Next to the first round of the NFL playoff there is no better brand of sports than the NBA postseason, well to be more specific the Western Conference playoffs.
The first round should be just wild when you consider that you can make a case for every team winning their opening round.
As for the East, the first round could not be duller, it's about as predictable as pornography, we pretty much know how it is going to end. (The only exception being the Heat / Celtics series where I could see Wade pushing the Celtics to seven games)
So for this post lets just assumer the favourites out East all win, sweeps preferably, so we can move on to the 2nd round.
Moving on to the West:
#1 Lakers vs. #8 Thunder
The Lakers have been coasting since late March going 3-7 and playing a style of ball that can be described as a mixture of shaky and indifferent Of course Oklahoma hasn’t exactly finished strong. The Thunder concluded the season going 2-4 starting with that blown call by on a last second three by Durant in their 140-139 loss to Utah. Instead of competing for the #2 seed they now are at the bottom looking up. Just a wild swing for them.
So the biggest question is can the Lakers “turn it on”? I think they can if the more important issue, the health of Andrew Bynum is resolved. The Lakers are a different team with Bynum in the lineup. He allows Pau Gasol more freedom and saves him from taking a pounding on the defensive end.
The biggest advantage Thunder has is at PG. Russell Westbrook will be able to do whatever he wants to 74 year old Derek Fisher. Will that and Kevin Durant’s brilliance be enough to pull off the upset? … In a word, no.
This is a series that everyone wants to go the distance and be exciting, who wouldn’t with so many stars? But in the end don’t expect it to happen.
Too many times the Thunder faced a veteran team with the score close late in the game and for the most part Oklahoma came up on the losing end. This is a young team that is going to take their lumps against the defending champs.
Lakers in Five
#2 Mavericks vs. #7 Spurs
My favourite series of the first round. You have a Dallas Mavericks team that has reloaded (trades for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood) for one last playoff run with aging stars in Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd. You have angry Greg Popovich on one side and crazy Mark Cuban on the other side, good times!
These teams genuinely don't like each other. A rarity in the lets all hug and French Kiss each other before and after every game. Remember in the season final, a 96-89 win by Dallas over San Antonio, Gregg Popovich pulled his starters for the game, guaranteeing a loss, guaranteeing the #7 seed thus guaranteeing a first round match-up against the Mavericks. You think Dallas is happy knowing the Spurs did all they could to face them?
I like Dallas to win in a thrilling seven game series. The Spurs are just a bit older, and are more banged up; while Dallas is relatively healthy. I think you will see the best out of Duncan and Co. but they just don’t have enough bodies to compete.
Mavericks in Seven
#3 Suns vs. #6 Trailblazers
Okay I lied; maybe not all the Western Conference playoff series' will be interesting. The injury to Brandon Roy (Portland was 8-9 without Roy) pretty much robbed this series of any drama.
But hey we're Canadian so watching Steve Nash in the playoffs is always good times.
Next to Nowitzki no player is facing more pressure than Amare Stoudemire. If he wants to prove he is a legitimate Franchise Player and not just a flashy dunker who can't play D he needs to carry the Suns on those nights were the opposing team is concentrating on stopping Nash. That means making the right decision in the half court, clutch offensive rebounds and you know actually caring about defending his man.
Phoenix will win easily giving Nash the rest he needs for a deep playoff run.
Suns in Five
#4 Utah vs. #5 Denver
At one point both these teams were the “best” team in the West. Carmelo Anthony started the season on fire but his play has been spotty the past two months. Utah has one of the best scoring margins in the league but injuries to Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko has made them far more vulnerable right now.
On the flip side Denver without a healthy Kenyon Martin can be beaten by anyone. Martin gives them above average half court defense and a fairly consistent scorer.
Both these team have the potential to win the West and neither has ever won an NBA Championship, those two facts make this series just that much more compelling.
Every year I always root for Jerry Sloan to win the championship. While I don’t think it will happen this year I do believe they win a grueling series against a Nuggets teams that is prone to a litany of bad fouls and stupid mistakes late in games.
I predict at the end of this series people will be talking about Deron Williams, not Chris Paul as the best PG in the West.
Jazz in Seven