The NBA in the homestretch, take your pick

Basketball fans all over the world are having a good time watching NBA action that has just seen the conference finals’ cast finalized with no surprises at the results – the Houston Rockets versus the defending champions Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference, while Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers try to get past the Boston Celtics.

What was surprising to me was the fact that there were teams in the conference semifinals that a few years ago, you would not have associated at all with the playoffs. Am referring to the New Orleans Pelicans who bowed down to the Warriors in five games, the Philadelphia 76ers who gave the Celtics a difficult time but eventually falling by the wayside in five games and the Utah Jazz that faced the Rockets in the semis but failed to get past James Harden and Chris Paul.

It was only the other semis game between the Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors that was expected to happen and the result was what was expected.The Raptors simply could not get past against the Cavs.

Now the $64 dollar question, who will make it to the finals?

Definitely, I am not a basketball analyst that can break down a team on its strengths and weaknesses while reciting statistics to support his bold prediction. Far from it. I can only make a fearful guess as to who will face who after the conference finals that will be starting, and I need to admit too that I have not used my crystal ball that works sometimes, and sometimes disappoints me.

First in the Western Conference. If Gordon Hayward, Boston’s Great White Hope to reincarnate all time great Larry Bird, and former Cavs gunner Kyrie Irving were playing, I would give the nod to the Celtics. But then, Celtics fans look at the absence of Hayward and Irving from a different point of view, saying the young guns of the Celtics have found a way to win despite the absence of their two key players.

And how do you argue with success when the Celtics are indeed in the conference finals sans the two superstars?

But against the Cavs led by Lebron, the guy who can join any NBA team and make it a play-off team, I really do not know, though, if Lebron is the key to Cleveland’s success. He can also be the reason why they will fail because he carries the team too much on his shoulders, and honestly, if there is one thing for me about Lebron, he does not have the leadership that I have seen in the likes of Michael Jordan and Bird. For me, Lebron maybe the most athletically gifted basketball player ever, but he falls short for me in the leadership side.

Be that as it may, my aging crystal ball still sees a victory for the Cavs, unless a sudden miracle happens and Irving and Hayward comes out to play, which will not happen unless one believes in miracles. If the Celtics prove me wrong, actually I would be happier because I am not really a Lebron fan at all.

In the Eastern Conference, what I would be looking forward to is the one-on-one between Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, the latter salivating for a possible first-ever trip to the NBA finals. But looking at the team match-up, the Warriors for me simply has a much deeper bench and a first five of Curry, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson and the do-it-all Draymond Green. Golden State is simply the stronger team between the two, regardless of how many points Paul and Harden together can score.

More so that Curry looks like he is back to his old self coming from an injury. And so if I will not be surprised if the Celtics shock the Cavs, I will be very surprised if the Rockets get past the Warriors.

Which then means we will see another rematch between the Warriors and the Cavs — something that has drawn criticism from some quarters. But how can you blame these two teams for being that good and end up facing each other again in the finals?

But please, do not bet on my prediction. I also will not, okay?