NBA Conference Finals Predictions

With the Conference Finals set and about to begin, it is time for me to go out on a limb again (just as I did in predicting the Boston Celtics would beat the Cleveland Cavaliers) and determine which two teams will represent their respective conferences in the NBA Finals. Here it is...
I will start in the east where the Orlando Magic play the Boston Celtics. The Magic, winners of eight straight playoff games and 27 of 30 overall, have been unstoppable to this point. Led by Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard, the magic easily handled the Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks in the opening two rounds. This Boston team, however, is a totally different beast, especially now that they are the healthiest they have been since winning it all in 2008. I believe the keys to this series will be the battle between point guards (Nelson vs. Rajon Rondo), the power forwards (Rashard Lewis vs. Kevin Garnett) and the benches. Last year these two teams played each other in the Conference Semi-finals with Orlando winning in 7 games. However, that series was lacking Nelson and Garnett, respectively.
Orlando is the younger, more athletic team without question. Rajon Rondo, the emerging leader of this Celtics team, will have to dictate the tempo for Boston to have a chance. Rondo has averaged 18 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds thus far in the playoffs and it will be on him to get others, specifically the "Big 3" of Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, involved early and often. Nelson is definitely the stronger of the two point guards and it will be his job to keep Rondo out of the paint.
The power forward match-up intrigues me because I think Rashard Lewis and Antawn Jamison are very similar players. If you missed the Boston vs. Cleveland series I will inform you now that Garnett had no problem making Jamison look like a D-Leaguer on his way to avergaing 18 points and 8 boards during the series. That being said, Orlando has a much better system for a guy like Lewis to be successful as opposed to the "LeBron + 4" system implemented by Cavaliers coach, Mike "I cannot believe I am not fired yet" Brown. Lewis, never known for his defensive prowess, will have to find a way to be successful at both ends of the court in order to take pressure off Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard.
The bench is where I believe Orlando has the biggest edge, an edge which will ultimately determine the series. The Magic boast a solid point guard in Jason Williams, two all out shooting machines in Mickael Pietrus (who is also a stellar defender) and J.J. Reddick and a couple of solid, but not flashy, front court players in Marcin Gortat and Brian Anderson. This Magic bench is consistent and plays their roles extremely effective. The Celtics, on the other hand, receive sporadic performances from a cast that includes Glen "Big Baby" Davis (who will ALWAYS be Big Baby), Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen and Michael Finley.
Both teams have peaked at exactly the right time. Orlando's best is better than Boston's, but not by much. Magic in 7.
Out west it is the defending NBA Champion, Los Angeles Lakers, against the surprising, Phoenix Suns. Both teams are coming off sweeps from their semi-final match-ups over the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. Both teams have clear advantages. The Lakers have the best player in the series in Kobe Bryant and the best front court in the form of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. The Suns have the best point guard, Steve Nash, and the better bench which includes Goran Dragic, Jared Dudley and Channing Frye.
Bryant will be faced with something he has yet to see so far in these playoffs, a veteran defender. After going up against Thabo Sefolosha and Wesley Matthews in the first two rounds, Grant Hill will now get the task of trying to contain the Lakers star. I would not be surprised to see Phoenix also throw Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley in the mix in an attempt to try and prevent Bryant from getting too comfortable with a certain defender. All three of these players are upgrades over Sefolosha and Matthews and Bryant knows he will be facing his biggest test to this point. Bryant will get his 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, but how he will get those numbers will be the key. Phoenix do not want him getting to the free throw line.
The front court of the Lakers can be their greatest strength, but can also be vulnerable depending on the health of Andrew Bynum and if Lamar Odom decides to make an appearance in these playoffs or not. Bynum says his knee problems are getting worse. Odom needs to step up. Odom will probably be fortunate enough to guard Amare Stoudemire while trying to work his way out of his current slump. The mettle of this Lakers front court will be tested, no doubt.
Steve Nash, yes he who hails from the great country to the north, will look to take advantage of his match-up against Derek Fisher. Nash should have no problem penetrating off the dribble and finding his shot when he likes. He also knows how important it is to get Jason Richardson involved (Phoenix is 5-0 this post season when Richardson scores 20 or more) and Stoudemire easy shots of their pick and roll. Nash, as always, will be the key to the Suns success and is a real worry to Lakers coach, Phil Jackson. Fisher, I believe, will be originally assigned the task of guarding Nash, but I am sure Ron Artest, Shannon Brown and even Bryant may also get their chance to stay in front of the Canadian.
The bench will be important in this series, but not as important as the Orlando vs. Boston series. Phil Jackson knows his bench is his biggest liability and will probably shorten it even more for this series. I would be shocked if anyone other than Odom and Shannon Brown played more than 12 minutes/game (assuming Bynum stays healthy). Phoenix loves the energy their bench provides, especially at home. Throughout these playoffs the Phoenix bench has been shown a lot of trust from coach Alvin Gentry. I look for Gentry to continuing giving extended minutes to Dragic, Dudley and Frye while also playing Leandro Barbosa, Louis Amundson and Jarron Collins.
Both teams are well rested. This will be a fascinating series and one that will show the value of home court advantage. Kobe Bryant will not allow the Lakers to lose a game 7 on their home floor. Lakers in 7.