In the NBA, the playoffs begin in April and last until mid-June. The NCAA has one month to showcase its talent before a champion hoists a trophy in early April. “March Madness” is a very popular term among sports fans, and the single-elimination tournament excites fans from across the world and throughout every generation. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the NBA and its method of deciding a champion.
However, time has beckoned for a new version of the NBA playoffs. Instead of a three month process for the quest for the Larry O’Brien trophy, the NBA will partake in a 30-team single-elimination tournament. As the NBA nears the end of its regular season, it’s time to see what would happen to the league if a new formation for the post-season was adopted.
Next: “April Madness” Bracket
In the opening rounds, the only upset that will occur will be the Suns (17) knocking off the Pacers (16). Most of the stronger NBA teams will have no problem defeating the lower ranked teams, and the Spurs and Celtics will use their first round byes to rest their old bodies. As for the Lakers (5), they will face-off with the young Minnesota Timberwolves (28), but the Staples Center crowd should work to their benefit.
In the second round, the Lakers will see a familiar foe walk onto the Staples Center floor. The new-look Denver Nuggets will press their luck and they will be looking to complete the first major upset in the tournament. However, much like the 2009 Western Conference Finals series, the Lakers will prevail in an intense and high octane game.
The other highlighted game in the West bracket will be the Knicks (12) traveling to Orlando to take on Superman and the Magic (8). Despite their loss to the Magic earlier in the season, this newly talented Knicks team is fully capable of stunning the world. Just like the early 1990s, the Knicks and Bulls will battle each-other in the post-season. After beating the Magic, the Knicks’ next opponent will be the high talented, Chicago Bulls (4).
Next: East Bracket
In the East bracket, the second round will see the Hawks (10) and their division rival Heat (6) fight for the next round. The Heat have struggled mightily this season, and they tend to lose big games. No other game is bigger than a Game 7, so the Hawks’ chemistry and offensive explosion will carry them to victory. The Celtics will make their tournament debut, and they will battle Doug Collins and his young 76ers (14). The Celtics will have trouble staying in front of the Sixers, but their veteran leadership will be the deciding factor late in the game.
Another exciting second round match-up in the East bracket will be the Portland Trail Blazers (11) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (7). The Blazers have become a great, balanced team, but the trio of Westbrook, Durant and Perkins will be too much to handle for the injury plagued Blazers.
Next: Next Round
After knocking off the Hornets in their first-round, the San Antonio Spurs will have the luxury of playing the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers for a bid in the Final Four. Los Angeles defeated the Spurs in convincing fashion last week, so expect no other outcome. The Lakers will be dancing to the Final Four, and the Spurs will be left without a ticket.
In the other match-up of the West bracket, the Knicks and the Bulls will re-live their epic 90s rivalry. After clashing multiple times for a bid in the NBA Finals, the Knicks and Bulls will once again clash for post-season advancement. Instead of battles between Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing, a new wave of superstars will try to cement their legacies. Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony are emerging as great NBA players, and both of them have experience in March Madness. However, the Bulls are an extremely talented team, and their depth will surely overwhelm the Knicks. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls will represent the West in the 2011 Final Four.
In the West bracket, the Boston Celtics will play a familiar foe in the Atlanta Hawks. These two teams played a seven-game series in 2008, and there is no love between them. The Hawks may have improved dramatically since 2008, but they will have trouble winning a game in TD Garden. The Celtics will advance to the next round after a grueling, tight game against the young Hawks.
In the other game of the East Bracket, two youthful teams will battle for a ticket to the Final Four. The Memphis Grizzlies (15) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (7) will be involved in a high-tempo, offensively dominated game. The Grizzlies will be coming off an upset win versus the Dallas Mavericks, and they will play the Thunder with their confidence at an all time high. However, the Thunder’s home crowd will definitely challenge the Grizzlies, much like it did the Lakers in 2010. Kevin Durant will take on his destined leadership role, and he will carry his team to the Final Four.
In the first ever single-elimination tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder will be the four contestants in the Final Four.
Next: Final Four
In the West bracket, the Los Angeles Lakers will attempt to defeat Phil Jackson’s former team. Kobe Bryant said he wanted to send Jackson off with another ring, and what better team to beat than the Chicago Bulls. Although the Bulls have the better ranking, the Lakers are far more experienced in pivotal games. The Bulls have had a successful season, but they cannot become the champions of the NBA if Kobe is still playing. The Los Angeles Lakers are headed off to the National Championship game.
In the other match-up in the Final Four, the Oklahoma City Thunder (7) will try to upset the Boston Celtics (2). During the trade deadline in mid-February, the Celtics and Thunder pulled off a block-buster trade that sent beloved Kendrick Perkins to the plains in Oklahoma. The Boston fans loved Perkins, so it will be great to see the ex-Celtic defeat his former fans. Although it will be an emotional game at first due to Perkins, the match-up will quickly turn bitter as the fourth quarter emerges. Unlike the previous teams Boston faced in the tournament, the Thunder are capable of knocking off an NBA powerhouse. The Thunder have one of the best closers in Kevin Durant, and he has a knack for hitting big-shots. In perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament, the Oklahoma City Thunder will defeat the Boston Celtics to join the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Championship.
Next: National Championship Game
The NBA’s first-ever single elimination tournament will culminate in an epic game between two conference rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers and Thunder played each other in the opening round of the 2010 playoffs, and the Thunder gave the Lakers a very tough time. The Thunder are a young-team, and their high octane offense is something the Lakers cannot defend. Luckily for Los Angeles, they will host the game due to a higher seed, so the Staples Center crowd will be a boost for the Lakers.
Just like last season versus the Boston Celtics, the Lakers played their best game all-season in Game 7. The Lakers are accustomed to playing in pivotal post-season games, so they will not be nervous in the National Championship. The game will be intense for a full 48 minutes, and overtime may be needed to crown a 2011 NBA Champion. However, Lakers fans know that Kobe Bryant is the best closer in the NBA, and that he will not fail his teammates late in a game.
The Los Angeles Lakers will prevail, and they will be the winner of the single-elimination tournament. The three-peat will be complete, and the Lakers will raise their 17th Larry O’Brien Trophy.