The NBA's Final Four

     When the NBA season kicked off in November who would of predicted that the Lakers and the Boston Celtics wouldn't have been included in the NBA's final four. Well, today the NBA's final four scenerio is the Chicago Bulls up agianst the Miami Heat 1-0 and the western conference finals begins with the Dallas Mavericks hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder. A lot of people may have predicted the Heat to go all the way with the big three that they have, but many people didn't have the Chicago Bulls the number one seed in the east and a blow out victory in game one. To a lot of people's surprise the Chicago Bulls have proven to be a legitimate team with the MVP of the league Derrick Rose and by having the number one defense in the league. The Bulls showcased this stifuling defense in game one, holding Lebron James and Dwayne Wade to 12 and 18 points. The Bulls were able to hold two of the NBA's premiere scorers under 20 points a piece. Also the Bulls won by such a wide margin because of their bench points and second chance points. The Bull's bench outscored the Heat's bench 28-15, and the outscored them in second chance points 31-8. The Bulls have been a shock to many this whole season and they continued to shock many people as they not only won game won but did it in a convincing fashion. The question is, will the Bulls be able to keep this up and dominate the boards and continue to make things tough for Lebron and Wade.

     The other match up in the NBA's final four is the Mavericks versus the Thunder. The Thunder is a very young team that may be ahead of their time. We'll soon find out as they go up against a veteran team with a dynamic superstar in Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki and the Mavericks shocked the world as they swept the two time defending champions Los Angeles Lakers. What was even more shocking was how they swept the Lakers and made them seem inferior and old by blowing them out in game four by 36 points (122-86). Also the Maverick's Jason Terry tied the NBA playoff three point record by making 9 three pointers, as he was 5-5 at one point and time from three point land. The Mavericks dominated the Lakers with their pick and roll offense and Nowitzki looked like his MVP form back in 06-07. With Nowitzki being a 7ft tall power forward that can play on the perimeter he poses a tremendous threat to the Thunder's big men.
    
     On the other hand the Thunder also have a superstar who is the league's two time defending scoring champion and who is also a 6ft 10in small forward who can shoot from anywhere in the gym and is a prolific scorer. The Thunder may also have the edge at the point guard position as 22 year old Russell Westbrook may give 38 year old Jason Kidd a problem with his lightning speed and amazing athleticism. Just like Westbrook can help the Thunder be great, a lot of people think he hurts the team sometime when he takes more shots than Durant. The Thunder supporters say its not a problem because he is their second scorer and they need him to score sometimes. Westbrook has always taken a lot of shots and Durant was still been able to win the scoring title twice, so it may not be a problem but we will see as the series begins tonight at 9pm on espn. Will it be the Thunder's youth, or the Mavericks veteran craftiness, or will the Maverick's be rusting from 8 days of rest and be shocked by the Thunder at home in game one. Find out tonight.