Conference Final PredictionsIt's Crunch Time! Which Teams Will Step Up?By Michael Rothman WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer Well, we had a crazy, surprising, and phenomenal second round. Who knows what we have in store for us this week as the Conference Finals are upon us. In the East, it's a rematch of last season's conference final, and in the West, we have a new big dog in the Dallas Mavericks, who knocked off the defending champions. There will be no repeat for the Spurs, but if you made money through some intelligent sports betting last round, that performance can be repeated here. Join in on the fun with a NCAA tournament bracket contest at WagerWeb.com! Are you ready to win some cash? WagerWeb.com has built a solid reputation by offering their customers quick easy deposits, the best customer service in the industry, fast payouts and great bonuses. They specialize in the European Market for all sports including one of the best Football/Soccer divisions with lines for all the Major Conferences from around the Globe! Visit WagerWeb.com Today and start Winning! Eastern Conference #1 Pistons vs. #2 Miami Both teams will have their work cut out for them in this series. While Miami cruised in five games against New Jersey, the Pistons were taken to the limit against Lebron James and the Cavs in the last round. Shaq is averaging just 19.3 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per in the playoffs, but has showed some signs of the old Diesel in recent games. He needs to step up for the Heat to be successful, but the leader of this team is Dwyane Wade, who averaged 27.6 points per game against the Nets last week. Shaq has admitted that this is now Wade's team, and he is going to have to be electric to defeat the defending East Champs. The supporting cast will also be crucial. Miami forward Udonis Haslem was huge in the New Jersey series, upping his points average to 11.6 per and stepping up in critical situations. Haslem and the rest of the supporting cast are excited about the rematch with the Pistons. Check out the expert 2007 NCAA basketball predictions! "I mean, that's what everybody expected," Haslem said. "I guess that's what everybody wanted to see. It's time for the games everybody wants to talk about to happen." On the Pistons' side of the ball, they really need to lift their intensity and drive. At times, the Pistons looked bored against the Cavs, almost being bounced out of the series in six games. Rasheed Wallace needs to step it up. Wallace only averaged a hair under 15 points per game and two assists per in the last round. An even bigger disappointment last round was Pistons leader Chauncey Billups, who also averaged under 15 points per game. He has established a reputation for hitting big shots in crucial moments and will need to keep this trend going. DEFENSE: The Pistons need to step up their intensity, but are still considered one of the best; edge Pistons. OFFENSE: The Pistons have the team game on lock, but Miami has the Diesel and Flash; edge Heat. REST: This is a big issue in this series. Miami got almost a week off while the Pistons went seven games against the Cavs. I think this will help both teams, as Shaq needed the rest and the Pistons need to keep playing to stay awake and focused; edge Heat. INTANGIBLES: The Heat have the Diesel, but the Pistons have played together for three years now and are the two-time defending East Champs; edge Pistons. PREDICTION: This is a close call and neither team is a clear-cut favorite, but the Pistons are just more fundamentally sound and play better team defense; Pistons in seven. GAME ONE: The Pistons will be at home for Tuesday night's series opener and are favored by -5.5 points. I would take the Pistons in game one; it's gut check time for Detroit. Take Detroit. 
Western Conference #2 Phoenix vs. #4 Dallas Dallas just got out of a seven-game series with the Defending Champion Spurs. Can I just say what a game seven and what a series? This series turned out to be one of the best I have seen in years. Dallas pulled out game seven in overtime 119-111-and in San Antonio, no less. Even while Tim Duncan just dominated with 32.3 points per game and more than 12 boards per, Dallas could not be stopped offensively; we might have a changing of the guard in the Western Conference. Dallas guard Jason Terry really blossomed in this series and especially in game seven with 25 clutch points. Dirk Nowitzki is a Tim Duncan-like player who can be an MVP and take over games with his more than 27 points per game in this crucial series. This next round should definitely be a downhill battle for the Mavericks, and they have to be the favorite to win the West. For the Suns, I have to tip my cap to them. I picked against them in both of the first two rounds and they still came through. Steve Nash has shown his MVP form in the playoffs, averaging 20.2 points per game and 10.2 assists per. The big lift for the Suns against the Clippers had to be Raja Bell, who brought his average all the way up to 19.1 points. Still, this Dallas team is clearly the best in the West and the Suns will be lucky to last six games. DEFENSE: Neither defense is fantastic, but the Mavericks held the Spurs in check during crucial moments; edge Dallas. OFFENSE: I am going to sound crazy here and take Dallas. I just think they have a true superstar in Dirk and other clutch go-to guys like Jason Terry; edge Dallas. REST: Both teams will be rested exactly the same because they both finished Monday night; no edge. INTANGIBLES: I would say that neither team has been past this point, but Dallas just knocked off the defending champs on the road; edge Dallas. PREDICTION: I think the Suns have confidence and will put up a fight, but I think that Dallas, with Avery Johnson, is a new team and he is the new king in the West; Dallas in six. GAME ONE: Dallas will be at home and will be fired up to be in the Conference Championship; take Dallas minus the points. So there we have it. I am looking at a Dallas vs. Detroit final, and what a final of opposites that will be. Dallas with their unstoppable offense against Detroit and their immovable defense. Which team with flinch first? You'll have to check back next week to see my 2006 NBA Finals prediction.
--- by Michael Rothman at WagerWeb.com on May 23, 2006
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