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Luckily March Madness is over and we can get on to predicting games that are less of a crap shoot than college basketball. Everyone knows in a one game match, anything can happen. Just ask Iowa or Memphis fans about that one. The NBA playoff experience is still difficult to call sometimes since this is often the first time you see an entire team trying to win a basketball game. Late April come May, during most NBA games you will likely see passing and playmaking, let alone some defense from time to time. I’m only kidding of course, but teams definitely perform up to potential in the playoffs. Without further delay, here is my best guess as to how the 2006 playoffs will breakdown.
The Western Conference has long been hailed as the stronger of the two conferences, however, it seems like the winds may be changing. Regardless take San Antonio in the first round. Between Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobli, you have three weapons that few teams can defend against. The Spurs will win in four over the Sacremento Kings.
In another four-game sweep, I’ll take Phoenix over the LA Lakers. This should actually be a no-brainer, but the Suns often make a habit of poor performances in the playoffs. Still, they are playing the Lakers, who, as Ryan Clark properly asserted, are basically a team full of CBAers.
Next, in a battle made for classic soccerballers, Dallas squares off against Memphis. In this series, highlighted by European stars Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol, I figure it will take six games for Dallas to advance. Memphis has lost four times this year to Dallas already, and while I don’t expect them to lose seven straight, Dallas does a much better job of controlling games, and has considerable playoff experience.
Finally, unless Carmelo and Kenyon wake up the rest of Denver, expect the Clippers to march right along into the second round. Denver has made great strides as a team in the past few years, but they are an overrated three seed and the Clippers are a well-balanced team – Clips in five. In the conference semis, San Antonio should beat Dallas in six, and Phoenix will beat the Clippers in seven.
This year’s final will see Nash and Marion get past the Spurs into the Championship. Nash is better than he was last year, Marion had an MVP-like season, and the Spurs have been too hot lately, which actually scares me. Plus, Phoenix might have more to prove this year, compensating for the loss of Amare Stoudemire.
Moving along to the Eastern Conference, I’ll take Detroit in four games over Milwaukee and then four games over Cleveland. Expect LeBron and company to get past the Wizards in six. The Wizards have two great players in Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, but I still expect Cleveland to roll past the Wizards.
In New Jersey, the Nets should take care of the Pacers in five games, as they have returned to resemble the Nets of old. New Jersey is strong from top to bottom, and it looks like Vince Carter is trying to win games again. With Vince, Kidd, Jefferson and Krstic at the helm, New Jersey could be in for a long playoff run. Indiana also seems worn down, desperately missing a go-to guy. All things considered, the Nets will win in six.
For the last first-round series, expect Miami to roll Chicago in four. Miami is a solid basketball team, who can find ways to win when Dwayne Wade or Shaq aren’t at the top of their game. Next, Miami should handle New Jersey in six games, although I will say New Jersey could be the darkhouse here. New Jersey beat Miami three times this season, however the stakes are on the table in May, so I still have to go with Miami, who is an experienced winning team. When all is said and done in the East, Detroit will beat Miami once again, in six games, to go on to the NBA Finals.
The East will finally prevail this year when Detroit beats Phoenix in six games. Their team chemistry will overwhelm the run-and-gun philosophy that defines Phoenix. Don’t get too excited for the Finals yet, though – remember anything can happen, and the championship round isn’t played until late June.
