Playoff Matchups and predictions

The One’s: Despite the providing a formidable test in last year’s playoffs the Jazz will not give the Lakers quite as many problems this year. As Bynum returns as the 4 to cover Bozer, Gasol will play the 5 and come out and play Okur, leaving Ariza to play the 3 or Lamar coming off the bench where Utah has no answer. Oh, we buried the lead, Kobe will score at will. Look for the altitude to count for a game (Lakers 4-1).

The fear in the of the Pistons is their playoff experience and determination but this is not your Daddy’s Pistons. Without Mr. Big Shot, an aging Sheed, and teams figuring out the residue of a bad AI trade, the Pistons may go down as the Atlanta Braves of the NBA as Cleveland hits the playoffs clicking on all cylinders bringing a King and the leagues best home, and overall record with them. Don’t kid yourself (Cavs 4-0).




The TWOS: Ok, KG is a mammoth loss but they still have enough in the arsenal to take out the Bulls and should. The Bulls are very young and athletic, and the addition of a couple of vets will help negate the edge experience but they will fall just short in a 7-game series. Look for the ghost to raise their head’s like they did in the first two rounds last year. (C’s in 7)

Denver is playing some of the best basketball in the NBA right now, fully implementing the addition of Chauncy who has been a welcome addition that just may be the missing link to take them to the second round. On top of that George Karl is on the hot seat and needs to push to the second round or go on permanent vacation. Nawlins’ is not looking as sharp as they have in previous years but CP3 should be able to create and keep games close, but won’t steal one in Denver. (Nuggets in 6)

The THREEs: Hard to believe that the Spurs are the oldest team in the playoffs seems like just yesterday they were the team of the decade. Now they must survive without the services of Ginobli who will miss the rest of the playoffs. Dallas has also come a long way from battling just to make the filed of 16 to coming in as a number six seed. The Mavericks are winners of 7 of their last 10, Dirk shooting better than 55% and averaging 30pts over that span. Dallas is playing its best basketball of the season and with the caveat that they DON’T go to a game 7 in San Antonio, Cuban’s got his team focused and we like the Mavs in only upset in the West. (Mavs in 6)

Orlando needs to hold serve in the first two games because Philly is a tough team to take out at home because of their ‘even athleticism’ where they are more prone to switch picks rather than fight through them. They still have no answer for Superman in the middle and the Magic seem to made the right acquisitions to help negate the loss of Nelson and are also playing their best ball at the right time. (Magic in 6)

The FOURS: The best series of the first round by far should be the Rockets and Blazers. Portland is the youngest team in the field of 16 and go ten deep in the rotation. Moreover they have the defensive stoppers, in Battier and Artest, to slow down Brandon Roy. Houston of course has the great wall of China, but Portland can counter with Prizbilla and Old Man Oden off the bench, but between the two of them they don’t equal Yao. Unfortunately this series may have already been decided when Houston dropped the last game of the season at Dallas and lost home court. How well will the young Blazer bench adapt to the added intensity of the playoffs? It’s a tough one but our pick are the (Blazers in 7).

We don’t know which way to go with the Hawks and the Heat. If D-Wade has his way with the slower ATL guards then this could be over in 5, but Wade has had some of his worst games against the Hawks. Atlanta has the confidence after representing well last year in pushing the Celtics to 7 games and the knowledge they can get back. It may not be enough as the Heat rooks (MB and Super Mario) have shortened the learning curve. (We like the Heat in 7)