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Show APRIL ljfnNEAY, 1 20H 3, SPORTS DIXIE SUN betar BYTOM News Editor r 1 This leaves fire door open for a team like fire Chicago Bulls, who I believe will reach the conference finals behind MVP candidate Derrick Rose. I think fire Bulls are well coached, and have file right mix of young athletes and seasoned veterans. Who will file Bulls face? Dont bum my column, Cleveland, but I think LeBron James and fire Miami Heat might just have what it takes to make it to fire Eastern Finals. I believe Boston will fall, for reasons already mentioned, and I just dont think tire Orlando Magic has enough pieces around Dwight Howard. I think it will come down to fire Heat and the Bulls, and I see Chicago winning in a classic seven-gam- e series. Miami will have to wait until next year. FINALS: BULLS VS. 1 This years - - NBA playoffs are set to begin and promise to feature the 1 r drama, suspense and s. ftCl ghted can SC nnin nent that only tire .m 4 NBA ' A ; - provide- are almost The NBA playoffs us, so it is time to start up predictions. Unlike tire Ay , u ' t v- - jialang c basketball season, I there will be two Cin- - lowej allege joubt teams dancing their Ret ed , ay to the NBA finals. Sorry, 'hiladelphia and Memphis in the pros it is most jbs. No, and vetejen the experienced that make a deep ran teams Therefore, there is no way like Chicago can jvoung team uns possibly t offoit d. said left fin rwas osh- - he Matt; r- - closet. t i::Y CONFERENCE run more tlie Conference is a tit of an enigma except for one team. There are truly a lot of ood young teams all thirsty to The Western dethrone lefof ley. and ed 4 jRBls : other of tae jrdav. All-St- ar games to rence finals. The pnl iader inst l)' at 2 md tor losing streak does recent ,oncem me, but don't forget the last year playoffs, and they ended up winning the title in the end. They will have a few humps in the road, as usual, but Bryant and the crew will not be Jeers struggled be-iret- he letiied org Who they will ni the 'htle meet is not out- - riker Driving in the pot-hoof an African township sharing the road with roads ;ond- what "hile aggressive 'fll Myle es), taxis, howling and vendors items at ar of ityw fiperience. id iro- le trying to every stop are 'rings that Mathew Brereton "nsses. He served a two-yeLDS mission in South Africa said it was a life changing s, aid. - loaded with talent and experience. They have a former MVP in Dirk Nowitzki, a future point guard in Jason Kidd, a candidate in Jason Terry, and a multitude of other solid and formidable players. If they get All Star player Caron Butler back from injury they will be even more equipped to reach tire Western Finals. The Lakers and Mavs will likely meet in the conference semi-fina- ls due to seeding arrangements, but whichever team wins this series can stake claim to being the best in the west. Tire team that wins this series will go on to tire confer Hall-of-Fa- Brereton, a sophomore busi- v. T! 'Tr ' , W- ,r - '' T V'x ; ,( V'&r t .Ar. - - and their relationships with one another. Brereton said his father has always played golf since he could remember. He inherited the love for golf from him. This is something that has always kept them close. As a kid growing up I always wanted to be like him, Brereton said. I thought he was the best at everything. Brereton said he started beating his dad at golf when he was 14 years old. He was involved in a lot of sports growing up and still is. Although he spends most of his time playing golf, he loves ness major from South Jordan, is part of the Dixie State College golf team. He said he loves being at DSC mostly because of the weather and many golf courses in the area. In the thick air of the African sky, Brereton was far from any manicured golf courses or country clubs. Serving in Africa helped hum realize whats important in life. He saw how people survived on very little and how they treasured their families HAZEL SAINSBLRY Staff Writer BY ors this post- ence finals. No matter who they play they will come out on top and represent the West in the NBA finals. When tire Lakers and Mavericks do meet in the conference semi-final- s, I predict a series that the Lakers will win. The Lakers have too many offensive weapons, but more importantly they ar c seemingly back to playing defense, which is what gets it done in tire play- wheel, center Kendrick Perkins, would be the one to determine the fate of tire Boston Celtics? When Celtics management made tire decision to trade away their lean and mean center just before the trade deadline, firings changed for Boston. Coach Doc Rivers has famously declared that his starting five of Allen, Garnett, Pierce, Rondo and Perkins have never lost a playoff series when all five were healthy. Rivers will not get the chance to .defend his statement, and with Perkins gone the Celtics seem to be a disheartened and less formidable team. six-ga- offs. EASTERN CONFERENCE With all tire talk of tire big three, plus the improved play of Rajon Rondo this season, who would have thought the fifth Hall-of-Fa- astounding 12tb championship as the Lakers defeat fire Bulls in six games. The Bulls rely a bit too much on file play of Rose, and the play and determination of Bryant will make the difference in fire close games. The Bulls cannot match up well with tire size of fire Lakers, and eventually Rose will run out of steam. Bryant will win his sixth championship against the team that Michael Jordan led to six titles. Are there more rings in store for Bryant? That debate can wait until next season. Personal, celebrity idols influence Breretons golf game naya Ire- - ? such an easy pick. There are many good teams out West, but in tire end the Dallas Mavericks will be squaring off against the Lakers for western supremacy. Although the San Antonio Spurs have had the best record in the league much of tills season, I just dont think they play defense like the Spurs of old, and I think all those playoff minutes are starting to catch up with Tim Duncan and the other veterans. Duncan is not the dominant center he used to be, and I am not convinced tire young players for the Spurs can be counted on come crunch time. However, tire Mavericks are though they lost a inferior teams. If deter-nine- d hey are focused and will reach the confethey few t; two-mont- even break, - Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose and Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant are the h season. The marathon of the NBA Playoffs begins Saturday. Fi-Th- ey team post "T- V) ai Lakers. I will start offby saying I pick the Lakers make it to the Western have too much too much Kobe Bryant and too much depth to he stopped. They have been a different t 51 the seemingly ageless to ('J . j. ! LosAngeles Cl Im sure Chicago fans never thought they would see fire NBA Finals stage again after a guy named Jordan left, but I think they can make it there this season. Phil Jackson will be back, except he will be coaching fire opposing team. This would be a fitting end to Jacksons car eer. For him to win his final championship against his former team would be almost too perfect, which is why I think it will happen. I think fire career of Phil Jackson will culminate with an might be one slipper western opul ne in LAKERS go all tire way, right? there it '1 I I , " T- - A - Brereton likes to hike, and southern Utah is close to many national parks. He likes to work out at tire gym, and thats always been a part of his life as well. He takes j 1V-- r I With some ' u whole state, Brereton said. He said Entrada is gorgeous and has a cool design and layout. There are some awesome holes with the lava rock; some of these elements make for a tough course as well. Brereton is an easygoing guy and great to talk to. He recalls his time in South Africa fondly and said it is the highlight of his life. Although the two years he took off from golf were a setback to his game, he has worked hard to catch up and is proud to be part of the DSC golf team. Whether you are practicing of the worlds chipping or putting, you have to be out there. The home course for the . k DSC golf team is the Golf Course, but on April 5 he got file opportunity to play at the Sand Hollow Golf Course. He loves that southern Utah offers such a variety of courses. "I got the opportunity to play at the Entrada Golf Course before it became private, and it is, in my opinion, the best golf course down here in St. George and the best golfers playing the Masters, Brereton is hopefid that Tiger Woods will make a comeback. Id like to see Tiger win," Brereton said. "Im tried of seeing him struggle. He is a better golfer than that. Brereton said it takes dedication to be good at golf. He said anybody can pick up Iris or her clubs every once in a while and knock the ball around, but he said if you want to be good, you have to be on file course eveiy day. Sun-broo- a basketball. 1 ? V- - A t ? r . f , f , t . D physical fitness seriously. I try to go every day accept for Sunday, he said. Im trying to beat Chad Crowther. Crowther is his fitness competitor and is also on the golf team. Crowther, a senior integrated studies major from South Jordan, is one of Breretons good friends. They work out together everyday at the o X i jor Pr0', sofl' 5- Lakers dhesee to meet In Finals HmII9 ; -- Brereton, a sophomore business major from utii Jordan, works on his short game. Brereton is Plssi nate about golf and strives to be the best. S gym. "We always have a little competition going on between file both of us," Crowther said. "Its in everything we do together, we are always trying to be better." -- ' 11U 1 - U I 1 1 - . . . f ? - - - - - - J -- : ' A ; ,?, Mr. rt- - if |