2010-2011 NBA Playoffs: 5 Reasons Why This Finals Run Will Be the Best in Years

1. Balanced East Vs. West

James, Howard, Rose, Stoudemire, Wade
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For years, the NBA Finals have been dominated by Western Conference. Since Michael Jordan hung up his Chicago Bulls jersey, the Western Conference is 9-3 versus the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

This season, there has been a power shift. The East is just as strong as the West.

The East is stronger even, because they snagged several Western Conference All-Stars: Carlos Boozer, Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams. Not to mention the combination of Eastern Conference Talent in Miami.

The top four teams in the East (Bulls, Celtics, Heat, Magic) are a combined 208-94, which is comparable to the top four teams in the West (Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks, Thunder) who are 215-86.

Top to bottom, the West is still stronger. But the top teams in both conferences who have a chance at making the finals are balanced.

For the first time in many years, both conferences are very strong at the top.

2. All-Star Rosters

Bosh, James, Wade
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The NBA is full of All-Star packed rosters. Almost every top team in the NBA has at least three All-Stars on their team.

Lakers: Bryant, Gasol, Odom.

Bulls: Rose, Boozer, Noah.

Miami: Wade, James, Bosh.

Celtics: Allen, Rondo, Pierce.

Spurs: Duncan, Ginobili, Parker.

There are a few top-tier teams—such as the Mavericks, Thunder and Magic—who may not have three or more all stars, but are still extremely talented.

All of this talent will make for one of the most exciting NBA postseasons in years.

The postseason is a different animal, and the difference in competition will weed out which All-Stars can handle the playoff pressure and which can not.

3. Young Talent

Derrick Rose
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A new crop of young talented NBA players are taking over the NBA. They and they are led by future NBA MVP Derrick Rose.

In his third year, Derrick Rose is coming into his own, averaging 25 PPG, 8 APG and 4.2 RPG.

He has the led the Bulls to a 55-20 record and a No. 1 seed in the East.

Rose is not the only young NBA superstar taking over the league. The Oklahoma City Thunder have two superstars on their team in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Durant is leading the league in scoring at 27.8 PPG, and Westbrook, like Rose, has become a new type of athletic scoring point guard.

Young gun Rajon Rondo has struggled with his offense as of late, but has been the Celtics MVP. He has emerged as one of the best distributors since John Stockton or Magic Johnson. When the aging Celtics rebuild, Rondo will be the cornerstone of the franchise.

Young stars like Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, John Wall and Stephen Curry have played outstanding basketball, but need more talent around them to win.

Still, there is plenty of young talent on teams that can win now. These young stars are becoming the new faces of the NBA, and will lead the NBA into a new golden age in the years to come.

4. Aging Champions

Duncan, Parker, Ginobili
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There is a changing of the guard with elite NBA teams. The NBA is starting to be dominated by young teams' all-stars such as the Bulls' Rose and Noah, Thunder's Durant and Westbrook, and Heat's big three.

In a seesaw effect, the older elite teams like the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics are showing their age, but are still winning.

The Lakers will still be competitive for a few years, but this might be the last hurrah for the Spurs and Celtics.

Duncan, Pierce and Garnett all seem to be running out of gas. Don’t get me wrong, they are still talented enough to win a championship, but their clocks are ticking.

These older teams will have to use their knowledge of the game, and their playoff experience, to defeat the young stars with their energy and athleticism.

The knowledge that they are on their last legs will only make the playoffs more entertaining and competitive.

5. Open Field

Lakers Championship
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The biggest reason why the 2010-2011 NBA playoffs will be one of the best postseasons in years is that so many teams that have a legitimate chance to bring home the Larry O’Brien trophy.

There are eight teams that could conceivably win the NBA finals: The San Antonio Spurs, L.A. Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.

Of those eight teams, the Bulls, Heat, Celtics, Spur, and Lakers all have equal chances of winning in my eyes.

They are the elite teams, and will have to duke it out in the playoffs.

In the past ten years, there have not been five teams that all have equal chances of becoming the NBA champions.

This NBA Finals will have it all. It will mark a new era of basketball, and will begin to bring the NBA back to a popularity level similar to the days of Michael Jordan.