NBA Playoffs: First Round, Break It Down

I plan on allowing the world to know my own projections for the NBA Playoffs, starting with the Conference Quarterfinals.

First of all, I have a question, and it may only apply to the Game 1's of this series: How did it come about that the 4 most compelling series of this 1st round all fall on Saturday? The Sunday games are merely the three least interesting Eastern Conference series and the least interesting Western Conference series (Lakers-Nuggets).  

Sorry for that digression.  Here are my predictions for the 1st round of the Playoffs:

Eastern Conference

(1) Boston Celtics [66-16] vs (8) Atlanta Hawks [37-45]

There's nothing like every year's Eastern Conference 8th seed.  It seems like they always are below .500.  While it's good to see the Hawks back in the Playoffs, it's hard to say they really had a successful year with that record.  Ultimately, acquiring Mike Bibby probably put this Hawks squad over the hump, although they struggled at first.  I think with the acquisition of Mike Bibby, his leadership will help the athletic talent that the Hawks possess (i.e. Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Al Horford) to bust out one win aganist this 66-win Boston Celtics squad.  That being said, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if this is a mere sweep by the Celtics.

Celtics in 5 

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers [45-37] vs (5) Washington Wizards [43-39]

I don't know if the Wizards have what it takes to win this series.  Arenas has not been back for very long, but it sure does help to have him back.  The Wizards improved immensely defensively this season, if anyone noticed, giving up 99 ppg, which is actually respectable in this league now.  That being said, Gilbert Arenas is one of the worst "guaranteers" of wins in this league.  While I find Arenas to be hilarious and entertaining, it seems like his personality is recipe for a Lebron James finding all the motivation he can get to carry his team to a series victory.  

With all those thoughts, I still like the Wizards in this series, winning Game 7 in Cleveland in front of the Lake Erie faithful.  Their commitment to defense this year is the reason why they finished above .500, and I think that improvement will show in the playoffs.  

Wizards in 7 

(2) Detroit Pistons [58-24] vs (7) Philadelphia 76ers [40-42] 

The Sixers have been a team emerging without really anyone on the roster.  It is quite amazing that they pulled off 40 wins this season.  I tip my hat to Maurice Cheeks for getting the most out of the talent on that team currently.  It's truly remarkable.  

That being said, Detroit is better this year than the past years, in my opinion.  I think they have an edge this year that could see them headed to the Finals.  Detroit has a chance to sweep this series, but like the Hawks, I see the Sixers taking 1 from the Pistons in Philly.

Pistons in 5 

(3) Orlando Magic [52-30] vs (6) Toronto Raptors [41-41]

 Dwight Howard and Hedo Turkoglu have had fantastic seasons.  Toronto has fallen off after a better first half of the season.  This is similar to Orlando, who fell off in 2007 after a promising start.  Toronto is this year's Orlando in my mind.  The Raptors lack the defense to stop Dwight Howard, but will win 2 games with Jason Kapono's incredible shooting.  

Magic in 6 

(1) Los Angeles Lakers [57-25] vs (8) Denver Nuggets [50-32]

This could actually be an entertaining series.  If this was a first-round matchup last year somehow, then the Nuggets might even be considered the favorites.  Lets be honest though, the Nuggets' defense is inexplicably atrocious.  If George Karl gave the Nuggets one minute of a defensive lecture, it would be better than what the Nuggets are being taught right now.  

Honestly, it's great that Carmelo Anthony will be taking a defensive driving course in the near future.  What he should really be doing after that arrest though is taking some course on defense in basketball.  

Kobe shows the true superior team in this series, but the Nuggets win one in LA and one in Denver.  Too much offensive starpower on that team to not muster out a bit of success on an unproven Lakers team in the playoffs.  

Lakers in 6

(4) Utah Jazz [54-28] vs (5) Houston Rockets [55-27] 

A rematch of last year's playoff series promises to be...well, not as interesting.  With Yao Ming, the Jazz beat the Rockets in 7 games.  Without Yao Ming? Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Jazz win in 5 here, but since Houston has home court and the Jazz are a horrible road team, this could go to 7 games.  I'll stop a bit short of that.  Jazz finish off the series during their last home game.

 Jazz in 6

(2) New Orleans Hornets [56-26] vs (7) Dallas Mavericks [51-31]

This has to be the 2nd most interesting playoff matchup, besides the Spurs and Suns.  A likable star, Chris Paul, leading a likable city in their first appearance in the  Playoffs since moving from Charlotte.  In addition, Peja Stojakovic incites a piece of the Mavs-Kings rivalry that existed for many years at the beginning of this decade.

Honestly, if the Mavericks had not won their last game of the season, they would not have momentum going into this series.  Since they won, they undeniably have it.  I don't know if the New Orleans crowd will be as rowdy as they need to be.  They surely won't be as rowdy as Golden State's crowd last year.  I think that will allow the Mavericks to steal one of the first two games in New Orleans and move on from there.  I think the Mavericks will then win their two games at home, give up one on the road to New Orleans, and finish off the Stinging Bees at home in game 6.

 That being said, I have respect for what this Hornets team has done.  They are younger, more athletic, and have a superstar point guard that is only getting started.  This sort of team has the potential to really cause the Mavericks problems, but their lack of a dominant big man (don't get me wrong, David West and Tyson Chandler are solid - just not dominant) will help the Mavericks and allow them to play more small ball.

 Mavericks in 6

(3) San Antonio Spurs [56-26] vs (6) Phoenix Suns [55-27]

 I can't believe this is a 1st round series.  Shaq vs Duncan in the first round? Well one of the two players that have been on 8 of the past 9 championship teams is going to have to leave early.  There are many ways to go with this series, but seeing what the Suns have done to the Spurs since acquiring Shaq, it's hard to not pick the Suns here.  

Suns in 6