Post by A2J on Mar 5, 2008 10:41:55 GMT -5
#1 Utah Jazz vs. #8 Golden State Warriors
In a tightly packed West, the Warriors are a 44 win team holding the final playoff spot, and would have been an upset contender were they matched up with any team besides the Jazz. Unfortunately, the Warriors are weak in the one position it really matters when playing Utah - their starting center Eddy Curry has the size to match up with Shaq, but his suspect defense and athleticism should make him an easy mark for the Big Aristotle. While Eric Snow will have trouble containing the much larger Joe Johnson, Shaq should prove too much to handle.
Prediction: Jazz in 5
#2 Portland Trailblazers vs #7 Phoenix Suns
One of the most interesting first round matchups in the entire league, the Blazers are a mere four games ahead of the Suns on the season, and feature a similar style of play. The key matchup in the series is obvious; Jason Kidd, the pure PG and supreme defender, against Stephon Marbury, a slightly better scorer but worse defender. Both teams have a strong second start who takes the majority of the scoring load, Jamal Mashburn for the Blazers and Chris Webber for the Suns. Where the key difference comes in is the matchups for these players. While the Suns have the option of using James Posey to slow down Mashburn, the Blazers will have difficulty finding a player to contain Webber. This should be the key factor in a very evenly matched series.
Prediction: Suns in 7
#3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Sacramento Kings
The Spurs will be too much for the elderly and faltering Kings in this series, but don't expect Alonzo and Grant to go down without a fight. Mourning provides possibly the best matchup you could expect to contain Duncan, and the Spurs will be forced to use a grab bag of defenders on either Hill or Eddie Jones, who will both create matchup problems. Even so, the Bibby-Jamison-Duncan machine scores and distributes the ball too well, and I don't expect a 32 year old and underproducing Sam Cassell to be able to stop the younger and quicker Mike Bibby. Duncan's anchoring in the post should prove too much for this Kings team to handle, and the Spurs should go far in the playoffs.
Prediction: Spurs in 6
#4 Denver Nuggets vs. #5 LA Lakers
Two teams with the exact same record face off in the final playoff matchup, looking for the luxury of facing the Jazz in a second round contest. Both teams have a superstar which the other has little hope of containing, as Iverson's quickness and Dirk's size are unmatched by their respective defenders. The difference maker in the series should come from the two team's young frontcourts. Jamaal Magloire, Leon Smith and Zach Randolph will prove to be slightly undermatched compared to the experience that P.J. Brown offers and the talent of Jermaine O'Neal and Ernest Brown. Add in a slight edge at PG for the Nuggets, and they should prevail in this sure to be close series.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7
In a tightly packed West, the Warriors are a 44 win team holding the final playoff spot, and would have been an upset contender were they matched up with any team besides the Jazz. Unfortunately, the Warriors are weak in the one position it really matters when playing Utah - their starting center Eddy Curry has the size to match up with Shaq, but his suspect defense and athleticism should make him an easy mark for the Big Aristotle. While Eric Snow will have trouble containing the much larger Joe Johnson, Shaq should prove too much to handle.
Prediction: Jazz in 5
#2 Portland Trailblazers vs #7 Phoenix Suns
One of the most interesting first round matchups in the entire league, the Blazers are a mere four games ahead of the Suns on the season, and feature a similar style of play. The key matchup in the series is obvious; Jason Kidd, the pure PG and supreme defender, against Stephon Marbury, a slightly better scorer but worse defender. Both teams have a strong second start who takes the majority of the scoring load, Jamal Mashburn for the Blazers and Chris Webber for the Suns. Where the key difference comes in is the matchups for these players. While the Suns have the option of using James Posey to slow down Mashburn, the Blazers will have difficulty finding a player to contain Webber. This should be the key factor in a very evenly matched series.
Prediction: Suns in 7
#3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Sacramento Kings
The Spurs will be too much for the elderly and faltering Kings in this series, but don't expect Alonzo and Grant to go down without a fight. Mourning provides possibly the best matchup you could expect to contain Duncan, and the Spurs will be forced to use a grab bag of defenders on either Hill or Eddie Jones, who will both create matchup problems. Even so, the Bibby-Jamison-Duncan machine scores and distributes the ball too well, and I don't expect a 32 year old and underproducing Sam Cassell to be able to stop the younger and quicker Mike Bibby. Duncan's anchoring in the post should prove too much for this Kings team to handle, and the Spurs should go far in the playoffs.
Prediction: Spurs in 6
#4 Denver Nuggets vs. #5 LA Lakers
Two teams with the exact same record face off in the final playoff matchup, looking for the luxury of facing the Jazz in a second round contest. Both teams have a superstar which the other has little hope of containing, as Iverson's quickness and Dirk's size are unmatched by their respective defenders. The difference maker in the series should come from the two team's young frontcourts. Jamaal Magloire, Leon Smith and Zach Randolph will prove to be slightly undermatched compared to the experience that P.J. Brown offers and the talent of Jermaine O'Neal and Ernest Brown. Add in a slight edge at PG for the Nuggets, and they should prevail in this sure to be close series.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7