out of three against Oklahoma City and Parker averaged 33.5 PPG and 8 APG in the two wins. However, in the one loss Parker only put up 4 points. If the Spurs want to beat the Thunder, Parker will need to average close to 20 and 8. He needs to make sure and force Westbrook to burn a lot of energy on the defensive end. Parker told the media earlier this week that he is going to attack Westbrook and go right at him. He said Westbrook had it easy going against Dallas and the Lakers. The Spurs have one thing on their mind, and that is to win their fifth NBA Championship, but it will not happen if Tony Parker does not lead the way for the Spurs.

Russell Westbrook has shown tremendous improvement in his decision making this season. Last year, during the playoffs, he forced up a lot of bad shots that cost his team a chance at competing in the Finals. He looked lost most of the time during the playoffs in 2011. Wow, how things have changed for the former UCLA star. This season, he has matured into a point guard that knows when to take over and when to get guys involved. A lot of critics say he shoots too much for a point guard. The Thunder need Westbrook to be aggressive, because outside of Durant and James Harden, he is the only other guy that can create his own shot. The Thunder would of not had a chance to steal game four in Staples Center if Westbrook did not force the tempo in the fourth quarter. During an important stretch in the 4th, Westbrook scored nine straight for Oklahoma City, which allowed Durant the opportunity at the end. Westbrook finished fifth in the NBA in scoring this year averaging 23.6 PPG. Westbrook also put up over 5 APG and nealry 5 RPG this season. He is a point guard that can do it all. The one issue with Westbrook this year has been turnovers. He averaged nearly 4 turnovers per game this year. (3.6 turnovers/per game, 6th most in the NBA.) During the playoffs he has improved tremendously averaging under 2 per/game. If Westbrook can cut down on the turnovers, this gives Oklahoma City a huge chance at knocking off the best team in the West. If Westbrook can average close to 25, 5, and 7 the Thunder could very well be hosting the NBA Finals. Most importantly, Westbrook needs to continue at his rate of less than two turnovers during this series.  

KEVIN DURANT VS. THE POP

Gregg Popovich showed just how great of a coach he is against the Los Angeles Clippers. Kevin Durant showed how deadly he can be at the end of games against the Los Angeles Lakers. Popovich showed how to shut down a top point guard in the game. Chris Paul averaged 12.7 PPG, 4.5 turnovers/game, and shot under 50% from the field in the second round of the playoffs. Yes, Chris Paul was banged up, but Popovich definitely played a role in shutting down one of the best players in the game. Their defense was stellar on stopping the Clippers pick and roll. They will see a lot more pick and rolls against the Thunder. Things will be different this time around for Pop though. He did not have to deal with the likes of shutting down the back-to-back-to-back scoring champion of the NBA. Kevin Durant is one of the top 3 players in the game right now. It is going to be crucial for Kevin Durant to be highly involved down the stretch and Popovich is going to try and make the other guys beat him in crunch time. This is going to be a crucial factor in the series. Durant has shown he is absolute money down the stretch in these playoffs. He has knocked in three game-winners and all of them have come in crucial games. Dallas was trying to steal game one in the first round, but Durant was having none of it. He hit a 20-foot floater, with under two-seconds remaining, to give OKC a 99-98 victory. In the second round, the Lakers were trying to steal game two, up by one with under :30 seconds, then Durant hit a 7-footer from the baseline over Gasol and Bynum with :18 seconds left. That gave OKC a 76-75 lead as they held on for a 77-75 victory. Durant scored eight of the final 12 points for the Thunder down the stretch to ensure a 2-0 lead. Mr. Clutch struck again in game four. With the game tied 98-98, the Lakers trying to tie the series at two apeice to steal momentum, Durant pulls up from 25-feet, straight away, nothin' but net. Game! There went the Lakers chances at a 17th NBA Title. Kobe Bryant, the game's best closer, five-time champion, out done at his own game by a 23-year old NBA star. This is the guy that Gregg Popovich is going to have to frustrate. It is near impossible to stop Durant, but if Pop can frustrate the MVP runner-up, the Spurs will have a good chance at moving on. It will not be an easy task as two of the games best defensive coaches, Rick Carlisle and Mike Brown, did not have any success at frustrating Mr. Durant. The five-year superstar from Texas is averaging 27 PPG during the playoffs and has been at his best in the fourth quarter. Durant is averaging 8 PPG in the 4th quarter during the postseason. If Popovich can't come up with a scheme to force the ball out of Durant's hands in the 4th, the Spurs could be in trouble. 

It will be interesting to see how the Spurs attack the leagues scoring champion. Kawhi Leonard will be first up in attempting to stop Mr. Durant. The 6'7" rookie, from San Diego State, will have his hands full trying to shut down Durant. In the Spurs two wins against Oklahoma this season, they held Durant to under 50% shooting, and held him to 2-10 from deep. In the lone Thunder win against the Spurs, Durant shot 5-9 from the floor, and went 10-10 from the free-throw line. It will be crucial for Popovich and the Spurs to force Durant into a jump shooter and keep him off the charity stripe. The Spurs will need to limit Durant's free-throw attempts in this series and make him earn every single one of his points. It is a tough task at hand because of Durant's size. The kid is nearly 7' feet tall and can handle the rock like a point guard. It is very easy for Durant to get whatever shot he wants. It will be important for the Spurs to try and confuse Durant and hope he turns the ball over. Kevin Durant averaged a career high in turnovers this year (3.8 per game) and it was the 3rd highest in the NBA. Unlike his teammate Westbrook, Durant has not cut down on the turnovers in the playoffs. His 3.2 turnovers/per game are the ninth most in the playoffs. The Spurs will need to find a way to force one of the league's most dynamic duos into turnovers, if Popovich wants a chance at winning his fifth ring. 

 SIXTH MAN vs. SIXTH MAN

Manu Ginobili and James Harden will both play a crucial role off the bench in this series. It is almost remarkable how similar these two guy's games are. They both are lefties. They both slither through defenders at ease. They can run the point. They are both versatile players who can do just about anything the coach asks. Manu Ginobili has the experience edge against the third-year pro from Arizona State. Ginobili is a three-time NBA Champion, two-time NBA All-star, and won the 

NBA sixth-man of the year in 2008. James Harden can only say he is one of those things. The beard was awarded the NBA's sixth-man of the year this season. Harden got huge playoff minutes last season during the Thunder's run to the Western Conference Finals. The Jeff Green trade during last years trade deadline was huge for Oklahoma. This allowed for a savvy veteran in Kendrick Perkins to come in, but more importantly, it opened up more minutes for James Harden. He surely has not disappointed. He has played huge for the Thunder in this years playoffs. 

James Harden is putting up 17 PPG, 5 RPG, and 3 APG in the playoffs. He is also averaging two steals/game. James Harden is the Thunder's most versatile player. The kid can do it all. You need him to rebound: check. You need him to run the point: check. You need him to be a scorer: check. You want him to defend the opponent's best perimeter player: check. He is a perfect tool in Head Coach Scott Brook's toolbox. In game four against the Dallas Mavericks, the beard showed how dynamic he can be. In the series clinching game against the reigning champs, Harden went for 29 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and one block. In the fourth quarter of that game he took over. He scored 15 points and dished out 3 dimes as OKC sent Dallas fishing. If James Harden can be the force he has throughout the season, and the playoffs, the Thunder could be playing for an NBA Championship. 

Manu Ginobili has not been the force he usually is in these playoffs. He is only shooting 40% from the floor, 25% from deep, and averaging only 11 points/game. However, the Spurs are such a deep team that it has not cost San Antonio during Ginobili's mediocre play. This has to change in this series though. The Spurs are going up against a young up-and-coming team in OKC. They are a different animal than the Jazz and Clippers. Now they are going up against the Bull and have to deal with the horns. Ginobili is having his worst statistical output in the playoffs since his rookie season. Ginobili is going to have to match the play of Harden in this series if the Spurs want to move on to the NBA Finals. This match-up of the bat killer (click link to see Manu Ginobili vs. bat) vs. the beard will play dividends in determining who comes out of the Western Conference. 

DEPTH vs. BIG 3

This series will be over if Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden don't all play great basketball. San Antonio is too good of a team to lose to a two-man show. There is a reason why this team is one of ten teams in NBA history to win at least 18-games in a row. They are loaded with the perfect amount of veterans and youngsters. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, and Stephen Jackson are a nice mix of veterans. Kawhi Leonard, Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter, 

Danny Green, and DeJuan Blair add some youth to make this a very dangerous San Antonio Spurs team. During the regular season, 11 Spurs averaged more than 6 points/game. During this postseason, nine Spurs are putting up better than 5 points/game. This is a huge stat because we all know how teams cut down their bench during the playoffs. The Spurs can trust a boat load of different guys to score and it is making defense's looked confused when matching up against the Spurs. You double team Duncan on the block he'll kick it out for a wide open three. If Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili penetrate, forcing a double team, it leads to either a wide open layup or an open three. The Spurs were the best three-point shooting team in the NBA during the regular season. They shot 39% from deep this year and five different Spurs shot better than 40% from long range. During the playoffs, they have been the top 3-point shooting team through two-rounds. They are shooting a remarkable 42% from beyond the arc. Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Gary Neal, Matt Bonner, Stephen Jackson, and Boris Diaw are all shooting over 40% from deep during the playoffs. If all of the Spurs role players can step up and do their job they have a really good chance to make it to the NBA Finals. If these guys keep knocking down their 3's they are near impossible to beat. 

We all know what the Thunder's game plan is. Get the ball to one of their three-headed monsters. During the playoffs, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden are scoring 67 of the 100 points/game. They have all scored in double-figures in all nine playoff games. If they don't all score in double-figures in this series, they will have no chance. Even if all three of these guys have great games, the Spurs are so deep they can still withstand it. Russell Westbrook and James Harden are both really important players for the Thunder, but Kevin Durant is the guy who carries the weight on his shoulders. If the Thunder want to beat the Spurs, a team with a core group of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili who have accumulated for10 rings, Kevin Durant will have to lead the way. Durant has emerged into a star during the last couple of years, but this series will be crucial into determining if he is the guy in the NBA. The spot that Kobe Bryant has earned. The spot Dirk Nowitzki earned during last years improbable postseason run. Durant has already gone through both of these former champs in the first two-rounds. Now he will have a chance at dethroning another team that provides championship credentials. Kevin Durant is only 23-years old, but his legacy could start five years earlier than Michael Jordan's did, if, and I mean if, he can lead the Thunder to an NBA Championship. Durant is going to have to do what he did in the first two rounds by showing he is not scared of the moment. Durant wanted to be the guy to knock down the crunch buckets down the stretch, and he is going to have to do this against the best team in the NBA, if he wants to keep his playoff dreams alive.

X-FACTOR

Serge Ibaka and Kawhi Leonard both will have important roles if their teams want to move on. The Thunder need Ibaka to defend the paint. The Spurs thrive when Tony Parker can get in the paint. Ibaka will need to be the enforcer on making Parker think twice about coming to the cup. Serge Ibaka led the NBA in block shots averaging nearly 4 blocks/game. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team earlier this week, and his defense has not stopped in these playoffs. His 3.6 blocks/game are tops in the postseason. Kendrick Perkins has been a huge asset to this team because it allows Serge Ibaka to roam the paint and block shots at will. San Antonio was fourth in the NBA this year at scoring in the paint. Oklahoma will have to cut this down if they want to move on. When the Spurs can get easy buckets it opens up the entire floor for the Spurs to be deadly in all phases. Serge Ibaka will be the key in making the Spurs earn every bucket. If he steps up and has a big series on the defensive end it could be the deciding factor. Also, let's not forget this guy can score some points if you need him to. He can knock down the wide open 15-footer and gives his team a lot of second chance opportunities. If Ibaka can be a force on the defensive end, and get close to 10 points/game, it gives the Thunder a really good chance at moving on in these playoffs. 

Kawhi Leonard is such an important player for the Spurs in this series. Gregg Popovich says Leonard reminds him of Bruce Bowen. The rookie will get a chance to prove his coach right in this series, as he will be asked to defend the reigning three-time scoring champ. Leonard is a very athletic 6'7" forward with a 7'3" wingspan. His body frame and athletic ability give him the perfect chance at frustrating Kevin Durant. If Leonard can affect Durant into playing out of his whelm in four, of the potential seven games, it gives the Spurs a golden opportunity at winning their fifth championship in franchise history. Also, Leonard can get it done on the offensive side too. During the regular season Leonard averaged 8 points/game and 5 rebs./game on a very deep San Antonio team. He is putting up the same numbers in the first two-rounds of the playoffs, but his three-point shooting has been huge. He is shooting 45% from deep in the playoffs, and if he keeps up his hot-shooting against OKC, it will be a huge asset. Leonard's main focus in this series is making Durant earn every bucket. If he can frustrate Durant and bring out his inner Bruce Bowen, it will give the Spurs a great shot at representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. 

PREDICTION

This is going to be a hard fought series between two of the best teams in the NBA. Turnovers could very well be the deciding factor. During the regular season the Spurs were third best in the NBA averaging only 13.6 turnovers/game. The Thunder were the worst in the NBA averaging 16.3 turnovers/game. However, things have changed during the playoffs. The Thunder have the fewest turnovers among all playoff teams averaging 10.7/game. The Spurs rank fifth averaging 13 turnovers/game. Once again, this is where Russell Westbrook has shown his maturity as one of the league's top point guards in the game. Turnovers will be a huge factor in this series and I think Oklahoma will continue with their recent success in the playoffs keeping good care of the rock. 

Kevin Durant will be too much for San Antonio to handle. Russell Westbrook will be too fast and powerful for the Spurs to contain. James Harden will be too versatile for the Spurs to bottle up. These three guys will be too much for San Antonio. Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins will do a good job bottling up Duncan in the post and containing the Spurs points in the paint. If you can shut down the Spurs scoring in the paint it affects the rest of their game. If Tony Parker penetrates to the lane expect Ibaka or Perkins to let their presences be felt. A lot of people say the Spurs experience will be the deciding factor. I disagree. Oklahoma has guys that have gone through some tough games in the past two postseasons. Also, the addition of Derek Fisher, makes a huge impact on this young team. The five-time champion knows what it takes to win it all and he has been a huge leader for this team since his arrival. His stats might not show it, but that is not the reason why Oklahoma brought D-Fish in. Furthermore, the acquisition of Kendrick Perkins right before the trade deadline last season, gives this team another guy who has been through it all. 

I am not going with the majority in picking the Thunder. The Spurs have been the best team in the NBA since the All-star break. They have won 29 out of 31 games. They are currently riding an 18-game winning streak. They do not make mistakes. They always make the extra pass. They all know their roles. They have home-court in this series. I know I am a little bit crazy not going with the Spurs in this series. I just think Kevin Durant is going to show why he is the best player in the NBA right now. The guy wants the ball at the end so he is responsible for his team either winning or losing. Russell Westbrook and James Harden will present too many problems for San Antonio to handle. I think this series is going to be a very competitive match-up. There are going to be some very close games that come down to the wire in this series. This is where I give the edge to Oklahoma City who has the most clutch player on their team. Kevin Durant's legacy has already started, but after this series, it will be that much more solidified. The Thunder youth movement will be too much for the San Antonio Spurs to handle. 

OKLAHOMA CITY IN 7

-Eastern Conference Finals preview upcoming next week after the Boston/Philly series is over