NBA Update

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

(1) Milwaukee 4 - 1 (8) Orlando

(4) Indiana 0 - 4 (5) Miami

(3) Boston 4 - 0 (6) Philadelphia

(2) Toronto 4 - 0 (7) Brooklyn

(1) Milwaukee 1 - 4 (5) Miami

(2) Toronto 3 - 4 (3) Boston

(3) Boston 2 - 4 (5) Miami 

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

(1) L.A. Lakers 4 - 1 (8) Portland

(4) Houston 4 - 3 (5) Oklahoma City

(3) Denver 4 - 3 (6) Utah

(2) L.A. Clippers 4 - 2 (7) Dallas

(1) L.A. Lakers 4 - 1 (4) Houston

(2) L.A. Clippers 3 - 4 (3) Denver

(1) L.A. Lakers 4 - 1 (3) Denver

On the whole, I've enjoyed these NBA Playoffs a great deal.  The whole league (except for Toronto) plays a generally appealing style of basketball, and it's been exciting to see so many former Wildcats shine on the big stage.  I also think playing all the games on a neutral cite has improved the quality of play -- we haven't seen nearly so many blowouts as usual, and there have been a lot of close games.

I don't even mind the Lakers winning.  I don't dislike LeBron, and Anthony Davis is my favorite UK player of all time.  I'm also a big supporter of Rondo.

But I don't expect too much drama in the finals.  The Heat are a lot like Denver -- a very well-coached team that can outsmart and outwork most opponents.  But no one will outsmart or outwork LeBron -- you have to beat him with superior firepower, the way the Warriors used to.  The Heat do not have superior firepower, and I think they will struggle to win more than one game in this series.