It has been a thrilling series between the LA Lakers and the Houston Rockets in the West and the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic in the East.

On their Semifinals Game 6 doubleheader last Friday, the Lakers and the Celtics failed to show the exit door for the Rockets and the Magic respectively. Because of this, another doubleheader will be played on May 17, Sunday (Monday here  in the Philippines). This will be the penultimate do-or-die Game 7 for both series.

Whoever survives between the Lakers and the Rockets will earn the right to face the Denver Nuggets led by Chauncey Billups in the Western Conference Finals. On the other side, first-time NBA MVP Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers are already waiting to take on either the defending champion Celtics or the Magic for the Eastern Conference Finals.

Even if there are no clear matchups yet, the NBA organization has already released this schedule for the Conference Finals.

Western Conference Finals — L.A. Lakers vs. Denver OR Denver vs. Houston

Game Date Teams Local EDT Game 1 Tue May 19 Den at Lakers/OR/Hou at Den TBD 9:00PM (ESPN/R) Game 2 Thu May 21 Den at Lakers/OR/Hou at Den TBD 9:00PM (ESPN/R) Game 3 Sat May 23 Lakers at Den/OR/Den at Hou TBD 8:30PM (ABC/R) Game 4 Mon May 25 Lakers at Den/OR/Den at Hou TBD 9:00PM (ESPN/R) Game 5 * Wed May 27 Den at Lakers/OR/Hou at Den TBD 9:00PM (ESPN/R) Game 6 * Fri May 29 Lakers at Den/OR/Den at Hou TBD 9:00PM (ESPN/R) Game 7 * Sun May 31 Den at Lakers/OR/Hou at Den TBD 8:30PM (ABC/R)

*If necessary R – ESPN Radio

Eastern Conference — Cleveland vs. Boston OR Orlando

Game Date Teams Local EDT Game 1 Wed May 20 Bos/OR/Orl at Cleveland 8:30PM 8:30PM (TNT/R) Game 2 Fri May 22 Bos/OR/Orl at Cleveland 8:30PM 8:30PM (TNT/R) Game 3 Sun May 24 Cleveland at Bos/OR/Orl 8:30PM 8:30PM (TNT/R) Game 4 Tue May 26 Cleveland at Bos/OR/Orl 8:30PM 8:30PM (TNT/R) Game 5 * Thu May 28 Bos/OR/Orl at Cleveland 8:30PM 8:30PM (TNT/R) Game 6 * Sat May 30 Cleveland at Bos/OR/Orl 8:30PM 8:30PM (TNT/R) Game 7 * Mon June 1 Bos/OR/Orl at Cleveland 8:30PM 8:30PM (TNT/R)

*If necessary R – ESPN Radio

And to further pump-up the excitement, the NBA has released these amazing commercials with even more amazing visual effects.

Every time I watch that video, it never fails to give me goosebumps. It was one of the greatest moments in the Shaq-Kobe tandem. Trailing by 15 points in the 4th quarter of the deciding Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trailblazers, the LA Lakers went on a 29-9 run highlighted by this Kobe-to-Shaq alley-oop. They captured the first of their three consecutive NBA championships that year. They should have won more if their relationship has not gone sour… Sob…

No, that’s not tears on my eyes, I’m just getting a little bit nostalgic.

If the first video was a great play between Shaq and Kobe, this second one was a stupid play between Isaiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer of the Detroit Pistons Bad Boys. Down by two points in the final seconds of Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, Thomas made this risky pass to the immobile as a tree Laimbeer under the basket which was eventually intercepted by Larry Bird and who in one swift motion then passed the ball to the cutting Dennis Johnson for the lay-up. The Boston Celtics won the game, 108-107.

These amazing plays are further enhanced by the amazing visual effects on the videos.

Where will amazing happen this year?

=====================================================

UPDATE May 23, 2009: Lebron James’ game-winning buzzer at Game 2 of the ongoing Eastern Conference Finals is plainly amazing!

Please read my related posts:

1. 2009 NBA Playoffs | Bracket and Schedule Finally, after a grueling 82-game season for the NBA’s 30 teams, the 2009 NBA Playoffs is set to begin on...
2. 2009 NBA Playoffs | Semifinals Game 6 Doubleheader The Cleveland Cavaliers with first-time NBA MVP Lebron James at the helm has already advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals...
3. 2009 NBA Finals | Philippine TV Schedule Filipino NBA fanatics, search no more. Here’s the NBA Finals schedule of games to be played between the Los Angeles...
4. 2010 NBA Finals | Schedule of Games By winning games 4 and 5 in their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Boston Celtics, the Orlando Magic threatened...
5. 2010 NBA Playoffs Bracket: Conference Finals Round Even with one eye, Steve Nash and his Phoenix Suns becomes the first team today to move on to the...

If you want to receive my latest posts, please subscribe to my full feed RSS or have them delivered through email. Just enter your email address below and hit the Subscribe button.

Tags: 2009 NBA playoffs, boston celtics, houston rockets, la lakers, NBA, orlando magic