Post by GP on Mar 30, 2008 2:39:04 GMT -5
Galo Pesantes
Senior Writer[/i]
No. 1 Miami (58-24) vs. No. 8 Boston Celtics (47-35)
The Match-up: The reigning champs are looking to be BBS’ first repeat club this playoff season. The Heat have a nice balanced roster when taking a first glance with a nice outside shooter off the bench in Mike Miller, a decent backup big man in Primoz Brezec and a defensive stopper in Doug Christie. Clearly, the only complaint you can have against the Heat is that they could be a bit better defensively.
The Celtics are happy to be in the playoff mix after the Hawks blew their way into the picture while the Wizards organization enjoyed a vacation away from winning. However don’t underestimate this squad. They have three very good weapons from the outside in Manu Ginobilli, Peja Stojakovic and Antoine Walker. If one or more gets hot in this series, look out.
Key Players:
MIA- Vince Carter, G
Vinsanity is still on top of his game but will have to outshoot ‘Toine in this series.
BOS- Peja Stojakovic, G
Shooting a 49 percent clip from downtown, Peja will have to be integral should the C’s have a chance to win.
Predicted Outcome:
Miami in 6. It can be closer if the Celtics luck out and are able to take one of two in Miami and sweep the Heat at their place. Even though the two teams split their season series, the Heat offense seems to be too much too handle even for the Celtics, who are surprisingly near the upper echelon of least points allowed per game.
No. 2 Indiana Pacers (55-27) vs. No. 7 Toronto Raptors (49-33)
The Match-Up: After a tumultuous off-season that landed them no big time point guard, the Pacers still had the last laugh. Indiana nabbed guard Chucky Atkins from Milwaukee to lead the team and next thing you know, the Pacers are the second seed in the playoffs. The Ming-Stackhouse led team is also a force on the defensive end where they are only second to the Jazz in points allowed.
The Raptors have one of the best players in the league at their disposal with Tracy McGrady and one of the best point guards in Tony Parker. However this team’s glaring weakenesses are obviously in the four and five slots where their best options are Kendrick Perkins and Nene Hilario. As a result, the Raptors seem to be in this match-up by default only.
Key Players:
IND- Yao Ming, C
This China giant should have his way down low no matter what the Raptors throw at him.
TOR- Tracy McGrady, G
Despite being undermatched, T-Mac will be good enough to put up his usual numbers and more.
Predicted Outcome:
Indiana in 6. The injury to Ben Wallace should hurt the Pacers’ chances to a sweep but Malik Rose should be good enough to hold down the fort for now. The Pacers’ Desmond Mason will probably be overlooked again because of Stackhouse but should be a big part if the Pacers are to win. Unless Parker and T-Mac explode, this should be a lock for the Pacers to come out victorious.
No. 3 Detroit Pistons (54-28) vs. 6 New Jersey Nets (52-30)
The Match-up: Reilly’s Pistons enter the playoffs on the hottest streak of any team in the league, winning nine of their last 10 contests. Much like the Heat, the Pistons have a nicely balanced lineup and bench with no real superstars but a bunch of great role players and veterans. Guard Mike Finley is having a career year with Detroit averaging nearly 24 a game and should be a focal point against the Nets.
The best guard in the Eastern Conference resides on the New Jersey Nets backcourt. However Kobe Bryant has the luxury of having a perfect running mate in Baron Davis and another scoring threat in Chris Webber at his disposal. However the Nets are not complete as other teams, having to plug in Marcus Fizer and Jalen Rose to platoon at small forward and an immature Samuel Dalembert at center.
Key Players:
DET- Ron Artest, F
The former St. Johns star will have to shut down Bryant to be successful in this series.
NJN- Samuel Dalemert, C
Can this Seton Hall product hold his own with the Pistons’ Theo Ratliff?
Predicted Outcome:
Pistons in 7. Both teams split their season series with very close games throughout with exception of the final game, a blowout by the Pistons. If the Nets can get defensive and rebounding production from Dalembert, they have a very good chance to win this series. If not, the Pistons can flank the Nets defensively at both swing spots and in the big man positions as well.
No. 4 New York Knicks (54-28) vs. No. 5 New Orleans Hornets (53-29)
The Match-Up: Perhaps the most intriguing series of all the playoff series this year is the Knicks against the Hornets. New York is a team that probably should have played better than they finished this year and perhaps the most feared team in the next round. They hold an unlikely line-up of players with Mr. Fundamental Tim Duncan at center, erratic Stephon Marbury at point guard, scoring machine Paul Pierce at shooting guard, an overlooked Jamal Mashburn at small forward and a combination of Scot Pollard and Joel Pryzbilla at power forward.
The Hornets, who finished only one game behind the Pistons and two behind the Pacers in the Central, has the league’s MVP on its team. Mourning at the ripe age at 33, could not be playing any better than this season. His best supporting cast mate is Shawn Marion, who can get near 20 points a game but the rest is dismal with steady yet unspectacular options in Michael Redd and Earl Boykins.
Key Players:
NYK- Paul Pierce, G
Pierce was only second to Mourning in field goal percentage and scoring this season.
NOH- Alonzo Mourning, F
His numbers are phenomenal and should only be better at the tip of this series.
Predicted Outcome:
Knicks in 7. The Knicks do not really have an answer for Mourning but will be able to throw different looks at him to slow him down. The Hornets meanwhile have to worry about the likes of Paul Pierce and Stephon Marbury, two very capable scorers that can light up the scoreboard. The Hornets have to hope for an injury to really gain the upper hand against the Knickerbockers.
Senior Writer[/i]
No. 1 Miami (58-24) vs. No. 8 Boston Celtics (47-35)
The Match-up: The reigning champs are looking to be BBS’ first repeat club this playoff season. The Heat have a nice balanced roster when taking a first glance with a nice outside shooter off the bench in Mike Miller, a decent backup big man in Primoz Brezec and a defensive stopper in Doug Christie. Clearly, the only complaint you can have against the Heat is that they could be a bit better defensively.
The Celtics are happy to be in the playoff mix after the Hawks blew their way into the picture while the Wizards organization enjoyed a vacation away from winning. However don’t underestimate this squad. They have three very good weapons from the outside in Manu Ginobilli, Peja Stojakovic and Antoine Walker. If one or more gets hot in this series, look out.
Key Players:
MIA- Vince Carter, G
Vinsanity is still on top of his game but will have to outshoot ‘Toine in this series.
BOS- Peja Stojakovic, G
Shooting a 49 percent clip from downtown, Peja will have to be integral should the C’s have a chance to win.
Predicted Outcome:
Miami in 6. It can be closer if the Celtics luck out and are able to take one of two in Miami and sweep the Heat at their place. Even though the two teams split their season series, the Heat offense seems to be too much too handle even for the Celtics, who are surprisingly near the upper echelon of least points allowed per game.
No. 2 Indiana Pacers (55-27) vs. No. 7 Toronto Raptors (49-33)
The Match-Up: After a tumultuous off-season that landed them no big time point guard, the Pacers still had the last laugh. Indiana nabbed guard Chucky Atkins from Milwaukee to lead the team and next thing you know, the Pacers are the second seed in the playoffs. The Ming-Stackhouse led team is also a force on the defensive end where they are only second to the Jazz in points allowed.
The Raptors have one of the best players in the league at their disposal with Tracy McGrady and one of the best point guards in Tony Parker. However this team’s glaring weakenesses are obviously in the four and five slots where their best options are Kendrick Perkins and Nene Hilario. As a result, the Raptors seem to be in this match-up by default only.
Key Players:
IND- Yao Ming, C
This China giant should have his way down low no matter what the Raptors throw at him.
TOR- Tracy McGrady, G
Despite being undermatched, T-Mac will be good enough to put up his usual numbers and more.
Predicted Outcome:
Indiana in 6. The injury to Ben Wallace should hurt the Pacers’ chances to a sweep but Malik Rose should be good enough to hold down the fort for now. The Pacers’ Desmond Mason will probably be overlooked again because of Stackhouse but should be a big part if the Pacers are to win. Unless Parker and T-Mac explode, this should be a lock for the Pacers to come out victorious.
No. 3 Detroit Pistons (54-28) vs. 6 New Jersey Nets (52-30)
The Match-up: Reilly’s Pistons enter the playoffs on the hottest streak of any team in the league, winning nine of their last 10 contests. Much like the Heat, the Pistons have a nicely balanced lineup and bench with no real superstars but a bunch of great role players and veterans. Guard Mike Finley is having a career year with Detroit averaging nearly 24 a game and should be a focal point against the Nets.
The best guard in the Eastern Conference resides on the New Jersey Nets backcourt. However Kobe Bryant has the luxury of having a perfect running mate in Baron Davis and another scoring threat in Chris Webber at his disposal. However the Nets are not complete as other teams, having to plug in Marcus Fizer and Jalen Rose to platoon at small forward and an immature Samuel Dalembert at center.
Key Players:
DET- Ron Artest, F
The former St. Johns star will have to shut down Bryant to be successful in this series.
NJN- Samuel Dalemert, C
Can this Seton Hall product hold his own with the Pistons’ Theo Ratliff?
Predicted Outcome:
Pistons in 7. Both teams split their season series with very close games throughout with exception of the final game, a blowout by the Pistons. If the Nets can get defensive and rebounding production from Dalembert, they have a very good chance to win this series. If not, the Pistons can flank the Nets defensively at both swing spots and in the big man positions as well.
No. 4 New York Knicks (54-28) vs. No. 5 New Orleans Hornets (53-29)
The Match-Up: Perhaps the most intriguing series of all the playoff series this year is the Knicks against the Hornets. New York is a team that probably should have played better than they finished this year and perhaps the most feared team in the next round. They hold an unlikely line-up of players with Mr. Fundamental Tim Duncan at center, erratic Stephon Marbury at point guard, scoring machine Paul Pierce at shooting guard, an overlooked Jamal Mashburn at small forward and a combination of Scot Pollard and Joel Pryzbilla at power forward.
The Hornets, who finished only one game behind the Pistons and two behind the Pacers in the Central, has the league’s MVP on its team. Mourning at the ripe age at 33, could not be playing any better than this season. His best supporting cast mate is Shawn Marion, who can get near 20 points a game but the rest is dismal with steady yet unspectacular options in Michael Redd and Earl Boykins.
Key Players:
NYK- Paul Pierce, G
Pierce was only second to Mourning in field goal percentage and scoring this season.
NOH- Alonzo Mourning, F
His numbers are phenomenal and should only be better at the tip of this series.
Predicted Outcome:
Knicks in 7. The Knicks do not really have an answer for Mourning but will be able to throw different looks at him to slow him down. The Hornets meanwhile have to worry about the likes of Paul Pierce and Stephon Marbury, two very capable scorers that can light up the scoreboard. The Hornets have to hope for an injury to really gain the upper hand against the Knickerbockers.
