Conference Semis Subplots

Except for the Boston-Cleveland match-up every other conference semifinals series has begun. It's about to heat up so might as well take a look at the subplots in each best-of-seven match-up:

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Utah Jazz

Mastermind Sloan vs. Zenmaster Jackson - Both head coaches are inarguably the best in the business today and both among the oldest. Of course, Jackson has been more successful with championships with the Lakers and the Chicago Bulls--- at least two of them at the expense Mr. Jerry Sloan during the late 90's Michael Jordan-led squad that won back to back championships against a Jazz team that featured Karl Malone and John Stockton. Jackson will have to deal with a slew of pick-and-rolls again this time starring new stars Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams.

To compare, Sloan has ZERO rings after 20 consecutive years with the Salt Lake City franchise... As important the ring is, in Sloan's mind this personal battle with Jackson might as well define his coaching career in the NBA. If Jackson grabs this series once again, the classy, tough and gentleman Jerry Sloan might as well be known as the Zenmaster's bitch. Yeah, that's a tough one to swallow, a very un-classy and un-gentleman-like eventual description of Mr. Sloan.

D-Fish vs. former team -
It was one of the touching stories in the 2007, an emotional and motivated Derek Fisher returning to the court in the second half of the action in the conference semifinals after spending some time in New York with his daughter*... He hit a game-changing three pointer to help the Utah Jazz win their series against the upstart Golden State Warriors... Fast forward to the off-season, after working a buyout (to be near his daughter) with the Jazz, he re-signs with his former team in Hollywood and now he plays against one of the rising point guards in the league whom he once mentored.
*Fisher's daughter underwent a surgery in her left-eye which was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer

Euro-flavored stars -
Pau Gasol is from Spain, Mehmet Okur from Turkey and Andrei Kirilenko, Russia. Russia and Spain met at the last FIBA Europe with the former edging out the latter with both players considered as the squad's stars for their respective countries. AK47 did guard Gasol in stretches of that match-up, we'll have to wait and see if Sloan uses this strategy to slowdown Princess Pau.

(2) New Orleans Hornets vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs

Parker vs. Paul -
Not really a subplot but it's worth mentioning since we are talking about two of the best court generals in the association. One is more of a scorer, the other the ultimate distributor. You know i am cheering for the latter.

Duncan vs. Rising Bigs -
We all know what Tim Duncan can do, what we don't know is what the young guys (David West and Tyson Chandler) can offer... West (30 points, 9 rebounds) had a big first game to tow the Hornets squad to the Game One W even as Chandler had a big double double of 10 and 15. And TD? 5 points in 37 minutes on 1 of 9 field goal shooting!

Wells vs. his favorite opponent - Bonzi Wells had a great series against the Spurs two years back when he was with the Sacramento Kings averaging a double double against this same squad. With all the attention Paul and Peja Stokakovic will be getting, Wells will have a chance to make some serious dent against the defending champions. The question is which Bon-Z will show up? The aggressive or the lazy one?

(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers

Po-Z vs King James -
This one is really overlooked. James Posey is one of the more underrated defenders in the game. He gives you toughness and he can give you a little bit of offense too. Talk of double teaming Lebron James is valid, but i will not be surprised if James can contain Lebron a little bit even in a single coverage.

That's just a few of the subplots i can think of... Some more random thoughts on the conference semifinals... Carlos Arroyo (point guard, Orlando Magic) has yet to have a good game in this postseason, he's working for a contract i will not be shocked if he explodes for a single game against his former Detroit team... You know how that works, "against ex-teams"... That said, Delonte
West (point guard, Cleveland Cavaliers) is playing against the team that drafted him... Speaking of bad postseason, Ben Wallace has not had a good game so far as well, the timing will be perfect if he can do it against KG...

All in all, every best of seven looks good and should go down the wire... The forecast: New Orleans over San Antonio in six games... Lakers over Utah in six... Boston over Cleveland in seven... and Detroit over Orlando in six games...

While i want upsets (Either one of Jazz, Cavs and Magic advance...) i don't see that happening at all.