Round 2 kicks-off with Some Interesting Match-ups & Fierce Rivals

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals Match-ups:

The Eastern Conference Round 2 Match-ups are particularly intriguing this season for a few reasons. The fact that the Orlando Magic failed to make it to the 2nd round after making it all the way to the finals 2 seasons ago & the fact that the past few seasons, both Lebron James and Dwayne Wade have both been defeated by the Boston Celtics & they're taking it very Personal.

Boston Celtics
vs.
Miami Heat

Chicago Bulls
vs.
Atlanta Hawks

Western Conference Semi-Finals Match-ups:

The Western Conference Round 2 Match-ups are almost as intriguing as the Eastern Conference match-ups this season.  The Dallas Mavericks have been absolutely dissapointing for the last 3 seasons in the Playoffs,  but this year they managed to get to the 2nd round & will certainly have their hands full with the Lakers.  The Oklahoma City Thunder were the surprising team in last seasons Western Conference taking the Lakers to 7 games in the 1st round, and now they're going up against an equally surprising Grizzlies team who just pulled off a 1st round win over the #1 seeded San Antonio Spurs to put themselves into the History books.  Only 3 teams that were ranked #8 have ever upset the #1 seed in the 1st round of the playoffs ever, so they're a force to be reckoned with in this years post-season. 

Los Angeles Lakers
vs.
Dallas Mavericks

Memphis Grizzlies
vs.
Oklahoma City Thunder

It's Been Quite a Surprising 1st Round of the Playoffs !!!

The San Antonio Spurs have gotten themselves into a bit of trouble with the Memphis Grizzlies.  The Grizzlies lead the series 3-1 & absolutely must win the next 3 games to advance in the playoffs.  This will not be easy since the game after tonight's game 5 in San Antonio will go back to Memphis for Game 6. 

Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets also find themselves in an elimination game on Thursday vs. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.  The series has been a close one so far with the Lakers only up 3-2 & the next game being played in New Orleans.

Lebron James & the Miami Heat need to win tonights game 5 on their home-court in Miami so they can finally knock the Sixers out of the Post-Season & begin preparing for their next playoff opponent: the Boston Celtics- who just finished sweeping the New York Knicks 4-0.

The Chicago Bulls are moving-on in the playoffs after defeating the Pacers in 5 games.  The Orlando Magic are having some troubles in the 1st Round & they really have to buckle-down & win the next 2 games vs the Atlanta Hawks if they have any hope in moving-on in the Playoffs this season.

Will There Be Any Upsets in Game 2 of Round 1 ??

Chris Paul & the New Orleans Hornets
Beat the Lakers in LA in Game 1. Can

they pull out another Upset in the City of Angels.?

Marc Gasol & the Memphis Grizzlies were as
surprised as anyone when they upset the San
Antonio Spurs in Game 1 in Texas, but can
they do it again?

2011 NBA Playoffs 1st Round Match-ups !!!

This may look confusing, but it's just All 4 match-ups in both Conferences

2011 NBA Playoffs Bracket

EASTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET:

(1) Chicago Bulls

vs.                 >Bulls lead 1-0

(8) Indiana Pacers

(4) Orlando Magic

vs.                 >Hawks lead 1-0

(5) Atlanta Hawks

 

(3) Boston Celtics

vs.                  >Celtics lead 1-0

(6) New York Knicks

 

(2) Miami Heat

vs.                  >Heat lead 1-0

(7) Philadelphia 76ers

 

WESTERN CONFERENCE BRACKET:

 

(1) San Antonio Spurs

vs.                     >Grizzlies lead 1-0

(8) Memphis Grizzlies

 

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder

vs.                     > Thunder lead 1-0

(5) Denver Nuggets

 

(3) Dallas Mavericks

vs.                     > Mavericks lead 1-0

(6) Portland Trailblazers

 

(2) Los Angeles Lakers

vs.                     > Hornets lead 1-0

(7) New Orleans Hornets

Current NBA Standings- Eastern/Western Conference !!!

2010-2011 Division Regular Season Standings
Eastern Conference
Atlantic	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L 10	STREAK
Boston3a	55	25	0.688	0.0	36-14	12-3	32-8	23-17	5-5	L 1
New York6x	42	38	0.525	13.0	28-22	10-5	23-17	19-21	7-3	W 7
Philadelphia7x	41	39	0.513	14.0	25-25	9-7	26-13	15-26	5-5	W 1
New Jerseyo	24	56	0.300	31.0	13-37	3-13	19-21	5-35	1-9	L 3
Torontoo	22	58	0.275	33.0	14-36	5-11	16-24	6-34	2-8	W 1
Central	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L 10	STREAK
Chicago1e	60	20	0.750	0.0	37-13	15-1	35-5	25-15	9-1	W 7
Indiana8x	37	44	0.457	23.5	28-23	9-7	24-17	13-27	6-4	L 1
Milwaukeeo	33	47	0.413	27.0	25-26	6-10	21-19	12-28	5-5	W 1
Detroito	29	51	0.363	31.0	21-29	7-8	21-19	8-32	4-6	W 3
Clevelando	17	63	0.213	43.0	13-37	2-13	11-29	6-34	4-6	L 2
Southeast	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L 10	STREAK
Miami2se	56	24	0.700	0.0	36-14	12-3	30-11	26-13	8-2	W 2
Orlando4x	50	30	0.625	6.0	34-16	11-5	28-12	22-18	6-4	L 1
Atlanta5x	44	36	0.550	12.0	31-19	9-5	24-16	20-20	4-6	L 4
Charlotteo	32	48	0.400	24.0	20-30	3-12	20-20	12-28	4-6	L 6
Washingtono	22	58	0.275	34.0	15-35	3-13	19-21	3-37	5-5	W 1
Western Conference
Northwest	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L 10	STREAK
Oklahoma City4nw	54	26	0.675	0.0	32-19	13-3	30-10	24-16	8-2	W 4
Denver5x	49	31	0.613	5.0	29-21	9-6	32-8	17-23	8-2	W 1
Portland6x	47	33	0.588	7.0	29-21	10-6	29-11	18-22	7-3	W 2
Utaho	37	43	0.463	17.0	19-31	6-9	20-20	17-23	1-9	L 2
Minnesotao	17	63	0.213	37.0	7-43	1-15	12-28	5-35	0-10	L 13
Pacific	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L 10	STREAK
L.A. Lakers2p	55	25	0.688	0.0	34-16	11-4	29-11	26-14	5-5	L 5
Phoenixo	38	42	0.475	17.0	21-29	9-7	21-18	17-24	2-8	L 2
Golden Stateo	35	45	0.438	20.0	20-30	5-11	25-15	10-30	5-5	L 1
L.A. Clipperso	31	50	0.383	24.5	18-33	7-9	22-18	9-32	4-6	L 3
Sacramentoo	24	56	0.300	31.0	15-35	7-8	11-28	13-28	6-4	W 1
Southwest	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	L 10	STREAK
San Antonio1w	61	19	0.763	0.0	38-12	10-6	36-5	25-14	4-6	W 4
Dallas3x	55	25	0.688	6.0	33-17	6-8	28-12	27-13	6-4	W 2
New Orleans7x	46	34	0.575	15.0	27-23	9-6	28-12	18-22	6-4	L 1
Memphis8x	46	34	0.575	15.0	30-20	8-8	30-11	16-23	8-2	W 2
Houstono	42	38	0.525	19.0	24-26	5-10	25-15	17-23	6-4	W 1

 x-Clinched Playoff Berth | e-Clinched Eastern Conference | a-Clinched Atlantic Division | c-Clinched Central Division |
 se-Clinched Southeast Division | w-Clinched Western Conference | sw-Clinched Southwest Division |
 nw-Clinched Northwest Division | p-Clinched Pacific Division | o-Eliminated from Playoffs contention

{As of right Now, Nearly All of the playoff seeds are established in both conferences with the exception of the 2nd & 3rd Seeds in the Eastern Conference}--Which will be between either the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.

The Boston Celtics & the Miami Heat played this past Sunday and the Heat came ut on top, where the Heat for the most part Spanked the Celtics back to the 3rd seed, with the Heat fully establishing control of the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference }

As long as the Heat win their last 2 games of the Season , they will have the 2nd seed going into this years Playoffs which begin this coming Sunday, April 17.

The UCONN Husskies are National Champions !!!

Who knows if it was the defense of UCONN or the Off-Night of Butler,

but either way you can't expect to win the Championship when you shoot

18% from the field, even though the Husskies shot only 35%.  Whatever

the reason, Kemba Walker and some help from the UCONN bench

simply out-played Butler for the majority of the game.  It makes a lot of

sense that Kemba would lead them to victory in the Championship game

since he had led the Husskies the entire year and had a huge part in getting

UCONN to the Championship.  It was well deserved in my opinion.

The 2011 NCAA Tournament has come down to it's Last 2 Teams

This years Final Four was oddly matched but wildly entertaining !!

The Final 2 teams, who both had incredibly difficult journey's to

get to this point in the Tournament are: the BUTLER bulldogs & the

UCONN husskies.  These two teams will meet Monday night for the

Championship game, the most important game their is in College basketball.

Kemba Walker of Uconn and Matt Howard of Butler will try to lead their

respected teams to victory.  Both of these players have played phenominally

throughout this years tournament to help will their teams farther than anyone had

predicted of either team. 

My FINAL prediction is that UCONN wins the 2011 NCAA Championship!