Nets-Heat could be East's best first-rounder
It took 82 games to sort it out, but the Leastern Conference sure ended the season with a bang. Four teams needed big wins tonight and all four got them.
Unfortunately for one, the Cavs, a win won't be enough. For the second straight year, a momumental collapse by the Cavs at the end of the season has cost them a playoff berth. New owner Dan Gilbert will make major changes this summer to make sure it won't happen again.
Now that the East is set, let's take a look at the matchups.
(1) Heat vs. (8) Nets
I think this is going to be a great 1-8 series. Richard Jefferson has been cleared to play. If Lawrence Frank can find a way to integrate him back into the team over the next three days of practice, the Nets are going to be dangerous. Vince Carter and Jason Kidd are really clicking and Nenad Krstic has been the most underrated rookie in the league this year. In other words, the Nets have enough ammunition to make this very competitive. Still, with Shaq and Dwyane Wade clicking I think the Heat will pull it out.
Insider prediction: Heat in 7
(2) Pistons vs. (7) Sixers
Allen Iverson is having the best year of his career but I don't see him having enough to dismantle the most cohesive team in the league. Detroit doesn't have anyone on their roster with the talent of Iverson, but after AI, I'd take any member of the Pistons' starting five over Philly's next best player. I've stuck with the Pistons as my pick to make it back to Finals all year and I'm not wavering now, especially after their 11-1 finish on the season.
Insider prediction: Pistons in 5
(3) Celtics vs. (6) Pacers
Both the Pacers and Pistons took a huge sigh of relief when Jannero Pargo's last second shot came up short on Wednesday night. No one on either team wanted to see a Pistons-Pacers first-round matchup. While it would've been great made-for-TV drama, both teams have moved on and didn't want the distractions it would bring. A second round matchup, however, is a real possibility. The Celtics have been great since Antoine Walker came on board in February, but the Pacers seem like a team of destiny. Their playoff berth is a miracle given all they've been through. If you don't believe that Reggie Miller and company have enough left in them to win one more playoff series, you haven't watched the Pacers lately.
Insider prediction: Pacers in 7
(4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards
This should be a great series. The Bulls are a fantastic defensive team that relies on one guy, Ben Gordon, to carry the load scoring. The Wizards are a fantastic offensive team that rarely asks anyone to defend. If the Bulls had Eddy Curry and Luol Deng, I'd give them the nod. But without either, I think the Wizards will be tough to contain. Their big backcourt should give the Bulls a lot of problems. And without Curry doing damage in the paint, the Wizards' weak interior defense will get a break.
Insider prediction: Wizards in 7
posted: April 20, 2005 8:31:45 PM PDT | Feedback
The West is set
The last day of the season is usually filled with suspense as teams jockey for the final playoff seed and playoff position.
But Wednesday night will be irrelevant in the West this year.
The Western Conference playoff seedings were locked into place Monday night. No matter what happens in the next two days, the playoffs matchups are set.
Here are my initial impressions:
(1) Suns vs. (8) Grizzlies This could be the only 4-0 series in the first round – but it will still be entertaining. The Grizzlies have played the Suns well this season and split the series with them 2-2. The Grizzlies are the deepest team the league. The Suns have the best starting five. Fratello likes his team to dig in on defense. D'Antoni has been unleashing offensive hell all season. It will be a contrast in styles, but given the Grizzlies' woes of late, I just don't see them hanging with Phoenix. Insider prediction: Suns in 5
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Nuggets This could be the best series in the playoffs this year. Based on what they've done since the All-Star break, this could be the equivalent of a Western Conference finals preview. Since George Karl took over in Denver, the Nuggets easily have bested the the Spurs both at home and in San Antonio. I still feel that the Spurs are the best team in the league and will find a way to get past the Nuggets. They have more experience, the best player on the floor and home-court advantage. But this one will go down to the wire. Insider prediction: Spurs in 7
(3) Sonics vs. (6) Kings The Sonics get the best possible matchup -- Sacramento. Against the Nuggets or Rockets, it was very likely that the Sonics were going home. The Kings, on the other hand, are more banged up than Seattle is at the moment. Peja Stojakovic, Brad Miller and Bobby Jackson are all hurt. The Kings are hoping all three are ready for the playoffs, but there are no guarantees right now. The Sonics miss Vladimir Radmanovic desperately, but at least the rest of their team is intact. The Kings can never seem to get a break in the playoffs and I don't expect them to get one this year, either. Insider prediction: Sonics in 7
(4) Mavericks vs. (5) Rockets This might be the second-best matchup in the first round, after Spurs-Nuggets. But I think that the Mavericks' depth should carry the day. The truth is that the Rockets, despite all their additions, are really still a two-man team. Jerry Stackhouse, the Mavs' sixth man, would be the third-best player on the Rockets. As long as Erick Dampier can stay healthy enough to muscle around Yao, I think the Mavs will roll. Insider prediction: Mavs in 6
posted: April 20, 2005 1:18:45 AM PDT | Feedback
It took 82 games to sort it out, but the Leastern Conference sure ended the season with a bang. Four teams needed big wins tonight and all four got them.
Unfortunately for one, the Cavs, a win won't be enough. For the second straight year, a momumental collapse by the Cavs at the end of the season has cost them a playoff berth. New owner Dan Gilbert will make major changes this summer to make sure it won't happen again.
Now that the East is set, let's take a look at the matchups.
(1) Heat vs. (8) Nets
I think this is going to be a great 1-8 series. Richard Jefferson has been cleared to play. If Lawrence Frank can find a way to integrate him back into the team over the next three days of practice, the Nets are going to be dangerous. Vince Carter and Jason Kidd are really clicking and Nenad Krstic has been the most underrated rookie in the league this year. In other words, the Nets have enough ammunition to make this very competitive. Still, with Shaq and Dwyane Wade clicking I think the Heat will pull it out.
Insider prediction: Heat in 7
(2) Pistons vs. (7) Sixers
Allen Iverson is having the best year of his career but I don't see him having enough to dismantle the most cohesive team in the league. Detroit doesn't have anyone on their roster with the talent of Iverson, but after AI, I'd take any member of the Pistons' starting five over Philly's next best player. I've stuck with the Pistons as my pick to make it back to Finals all year and I'm not wavering now, especially after their 11-1 finish on the season.
Insider prediction: Pistons in 5
(3) Celtics vs. (6) Pacers
Both the Pacers and Pistons took a huge sigh of relief when Jannero Pargo's last second shot came up short on Wednesday night. No one on either team wanted to see a Pistons-Pacers first-round matchup. While it would've been great made-for-TV drama, both teams have moved on and didn't want the distractions it would bring. A second round matchup, however, is a real possibility. The Celtics have been great since Antoine Walker came on board in February, but the Pacers seem like a team of destiny. Their playoff berth is a miracle given all they've been through. If you don't believe that Reggie Miller and company have enough left in them to win one more playoff series, you haven't watched the Pacers lately.
Insider prediction: Pacers in 7
(4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards
This should be a great series. The Bulls are a fantastic defensive team that relies on one guy, Ben Gordon, to carry the load scoring. The Wizards are a fantastic offensive team that rarely asks anyone to defend. If the Bulls had Eddy Curry and Luol Deng, I'd give them the nod. But without either, I think the Wizards will be tough to contain. Their big backcourt should give the Bulls a lot of problems. And without Curry doing damage in the paint, the Wizards' weak interior defense will get a break.
Insider prediction: Wizards in 7
posted: April 20, 2005 8:31:45 PM PDT | Feedback
The West is set
The last day of the season is usually filled with suspense as teams jockey for the final playoff seed and playoff position.
But Wednesday night will be irrelevant in the West this year.
The Western Conference playoff seedings were locked into place Monday night. No matter what happens in the next two days, the playoffs matchups are set.
Here are my initial impressions:
(1) Suns vs. (8) Grizzlies This could be the only 4-0 series in the first round – but it will still be entertaining. The Grizzlies have played the Suns well this season and split the series with them 2-2. The Grizzlies are the deepest team the league. The Suns have the best starting five. Fratello likes his team to dig in on defense. D'Antoni has been unleashing offensive hell all season. It will be a contrast in styles, but given the Grizzlies' woes of late, I just don't see them hanging with Phoenix. Insider prediction: Suns in 5
(2) Spurs vs. (7) Nuggets This could be the best series in the playoffs this year. Based on what they've done since the All-Star break, this could be the equivalent of a Western Conference finals preview. Since George Karl took over in Denver, the Nuggets easily have bested the the Spurs both at home and in San Antonio. I still feel that the Spurs are the best team in the league and will find a way to get past the Nuggets. They have more experience, the best player on the floor and home-court advantage. But this one will go down to the wire. Insider prediction: Spurs in 7
(3) Sonics vs. (6) Kings The Sonics get the best possible matchup -- Sacramento. Against the Nuggets or Rockets, it was very likely that the Sonics were going home. The Kings, on the other hand, are more banged up than Seattle is at the moment. Peja Stojakovic, Brad Miller and Bobby Jackson are all hurt. The Kings are hoping all three are ready for the playoffs, but there are no guarantees right now. The Sonics miss Vladimir Radmanovic desperately, but at least the rest of their team is intact. The Kings can never seem to get a break in the playoffs and I don't expect them to get one this year, either. Insider prediction: Sonics in 7
(4) Mavericks vs. (5) Rockets This might be the second-best matchup in the first round, after Spurs-Nuggets. But I think that the Mavericks' depth should carry the day. The truth is that the Rockets, despite all their additions, are really still a two-man team. Jerry Stackhouse, the Mavs' sixth man, would be the third-best player on the Rockets. As long as Erick Dampier can stay healthy enough to muscle around Yao, I think the Mavs will roll. Insider prediction: Mavs in 6
posted: April 20, 2005 1:18:45 AM PDT | Feedback