First, allow me to start off with the NHL, and the Eastern Conference Finals. The Eastern Conference playoffs have had one Atlantic division clash in every round, and in this round it is no different. The New York market is represented here in abundance, with two of the three teams around New York City playing in this series. It's also nice for everyone involved, as the two arenas are less than 12 miles apart. Now, in New York City traffic, it's still going to be two hours, but the distance is still nice. The two teams in the final are the New Jersey Devils who play in Newark, and the New York Rangers playing in the most famous arena in the world. Now, this is not the match up I predicted, but it is still an excellent one. Both teams have excellent goaltending with Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist representing the Devils and Rangers respectively. Brodeur has plenty of experience being in this situation, as he has led the Devils to three Stanley Cup titles since 1995, while Lundqvist is putting together his best playoff run of his career so far. Both teams also have some excellent defense to compliment their goaltending, and so the key will be on offense. Which team can get more pucks on net and allow more chances to happen. This is easy, the Rangers will. The Rangers will because they have many more pieces on offense than the Devils. They've got Brad Richards, Ryan Callahan, Marian Gaborik, and an excellent scoring defenseman in Michael Del Zotto. New Jersey has none of that. And, while New Jersey may be a little bit more rested than the Rangers, they too went seven games in their quarterfinal series against Florida, so they only have two less games played than the Rangers. Finally, tune into NBC Sports Network for all of the games. Game one was tonight, sorry I'm a little late. the games are every other day basically as well.
Pick: Rangers in 6.
Now, on to the NBA and the Western Conference Semifinals.
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
This series is experience versus youth. San Antonio has been to the playoffs every season since 1998, which is the longest streak in the NBA. And, the Clips are full of youth and exuberance and have the most exciting player in the NBA in Blake Griffin. Now, Griffin is amazing, as his fellow co-star out in "Lob City" Chris Paul. But, the Spurs have been wonderful and since losing last season to the Grizzlies in seven games, the Spurs seem to be on a mission to win their fifth NBA title since 1999. And I'll take Gregg Poppovich as a coach any day who knows when to rest his players, take his timeouts and play a game in his head so well over Vinny Del Negro, who always seems to screw up somehow.
Pick: Spurs in 6.
No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers
Now, for some unknown reason, none of these games are featured on the NBA's broadcast partner ABC. That makes zero sense in my mind because you have the second biggest market in the NBA, as well as a bonafide star in Kobe Bryant going up against perhaps the team with the most young stars in the league Oklahoma City. Anyway, I digress. Oklahoma City, as mentioned has a ton of youth, ranging from Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook to the NBA's sixth man of the year award winner in James Harden. The Thunder are a spectacular team and have fresh legs sweeping the defending champion Mavericks out in four games. Whereas the Lakers had a ton of trouble closing out the sixth seeded Nuggets and going to seven games there before prevailing. Plus, the Lakers are an older team, so sorry Kobe, no sixth title for you this year.
Pick: Thunder in 6.
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