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The rest of it was just a warm-up
Enough with the meaningless stuff. It’s time to get down to business. It’s playoff time in the NBA. Now come the games that matter. It took until the last day of the regular season to decide playoff seeding among the top 4 teams in the Western Conference. And for the first time since Michael Jordan’s Bulls teams, an Eastern Conference team posted the best record in the league (Indiana at 61-21). With the regular season race being so tight, these playoffs guarantee to be the most exciting in quite awhile. Here’s the breakdown. WESTERN CONFERENCE (1) Timberwolves vs. (8) Nuggets How did this perennial bridesmaid out in Minnesota turn itself into the bride of the Western Conference? The answer: Management finally decided to surround surefire MVP Kevin Garnett with some top-notch talent. Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell help lift this team to the next level. But make no mistake; the success or failure of this team sits squarely on Garnett’s shoulders. The Nuggets haven’t made the playoffs since Grover Cleveland was in office, but coach Jeff Bzdelik has made this team respectable. And he did it with a rookie. Carmelo Anthony made the jump from NCAA champion to the saving grace of a team that often contended for the worst record in the league. In seven tries, the Timberwolves have never made it out of the first round of the playoffs. But expect this year to be much different. This team could go really far. (2) Lakers vs. (7) Rockets It’s hard to argue with a team with Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Karl Malone. Malone went down in the final game of the season with a sprained ankle, but he’s tough and could very well be back by the first round of the playoffs. This team, which was expected at the beginning of the season to run the table, ended up a disappointing 56-26. Of course you know you’re doing pretty well if 56-26 is disappointing. The Rockets have actually gotten a pretty good draw. The Rockets were a combined 2-10 during the regular season against the other three top tier teams in the conference. They went 2-2 against the Lakers this season. Yao Ming always seems to step up his game when he’s playing against Shaq. It’s become a premiere matchup in the NBA nowadays. This series could very well go seven games. The teams match up well and will undoubtedly the intensity for the playoffs. (3) Spurs vs. (6) Grizzlies The Spurs were a game away from winning the top seed in the conference and come into the playoffs as the hottest team in the league. Two-time league and Finals MVP Tim Duncan is the most fundamentally sound player in the league and can single-handedly dismantle most interior defenses. But he thankfully doesn’t have to do it single-handedly. The Spurs are respectable top to bottom. They have a quality backcourt, as well as one of the league’s top defenders in Bruce Bowen and a strong sixth-man candidate in the erratic yet effective Manu Ginobili. The Grizzlies have quietly made their way into a respectable playoff position. Memphis is making its first trip to the big stage thanks to solid play from a strong lineup without a real superstar. The Grizzlies are led by Pau Gasol. No one on the team averaged more than 18 points and no one was in double digits in rebounds. But the Grizzlies still managed to pull out a 23-21 record against playoff teams, including 3-1 against the Spurs. Whether you’re playing the numbers (57-25) or the trends (11 wins in a row), San Antonio should be able to cruise through this series. (4)Kings vs. (5) Mavericks This will hands-down be the most exciting series in the playoffs. Two teams that contended for their division titles last year (Sacramento won theirs) meet up here. Had the Kings not lost their last game, they would have been the 2-seed, facing the Rockets. Instead they get the run-and-gun Mavs. Peja Stojakovic finished second in the league in scoring (24.2 points per game) and Sacramento has a healthy Chris Webber back and has guards Mike Bibby and Doug Christie. Dallas has one of the most dangerous lineups in the league. Dallas had three players who average above 14.5 points, which ties for most in the league. The Mavericks stacked their team before this season. Dallas picked up Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison, making the most quality additions this side of the Lakers. EASTERN CONFERENCE (1) Pacers vs. (8) Celtics How the Pacers posted the best record in the NBA this season is a mystery even the CSI team couldn’t solve. Don’t misunderstand; they’re good, but they’re not best-record-in-the-NBA good. Jermaine O’Neal, another straight-from-high school product (joined league in 1996, one year after Garnett), has made himself into one of the top players in the NBA. O’Neal averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game. Despite trading away Antoine Walker, one-half of Boston’s star tandem for five years, the Celtics have managed to keep themselves afloat in the playoff race. Or at least Paul Pierce has kept them afloat in the race. Pierce, Boston’s mainstay, averaged the most points of any player from an Eastern Conference playoff team (23.0). And Ricky Davis brought some pizzazz to the most storied franchise in NBA history. (2) Nets vs. (7) Knicks The battle of the Hudson River should bring quite an even more “dynamic” dimension to the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area (i.e. more screaming and middle fingers than usual). New Jersey dropped from Eastern Conference champion the past two years to 47-35, not exactly up to par for the reigning conference champs. Of course New Jersey still boasts Jason Kidd, probably the best point guard in the NBA. While Kidd didn’t have the greatest of years, he still led the league in assists per game with 9.2 while playing in only 67 games. Richard Jefferson brought his game to the next level this season, going from high-flying, highlight-reel regular to consistent team leader. Jefferson led the Nets with 18.5 points per game. The Knicks somehow just materialized in this spot. They made a significant turnaround once Isiah Thomas took over the front office and brought in Stephon Marbury, and they clawed their way to a 7-seed. New York started out the season pretty rough, but managed to salvage it. Give them credit. This will be, most likely, the best point guard matchup in the playoffs, so it may be worth keeping an eye on for that one simple reason. (3) Pistons vs. (6) Bucks Welcome to the most lopsided series of this year’s playoffs. This is where we see why it’s a travesty that the division champions get the top two seeds, even if another team is better than one of the division winners. New Jersey finished 47-35. The Pistons were 54-28. Detroit is the best team in the Eastern Conference. Hands down. Think back 10 months to the 2003 NBA draft. Detroit, with the No. 2 pick, took Darko Milicic. Denver took Carmelo at No. 3. Darko? Deep on Detroit’s bench. Carmelo? Leading the Nuggets to the playoffs. Imagine the possibilities had the Pistons been on the ball. This team could be well on his way to a championship. But in spite of that little bump in the road, the Pistons have pulled out a great season. Ben Wallace once again established himself as a defensive powerhouse, finishing second in the league in both rebounds (12.4 per game) and blocks (3.04 per game). The acquisition of Rasheed Wallace also didn’t hurt Detroit. Rasheed averaged 16.0 points this season, 13.7 after coming to the Motor City. Milwaukee has Michael Redd and Keith Van Horn to thank for this playoff position. Rookie T.J. Ford also did a nice job at point guard, but this team still doesn’t have much of a chance. This series sets up a potential barn-burner in the second round. Pistons vs. Nets should draw a lot of viewers. (4) Heat vs. (5) Hornets This is the series where viewers will be able to take a nap and not miss a lot. Neither of these teams brings a whole lot to the table. Eddie Jones and Lamar Odom, neither of them really superstars, lead the Heat with 17.3 and 17.1 points per game, respectively. Fresno State product Rafer Alston has made a name for himself this season, averaging 10.2 points and 4.5 assists per game. And rookie point guard Dwayne Wade has done surprisingly well this season, racking up 16.2 points per game. The point guard may be the premier matchup to watch in this one, with New Orleans boasting Baron Davis at the point. The Hornets also have Jamal Mashburn and Jamaal Magloire, but this series promises to be nothing special. Can’t sleep? Turn on ABC during the Heat-Hornets game. It’s sure to be a great cure for insomnia. |
