[TyrekeJonesParticipant]

Today Miami plays Chicago in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and will be the beginning of what I believe a very intense series.Oklahoma City is playing Memphis in a Game 7 that is win or go home.

I have Chicago winning at home in a very close game, their defense on Wade and Lebron I feel is going to be very good and while they will not shut them down defensively I believe guys like Bogans and Deng will really make them work for every shot they get. Boozer needs to play relatively close to how he did in Game 6 vs the Hawks for them to keep in the game because Rose cannot do everything himself especially against a team like Miami. I would expect Noah to be guarding Bosh because he is a good defensive big, but throughout the game guys like Gibson and Asik will be thrown at him, Boozer can focus on Joel Anthony and Big Z which does not excert a lot of energy on the defensive end and he can focus more on offense.

I want Memphis to win this game because I love the underdog pulling through but I got Oklahoma City winning this game, Durant will not have another game of only scoring 11 points, especially playing at home, guys will step it up such as Harden and Ibaka and if Westbrook can handle the ball and have a somewhat good shot selection the Thunder win this one. I expect it to be a grind out game because Memphis will not go down without a fight. I do believe thought that if Memphis pounds the ball in to Gasol and Randolph early on and gets them going, the Thunder will have their hands full.

[JoeWolf1]

 I agree with both of your picks, I think the home teams win out today.

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

DanEboy posted up an interesting stat a few days ago. http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/real-x-factor-bullsheat-series. If this stat goes on throughout this series, I favor the Bulls to return to the NBA finals 11 years after "You Know Who ‘n Crew" done it.

And if Westbrook continues to play like a chicken with his head cut off and if Durant does not command for the ball like the #1 option he is supposed to be, I favor the Grizz.

[Author]

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