411 2007 NBA Opening Round Playoffs Roundtable
Posted by Sean Garmer on 04.22.2007
Come join the staff as we discuss who will win the eight match-ups and advance to the next round of the NBA Playoffs. Can the Bulls get revenge on the Heat? Will Don Nelson get the best of the Mavs? And can Kobe carry his team past the Suns? All of that and more, inside.
2007 NBA Playoffs Roundtable
* Means if necessary, and all TV times are Eastern time zone*
Let's Meet the contributors
First, we got a Baseball guy that writes in the Sports section with a column called Chutes and Ladders Please, say hello to Ken Schmidt
Our resident Basketball man, Rob Bonnette sheds a little light on his picks here, but to get his full thoughts read his newest Points in the Paint
Even a Football writer is into the mix here. Known for throwing out his football knowledge, Randy Isbelle has shown that in a few debates that knows his sports.
Video Games play an integral part in getting Basketball out to the masses. Cory Moore joins us from the Games section to share a little insight on the playoffs. Don't forget to check out his column Fun Factor If anything, this week's should bring back some fond Basketball memories.
Only one person can show you how to throw Curveballs and Sliders here at 411, and that would be Jared Marcus He did an NCAA Tourney preview earlier in the year, so you know, he had to be game for this.
Goodness, even NASCAR shows itself on this roundtable. Greg Kentz is always happy to share his thoughts on the races every Sunday with his column Raceday
Well you knew that we wouldn't be able to have one of these without someone from the wrestling section on it. Sat always represents along with his buddy Uncle Trunx with a column High/Low Road He always seems to be a part of a Sports roundtable, so don't take what he says lightly.
The only double sports guy on this panel Neil Borenstein Brings us his thoughts on the MLB and NHL weekly. He says that the NHL has the most exciting playoffs, and I might have to agree.
Dan Owen is a busy man around the Sports section. He does various roundtables, the sports news report, and his own Baseball column 90 Feet from home Goodness that's a lot, but I'm glad he joined us for the NBA roundtable as well.
I hope this person doesn't get political on us here, straight from 411 politics, Brandon Crow to share his thoughts on the playoffs. First I must point out that he does a very good job on his own in sharing his views in his political column The Murmur of Crow He shares some true statements about the tragedy that occurred at Virginia Tech this past week.
Finally, I'm hosting this thing, and come to you from the Games section. I'm just a big sports fan at heart, that hopes to be a Soccer broadcaster one day. Anyhow, my name is Sean Garmer
Let's get on with it, shall we. We start with the Western Conference match-ups. I would like to point out that all these statements were written before any of the games played yesterday.
Western Conference
1. Dallas Mavericks vs. 8. Golden State Warriors
Season Series Winner: Golden State (3-0)
Game Schedule
Game 1: Sunday, April 22 @ DAL, 9:30
Game 2: Wednesday, April 25 @ DAL, 9:30
Game 3: Friday, April 27 @ GSW, 10:30
Game 4: Sunday, April 29 @ GSW, 10:00
* Game 5: Tuesday, May 1 @ DAL
* Game 6: Thursday, May 3 @ GSW
* Game 7: Saturday, May 5 @ DAL
Ken Schmidt Don't take this playoff series too lightly because everyone is picking Dallas to finally pick up a championship and Dirk for MVP. Let's look at the most overwhelming number in this series; Golden State was undefeated this season against Dallas. Impressive indeed, it's going to be a battle of the Nelson offenses and should prove to be pretty high scoring. The X-factor of the series though is going to be the most underrated player in the game, Josh Howard. I want to pull the trigger on a huge upset here but I just can't, I mean Dallas was beaten twice because of Mickael Petrus and that's not going to happen again. I just think that Josh Howard can lock down on Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis will play well but not as good as Jason Terry when it comes to running a team.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-2)
Rob Bonnette: Don't believe the hype on Golden State; the Mavs are ready for war and aren't going to lay around here. Get out the broom.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-0)
Randy Isbelle: Golden State swept the season series against the Mavericks this year, and pose a small threat to Dallas in the playoffs. Dallas just seems too strong, however, and should be able to take care of this in at most 6 games.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Cory Moore: The Golden State Warriors return to the playoffs after 13 long, excruciating years. Don Nelson has applied his own style of small ball to the likes of Baron Davis, Al Harrington, and Stephen Jackson. The formula worked well enough through the season, but Dallas head coach Avery Johnson knows Nellie well. After all, he was his apprentice before taking the head job as the Mavericks just a few short years ago. Both teams can play up-tempo, but Dallas has a size and strength advantage, not to mention a league MVP candidate in Dirk Nowitzki.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Jared Marcus: Congrats to the Warriors for ending the longest playoff drought in the NBA, unfortunately their stay won't be very long though. The Warriors do seem to be a popular upset pick based on the idea that Don Nelson knows the Mavs and Avery Johnson like the back of his hand, but people are forgetting that he is still Don Nelson. The Warriors have Baron Davis, Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson, but the Mavs have much more size, much more playoff experience and Dirk Nowitzki.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-2)
Greg Kentz: I can't justify taking Golden State. I'd dig an upset because I'm sure the thought of Stephen Jackson kissing the championship trophy would keep David Stern up a night or two. Relax Mr. Stern, the dorky white guy Dirk will lead his team through this series fairly easily. Although, now you can think about Mark Cuban and the trophy.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Sat: The Golden State Warriors have played the Dallas Mavericks very well this season, so there is hope for the Warriors. However, the Mavericks are just too dominant and they are the best team in the league. Add the fact that this is the Warrior's first time in the playoffs in thirteen years and that pretty much seals the deal. The one thing that I am looking forward to is seeing if Don Nelson knows enough about the Mavericks to actual beat them. Again, I don't see it happening, but it should be an interesting series.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Neil Borenstein: I don't get it. The Dallas Mavericks were the best team in the NBA throughout the course of the entire season, and all of a sudden they're going to bail out in the first round to a team that hasn't seen the postseason in over a decade because of a coach and success against them during the year? I can't call upset special here. This is a no-brainer, in my opinion, and the hype going Golden State's way based on a possibility of dethroning the league's best team in the first round is a bit overdone. The Warriors have some good players and might make games interesting, but they're not even remotely going to cause Dallas to panic.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Dan Owen: Honestly, if I was going to pick one match up that the Mavericks could struggle with, it would be this one. And the key to the series lies squarely on one man's shoulders. Dirk Nowitzki? No. Baron Davis? Nope. The man with the most power in this series is none other than Golden State Warriors' head coach Don Nelson. He knows the Mavs better than anyone in the league, and he coached Dirk Nowitzki into the player he is today. That means that Nelson should know hoe to shut Dirk down. You might be thinking that it won't matter, that the Mavericks have too much talent to be stopped by a lowly 8 seed. Just take a look at the regular series meetings this year. Golden State won by 3 points, then 17 points, and then a whopping 29 points. It is true that in the last game the Mavericks were sitting some of their best players, but still, that is a trend that doesn't bode well for the best team in the West. However, with all of that said, there is a difference between playoff and regular season basketball games. Guys like Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, and Josh Howard are going to elevate their game and make Golden State decide whether to let the trio keep scoring or face Dirk one on one. Caught somewhere in the middle, this series is going to be over pretty quickly.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Brandon Crow: The Mavericks have the NBA's best record this year at 67-15. The Warriors, in contrast, hold a 41-40 record, barely above .500. But don't be fooled just by the record, or by the fact that we've allheard about how great Dallas is this year. Look at their series this year. The Warriors were the only team that beat the Mavs in their three games. Additionally, the Warriors ended The Mavs' 17 game win streak back in March, plus, the Warriors are in the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. They are pumped and riding high. No, this is not going to be the cake walk people are expecting. The Warriors will put up a fight.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-3)
Sean Garmer: I may lose credibility here, but I'd rather be honest, than make it seem otherwise. I live in the Dallas area and I am one of the biggest Mavs fans around. However, I plan to look at all the matchups as objectively as I can. Just because I truly believe that Dallas has what it takes to make the finals again, hopefully, does not discount what I say.
Anyone that is fooled into thinking that Golden State dominating in the regular season will conflict here, are way, into the Nellie hype. Let me give you a few reasons why those three game results should be taken with a grain of salt.
The first game was part of that 0-4 streak the Mavs had to start the season. After that, they went undefeated for the rest of the month.
The second game snapped the Mavs 17 game win streak on a night that almost every single player on the Mavericks had an off night. That won't happen to the Mavericks in the playoffs.
The final game Golden State was playing against most of Dallas's bench players, not to mention, Warriors were still trying to get in the Playoffs and had a lot more to play for.
Now that we have all that stuff out of the way let's get to the match-up. Golden State under Nellie runs a very similar style to the old Mavericks team playing with virtually four guards and a forward at Center for most of the game. Golden State is also pretty deep going to about nine players that can all play. However, they lack that physical presence inside that killed Nellie in Dallas. This also reminds me, of the Suns last year without Amare, and what happened in that series? Mavericks won in convincing fashion at times. Speed kills, but the Mavericks can run with Golden State, and the Warriors don't have the dynamic shooters that Phoenix has, to take advantage, (they have more scorers than anything.) However, they do have one of the best coaches ever, who used to coach this team, and knows how to handle Dirk. He will be running crazy plays on the Mavs all day to try to outdo them. However, if you give Avery Johnson seven games to figure you out, he will find a way to punish the other team. I've watched this team all year and the Mavs will look to cement that they are truly on a mission to reach the finals once again. This would be the series to do it, as they are probably going to be facing Houston in the next round. Mavs are ten deep and add in the six free fouls they have with Kevin Willis as number 11 and Mavericks are one of the deepest teams in the league. This series will be very entertaining, with lots of subplots for the media to eat up. I expect the Mavericks to be dominant and end this as soon as they can. I love that Golden State has broken their playoff drought, and I wouldn't be surprised if this goes even seven games, but Dallas will have a killer mindset, and trust me it will be evident.
Winner: Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
2. Phoenix Suns vs. 7. LA Lakers
Season Series Winner: Phoenix Suns (3-1)
Game 1: Sunday, April 22 @ PHX, 3:00
Game 2: Tuesday, April 24 @ PHX, 10:30
Game 3: Thursday, April 26 @ LAL, 10:30
Game 4: Sunday, April 29 @ LAL, 3:30
* Game 5: Wednesday, May 2 @ PHX
* Game 6: Friday, May 4 @ LAL
* Game 7: Sunday, May 6 @ PHX
Ken Schmidt: Did the West rig all the first round match-ups so we would get the best four? With all the tanking going on in the NBA is it too far fetched to believe this to be true? Unless Steve Nash gets hurt L.A. doesn't have a prayer in this one. I don't care if Kobe can score 40 points in every game and very possibly will, they don't have a big man to shut down the three incredible big guys for the Suns, Diaw, Stoudemire, and Marion. Each of these three will dominate the post all series long, and L.A. won't be around too long. Sorry Kobe, try again next year.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-1)
Rob Bonnette: Suns at full strength against a sorry Laker team. No contest.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-1)
Randy Isbelle: Kobe was able to carry this injury stricken team all the way to the playoffs, but even if they are close to full strength, they have no chance to keep up with the high-powered Suns offense. Steve Nash could win his 3rd consecutive MVP, and will show why in this series.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-2)
Cory Moore: A rematch from last year's opening round, there are many storylines involved in this match-up. Steve Nash's possible 3-peat as MVP, Amare Stoudamire's return, Kobe and Raja Bell's feud, and the Lakers late season skid are just some of the reasons to watch how this one unfolds. Ultimately, I think Phoenix is just too good to ignore. If they could do it with a depleted team last year, they can certainly achieve more with this caliber squad.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-2)
Jared Marcus: A rematch from last year's first round where we saw the Suns defeat the Lakers in 7 games after the rest of the Lakers quit on Kobe Bryant. Make no mistake, Kobe will be the best player on the floor in this series, unfortunately for him his supporting cast is even worse than it was a year ago. I know it is pretty much the same group of players, it's just that none of them are playing as well as they did last season. The Suns on the other hand are even better than they were a year ago as Amare Stoudemire missed the last Lakers series after knee surgery. Kobe may put on a show or two, but the Suns are just the far superior team.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-1)
Greg Kentz: Kobe went a long ways to making me not hate him this season, and I feel he deserves a better supporting cast than he has gotten. Then again, he wanted Shaq out, and I'm sure long suffering stars on mediocre teams (such as AI and KG) just laugh at what Kobe tossed away. Phoenix on the other hand, is the pick. They MUST win it all this year, it won't be long until it starts to come apart, so the time to take the title is now. Amare's back and Kurt Thomas is healthy for this year's run, so I gotta take the Suns. I don't beleive Steve Nash will accept anything short of a finals birth.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-2)
Sat: The Los Angeles Lakers managed to lead the Phoenix Suns three games to one and they eventually lost in game seven. But, I don't see that happening this year. The Suns are better this year because they will have Amare Stoudmaire and the Lakers are actually worse this year. The only hope that the Lakers have his for Kobe Bryant to have a monster series.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-1)
Neil Borenstein: I never really want to bet against the Los Angeles Lakers, mainly because I don't want to bet against Kobe Bryant. But the Phoenix Suns have too many weapons, all of which are healthy, to toss at the Lakers, while Los Angeles really only has Kobe. I just don't think the Lakers have enough to combat what Phoenix has to offer. And I think the Suns have more than enough to combat anything Bryant tosses their way. I'm not even sure this series is going to be as good as last year's opening round series between the two teams.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-1)
Dan Owen: A lot of people have high expectations for this series since it is a rematch of a first round match up last year that had the Lakers taking a surprising 3-1 lead before Phoenix put them away in 7 games. Unfortunately for those people, these are not the same teams as last year. Phoenix is a lot more well-rounded, if only because of the fact that Amare Stoudemire is back and playing well. The Suns also added big man Kurt Thomas, who along with Stoudemire give the team a much improved inside presence that will keep Kobe from scoring a ton in the lane and force the Lakers to score on the perimeter. The Lakers, on the other hand, have taken a step back. Their role players, such as Smush Parker, are not where they were a year ago. Yes, Kobe Bryant has elevated his game to an unbelievable level, but against quality competition like Phoenix, that's not going to be enough. Phoenix is also coming with a bit more focus, since head coach Mike D'Antoni has been emphasizing a quick start in the series after last season's two straight seven game series leading into the tough conference championship against the Mavs. The Suns believe that winning the series quickly this year will give them a lot better of a shot to beat Dallas.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-0)
Brandon Crow: The Lakers are my team. I love them and have been a fan for over twenty years! Loyal as loyal can be, even when they sucked back in the Van Exel days. Phoenix, though they play basketball the way the game is intended to be played, by default, become the hated ones, especially after what happened last year in the playoffs. Despite all this, as a realist, I have to admit that the Lakers, in present form, have no shot at stealing this series and moving beyond the first round. They may have overachieved in the beginning, but they are a capable team. But somewhere along the way, they lost their way. The Lakers of the last few weeks—the ones with no interior defense, with no team defense, with no one stepping up except Kobe Bryant, with no point guard—will fall and fall swiftly to the hated Suns.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-1)
Sean Garmer: Well, I can tell you that this match-up won't be as intriguing as last year's match-up. Lakers have had way, too many injuries this season to ever get comfortable as a team. At one point, they lost Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Kwame Brown, and Vladimir Radmonivic. They just got Kwame back a couple of games ago and they still don't have someone that can stop Amare or Shawn Marion. Kobe had to carry his team on his back at the end of the stretch run and came close to missing the playoffs. Kobe is good enough to win you two games on his own. Aside from that, the Suns have too much for the Lakers to handle. Suns roll in this one. Also you have to think that the Suns are looking ahead to a possible long series with the Lakers, and they don't want to be tired out like last year.
Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-1)
3. San Antonio Spurs vs. 6. Denver Nuggets
Season Series Winner: San Antonio Spurs (2-0) * One of those games was won when Carmelo was serving his 15 game suspension *
Game 1: Sunday, April 22 @ SAS, 7:00
Game 2: Wednesday, April 25 @ SAS, 7:00
Game 3: Saturday, April 28 @ DEN, 8:00
Game 4: Monday, April 30 @ DEN
* Game 5: Wednesday, May 2 @ SAS
* Game 6: Friday, May 4 @ DEN
* Game 7: Sunday, May 6 @ SAS
Ken Schmidt: Tim Duncan is back to MVP form this season and led my fantasy squad to a near championship. Oh, let me thank Boston for the tanking this season as I had to finish without Pierce and Jefferson. I would've won it all. Duncan might deserve an MVP this season but I notion we cancel all individual player rewards and give bonuses involved with them back to the fans, this was the worst season of basketball I've ever been alive for. The game is a disgrace but at least San Anton is still the same hard-nosed championship contender they always are. Iverson and Melo will score but I don't see Nene or Camby doing much offensively and you know Tony Parker and Manu will own the tempo.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-1)
Rob Bonnette: Will be fun to watch; Denver's lack of defense eventaully does them in.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-2)
Randy Isbelle: Many are worried that after the Tim Duncan incident, that the referees may play a part in the Spurs run towards a championship. I say, don't overlook the new combination of AI and Carmelo, who could surprise the Spurs if they are too involved with the referees. The Nuggets could test the Spurs, but in the end, it will be San Antonio moving on.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-3)
Cory Moore: The Nuggets were supposed to take off after the Allen Iverson trade, but they've been mediocre and streaky at best. ‘The Answer' has shown he can step up in big playoff games, but has rarely had enough help to achieve his lofty goals. Will ‘Melo finally be the key? If these two can produce big, the Nuggets could make it competitive. But I think one more year to develop chemistry set will do them good. The Spurs have way too much experience to collapse in the first round.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-1)
Jared Marcus: really, really, really want to pick the Nuggets here, but I just can't. The Nuggets have two of the game's best players in Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, but they have also been very inconsistent since A.I. joined the team. The Spurs on the other hand are the epitome of consistency and their defensive prowess could frustrate Carmelo and A.I. to the point that they become very ineffective offensively. I still expect a very strong showing from both of the Denver stars and expect this series to be much closer than most think, but the Spurs are just too solid to bet against.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-3)
Greg Kentz: I love AI, but I'm pretty sure Denver's screwed here. Tim Duncan is the most underrated player in NBA history. He gets no love because he's a nerd. If Timmy had just a wee bit of AI's thuggish nature he'd be the league's biggest star. Instead he's often overlooked by the younger NBA audience. Anyway, as much as I'd support the upset, SA wins in short order, let's say 4-1 and that's because Iverson is a solid bet to win a game on his own late in the series once he decides playing second fiddle isn't working.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-2)
Sat: The Denver Nuggets have played pretty well in the past few weeks and they have a dynamic duo in Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. I still don't see them beating the San Antonio Spurs because they have a great team and they are experience. The Nuggets will manage to keep the games close.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-1)
Neil Borenstein: This series is definitely one of the tough ones to call in the Western Conference. You'd like to think a team boasting Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony as its two stars can go a long way in the playoffs. The Denver Nuggets are also riding a wave of momentum of sorts as winners of nine out of 10 games in April leading into the postseason. But, it's questionable as to whether the Nuggets are going to be able to stop a San Antonio Spurs squad still touting a roster with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs are team with a lot of playoff experience and one of the league's best defenses (contrary to the Nuggets, who have one of the league's best offenses). The Nuggets are a damn good team with a lot of weapons, but the Spurs have a way of proving that they are still a team to beat come postseason basketball.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-2)
Dan Owen: I was expecting a lot more out of Denver after the Allen Iverson trade. He and Carmelo did not form the unstoppable duo that the Nuggets were hoping for, and the result is a first round match up with the most playoff-experienced team in the league. In order for the Nuggets to win, they are going to need:
1) A big contribution from Marcus Camby.
2) Carmelo to play within himself and not let Bruce Bowen get under his skin.
3) Carmelo and AI to play big in the fourth quarter
4) J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza to hit the shots created by the Spurs double teaming of Melo or AI.
If that looks like a tough list of things to do, it is, especially against the Spurs. And I have a sneaking suspicion that the Spurs are going to come out with a little extra fire in their belly after the whole Tim Duncan-Joe Crawford debacle. This is gonna be a nice, quick series, and expect Tim Duncan to dominate the Nuggets.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-1)
Brandon Crow: This series will be fun to watch. The Spurs have been on a
tear as of late, after looking like a bunch of over-the-hill has-beens for long periods this season. The Nuggets have been plodding along like lost children (especially Carmelo Anthony) for most of the season, but then seemed to gel and come alive down the stretch. It looks like Iverson and Anthony are finally getting used to each other. Of all the first round battles, this series is the hardest to call. So I'll go with experience and the best fundamentalist in the game.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-2)
Sean Garmer: How much do you want to bet, San Antonio wishes they had played better earlier in the season, and avoided this series? Because Denver presents a big threat to their title hopes. Denver brings the formidable tandem of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson to the floor that will present some problems for the Spurs. Nene' has been playing well as of late and Marcus Camby will give Duncan problems. Don't forget about J.R. Smith too. The sad thing is that we have to worry about officials during this series due to the Joey Crawford deal. I really hope we don't have Refs screwing over any of these teams just to either get even with the League, the Spurs, or show bias towards the Spurs because they don't want to seem like they being unjust towards them. There again lies, the inherent conspiracy theories that always seem to plague this league. Back to the match-up, Spurs big three will be on in this series and the bench has been playing well. The biggest improvement I've seen is the addition of Francisco Elson that has given them size and speed that they missed last year. Nuggets will win a few games because Carmelo and A.I. will each have a big game, but the Spurs will ultimately shut them down. I expect this to be a tight series, but the Spurs will want to end this quick because they will have a tough match ahead of them.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-2)
4. Utah Jazz vs. 5. Houston Rockets (Rockets have Homecourt Advantage)
Season Series Winner: Utah Jazz (3-1) * Rockets only win was without Yao, and the final game Houston did not play Tracy McGrady or Yao Ming. *
Game 1: Jazz 75, Rockets 84
Game 2: Monday, April 23 @ HOU, 9:30
Game 3: Thursday, April 26 @ UTA, 9:00
Game 4: Saturday, April 28 @ UTA, 10:30
* Game 5: Monday, April 30 @ HOU
* Game 6: Thursday, May 3 @ UTA
* Game 7: Saturday, May 5 @ HOU
Ken Schmidt: Tracy McGrady is one of the best players in game and if you don't believe me just look at the numbers when Yao went down, they kept winning without him. They won 20 games when Yao was out for 32 games, that's pretty good for missing your franchise center. Utah has great role players and it should be an interesting match up of two completely opposite centers, Okur's sniper outside shooting and Yao's huge presence down low. I just think that T-Mac will own these games. Expect low scores with 90 being enough to win every game.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-2)
Rob Bonnette: Tough series, but T-Mac and Yao carry the day.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-2)
Randy Isbelle: Utah just seems to be missing one piece to the puzzle to me, add that to the fact that they have to stop Tracy Mcgrady and have no answer for Yao Ming. It will be very difficult for the Jazz to keep in this series.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-1)
Cory Moore: This, I think will be the best match-up of the West first round. On one side, you have Jerry Sloan, a coach who has been to the NBA Finals, but who has had to mold a young team under his old-school philosophy in recent years. On the other hand, you have Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, and the Rockets, who have not advanced past the first round in several years. Homecourt will play a major role in this one. While it'll be close, I think this is finally the year for T-Mac to get his due and reach the the second round.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-3)
Jared Marcus: Despite being the lower seed the Rockets have home court advantage here since they had the better regular season record. I mention that because this figures to be an extremely competitive series and home court could end up being the difference. Especially considering how poorly Utah has played on the road as of late. Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur have had great seasons for the Jazz, but the Rockets have a healthy Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, who is once again one of the top five players in the league. Plus, when in doubt, I always go with Jeff Van Gundy. Expect the home team to win all seven games in this series.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-3)
Greg Kentz: I'll take Houston, but I can't tell if its because a healthy Houston squad is a threat to anyone, or because you just can't get into Utah's team since they aren't flashy and they're small market. Either way gimme Houston in 7.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-3)
Sat: The Utah Jazz have struggled down the stretch, while the Rockets have played better down the stretch. The Rockets also have two of the best players in the league. That should be enough to beat the Utah Jazz.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-2)
Neil Borenstein: : I agree with most people that this will be the most competitive series in the Western Conference. This series can really go either way. But, at the end of the day, in a first round matchup this close, I'm going to give the advantage to the team with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. The Jazz have the tools to keep this thing close and, will definitely give the Rockets a run for their money, which should fatigue them a bit in round two. I think having the big man at center and one of the best players in the league in McGrady leading the way is going to give Houston a first round victory.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-3)
Dan Owen: Interestingly enough, in this match up the lower seed has home court advantage. I don't know if I'll ever fully understand the point of giving the division winners the top four seeds in the playoffs if you aren't going to give them home court advantage. In the MLB, the Wild Card team can have a better record than the team they are playing, but they still don't get home field advantage. Same with the NFL. Oh well. Anyway, this is an interesting match up. The Rockets really impressed me with how they played without Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming for periods of time, and I think that the experience some of their bench players got in filling those scoring responsibilities will really show up in the playoffs. The Jazz kind of backed into the playoffs, and I think Yao will give Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur fits, and it all adds up to a Rockets victory and slight upset (if you go only by seedings).
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-2)
Brandon Crow: Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle has an interesting bit
of trivia for us regarding the NBA playoff bond of the Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz: " The Rockets beat the Jazz in both playoff runs to the championship." The Jazz beat the Rockets in each season they went to the finals. The Rockets have Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, and hold a 52-30 record; the Jazz have Andrei Kirelinko and Carlos Boozer, and holds a 51-31 record. These two teams are nearly identical in their record, and to a degree, their style of game. However, the Rockets have home court and a big man who's been putting on a dominant performance as of late.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-2)
Sean Garmer: This one is a hard series to predict because Utah can be really good when they have everyone healthy. They did send three guys to the All-Star game in Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur. It will be interesting to see if they put Yao on Okur because that would mean Yao would have to come out and guard him on the perimeter, where Okur is deadly. Rockets have lots of Playoff experience and that could be key here. However, Tracy McGrady has a huge monkey on his back, he's never gotten out of the first round. Utah is a young inexperienced team (except for Derek Fisher,) but they've played well this season. Utah goes about ten deep too. This one is a hard one to predict, I have feeling this a year for breaking individual issues. Peyton Manning got his team for the Superbowl for the first time. Tracy McGrady will get to the 2nd round of the Playoffs for the first time too.
Winner: Houston Rockets (4-2)
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons vs. 8. Orlando Magic
Season Series Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Game 1: Magic 92, Pistons 100
Game 2: Monday, April 23 @ DET, 7:00
Game 3: Thursday, April 26 @ ORL, 8:00
Game 4: Saturday, April 28 @ ORL, 3:00
* Game 5: Tuesday, May 1 @ DET
* Game 6: Thursday, May 3 @ ORL
* Game 7: Saturday, May 5 @ DET
Ken Schmidt: The West rigged all their playoff matches to be incredible, and the East rigged theirs to be romps (minus the 4/5 match-up). Orlando will not stand a chance, they might hang in one game until the end, I didn't say win, they might hang in one game and make it close. Pistons won 4 out of 4 this season against Orlando and expect them to make it 8 out of 8 in the post season.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Rob Bonnette: A big time mismatch; the Pistons win every matchup, even at center. Break out the broom.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Randy Isbelle: Congratulations, Orlando, you made the playoffs. Your reward...the Detroit Pistons.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Cory Moore: With the loss of Ben Wallace, the Pistons were in transition early in the year, trying to establish a new identity under second-year coach Flip Saunders. Then came the signing of Chris Webber, who was bought out by the Sixers, and the whole dynamic changed. The Pistons cruised after the All-Star break, and I think it'll carry into the playoffs. Orlando has a lot of talent that could match up well, but their brightest stars (Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson) are too inexperienced to really compete with the new-age ‘bad boys.'
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-1)
Jared Marcus: There is no doubt that the Pistons are the class of the East. They have depth, experience and probably the best overall starting five in the NBA. The Magic have Dwight Howard and not much else and are really lucky to have slipped into the final playoff spot. I know they played well at the end of the season, but they still are no match for the Pistons. This should be a boring series, although it will be interesting to see how Chris Webber fairs in his first meaningful playoff appearance since 2004.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Greg Kentz: While the west gives you four quality match-ups, the East match-ups seem more lopsided. Take this one, the Pistons will probably sweep the series with little trouble, but I will be glued to the set rooting for the Magic. I hate Chris Webber, I hope he gets stomped first round, and possibly suffers a serious injury. Otherwise Detroit is a hard nosed squad that I really liked, and they seriously overmatch a young Magic team.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-1)
Sat: The Orlando Magic are a good young team, but they are no match for the top team in the East. Detroit has one of the best starting five in the league, which will help lead Detroit to a sweep of the Magic.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Neil Borenstein: Dwight Howard is a great talent in the NBA. But Howard is not going to be enough to stop the best team in the Eastern Conference. The Detroit Pistons might as well have a bye this round instead of playing the Orlando Magic because this series doesn't even give Orlando a chance. This is almost as easy a prediction for me as the 1 vs. 8 in the West.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Dan Owen: Can you say "yawn"? I can, and you will be if you are stuck watching this series. The Magic are so badly overmatched it's not even funny. Their best weapon against Detroit was the size they have in Dwight Howard and Darko Milicic, but now Milicic has an injured his foot, so there goes some of that advantage. Look for Chauncey Billups to have a particularly good series because Orlando does not match up well at the point guard position. I don't really no what else to say, other than this would be the best time to walk the dog or whatever else you might need to do that night.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Brandon Crow: After being knocked out by the Miami Heat last year, the Pistons
have come back without Ben Wallace and oddly enough, are still a powerhouse and probably the most consistent eastern team this year. They are, in the end, 53-29. The Orlando Magic has…a below .500 record at 40-42 and…um, Dwight Howard. Oh, and Darco Milicic, a former Piston. The Pistons swept the Magic 4-0 this season. This is not a difficult pick.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-0)
Sean Garmer: Detroit totally dominated this team in the regular season. Jameer Nelson is a streaky shooter and developing guard in the league. Dwight Howard is a very good player but he's still young, inexperienced, and he's been exposed when playing against real good teams. Detroit seems to be on a mission, they are the jewel of the East. Honestly, there is no way Detroit doesn't win here.
Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-1)
2. Cleveland Cavs vs. 7. Washington Wizards
Game 1: Sunday, April 22 @ CLE, 12:30
Game 2: Wednesday, April 25 @ CLE, 8:00
Game 3: Saturday, April 28 @ WAS, 5:30
Game 4: Monday, April 30 @ WAS
* Game 5: Wednesday, May 2 @ CLE
* Game 6: Friday, May 4 @ WAS
* Game 7: Sunday, May 6 @ CLE
Ken Schmidt: I just threw up in my mouth a little thinking about this matchup. Washington without Butler and Arenas is likes Sports Illustrated without the swimsuit edition, it's like Flavor of Love without Flavor Flav and just that psycho New York, it's like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the bread, it just isn't good. Washington was going to be a first round bye for whoever got matched up against them and winners are Cleveland. LeBron can win this series playing with one hand tied behind his back and I actually motion that they should make him play with one hand tied down to make it fair.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-0)
Rob Bonnette: Washington is at half strength and has lost 8 out of 10.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-0)
Randy Isbelle: Cleveland was able to get the job done and earn the 2nd seed, keeping them away from both Detroit and Miami until atleast the Conference Finals. Not only that, but the Cavs draw a Wizards team that is without their two big names.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-1)
Cory Moore: Before the injuries, I would've said the Wizards had a great chance in pulling the upset. Gilbert Arenas was having the best season of his career, and his supporting cast was reaping the benefits. With he and Caron Butler gone, however, the playoff hopes aren't so bright. LeBron, meanwhile, has his best supporting cast since he's been in Cleveland, and a focused Cavs team could easily steamroll over a depleted Washington squad.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-0)
Jared Marcus: Obviously this series would be a lot more interesting if Gilbert Arenas was playing, but he isn't. In addition, Washington will not have Caron Butler either, meaning this might not be much of a series at all. The Cavs do have star player LeBron James and that should be more than enough to get past the depleted Wizards. LeBron however has showed a disturbing tendency to take games off this season and it remains to be seen whether he will do so in the playoffs. The Wiz better hope that he does because that is the only chance they have to avoid being swept.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-1)
Greg Kentz: Without Gilbert who cares? This is a mismatch, and it could've been the Bulls' mismatch had they handled Jersey Wednesday night. The Bulls loss is Lebron's gain, as he can wait even longer before turning on the 'A' game he showed against Detroit last spring.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-0)
Sat: If the Washington Wizards had Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler then they might have had a shot, but without those two guys, they will get swept by the Cavs. The Cavaliers are really lucking to draw the Wizards with all of these injuries.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-0)
Neil Borenstein: Wow, did the Cleveland Cavaliers luck out or what? The Washington Wizards would have been a formidable opponent if they still had Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler in the lineup. But with those two players out, it's widely believed that the Wizards simply don't have a chance, something I most certainly agree with. It's a rough spot for Washington because this would be a nice series if it had its star players. But without them, I'm not even sure the Cavs are going to let up one game in this series. LeBron James, you may move on to the next round.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-0)
Dan Owen: Wow, this is going to be a great series. Gilbert Arenas is one of the most pure scorers in the game, and LeBron James is, well, LeBron James. Just getting to see Arenas face…wait, what was that. Arenas is injured??? Oh, well, that'll make this a tough series for the Wizards to beat, it's going to take a huge series from Caron Butler to…what's this, Butler is hurt too??? Yikes. Then the Wizards are going to have to turn to DeShawn Stevenson for their points. What does that mean? It means King James and his Cavaliers get to blow through the first round of the playoffs and get nice and rested for their second round match up.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-0)
Brandon Crow: Last year, this was the best first round series next to the Lakers/Suns, in my biased opinion. But seeing Arenas and James go at it in the ultimate game of one-ups-manship game after scintillating game was basketball at its best! Oh, how I yearn for yester year. This year, this series will be a total yawn. Washington will be without Arenas and Butler. It won't be very competitive.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-1)
Sean Garmer: Ok, Washington has lost 7 out of 9 as soon as Gilbert Arenas went down. The only two teams they beat were not going to the Playoffs and add in the factor of no Caron Butler either. This will be a cake walk for Cleveland.
Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-0)
3. Toronto Raptors vs. 6. New Jersey Nets
Season Series Tied (2-2)
Game 1: Nets 96, Raptors 91
Game 2: Tuesday, April 24 @ TOR, 7:00
Game 3: Friday, Apr. 27 @ NJN, 7:00
Game 4: Sunday, Apr. 29 @ NJN, 7:30
* Game 5: Tuesday, May 1 @ TOR
* Game 6: Friday, May 4 @ NJN
* Game 7: Sunday, May 6 @ TOR
Ken Schmidt: The feel good story of the year, Toronto wins the worst division in basketball history, congratulations guys, you're better than the Knicks, Sixers, and Celtics, three of the most atrocious teams in basketball history right now. Are they better than the Nets though? In the regular season, yes they are, but in the playoffs no they are not. No one on Toronto has ever been in a big NBA game in their lives, I mean if you play for Toronto usually you're on a joke of a team. Another interesting side story will be public enemy number one Vince Carter vs. his old team. I can't wait to hear the boos ring down and he uses their hatred to fire him up as he cans three pointer after three pointer.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-1)
Rob Bonnette: Upset special here. Vince and Jason Kidd are too much for the Raptors.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)
Randy Isbelle: Personally, I am a huge Jason Kidd fan, and I still feel like he is the 2nd best point guard in the game. That being said, I am going to take the Nets in this series and go on to challenge the Cavs in a tough one.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)
Cory Moore: This is perhaps one of the more difficult match-ups to figure out. Neither Toronto nor New Jersey has had much national exposure this year. Bosh has routinely dominated frontcourts in the East, but arguably his best roleplayer (Bargnani) has been benched for some time due to medical reasons. New Jersey's ‘Big 3' (Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson) aren't getting any younger, but I think they have enough firepower to beat a young Raptors team…even if the Nets do start Jason Collins and Mikki Moore.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)
Jared Marcus: Easily the most exciting first round match up this year for several reasons, most notably of course is the Vince Carter versus Toronto subplot. The Raptors fans absolutely hate Vince Carter to this day and as we have learned from the WWE, few fans are better at vocalizing their opinions than those in Toronto. The big key to this series for the Nets will be how Vinsanity responds to the negative fans. Will it knock him off his game or will he rise to the occasion? This is the biggest stage Carter has had to show off his game since the 2000 Slam Dunk contest and I don't expect him to disappoint. Plus, as good as Chris Bosh and T.J. Ford have become, they are still young and inexperienced, while Nets Point Guard Jason Kidd is still the best player in the series and will control the series from start to finish.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)
Greg Kentz This is as even as any of the series so far, its classic young guns versus old guard. Add to that the Vince bailing on Toronto storyline, and this should be a classic showdown. I'm going for youth since there has to be some type of karmic payback for Vince's quitting on Toronto.
Winner: Toronto Raptors (4-3)
Sat: The Toronto Raptors really surprised me this year. They are a good young team, but they won't be able to win this series because the Nets have too much talent and experience.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)
Neil Borenstein: This is a damn nice series in the Eastern Conference and easily one of the most entertaining. This kind of success is new for the Toronto Raptors, however, while Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter have postseason experience. In the end, I don't think you can discount the ability of New Jersey's top three, and though I know the young guns in Toronto are going to put up a nice fight, it won't be enough to grab a win in the first round. This will be close and this will be fun to watch, but the Nets just have that little bit extra that Toronto just doesn't have yet.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)
Dan Owen: Man, does it suck to be Toronto. They were all set to play the pathetic Wizards in the first round, but a Chicago Bulls loss to the New Jersey Nets on the alst day of the regular season gave them this match up instead. This is going to be a fun series to watch, especially if you like a lot of offense. The Raptors are the Eastern Division's version of the Phoenix Suns, they love to run the floor and play up-tempo. The key to their success this season has been that fact that most teams in the East don't like to play that style and the Raptors were able to get the tempo to where they, not the other team, wanted it. The bad news is that this is the worst match up the Raptors could have drawn in the first round. The thing that got the Nets into the playoffs was the fact that they were running the floor well and connecting on a lot of long outlet passes. So the Raptors either have to radically change their style and hope to control the tempo of the game or they have to go mano y mano with Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and the Nets. Given the Nets playoff experience and the fact that the Raptors are missing rookie sensation Jorge Garbajosa, and I'll take the upset. But the number one reason to watch this series is Vince Carter going up against his former team and it's fans.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)
Brandon Crow: The upstart and young Raptors will challenge the aging and flailing Nets. Besides the fact that Vince Carter once played for the Raptors—no, no, wait, he didn't play for the Raptors—even by his own admission, he "phoned in" plenty of games. Is it just me or are the Nets the ultimate screw ups in the NBA right now? They have Kidd, Carter and Jefferson. They play in a pretty weak division, and they still only manage to pull a 41-41 record. Some achievement, guys…
Winner: Toronto Raptors (4-2)
Sean Garmer: A very experienced team against the most inexperienced team in the League when it comes to the Playoffs. Also, you have to wonder how good Toronto actually is, considering they play in the worst division in the NBA. They have Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford and the dangerous Jose Calderon. However, they are playing a team with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson on it. Those three on their own are hard to stop and will have to all play big for New Jersey to win. Mikki Moore and Bostjan Nachbar are two other key players as well. Toronto has some other players such as Anthony Parker and Andrei Bargnani that will need to produce, because if not expect New Jersey to roll here. I think this will be close but not that close.
Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)
4. Miami Heat vs. 5. Chicago Bulls (Bulls have Homecourt advantage)
Season Series Winner: Chicago Bulls (3-1) * Shaq did not play in two of those games. Miami lost both of those *
Game 1: Heat 91, Bulls 96
Game 2: Tuesday, April 24 @ CHI, 8:00, TNT
Game 3: Friday, April 27 @ MIA, 8:00, ESPN
Game 4: Sunday, April 29 @ MIA, 1:00, ABC
* Game 5: Tuesday, May 1 @ CHI
* Game 6: Thursday, May 3 @ MIA
* Game 7: Saturday, May 5 @ CHI
Ken Schmidt: This match-up will make up for all the other piss poor match ups in the East. The mind is telling me that Chicago will take this, all signs are pointing that way. Wade is hurt, Hinrich is finally healthy, the Heat were too inconsistent this season. My heart is telling me to not forget what Wade did last season. Here is how I decided on my winner, the season series was won by Chicago 3-1, however each team dominated the other once by over 30 points in a single victory. The Heat's big 103-70 win came when Shaq decided to just take control of a game and score 24 with 9 boards and 8 assists. Don't forget that Shaq can still take over a whole basketball game and Dwayne Wade has the most intangibles of any player in the NBA. This one will go down to the wire.
Winner: Miami Heat (4-3)
Rob Bonnette: Toughest first round series in the East; Shaq asserts himself to pull the Heat through.
Winner: Miami Heat (4-3)
Randy Isbelle: Chicago choked against the Nets in the final game of the regular season to get knocked down to the 5th seed, where they now get to take on the Heat. However, Miami is not the same with out Dwayne Wade at 100%, and could be the surprising fall in the first round. The main problem for Chicago is how are they going to survive against both the Heat and the Pistons, just to make it to the Conference Championship.
Winner: Chicago Bulls (4-2)
Cory Moore: This will be the best opening round series in the East, and yes, you can quote me on that. Chicago started off strong in the season, but were eventually edged by the Cavaliers and dipped all the way to 5th. So the East goes. Chicago is unbelievably deep, and has a lot going for them with Big Ben in the middle. A lot of critics say Miami will be bounced early, but remember they've climbed to the top of the mountain before. All of the key parts are back from last year, and this year's key addition of Eddie Jones has proven he can step up in the playoffs. It'll be closely contested, but if Wade can give them good minutes for at least 30 minutes a night, Miami has the experience to edge over the Baby Bulls.
Winner: Miami Heat (4-3)
Jared Marcus: The Cavs edged the Bulls for the 2 seed on the last day of the season and boy what a difference a day makes. Instead of getting a Wizards team missing their top two players, the Bulls get the defending champions complete with one of the top 10 players in the league and one of the top 10 players of all-time. I love this Bulls team, I really do. They are deep, they are young, they are athletic. They can shoot, they can dribble, they can rebound. They just have no one that can take over a game like Dwayne Wade. And no one that can contend with Shaq, even the older, slower version. Sure Wade has been hurt all season and will be banged up for this series, but he was last year as well and we all know how that turned out. Plus you can never discount Wade's "ability" to limp up and down the court like his leg is broken and then all of a sudden blow past three defenders and dunk the ball only to be found limping again two minutes later.
Winner: Miami Heat (4-3)
Greg Kentz: This series comes down to one question for me, "How much does Wade have in him for this playoff run?" A stiff contender in Chicago will answer that question quickly, plus we get a Shaq vs. Big Ben rematch from the past few years (although its a slowed down rematch). I really like the Bulls team to go far if they survive this challenge, but until he's eliminated I won't bet against D-Wade.
Winner: Miami Heat (4-2)
Sat: This is an intriguing match, which I could see going either way. Dwayne Wade is one of the best players in the league and he will make life difficult for the Bulls. Shaquille O' Neal played great without Wade, so that has to have the Bulls worried. The Bulls are a talented team, so they will also make it a difficult series on the Heat. I see this going to a game seven with Dwayne Wade leading the Heat into the next round.
Winner: Miami Heat (4-3)
Neil Borenstein: So, the Chicago Bulls screwed themselves over in this one by not beating the Nets on the last day of the regular season. They went from an easy-as-can-be matchup against the Wizards to one where they now have to face the defending NBA Champions, the Miami Heat. Despite this predicament, however, I'm still going with Chicago. First off, we really don't know how healthy Dwyane Wade really is and how he's going to hold up with his injuries during a competitive first round series with a team capable of pushing him to the limit. If Wade does falter along the way, can a much slower and less talented than he used to be Shaquille O'Neal, who has proven he can't play the kind of minutes he used to, take over as the on-the-court leader for the Heat? Those two players are key for the Heat, and if they're taken out of this series in some way, the Bulls automatically gain an advantage. If the Bulls can focus on bumping Wade and giving him fits on the court, and if Ben Wallace can show why he is one of the best defenders in the league and earn his money by limiting Shaq, the Bulls are the better team here. I know the Heat have a solid set of role players, but Chicago is not without capable talent – like Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni. This will be a close series, but I think the defending champs are going out in the first round.
Winner: Chicago Bulls (4-3)
Dan Owen: This is the best series of the first round. Period. Nothing else can come close to the intrigue this match up provides. The Heat are the defending champs, and you can't beat Shaq in the playoffs. Dwayne Wade returns from his injury, but you know that will be bothering him. Chicago has maybe the best depth of any of the playoff teams, I mean, when you've got Ben Gordon coming off your bench, you know you've got some talent. But the Bulls sort of backed into the playoffs, losing a disappointing final game against the New Jersey Nets. That's more intrigue than I know what to do with. I like the Bulls in the series. Wade is gonna be sore no matter what, and Chicago plays the kind of physical game that is just what the doctor didn't prescribe. Wade is not the only one nursing an injury for Miami, with Udonis Haslem, James Posey, and Gary Payton all coming in with some sort of ache or pain. Last season the Bulls played the Heat as well as anyone, and that was without Ben Wallace to match up with Shaq. He'll make a huge difference in this series as long as he can keep from picking up too many fouls on Shaq. Finally, the added year the Bulls gain in experience is invaluable, since they really are still a young team without a ton of playoff experience. The Bulls will win, but they are going to have to win one in Miami after losing home court advantage in the first two games.
Winner: Chicago Bulls (4-3)
Brandon Crow: The Miami Heat took out the Chicago Bulls in the first round last year. I'm sure the Bulls have revenge and retribution on their minds. The Heat WAY overachieved last year, mostly because Dwayne Wade carried them on his shoulders, to make the finals and win…well, they didn't really win; it was more like the Mavs gave it away… This year, the Heat will not overachieve like they did last year. Wade is still good, but Shaq is done. Without Wade last year, Shaq would have been nothing. Chicago has been disappointing as well. They played well in the playoffs last year, made some noise and then acquired Ben Wallace in the offseason. But they underachieved this year. For me, this series is not interesting at all other than I want the Bulls to win because Shaq is an overgrown child.
Winner: Chicago Bulls (4-3)
Sean Garmer: A rematch of their opening round series last year, except that this time Chicago has the homecourt. Also, Miami are the defending champions, and the Bulls are much better than last year. There are two key match-ups here Shaq vs. Ben Wallace and P.J. Brown. If Chicago can keep at least one of those guys out of foul trouble they will present a problem for Shaq. I do expect Shaq to play a huge role and have big games in this series if he can stay out of foul trouble. Another important match-up will be the Bulls guard play against Dwayne Wade. Kirk Hinrich is a pest guarding people (that's if he can keep out of foul trouble that's plagued him all season), Chris Duhon is also another good defender, and of course Ben Gordon must play big for this team to get through. The most important player though is Luol Deng, everyone is saying he could be a star, and he's improved every year since he's entered the league. He has to prove that all this hype is for real. Of course the big question again is who will step up on the Miami team and score along with Shaq and Wade. I think Homecourt will make the difference in this series. This will be very close but I'm picking the upset.
Winner: Chicago Bulls (4-3)
That's it, thanks for reading, and we hope you join us in the next round.
