2011 NBA Playoffs

Photo courtesy of NBAsoup.com

The 2011 NBA playoffs have kicked off to an emphatic start.

There are thrilling teams in the Eastern Conference like the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls.  The Western Conference includes strong teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Every matchup has been highly competitive and a pleasure to watch for fans like Edmon Roberson, a WPU business major, who feels the intensity of playoff basketball has risen.

                “A lot of the games have been where the better team gets behind early and ends up coming back to win or makes it a pretty good game,” said Roberson. 

A perfect example of this was between the number one seeded Chicago Bulls and eighth seeded Indiana Pacers.  The Bulls, who won the series 4-1, had several instances where they were trailing and could’ve lost.  However, their MVP candidate guard, Derrick Rose, was able to rise to the occasion and help them win.

Another series that was thought to be a good matchup, turned out to be the total opposite.  The number six seeded, New York Knicks, and the number three seeded, Boston Celtics, looked to be a potential seven-game series after games one and two.  However, the Knicks fell apart in games three and four, handing the Celtics a broom for their 4-0 sweep. 

“Everyone was saying that this is the series that can go to seven, but no, they get ousted in four,” said Adam Clarkson, a communication major.  “Yes they can score 105 (points) a game, but when you give up 110, they are not going to win.”

The Spurs, a number one seed, seemed to have drawn the “bust” card as well.  Facing the number eighth seeded, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio appeared to have lost their swagger.  The Grizzlies took advantage of the Spurs in game one, when they were without standout guard, Manu Ginobili, because of an elbow injury.

Roberson thought the Grizzlies would give the Spurs a series but did not think they would burst out to a commanding 3-1 lead. 

“They (the Grizzlies) are a young team with a lot of heart and I believe they can go far in the playoffs,” said Clarkson. 

The New Orleans Hornets were a team that challenged their high-seeded opponents to a battle.  Talented guard, Chris Paul, guided the seventh seeded Hornets to a great series against guard, Kobe Bryant and the second seeded Lakers.  The two teams went to six games, but in the end the Lakers came out as the victor 4-2.

Clarkson said the Hornets kept up with the defending champs and never gave up.   

“Everyone had the Lakers in four or five games,” said Clarkson.  “They have proved everyone wrong and Chris Paul carried the team on his back.”

Overall, this year’s playoffs have brought excitement back to the NBA.  They’ve had games go down to the wire from 76ers guard Lou Williams game-winning three with eight seconds left in game four against the Heat to Spurs guard Gary Neal’s game-tying three at the end of regulation in game five.

“The playoffs are where moments happen,” said Clarkson.

Which superstar or unknown name will step up for their team next?  This answer lies in the upcoming rounds.