NBA Playoff Preview

2007-08 NBA Playoffs
PiercePaul
It's that time again NBA fans to get your popcorn ready and set your TV to playoff basketball. With the Celtics reborn in the East and the deep Western Conference this season's postseason is sure to be a crazy ride all the way til the end.

1st Round Western Conference
Lakers1. Los Angeles Lakers vs 8. Denver NuggetsNuggets
Pick: Lakers in 6 games
Last season we got one hell of a 1 vs 8 seed series with the Mavs and Warriors and this year's matchup shouldn't be any different. This series is loaded with all-star players, Kobe, Pau, Melo and AI so there shouldn't be a dull moment. At the end of the day the Lakers are too deep for the Nuggets and have Kobe playing at an MVP level. However, as crazy as it sounds we could have another 8 seed beat a 1 seed for the second year in a row if the Nuggets can limit Kobe's production and steal one of the first two games in LA.
Key player to watch: Pau Gasol- How dominant will Gasol be in the playoffs?

Hornets2. New Orleans Hornets vs 7. Dallas MavericksMavs
Pick: Hornets in 6 games
My head is still hurting from thinking of who is going to win this series. Do you go with the playoff tested Mavs or the hot Hornets led by Chris Paul. In a typical playoff season it's a no brainer to go with the 2 seed but with the Western Conference being so deep this season anything is possible. I'm going to go with the Hornets because they are playing better team basketball right now than the Mavs. Dirk and the Mavs are no where near last season's level and the Jason Kidd trade only seemed to cause more chemistry problems. Sorry Mavs fans but you will have to watch another 1st round exit this year.
Key player to watch: Jason Kidd- Will Kidd live up to this season's trade and give the Mavs a ring?
Spurs3. San Antonio Spurs vs 6. Phoenix SunsSuns
Pick: Suns in 7 games
I get goosebumps just thinking about how great this series is going to be. If I were to tell you before this season started that these two teams would be playing each other in the playoffs you would probably guess it would be in the conference finals but in this crazy season these two teams will be playing each other in the 1st round. There will be plenty of bad blood from last season's series which was nothing but intense the whole way through. I can't believe that I'm picking the champion Spurs to exit the playoffs in the first round but I have a gut feeling that this is the Suns year to make it to the NBA Finals. This should go 7 games as both teams are very evenly matched.
Key player to watch: Shaq- Can Shaq be his dominant self and help Nash and company get over the hump?

Jazz4. Utah Jazz vs 5. Houston RocketsRockets
Pick: Rockets in 7 games
This year's 4 vs. 5 matchup will once again feature the Jazz and Rockets but this season the Rockets will come out of the first round and they will do so even without Yao. Tracy McGrady has the Rockets playing at another level this season and the Rockets will come out seeking revenge from last season's playoff loss. Despite their recent poor play after their remarkable 22 game win streak, I think the Rockets still have enough left in them to make a run in the playoffs. The Jazz are very solid basketball team led by Jerry Sloan and have playoff experience but have been playing too inconsistent this season to be a finals contender.
Key player to watch: Rafer Alston- Someone has to step up in Yao's absence and Alston has to be that guy.
2nd Round Western Conference
Lakers1. Los Angeles Lakers vs 5. Houston RocketsRockets
Pick: Lakers in 6 games
Kobe versus T-Mac, you can't get too much better than that. I have the Rockets run ending here against the Lakers as once again the Lakers are too deep for their opponent. The Lakers exploit the Rockets hole in the middle with Pau and possibly Bynum if he is back which is doubtful. 

Hornets2. New Orleans Hornets vs 6. Phoenix SunsSuns
Picks: Suns in 6 games
In a battle of two of the most exciting point guards in the league, it is Steve Nash and co. who moves onto the conference finals not Chris Paul and his Hornets. What a matchup that would be as both players have identical roles on their respective team's and are ultra competitive. In the end, the Suns have too much talent than the Hornets do and the team with more experience at this point in the playoffs usually wins.
Western Conference Finals
Lakers1. Los Angeles Lakers vs 6. Phoenix SunsSuns
Pick: Suns in 6 games
Three words that say enough about this series.... Kobe vs. Shaq. These two team's meet in the conference finals in what would be one of the most exciting Western Conference finals in a long time. Two loaded teams with two great coaches, it is hard to say who would win this series but I think with the duo of Amare and Shaq down low, the Suns would have an advantage in the post as these two teams are pretty even around the perimeter. While Shaq is nowhere near his prime, his presence prevails the Suns into the NBA Finals.
1st Round Eastern Conference
Celtics1. Boston Celtics vs 8. Atlanta HawksHawks
Pick: Celtcs in 4 games
In by far the most lopsided series in the playoffs, the Celtics should have no trouble defeating the young Atlanta Hawks in 4 games. The experience of this Celtics team will be tough for the Hawks to overcome, as they are very inexperienced. The Hawks have a lot of talent but they are a few years away from becoming a contender. It wouldn't surprise me if the Celtics win each one of these games by 15-20 points.
Key player too watch: Josh Smith- This young star will have to make a lot of plays for the Hawks to be competitive.

Pistons2. Detroit Pistons vs 7. Philadelphia 76ers76ers
Pick: Pistons in 5 games
The 76ers were one of the pleasant surprises this season but unfortunately for them they have to face the Detroit Pistons in the first round. The Pistons in my opinion have been playing their best basketball since they were champs a few years ago. Like the Celtics, the Pistons shouldn't have too much trouble in their first round matchup but I see the 76ers getting one game from them in Philly. This series should be full of low scoring games as both teams play at a very relaxed pace and don't have one star scorer who can take over a game.
Key player too watch: Andre Iguodala-  This series will prove if Iguodala is a franchise type player or if he is best suited to be a #2 man in this league.

Magic3. Orlando Magic vs 6. Toronto RaptorsRaptors
Pick: Magic in 6 games
The Orlando Magic have worked themselves back into the top of the Eastern Conference after a stellar season. The Magic get the Raptors in what should be a very good series. Both teams have young star power forwards in Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh. The Magic have the advantage though as they have more firepower around Dwight Howard than do the Raptors around Chris Bosh. The scoring trio of Howard, Lewis and Turkoglu should be enough to get the Magic out of the first round. However, the Raptors are a very deep team and are able to play almost anyone of their bench, so they can hurt you there but they are lacking another elite player next to Bosh.
Key player too watch: Jose Calderon/T.J. Ford- These two point guards need to step up big to give the Raptors reliable scoring options throughout the series.

Cavs4. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 5. Washington WizardsWizards
Pick: Wizards in 7 games
In what should be the most exciting and evenly matched series in the East, the Wizards with the recent return of Gilbert Arenas will knock off the former Eastern Conference champs. The Cavs are still lacking a reliable scoring option other than Lebron and the trade still seems to be causing chemistry issues, which is not a good thing come playoff time. The Wizards are too balanced and have more scorers than do the Cavs but the Cavs will push this one to 7 games with their tough defense.
Key player too watch: Anyone not named Lebron James on the Cavs- Someone has to step up this postseason if this team is to have any chance of advancing. 
2nd Round Eastern Conference
Celtics1. Boston Celtics vs 5. Washington WizardsWizards
Pick: Celtics in 5 games
This second round matchup would be a battle of "the trio's", the trio of Garnett, Pierce and Allen however gets the best of Arenas, Jamison and Butler. While I really like the Wizards this season, the Celtics are too deep of a team to be knocked out in the 2nd round. The Celtics roster is loaded with playoff experience while the Wizards roster is full of first and second round exits. Arenas is still not at his A-game and the Wizards struggle to keep up with the balanced attack of the Celtics.

Pistons2. Detroit Pistons vs 3. Orlando MagicMagic
Pick: Pistons in 6 games
This battle will be one of the most underrated matchups in the playoffs if it occurs. The Magic should be able to keep up with Pistons but still being an unproven team, the Magic falter in 6 games. The Pistons defense will be tough come playoff time and I'm not convinced the Magic are ready for what is in store for them. However, Dwight Howard could completely dominate this series and give the Pistons problems.
Eastern Conference Finals
Celtics1. Boston Celtics vs 2. Detroit PistonsPistons
Pick: Celtics in 7 games
I am praying for a Celtics and Pistons conference finals matchup as it would feature two storied franchises in what would be one of the most competitive series' in the last few years. KG versus his former coach, Flip Saunders, which one will get to the finals first? I'm going with KG and co. as they have a bit more hunger than do the Pistons this season to get a ring. This is the year for KG to get his ring after having an MVP season but this will be a big hurdle to get over as the Pistons are one of the toughest teams to play in the playoffs. The Celtics prevail in game 7 in dramatic fashion and move onto the NBA Finals for this first time since 1987.
NBA Finals
Celtics1. Boston Celtics vs 6. Phoenix SunsSuns
Pick: Celtics in 6 games
The NBA Finals features two teams that are long overdue to get a ring but unfortunately it is once again not the Suns year. The Celtics with the addition of KG and Ray Allen get their first ring in over 20 years and do so in convincing fashion beating the Suns in 6 games. The defense of the Celtics wears down the Suns who struggle to play in Boston in what will be one hostile environment.

Team Logo Design's From Yahoo Sports

Posted by TimberwolvesPress at 4/18/2008 12:34 AM
Categories: NBA Playoffs
 

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