2009 NBA Playoffs : Conference Finals + Rockets 2009 season review

From the 8 teams that started Round 2, only four teams remain (2 on each conference) as the Conference Finals starts. The winner of each conference finals will have the right to represent their conference in the 2009 NBA Finals this June. Games will be very tough on each side as every team will be working hard as teams try to advance to the NBA Finals and give their franchise a chance to be crowned the 2009 NBA Champions.

So here are the matchups for the Conference Finals:

1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
1 Round 1: def. UTAH (4-1), Round 2: def. HOU (4-3)
2 DENVER NUGGETS
2 Round 1: def. NO (4-1), Round 2: def. DAL (4-1)
SEASON SERIES: LAL (3-1)



1 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
1 Round 1: def. DET (4-0), Round 2: def. ATL (4-0)
3 ORLANDO MAGIC
3 Round 1: def. PHI (4-2), Round 2: def. BOS (4-3)
SEASON SERIES: ORL (2-1)


My reaction to the conference finals matchups is that I am looking forward to what will happen in the Conference Finals on both sides. The Battle for the West between the Lakers and Nuggets is going to be a good matchup as Kobe & Co. will face off against 'Melo & Co. for a shot at the NBA Championship. I'm wondering if the Nuggets can use the extra rest they had in the 2nd round to their advantage against the Lakers who went to a Game 7 and won against an injury depleted Rockets team who did not have Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady playing. We'll see if Denver can keep this tremendous pace there enjoying. This is Denver's first time in the Western Conference Finals since 1985 when they also faced the Lakers, but lost in 5 games. But don't count the Lakers out since they still are a huge power in the West. Meanwhile in the Battle of the East between the Cavaliers and Magic. I am undecided since Cleveland has been cruising in this playoffs, sweeping their first 2 opponents in the playoffs, while the Magic knocked off the defending champion Celtics in Round 2, the momentum I think will favor the Magic since they knocked off the Celtics and they are back in the Eastern Conference Finals since 1996, but the Cavaliers have a powerful lineup led by LeBron James, the Magic have an answer vs LeBron as they are led by the highflying and shotblocking "man-child" Dwight Howard. Although I am undecided in this series, it's sure going to be a good series between this two powerful teams in the Eastern Conference as they fight for a shot at the 2009 NBA Finals.

Once again, the big question is:
WHERE WILL AMAZING HAPPEN THIS YEAR?
WITH BOSTON OUT, WHO WILL BE THE NEW NBA CHAMPION?

As for my beloved Houston Rockets, this has been a great season. Despite losing Game 7, the Rockets can be considered as winners, despite the many setbacks and injuries that have plagued the team all-season long (especially to T-Mac before the playoffs and Yao during Round 2). The Rockets were able to get out of the first round, and put the defending Western Conference Champion Lakers on the brink of elimination before eventually falling in Game 7. But the injuries to Yao and T-Mac had it's silver lining on the Rockets (besides the big three of Yao, T-Mac and Ron) as guys like Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, Von Wafer, Kyle Lowry, Chuck Hayes, and the other Rockets picked up a lot of playoff experience that will be used on future playoff runs. I am now looking forward to a healthy Yao and T-Mac and a rejuvenated Rockets next season, and will be making a much deeper playoff run than this year. Maybe they can come out the NBA Champions next year, but anything can happen in the NBA.

Once again, I disabled replies on this blog. Haha.. so spammers and critics will never be heard..

LET'S GO ROCKETS!
THEREwillBEaNEWchampion
WHOwillBEtheCHAMPION?we'llSEE
-kArLc-