Round one

The NBA Playoff seedings and match-ups have been finalized, and as promised, here are my predictions with regards to the outcomes of each of the eight battles that loom ahead in the opening round.

Let’s start things off with the Eastern Conference:

No. 1 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 8 Boston Celtics - The Pacers were the only team to surpass 60 wins for the season and have secured homecourt advantage throughout the postseason. Their amazing forward tandem of all-stars Jermaine O’Neal and Ron Artest have played very well throughout the year. The Paul Pierce-led Celtics on the other hand, had to scramble to make it to the playoffs. It will be interesting to see whether Pierce can get his way offensively, especially against Artest, who is the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the year honors.
My prediction: Pacers.

No. 2 New Jersey Nets vs. No. 7 New York Knicks - The point guard matchup between the Nets’ Jason Kidd and the Knicks’ Stephon Marbury will be a major factor in this series. The Nets have won the Eastern Conference crown in each of the past two seasons, and this gives them a slight edge in terms of experience. Expect an all-out war in this series.
My prediction: Nets

No. 3 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks - The Pistons suffocating defense is currently the best in the NBA. Their defensive play this season has in fact broken several NBA records. The Bucks meanwhile, blew a chance to claim the no. 4 seed when they failed to get a win from any of their last three regular season games. Their punishment? Instead of having homecourt advantage and facing a relatively weaker team in the first round, they get the unenviable task of matching-up with probably the most dangerous team in the East right now.
My prediction: Pistons.

No. 4 Miami Heat vs No. 5 New Orleans Hornets - This series feature two teams that went contrasting ways throughout the regular season. On one side you have the Heat, who started the season with a losing record and played catch-up the rest of the year, eventually earning the no.4 spot and the first round homecourt advantage privilege that went with it. The Hornets on the other hand, started the season strong, but faltered towards the latter part owing mainly to injuries to their key players. On paper, Hornets have a slight edge, however if both of these teams continue to play the way they’ve been playing lately, the scales will tilt in the Heat’s favor.
My prediction: Hornets.

And now, we move on to the mighty Western Conference:

No. 1 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 8 Denver Nuggets - For each of the past seven seasons, the T’wolves have reached the playoffs, only to find themselves being eliminated in the first round every single year. This year, in order to break that jinx, the management has complemented their main man Kevin Garnett with a superb cast. The result was that the T’wolves powered their way to the top of the standings in the West, thereby earning homecourt advantage throughout the Western conference playoffs. The Nuggets on the other hand, made history by becoming the first team ever to make the playoffs after failing to notch 20 wins in the preceding season (they had a 17-65 win loss record last year). But they will have their hands full in trying to contain Garnett (who is having a phenomenal season and will most likely run away with the regular season MVP award - another prediction, hehehe) and the rest of the T’wolves.
My prediction: Timberwolves.

No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 7 Houston Rockets - Houston, we’ve got a problem. How do you stop the Lakers’ fab four of Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton from dominating this series? Will Yao Ming be able to hold his own against the imposing presence of the Lakers’ frontline? Can Steve Francis match the explosive firepower of the Lakers’ backcourt? Is coach Jeff Van Gundy capable of outwitting the Zen master Phil Jackson? Should I stop asking these questions to the Rockets, and send them suggestions instead (hehehe)? The Lakers are again in a roller-coaster ride on and off the court. Controversies continue to hound almost everyone in the organization. So, what else is new? But make no mistake. If (and this is a BIG IF) they are healthy and able to get their acts together, this team is capable of running any opponent to the ground.
My prediction: Lakers.

No. 3 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Memphis Grizzlies - The Defending Champion Spurs are the hottest team in the league right now, having won all of their last 11 games in the regular season. They now find themselves going up against the Grizzlies, who are celebrating their first-ever postseason appearance. With that 11 game winning streak, the Spurs also have somewhat installed themselves as the ‘team to beat’ in this year’s playoff war. The neophyte Grizzlies will have a hard time in contending against the playoff savvy of Tim Duncan and the rest of the Spurs.
My prediction: Spurs.

No. 4 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks - Expect an exciting and high scoring series in this one as both teams share a common trademark: excellent in offense but poor in defense. Certainly the Kings are disappointed that they were not able to hold on to the no. 1 seed after lording it over the top of the conference for most of the regular season. But they only have themselves to blame with their recent collapse towards the regular season’s homestretch. As for the Mavs, their amazing 36-5 home win-loss record is tops in the league but their road record is a mediocre16-25. This could mean that the homecourt advantage that will be enjoyed by the Kings will be a big factor.
My prediction: Kings.

To the teams that I picked to win: may you play true to your potentials.
To those that I didn’t: may you rise against the odds and prove me wrong.

Good luck to all of these teams.