Top Teams, What do the Playoffs Hold?

So the NBA regular season is coming to an end, and the playoffs are right around the corner. The playoff picture itself is set, and the regular season standings arent about to change drastically with only about 1 game left for every team in the regular 82 game season.

The 2010-11 season has not dissappointed, if anything, it surprised everyone.

Teams made combacks, some fell, trades were made, good and bad, young teams rose, and pride was restored to some of the biggest franchises in NBA history.

Two of the biggest success stories for this year have to be the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls. Both teams have stepped up their game this year, and are the top teams in their conferences and subsequently, the top 2 teams in the NBA.

The Spurs were having the best start of the year this season, holding onto the best record in the entire NBA for virtually the season, and will most likely end it that way. To be fair, the Spurs have been a very consitent playoff team for the past decade, winning 4 championships during that time, but this season everyone saw a change.

Tim Duncan gets less touches, but the teams offense takes a step forward?

The Spurs have been known for their defence in the past, but now have incorporated probably the best offensive play the team has seen in a long time, while keeping the same old intenisty on the other end of the court. It will be nice to see if the trio of Parker, Duncan and Ginobili, can lead their team to another championship, and each of their own 5th championship ring.

Maybe they can also add some exciting plays so that people know who they are.

And now, the Chicago Bulls. I'm not even going to deny it, but I think that the biggest reason for their success this year has to be the improvement in play for 22 year old point guard Derrick Rose. The Bulls have made the playoffs for the past 3 years, since Rose was drafted to the NBA. But the Bulls were always sliding in their, never among the elite teams, let alone the top of the conference.

With Rose establishing a more than decent jumper and 3-point shot, his offense has become more versatile, and not just fantastic drives to the bucket.

Chicago has also been without their top 2 big men in Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for about a combined 45 games this season. The injuries looked to end the Bulls season early, but Rose took leadership of the team, and has led them to their first 60+ win season since the Jordan Era.

Derrick Rose is also the top candidate for regular season MVP this year. He is the only player in the NBA who is in the top 10 of scoring and assists (24 PPG and 8 APG).

If he wins it, he will also be the youngest player in NBA history to win the Maurice Podoloff Trophy.

Moving onto the playoff picture, here are the top 4 seeds in the Eastern and Western conference:

East: (1) Chicago Bulls, (2) Miami Heat, (3) Boston Celtics, (4) Orlando Magic

West: (1) San Antonio Spurs, (2) Los Angeles Lakers, (3) Dallas Mavericks, (4) Oklamhoma City Thunder

There is no doubt that one of these teams will be leaving the post season with a trophy and some rings. Personally, the Bulls are my favourite east team, and my favourite overall to win.

The problem is, I don't see them going all the way. I would love to see that happen, but nobody has seen how far the Bulls are capable of going in the post season. They haven't gotten past the 1st round of the playoffs in the 3 years with Rose, and though they have improved immensly over the past year, they have alot to prove.

With that said, the playoffs are a completely different game than the regular season.

This is proved as recently as last year. The Cleveland Cavaliers, with Lebron James, had the best record in the NBA, but were taken out of the playoffs quickly by the Boston Celtics. Lebrons gone to Miami now, and Boston has been struggling lately, but how well they will play in the post season is a different conversation I don't want to get into.

The Los Angeles Lakers went in as a good team last season, but had late season struggles. They had a losing record over their last few games, and did not have the best record in the Western Conference either.

But they have won the NBA Championship for 2 years straight.

Being optimistic, the Bulls are still my favourite pick for playoff success. I do see the Bulls possibly sneaking in, but I believe that the east championship will go to the Heat. They have overcome most of their chemistry problems, and their antagonistic foes the Boston Celtics are looking bad after loosing Kendrick Perkins in a trade to OKC.

The Orlando Magic, I don't see at all because they have Dwight Howard, and that's about it. The Magic are a roster of over payed players that are good, but aren't as good in my eyes as they are portrayed. Plenty of veterans that are fairly consistent, but out of their prime.

And with Dwight Howard having alot of foul issues, regular and technical, I could see Dwight getting in trouble, if not ejected, in the playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will see a championship one day, but it seems to far out of reach for such a young team with not enough experience.

The Mavericks always make it to the playoffs, but almost always get kicked out during the first round, and don't make too much noise if they get to the second. Their playoffs success is not endearing.

And the Boston Celtics have lost their intensity, and identity. Kendrick Perkins didn't get to play in the playoffs due to injury last year, but he is a very supportive teammate, and when he got traded before the deadline this year, the Celtics have lost their strength in the post, as well as their identity and fire as a team.

In the West I see the Spurs or Lakers getting the championship because they are proven title contenders that can finish and win it all. It comes down to how much they really want the championship this year.

My NBA finals predictions are:

Bulls vs. Spurs

or

Heat vs. Lakers

But again, the playoffs are a different game, that can be very surprising.

At this point, any team has a chance at glory.