2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Would you agree???

Image via WikipediaAs the NBA Playoffs is getting near, the Beast of the East and the Best of the West are jacking now in position. Curiously though, the teams that were hot throughout the whole season seems to wind out as the season gets to its close. San Antonio Spurs, the best team in the league throughout the whole year seems to find its fountain of youth getting to drain out. The Boston Celtics on the other hand, who held out the top spot for the year until the Bulls dethrone them seems to be fading out too. After Kendrick Perkins' transfer to the Thunder, the tough inside presence of the Celts seems to be on the downward spiral as both O'Neals were not able to suit up for the team. So how do we expect the Playoffs to wind up as it starts in the next 3 weeks? Here's some of the things to look out as the 2010-11 Post-Season unveils.

MVP: Derrick Rose will have his first MVP trophy after leading the Bulls to the number one spot in the Eastern Conference. No Bull have done the same thing after the post-Jordan era. Truly remarkable performance.

Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin's resurgence after his one-year vacation from injury proved to be the keypoint for winning this Having the Slam Dunk award and earning an All-Star slot last February proved to be a good backups for his hands-down choice as the Rookie of the Year.

Playoff Prediction:

East: 

Eastern Semifinals will feature the top 4 teams: Chicago, Miami, Boston and Orlando. If the Shaq and Jermaine will not be able to make it in the post-season, the East finals will be between the Heat and the Bulls. If we will base our prediction on the season match-up between the two teams, the Bulls will have its first-ever Finals appearance after the Jordan-Pippen ear. However, I would say that Miami will have its ground against the Bulls in a 7-game series. My bet: Chicago Bulls

West:

Western Semifinals will feature teams with a surprising upset from the First Round: Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Unbelievable??? Memphis going in the second-round?? Well, considering the remarkable run of the Spurs throughout the year, the age factor cannot be denied. The fragility of Duncan and Ginobili will surely create problems in the first-round matchup against the physical and hungry Grizzlies. What about the Dallas Mavericks? Sad to say, this team is choking when it is playoff time. Surely, the youthful Blazers with the addition of Gerald Wallace will prove to be a demolition force for the Mavericks. West Finals will be a Kobe Bryant-Kevin Durant showdown. 

My bet: Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls vs Los Angeles Lakers

A finals rematch after 20 years. The first one was between Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Now, its between Derrick Rose and Kobe Bryant. The Lakers will try to push for its 3-peat title but the Bulls are surging from the East. My bet: Chicago Bulls