Welp, it's one of my favorite times of year. Late April/Mid June, the NBA Playoffs. I had a terrible year with picks last year after being perfect in 2011 so it's time for a redemption year an I'm feeling good this year after the turnout of my NCAA bracket.

I've decided to do complete predictions of each round as they approach, however I will predict this Conference/NBA Finals today.



EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Miami Heat vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks
I feel really bad for the Bucks. I'd rather not make the playoffs than be in this position. Lebron and Wade should just rest this whole series to get ready for the Conference Semifinals. Miami in 4.

(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Boston Celtics
Whether my pick is correct or not, the winner of this series is coming out of the East, yes they will beat the Heat in a 7 game series. With that being said, this series is going 7 games and this is Melo's time to win a playoff series. Pierce and Garnett simply aren't healthy enough and they will truly miss Ray Allen in these playoffs. JR Smith is the X-Factor. New York in 7.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks
Another year, another 1st round exit for an Atlanta team that I feel is due to get blown up soon from top to bottom. Indiana is a good team and a force to be reckoned with when healthy. Indiana in 5.

(4) Brooklyn Nets vs. (5) Chicago Bulls
Deron Williams vs Derrick Rose, has to go 7 games. Okay, back to reality now since Rose clearly isn't going to step on the court this season. These might be the 2 most evenly matched teams in the East playoffs this year. Deron/Nate, Johnson/Rip, Wallace/Deng, Humphries/Boozer, Lopez/Noah???? And that's my issue. With Noah healthy, Chicago wins, without him, Brooklyn wins. I got Noah coming back in Game 3. Chicago in 6.



WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Houston Rockets
Here we go, Harden vs OKC. Too bad that's the only excitement to series. OKC is by far the better team but Harden won't let Houston get swept by his former team. OKC in 5.

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
If there is gonna be a crazy upset this year, you're reading about it right now. Even with the torn Achilles and no Kobe. Duncan is a year older, Manu is just now coming off a torn hamstring, and Parker has a new injury every night. With that being said, Pop is still the coach and they didnt get T-Mac for nothing. San Antonio in 6.

(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
Before Gallinari tore that ACL I felt Denver could possibly get past the Spurs and OKC to come out of the West. Well, Gallinari tore his ACL and Ty Lawson hasn't been able to stay healthy since the All-Star break. However, there's still enough talent for the Nuggets to end Steph Curry's record breaking season. Denver in 6.

(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies
Last year I picked the Clippers to sweep Memphis in this series while everyone else picked the Grizzlies and I couldn't have been any further from wrong as Memphis won in 7, which is why LA's best team will get revenge this year. Los Angeles in 7.



EAST FINALS

(2) New York Knicks in 7 over
(1) Miami Heat


WEST FINALS

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder in 6 over
(2) San Antonio Spurs


NBA FINALS

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder in 5 over
(2) New York Knicks

Earlier this week we passed the deadline for underclassmen to withdrawal from the NBA Draft. Underclassmen still have until April 28th to declare for the Draft, however, I'm taking the time now to express how I feel about some of the notable names leaving school early this summer.


Reggie Bullock, North Carolina, Junior
As a Duke fan I know this kid is good. Not exactly a bad idea to skip forego his senior season considering I don't see UNC in title contention next season but I believe his draft stock would be better if he waited. Late 1st Round Pick.


Trey Burke, Michigan, Sophomore
Burke won every player of the year award possible and led his team to the National Title game, of course he has the right to come out this season. However, I think it'd be really interesting to see that Michigan team together for at least 2 more seasons. Top 10 Pick.


Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse, Sophomore
Great kid, very talented. Should stay at least one more season and possibly lead the Orange back to the Final Four.....unless he doesn't feel he'll be able to succeed next season as Syracuse enters the ACC. Late 1st Round Pick


Gorgui Dieng, Louisville, Junior
The Cards don't win a National Championship without Dieng. Dominant defensive force, nice mid-range game. I'm okay with him leaving now. Lottery Pick.


Tim Hardaway Jr, Michigan, Junior
Not too sure about this one. I don't think he's ready for the NBA and I feel he caved into pressure from Burke and his dad to come out now. Again I would've liked to see that Michigan squad together again. Mid-Late 1st Round Pick.


Alex Len, Maryland, Sophomore
Okay let me take a deep breath before I express how dumb, stupid, unintelligent, not smart, and dumb Leb is for leaving Maryland anywhere before graduating. I could tolerate if he left after next year to avoid playing in the Big10 but he has no business in this draft. Not skilled enough, not quick enough, clearly not smart enough. And the sad part about this is that he's easily the best big man in the ACC this season if he stays. 2nd Round Pick (if he's lucky)


C.J. Leslie, NC State, Junior
Leslie raised a couple eyebrows when he decided to stay at NC State last year as he would've been a high draft prospect. However, the Wolfpack were the preseason #1 pick in the ACC. NC State didn't perform up to expectations and Leslie's draft stock dropped. He needed to leave now. Late 1st round pick.


Ben McLemore, Kansas, Freshman
Great talent, but not exactly consistent enough on the big stage for the NBA yet. You all know my feelings on freshman leaving school after one year but he will be a high pick regardless because of his talent. Lottery Pick.


Nerlens Noel, Kentucky, Freshman
Speaking of freshman leaving......if you think I disagreed with Len coming out early, you haven't seen anything yet. This kid tore his ACL in February and declared for the draft in April. It takes at least 8 months for an ACL to fully heal so when he gets drafted in June, he still won't be able to participate in basketball drill barring some miraculous recovery. I'm not sure who told him it was a good idea to declare but they lied to him. If I'm a Kentucky fan, I'm disgusted with Noel for the simple fact that he tweeted the day after his injury "minor setback for a major comeback". If I'm a fan of the Cats, that tweet made me look forward to next season. Now from a basketball standpoint. Tall and athletic, great shotblocker. Rare to find his size and athletism now which is why he'll probably go #1 despite not playing a second of basketball since tearing his ACL. Top 5 Pick.


Victor Oladipo, Indiana, Junior
Oladipo was my player of the year before I actually watched Trey Burke play. This guy is talented and a leader. Knows how to get to the basket and can shoot it from outside. Can play the 1 or 2 with the right coaching in the NBA. Top 10 Pick.


Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA, Freshman
This guy Shabazz. I'm not gonna call him a kid because he looks damn near 30. His dad says he's one age, while he claims another age. He didnt show up in big games when he needed to and personally I feel he used the NCAA this season. He never truly showed dedication or passion for the Bruins. If you could come to the league straight out of high school, he would have. I expect UCLA to have sanctions in the future from Muhammad lying about his age one way or another. The shame is that this is a fairly weak draft class and he will go early. Lottery Pick.


Otto Porter, Georgetown, Sophomore
Emerged into the national scene late in the season, probably too late in the season despite earning the Big East player of the year award. Don't exactly know if he's NBA ready or not, and as a leader of Georgetown I feel he needs to comeback and redeem the Hoyas from that embarrassing end to the season. At the same time, I understand not wanting to participate in the conference realignment. Late 1st Round Pick.


Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State, Junior
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No Deshaun Thomas should not be entering the draft early. Ohio State doesn't exactly have a good record of sending kids into the league early. Please google Greg Oden and Jared Sullinger if you disagree. The kid is good but I feel he will benefit so much more if he tried to lead the Buckeyes to a National Championship during his senior year. Late 1st Round Pick.


Cody Zeller, Indiana, Sophomore
Zeller began the season as the unanimous preseason player of the year, and ended the season without a single vote for POY. Part of that was due to the emergence of players like Burke and Olandipo, but alot of it has to do with Zeller not performing up to the expected potential. I have always felt he was overrated and maybe I'm right but we'll see what the NBA scouts think come June. Mid-Late 1st Round Pick.

Tomorrow I will be posting my 2013 NBA Playoff Predictions and I have a few surprises in store.

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The end of the NBA regular season is this Wednesday, and with the playoffs beginning this Saturday.
I'm gonna do something different with this post. No serious ranting, no controversial topic, just taking time to say who I think will win this year's regular season awards, and then who I might give the award to.

PROBABLE PICKS:

MVP-LeBron James (must I explain)

Rookie of the Year-Damian Lillard (arguably more obvious than LeBron)

Sixth Man-Jamal Crawford
not my choice but a possible choice with the right argument. Played a key role starting while Chauncey Billiups was hurt and always provided guaranteed points when CP3/Blake didn't perform.

Defensive Player of the Year-Larry Sanders (I'm completely clueless on this one but Sanders is the name I've been hearing as of late)

Coach of the Year-Tom Thibodeau
Thibs didn't have the best PG guard in the league all season and still managed to get his team back in the playoffs, snap the 13 game win streak of the Knicks and the Heat's historic 27 game win streak. He also dealt with injuries to key pieces such as Rip Hamilton and Joakin Noah. Did I mention that the best PG in the league is on his team and still hasn't played yet?



MY PICKS:

MVP-Carmelo Anthony
Before you ridicule me for this, I feel there is no way LeBron doesn't win his 4th MVP, but Melo kept his team in the race for the #2 seed in the East all season, which they clinched earlier today, despite injuries to STAT, Chandler, and dare I say it Kenyon Martin. I also feel that Melo's performance in the month of April is more impressive than what LeBron did in February.

Rookie of the Year-Damian Lillard
I tried to find someone to compete with Lillard here but it wasn't happening. Started the season as the 12th man on the bench and ended up breaking the rookie record for 3 pointers in a season with a month left to go. Cue the dreaded Drake song?

Sixth Man- JR Smith
Well since the MVP and 6th man have never been on the same team, I'm making history with my picks, but I'm more confident in giving JR this award. Plain and simple, JR should be starting. Instant spark, instant offense, brings the attitude. A true leader and shooting guard. His stats speak for themselves.

Defensive Player of the Year- LeBron James
Since I'm not giving LeBron my MVP, I can't deny him this award. He can effectively guard ANY player in the league except maybe Dwight Howard and Roy Hibbert when they have good nights. He is a force to be reckoned with.

Coach of the Year- Mark Jackson
HA!!!! I know you didn't expect to hear that one. Please tell me that you expected Golden State to be in the playoffs this year, or even have a record over .500. Hmmmmmm I don't see any hands raised. I'll rest my case there.

Now that my season awards are done. I'll make a couple more basketball related shout outs:

First goes to the Louisville men and UCONN women for winning there respective national championships

Next one goes to my mom for beating me in our bracket pool this year, no shame

Speaking of brackets, a good friend of mine did her first bracket this year and had me sweating bullets down to the final 4, so s/o to Jasmine

And finally, Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, and Skylar Diggins will all get drafted into the WNBA tomorrow. Three of my favorite female players ever and they will continue to be in the pros.

Once everything in the NBA playoffs are locked, I'll make to predictions down to the NBA Finals.


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