411 2007/2008 NBA Playoffs Opening Roundtable

Posted by Sean Garmer on 04.24.2008

Come see what the Staffers thought would happen in Round 1.

2008 NBA Playoffs Opening Roundtable





That is the prize 16 teams are aiming for, but in the end, only one can be crowned champion. Will we have a repeat of last year with the Spurs coming out on top? Could it finally be Kobe's year? Are New Orleans for real? Are the Boston Trio going to represent out of the East? Well join some of the 411 Staff as we attempt to decipher all that and give our thoughts on who will move on to the next round. This is a little late but now it is here.



The Sports Kid, Kenny Schmidt Joins us from a hospital as the poor guy had to have his appendix taken out last week. Be sure to stay tuned every week to the Coast to Coast Sports Podcast that's on 411.

Another person that is here is Robert Leighty Jr.

Bringing you all the Basketball information you need, On the Sidelines No less, Porfiro Diaz

Your Resident Cartoon Reviewer Jerome Cusson is here to shed his basketball knowledge on the world.

Always giving you the NBA Beatdown BL Anderson

The man with the longest running NBA column on the site Rob Bonnette

From the Politics Zone, and NBA Roundtable veteran, Brandon Crow

I'm your wonderful host and I'm usually spouting off about Soccer, but I love Basketball just as much and that is why I always want to be the one that does this roundtable, Sean Garmer


* All Predictions Made Before Games Were Played *



Eastern Conference



1) Boston Celtics vs. 8) Atlanta Hawks

Ken Schmidt: Thanks for coming Atlanta at least you are off that 'haven't played in a playoff game snide.' For the Celtics this is going to be a playoff of attrition. They need to be efficient and play as few games as possible with their star players all being older legs. They need to handle the Hawks in 4 and get ready for the next round with some time off.

Prediction: Boston Celtics (4-0)


Robert Leighty Jr. Welcome back to the playoffs Atlanta. Your reward is a date with the best team in the league (win-loss wise). It would be nice to see the Hawks win a game in the ATL just as a reward to their long suffering fans, but I don't see it happening. The big three in Boston will be just too much for the young Hawks to overcome.

Prediction: Boston Celtics (4-0)


Porfiro Diaz: Yes, I have the Hawks winning one game. I figure they can run a style of offense similar to the Golden State Warriors and hope that the old guys on the Celtics get tired. But when those old guys consist of a MVP candidate and two All-Stars that are also the best shooters in the league, it'll be a bit difficult. If the Hawks can get one game in this series, count it as a moral victory for the season.

Prediction: Boston Celtics (4-1)


BL Anderson: The Celtics have been the predominant team all year long, and not just in the Eastern Conference. They have all of the right tools, and based on their record, as well as the Hawks not being in the playoffs since the decade began. The Hawks have a good young nucleus with Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Josh Childress, as well as established vets like Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby. They just don't have much else, and they absolutely do not match up with the Celtics, as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins is possibly the best starting 5 in the NBA (sorry Detroit). No love for the Hawks this year, though I do think the C's will give them a game in Atlanta because they feel bad for them.

Prediction: Boston Celtics (4-1)


Rob Bonnette: The Celtics just need to show up, take the opponent seriously, and do what they've been doing all season. They match up evenly with or beat the Hawks at every position and in depth, so they shouldn't have any problems winning here as long as they don't get cute and mail in either of the first two games. If they do that, and the Hawks are able to capitalize, then……oh, forget it. Who am I kidding here? No Garnett-led team is going to mail it in, ever. The games won't all be blowouts, and the Hawks might win one if they get all the breaks, but this series won't be lasting very long. Get out the broom.

Prediction: Boston Celtics


Jerome Cusson: Come on. Really? Just give Garnett and the others a bye.

Prediction: Boston Celtics (4-0)


Brandon Crow: This will be a quick series. At least it better be. Even though the "lowly" Hawks seemed to gel a bit and make a little push towards the end of the regular season, they just don't have the talent or experience required to beat the Celtics. Sadly, but truthfully, the Hawks don't even have the talent and experience to even push or scare the Celtics.

Boston's "Big 3" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce will just overwhelm and crush the Hawks. There is no doubt, no suspense, no hope in this series. Looking at Atlanta's situation, I'm reminded of the great quote from "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" when Aragorn and company run into "the riders" in the Riddermark while in search of their two hobbit friends. The Riders' leader, Eomer, having just come from an all-out massacre of the orcs and urak-hai that had kidnapped Merry and Pippin, frankly tells Aragorn to look for their friends, but, "do not trust to hope. It is forsaken in these lands." In this case, "these lands" would be "the Garden."


Prediction: Boston Celtics (4-0)


Sean Garmer: I don't think it would be fair for me to put thoughts on in on these series because I'm posting this after games have begun, while all the other writers posted their stuff before the games began, I'm just not going to give descriptions. I'm going to use the predictions I made on the Coast to Coast Podcast last week, and a Review I wrote two weeks ago instead.

Prediction: Boston Celtics (4-0)


2) Detroit Pistons vs. 7) Philadelphia 76ers


Ken Schmidt: For some reason the 76ers did very well against the Pistons in the regular season leading some niave local fans around my part think they have a chance in this one. They all seem to forget that the Pistons are not the same team in the postseason as they are in the regular season. This one will be fun to watch with 5 close games but the outcomes will be one-sided.

Prediction: Detroit Pistons (4-1)


Robert Leighty Jr. The New AI in Philly will have plenty of SportsCenter dunks, but the Pistons defense will shut the 76ers down and end this series quickly. The Pistons are a lock down team, and their Starting 5 will score and defend from the opening tip to the closing horn. I would not be shocked if Philly would steal a game at home, but I would be stunned to see them win more than a game.

Prediction: Detroit Pistons (4-0)


Porfiro Diaz I admire Philadelphia for making the playoffs this year while in rebuilding mode, if with a losing record. But then, that's nothing to be ashamed about, it is the East after all. This will be a short speed bump for the Pistons, as they just overpower the Sixers with their chemistry and playoff experience.

Prediction: Detroit Pistons (4-0)


BL Anderson: The Sixers did a great job of just getting into the playoffs, considering that not much was expected of them coming into the season. The expectation was that it was going to be a throw away year, but mid-season they turned it around. I would actually consider the Sixers a playoff sleeper, provided they weren't playing the best Eastern Conference team this decade. Year after year, the Pistons come out, and do their thing, winning between 50 and 60 games, always finishing at the top or near the top of the conference. They always wheel out the same guys, and that formula works for them, as they have improved from the team they had last year in terms of what they have stocked away for the future. After all, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, and Antonio McDyess aren't getting any younger. The frontcourt is especially aged, but back to the prediction. The problem with the Sixers is that they have no perimeter game whatsoever. And while they do cause turnovers, and get out on the break, the Pistons have the innate ability to control tempo, which will grind it to a screeching halt, and that will be the downfall of the Sixers right there. Kudos to Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala, as well as coach Maurice Cheeks, for getting the Sixers into the dance in the first place, though.

Prediction: Detroit Pistons (4-1)


Rob Bonnette: This one shouldn't take long, either, although the Sixers are a better team than the Hawks are. The Pistons are poised to get back to the Finals and aren't going to be stopped by a game but overmatched Sixers team. Or will they? The Sixers matchup well Andre Miller against Chauncey Billups and Andre Iguodala against Tayshuan Prince, while center Samuel Dalembert is much more effective now that he has a true point guard setting him up. That trio will give the Pistons fits every night. Rasheed Wallace is the one who will make the difference here. What he can at do at both ends of the floor is just too much for the Sixers to handle. Reggie Evans is woefully overmatched here, and that could be the factor that tips the balance, ultimately, along with the Pistons depth advantage. The games will be tough, and the Pistons are likely to mail in at least one, but they will prevail.

Prediction: Detroit Pistons (4-1)


Jerome Cusson: The only difference between the 76ers and Atlanta Hawks are Philadelphia sports fans actually care about their team. Other then that, I think the Pistons might as well be given a bye too. Too much talent and experience on the Pistons' side.

Prediction: Detroit Pistons (4-0)


Brandon Crow: This could be a better and more competitive series than most people believe or expect. The 76ers have been performing well and playing even better together as a team. They have their own version of the "Big 3"…okay, the "Medium 3," but they do have a solid core of dependable players in Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert. And that Calvin Booth ain't no slouch either.

In the end though, I think the Pistons are still a better, more talented, more playoff experienced team. The Sixers haven't won much in the playoffs since 2001 when they went to the Finals only to be crushed by the Lakers. Though the Sixers will make all games competitive, Detroit's defense will become too much and will simply slowly, but surely, suffocate the Sixers down the line.

Prediction: Detroit Pistons (4-1)


Sean Garmer: Sixers are a young team, Detroit has the experience and want to get back to the finals.

Prediction: Detroit Pistons (4-1)


3) Orlando Magic vs. 6) Toronto Raptors


Ken Schmidt: The Raptors were sitting so comfortably in the five spot all season long but than came dangerously close to dropping to the seven, lucky for them they barely squeaked out the 76ers and avoided the Pistons but this will still be ugly. Nestorivich < Howard, and that is an understatement, a HUGE understatement.

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-1)


Robert Leighty Jr. I am torn because I like both teams, but the Magic have Dwight Howard and that should be enough to get them by the Raptors. Bosh is a beast and will do all he can to keep Toronto in the series, but it won't be enough. Howard led the league in dunks, and if you are looking to see someone attack the rim, this is your series. Personal shout-out to Magic PG Jameer Nelson, who I watched run through my High School alma-mater back in the Pennsylvania State Finals in 2000. Though I was cursing him at the time, it is pretty sweet to think that I watched this kid live in the Hershey Park Arena destroy my Uniontown Red Raiders, and now he is a starting NBA PG in the playoffs.

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-2)


Porfiro Diaz: The Raptors started out great in the beginning of the season, but faltered pretty much after that. Orlando also faltered a little bit but managed to hang on to that 3 seed. A Howard vs. Bosh matchup is going to be fun to watch, if one-sided. Bosh isn't all that great defensively, so expect Howard to have dunk fest in this series.

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-2)


BL Anderson: The Magic have the best frontcourt in the NBA, with Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and my man Hedo Turkoglu, but they backcourt ain't so great. The Raptors have a star in Chris Bosh, and a great point guard and a good point guard in Jose Calderon and TJ Ford. However, the Magic have seemingly overachieved this year, while the Raptors have underachieved. The Raptors cannot contain the key frontcourt players for the Magic, and that's why they'll lose in 5. No sweeps in any first round match-up this year, but if there was a possibility for one, I think that this would be the series for that. Magic are just two dominant inside and out.

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-1)


Rob Bonnette: An intriguing series indeed. Toronto has the advantage in the backcourt while Orlando prevails in the frontcourt. Which will come out on top? I like Orlando, because winning in the playoffs requires a consistent inside presence, and the Raptors flat out don't have one. Yes, Chris Bosh is a star but even he doesn't get down and dirty in the post enough to carry the team very far. They got beat by the Nets last year, and the Magic have a far superior frontcourt so they should be able to take this series. The Raptor backcourt will outplay their Orlando counterparts, however, and that should be good a win or two, but not the series.

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-2)


Jerome Cusson: Orlando is in a tough place. They're nowhere near as good Detroit or Boston, but they're a pretty good team. Dwight Howard needs to be an absolute beast, and I believe he'll find a way to get this team into the next round. Stan Van Gundy's emphasis on defense and experience also plays well to Orlando's strength.

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-2)


Brandon Crow: Toronto surprises me perennially with their appearance in the playoffs. That Chris Bosh must really be something because off the top of my head, that's all I can think of when the Raptors come to mind. What else, who else does that team have? The Raptors made it into the playoffs last year, played New Jersey in the first round (if I recall correctly), and were actually seeded higher than the Nets. But I called the Nets to stage the small upset because I just didn't believe the Raptors had it in them to go beyond the first round. The same is true this year.

The Magic is primed to make a name for themselves again for the first time since Shaq left back in 1996. The Magic have a stable, solid center in Dwight Howard, and their free agent signing from last summer Rashard Lewis has chipped in good help. Most surprising of all, their "go to guy" has been a guy they never expected to be the go to guy, Hedo Torkoglu. That's a well-rounded group of consistent players. They will deliver their share on any given night. The Magic just have too much for the Raptor to handle.

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-1)


Sean Garmer: Orlando have too much size upfront, Dwight Howard alone presents a problem for Toronto they can't handle. Toronto is a tough place to play so, I'll say…

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-2)


4) Cleveland Cavs vs. 5) Washington Wizards

Ken Schmidt: The most interested team in this series, although the big-mouthed Wizards are creating a stir, is the Boston Celtics. They do not want to play the Wiz in the next round so that is the biggest sub-plot of this series. LeBron will be LeBron but the X-Factor in this series will be Caron Butler. Can he do a good enough job on D to make this close? It should be interesting.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavs (4-2)


Robert Leighty Jr. Lebron carried the Cavs to the finals last year, and I can't see the Wiz bouncing him this early (unless he is suffering Ottawa syndrome). If he has too, he will single handily carry the Cavs. These two teams have a playoff history, and I expect a lot of entertaining, close games, but in the end the King will carry his Cavs to the 2nd round.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavs (4-2)


Porfiro Diaz: Gilbert Arenas talking smack about how the Wizards wanted to play the Cavs is great entertainment. You don't see stuff like that too often, pretty much because it usually comes back to bite them, thus looking more foolish. Thus, the King and his new knights will strike down on all of his fools known as the Wizards and will continue on with his kingship. These two teams are familiar with each other and will provide the best series in the Eastern Conference.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavs (4-3)


BL Anderson: Now this is a minority selection, but I'll tell you right now that LeBron cannot carry his team past the Wizards with only Big Z and Wally Szczerbiak in the dance. Because while LeBron is the most athletic player in the NBA, without question, and is rather talented with his Oscar Robertson-like numbers, the Wizards have three verifiable All-stars, who are all-stars RIGHT NOW, in Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, and the Assassin Gilbert Arenas. This year is the year the Wizards get out of the first round. And don't worry, Cleveland fans, Ben Wallace will be in the last year of his 3-year, $60 Million contract next season, so I am sure that teams waiting to get under the salary cap will be more than willing to take his expiring contract in exchange for almost whatever Cleveland asks for. Next year might be Cleveland's year if LeBron can get a better #2 feller. This year…well, it ain't the year.

Prediction: Washington Wizards (4-3)


Rob Bonnette: This is slowly turning into a real rivalry, as the Cavs have beaten the Wizards two years in a row in the postseason, but by close enough margins that you can't call it domination. Even last year's sweep was over a Wizards team that was minus Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, and those games were close ones. The Wizards are clearly the disrespected stepchild here, as the national media will be fawning all over King James and talking about the Wizards as if they're the Washington Generals to James' Globetrotters. The matchup is nowhere near that lopsided, and there's plenty of reason to believe the ‘Zards can pull out a victory. A full strength Wizards team matches up plenty well enough with the Cavaliers lineup, and should be able to play them close every time out. The X-factor here is the officiating. We've Lebron get all kinds of superstar calls in both regular season and playoff games, and two years ago he won two playoff games against the Wizards on plays where he should have been called for traveling. We also saw the game against the Sixers the other night where the Cavs got a foul called with .2 seconds left on the clock, allowing them to take and make game winning free throws. If those kind of shenanigans are allowed to happen here, the Cavs will win it in five or six. If the refs let them play.

Prediction: Washington Wizards (4-2)


Jerome Cusson: I know the western conference has all the talent and all the really good series...except this one. Can LeBron James pretty much do what he did last year and lead his team to the Finals? I don't believe he will. In fact, he'll have a hard time winning this series. The difference is the Wizards decided to open their big mouths up. James and his crew will be motivated enough to get into the next round.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavs (4-3)


Brandon Crow: This is absolute WAR! I don't think these two teams like each other; I may even go as far as to ponder that the players involved may not respect each other. There seems to be some ill feelings involved, perhaps more so on the Wizards' end, seeing as they've been eliminated twice by the Cavs in the last two years. The Wizards will, however, be healthy for the first time, and they do have a chip on their shoulder. Also, let's not underestimate the potent fact that two of the Wizards' three big stars are playing for new contracts…

This will be the year to test the Cavs insofar as the Wizards are concerned. The last two years, the Cavs have gotten a bit of a pass because Washington hasn't been healthy or at full force. Having said that, I think I still must give the edge to Cleveland because, as a team, they are coming off the immense success of making it to the Finals last year. There's confidence there, there's pride there. And of course, there's LeBron there. I said it last year, and I'll say it again this year. You cannot discount LeBron James. You cannot discount his drive and his ability to will his team to win.

I look for this series to go to the wire.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavs (4-3)


Sean Garmer: A series that has now happened three years running. Even though it is still one vs. three, this will not be the charm for the Wizards.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavs (4-2)



Western Conference



1) LA Lakers vs. 8) Denver Nuggets


Ken Schmidt: The Nuggets are a very good basketball team but they are men among giants. The squeaked into the final spot and it is going to show in this series. Melo and A.I. will try to be running the floor but they will not be able to keep up with Kobe and there is no one on the Nuggets lineup that can defend him. As a matter of fact I think there are only about three men in the league that can. Expect each games scored to go over 200 so if you gambling bet the Lakers and the over in every game, you'll win more often than you don't.

Prediction: LA Lakers (4-1)


Robert Leighty Jr. LA has been rolling ever since stealing Gasol from the Grizzles for some magic beans. Kobe is probably your MVP and he wants to prove to the world he can lead to team to a championship. The West is very deep, but the Nuggets don't play enough defense to get by the Lakers. Melo and AI can steal a game in this series, and possibly a second one, but nothing more.

Prediction: LA Lakers (4-1)


Porfiro Diaz: Usually a team that has three great players like AI, Melo, and Camby would be bound to win a playoff series. It's too bad the Nuggets can't play a lick of defense and have to face against the Allied Nation Sensation of Kobe and Paul. The only thing the Lakers need to worry about is when Bynum is coming back. It is still unknown if he will play in any game this series but if he does, I predict it will be when the Lakers are three games ahead.

Prediction: LA Lakers (4-1)


BL Anderson: The Lakers are pretty awesome this year, and it's not just my MVP Kobe Bryant, either. When you watch them play, they are very unselfish, and it seems like everyone is on the same page. They play good defense, and they have a 9-time world champion coach in Phil Jackson. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol are the best SF-PF combo in the West, and if Bynum comes back healthy and motivated…look out. Meanwhile, Denver looks listless, only wishing to outscore their opponent, and not playing a lick of defense. If Marcus Camby could only convince Carmelo to buy into defensive schemes, Denver would be much better than they are. Instead, we get Denver being ousted in the first round again this year.

Prediction: LA Lakers (4-1)


Rob Bonnette: The matchups here favor the Lakers, with the exception of Carmelo Anthony vs. Luke Walton/Vlad Radmanovic. Iverson will get his, as will Anthony, but Kobe will be on an absolute seek and destroy mission, and Pau Gasol may be the best sidekick in the league right now. Anytime your second best player puts up a 20-10 on the regular, you can go a long way. The trio of Kobe, Gasol, and Lamar Odom will trump the duo of Iverson and Anthony, and the Nuggets overall defensive ineptitude will do them in. You can expect some streaky games where one team will go up big and lose the lead in short order; I'm guessing that the Nuggets will come up on the short end of those exchanges more often than not and fall to the top seeded

Prediction: LA Lakers (4-2)


Jerome Cusson: Everyone really wants you to believe that Denver has chance in this series because of Iverson, Anthony, and Camby all being huge factors in this series. If it weren't for all those stars, the Nuggets wouldn't be near the playoffs because they don't understand the concept of playing defense. Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant have been here many times before. Even without Andrew Bynum, the Lakers are certainly going to dominate this series and win rather easily because iof their ability to play on both sides of the floor.

Prediction: LA Lakers (4-1)


Brandon Crow: The Lakers surprising season success has its fans rocking. Denver eeked into the playoffs, but by beating the teams they needed to be down the stretch. They staved off the Warriors push, twice, in head to head games, I believe, that would have catapulted the Warriors into the playoffs had the Nuggets not taken care of business.

And it is that phrase that defines this series. The Lakers should win. The Lakers were 3-0 against the Nuggets this season, and that was all done before the acquisition of Paul Gasol. But the Lakers will certainly have to "take care of business." If they play like the Lakers team after freshly acquiring Paul, they will crush the Nuggets and send Nuggets players fishing for the summer. If they don't take care of business, they may let the Nuggets linger too long, sapping valuable energy from the next round.

I also look for the Lakers to get a big boost of energy and drive from the announcement that Kobe Bryant won the league's MVP award…finally. About damn time, writers in the league!!

Having said that, it's always difficult to play at Denver, what with the thin air and all. I say the Lakes handle their business but give one to the Nuggets due to altitude (not attitude) adjustment.


Sean Garmer: Lakers have Kobe, Gasol, and Phil Jackson to combat A.I. and Melo's great play. Those two combined with the altitude will get the Nuggets a game but that's about it.

Prediction: LA Lakers (4-1)


2) New Orleans Hornets vs. 7) Dallas Mavericks


Ken Schmidt: I said all season long the the Hornets are still a year or two away from away their long playoff run and this series will show. The Mavs have played well against the Hornets this season and are entering the playoffs hot. Inexperience is going to show in this series as this is two pick and roll teams. I expect the Mavs to defend the pick and rolls to keep Peja covered while the Mavs will take advantage of a less disciplined team. I think Josh Howard will be the X-Factor of this series.

Prediction: Dallas Mavericks (4-2)


Robert Leighty Jr. I would personally vote for Paul as MVP, but I have no beef with Kobe winning. The Mavs were pegged as the odd team out when Dirk was injured, but they rallied and made the playoffs comfortably. They will look to atone for last years debacle against Golden State, but the same deficiencies are there (ie: no defense) and I think Paul will eat them alive. This is why the Mavs got Kidd, but even as good as he has been, he can't score like Chris Paul can, and the Mavs will need him to.

Prediction: New Orleans Hornets (4-2)


Porfiro Diaz: Yes, Dallas has much more playoff experience. It's too bad the Warriors didn't that memo last year and this year will be no different. If there is any difference, it's that Dallas no longer has the added pressure of being the #1 seed team. But then, that still won't matter. Chris Paul, who had the best season for a point guard in a very long time and my MVP pick, will run circles around Jason Kidd and will lead the Hornets to victory.

Prediction: New Orleans Hornets (4-2)


BL Anderson: The Hornets are a really good team this year, thanks to the creativity and dominance of 20 point, 10 assist guy Chris Paul. He's got lots of offensive options to throw the ball to (besides himself), and you know they play defense because Byron Scott won't play you otherwise. But here's the problem: Jason Kidd and Dirk (We ain't goin' out like that) Nowitzki have something very big to prove; it's that they can move past the first round, and into the next, and that the Jason Kidd-for-Devin Harris trade was worth it. Dirk is NOT going to let another first round exit occur, otherwise I'll eat my size 14 ½ shoe. Mavs in 6 due to the experience, and hopefully the gaining of the killer instinct necessary to win championships.

Prediction: Dallas Mavericks (4-2)


Rob Bonnette: This is the ideal matchup for Dallas in that the Hornets lack the one thing a team needs to beat the Mavericks in a playoff series: the ability to psych out Dirk Nowitzki and turn him back into Fadeaway Dirk, his evil alter ego that dooms the Mavericks every postseason. To do this you need some tough guys who aren't afraid to play a little rough, or the killer instinct that can will you to victory over an opponent when all other things are equal. The Spurs and Lakers both possess one or both of these qualities, but the Hornets have neither. Dallas will be able to out talent them, as they just have more good players than the Hornets do. Paul will do well for himself and helps keep things close, but his mates are inferior to the guys wearing the other uniforms.

Prediction: Dallas Mavericks (4-2)


Jerome Cusson: if it wasn't for last year and this team not having a whole lot of chemistry, I'd take Dallas. New Orleans is such a young team that I can see them breaking down. The problem is CP3, the person I believe is the league MVP. He will be the difference. Dallas is a solid team and will give them all they can handle, but the Hornets will have a coming out party here.

Prediction: New Orleans Hornets (4-3)


Brandon Crow: This is going to be one hell of a series. Outside of the Lakers/Nuggets contests (because I'm a die-hard Lakers fan), I'll be watching this one. If last night's game wasn't an indication of what the series will be like, I don't know what would. The Hornets have been the surprise team of the season, no doubt. Coming down to the last two games of the year, they still had a shot at winning the West. That's impressive for a little-known team with little-known players. Even the "now renowned" Chris Paul didn't really have a name in the league until after All Star break this year. But they are playing extremely well, at a very high level, and coach Byron Scott has them ready to run.

The Mavericks…well, really, what is there to say about the Mavs? They are so desperate to win after the major blunders in the last two years that they went and made another blunder. They traded away a young, dynamic point guard for an aged one. No disrespect for Jason Kidd. The man can still play and he'll be in the Hall of Fame. But this was a trade Dallas didn't need to make, and Kidd isn't the right man to push Dallas over their mental and physical hurdle.

Dallas gave away the 2006 Finals to the Heat after being up 2-0. They'll never live that down. And then, last year, just when you think they had everything to prove, they got ousted by the upset of upsets. Number one seed Mavs got booted and run off the court by the number eight seed, barely snuck into the playoffs, Warriors.

The Mavs are soft, plain and simple. Both mentally and physically, they are soft and cannot compete. They don't show up when they need to. They are like the Sacramento Kings in the late 90s, early 2000s. They're good, they contend annually, but when push came to shove, they fall part. Ask the Lakers about that one. If Dallas wanted to win, wanted to get mentally and physically tougher in the playoffs, they should have pulled the trigger on Shaq, not Kidd.

Prediction: New Orleans Hornets (4-2)


Sean Garmer: Oh this is hard, I'm a diehard Mavs fan and while they are more talented, all the blunders from the years before have me weary. Hornets have the likely MVP and he has the potential to blow up in this series. Still I can't pick against my Mavs, not in the first round anyway.

Prediction: Dallas Mavericks (4-2)



3) San Antonio Spurs vs. 6) Phoenix Suns


Ken Schmidt: This is exactly what the Suns wanted. They made the Shaq trade so that they could keep pace with the team that took them down last year. Revenge is still on their mind and the Suns a good record against the Spurs since the Shaq trade. All that being said why am I taking the Spurs? Because it is the freaking Spurs in the playoffs, you won't see my go against them this entire playoffs.

Prediction: San Antonio Spurs (4-3)


Robert Leighty Jr. Phoenix w/ The Big Cactus (Shaq) will get revenge for having last year's series stolen by a David Stern decision. This year Amare stays on the bench if there is a fight, and the Suns run through the aging Spurs. I know people want to compare the Spurs to the Patriots, but in this run, the Spurs have never repeated. That trend continues as Phoenix matches into the 2nd round.

Prediction: Phoenix Suns (4-2)


Porfiro Diaz: If the Suns learned their lesson from last year, then I feel they will finally take down the Spurs. With the thought of getting screwed still burning, the Suns will take their new style of basketball and take it to the Spurs. The Spurs have gotten older, but with age comes experience and are the best built playoff team once again, so the series is expected to be close. But the Suns are a little wiser now, so no more cheap suspensions, especially with Shaq in there. Suns will carry out the success of the Shaq trade into the playoffs and take down the defending champs in seven games. Also, don't be surprised if this series gets a little bit too physical.

Prediction: Phoenix Suns (4-3)


BL Anderson: The Spurs are the defending champions, and this would be the Suns win if they had drawn anybody else in the first round. This is what the Shaq trade was all about: beating the Spurs at their own game. Unfortunately, Shaq is not the player that he once was, while Duncan is still the player that he once was. The Suns window for the championship is now closing, due to the aging of Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and Shaquille O'Neal. The Spurs have already proven themselves. As long as Ginobili and Duncan are healthy, and as long as Tony Parker is still unstoppable with that floater in the paint, the Spurs win this series every time, despite losing the regular season series.

Prediction: San Antonio Spurs (4-3)


Rob Bonnette: I'm going to remove all sense of objectivity here: I want badly for the Suns to win this. I want the Spurs taken out early so that we don't have to fear the possibility of them in the Finals, where they will drag down the TV ratings while trying to make every game into a 85-80 grindout affair. This is a hope and a prayer pick, even though I do think that the Suns can win this thing legit. Like Dallas, they got the right opponent, one where having Shaq makes the biggest difference. I'm going with the wishful thinking.

Prediction: Phoenix Suns (4-2)


Jerome Cusson: I think this is where San Antonio goes down. I think Shaq wants to beat the Spurs badly because of his old Lakers days and to prove something to everyone who thinks he's over the hill. The rest of the Suns should feel angry enough to win this series based on the trash that was that semi-final series. This series is why the Suns got rid of Shaun Marion to get a low post presence. The time has come for Phoenix to make its' run and I believe this is the year.

Prediction: Phoenix Suns (4-2)


Brandon Crow: I'll hand it to both teams. Just when I thought I could care less about these two teams playing again, they go and light it up and make things new. The new-look Suns with the Big Shaqtus may not have been much better in the regular season, but Shaq, even limited as he is these days, will still be a presence and a help in the playoffs. Especially against teams like the Spurs that have a good big man. This series will be tighter and more hotly contested than last year's, and that's regardless of the funny suspensions.

While the Suns are better equipped for the playoffs than a year ago, the Spurs are still the champs. They've been the champs before, and have quite an impressive resume to fall back on. They are perennial contenders and almost perennial champions. In case folks have forgotten, the Spurs won titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. The road to the championship this season still goes through San Antonio, if not literally, than figuratively. Until someone knocks them out…

I think the Spurs will win this series. Too much experience, grit and fundamentals. The only way the Suns come out is if they run like they did last year, tire out the Spurs, and then pound inside to Shaq. They'll have to exercise that strategy to a tee if they want to see the second round.

Prediction: San Antonio Spurs (4-3)


Sean Garmer: The tie of the round here. We get to see if the Suns trade that brought Shaq to Arizona will get them over the hump. Truly though, the Spurs have a curse over the Suns, there is a reason that Phoenix is where "Nothing Happens" but it will be close.

Prediction: San Antonio Spurs (4-3)


4) Utah Jazz vs. 5) Houston Rockets (Rockets with Homecourt)


Ken Schmidt: I have been wondering if the Rockets were an abberition with their extremely long winning streak and great play without their star center. This series will be nothing like the rest of the Western playoffs, while the other three are shootouts this game will be a lot of scores in the mid 80s. Solid D vs. Solid D. The problem is I like the Jazz defense a lot better than the Rockets and Rafer Alston was the spark plug of the winning streak but will be the spark plug no more.

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-2)


Robert Leighty Jr. The Rockets were a huge story when the won 22 straight, but have since cooled. I give the edge to the Jazz because they have one of the best PG in the league. McGrady will have to wait another year to get out of the playoffs. This will be a great series, and I expect the Jazz to win all their games at home (very difficult place to play) and will steal in a game in Clutch City.

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-3)


Porfiro Diaz New year, same story. Last year, the Rockets let the Jazz escape with a game 7 victory. Good news, the Rockets won't have to worry about another Game 7 failure. Bad news, it will be because the Jazz will finish off the series before then. Utah is actually a pretty great team and has all the makings of providing a championship run. Sure, the media doesn't pay any attention to them, so the only way to get their attention is by coming out as the best team in the West this year.

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-2)


BL Anderson: The Jazz are very much underrated, because nobody gets to see them on national TV much. However, they have the right pieces in the right places, and the Rockets will fizzle out, like they always do. Tracy McGrady isn't leading the Rockets anywhere, and they could not have found a worse match-up, as the Rockets will get grinded to a halt, much like the Sixers in the East. Boozer is too good inside, Williams is too good of a creator, the coaching is superior, etc. The Rockets may want to consider blowing things up, because not getting out of the first round after winning 22 straight this spring during the regular season must certainly hurt those in charge of this thing. The Jazz are too cohesive not to pull this one off.

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-1)


Rob Bonnette: Having no Yao Ming will cost the Rockets here, plain and simple. Carlos Boozer is too much handle inside, and will absolutely kill them on the pick and rolls. Remember this same Rockets team lost to Utah in seven last year with Yao, so there's no way you can expect them to win without him. They'll win a game at home, maybe two, off of emotion and because the Jazz are awful on the road this season, but they have no chance at winning this thing.

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-2)


Jerome Cusson: I'm a huge Utah Jazz fan without the Bulls being involved in postseason action. See, the Jazz actually try to play the game while the Bulls can't even show up on time for games. This team gets very little respect from the mainstream media. They were the one team that didn't make any sexy deals or go on a large winning streak. This is a very good and capable team. I know Houston's role players improved a lot after Yao's injury, but I can't see McGrady winning without a real low post scorer. I expect Deron Williams to show why he's one of the most underrated players in the league (just like last year).

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-2)


Brandon Crow: This should also be a supremely competitive series. How can numbers 4 and 5 not be? Additionally, even though the Jazz are ranked higher, as number 4, it's actually the Rockets, at number 5 who have the home court advantage! Yeah, figure that one out… The Rockets have outperformed all expectations this year. They even went on that 22 game winning streak, much of it without Yao. That's impressive. However, I think the Rockets have played beyond their talent and beyond their capabilities in that run. They are not that good of a team. Just look at how they ended their season, after the streak was snapped.

Utah is a tough, gritty, hard-pounding team that has been tested in the playoffs. Last year, they went to the Western Conference finals and lost to the Spurs, which is no shame. They're looking to prove themselves this year, and unfortunately for the Rockets, their heads are on the chopping block first. Deron Willliams, Carlos Boozer and "AK 47" will be too much for the Rockets to handle.

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-2)


Sean Garmer: That whole 22 game run was a fluke for the Rockets and they will prove it in this series. The Jazz are a year older and a year more experienced. McGrady can't carry this team, and there is too much for Houston to deal with here.

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-2)


Alrighty, that's it for the first round. Join us again soon for the next one.