Unleash The Beasts: The 2011 Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview

Chicago Bulls (1) vs. Indiana Pacers (8)

The Bulls In: It seemed unbelievable that the Bulls, from being a middle seed last season, has emerged as a dominant team that just took home court advantage all through out the playoffs. With Derrick Rose playing as the MVP that everyone believes him to be, the Bulls are virtually unstoppable in this playoff series, and they might be able to finish things earlier than expected.

The Pacers In: Indiana is a young team, but their energy is what makes them dangerous. Danny Granger can score from everywhere, and so can Roy Hibbert, Brandon Rush, and Darren Collison, not to mention rookie Paul George who can become of great help in offensive stretches. Also, with the way this team recovers and zips up and down the court, it would seem that defense will not be a big problem.

What Could Be: The Pacers are actually dangerous, but with coach Tom Thibodeau's trademark defense, Chicago could just tame them down and leave them out cold on the floor. Bulls in 6.

Orlando Magic (4) vs. Atlanta Hawks (5)

The Magic In: It was a huge upgrade for the Orlando Magic, but it's a matter of using them well. They have a ton of shooters out there, and if nothing works, then they have Howard on the block and force double-teams that destroy the defensive flow of every opponent. For this playoff series, they just have to make everything work, and they will be on their way to the next stage.

The Hawks In: The Hawks had gotten a few pieces that could work well, although during the last stretch of the season, things did not go as they planned. But still, with playmaker Kirk Hinrich setting up and taking the job off feeding to Josh Smith or Al Horford, the Hawks could be as dangerous as they were during last year. Also, with backup guys Jamal Crawford and Marvin Williams making the most out of their time in the court, the Hawks SHOULD be taken seriously.

What Could Be: Dwight Howard will be a key in this series. Assuming that he gts the job done, then the Hawks could pack their bags and wait for another season. Magic in 6.

Miami Heat (2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7)

The Heat In: Despite losing the top spot to the Bulls during the regular season, the Heat is still a team that the East should be afraid of. Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh all have playoff experiences, and brought together, all three of them could be potentially dangerous. But would the bench be able to catch up with them and step up when necessary?

The Sixers In: The last time we have seen the Sixers in the playoffs was two year ago, when they made the life of the Orlando Magic difficult in the first round. Now, with star Andre Iguodala carrying the team together with hopefuls like Thaddeus Young and Jrue Holiday, as well as a little help from big man Elton Brand, it would be surprising if they gave Miami the same sense of fear and shock. The thing is that they just have to do it and execute things well.

What Could Be: Put simply, Miami's stars would be too powerful for the Sixers, and things might end quickly as expected. Heat in 5.

Boston Celtics (3) vs. New York Knicks (6)

The Celtics In: Until now, the guys in green still have a problem in dealing with the number five position. With Shaq sidelined and JO still unstable, it will be up to Glen Davis and Nenad Krstic to fill in that paint-dominating spot. Nevertheless, they still have the waning Boston Big Three to take charge, backed up by Jeff Green, Delonte West, and the rest of the Celtics bench. Simply put, Doc Rivers' team still has the spunk to make it in the Finals.

The Knicks In: It was about damn time for the New York Knicks to finally gain a playoff spot and take a shot at the championship once again. Carmelo Anthony's transfer to the East might have made things harder for New York at the start. But then, this is the playoffs, and with these three guys knowing their role in the playoffs, expect them to come out strong and make it, assuming that they get it done on the D.

What Could Be: This will be the biggest first round match in this year's playoffs, but the green guys' down-the-wire playoff experience will get them out alive despite the lack of a good center. Celtics in 7.

Let The Games Begin: The 2011 Western Conference Playoffs Preview

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)

The Spurs In: Taking over early in the season, the Spurs were able to practically seal home court advantage in all of their Wester Conference matchups as early as January, thanks largely to Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili in their domination mode. But despite these, this will not be an easy win for them. The bench, led by young guns George Hill and DeJuan Blair has to learn to keep up and fill in the holes when worse comes to worst, especially with Ginobili sidelined for the first playoff games.

The Grizzlies In: Without Rudy Gay, will things be okay for Memphis? Hopefully, returnee Shane Battier can fill in that gap, playing alongside OJ Mayo, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies have been inconsistent during this season, but they did have their own shining moments, largely due to Randolph's ability to slide in and out to score as well as Conley's skill in setting plays that would lead to a Gasol or Mayo basket. The challenge for the Griz in this stretch is to easily build up a momentum during games and give their shooters open and unchallenged shots to distract the Spurs defense.

What Could Be: It will be a hard-fought battle for the boards, coupled with increased scoring aggressiveness, but San Antonio will have the last laugh. Spurs in 6.

Oklahoma City Thunder (4) vs. Denver Nuggets (5)

The Thunder In: Kevin Durant is just one phenomenon that largely improved as time progresses, but it is not only him who would bring the bacon home for OKC. But we also have to give credit to their "upgrade players," just like Russell Westbrook who now learns to consistently hit treys when free, as well as their front court who had dominant big man Kendrick Perkins and flashy guard Nate Robinson as their back up. Now that the Thunder have been extremely better, they might pull an early victory.

The Nuggets In: In their regular season games after the Carmelo Anthony trade, the Nuggets became a hero team led by guards Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, with back-ups Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. What they just need to do is to put their head in the game andscore from open shots and easy lay-ups. However, despite the individual abilities, the question remains: would they be able to finally play as a real playoff team without Carmelo Anthony?

What Could Be: The Thunder have become dominant in the last stretch of the regular season, and they might just continue and ram their strength against this equally dominant Nuggets team. Thunder in 7.

Los Angeles Lakers (2) vs. New Orleans Hornets (7)

The Lakers In: It's going to be back to business for Kobe and the gang, and with the third championship on the line, it's going to be more serious than over. This first round of the playoffs will be the first part of their playoff recovery phase, making up for the mistakes they have made during their last games in the regular season. Expect everyone from the Purple and Gold to be more dominant as they were during their 17-1 post-All Star break run.

The Hornets In: If there's anything wise to say, it's the fact that Chris Paul will have serious difficulties in his return to the playoffs. With David West out, his team will have to undergo several offensive and defensive adjustments to survive in this series against the Lakers. The big question will be: Can Carl Landry and Emeka Okafor fill the paint in for the absent West?

What Could Be: Everyone thinks that this will be a quick battle, but Paul and the Hornets might be able to snatch a victory here. Lakers in 5.

Dallas Mavericks (3) vs. Portland Trailblazers (6)

The Mavericks In: With the personnel and the plays, Dallas should take its fans back to 2006, when they were once dominant and dynamic. Virtually, everyone in their starting five is a potent scorer, and could be dangerous at any time during the game. It's just a matter of being consistent, especially with two key players, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry for the offense, with the D being managed by Tyson Chandler.

The Blazers In: Portland's late surge into the playoffs became possible due to the arrival of Gerald Wallace, who served as LaMarcus Aldridge's number two in the paint. They're even more powerful outside when Wes Matthews and Brandon Roy are able to shoot well from the outside. But against a team that can actually defend, can they do things the way they planned everything to be?

What could be: In terms of running the offense and the defense, both teams seem to lie on the same ground, but the difference will lie on how they will close out their games. It's all up to Roy and Aldridge on this one, that is, if they can check Dallas' scorers. Blazers in 7.

Recap Notes: UST vs. DLSU

UST 79, DLSU 70

-There are a handful of important personnel who were out for this match, and the game could have changed had they suited up. The Archers did not have their playmaker Almond Vosotros and spot-up shooter Sam Marata. On the other hand, the Tigers were more than shorthanded as they were unable to avail the services of Ed Daquioag, Chris Camus, and Jeric Teng.

-DLSU was lucky enough to have Nico Elorde, rookie Roldan Sara, and Luigi dela Paz to fill in the holes left by the absentees, but UST seemed to have greater problems. Coach Pido Jarencio was forced to leave their rookie African Karrim Abdul on the court, who was slapped with four fouls before the end of the first half (later on in the fourth, he will be called for his last foul a minute after re-entering the game). Later on, he decided to bring in Paolo Pe and have him play heavy minutes than his usual UAAP MPG's. In fact, Coach Pido looked confused when guys were fouled out, as he was probing his bench looking for people to sub in and replace the ejected players.

-Luckily, UST had the services of their unlikely trio: Jeric Fortuna, Clark Bautista, and Melo Afuang, to seal the win. Add to that the rookie explosion that is Kevin Ferrer. Put together, the four of them scored 69 of the team's 79 points, thanks to hot streaks from the arc. Bautista and Fortuna had a combined 8 for 22 three-pointers, while Ferrer made 2 of his own, including a dagger that drove straight to the heart of DLSU fans which put the Archers away for good in the dying minutes.

-Despite having a painful wrist and forearm, Afuang managed to score 19 points. There was one funny moment when, he was holding on to his painful arm, looking at the bench only to see Coach Pido shouting at him "wala yan!"

-Coming in second to the Phenom's performance during that day was Kevin Ferrer, who played a little less like Kevin Durant's one and only year at Kansas U. With the way he moves the ball, it is obvious that K-Fer has sound basketball IQ, knowing when to shoot, make the pass, or dribble his way out of double teams. Thanks also to his physique, having really long limbs that reminds us as well of the Durantula in his Kansas days. He was able to fill in the absence of the three and scored 14 points that went with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal. And as we all know, he could only get better as the games progress. It will definitely be an exciting moment to see Kiefer and K-Fer playing against each other in the Fil-Oil or even in the UAAP.

-Abdul needs more training on ball-handling and defense. He is a promising guy, and he would be the ONLY legit center to play for the Tigers this year. If he still does not have the discipline on defense, then UST has to pack their bags early in the Season 74 (and I mean as early as Abdul's four fouls in the first half.)

-Recently, a lot of Xavier hopefuls have been making it in UST. First, they had Jeric Teng, and then Paolo Pe comes after (he played for Xavier during grade school before transferring to Ateneo High School). For this season, they elevated Robin Tan, a 5'7" guard who once played for the Stallions alongside Teng. Surprisingly, there is this another explosive Stallion who is about to enter in his fourth and final year of high school. Can he be the next one to suit up for the black and yellow? Just a thought.

-Another interesting question: Magpapakalbo pa ba ang UST?

-DLSU, on the other hand, has been out-of-sync the rest of the game, save the part where Jovet Mendoza takes over and bring the game closer than it should have been. Sure , they have a lot of talent, but the problem is that they cannot blend and combine them altogether. Obviously, coach Dindo Pumaren tried out various combinations when he put in 15 of his men on the court, and none of the combinations were really good ones.

-Another question pops in when watching this Archers game. If you look at their frontcourt, there are people who can really bully their way in or play the high post and score. They have Maui Villanueva, Jovet Mendoza, Norbert Torres, Arnold Van Opstal, and Ponso Gotladera to man the insides, and to be serious about it, they can dominate. But then, why did Simon Atkins and the big choker Luigi dela Paz (oh god, don't mind the horrible adolescent moustache) take those useless jumpers that didn't seem to come in. Together, they shot 5 of 12 within the 2-point area and 2 out of 14 three-pointers (10 coming from Atkins). Just horrible… and Gotladera and Van Opstal didn't get their own touches.

-DLSU's rookies can offer more than they were expected to, and all can agree on that. Norbert Torres is a potential threat to opponents, because he can score inside the paint but at the same time develop a shooting streak from the outside. And despite his size, he has relatively has some speed to slide in and out. On the other hand thumbs down to Arnold Van Opstal, who seemed to have his mind out of the game together with Sara, but with proper training and discipline, they can be threats as well. Unfortunately, as mentioned, Ponso Gotladera needs to be given the ball more often, as he was a scoring threat as well during his days as a Red Cub. Be on the look for these rookies as the pre-season games progress… that is if Coach Dindo will give them more minutes.

Scores:

UST 79 – Fortuna 20, Afuang 19, Bautista 16, Ferrer 14, Abdul 6, Pe 2, Tan 2, Lo 0, de Guzman 0, Marata 0, Whitfield 0.

DLSU 70 – Mendoza 15, Torres 11, Atkins 11, de la Paz 10, Tampus 5, Andrada 4, Sara 4, Van Opstal 3, Elorde 2, Villanueva 2, Gotladera 2, Webb 1, Paredes 0, Pate 0, Vigil 0.

Quarter scoring: 22-17, 47-33, 57-54, 79-70

Thanks to inboundpass.com for the box and the Fil-Oil FB website for the photo.

6 Points: AdMU vs. SBC (Fil-Oil Flying V Pre-season Tournament)

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Ateneo 90, San Beda 87

-In this hard-fought battle for the first pre-season win, we start with the most obvious and most basic thing to take notice of: The Phenom. Kiefer Ravena's 24 points that went with 3 boards and 4 assists doesn't even say a lot about his explosive game as a fresh Blue Eagle. Rather, it's how his presence became threatening to the opponent. It was just the first game and he was making fade-away shots near the baseline, running the breaks for an easy lay up or an assist, or fake a pass, tilt his upper body and go for a shot with legs apart. And of course, he also has that alley-oop pass to Greg Slaughter who in turn jams it in to give the Eagles the game. He is the most-awaited man of the Blue Squad, and he lives up to the fans' expectations by controlling most of the game on both ends of the court. To put simply, he became greatness and success personified… and this is just the first of many games we will see him.

-But of course, we also bring to another person credit that is due, and that is to Greg Slaughter, who acted as the star rookie number two for the Blue Eagles. Not only did the Smart Gilas big man play great defense by preventing the Red Lions' African big men from the post, he also scored off post moves and free throws (including several crucial ones when the game went to deadlock situations late in the final canto). However, he still needs to develop his speed and versatility, needing to be able to zip on both ends of the court and make bullet passes if ever he gets doubled or tripled.

-One good observation from this game is that both the Eagles and the Lions tuned their players up with their bread-and-butter strategies. San Beda used their usual screen plays from the mid-post, which would end up either with a jumper on the top or on the wings, or with their massive African player scoring from inside. Ateneo, on the other hand, used the usual zone defense where the backcourt slides back and forth and fights off screens. Both of them actually worked most of the time, but then, the difference that gave the game for Ateneo would be the discipline and the hustle of Ravena (who benefitted from SBC turnovers and misses by quickly sprinting to the other side to finish off a fastbreak play) and Slaughter (who kept Adeogun out of the paint and making his life inside it difficult) in the last stretch.

-The final score didn't say much about Ateneo's strength, for in the middle of the third quarter, they nearly pulled away with a huge 11-point lead, 60-49, over San Beda. However, due to unnecessary turnovers and missed shots, the Red Lions were able to make a huge run, through Garvo Lanete and Melo Lim treys, with a few baskets from Adeogun. This just shows that Ateneo needs to play at a level that could equal that of Season 73 in order to maintain their momentum during games. It is true that because of Ravena and Slaughter's presence, most of the pressure experienced during the last season were relieved, most especially from the big men; however, the Blue Eagles should, as a team, should stay keen, determined, and prepared to deal with anything that might hinder them from winning. As one, they should stay focused all through out the One Big Fight towards the championship.

-When we talk about Ateneo's reserves, we're talking several feet deep. With only Salamat and Balmaceda leaving the team, along with Ryan Buenafe, Art dela Cruz, Jeric Estrada, and Chris de Chavez who will altogether take an indefinite leave, the Blue Eagles relatively has the Season 73 core intact. But more than that, the team will have new faces that can deliver in an outstanding manner. Besides Ravena and Slaughter, Ateneo still has high school stars Gwynne Capacio and Mark Jayven Tallo. Also, Oping Sumalinog will be making his comeback after a grave ACL injury. In short, the Blue Eagles is just so jampacked and fully loaded that any team cannot take a rest when bench players enter. Imagine pulling out Ravena or Salva from the game to rest, and just be replaced with Kirk Long and Gwynne Capacio, or Sumalinog. Have Slaughter out to be replaced by Golla or Chua. That's just crazy, and this is going to be a headache for all who would stand against the Blue Eagles' run for its fourth straight title.

-Everyone thinks that the Fil-Oil preseason game is just a warm-up, but boy, did it become too serious when the top teams from the two big basketball leagues in the Metro faced each other. With the game's pace as well as the action that went with it, both Ateneo and San Beda took this game seriously, with school pride at stake but a single win on the tournament as a prize. This game was seen by everyone as a statement, the answer to the question of who is going to be the best college basketball team in Manila for this year. If one would look at the rotation of the players, it seems that it will be what Coach Norman will use for the UAAP; on the other hand, with Adeogun still redshirting for another season, the SBC rotation might just be what Coach Frankie Lim will use, only that Sudan Daniel will fill in the center spot. (Side comment: by the way, the best combo for the Blue Eagles during this game was during the closing minutes, when Ravena, Slaughter, Salva, and Long were in the court, while Monfort and Gonzaga subbed for each other for the O and D respectively)

Post Script:

-The potential for JP Erram is still there, as he was able to move well as well as find his scoring spots.
-The Blue fans wanted to still see Buenafe in action, but an indefinite leave prevents him from playing this year. Interestingly, we have forwards who can duly replace his spot and become threats to the opponent.
-When we speak of the future, the Red Lions can rely on outstanding figures present in the game. One is Ola Adeogun, who filled in the five spot for the Red Lions. Based on this game's performance, he could be a very athletic center who can muscle his way in and out, as well as score off feeds from the Red Lions' guards. Give him another year to develop and he can be the real beast of the NCAA.
-Baser Amer is the other big thing to happen besides the Phenom, so how did he fare? All good for a rookie. Despite being hounded all throughout the game by Tonino Gonzaga, he played at a level quite above the expectations of everyone, though he only managed to tally in 4 points, 4 rebs, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Not a Phenom enough, but could be promising as well.

-Interesting question: Why did Su Daniel play limited minutes?

Scores:

Ateneo 90 – Slaughter 26, Ravena 25, Salva 21, Gonzaga 7, Erram 5, Long 3, Golla 2, Austria 1, Monfort 0, Chua 0.

San Beda 87 – Adeogun 30, Lanete 15, Lim 10, A. Semerad 8, Marcelo 6, Daniel 5, Amer 4, J. Pascual 4, de la Rosa 3, Pontejos 2, Villahermosa 0, Caram 0, K. Pascual 0.

Quarter scores: 18-18, 41-39, 68-58, 90-87

Credit to inboundpass.com and chinoyhoopsfan for the scores, some info, and the Phenom video.

The Blue Eagles In Fil-Oil

Before turning on the TV or going to The Arena in San Juan to watch the Blue Eagles' games in the Fil-Oil, here are a few things to take note of:

1. Taste Test
The Fil-Oil Pre-Season games serve as a preview of what the Sixth Men have been dreaming of since Season 73. It is the first time that we will see how the long-awaited rookies, Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter among them, glue in with the rest of the Blue Eagles. We'll see how the near-legendary head honcho Norman Black modifies and adjusts the plays to accommodate their skills, or the other way around. This should be exciting, as we will see what does and does not work, and what adjustments will be made just in time for the UAAP season.

2.Highly Experimental
Most fans would say that Ateneo does not bring out its best during preseason tournaments. Quite the contrary Of course, as we all know, the Blue Eagles come in every match to make that One Big Fight; however, during pre-season games, one observation is that this comes in a highly experimental fashion. Interestingly, Coach Black somehow uses the pre-season to work out some combinations and lineups, using even more than 10 players in the rotation. Last year's Fil Oil tournament became an opportunity for back-up big men Jumbo Escueta and JP Erram to play heavy minutes, just to see if they will be effective. This year, we might see more of the newbies sweat it out and try to win it for the Blue Squad.

On the other hand, we have no idea how SBC will deal with this match, but because of the lineup's experimental nature, we should not be surprised if the Eagles get an L in this game. Is it a bad thing altogether? Certainly not, for this will enable the team to determine the holes and figure out ways to fill them in.

3.Crucial Cuts
A few days ago, word has been out that there will be four people who will be out from the team for an indefinite period of time for some reasons. Art dela Cruz, Jeric Estrada, and Chris de Chavez are three of them, and the other one would be, surprisingly, Ryan Buenafe (a separate article about Buenafe will later on explain the ramifications and consequences of his absence from the team) . In their place will be Paul Siarot, elevated after playing for Team Glory Be. And because of that, the roster rotation will have major adjustments and changes. We will see how Coach Black will be able to work his way out of this for the rest of the Fil-Oil Tournament, and possibly, for the UAAP Season.