Post by GP on Mar 30, 2008 1:49:48 GMT -5
Galo Pesantes
BBS Senior Writer[/i]
No. 1 Seattle Sonics (59-23) vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies (38-44)
The Match-up: The Sonics were revamped by GM Aar but still find themselves at the top of the West yet again. Aar took a chance by trading forward Pau Gasol and going with a pure outside threat strategy with Rip Hamilton and Quentin Richardson. The result? 59 wins and home court advantage.
As for the Grizzlies, they stumble into the playoff after quite a season’s worth of controversy. GM Chris Martinez had his club playing for the sake of his stay in BBS and managed to get with a one game advantage over the Portland Trail Blazers. Now despite being the lowest scoring team in the playoffs, Memphis is a very strong team on the defensive end, ending the season top three in fewest points allowed.
Key Players:
SEA- Quentin Richardson, G
Led the Sonics in points per game, field goal and three point shooting percentage.
MEM- Caron Butler, F
Carried the Grizzlies with over 18 a game while shooting over 47% from the field.
Predicted Outcome:
Sonics in 5. The Grizzlies are very good with their defensive tactics but the Sonics offense is tops in the league. In addition, the Sonics’ bigs are sure to gobble up the frontcourt for the Grizzlies who boast Stomile Swift as their best big down low.
No. 2 Utah Jazz (57-25) vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers (40-42)
The Match-up: Last year’s Finals runner up is back this year with a vengeance. The Jazz finished only two games behind the Sonics for the top spot in the standings and finished the season with the best home mark in the conference. Like the Grizzlies, Utah puts a blanket over offenses during games as they hold opponents less than 92 points per game.
The Lake Show on the other end of the spectrum allows the most points a game as a team than any other in the league. Still, the Lakers are led by perennial MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki who has been rumored to be dealt several times this year. Besides Nowitzki, there is not much star power on the Lakers this season.
Key Players:
UTA- Shaquille O’Neal, C
The Diesel is still a formidable presence down low with over 28 a game with 12 boards and 3 blocks.
LAL- Dirk Nowitzki, F
The German forward scores more than Shaq but gets less than 4 rebounds than him as well as three blocks less.
Predicted Outcome:
Jazz in 6. Dirk is good enough for at least two wins in the playoffs for Los Angeles. But the Jazz defense is just too good. They also shoot a very high percentage as a team and rebound as good as any team in the league.
No. 3 Golden State Warriors (49-33) vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns (41-41)
The Match-up: After a ridiculed deal on the trade wire earlier this week, Jason Kidd is still a Warrior and the floor general of the second best team in the Pacific. Golden State has three scorers who can put up 20 on any given night and has a bench as deep as any other in the association.
The Suns meanwhile have banked on the acquisition of Vin Baker, 31, who has been nothing but solid on this team. This team may be set for a one year run however, as much of its roster will be free agents this coming off-season. Nonetheless, the Suns have a nice group of veterans mixed with youngsters which led them to a .500 finish this year.
Key Players:
GSW- Elton Brand, F
Brand has been a rock for the Warriors all season averaging nearly 25 and 12.
PHO- Rashard Lewis, F
Lewis will have to step up his scoring for the Suns to have a chance this series.
Predicted Outcome:
Warriors in 5. Unless there is a dramatic depth chart change or an injury, the Warriors should take this series handily. The Suns have some nice depth down low but Brand will devour their bigs while their reserves finish them off. Also, Brandon may have nothing left in the tank to compete with the likes of Kidd.
No. 4 Dallas Mavericks (44-38) vs. No. 5 Denver Nuggets (42-40)
The Match-up: Besides being the Mavs against the Nuggs, it’s a matchup of GMs who are not fond of each other, Ducky and Dave. Ducky’s Nuggets were riding high much of the season but fell apart with a series of injuries and poor play. While Dave’s Mavericks, started off slow, caught on fire but finished the season losing seven of their last 10.
During the regular season, the Nuggets won the series 3-1, with no games that were very close. However Dave is known to make playoff depth chart changes so this should make it an interesting series to watch.
Key Players:
DAL- LeBron James, G
The King will have to up his scoring to the likes of his counterpart, Allen Iverson in this matchup.
DEN- Allen Iverson, G
Iverson is the quicker one of the two, but could be overmatched by James’ athleticism.
Predicted Outcome:
Mavs in 7. However there is always at least one upset in the West every year and this may be it, so don’t be surprised if the Ducky takes it. The Nuggets cause a lot of turnovers (among the leaders in steals and blocks) but the Mavs commit the least mistakes in the league, so it could still be a toss-up. But, I believe the X-factors may be Nuggets’ forward Jermaine O’Neal who could have his way offensively with Amare Stoudamire’s undeveloped defensive game and Nash against under matched guards Jason Williams and Steve Francis.
EAST IS FORTHCOMING!
BBS Senior Writer[/i]
No. 1 Seattle Sonics (59-23) vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies (38-44)
The Match-up: The Sonics were revamped by GM Aar but still find themselves at the top of the West yet again. Aar took a chance by trading forward Pau Gasol and going with a pure outside threat strategy with Rip Hamilton and Quentin Richardson. The result? 59 wins and home court advantage.
As for the Grizzlies, they stumble into the playoff after quite a season’s worth of controversy. GM Chris Martinez had his club playing for the sake of his stay in BBS and managed to get with a one game advantage over the Portland Trail Blazers. Now despite being the lowest scoring team in the playoffs, Memphis is a very strong team on the defensive end, ending the season top three in fewest points allowed.
Key Players:
SEA- Quentin Richardson, G
Led the Sonics in points per game, field goal and three point shooting percentage.
MEM- Caron Butler, F
Carried the Grizzlies with over 18 a game while shooting over 47% from the field.
Predicted Outcome:
Sonics in 5. The Grizzlies are very good with their defensive tactics but the Sonics offense is tops in the league. In addition, the Sonics’ bigs are sure to gobble up the frontcourt for the Grizzlies who boast Stomile Swift as their best big down low.
No. 2 Utah Jazz (57-25) vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers (40-42)
The Match-up: Last year’s Finals runner up is back this year with a vengeance. The Jazz finished only two games behind the Sonics for the top spot in the standings and finished the season with the best home mark in the conference. Like the Grizzlies, Utah puts a blanket over offenses during games as they hold opponents less than 92 points per game.
The Lake Show on the other end of the spectrum allows the most points a game as a team than any other in the league. Still, the Lakers are led by perennial MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki who has been rumored to be dealt several times this year. Besides Nowitzki, there is not much star power on the Lakers this season.
Key Players:
UTA- Shaquille O’Neal, C
The Diesel is still a formidable presence down low with over 28 a game with 12 boards and 3 blocks.
LAL- Dirk Nowitzki, F
The German forward scores more than Shaq but gets less than 4 rebounds than him as well as three blocks less.
Predicted Outcome:
Jazz in 6. Dirk is good enough for at least two wins in the playoffs for Los Angeles. But the Jazz defense is just too good. They also shoot a very high percentage as a team and rebound as good as any team in the league.
No. 3 Golden State Warriors (49-33) vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns (41-41)
The Match-up: After a ridiculed deal on the trade wire earlier this week, Jason Kidd is still a Warrior and the floor general of the second best team in the Pacific. Golden State has three scorers who can put up 20 on any given night and has a bench as deep as any other in the association.
The Suns meanwhile have banked on the acquisition of Vin Baker, 31, who has been nothing but solid on this team. This team may be set for a one year run however, as much of its roster will be free agents this coming off-season. Nonetheless, the Suns have a nice group of veterans mixed with youngsters which led them to a .500 finish this year.
Key Players:
GSW- Elton Brand, F
Brand has been a rock for the Warriors all season averaging nearly 25 and 12.
PHO- Rashard Lewis, F
Lewis will have to step up his scoring for the Suns to have a chance this series.
Predicted Outcome:
Warriors in 5. Unless there is a dramatic depth chart change or an injury, the Warriors should take this series handily. The Suns have some nice depth down low but Brand will devour their bigs while their reserves finish them off. Also, Brandon may have nothing left in the tank to compete with the likes of Kidd.
No. 4 Dallas Mavericks (44-38) vs. No. 5 Denver Nuggets (42-40)
The Match-up: Besides being the Mavs against the Nuggs, it’s a matchup of GMs who are not fond of each other, Ducky and Dave. Ducky’s Nuggets were riding high much of the season but fell apart with a series of injuries and poor play. While Dave’s Mavericks, started off slow, caught on fire but finished the season losing seven of their last 10.
During the regular season, the Nuggets won the series 3-1, with no games that were very close. However Dave is known to make playoff depth chart changes so this should make it an interesting series to watch.
Key Players:
DAL- LeBron James, G
The King will have to up his scoring to the likes of his counterpart, Allen Iverson in this matchup.
DEN- Allen Iverson, G
Iverson is the quicker one of the two, but could be overmatched by James’ athleticism.
Predicted Outcome:
Mavs in 7. However there is always at least one upset in the West every year and this may be it, so don’t be surprised if the Ducky takes it. The Nuggets cause a lot of turnovers (among the leaders in steals and blocks) but the Mavs commit the least mistakes in the league, so it could still be a toss-up. But, I believe the X-factors may be Nuggets’ forward Jermaine O’Neal who could have his way offensively with Amare Stoudamire’s undeveloped defensive game and Nash against under matched guards Jason Williams and Steve Francis.
EAST IS FORTHCOMING!