411 2007 NBA Conference Semi-Finals Roundtable

Posted by Sean Garmer on 05.08.2007

Chicago swept the defending champions, Golden State knocked out the #1 team in the league, and Utah defied us all by getting to the next round. Will the Warriors make it to the Conference Finals? Who will make it through the wild west shootout? And can LeBron finally get his team to the next round. Come read what we think will happen in the semi-finals of the playoffs.

2007 NBA Playoffs Conference Semi-Finals Roundtable


* Means if necessary, comments were made before any games were played *


Hello everyone, we are back for the Conference Semi-Finals. I apologize for this being a little late as I was sick the whole weekend and this week I start finals, so that's why I had to wait till today to post this. Well let's get on with it shall we.


Let's Meet the Contributors


Coming all the way from the Games section Cory Moore He teaches us every week how to have Fun Factor with various game series. This is certainly something you should read every Monday.

The double man is back and Neil Borenstein is not afraid to throw his opinions around, as he does all the time when he goes Inside the Penalty Box and is always ready to throw MLB Fastball

Discussing the Fatal 4 Way match from Backlash in the wrestling section of 411, Sat and Uncle Trunx give you distinct views on the subject in their column High/Low Road Sat is here representing the team once again.

Chutes and Ladders Is not only a board game but the name of Ken Schmidt's Baseball column. Where he tells you who's on the rise and who's falling down the tubes.

What's an email war? And what does that have to do anything with politics? Well Brandon Crow explains that and more in this week's edition of the Murmur of Crow

Your host and organizer of this lovely roundtable, and still upset about my Mavs being eliminated early Sean Garmer


Prediction Statistics

Cory Moore (5-3)
Neil Borenstein (6-2)
Sat (5-3)
Ken Schmidt (5-3)
Brandon Crow (5-3)
Sean Garmer (6-2)



Eastern Conference



1. Detroit Pistons vs. 5. Chicago Bulls

Season Series Winner: Chicago Bulls (3-1) * In one of those games Chauncey Billups did not play, and in another Rip Hamilton did not play, both resulted in loses *

Game 1: DET 95, CHI 69
Game 2: Monday, May 7 @ DET
Game 3: Thursday, May 10 @ CHI
Game 4: Sunday, May 13 @ CHI
* Game 5 Tuesday, May 15 @ DET
* Game 6 Thursday, May 17 @ CHI
* Game 7 Monday, May 21 @ DET


Cory Moore: This is going to be the best playoff series in the Eastern Conference this year. Honestly, these teams should've been the top two, but the last day of the regular season turned everything upside down. Anyway, Big Ben returns to Detroit in a Bulls uniform, and you know he's going to be out to prove he made the right decision in leaving the Pistons. Chicago arguably has more talent and a better bench, but Detroit's starting five has excellent chemistry and the experience to boot. Plus, Chris Webber is a man on a mission. It's probably time for him to hang the shoes up after this season, so you know he's set on willing his team emotionally to a championship this year. Here's hoping they rekindle the magic of the late ‘80s-early ‘90s series.

Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-3)


Neil Borenstein: This is where losing the No. 2 seed via a loss to the New Jersey Nets on the last game of the NBA regular season is going to hurt the Chicago Bulls. I fully expected the Bulls to beat the Miami Heat, even though I thought we'd see a seven-game series and not complete domination via a sweep. But regardless, I believed the Bulls would move on. Now, the "Baby Bulls" are growing up and must face another team that swept its way into the second round – the Detroit Pistons. Ouch! This is fun because it's a rivalry series and because you get Ben Wallace going up against his old team, which creates quite a bit of tension. But I just see the Pistons giving the Bulls a lot more than they can handle. The Pistons have been here before, even if they have to give it a go this year without Wallace. They still have Rasheed Wallace. They still have Chauncey Billups. They still have Tayshaun Prince. They still have Richard Hamilton. And now they have Chris Webber, who has been a welcome addition to the Pistons' roster. The Bulls don't have the advantage of playing a hurt team that can be pushed around here like they were able to do against the Heat. The Pistons are a much tougher squad and will be the ones doing the pushing when it's all said and done. The Bulls are still very much a work in progress, and I think they're going to be taken out of their game against a much more experienced and dominating squad in Detroit.

Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-1)


Sat: This is going to be a great series. The storylines are there and the winner will most likely represent the East in the NBA finals. The Pistons definitely have the experience factor over the Bulls and both teams are well rested. I think that the the Pistons will win this series in six just because they have the experience factor over the Bulls. Still, this should be a fun series.

Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-2)


Ken Schmidt: Let's face it, the Pistons are just head and shoulders better than anyone else in the East, without a doubt. The Bulls are a good young team and well rested but come on, who bets against the Pistons in the playoffs? They still have the experienced studs in Chauncy, Rip, and Rasheed. I wish it would be a fairy tale ending for my boy Ben Wallace, beating his old team, maybe next year Ben.

Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-1)


Brandon Crow: As much as I'd like to see the Bulls win this one, I think the match-up just does not favor them. Most of the Bulls are young and still feeling out the playoff process. Meanwhile, the Pistons are tried and true; they have already tasted not only playoffs and deep playoffs, but the whole championship run. Maybe in another two years, we'll start to see another Bulls/Pistons rivalry like the one from the '90's…but for now, I'm going with the Pistons.

Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-2)


Sean Garmer: Detroit had an easy road here and proved why they were #1 in the East. Chicago gave the surprise of the East eliminating the defending champion Miami Heat (again proving why it was more about Dallas choking last year, then Miami winning) Luol Deng and Ben Gordon ended up being the top scoring tandem in the first round averaging around 53 points a game between the two. They have to do that again in this series to give the Bulls a chance. Bulls have a deeper bench and younger guys; the bench must outplay Detroits bench, because it's going to be hard for the starting five to outplay the Pistons starters. Detroit is going to make Chicago work ten times harder than Miami because they are more athletic. Rip Hamilton is the best player that moves without the ball (which means he fights through screens and will come off curls to get shots) Chauncey Billups is one of the best point guards in the league and is not afraid to take over a game if necessary. Prince is one of the best defenders in the league that is a threat from anywhere, and Wallace's size and three point ability makes him a tough cover. Chris Webber is a good defender and can shoot anywhere from midrange and up too. Bulls are going to need Kirk Hinrich to be an offensive factor because Billups can out muscle him on the other end. Ben Wallace coming back to Detroit is an intriguing plot, will he play well against his old team, I think so. He provides a presence inside to alter shots. Ultimately, as much as I would like to see the Bulls advance, I just don't see it happening. This is where that last game of the season pays dividends because they should be facing the Pistons in the Conference finals. Bulls have traditionally been a bad road team and Detroit has a little much for the Bulls here.

Winner: Detroit Pistons (4-2)



2. Cleveland Cavs vs. New Jersey Nets

Season Series Winner: Cleveland Cavs (2-1)

Game 1: CLE 81, NJN 77
Game 2: Tuesday, May 8 @ CLE, 8 ET
Game 3: Saturday, May 12 @ NJN, 5 ET
Game 4: Monday, May 14 @ NJN, 7 ET
* Game 5 Wednesday, May 16 @ CLE
* Game 6 Friday, May 18 @ NJN
* Game 7 Sunday, May 20 @ CLE


Cory Moore: This will be an interesting series to watch because of its unpredictability. Despite winning 50 games, the Cavaliers' success still rests solely on the shoulders of LeBron James, who doesn't have a consistent sidekick. Still, the Cavaliers have made due with a decent bench and complimentary players to The King. Meanwhile, the Nets have three superstars that can light it up but little bench help. Despite Cleveland's regular season progress, I still don't think they have the answer to New Jersey's big three.

Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)


Neil Borenstein I like this series, and I like it a lot. Even though this is basically the series to decide who gets to lose to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, it's also going to be fun to watch. You get LeBron James trying to take his team to the next level, all while going against a still formidable threesome in Vince Carter, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson (the latter two having some success reaching this level of the postseason.) The Cavaliers won the playoffs sweepstakes for the easiest matchup of the first round – a Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler-less Washington Wizards squad. The Cavs wasted little time in getting rid of them and went for the sweep. The Nets are going to be a much bigger test for the Cavaliers than the Wizards were. The Nets played a great series, albeit in six games, against the Toronto Raptors in the first round, and proved they can still be effective with postseason success. In their own right, the Cavs are a tougher matchup for the Nets, but not too much for New Jersey to handle. If James can really step up here and carry his team, Cleveland might have a shot. But I see the Nets advancing in another pretty long series for them.

Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-3)


Sat: Cleveland is the number two seed and they have to be the favorites to win this series. But, I like the New Jersey Nets to win this series. First, they have a huge experience factor over the Cavs. The Nets have three guys that can beat you, while the Cavs only have one. The Cavs will make this an interesting series, but the Nets will be too much for the Cavs.

Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)


Ken Schmidt: Could LeBron's squad get an easier draw in the playoffs this year? First they get a first round bye (known as the Washington Wizards without Butler or Arenas) and now they get the worst team of the final 8, the New Jersey Nets. I guess LeBron can continue to phone it in like he has all season and get his team to the Conference finals where Chauncey Billups will spank him like his mother should have when she saw his abysmal effort in the first half of this season. Congrats Cavs, you might be the worst team to ever make the Eastern Conference Finals. Be proud.

Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-2)


Brandon Crow: Well, I had the Raptors getting by the Nets, and that may still have happened had Calderon didn't freeze in the final seconds and throw the ball away. But what's come to pass has come to pass. The Nets are in and they'll be facing off against Lebron and the Cavs. Overall, the Nets may be a better team, but I'm not counting out "King" James. That guy just refuses to lose. He's the second coming of Kobe Bryant. Even though I think the Nets have a really good chance of moving on, I have a hard time choosing against LeBron and his determination.

Winner: Cleveland Cavs (4-3)


Sean Garmer: Cleveland got a pass in the first round, while New Jersey came close to going seven games. Nets proved they had the edge against their overrated division rivals. I'm going to mention this multiple times so pay attention. Here's the big key in this series, Nets have the 2nd best point guard in the league in Jason Kidd, while the Cavs have a poor excuse for one in Eric Snow. Larry Hughes can't play the point either.Unlike last year though, LeBron has a better supporting cast with Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas are revitalized from last year. New to the team three point threat Daniel Gibson and better Sasha Pavlovic who's been big for them all season. Both teams aren't very deep though and the longer this series goes it will favor the Nets because they have more experienced players that know how to handle this situations. Cleveland is still very dependent on LeBron as he goes, so does the team no matter who else shows up. If Cleveland can get a big game out of LeBron every game and have a few contributors, they will find themselves in the Conference finals. Nets have a big three that will have a say in this one. Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and Kidd, Nets need Bostjan Nachbar and Mikki Moore to keep playing big for them. I think this series is going to come down to point guard play and which team does the little things like Rebound, hustle, and not committing a bunch of turnovers at the wrong time. Also I think the big three are going to out play LeBron eventually.

Winner: New Jersey Nets (4-2)



Western Conference



2. Phoenix Suns vs. 3. San Antonio Spurs

Season Series Winner: San Antonio Spurs (2-1)

Game 1: SAS 111, PHX 106
Game 2: Tuesday, May 8 @ PHX, 10:30 ET
Game 3: Saturday, May 12 @ SAS, 8 ET
Game 4: Monday, May 14 @ SAS, 9:30 ET
* Game 5 Wednesday, May 16 @ PHX
* Game 6 Friday, May 18 @ SAS
* Game 7 Sunday, May 20 @ PHX


Cory Moore: Wow, what a clash of styles. Phoenix wants to run, San Antonio prefers a halfcourt approach. The latter, defense-oriented style has led the Spurs to three titles in the past, but they have yet to prove they can consistently win championships despite having the same core year after year. I wouldn't put it past them, but I think homecourt is going to favor Phoenix a tremendous amount in this series. They advanced to the West Finals last year without Amare Stoudamire. This year, he is back and gives them a post presence. Couple that with a much better crop of defensive-minded guys (Raja Bell), and I think the fast-paced style could finally pay off.

Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-3)


Neil Borenstein Wow! We might not be getting the Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks Western Conference Finals matchup a lot of people were hoping for, but this second round series between the Suns and San Antonio Spurs might just be even more exciting. This is and will be the Suns biggest test in the entire playoffs, and if the Suns can get past Tim Duncan and Co., I have no reason to believe they can't go all the way. Both teams had pretty interesting first rounds. The Suns eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, something that wasn't entirely a surprise. Kobe Bryant simply couldn't do it all alone and the Suns took advantage of that. The Spurs, on the other hand, were not supposed to take out the Denver Nuggets in five games, let alone clinching the series via four straight wins after a Game 1 loss. By bidding the Nuggets adieu in five games, the Spurs proved they still have what it takes to find postseason success. I have no doubt this is going to be close. But the Spurs will be able to put up a tough defense against the Suns' red-hot offense, which will also allow them to keep pace in points with the Suns. The Spurs are just too multi-faceted for the Suns, in my opinion.

Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-2)


Sat: The winner of this match will most likely be representing the West in the NBA Finals. I think that this is going to be an awesome series. The Suns manhandled the Lakers and they should be confident coming into this series. I was surprised with how quickly the Spurs defeated the Nuggets. I think that this will be a close series, but the Suns just have to many weapons for the Spurs to guard. The Suns win the series in six.

Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-2)


Ken Schmidt: Suns are unlucky in the seeding because I think they would beat any team in the NBA in a seven game series EXCEPT for the Spurs. The Spurs are to smart and hard-nosed on the defensive side to let Nash, Marion, and Amare dominate them. The Suns breezed by the Lakers because L.A. had no defensive stoppers at the 4 or 5. I wish I could pick the Suns but I said all along, "if the Suns face the Spurs they are doomed." I'm sticking with that.

Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-3)


Brandon Crow: This may not be the most exciting series to watch in the second round but from a basketball point of view, it will be the best series. Two different teams, two different styles, two battle-tested giants. Either could win, move on to the conference finals, and then coast to the finals. Either team could easily win the championship. San Antonio is more experienced, has been to the mountain top, and is looking to claim their fourth championship in nine years. The Suns, on the other hand, have not been to the finals since 1993 (with Chucky Barkley). They are young, athletic, a team of studs. Moreover, they have the league's MVP for the last two years. This series is very tough to call, but because I would love to see a Warriors/Suns conference finals, I'll go with the Suns.

Winner: Phoenix Suns (4-2)


Sean Garmer: The San Antonio Spurs are the most experienced team in the league facing someone they know rather well. These two have a lot of respect for each other and history indicates the Spurs should win this too. However, this is 2007 and that history goes out the window because now the Suns have a healthy Amare Stoudemire a healthy Raja Bell, and a terrific six man of the year Leandro Barbosa. The Suns are also a little deeper than the last time these two teams met in 2005. With a healthy Kurt Thomas who brings a defensive presence and Boris Diaw who has another year under his belt, and gave the Mavs all sorts of problems last year in the playoffs. Even though the Suns play a lot better defense than in year's past they still aren't deep enough to deal with the Spurs. The Suns may be able to run all over the court on the Spurs and you can never count out the two time MVP. Duncan is going to create a problem for Amare down low and Parker has owned Steve Nash this season. Marion is going to play a big role here, and I don't think the Suns have anyone to guard Ginobli. Again, this is going to come down to which point guard plays the best for their team and which supporting cast shows up. Michael Finley got hot late in the last series can he continue that, and of course there's Big shot Rob too. This series will go the full distance, but I expect this series to continue the old adage that great defense always stops good offense.

Winner: San Antonio Spurs (4-3)


4. Utah Jazz vs. 8. Golden State Warriors

Season Series Winner: Utah Jazz (3-1) * Two of the early games that the Warriors played were before the mid-season trade with Indiana. So in reality the series is (1-1)*

Game 1: Monday, May 7 @ UTA, 10:30 ET
Game 2: Wednesday, May 9 @ UTA, 9 ET
Game 3: Friday, May 11 @ GSW, 9 ET
Game 4: Sunday, May 13 @ GSW, 9 ET
* Game 5 Tuesday, May 15 @ UTA
* Game 6 Thursday, May 17 @ GSW
* Game 7 Sunday, May 20 @ UTA



Cory Moore: Wow. Just…wow. The Warriors did the unthinkable with pretty much all of American basketball fans not living in Texas willing them on. Somebody made a KILLING in Vegas. Dallas won 67 games! The Warriors are the #8 seed, for crying out loud! Can they do it again? If Baron Davis heals from his hamstring injury, I say it's absolutely possible. Don Nelson is a master of the mismatch and he has plenty of postseason knowledge. They won't win an NBA title, but they could feasibly beat the Jazz, who have to be exhausted after a 7-game first round series. Utah has a lot of options, but the team's stars showed too many signs of inconsistency against Houston. If Golden State attacks like they did in the first round, they could very well advance to the West finals.

Winner: Golden State Warriors (4-2)


Neil Borenstein: It's still a huge shock to me, as I'm sure it is for almost all NBA fans, that the Golden State Warriors were able to pull off the huge upset and eliminate the Dallas Mavericks. I didn't give them a chance against the Mavericks, and they just shoved that right in my face. The Warriors played a tremendous series and were able to take Dallas off its game. And now that they have that test out of the way, the Warriors' next opponent shouldn't be nearly as much of a mismatch, though it's still not going to be easy. After disappointing Tracy McGrady, yet again proving he is not quite clutch just yet, the Utah Jazz moved past the Houston Rockets in seven games in what was an extremely close series that mostly favored the home team, outside of Game 7. I think this is a tougher matchup for the Warriors than if they had to play the Rockets, as there are a bunch of key players for Utah, whereas Houston is basically McGrady and Yao Ming. Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, Andrei Kirilenko and Deron Williams are all players in the starting five that is going to give Golden State headaches. Golden State passed a big test by defeating the No. 1 seeded Mavericks, but that was a matchup where they knew what they had to do under Don Nelson's tutelage and with the record they possessed against Dallas during the regular season. I hate to vote against the Warriors again, considering they shoved it in my face the last time. But I just like the Jazz here. Utah has a lot of great players and no one player in particular that has to shine for the team to be victorious, like Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas. I expect this to be close and another home court advantage type series.

Winner: Utah Jazz (4-3)


Sat: I am shocked at the way that the Golden State Warriors manhandled the Mavericks. They managed to take out the number one seed that was favored by many to go to the NBA Finals. I thought the Jazz were going to lose to the Rockets, but they managed to make it this far. The Warriors are better rested than the Jazz and they should run the Jazz out of the building to set-up an intriguing Western Conference finals.

Winner: Golden State Warriors (4-2)


Ken Schmidt: Golden State is the team of destiny this year, much like the Oilers were in hockey last year. Well team of destiny into they run into the Spurs. Baron Davis has been incredible, this guy could be one of the top five players in the league if he could stay healthy a full season (never going to happen).

Golden State Warriors (4-2)


Brandon Crow: Who knew Utah would beat Houston on their home floor? This series has shown a pattern of home team victories. If I were to have put down money, I would have gone with Houston (and of course, Yao and McGrady). But that was not meant to be. Houston is out and Utah is in.

And more so of a surprise, who would have truly believed that the
Warriors would knock off the Mavs? I thought they had a really good
shot, but when it came to prediction time, I just found it too
difficult to go against a 67 win team, especially one that went to the
finals last year. But here the Warriors are, and I'm damn glad for
it. I just wish I would have called the upset in my last set of
predictions.

Okay, so Utah versus Golden State. Tough call. The two teams match
up pretty well, except may for Al Harrington not being able to contain
Carlos Boozer. I look for Boozer to have big games as per usual. This series comes down to player performance. If Kirilenko plays well, then him and Boozer will carry the Jazz to the conference finals. For the Warriors, it will depend on how well Harrington defends Boozer, and how healthy Baron Davis remains. If Davis plays well, the Warriors move on. But hey, a prediction is needed. So, since I'm officially on the Warriors bandwagon, I will call this in their favor. Why? Because I BELIEVE!

Winner: Golden State Warriors (4-2)


Sean Garmer: Wow, what a shocker Golden State becomes the first team to eliminate a #1 seed in a seven game series. They did it against the #1 overall team in the league too. Why? One name, Baron Davis, the reason why point guard play is the most important thing in Basketball as he carried them the whole series. It also helped they had the Nelson psychological advantage against Avery and Dirk. Golden State now has to face another surprise team as we all expected the Rockets to be in this position. Utah has a good emerging point guard in Deron Williams, scorers in Mehmet Okur & Andrei Kirilenko, and a post up man in Carlos Boozer. They are athletic and can keep up with the Warriors. Both teams keep a rotation of eight men so it will be a test of endurance for both teams. Warriors will live and die by the three but all their players can play, so you have to keep track of all of them. Homecourt may end up being a key factor, but you have to wonder how tired Utah is after only getting a day's rest from their Game 7. That would be the perfect opportunity for Golden State to steal a road victory. Utah is a hard nosed defensive team playing Golden State that doesn't play much of it except they were #1 in the league in forcing turnovers. I think Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, and Don Nelson will find a way to win this series, giving us an intriguing Western Finals.

Winner: Golden State Warriors (4-2)


That is all for this round. Thanks for reading and join us next time for the Conference Finals.