SJ's NBA Playoff Preview - Round 2

Eight teams left. Eight sets of dreams still alive. However, the bottom line hasn't changed since before the first round began. That is...the 2009 NBA Championship trophy will reside in either Cleveland or Los Angeles.

There were a few surprises in the first round, but mostly in the category of the lengths of some of the series as opposed to the respective winners.

The only real surprise winner (for me, anyway) was the Houston Rockets. I (wrongly) thought the younger, deeper, more athletic Blazers combined with Houston's propensity to choke in the playoffs would precipitate a Blazers' series win.

I also predicted that it would take the Mavericks seven games to put away the old, wounded Spurs. However, the Mavs knocked them out in five. I (and most of the known universe) was also surprised that it took the Celtics seven hard-fought games to take out the Bulls. The only other surprise was that the sorry Sixers won not only one game, but somehow two.

What to Expect in These Conference Semifinals

EASTERN CONFERENCE



No. 1 Cavs vs. No. 4 Hawks

This won't be as ugly as Cavs-Pistons, but it'll still be as ugly as Roseanne Barr the morning after a hard night. The Hawks have a decent starting unit, including Mike Bibby, Al Horford, and All-Star Joe Johnson. However, that will mean little against "King James and his court."  The Hawks play well at home though, so I think they will hold serve for all of one game.

Pick: Cavs in Five


No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 3 Magic

"Trouble, thy name is 'No Big Ticket.'" The lowly, young Bulls exposed what the Celtics face without Garnett. In my mind, there is no way that Kendrick Perkins and hefty "Big Baby" Davis can keep up with a rested "Superman" for an entire series. By the way...did you know that the Magic were a quality-win-successful 6-3 in the regular season against the combined Cavs, Lakers, & Celtics? I see the Celtics' quest for a repeat ending here.

Pick: Magic in 6



WESTERN CONFERENCE



No. 1 Lakers vs. No. 5 Rockets

The question I'm hearing from some quarters is...How will the Lakers stop that REALLY TALL GUY, aka Yao Ming? The answer is...they don't have to, just as they didn't have to en route going 4-0 against the Rockets in the regular season. The Lakers are far too talented and deep offensively to worry about stopping Yao.

Plus, the Rockets have yet to figure out that when you have a talented guy who's "12-feet tall," you oughta consistently and regularly pass the ball to him down low. Sure, Ron Artest is a great defender, but it's show time for "Da Black Mamba."

Pick: Lakers in 5


No. 2 Nuggets vs. No. 6 Mavericks

Since the Blazers made an early exit, the Nuggets are now the media darlings to challenge the Lakers in the West. Their elevated status-in-perception was, of course, aided immensely by that 58-point beatdown they put on the Hornets.

Chauncey "Mr. Big Shot" Billups' leadership and playoff experience are showing big-time. Also, "Melo" seems to have matured a great deal. Did you know that the Nuggets are the only remaining old ABA team of the four that joined the NBA in the merger that has never won a championship in either league?

Well, they won't change that this year, but they will get past the Dirk, Jason and the boys.

Pick: Nuggets in 6


IN THE END

When the Conference Finals roll around, it will be Cavs vs. Magic in the East and Lakers vs. Nuggets in the West. My Finals' prediction still holds from before the first round: Lakers vs. Cavs, with the Lakers taking the O'Brien Trophy in seven!

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