Conference Finals Predictions

East
Cavs-Hawks
It seems like the general consensus is that the Cavs are going to steamroll the Hawks and that'll be that.  Don't think I'm buying that.  The Cavs just bested the Bulls by outlasting their sludgy, inside-banging Thibs-style game; the Hawks out-dueled the Wizards, a similar team that just didn't have the depth of scoring the Hawks possess.  The Cavs look banged up but they're still scoring; the Hawks are rounding into shape, getting back to the team that dominated the East.  So why is everyone taking the Cavs?  Well, they got Lebron.  Yeah, but even with Lebron I don't think this is a great match up for the Cavs.  I was impressed with the Mozgov-Thompson tandem against the Bulls but Horford and Millsap will stretch them away from the basket, minimizing their impacts.  JR Smith too played well against the Bulls but hard to imagine he could do more damage than Korver (who barely got going against the Wizards).  Shumpert's defense will be neutralized against a Hawks team where everyone is looking to score.  Kyrie being hurt was minimized against the slower inside-ier Bulls but against the Hawks he'll have to run and cut like his younger days and he doesn't look up to that at the moment.  Lebron is obviously the X factor: if its classic Lebron, the Cavs can beat anybody; but anything short of that and I think the Hawks can outpace 'em.  Korver isn't clicking and they're without Sefelosha but all in all the Hawks look as good as any Hawks team I ever saw.  I'll take Hawks in 7.

West
Rockets-Warriors
The Rockets should not have made this far.  I'm sorry but they just shouldn't have.  Harden is a great scorer, Howard is balling right now, Brewer is bringing the hustle, I like Jones and Terry and Prigioni is playing out of his mind.  But the Warriors on a bad day should still beat them by double digits on the road.  Maybe not: the Grizzlies just proved that on a bad day the Warriors can be beaten.  But I think the Warriors slagged their way right into that Grizzlie-style ball and that Rocket-style isn't as aggressive, intimidating or talented.  The Warriors are the better team, they're playing well enough right now, Curry especially is really felling it.  They can't be beat right now.  I'll give the Rockets game 4 at home, but I'm expecting the Warriors in 5.