2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Breaking Down the 1st-Round Matchups
The 2010-2011 NBA season has been one of the best in recent memory.
There was a team that everyone loved to hate in the Miami Heat. There was the upstart, "out-of-nowhere" team in the Chicago Bulls. There was a team full of veterans that showed the league that they, not the Lakers or Celtics, were the best team in the league with Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs. There was the reemergence of the New York Knicks, as well as the "Is it the playoffs yet?" mentality that Boston and Los Angeles carry with them through the regular season.
With this being said, the start to the 2011 NBA playoffs is highly anticipated. With potential second-round matchups featuring San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City, and also Boston vs. Miami, the NBA playoffs should be full of "Where Amazing Happens" moments and plenty of drama.
Lastly, one of the greatest, yet unsung features of the NBA playoffs is that they use a seven-game series format for each round. Unlike college basketball's March Madness, there are few major upsets as the better team almost always comes out on top. This offers a true assessment of the best teams that basketball has to offer as the talent becomes more concentrated as the rounds go on.
So, here I give you analysis and predictions for every matchup in the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs.
Western Conference: No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
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The Spurs have an advantage in almost every facet of the game over the Grizzlies. The biggest advantage for the Spurs in this matchup is their bench. George Hill and Gary Neal have been exceptional throughout the regular season, along with Matt Bonner and Tiago Splitter. The Grizzlies do have the potential to give the Spurs a little trouble, but they just do not have enough talent to compete with them over a seven-game series.
Prediction: Spurs in Five
Western Conference: No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Denver Nuggets
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Denver is one of this season's most compelling stories due to its surprising success in the aftermath of the Carmelo Anthony trade in late February. Without a true scorer, the Nuggets have managed to score more than any team in the league with a little over 107 points per game. On the other hand, Oklahoma City has been riding under the radar during the second half of the season. With the addition of Kendrick Perkins to the roster, the Thunder now have an inside presence.
Prediction: Thunder in Six
Western Conference: No. 3 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
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The Trail Blazers are a scary team to face in the first round. They are a disciplined, well-coached group with nothing to lose. The Mavs have yet to shed their "soft" tag and continue to get disrespected despite finishing third in the highly competitive Western Conference. Tyson Chandler will be a key player for Dallas, as he will try to shut down Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge.
Prediction: Mavericks in Seven
Western Conference: No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 7 New Orleans Hornets
4 of 8
New Orleans is a pesky team. The Hornets scrap and claw their way into a game and Chris Paul frustrates defenses with his vision and composure. These things could give the Lakers some trouble in a first-round series that no one expects them to have any trouble with. The Lakers have a much, much bigger and more talented front line than the Hornets, which should help them control the glass and get some easy buckets.
Prediction: Lakers in Four
Eastern Conference: No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 Indiana Pacers
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The Bulls enter the postseason with the best record in the league at 62-20. Throughout the year, they have prided themselves on defense and rebounding, two key statistics come playoff time. In the first round, the Indiana Pacers do not pose a major threat to the Bulls. The Bulls have already beaten them three times this season and should have little trouble in the playoffs.
Prediction: Bulls in Four
Eastern Conference: No. 4 Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
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The Hawks are entering the playoffs with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. They have struggled during the second half of the season. The Magic have been steady all year long. Although both teams are unimpressive, the Hawks do lead the season series 3-1. A key player in this series will be Kirk Hinrich, especially on the offensive end. If he can knock down a couple of threes in Orlando, the Hawks could steal one away from home.
Prediction: Magic in Six
Eastern Conference: No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 New York Knicks
7 of 8
The reemergence of the Knicks has rejuvenated this classic rivalry. They have played each other close all year long, but Boston often turns into a different animal in the playoffs. Kevin Garnett will need to step up and contribute on defense against Amar'e Stoudemire.
On the other side of the ball, the matchup between Rajon Rondo and Chauncey Billups should be interesting. Both guards look to find their teammates first, but it will be interesting to see which point guard can get to the bucket easiest.
Prediction: Celtics in Six
Eastern Conference: No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 Philadephia 76ers
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Throughout the season, Miami has been criticized for its play against clubs that are considered to be in the upper echelon of teams in the NBA. Fortunately for the Heat, the 76ers are not one of them. In their previous meetings, Miami has won all three games.
A big key for the 76ers if they want to pull off an upset is the elimination of turnovers. If the Heat are able to get out in transition via turnovers, this will be a short-lived series for Philly.
Prediction: Miami in Four
