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Saturday represents the beginning of one of my favorite times of the year: the start of the NBA playoffs. The regular season ended with a bang, with several playoff positions and one spot still in play on the final day. But now things are finally set after a grueling 82-game season.
So here's my picks:
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8. Chicago Bulls - The Cavaliers are obviously the more talented team with arguably the best player in the league in LeBron James. However, don't completely discount the Bulls right away. One thing they have that makes them dangerous is heart. Guys like lightning-quick guard Derrick Rose and hard-working center Joakim Noah make them a hard out every night, especially when the stakes are at their highest. But the Cavaliers are too talented and will advance. Cavs in 5.
2. Orlando Magic vs. 7. Charlotte Bobcats - While I don't think this Magic team is as good as the one that made it to the NBA Finals a year ago, it is still pretty tough. I wasn't a huge fan of them letting Hedo Turkoglu go and bringing in Vince Carter. However, they shouldn't have a huge problem with Charlotte, which has plenty of talent but doesn't seem to have clear roles set or much chemistry. Stephen Jackson can be such a force - when he wants to be - and the likes of Raymond Felton and Gerald Wallace are more than capable of providing plenty of production. Even if Jackson plays to his potential and the Bobcats can string together some continuity, I don't see them having an answer for Dwight Howard in the middle. The Bobcats' first visit to the playoffs will be a short one. Magic in 5.
3. Atlanta Hawks vs. 6. Milwaukee Bucks - On paper, I would think the Hawks could sweep. However, Atlanta is a team that sometimes doesn't put teams away when it can and allows its opponent new life. The Hawks are probably the best team no one is talking about. If they can get out of their own way and stay consistent throughout the playoffs they could be a big-time factor. What Milwaukee has done this year has been impressive. Andrew Bogut has been a beast - but will be a non-factor since he's hurt - and rookie Brandon Jennings has put doubters to rest. I just don't think the Bucks have as much of a pool of talent as the Hawks, but the scrappy team makes it a battle. Hawks in 6.
4. Boston Celtics vs. 5. Miami Heat - Miami seems to be the trendy pick here. I have to disagree. Boston is aging but still has enough left to at least get out of the first round. Dwyane Wade is clearly one of the best players in the league, but I don't know if the Heat have enough depth to take down the Celtics, who have the added advantage of a wealth of playoff experience. While I won't jump on the Heat bandwagon, I will say it should be the best first-round series in the East. Celtics in 7.
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. Oklahoma City Thunder - The Thunder are a year ahead of what most people predicted just by making the playoffs. If it had finished the season stronger, Oklahoma City might have dodged getting the Lakers in the first round. Unfortunately for the Thunder, they didn't. Oklahoma City has the scoring champion in Kevin Durant, but the Lakers have - in my opinion - the best player in Kobe Bryant. And ... Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, etc. The Lakers are too talented. Lakers in 5.
2. Dallas Mavericks vs. 7. San Antonio Spurs - It seems like it's always a war when these two get together. Everything is bigger in Texas; therefore, so is this series. The Spurs aren't your typical No. 7 seed, not in the Western Conference of this age. We all know the Dirks, Duncans, Ginobilis, Kidds and Parkers. But I think a key will be who has a better series out of Dallas' Caron Butler and San Antonio's Richard Jefferson. I have to go with Caron. Mavericks in 7.
3. Phoenix Suns vs. 6. Portland Trail Blazers - The Suns were on fire to end the season, surging into the third position. The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, found out they will be without star Brandon Roy, who was injured toward the end of the season, for one to two weeks. That makes this series a lot less competitive than it would have otherwise been. Suns in 5.
4. Utah Jazz. vs. 5. Denver Nuggets - The Nuggets as a 5 seed? The West really is tough! I think Jerry Sloan is a great coach and Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA. However, Carmelo Anthony is virtually unstoppable, J.R. Smith is the same when he wants to be and Chauncey Billups is perhaps the strongest competitor in the league. I don't see this as close as many do. Nuggets in 5.
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 4. Boston Celtics - Age catches up to the Celtics. LeBron James is too much for the older Celtics to try to handle. The Celtics struggle when Ray Allen's jumpers clang off the rim, when Kevin Garnett's knees don't give him the same spring and Paul Pierce exhausts him self trying to make up for it. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers cruise into the Eastern Conference finals. Boston's short "dynasty" exits stage left - likely for good. Cavaliers in 5.
2. Orlando Magic vs. 3. Atlanta Hawks - This series could be a war - a war of styles of play. Dwight Howard is the biggest force in this matchup, but he is also the most sorely missed when in foul trouble. I think the Hawks find ways to get Howard into that predicament with their fast-paced game and shoot the ball well enough to pull the upset. Hawks in 7.
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5. Denver Nuggets - It's hard to imagine this not being the Western Conference finals rematch again. Instead it's a semifinal. The Lakers and Nuggets trade punches, with a Melo vs. Kobe battle at center stage. But Pao Gasol has a big series and J.R. Smith fails to show up as the Lakers move on step closer to back-to-back titles. Lakers in 6.
2. Dallas Mavericks vs. 3. Phoenix Suns - This would be a highly entertaining matchup. Lots of scoring. So whoever plays defense, rebounds and wins the hustle points takes the series. I think Amare Stoudemire steps up his game on both ends and Robin Lopez and Louis Admundson provide valuable toughness on the boards and in hustle points as the Suns - dare I say it? - outmuscle the Mavs. Suns in 7.
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 3. Atlanta Hawks - The Atlanta Hawks no longer are flying under the radar at this point and LeBron James and Co. are well aware of them. The Cavaliers buckle down, with LeBron smelling a championship on the brink. The Hawks put up a good fight with Josh Smith giving Antawn Jamison fits, but it isn't enough as the Cavs reach the finals. Cavs in 6.
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 3. Phoenix Suns - The Suns, fresh (uhh, not really) off a tiring series with the Mavs, run out of gas. Meanwhile, the Lakers have plenty in the tank after taking the end of the regular season off (like they really cared they lost all those at the end?) and Kobe and Pau hit their stride at the same time. The combination of Andrew Bynum, Gasol and Lamar Odom slow down an embattled Amare Stoudemire and put a halt to the Suns' run. Lakers in 5.
NBA Finals
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 1. Los Angeles Lakers - Everybody finally gets what they want: LeBron vs. Kobe. It's a battle that will have an impact of years to come. Kobe may not be at the top of his game for much longer, and you know LeBron wants to beat him before "Black Mamba" is out of his prime. This series becomes an epic battle of two of the best players we've ever seen. Coaching plays a big role in this one. Lakers coach Phil Jackson outsmarts Mike Brown, forcing the Cavaliers to revert back to the LeBron-vs.-all-five offensive mentality, which can only work so long. Meanwhile, Kobe gets teammates involved early in the series and provides the dagger toward the end. A frustrated, tired LeBron James loses in his first visit to the NBA Finals, leaving a bittersweet taste that might lead to a train out of Cleveland. The stakes are high for LeBron and the Cavs, especially the future of the two, and I don't see them getting it done despite a great effort. Lakers in 7.
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