NBA First Round Playoff Preview

With the NBA playoffs beginning this weekend, I think now is the best time to post my preview for the first round:

Western Conference

#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #8 Utah Jazz
Lakers in 5

The Lakers should take care of business in their games in LA and I see them splitting the games in Utah which will lead to a 4-1 Lakers’ series win. Utah is much better than their record, but they haven’t been the same all year. The Lakers size inside will punish the Jazz and I expect Carlos Boozer to continue his struggles against the Lakers long front line. Deron Williams is a tough cover for Derek Fisher and he should lead them to at least one win. But overall the Lakers are too talented, too big and too athletic for the Jazz. Utah struggles on the road and the Lakers are good enough on the road to steal one in the hostile environment at Energy Solutions Arena (Which has always been interesting to me. Salt Lake City is predominantly Mormon, yet they are vicious fans. I don't get it). Expect a tough, physical series that ultimately ends in the Lakers being too much for the Jazz to handle.

#2 Denver Nuggets vs. #7 New Orleans Hornets
Nuggets in 6

Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups provide an intriguing match-up in this series. Billups is a big, strong guard who is great at controlling tempo. Chris Paul is smaller, but also strong, and quick and impossible to guard on the pick and roll. Paul gets wherever he wants to go on the floor. However, the Hornets just don’t have the talent around him to beat Denver. Tyson Chandler has battled a nagging ankle problem all year and Peja Stojakovic isn’t the same player he used to be. Denver on the other hand, has a nice lineup with Carmelo Anthony, Nene, Billups, Linas Kleiza, as well as the emerging J.R. Smith and Chris “Birdman” Andersen. Denver is too strong of a team and I expect them to take the series in 6.

#3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Dallas Mavericks
Spurs in 5

This is the best possible match-up for the Spurs. With the Mavs jumping up to the sixth spot, San Antonio avoids tougher match-ups with Utah and New Orleans. Even without Manu Ginobili, the Spurs should control this series. San Antonio should able to hold Dirk Nowitzki in check, and Dallas has no one that can stop either Tim Duncan or Tony Parker. Add sharp shooters Roger Mason and Michael Finley to the equation and I think the Spurs take the series in five. I expect them to win the first two games in San Antonio, and then split in Dallas before finishing them off back home.

#4 Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets
Blazers in 6

Portland is the second best team in the Western Conference. They play in a hostile arena full of passionate fans. They have the most under-the-radar star in the league in Brandon Roy. They have two solid big men in Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden. LaMarcus Aldridge is an impressive young big man, and Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez (my favorite non-Laker in the NBA) lead a good bench. The Blazers are young and exciting and I think they will provide the biggest challenge to the Lakers in the West. Houston is much improved with Ron Artest and a healthy Yao Ming. Von Wafer has become a good rotation player and Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry have solidified the point guard position. However, I think Portland will be too tough for them to beat. I expect Portland to win in six games.

Eastern Conference

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #8 Detroit Pistons
Cavs in 4

I think that some people might see the name “Detroit Pistons” and remember the team that was in six straight Eastern Conference Finals. They would be greatly mistaken if they expect that team to show up in this series. Cleveland will roll through this year’s edition of the Pistons. I really don’t even expect a close game in this series. When Will Bynum, who has been out of the league since 2006, is your first player off the bench, you know your team is in trouble. Detroit has no one that can stop either LeBron James or Mo Williams. Cleveland will destroy Detroit in the paint. It’s going to be one-sided and the only thing that can change that is a LeBron James injury (But when your using Performance Enhancing Drugs is that possible?…Just kidding…Kinda). Cavs sweep in four games.

#2 Boston Celtics vs. #7 Chicago Bulls
Celtics in 6

Well the Kevin Garnett injury news throws a wrench into the Celtics’ title defense. Boston will obviously miss their leader, but they still have enough to beat a late-charging Bulls team. The Bulls have shaped their roster into a nice 9-man rotation They have played very well of late, and the additions of John Salmons and Brad Miller have turned them into a solid team. But it won’t matter against the Celtics. I expect the Bulls to play them tough but at the end of the day the Celts are still the champs (vomit) and I expect them to play that way while disposing Chicago.

#3 Orlando Magic vs. #6 Philadelphia 76ers
Magic in 6

Orlando is probably the team that benefits the most from the KG injury news. But that story needs to be saved for next round. In this series I expect the Magic to dominate the Sixers inside. The only reason I have Philly winning two games is because they are athletic enough to steal two games in this series. Oh and because my buddy Paul, “The Big Philly”, would kill me if I had them losing in 4 or 5 games. Dwight Howard and the Magic will prove too much for Philly and they will move on to a showdown in the second round with the defending champs.

#4 Atlanta Hawks vs. #5 Miami Heat
Heat in 7

Repeat after me…Dwyane Wade. D-Wade is the sole reason the Heat have a chance in this series. The Heat would be awful without Wade and he has single-handedly carried them this far. Atlanta is the much better team on paper but they seem to lack intensity at times, something Wade doesn’t have a problem with, and they struggle to win on the road. If the Heat can get to a game 7, Wade gives them a great shot of winning this series. Joe Johnson and D-Wade will be a fun match-up to watch, and seeing Wade go “2006 Kobe” this postseason should be fun too. Overall, my head tells me to pick the Hawks but my heart says to pick the Heat. The heart wins in this one as I go with the team with the best superstar.