...The 2012 NBA Playoffs: The Second Round...

The East:

(2) Miami Heat vs (3) Indiana Pacers

Background:

Both teams were expected to breeze through their first round opponents, with both their lower seeded opponents suffering from major injuries to important players on their team. However, the gritty Magic pulled off a couple of surprise wins against the Pacers, to make them work to get to where they are now. The Heat, on their part, had to withstand the offensive onslaught of Carmelo Anthony, and dropped a game in New York to give that team its first playoff win in years.

However, they clearly had their opponents overmatched ,and now thay face each other in the second round for what looks to be a fairly matched faceoff.

 
What to watch out for:

The Heat is always a fun team to watch, with highflyers LeBron James and Dwayne Wade manning the wings. They did show vulnerability against a fairly depleted New York Squad, but for the most part, they showed how good their team can be. Chris Bosh needs to show more of what he can do, but for this round, I think Shane Battier and Mike Miller's play will dictate how then Heat can navigate through this Pacers team theough their defense and offense, respectively. While their contributions were enough to close out the mostly one-man show Knicks, it won't be enough to stop the high-powered Pacers team.

 

David West showed he was willing to step it up in big games, and he picked up his pace at just the right time; during their playoff push and still going strong in the first round. Their point guard rotation is to be envied, with George Hill and Darren Collison alternating, and Leandro Barbosa can fill it up from that spot from time to time. Look for Roy Hibbert to make a living down low with no able body to stop him.

 

Roadblocks:

The Pacers are strong at the two spots the Heat are weak: the point and center spot. If the Heat can't make the necessary adjustments, David West and Roy Hibbert will school the Heat big men the same way Collison and Hill will own Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.

 

Despite the lack of depth from 2 spots, the Heat are still too much to handle when all cylinders are clicking. While Pacers can match them up offensively, they need to rely on their team defense to stop the Heat stars.

 

Prediction: Heat in 6

No disrespect to the Indiana squad, and not just writing as a fan. I think the Pacers reached a stage where they're not ready yet, as it seems like this team was made to make a push next year. They were fortunate enough to not face Dwight Howard in the first round, but this hungry Heat team with everything to prove will be able to grind it out to win this close matchup. And I think they can do it on the road, after Indiana steals a home ga,e from them.

 

(8) Philadelphia 76ers vs (5) Boston Celtics

Background:

The Sixers made the upset of the year when they knocked off the Derrick Rose-less Bulls. While the Bulls were able to get the best record in the East without Rose for most of the year, the postseason is an entirely different story. The Celtics, on their part, knocked off the young Atlanta Hawks team, but not without scares. Al Horford came back to give the Celtics a difficult time disposing of the Hawks, but after missing most ofthe year because of injury, he was not able to pick up his game well enough to beat the Celtics. The C's, on their part, showed just how championship teams are made of.

 

What to watch out for:

The Sixers picked up Elton Brand to bring a legitimate superstar to the city. As talented as Andre Iguodala is, they know that he can't bring the championship to Philadelphia. The Sixers need more from Brand if they hope to continue their Cinderella run. How they stop Rajon Rondo's penetration will also help pick up wins for them.

 

Paul Pierce carried the C's in the clutch, and if Philly did its homework, they will lock him down for this series. Ray Allen needs to catch fire, as he will probably get looks with Pierce getting most of the defensive attention. While Brand is an offensive beast, he's not known to be a defensive pest. If Garnett could keep up his Game 6 performance, the Big Three will be able to make another strong run for a champiomship for the ageing Celtics.

 

Roadblocks:

Age and injuries seem to be the only things stopping these Celtics from making a serious run at a championship. They have bench depth, star power, and clutch performers. When healthy, this is a pretty formidable team. However, with most of their important players at the late stages of their careers, injuries can happen most often than usual.

 

The opposite can be said for Philadelphia, with youth and inexperience their possible pitfalls. They did upset the top seeded Bulls, but it can be argued that they were never really tested during that series. Facing a legit championship contender that is relatively healthy, the Sixers might be overwhelmed this round.

 

Prediction: Celtics in 5

 

Philly might keep this thing close in some games, but with the Celtics knowing their window is closing fast, they won't take their feet off the gas pedal to give the Sixers any hope of beating them.

 

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers

Background:

The Spurs made quick work of the Jazz with a masterful first round showing. After being upset by Memphis last year, the Spurs have learned their lesson and destroyed the 8th seed like they are supposed to.

 

The Clippers, on their part, was pushed to the limit by the higher-seeded Grizzlies. The main difference would probably be Chris Paul in the clutch. Paul led his team to an amazing 22-pt deficit comeback win and showed just how much he brings to the Clips.

 

It might have been fun to watch the Spurs face the Grizz to avenge their first round loss last year, but seeing Lob City in the second round is in no means a weak consolation to that expected matchup.

 

What to watch out for:

The Spurs showcased their bench depth against the superstar-less Jazz, and they need more of that in the second round, with a Clippers crew led by arguably the best point guard in the league today in Chris Paul. Look for Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard to get more minutes in this series, as they provide perimeter defense to keep Paul in check while letting Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker run wild on offense.

 

The Clippers big men need to step it up a notch,as they will face one of the most formidable and dynamic front court rotations in the NBAwith the Spurs. Tim Duncan can play inside out, Tiago Splitter is picking up his game that the Spurs expected from him when they picked him up, Matt Bonner has range, and Dajuan Blair is an rebounding beast. Blake Griffin should learn how to play defense, or he's going tovget schooled by Duncan. Kenyon Martin is a veteran who thrives when playing with an elite point guard. For this round, I think the Clips need DeAndre Jordan and Reggie Evans doing more for them. These are two able bodies who can defend the post and grab some boards. If they can defend the Spurs big men one on one, I think it would greatly help their cause.

Roadblocks:

The veteran savvy of the Spurs might be too much for the young Clippers to handle. They might have passed a tough test in the Memphis Grizzlies, but it was mostly due to Chris Paul's brilliant play and leadership than the Clippers actually developing playoff poise. They need other players to step up if they wish to advance against the Spurs.

 

Similar to the Celtics, it seems like this Spurs team can only be stopped by injuries to major players. While losing one of their stars may not cause them to lose the series, a couple might be difficult to handle. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are a couple of key players that have lost significant time due to injuries, and if by the unlikely chance that they both lose time during this series, they might find it difficult to adjust.

 

Prediction: Spurs in 5

Chris Paul can only carry this team so far. I think this will be a hardfought series, with the Clippers winning one for their home fans, but mostly not have enough to close games out.

 

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers

Background:

The Thunder swept the defending champions in the first round, and looks like the championship contender they were supposed to be after a strong showing last year. James Harden won the 6th man of the year award, while Kevin Durant once again clinched the scoring title, beating out Kobe Bryant this year. This team is going nowhere but up, and facing the same Lakers squad that had Metta World Peace blatantly elbow Harden in the last week of the regular season, and the same Lakers squad that beat them last year only adds more fire in this interesting matchup.

 

The Lakers had to work for thier spot in the second round after being pushed to the limit  by a deep Denver squad. They got World Peace back for Game 7 and they need him to not knock people out with elbows but rather knock down shots for them to win games.

 

What to watch out for:

While it would be amazing to watch the Lakers and the Clippers battle it out for West supremecy and Los Angeles love, both teams have an uphill battle ahead of them, facing teams of championship caliber as well. The Lakers face vengeful Oklahoma team they narrowly beat a couple of years ago, and now has what it lacked before (big men Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins) plus a third scoring option (James Harden) and a veteran with smarts and knows the enemy (Derek Fisher). If the Lakers hope to advance, they need to focus on defense rather than try to outscore the Thunder, because frankly, they can't run with the Thunder squad with that much firepower.

For the Thunder, James Harden should flourish, with defenses attracting Russel Westbrook  and Kevin Durant, while the big men would be occupied with the space taken up by Ibaka and Perkins. That Metta World Peace elbow? It only adds fuel to the already lit up fire. 

Roadblocks:

The experience factor is no longer an advantage for the Lakers. Despite the talent and depth this team has, the main difference of this team from the team that beat the Thunder was the Zen Master himself, Phil Jackson. The loss of Lamar Odom also hurt their team a lot, but it should have been compensated if MWP and Matt Barnes played up to par. They will not be able to run wild offensively against this much improved Thunder team, and they will get burned trying to outscore the Thunder and failing miserably at it. 

The Thunder is gaining swag, but that's not an entirely bad thing. It could be if they let it go to their heads, but looking at Durant, it doesn't look like it will. Overconfidence could burn them in this series, but its not too much of a roadblock. They have the tools to contain Kobe Bryant, but if Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum decide to show up, the Thunder will have problems.

Prediction: Thunder in 5

The Thunder have grown up right before our very eyes, and have the same drive as the older teams vying for a championship, which is scary when you think about it. While the Spurs and Celtics are pushing for one last trophy, this Thunder team still has a lot of ceiling left and they are already contenders. They have a bright future ahead of them, and destroying the Lakers would be a major step forward for this team. Not a dig on the Lakers, but the three key factors that are working against them are: 1. Mike Brown is no Phil Jackson, 2. Derek Fisher may not get enough minutes on the floor, but he's most needed on the bench and on practice, and 3. Kobe Bryant will not fall down without fighting and it will make or break this team, and it probably would break them, most likely.

...The 2012 NBA Playoffs: The West...

The playoffs are finally less than a week away, and matchups are already set. Everyone will have they say on who’s going past who and I’m going to be one of those friends you have who’s going to throw my opinions out there.

So here goes, from the perspective of an odds and fantasy player for the 2011-2012 NBA season, my picks for the first round matchups of both conferences.

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (8) Utah Jazz
(San Antonio won regular season, 3-1)

Spurs:

The late season acquisition of Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson only made the formidable Spurs much more scarier. They already have the still young Tony Parker, the immortal Tim Duncan, the exciting Manu Ginobili, the workhorse Dajuan Blair, and the Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter. Then you remember how Gary Neal was last year for them, see how effective Danny Green has been for Pop, and why they let go of George Hill in favor of rookie Kawhi Leonard. Despite the early retirement of TJ Ford (who was poised to have a good year before he got injured), the Spurs have maintained their competitiveness and excellence.

Jazz:

Gordon Hayward was best known for hitting a huge halfcourt shot for his college team that came out of nowhere two seasons ago. Despite not having an eye-popping rookie season (which was expected, considering his claim to fame), he took that thing called “sophomore slump” and ripped it apart, having a great season with Utah. Not to mention Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap dominating the boards all season long. Derrick Favors and rookie Enes Kanter provide stability in the frontcourt, as they can fill in nicely for the starters. Devin Harris has had a forgettable season, but he has picked up his game as of late, and may be able to carry that over to the postseason. Jamaal Tinsley has revived his career in Utah.

What to watch out for: Redemption, in different lights

The Spurs had the best record in the league last year, and clinched the top seed in the West. However, they fell to the 8^th seeded Grizzlies, who were appearing in the postseason for the first time in a long while, their last when Pau Gasol was still wearing a Grizzlies jersey. This year, the Spurs look to redeem themselves as they again have the top seed and are matched up with another team that’s coming back to the postseason after missing out last year due to a roller coaster ride of a season that saw them losing their longtime head coach, the face of their franchise, and their postseason appearance streak. Whose “redemption” is hungrier would determine who will win this series.

Who to watch out for:

Coach Greg Poppovich gave Tim Duncan a DNP-CD (Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision) with a reason being “old”. Timmy’s been playing great basketball this season, and Pop has done a great job of keeping him fresh for this stretch run. I’d say this might be Timmy’s encore, but who knows, he might still play next season. But the real story to watch out for in San Antonio has got to be Stephen Jackson. He had a good run in Golden State before things got sour. He had a good thing going in Charlotte and management decided to break it up. He never got his game going in Milwaukee, and now he’s back with a contender. He won’t be the main man, but how great is it for your team knowing that you have a main man-caliber player playing off your bench behind Manu Ginobili. And don’t forget Danny Green’s been playing stellar basketball too. Boris Diaw is also a name that should be watched, as he could thrive as a point-forward while Tony Parker is resting on the bench. That is one deep bench.

Devin Harris needs to regain his all-star form if the Jazz want to come out on top. They have the bigs to match up with the Spurs bigs and a competitive backcourt rotation, but may be a little weak at the wing position after Josh Howard went down. Hopes hinge on the continued rise of Gordon Hayward, but the spotlight should be on Harris, as he has not delivered on the expectations of him. This would be a perfect time for him to show up.

Prediction: Spurs in 5

I would not be surprised if this went to seven games, considering the brilliant play of Millsap and Jefferson. However, the Spurs team looks good not only on paper because of the system that they run.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (7) Dallas Mavericks
(Oklahoma won regular season, 3-1)

Thunder:

The Thunder has dominated their opponents this season with hot shooting from their stars (scoring champ favorite Kevin Durant, all around point Russell Westbrook, and super sub James Harden), and the defense of Kendrick Perkins and shot blocking machine Serge Ibaka. The rest of the roster just understands what their roles are in contributing to the success of the team, which I think Coach Scott Brooks should be credited for. There are not much airheads in this team (Kendrick Perkins may be a candidate, but they need his swag to make the team balanced), and it’s hard not to love this Thunder squad because they work hard and they don’t really talk much smack.  

Mavericks:

Letting Tyson Chandler go was a head scratcher, getting Lamar Odom was almost genius but it never really took off. The Mavericks never really got their stride this season, with most of their key players suffering injuries and cold streaks. After years of lacking a solid big man to win it all, they got it in Chandler last season, and they got their title. I never understood why they had to let him go, considering Mark Cuban’s willingness to spend. From what they have now, they need to settle with Ian Mahinmi in the middle, and hope that Brendan Haywood turns out to be the force they hoped he would be when they got him. Vince Carter had his moments this season when it looked like he turned back the clock, but in true Vince Carter-esque fashion, he has been inconsistent in his production all season long.

What to watch out for: The “Future” making it “Now”

The defending champions have a formidable test ahead of them, with the Thunder squad growing up way too fast for the old guards (powerhouse teams of the last decade who still have some fight left). The Thunder would want to get past the aging (and totally different) Mavericks team easily to “actualize” all those “potential” people said they have. Dallas may have earned their “champion” tag and would have the hunger to defend it, but would that hunger be stronger than when they didn’t have their rings yet? Jason Kidd’s production seems to say it isn’t so.

Who to watch out for:

Kevin Durant will take over for the Thunder. That’s the popular choice, and I’m going with it. But considering this Dallas squad, I think Kendrick Perkins will have his field day owning the glass and the paint. He will play a major factor and re-affirm the perception that his acquisition last year was the biggest boost in the Thunder’s title hopes. Derek Fisher will complement Perkins’ championship experience with his veteran wisdom and leadership skills, which will be the key factor in the Thunder negating that “championship experience” advantage by the Mavs.

While it seems at times that this Dallas squad has lost its fight, look for Dirk and Kidd to not easily give up that title they have dedicated their lives to claim as theirs. Their numbers this season have been disappointments, especially Kidd, but I think they’ll pick it up on their home floor after they get spanked by the Thunder in OKC.

Prediction: Thunder in 5

I initially had Dallas upsetting the Thunder in 7 games, but looking back at the season and looking at the makeup of both squads, I am leaning more towards believing that the Thunder is going to grow up fast than the creaky legs of Dallas suddenly getting greased. That “championsip poise” advantage is limited to Kidd, Dirk, and to some extent, Terry because this is not the same Dallas team that won it last year. Their veterans can only take them so far, and this year, it doesn’t look very far, really. Besides, with Derek Fisher on that Thunder bench, it’s not difficult to imagine that these kids will mature fast.

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs (6) Denver Nuggets
(Los Angeles won, 3-1)

Lakers

Safe to say that Los Angeles is still Lakerland rather than Lob City? Their supremacy in the City of Angels has been challenged by their co-leasers at Staples, but at the end of the season, they have a slightly better record than the buzzing Clippers. Andrew Bynum is turning out to be a force inside, but shows he’s still young by making some bad decisions and throwing tantrums. Pau Gasol has had a fantastic season, and he’s extending his range more, with Bynum ably manning the middle, stretching defenses and opening  it up for slashers. Kobe Bryant had a ridiculous start of the season, scoring like he’s shooting a ping pong in the ring. Their young guns have provided energy off the bench and when called upon, with Troy Murphy and Josh McRoberts not really getting the credit they deserve. The Ramon Sessions acquisition may have the same effect on the Lakers as when they got Gasol; he’s a solid point guard playing behind a rookie and soon-to-be superstar in Cleveland, and he’s just what the Lakers needed. Sure, they had to let go of longtime point guard Derek Fisher, but getting a younger, more agile Sessions is not a bad tradeoff.

Nuggets

When discussing bench depth, it is impossible to not have the Nuggets in the discussion. I don’t think even George Karl has a definite starting lineup. Andre Miller or Ty Lawson at point? Aaron Aflalo may be locked as the 2 guard as Rudy Fernandez is injured. Sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari or the athletic two-way player Corey Brewer at 3? Big man with range Al Harrington or “Manimal” Kenneth Faried at 4? Shot blocking machines JaVale McGee and Chris Andersen or bulky Timofey Mozgov and Kosta Koufos at center? Rookies Julyan Stone and Jordan Hamilton have had their burns in playing time and showed potential as well. And imagine if Wilson Chandler was healthy. What makes this Nuggets team difficult to beat is that you can’t guard just one person because they don’t have a definite go to guy. You can’t lock up one player because the 4 others can destroy your team in other ways.  

What to watch out for: Depth against stars

Denver is a well-balanced team, while the Lakers, for all the talent they loaded that team up, is still pretty much Kobe’s team. This matchup will feature the team concept against a star-centric Lakers team thanks to Mike Brown. If the games are close, you know that Kobe and his Lakers will have the chance to get the W. But with all the weapons Denver has, it will be difficult for the Lakers to keep games close if they rely heavily on Kobe. Oh yeah, there’s Gasol and Bynum too.

Who to watch out for:

Andrew Bynum has a lot to prove in this series. He’s a piece the Magic desperately want in exchange for Dwight Howard, and the Lakers not giving in to that says a lot at how they see Bynum. While he still is young, they need him to grow up fast because Kobe is not getting any younger. And honestly, I can’t imagine a Lakers team winning without Kobe.

For all the balance I’ve kept raving about Denver, they have a player who has the heart to push them beyond what is expected of them; Andre Miller. He’s playing off the bench behind Ty Lawson, but he can take over games like no one else in that Denver team, and he does it on both ends of the floor. He’s not the face of the franchise, but I daresay that he personifies what that Nuggets team is all about; all heart, and understanding one’s role.

Prediction: Lakers in 7

This series could go either way, and if I turn out to be wrong and Denver upsets the Lakers, I would not be the least bit surprised. I’m giving the edge to the Lakers because of their winning tradition rather than the Nuggets who are still establishing their identity. There’s that possible storyline that the Lakers still aren’t buying into Coach Mike Brown’s system, but it’s difficult to imagine that a Lakers team with this much talent will fall in the first round.

 

(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs (5) Los Angeles Clippers
(Los Angeles won, 2-1)

Clippers

Lob City had the basketball world buzzing when Chris Paul signed up with the Clippers. People were excited when Baron Davis was throwing lobs to Blake Griffin last year, so imagine the frenzy when they learned that Chris Paul was going to do that this year. They also got Chauncey Billups and Mo Williams, creating a logjam of point guard talent on their bench. It proved to be just what they need, as Chris Paul missed an extended period early in the season due to injury, and Chauncey Billups going out of commission even before the half of the season ended. Randy Foye picked up his game after the all-star break, hitting 3’s like crazy. Late acquisitions Nick Young and Kenyon Martin surely made this team better. DeAndre Jordan had a solid start in the season, but he wasn’t able to keep it up through the season, but seeing how he dominated early, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to find his form.

Grizzlies:

After their magical run last season, people expected the Grizzlies to get better, with Rudy Gay back in the fold. Then just a few weeks into the season, Zach Randolph, arguably their best player last year, suffered a season-depleting injury that saw him sidelined for most of the season. The Grizzlies found ways to win though, with Marc Gasol playing big and earning an All-Star reserve selection, Mike Conley causing havoc on defense, Rudy Gay still making clutch baskets, and Tony Allen being the defensive pest that he is. Early season acquisition Mareese Speights provided some quality relief at the PF spot while Zbo is out. Dante Cunningham was a surprise source of energy off the bench. O.J. Mayo is playing somewhat effectively this season, after spending it in the doghouse last year. Gilbert Arenas was a surprising acquisition for the Grizz, and though he looks more like the Gilbert Arenas of Orlando rather than Agent Zero of the Wizards, he may become an effective player if he embraces his role in this team.

What to watch out for: Spoilers yet again?

Grizzlies pulled off a massive upset last year when they beat the top seeded San Antonio Spurs, who were also the best team in the regular season. This year, they face a crowd-favorite Los Angeles Clippers team who’s making an appearance in the playoffs for the first time since Elton Brand and Sam Cassell led them to a 2-round push. With the exciting tandem of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, people are certainly rooting to see more of those aerial acrobatics that “Lob City” would provide. But the Grizzlies may have other plans. They kept Zbo on the bench since he returned, presumably to get his groove back on, but not push him too much so that he would be fresh and game-fit come playoff time. With O.J. Mayo getting to show his stuff and Gilbert Arenas mellowing down and making his case on the court rather  than on blogs, this dangerous spoiler team of last year just got better and even more dangerous. And a late push by the Grizz and the Clips struggling had homecourt advantage swinging the Grizzlies' way, which is going to be huge in this series.

Who to watch out for:

Chris Paul will definitely have the world watching him. After essentially pushing for his trade to come here, he now has to prove that he can indeed elevate this team to being THE team in LA. But don’t sleep on Nick Young. The former Arenas protégé in Washington might want to back up all those praises Arenas had for the young fellow. Randy Foye has that starting 2 spot because of his late brilliance, but Young has a lot of upside considering his length and athleticism.

The Grizzlies had a lot of success with Zbo in the paint last year. This year, they got the 4^th seed mostly without Zbo. Much like the argument for Rose’s absence in the Bulls lineup, we are all going to have to wait and see if his return to the lineup is more beneficial to the team more than it hurts them. In this case, I vote that it only helps them greatly. They’ll be 2-deep in all positions and can go toe to toe with the big guys of the Clippers. And don’t forget about Gilbert Arenas. He made a name for himself by creating a mini-rivalry between Washington and Cleveland during the better days of the Eastern conference. If he can channel some of that swag back to his game the Grizz are going to be tough to beat.

Prediction: Memphis in 7

I feel like I will get burned with this prediction but these are two teams that have shown inconsistencies all season long. Even with Chris Paul on his game, the Clippers seem to drop games that should be in their bags already. Memphis, for their part could beat a contender today then lose to a team like Charlotte tomorrow. The Grizzlies look to have a more refined group than the Clippers team that though promising, looks like it still needs to grow more.  

...The Playoffs 2011: The West...

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs (8) Memphis Grizzlies

Roster: 
SAN ANTONIO                                                     MEMPHIS

G Tony Parker                                                  PG Mike Conley
G Manu Ginobili                                                SG Xavier Henry
F Richard Jefferson                                            SF Sam Young
PF Tim Duncan                                                  PF Zach Randolph
C Antonio McDyess                                           C  Marc Gasol

The Bench 

G Gary Neal                                                      G O.J. Mayo
G George Hill                                                    G Greivis Vasquez
F/C Matt Bonner                                               F Darell Arthur
F/C DaJuan Blair                                               F Shane Battier 
C Tiago Splitter                                                 F Leon Powe
F Steve Novak                                                 G Ish Smith
G Chris Quinn                                               G/F Tony Allen
G/F Danny Green                                             C Hamed Haddadi
G James Anderson                                           G Jason Williams
F Da’Sean Butler                                         

Key Players: Tim Duncan, Zach Randolph

Watch out for: Youth vs Experience

Season series: Series split 2-2

How the roster stacks up:

The Spurs is probably only second to The Celtics of last year when it comes to being counted out early in the playoffs despite having a stacked lineup. The Celtics proved naysayers wrong last season, and the Spurs surprised many this season. Who would have thought that they could still post the best record in the NBA despite an “aging” lineup? Much credit must be given to the commitment that Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker gave to the Spurs organization, by choosing not to play in international tournaments last summer. Tim Duncan isn’t posting MVP numbers, but has been as reliable as ever. Gary Neal is a rookie by contract, but plays as well as any veteran. George Hill has earned the respect of Greg Poppovic, and is looking like the future of the Spurs. Tiago Splitter is a big guy they want to build around on, and he has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season (when healthy). DaJuan Blair makes a triumvirate of young stars the spurs can build on, with Hill and Splitter. Their frontcourt is stacked with other options, with Antonio McDyess and Matt Bonner providing different looks for their team at the 5. Steve Novak is a solid contributing player, and will know how to pick his spots.

For the first time in a long while, the Grizzlies have come back to the postseason. Sure, they haven’t won any games during the playoffs, but don’t tell that to these guys. They are more than capable of pulling off an upset over the well-seasoned Spurs. Zach Randolph has had a solid season for the team, and a surprising leader, considering his issues in the past. Marc Gasol has been good enough to at least show Pop that the swap for him and brother Pau wasn’t as lopsided as he thought. The Grizz has a stacked backcourt, with Mike Conley, Xavier Henry, Tony Allen, Greivis Vasquez and Ish Smith. Their wing players are also not that bad, with Shane Battier and Sam Young giving them a couple of dimensions at that spot. The frontcourt is deep, with Leon Powe, Darrell Arthur and even Hamed Haddadi being able to spell for their starters. And no, I did not forget about O.J. Mayo; he gets a special mention because he hasn’t been contributing as much as expected this season. Not his choice, really, but rather because he hasn’t won the favor of Coach Lionel Hollins. There have been attitude issues here and there, but if the Grizz can win these much games without much help from Mayo, imagine how good this team could be if Mayo can get his rookie form back.

Prediction: Spurs win, 4-2

The Memphis Grizzlies are due for a win in the playoffs, and they’d probably win a couple of games at home, but this probably isn’t the year that they’d advance. Not taking away anything from the Grizz, as I said, they are a dangerous team capable of pulling off an upset. But the Spurs, much like the Celtics of last year, are made for the playoffs. There was a year when they looked vulnerable and got edged by the Mavericks, but this is a different Spurs team with a different identity. When before they were anchored on an aging and battered core of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker, right now, they have their future intertwining with their glory-days lineup; Ginobili and Parker playing way beyond expectations this year and Duncan playing his usual consistent self have the core of George Hill, DaJuan Blair, and Tiago Splitter ready and able to already fill the Spurs 3’s shoes, but not just yet. The Grizz, while solid, will have a successful season this year having made the playoffs, but they just have to wait for their turn at advancing to the next round.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs (7) New Orleans Hornets

Roster:

      LOS ANGELES                                           NEW ORLEANS

PG Derek Fisher                                              PG Chris Paul
SG Kobe Bryant                                              SG Marco Bellineli
SF Ron Artest                                                 SF Trevor Ariza
PF Lamar Odom                                             PF Carl Landry
C Pau Gasol                                                     C Emeka Okafor

The Bench

F Luke Walton                                                 C Aaron Gray
G Shannon Brown                                            G Willie Green
C Joe Smith                                                     G Quincy Pondexter
G Steve Blake                                              F/C Jason Smith
F Matt Barnes                                                 G Jarret Jack
F Derrick Caracter                                          C D.J. Mbenga
C Theo Ratliff                                                  F Patrick Ewing, Jr.

Key Players:  Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul

Watch out for: Shannon Brown, Jarret Jack

Season series: Los Angeles won, 4-0

How the roster stacks up:

The Lakers are eyeing another 3-peat with the their slightly intact roster from when they won last year. They only got stronger with the offseason addition of Matt Barnes, but he’s been hampered by injury throughout the season. Steve Blake was acquired to hit big shots and provide veteran presence in the backcourt. Joe Smith and Theo Ratliff are somewhat of an upgrade from DJ Mbenga. Their frontcourt depth was put to the test when Andrew Bynum got hurt, but it doesn’t necessarily cripple their team. Lamar Odom can fill in nicely for Bynum at the starting lineup, but Pau Gasol has to slide to the 5, which isn’t his preferred position. The frontcourt of Gasol, Odom, and Ron Artest should still create matchup problems, but it’s not as intimidating as Gasol and Bynum down low. Their bench, usually sparked by Odom, will not lose too much energy and spark, with Shannon Brown effectively bringing it. Luke Walton has been a dependable player since his rookie season, and knows his role in the team.

Funny how when Chris Paul got injured last season, the Hornets didn’t lose much in the point guard spot, with rookies Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison effectively filling up Paul’s void. One summer of uncertainty later, the new management decide to trade away Collison to Indiana, in a move seen as a vote of confidence for Paul, to assure him that this is still HIS team. Then at the trade deadline, they decide to trade away the equally effective Thornton for Carl Landry. While that last move essentially traded away the two most important sparks of the Hornets last season, it became a somewhat important move for them when all-star David West hurt himself. With Landry coming off the bench, they had that much talent in their frontcourt, with an improved Jason Smith and a young Aaron Gray. But with West hurt, the frontcourt looked that much thinner. If the young journeyman Patrick Ewing Jr. can show glimpses of his father’s game, then maybe their frontcourt can compete. They are also vulnerable at the wing spot, with Ariza being the only true wing player they have. Quincy Pondexter showed he can perform when given the chance, and Jarret Jack has always been a reliable player. Marco Bellineli was finally given minutes, and his game made it that much easier for the Hornets to stop waiting on Peja Stojakovic to get healthy.

Prediction: Lakers sweep

No matter how hard the Hornets play to win, they effectively lost any hope of advancing past the first round when David West got hurt. They can fill out the void with Carl Landry, but not only does West bring with him 10 points more than Landry’s output, he also deprives them of the clutch performances and leadership that he brings to the team. They can probably give the Lakers a scare, but talent-wise, they are going to get eaten alive by the Lakers. With all the negative flak Kobe and the rest of the team has been getting for their poor finish of the regular season, expect the Lakers to come out on fire to start the playoffs, and make an example of the Hornets to remind the other contenders that they are still the team to beat.

(3) Dallas Mavericks vs (6) Portland Trail Blazers

Roster:

      DALLAS                                                              PORTLAND

PG Jason Kidd                                               PG Andre Miller
SG Rodrigue Beaubois                                   SG Brandon Roy
SF Shawn Marion                                          SF Nicolas Batum
PF Dirk Nowitzki                                           PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Tyson Chandler                                            C Marcus Camby

The Bench
 
G Jason Terry                                                  F Rudy Fernandez
G DeShawn Stevenson                                    G Wesley Matthews
C Brendan Haywood                                       F Gerald Wallace
F Brian Cardinal                                              F Patrick Mills
G J.J. Barea                                                    F Luke Babbit
F Corey Brewer                                             G Armon Johnson
C Ian Mahinmi                                               C Earl Barron
F Peja Stojakovic                                          C Chris Johnson
G Caron Butler                                                

Key Players: Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge

Watch out for: Tyson Chandler/Jason Kidd, Brandon Roy/Gerald Wallace

Season series: Series tied, 2-2

How the roster stacks up:

Dirk Nowitzki’s success has carried the Mavericks to consecutive playoff appearances. He’s won a season MVP award, and has taken his team to the NBA Finals at one point. But all these years, despite great success in the regular season and having a stacked roster, they were never really able to duplicate that Finals run. Heck, they were, at one point, upset by the 8^th seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs after posting the best record in the NBA. This season, they challenged for at least the 2^nd spot of the West, and was one of the hottest teams in the league at one point, before injuries to Caron Butler and Dirk Nowitzki crippled their team greatly. They bounced back, and settled for third in the West. The return of Rodrigue Beaubois sparked a run for their team. Jason Kidd and Dirk recognize what Beaubois brings to the team, and speak highly of him. Speaking of Kidd, he’s still bringing it night in and night out like he wasn’t one of the senior statesmen in the NBA. He is probably the only player I’ve seen who can affect the outcome of the game without scoring a single point. Jason Terry is a pseudo-sixth man of the team, not starting, but playing starters’ minutes. J.J. Barea is a ball of energy off the bench. Tyson Chandler, brought in at the offseason, drastically changed the image of Dallas; they can finally claim to have a “D”. Shawn Marion is far removed from his “Matrix” days, but he can still stuff the stat sheet and brings important intangibles to help their team win. The acquisition of Corey Brewer and Peja Stojakovic (if healthy) can give Dallas a couple of looks at the wing spot; a defensive-minded athletic wing, and a sharp shooting sniper.

For Portland, LaMarcus Aldridge has made this season Portland’s transition from having Brandon Roy as the face of the franchise, to him carrying the team on his back. He was a borderline all-star this season, and many felt disappointment that he got snubbed. He responds by a string of monster performances when he’d have 40-point night with monster boards. With the help of Wesley Matthews, Rudy Fernandez, and Nicolas Batum, Aldridge carried this team to gutsy wins over the course of the season. Brandon Roy came back, as he is a warrior and all that, but he’s not as good as the player he was a couple of seasons ago. Sure, the basketball IQ can’t be taken away from him, but he isn’t at the same level as he was before he drained his knees. His IQ and personality makes him a still valuable player for the Blazers, as there is no doubt that he can evolve into a different player that the team needs him to be in order to win. Losing Steve Blake in the offseason probably hurt them a bit in terms of backcourt depth, but this was a vote of confidence for Andre Miller, who, as I remember, complained about playing time while Blake was still with the team. It even led to Coach Nate McMillan playing a 3-guard rotation with Roy, Blake, and Miller playing at the same time. The acquisition of Gerald Wallace at the trade deadline was a steal for the Blazers. They have a scary wing rotation with Batum, Matthews, Wallace, and Fernandez constantly bringing energy, hustle, and scoring.

Prediction: Dallas in 7

This is a series that could go either way, really. But someone has to win. I think ultimately, Dallas would win this one out only because of Jason Kidd’s hunger. He knows his window is closing, and with a looming lockout next season, he’s already contemplating retirement. With that in mind, he may be thinking that this would be his last shot at winning the big one. Still, Portland is a very dangerous team, and Dallas has always been the favorite top seed to be upset by a lower seeded team. They’ve built a reputation of being a really good regular season team, but they haven’t done much to prove to critics that they’re just as good a team in the postseason. But defensive identity that Tyson Chandler brings to the team may probably be the biggest difference in this particular postseason. Shawn Marion will have his work cut out for him chasing around Portland’s wings, which may still swing the series in favor of Portland.

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (5) Denver Nuggets

Roster:

   OKLAHOMA                                                                     DENVER

PG Russel Westbrook                                    PG Ty Lawson
SG Thabo Sefolosha                                      SG Aaron Aflalo
SF Kevin Durant                                            SF Danilo Gallinari              
PF Serge Ibaka                                              PF Kenyon Martin
C Kendrick Perkins                                         C Nene

The Bench 
 
C Nazi Mohammed                                         G Raymond Felton
G/F James Harden                                           F Wilson Chandler
G Eric Maynor                                                C Kosta Koufos
C Byron Mullens                                             F Gary Forbes
G Daequan Cook                                            G J.R. Smith
G Nate Robinson                                            C Chris Andersen
G Royal Ivey                                                  C Timofrey Mozgov
C Cole Aldrich                                                F Al Harrington
F Nick Collison                                               F Melvin Ely

Key Players: Kevin Durant/Russell Westbrook, Ty Lawson/Kenyon Martin

Watch out for: Kendrick Perkins, J.R. Smith

Season series: Oklahoma City won, 3-1

How the roster stacks up:

David Aldridge pointed out in his Morning Tip in NBA.com that Russell Westbrook somehow “hurt” teammate Kevin Durant’s chances at winning an MVP award this season by simply being spectacular. If I were in KD’s shoes, I’d take not winning the individual award if it means more team success on their part. And more team success is expected from this team with Kendrick Perkins bringing the muscle they lacked last year when they pushed the top seeded Lakers to their limit and needed a timely tip in from Pau Gasol to overcome the upstart Thunder team. James Harden has been brilliant whenever his number is called. Thabo Sefolosha is a player that the Thunder management has had their eyes on since he made himself available at the draft board and they are getting what they expected from him. Eric Maynor was one of the good pickups the Jazz had last year and his departure made then-star Deron Williams wonder about the direction the team is going to. Nate Robinson is a bit of a Westbrook clone, minus the D; he’s undersized, but explosive on the offense. Daequan Cook was a one-time 3-point shootout winner, and he was had his spots back in his Miami days. Cole Aldrich is a solid rookie pickup, and Nick Collison is still a reliable 4. Serge Ibaka is playing his natural 4 spot, which changes the interior makeup of the Thunder.

The Nuggets were expected to drop following the departure of franchise player Carmelo Anthony. But surprise! They’ve locked up the 5^th seed in the West, and won more games than New York post-trade. I’m not sure who in NBA.com pointed it out, but Kenyon Martin has apparently rose to the occasion when the team needed a leader. The Nuggets not only lost their franchise player in the trade, they also lost a couple of veteran voices in the locker room in Chauncey Billups and Anthony Carter. But their desire to win was only fueled even more with critics saying their team is going to the dumps. Danilo Gallinari is still a solid piece to build around on. Wilson Chandler is a young, athletic player who can man both forward spots and effectively fill it with defense and some range in offense. Aaron Afflalo carried the scoring load for the team when they needed it at some points in the season. Nene has emerged as a solid inside presence, as he has always been when healthy. Chris Andersen, likewise, provides the energy they need off the bench. Raymond Felton was playing an all-star caliber season pre-trade, and it really doesn’t matter if he and Ty Lawson interchange at the starting point guard spot because the team doesn’t really lose anything at that position. Gary Forbes also had his moments in the regular season, so the team knows that he will contribute when called upon. And how can we forget that J.R. Smith is on their team? Starting or off the bench, Smith generates excitement, flair, swagger, and energy that contributes greatly to their team’s success. Al Harrington is also a nice stretch 4 that could create some matchup problems with his ability to shoot outside, but won’t help too much on defense and rebounds with him constantly hanging around the perimeter.

Prediction: Oklahoma in 7

This is another series that could go either way, but I’m going with the home team here. The Nuggets can upset anybody at the level that they’re playing right now, but I don’t think their talent and momentum is enough to upset the more favored Thunder. I say more favored because while Denver has no legit superstar in their lineup, the Thunder has two. And while the Pistons of 2003 (?) showed how to win against a star-studded team (Kobe, Shaq, Payton, and Malone) without a legit superstar, what I think the Nuggets lack that the Pistons of old had is team identity. The Pistons of old was a defensive-oriented team, they win with defense. Right now, the Nuggets may have one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league, but they are just a bunch of scrappy players who play really hard to win. While “scrappy” may be an identity, I don’t think it’s enough to carry them out of the first round. Besides, many believed that the Thunder was only one big piece in the middle away from upsetting the Lakers last season. Now that they got that big piece in Kendrick Perkins, there should be no doubt that the Thunder is in for a deep playoff run. I may be wrong again with this prediction, but for certain, this would be one of the most exciting matchups in the first round of the playoffs.