As predicted here yesterday, the NBA showcased two sweeps in the second round of the playoffs last night. The Orlando Magic closed out their series last night in Atlanta, beating the Hawks 98-84 and it wasn't even that close. The Magic stayed up by at least 20 points most of the game. The Magic won the series by an average of 25 points a game. The Magic had 5 players score in double-digits for the rout.
The other series ender happened much to the chagrin of Monster Mash. The Lakers closed out their series with the Jazz in a convincing 111-96 victory in Utah. Kobe Bryant scored 32 while Pau Gasol doubled-up with 33 points and 14 rebounds. The Lakers size proved to be too much for the Jazz to handle.
The Western Conference Finals are now set between the Suns and the Lakers. The Lakers are defending world champs but that doesn't mean that they are unbeatable. A very young Thunder team almost took them to the limit in round one while the Suns had little trouble against the Blazers, only dropping one game. The Lakers had trouble with the speed of OKC, something that Phoenix has in spades. Add more confidence, size and skill to the mix and it could spell trouble. The defense of the Suns has improved by leaps and bounds since last year. They have experience to match up with the Lakers. I am giving the Suns the series 4-3.
The Magic await the winner between Cleavland and Boston. I don't think either one of those teams can beat the Magic in a 7 game series. They will win one, maybe even two games, but that will be all. The Cavs have struggled against the Magic dating back to last year's Eastern Conference Finals due to the lack of a body to put against Dwight Howard. They went out and got Shaq, the oldest active player in the NBA, to try and give the new Superman trouble. Advantage: Magic. Shaq can't handle Howard. Let LeBron get his while the rest of the Magic's players outplay the rest of the Cavs. That will be the recipe for victory.
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