There will be a lot (and I mean: a lot…) of (basketball) celebrity stamped ads flying by on our TV screens the next few weeks. The 2009 NBA Playoffs are coming to town, starting this Saturday. And OK, it may not be as huge as the Super Bowl, but it is another peak season in sports-oriented advertising.

And I have found the first-round 2009 NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals‘ schedule for you.Routing for King LeBron James (Cleveland Caveliers)? Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat)? Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics)? Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers)? Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)? And those are just a few players that have their names linked to sneakers, sports drinks or cell phone plans (“Who is in your Fav 5?”).

The NBA usually has some cool ads themselves, to promote the regular season – and the playoffs, of course. Like these 2008 ads:

NBA “Where Amazing Happens” commercial

LeBron James and Kevin Garnett “There can only be one” (“Bird? Who is “Bird”)

Here is Bird:

More NBA 2008 play-offs commercials.

Inspired by 2008 NBA Finals Commercials

OK – this spoof featuring Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey is not exactly NBA approved:

See ya at the Finals!

Here is the first round schedule for the 2009 Eastern and Western Conference Finals of the NBA Play-offs.