Tue 5/28

There is one game on Tuesday:

Oklahoma City at San Antonio Game 2 - Spurs lead 1-0

I think Spurs would be champions this season by beating Miami Heat this season and I am going with Russell Westbrook.

Mon 5/28

Boston Celtics are playing at Miami Heat for game 1 of eastern conference finals and I am going with Kevin Garnett thinking Miami advances.

Sat 5/26

Schedule for Saturday:

Philadelphia at Boston Game 7 - Series tied 3-3

If Necessary Indiana at Miami Game 7 - Heat lead 3-2

Though Heat is going to be very small on Thursday without Bosh and Haslem, I still think that Heat would get a W because of James and Wade’s firepower. They are playing amazing basketballs for two games in a row. James was able to bring Cleveland too dip into playoffs on multiple occasions single handedly in the past. Wade got championship for Heat single handily in the past. And they are playing on the same team and playing high potential. It would be too difficult to stop them for two games in a row. I doubt that there will be game 7 for Heat, but if it happens we will see.

If 76ers and Celtics is the only game on Saturday,

I think Celtics would win, but 76ers have been able to win 3 games in this series and I won’t be surprised if they win 4^th one. So I am going with my best available option from this match-up. I am going with Kevin Garnett.

I changed my pick to Louis Williams thinking Celtics would advances.

Thu 5/24

Miami at Indiana Game 6 - Heat lead 3-2 is on Thursday.

Miami Heat dominated in game 5 again. As soon as we all started talking about Heat not winning, they came back stronger and James and Wade had two back to back heroic performances in a row. This pick is simple for me. Udonis Haslem is suspended for one and and would it impact on result of Game 6? If definitely can, but I think Pacers are going home and I am going with Roy Hibbert. Would absence of a Haslem result in Hibbert producing better line up than otherwise? I hope so.

Wed 5/23

There is one game on Wednesday:

Boston at Philadelphia Game 6 - Celtics lead 3-2

Pick for this game is very simple for me. I think 76ers would not advance and I am going with Evan Turner

Tue 5/22

There is one game on Tuesday:

Indiana at Miami Game 5 - Series tied 2-2

In Game 4, James and Wade had heroic performance and Heat ended up winning. Though I think it would be hard to repeat that performance on regular basis, I think Heat would win. Also when Roy Hibbert is not on the floor, Pacers seems awful. Followings are my options from Pacers:

Danny Granger – 26.8

Roy Hibbert – 24.6

George Hill – 19.1

Paul George – 18.3

Daren Collison - 14

I am going with Danny Granger

Fri 5/18

There are two games on Friday:

Boston at Philadelphia Game 4 - Celtics lead 2-1  

Oklahoma City at LA Lakers Game 3 - Thunder lead 2-0

I think Lakers are going to be eliminated from playoffs soon. After using Kobe and Bynum I was thinking about going with Gasol, but when I looked next day’s schedule, I realized that both teams from Los Angeles are playing on the same day and I would have to pick Session as he is my best available after Gasol. I am not sure if I wanna go that low at this point. So I decided to pick a player from other match-up.

It’s impressive the way Celtics are playing for a while now. Every year we hear that they are old and won’t do much, but they keep proving everyone wrong and keep going far into playoffs. Seems like this might be the case this year as well. So I am going with a 76ers. Andre Iguodala is my best available option and I am going with him.

Thu 5/17

There are two games on Thursday:

Miami at Indiana Game 3 - Series tied 1-1 

LA Clippers at San Antonio Game 2 - Spurs lead 1-0

With Bosh out, I thought Heat vs Pacers s series would last longer than otherwise, but I did not think that Pacers would win in Miami. Both 76ers and Pacers achieved home field advantage by winning against teams that many of us thought would play in eastern conference finals. Playoffs got even better. 

It’s sad that LeBron James is such a talented player and we won’t miss attacking him when something goes wrong. Most of us find all reasons we can to blame James whenever his team loses. After Tuesday’s loss everyone is talking about James choking, missing free throws and passing ball to his team mates in last couple of possessions.  May be because he is such a talented player that no one wants to miss as opportunity to criticize him. 

Anyways this blog is about picking players for drive to the finals so let’s talk about Thursday’s pick. Though Pacers won second game in Miami and Bosh is out for a while, I still think that Heat would advance, but I won’t be shocked if Pacers would advance. So I am not touching anyone from this match-up on Thursday especially when I know that both teams from Los Angeles are playing against very good teams and probability of LA teams going home is higher. So I am picking Blake Griffin based on my assumption that they would be eliminated in this round.

Wed 5/16

There are two games on Wednesday:

Boston at Philadelphia Game 3 - Series tied 1-1

LA Lakers at Oklahoma City Game 2 - Thunder lead 1-0

76ers not only won one out of first two games to get home field advantage, but they also won the second game to do so. Because they won second game, they are carrying the momentum with them. This year’s playoffs just got better. Now I do not want to pick anyone from this match-up specially when picking someone from other match-up seems a lot straight forward.

Lakers were beaten badly. Before watching this game, I thought thunder would advance to go to next round, but they way they won first games, I won’t be surprised if this would be a very short series. Based on that assumption, I am rolling dice with a Laker. My options are: 

Bynum - 30.4

Gasol - 26.3

Ramon Sessions - 19.1

I am going with Andrew Bynum.

Tue 5/15

There are two games on Tuesday:

Indiana at Miami Game 2 - Heat lead 1-0

LA Clippers at San Antonio Game 1

I am confident that Spurs would beat Clippers, but Griffin is my only option when it comes to picking Clippers.

First game between Pacers and Heat was close one. Pacers are a very good team and now because Bosh is not going to play for a while, Heat is a very small team all of a sudden. David West and Roy Hibbert are strong big men and rest of the series can get more interesting. I still think that Heat would win, but it would be long series than I initially thought of. My options are: 

David West - 28.2

Granger - 27.5

Hibbert - 24.2

Geroge Hill - 18.5

I am going with David West.

Mon 5/14

There are two games on Monday:

Philadelphia at Boston Game 2 - Celtics lead 1-0

LA Lakers at Oklahoma City Game 1

I think 76ers and Lakers wont advance to next round. Following are my options from these match-up:

Bynum 30.4

Holiday 26.6

Gasol 26.3

Iguodala 22.7

Turner 22

Hawes 21.9

Ramon Sessions  19.1

76ers already played one game and I have 4 76ers to pick from. On the other hand I just have 2 (may be 3) options from Lakers and they are going to play first game. So I am going with a 76er, Jrue Holiday.

Sun 5/13

There are two games on Sunday:

LA Clippers at Memphis Game 7 - Series tied 3-3
Indiana at Miami Game 1

I think Heat would beat Pacers to go to conference finals.

Between Clippers vs Memphis series, I am not sure who is going to advance by winning 7th game and I don't want to miss not picking Chris Paul. So I am going with him.

Sat 5/12

There are two games on Saturday:

Philadelphia at Boston Game 1

Denver at LA Lakers Game 7 - Series tied 3-3

I think Celtics would beat 76ers and will play against Miami Heat who would beat Pacers to play in conference finals. So picking a 76er should be fine. My options are: 

Jrue Holiday – 29.4

Evan Turner – 22

Spencer Hawes – 21.4

Andre Iguodala – 19.4

I did not see Lakers playing 7th game in first round of playoffs against Nuggets especially the way they won first two games of the series. But here we are having first series with 7th game for this year’s playoffs. I don’t want to miss not picking black mamba. Even though I think Lakers would win, I am going with Kobe Bryant.

Fri 5/11

Grizzlies are playing against Clippers in LA on Friday. Clippers are leading series 3-2. In the game 5, Gasol and Randolph came to play and they dominated during first half. But as usual, clippers woke up and started playing in second and as a result it was one more close game. CP3 had to sit out last few minutes because of his groin injury. Griffin was in and out during last few minutes because of his leg injury. It would be interesting to see their status before start of the game and I might change my pick based on that news, but for now I am going with Mike Conley.

Thu 5/10

There are three games on Thursday:

Chicago at Philadelphia Game 6 - 76ers lead 3-2

Atlanta at Boston Game 6 - Celtics lead 3-2

LA Lakers at Denver Game 6 - Lakers lead 3-2

Bulls, Hawks and Nuggets all survived first elimination game.

Nuggets were immersive as Lakers were not able to close the series at home. JaVale McGee played like a beast. For a while they looked like old Lakers where Kobe was the man among boys. He had to take over in 4th quarter, but he was not able to close. I still think Lakers would advance to be beaten by Spurs. Following are my options from Nuggets:

Andre Miller – 24

Kennenth Faried  -20.8

JaVale McGee – 20.8

I think Bulls would be eliminated and I have yet to pick following Bull:

Loul Deng – 20.8

Al Horford is back and healthy. He was am important factor in Hawks win against Celtics. I still think Hawks would be eliminated and following are my options:

Al Horford – 25.5

Jeff Teague – 23.2

I like to keep mu picking strategy simple. Figure out teams that I think are going to be eliminated and pick a player with highest PRA from available options. Al Hordord fits my strategy for Thursday and I am going with him.

For Friday:

If Grizzlies are playing on Friday, I might go with Mike Conley

If Grizzles would be eliminated on Wednesday and Knicks survive, I might go with J. R. Smith

Wed 5/9

There are two games on Wednesday:

New York at Miami Game 5 - Heat lead 3-1          

LA Clippers at Memphis Game 5 - Clippers lead 3-1          

It is interesting that there are six first round games on Monday and Tuesday and all of them are elimination games with 3-1 record.

I already used Melo and Amare. I don’t think any Knicks are worth a pick in first round. I haven’t picky anny Grizzly yet and am going with Rudy Gay.

Tue 5/8

There are 4 games on Tuesday:

Orlando at Indiana Game 5 - Pacers lead 3-1

Boston at Atlanta Game 5 - Celtics lead 3-1

Philadelphia at Chicago Game 5 - 76ers lead 3-1 9:30 PM

Denver at LA Lakers Game 5 - Lakers lead 3-1

Its win or go home day.

I think Magic, Hawks, Bulls and Nuggets wont not advance to next round and following are my choices:

Carlos Boozer 25.5

Joakim Noah 20.5 (may not play)

Richard Hamilton 20

Jeff Teague 23.3

Jameer Nelson 23.5

Andre Miller 21.5

Kenneth Faried 21.3

I am going with Carlos Boozer because in addition of playing home, he is averaging highest PRA from my available options.

Mon 5/7

There are two games on Monday:

San Antonio at Utah Game 4 - Spurs lead 3-0

Memphis at LA Clippers Game 4 - Clippers lead 2-1

I think series between Clippers and Grizzlies is a coin-toss and I am not touching anyone from this match-up.

Monday might be the last day that Jazz in playing in this playoff and I am going with best available player from Utah, Paul Milsup. 

Sun 5/6

There are 4 games on Sunday:

Chicago at Philadelphia Game 4 - 76ers lead 2-1

Miami at New York Game 4 - Heat lead 3-0

Atlanta at Boston Game 4 - Celtics lead 2-1

LA Lakers at Denver Game 4 - Lakers lead 2-1

Bulls were favorite to go far, but they lost Rose in first game and Noah got injured in last game. 76ers are leading and I don’t know what to make out of this series. So I am not touching anyone from this match-up.

Game 4 might be the last game for Knicks, but I don’t want to pick anyone from Knicks because none of the available Knick is averaging more than 20 PRA.

The way lakers played first two games, I thought they would go very far, but they lost 3rd game. I still thik lakers would win the series and Kennenth Faried, Andre Miller or JaVale McGee should be good options to pick.

From Celtics vs Hawks series, Celtics should advance to next round and picking Jeff Teague or Joe Johnson makes sense.

Out of all my option, I think Joe Johnson can score the most PRA and I am going with him.

Sat 5/5

There are 4 games on Saturday:

Indiana at Orlando Game 4 - Pacers lead 2-1

Memphis at LA Clippers Game 3 - Series tied 1-1

Oklahoma City at Dallas Game 4 - Thunder lead 3-0

San Antonio at Utah Game 3 - Spurs lead 2-0

I am not sure about winner from Grizzlies vs Clippers series and am not touching anyone from this match-up for now.

Among other series Magic, Mavericks and Jazz would not advance to next round and following are my options:

Glen Davis – 28.3

Shawn Marion – 22.3

Jameer Nelson – 21.7

Paul Milsup – 21.5

Jason Kidd – 21.0

Jason Terry – 20.3

And I am going with Glen Davis simply because he is averaging most PRA than any other option I have.

Fri 5/4

There are three games on Friday:

Atlanta at Boston, Game 3 - Series tied 1-1 

Chicago at Philadelphia, Game 3 - Series tied 1-1  

LA Lakers at Denver, Game 3 - Lakers lead 2-0

From Hawks-Celtics, I think Celtics will win. I already picked Josh Smith and might pick Johnson for a home game.

I am less confident about winner when it comes to Bulls vs 76ers compare to picking winners from other two match-ups. So I am staying away from this match-up for now.

The way Lakers are playing, I don’t see them being stopped. I picked Danilo Gallinari on Tuesday and am going with Ty Lawson on Friday. 

Thu 5/3

There are two games today:

Miami at New York

Oklahoma City at Dallas

Heat and Thunder are leading series 2-0. Mavericks and Thunder series is fun to watch and total point difference for first two games was only 4 points. I already used Dirk from this series. On the other hand, Heat is killing Knicks. Now there wont be Amare in game 3. I wont be surprised if Heat sweep the series. I am going with Carmelo Anthony tonight.

Wed 5/2

There are three games on Wednesday:

Utah at San Antonio

Indiana at Orlando

LA Clippers at Memphis

Game 1 between Clippers and Grizzlies was an epic. I turned off game in first qtr thinking it was getting one sided. Later on, I was getting bored and decided to turn back on. Clippers were 20+ points behind with less than 10 minutes to go and they came back to win the game! This is one of those games that if they had made a movie out of it, I would have said: its not gonna happen in real game, but it did. Its NBA where amazing happens. I am looking forward to see game 2. I am not sure who will this series and I am not touching anyone from this match-up right now.

From other two games, I am very confident that Spurs and Pacers would advance to next round. Magic situation is a mess and I don’t want to pick anyone from Magic coz I am not confident of any Magic picking a big line up especially when I know that Jazz would loose and I have Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson to pick. I think Paul Millsap would be a better pick at home and I am going with Al Jefferson.

Tue 5/1

There are three games today:

Boston at Atlanta

Philadelphia at Chicago

Denver at LA Lakers

I thought Hawks would not advance to next round, and I picked Josh Smith for their first game, but Hawks won first road game comfortably. Rondo is not going to play second game. We all know Allen’s situation.  I still think Celtics would advance, but I am less confident than I was so I am not picking anyone from this match-up right now.

It was unfortunate that Rose got injured in first game and he is done for the season. I still think that Bulls would advance to next round and picking a top 76ers should be okay.

I picked Lakers to win against Nugget in first round, but I did not think that Andrew Bynum would play like a beast. If he plays like this in rest of playoffs, Lakers might end up winning everything, but it was just one game and we will see how things go.

I was thinking about going with a 76er initially, but Rose is out and 76ers were doing very well in beginning of the season so I would like to see one more game before picking a 76er. That is why I decided to go with a Nugget and I am going with Danilo Gallinari.