Previous round, I only got one prediction right... =_=''' Anyway, I'm still learning on how to analyze better this time. LOL. My brief summary on the NBA playoffs first round would be VERY EXCITING! Cut off the crap, here I present you the semifinals survivors.
Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) VS Atlanta Hawks (4)
Regular Season Matchup: Cle 3-1 Atl
22/11: Cle 110-96 Atl
13/12: Cle 92-97 Atl
1/3: Cle 88-87 Atl
21/3: Cle 102-96 Atl
Key Players in 1st Round:
Lebron James, Cleveland - 4 games: 40.5 mpg / .506 FG% / 32.0 ppg / 11.3 rpg / 7.5 apg / 1.5 spg
Mike Bibby, Atlanta - 7 games: 36.6 mpg / .473 FG% / .533 3P% / .947 FT% / 14.9 ppg / 1.0 spg
Comments:
First Round Summary
As I expected, King James is too much for the Pistons to handle. In the series, Cleveland outscored the Pistons 93.5 to 78.0. Rodney Stuckey did his best to grab as much points as he could but he just didn't get enough help from the rest of the teammates. In contrast, King James played the important role as the strong gel among the teammates and successfully, they eliminated their first obstacle.
As for Atlanta Hawks, they faced great fought back from the Heat's leader, Dwyane Wade who averaged 29.1 points per game. However, the power of teamwork tamed down the stubborn Wade as he committed 3.57 turnovers per game. The Hawks struggled a bit but still moving on to the 2nd round for the first time since 1999.
Can Hawks slow down the MVP?
In this second round, the Cavaliers will definitely face stronger challenge as Hawks could be considered as one of the most improved team in the NBA. They played all the games as a team. Every players know their roles very well. However, sometimes I feel that. In a team, you really need a superstar player who able to stand out and take over the game when the team is losing. Unquestionable, King James is the clutch player for Cavaliers. I couldn't find anyone from Hawks able to defend him 1-on-1. No matter offensively or defensively, the Hawks really have to squeeze their brain really hard in order to figure out a way to stop him. Otherwise, they don't even stand a chance to win the series! Besides that, King James is not alone anymore. He got so many assistance from his associates. In and out, he got his men right over there to help him out. Especially the new acquired Mo Williams who played really well in the first round (14.8 ppg, .448 FG%, .320 3P%). Another factor to win the series is the playoffs experience. Other than Mike Bibby, the rest of the Hawks really lack of playoffs experience. From here we can see, Cleveland basically got everything to win the series. Unless the Hawks comes out with some monstrous performance, or else it would be very tough for them to win the series.
Predictions: Cleveland @ 5
Boston Celtics (2) VS Orlando Magic (3)
Regular Season Matchup: Bos 2-2 Orl
1/12: Bos 107-88 Orl
22/1: Bos 90-80 Orl
8/3: Bos 79-86 Orl
25/3: Bos 82-84 Orl
Key Players in 1st Round:
Ray Allen, Boston - 7 games: 40.0 mpg / .451 FG% / .466 3P% / .921 FT% / 23.4 ppg / 1.6 spg
Dwight Howard, Orlando - 5 games: 38.8 mpg / .683 FG% / 24.0 ppg / 15.8 rpg (5.6 orpg) / 2.8 bpg
Comments:
Ugly First Round
Before I write anything, allow me to say this. Boston is absolutely nothing without Kevin Garnett! Yes, they survived the first round but the result is so ugly. 4-3 over a bunch of young Bulls??? Unacceptable...seriously...for me. Lot of credits given to the Bulls on their efforts in playing against the last year champion. "Nothing to lose", that is what I saw in the Bulls. The absence of Kevin Garnett caused very big impact to the Boston, especially in the paint area. However, the Big-2 of the Boston, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce stand out and avoided the close elimination. Another big surprise for Boston would be Rajan Rondo who put on such an impressive performance and averaged 19.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 11.6 apg and 2.71 spg in the first round. In the paint area, Kendrick Perkins did his very best and averaged 13.3 ppg (.625 FG%), 11.6 rpg and 3.0 bpg.
D-12 and the rest...
But for this series, Boston might have tougher time in the paint area, as well as from the downtown. Dwight Howard, the defender player of the year will be the main support for the Orlando in the paint area. And of course with the help from the two big guys Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. As from the 3 Point line, Orlando has bunch of sharp shooters such as Rafer Alston, J.J. Redick, etc. Well, my prediction? As below.
Predictions: Orlando @ 6
Western Conference
Los Angeles Lakers (1) VS Houston Rockets (5)
Regular Season Matchup: LAL 4-0 Hou
9/11: LAL 111-82 Hou
13/1: LAL 105-100 Hou
11/3: LAL 102-96 Hou
3/4: LAL 93-81 Hou
Key Players in 1st Round:
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles - 5 games: 40.6 mpg / .466 FG% / .353 3P% / .897 FT% / 27.4 ppg / 5.6 apg / 2.4 spg
Yao Ming, Houston - 6 games: 36.0 mpg / .563 FG% / .920 FT% / 15.8 ppg / 10.7 rpg / 1.2 bpg
Comments:
Easy First Round
I never expect Lakers will kick out the Utah Jazz so easily in the first round. Kobe Bryant "only" averaged 27.4 ppg in 5 games. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom did their job in the paint area. They combined for 36.2 ppg, 20.0 rpg and 3.2 bpg. Trevor Ariza would be another great assistance for the Lakers as he contributed 12.0 ppg, .611 FG% (22-36), .611 3P% (11-18), 1.0 spg and 4.2 apg. Besides that, the rest of the Lakers contributed 33.0 points.
Yao & The Rockets
As I said before, Houston is much better without Tmac. They proved it by beat the Portland in the first round. As the best center (so far) in the league, Yao done his job very well. Another brilliant big man for Houston, Luis Scola will 
be another threat for the Lakers in the paint area as he averaged 16.2 ppg and 6.7 rpg. Ron Artest will definitely be assigned the task as the main defender on Kobe Bryant. Offensively, he also able to contribute 15.7 points. If he able to control his temper, Kobe Bryant might have hard time scoring the baskets. However, as what I can see from the Lakers this year. Even though Kobe Bryant being locked down offensively, the rest of the Lakers will take the initiative to score the baskets for the team. As years past by, Kobe Bryant has gradually transformed into a smarter player (just like MJ). You will never ever know how much bullets he has or what he will do next. My perspective, Lakers won't have any trouble to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Predictions: Lakers @ 6
Denver Nuggets (2) VS Dallas Mavericks (6)
Regular Season Matchup: Den 4-0 Dal
7/11: Den 108-105 Dal
15/12: Den 98-88 Dal
13/1: Den 99-97 Dal
27/3: Den 103-101 Dal
Key Players in 1st Round:
Chauncey Billups, Denver - 5 games: 35.6 mpg / .483 FG% / .655 3P% / .947 FT% / 22.6 ppg / 1.0 spg
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas - 5 games: 37.2 mpg / .493 FG% / .935 FT% / 19.2 ppg / 8.6 rpg / 2.2 apg / 1.0 spg
Comments:
Lopsided Victory
Scary...that is all I can say for Denver. I never expect they are that strong...after blowed out the New Orleans in game 4 and won by 58 points! Chauncey Billups is such an incredible player. By looking at the statistics, I really can't understand why on earth the Detroit will make such an idiot trade. However, obviously the trade benefit the Denver by allowing them to advance to the second round for the first time in six years. Carmelo Anthony remains as the top gun in the team by averaging 24.0 ppg, .469 FG% and .462 3P%. And the paint area (...again) will be one of the important factor to win the series.
The Younger Wins
First of all, I want to thank you Dallas to kick the "old" San Antonio off the NBA Playoffs. It really help me a lot (mentally...) to continue watching the playoffs games of Western Conference. Dallas might have enough gun power to fight the battles against the Denver but explosive performance from the star player will decide the winner of this series.
Predictions: Denver @ 6
Without any surprise, Los Angeles Lakers beat the inexperienced Orlando Magic. I believes the most exciting person will be the captain, Kobe Bryant. After the long waited seven years, Kobe Bryant won his "first ever" NBA championship without the present of Shaquille O'neal. Throughout the years, Kobe Bryant worked really hard and impressed a lot NBA critics. He fell a lot of times but he just never give up. In 2008, he won himself the regular season MVP but it wasn't enough for him. Lakers lost to the Boston in the finals and it was a great pain for them. However, they continued to move on and finished with the second best record in the league, 65-17. First round, they didn't face much 
challenges from the Utah Jazz led by Deron Williams. Lakers finished them off in 5 games. In conference semi-finals, they seemed like struggled a bit with the Houston Rockets and only managed to get rid of them in game 7. In the championship series, Lakers made use of all the experiences they learned from the previous NBA Finals. In most of the games, they were losing at first. However due to the lack of experiences, Orlando Magic couldn't hold the lead and they lost it. Oh yeah, never forget the 12 years veteran Derek Fisher. He saved the Lakers in game 4 by hitted two crucial 3 pointers. Besides that, credit and compliments also given to Phil Jackson and the rest of the Lakers such as Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, etc.
