2008-09 Eastern Conference Semifinals Preview:
May 15, 2009 | Sports | Basketball | NBA | Hawks
#1 (62-20) Vs. #5 (46-36)
Ben Bailey has proven to be a serviceable coach (after the shaky first 3 games), and the Hawks seem to be back on the winning road. The league's best team in the regular season will advance to face the Miami Heat, a team that upset the Chicago Bulls in six games to advance.
The season series was split 1-1. Joe Johnson will have his hands full guarding Dwyane Wade, who has led all scorers in these playoffs with 32.3 PPG. Can the Hawks make it out of the second round for the first time in Atlanta?
Season Series: 1-1
ATL 95 MIA 105
MIA 70 ATL 95
Average Score: Miami 87.5 Vs. Atlanta 95 - Differential: +7.5
Breaking It Down:
Center: Al Horford Vs. Josh Buck
In this matchup, one of the league's best young big men takes on a serviceable rookie Center. Buck is a decent player, and should go on to be solid for years to come, but Horford's experience and talent should help him dominate this matchup.
Horford: 14.5/8.7/1.8/2.0/0.5 (Playoffs)
Buck: 9.5/7.3/1.8/1.2/0.7
Edge: Atlanta
Forwards: Josh Smith/Josh Childress Vs. Shawn Marion/Gerald Wallace
This matchup is a battle of young versus old. Shawn Marion takes on his successor Josh Smith, while Gerald Wallace will go against Josh Childress. Wallace and Marion are both very good defenders and spectacular athletes, while the same can be said for the Joshes. Ultimately, the tie-breaker here is that the Joshes have no playoff experience, while Marion and Wallace do. Expect Childress and Joe Johnson to swap defensive assignments.
Smith: 19.7/9.2/3.3/2.3/0.5
Childress: 11.8/3.8/2.3/0.8/0.2
Marion: 19.0/9.2/3.8/1.7/0.7
Wallace: 14.2/5.2/2.3/1.7/1.7
Edge: Slight Miami
Guards: Joe Johnson/T.J. Ford Vs. Wade/Banks
The Hawks have two solid all-star caliber players at the guard positions. The Heat have a dominant top 5 player in Wade, and the league's worst starting PG in Banks. Ford can be expected to exploit his matchup with Banks, while Wade will have to shoulder the scoring and playmaking load. Wade will need to have the performance of his career if his team is to win this series.
Johnson: 21.8/3.7/3.7/0.2/2.0
Ford: 13.5/5.3/8.2/0.2/2.5
Wade: 32.3/3.0/6.5/1.3/1.8
Banks: 6.8/2.7/4.0/0.0/1.2
Edge: Slight Atlanta
Bench: Gay/Bargnani/Milicic/Johnson/Szczerbiak/Johnson/Barnes Vs. Wright/Croshere/Miles/Daniels/Swift/Wright/Smirnov (R)
The Hawks hold the best bench in the NBA, led by starter-caliber players Rudy Gay and Andrea Bargnani. The Heat have Dorell Wright, and... CJ Miles... The Hawks have scored 31 bench points per game to Miami's 13 in these playoffs.
Edge: Atlanta
Intangibles:
Atlanta has homecourt advantage and has won three straight. Coach Bailey has done a fine job as well, and does not look to be a problem. The Heat have also been playing well, but in the end, homecourt advantage should push Atlanta over the top.
Edge: Slight Atlanta
Prediction:
Atlanta is simply too good for the Heat. Miami should be able to pick up a home win on Wade's shoulders, but this should be a rather brief series.
AJC Prediction: Hawks in 5.
Andres Carlos Wins Rookie of the Year
Washington, DC; May 17, 2009 - It has been leaked that Andres Carlos of the Washington Wizards has won the NBA's rookie of the year award. Carlos, 22, led all rookies in scoring with 14.4 PPG, and minutes (34.7). A small forward, Carlos pushed DeShawn Stevenson out of the starting lineup, while Caron Butler shifted to the Shooting Guard position.
The Wizards suffered an underwhelming 35-47 record and missed the playoffs. "When Antawn [Jamison] didn't resign, I think it really hurt our team. I'm glad Andres won the award and the voters didn't our record against them. And next year, with him as a Sophomore, we gonna tear it up," remarked star Gilbert Arenas in his blog.
Carlos posted averages of 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks on 47% shooting. He beat out Bulls SG Vladimir Chernov among others for the award. Carlos is the fifth Wizard to earn this honor.
NBA Conference Semifinals Recap 2009
(1) Atlanta Hawks Vs. (5) Miami Heat
Game 1: Miami 83, Atlanta 90
Game 2: Miami 104, Atlanta 97
Game 3: Atlanta 88, Miami 89
Game 4: Atlanta 84, Miami 104
Game 5: Miami 78, Atlanta 93
Game 6: Atlanta 90, Miami 98
Heat win series 4-2.
(2) Boston Celtics Vs. (3) Cleveland Cavaliers
Game 1: Cleveland 104, Boston 102
Game 2: Cleveland 87, Boston 97
Game 3: Boston 102, Cleveland 75
Game 4: Boston 90, Cleveland 101
Game 5: Cleveland 84, Boston 88
Game 6: Boston 88, Cleveland 100
Game 7: Cleveland 77, Boston 91
Celtics win series 4-3.
(1) Dallas Mavericks Vs. (4) Utah Jazz
Game 1: Utah 91, Dallas 100
Game 2: Utah 85, Dallas 97
Game 3: Dallas 96, Utah 102
Game 4: Dallas 95, Utah 91
Game 5: Utah 96, Dallas 97
Mavericks Win Series 4-1.
(2) Los Angeles Lakers Vs. (3) Phoenix Suns
Game 1: Phoenix 84, Los Angeles 110
Game 2: Phoenix 95, Los Angeles 101
Game 3: Los Angeles 84, Phoenix 90
Game 4: Los Angeles 90, Phoenix 91
Game 5: Phoenix 99, Los Angeles 85
Game 6: Los Angeles 98, Phoenix 113
Suns Win Series 4-2.
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Conference Finals Matchups:
(1) Dallas (61-21) Vs. (3) Phoenix (54-28)
Season Series: Suns won 3-1
Key Matchup: Dirk Nowitzki Vs. Elton Brand
(5) Miami (46-36) Vs. (2) Boston (56-26)
Season Series: Tied 2-2
Key Matchup: Shawn Marion Vs. Kevin Garnett
NBA Conference Finals Recap 2009
(2) Boston Celtics Vs. (5) Miami Heat
Game 1: Miami 88, Boston 93
Game 2: Miami 102, Boston 101
Game 3: Boston 83, Miami 99
Game 4: Boston 98, Miami 87
Game 5: Miami 85, Boston 93
Game 6: Boston 91, Miami 98
Game 7: Miami 100, Boston 88
Heat win series 4-3.
(1) Dallas Mavericks Vs. (3) Phoenix Suns
Game 1: Phoenix 76, Dallas 89
Game 2: Phoenix 80, Dallas 102
Game 3: Dallas 89, Phoenix 93
Game 4: Dallas 87, Phoenix 94
Game 5: Phoenix 99, Dallas 104
Game 6: Dallas 102, Phoenix 79
Mavericks Win Series 4-2
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NBA Finals 2009
Vs.
This year's NBA Finals is a rematch from 2006, when Dwyane Wade led the Heat from down 2-0 to beat the Mavericks in 6 to win the franchise's first title. The Mavs have dominated the competition in the Western Conference, while the Heat managed to upset the Bulls, Hawks and Celtics en route to the finals. Can Dirk and the Mavs end the Heat's Cinderella run, or will Wade break their hearts again?
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