The next two months will bring some of the most intense moments and clutch play on the basketball court that we have seen in a long time. Let’s preview some of the action that is in store for us.
The Lakers will win the West (barring any setbacks) but the teams that fall behind them will not fare much worse.
Having home court is big, but the difference between the No. 1 seed and the No. 8 seed is eight games, as opposed to the 27 games in the Eastern Conference.
What does that mean? No blow outs this year in a league in which the first round is usually a cake walk for the No. 1 seed.
It was the Denver Nuggets that once upset a No. 1 seed in the first round, and right now it looks like it will be the Nuggets again in that eighth seed.
Predicting the West is a very tough task.
Some of the most intriguing matchups include Kobe vs. Iverson in a 2001 NBA Finals Rematch.
This time, Iverson brings his boys Carmelo, Martin, and Ed Najera off the bench. Kobe's squad is no slouch either. He may have a healthy Andrew Bynum along with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.
The Lakers look like they could be the cream of the playoff crop, but will have no walk in the park against the Denver Nuggets.
The Houston Rockets are a surprise team that somehow started playing better once Yao Ming was injured.
We could have seen an amazing matchup between Shaq and Yao Ming, but now Shaq will have to go up against Mr. Elbows himself, Dikembe Mutombo. Shaq never has it easy when it comes to Deke. Again, this is a rematch of the 2001 NBA finals
Prediction time. The Lakers over the Nuggets in seven. The Suns over the Rockets in six. The Spurs over the Jazz in six. The Hornets over the Mavs in six.
The East is a totally different beast. The Boston Celtics have run away with it, and are the best team hands down.
The Pistons are the only steady constant over the past five years. They bring more experience than any other team, which is scary—but not as scary as facing a LeBron James in playoff mode.
Also very scary is an Orlando Magic team that can shoot outside and score inside with a young Dwight Howard. It is pick-your-poison in the East, and the lower seeds will be poisoned early.
The top seeds will sweep the first round, even though I feel that Washington is playing better with Gilbert back. The Sixers may have peaked early, and may not be ready to make as much noise as many thought they would.
Boston, Detroit, Orlando, and Cleveland will all win in six or less.
The Conference Finals
Out in the West, The Lakers will be upset by San Antonio and will face off against a young and exciting New Orleans Hornets team.
The Hornets are very exciting and play in a style totally different from San Antonio. This series will be decided by whomever controls the tempo. I think that San Antonio will be able to win the West as long as Manu Ginobli comes back healthy.
Moving onto the Finals Round in the East, I see Boston facing off against the Orlando Magic.
This matchup is going to be very complex. If the Magic can shoot, they can win this series. I don't see relying on the outside shot as a way to win the East, and with all those stars, the Celtics will win and face off against the Spurs.
Many would like to see the Lakers and Celtics face off, with all the history behind those two teams.
Phoenix is very choppy, the Lakers are still young, the Pistons are too old, and the Magic have a lot to learn. But the newly built Celtics and Good Ol’ San Antonio Spurs will both make this year’s finals one of the most exciting matchups in recent history.
Stay tuned for my playoff team previews and finals picks once the seedings are official.
13 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
2001 finals was between kobe and AI. get your fundamental facts str8. You are so anti-detroit it's disgusting. No way Orlando beats Detroit in round 2.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I don't think this guy has ever seen a basketball game.. he's got 3 of the 4 first rounds in the west finishing in only 6 games hahahaha..thanks for a good laugh
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Michael McGowan about 1 year ago
Ok, why are you Anonymous? scared to show your face when commenting? I Said less than six games
I actually think it will take less time for the Spurs to win.
Also, about the sixers, yes they started off terrible... Now they were playing great basketball after they changed to fast pace and got rid of Korver. Ok, great news all around. But lately, they have not been moving the ball and shutting down on Defense. They peaked in March, not in December....
Thanks for the heads up though
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Jim Jackson about 1 year ago
Orlando is a much different team than they were last year. They seem to come out strong and coast through the third quarter, and then turn it on in the fourth. But they do have the talent to win if they played the whole game, And Detroit and Boston have both struggled against them this season. It would be nice to see the Magic and the Suns in the end.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
The sixers may have peaked early? They began the season 18-30. Since then they've been 22-10. Thats not called peaking early. With the sixers finally having an identity as a running up-tempo team, they're not the easy out you have relegated them to. On a second note, you're going to shout out Eduardo Najera off the bench for the Nuggets? Try looking into J.R. Smith, not Najera. I agree with the other comment, you have never seen a basketball game in your life, why are you writing this article?
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Michael McGowan about 1 year ago
see above
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Kobe has 3 NBA titles. Crawl out of your hole!
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John Simmons about 1 year ago
Wow Mr. "Kobe has 0 NBA titles!..." It's too bad you will not enjoy the playoffs this year. Toronto is a better team than the Cavs right now. If the Cavs win the first round I would be surprised. Lebron for MVP, any takers?
As for the Lakers, if you look at it only on paper, they have the best chance of getting to the finals. As for what will actually happen, you can never know.
I hope there is a rematch between the Lakers and Celtics. I say Kobe for 2 MVP's, season then finals. Memphis will become a new curse word, mark my words. Gasol will dominate this post-season. Go Lakers...and Orlando!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Orlando beats Detroit in the second round. Book it.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Hate is ugly in any form. When it's done anonymously it's sad and pathetic, when it comes from a so-called expert it's reckless at best, but it's always ugly.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Hate is ugly in any form. When it's done anonymously it's sad and pathetic, when it comes from a so-called expert it's reckless at best, but it's always ugly.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
You're picking San Antonio to take the west after they were drubbed by Utah 90-64, handled easily by Pheonix 96-79, and destroyed by the Lakers 106-85?
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Michael McGowan about 1 year ago
yes. They will show up come playoff time
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