2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Projecting Winners for the Western Conference
Within the next few weeks we will learn how the West will be won and who will be representing the conference in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers are looking to win the West for the fourth straight year, the Spurs are looking to fight off father time one last playoff season and the Thunder just want a chance to beat the big boys.
The Western Conference matchups are far more interesting than the East's and should make for another exciting first round.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies
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The Spurs dominated the NBA early in the season and looked to have the No. 1 overall seed locked up until they went through a string of injuries and poor play that has brought them back down to earth.
They are old and after their best player, Manu Ginobili, was injured in the season finale, they are now banged up. The Grizzlies are younger and more athletic and even while missing their best player, Rudy Gay, have been a pleasant surprise this NBA season.
The Spurs do have a major edge in experience and the wealth of playoff games that Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been in have to count for something, especially in the first round against a young, inexperienced opponent.
Tim Duncan is not what he used to be but still makes an impact defensively and is vital to the Spurs' success this April. Tony Parker is a playoff-proven point guard and has a Finals MVP to show for it and I expect his play to improve starting in Round 1.
The most important part of this series and possibly the Spurs title run is the health of Manu. If his injured elbow slows him down this series could be tight and wear down the Spurs, hurting their chances of advancing past the second round, and seeing that he is now doubtful for Game 1, it could be a tighter series then most people think.
The Grizzles have an advantage in their youth and athleticism as well as in their frontcourt, where Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol could dominate the series, leaving a possibility of a one-eight upset.
Those frontcourt players would really have to dominate a veteran-laced Spurs defense and that is tough to see.
Spurs win in a competitive series.
Spurs win in six games.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets
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The defending champs are looking to three-peat and the first step in that journey will be beating the Hornets.
The Hornets started the season hot and have fizzled out since but are still led by one of the NBA's best point guards, Chris Paul.
Paul has had a good year considering he's coming off a bad knee injury and has taken his team to the playoffs with little help from his supporting cast.
The Lakers are just too big for the Hornets to have any chance at winning and there is no way Kobe would let his team be beaten by such a lesser opponent in the playoffs.
Gasol will dominate the paint on offense and since Andrew Bynum's most recent knee injury doesn't seem too serious he will make his presence felt against a smaller Hornets frontcourt.
Kobe will dominate and the Lakers will jump out to a hot start in these playoffs.
This will be the least interesting series in the West and should be over quickly.
Lakers win in five games.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers
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The series with the most potential for an upset will start this Saturday in Dallas where the Blazers will meet the Mavs.
The Mavericks have once again had a good year, with Dirk Nowitzki leading the charge, winning 57 games and falling into the third seed in the West.
The sixth seed is the Portland Trail Blazers who, after picking up Gerald Wallace at the deadline, have turned into a real sleeper out West and have the Mavericks on upset alert.
The Blazers match up particularly well against the Mavs because of guys like Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace, players who have size and length and can match up with Dirk.
Dirk is an MVP candidate who has no help and still leads Dallas to 50 win season after 50 win season. He will have a tough series offensively and Dallas will need someone to step up and help the big German with the scoring load.
It seems most NBA fans are picking the Trail Blazers in an upset special but I don't see it that way.
It seems when everyone is picking against a team they always find a way to come out and win, it's just too easy to pick the Blazers here, so I won't.
Very competitive and entertaining series but Dirk carries the Mavericks to at least one series win this year.
Dallas wins in seven games.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets
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The four-five matchup in the West is a very interesting one.
The "sexy pick" of the conference, the Thunder, take on a team, the Nuggets, no one thought would even be here after parting ways with their best player, Carmelo Anthony.
The Nuggets have no clear best player and that hurts them in the playoffs where generally someone has to step up and be "the guy".
The Thunder on the other hand have Kevin Durant, one of the best players in the league and a guy who can and will take over a game.
That's the difference.
The Nuggets play great team basketball and are very well coached by George Karl, they can throw different lineups at teams and they are very deep, creating good matchups for themselves against opponents. The only thing they are missing is "the guy".
This team reminds me a lot of the Bulls teams earlier in this decade. They had a good team but no one to step up when it mattered most, having good regular seasons but never being able to make it over the hump of the playoffs.
The Thunder have newly-acquired toughness in the form of Kendrick Perkins who, paired with Surge Ibaka, creates a great defensive frontcourt to protect the rim and open things up for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
The Thunder have an edge in home court and will win in a tight series.
Thunder win in six games.
