Basket Case: Themes for the playoffs
- From: "$Bill" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:30:35 -0700
Basket Case: Themes for the playoffs
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6692700
Randy Hill / Special to FOXSports.com Posted: 6 hours ago
Playoffs bring intriguing storylines
We may never know if the Los Angeles Clippers tanked at the end in an effort to
secure the 13th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
But we do know which teams spent most of the season winning on purpose. These
16 regular-season survivors are set to begin a postseason that excludes Gilbert
Arenas, microfiber composite basketballs and Joey Crawford.
The first round of match-up insights and predictions is on me:
East
# Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Orlando Magic (8) Season Series: Pistons, 4-0
Theme: This one certainly looks like revenge for several players. Detroit's
Chris Webber can muster motivation to defeat Orlando, which selected him with
the first overall pick in 1993 and then shipped him to Golden State.
Magic center Darko Milicic and forward Grant Hill also have obvious history in
the Motor City.
Match-up to Watch: It'll be interesting to see if Orlando small forward Hedo
Turkoglu has enough quickness to escape the nasty defense of Tayshaun Prince,
the Venus fly trap of the NBA.
Bottom Line: Pistons in four ... again.
# Cleveland Cavaliers (2) vs. Washington Wizards (7) Season Series: Cavaliers,
2-1
Theme: LeBron James won't need to whisper any "Don't miss" suggestions to
Gilbert Arenas.
Match-up to Watch: If the Wizards go big, James will have to expend a great
deal of energy guarding Antawn "Last Man Standing" Jamison. If the Wizards go
small, the task falls to Drew Gooden.
Bottom Line: Cavaliers in five.
# Toronto Raptors (3) vs. New Jersey Nets (6) Season Series: 2-2
Theme: Will Vince Carter miss any games while picking up a post-graduate
degree?
Match-up to Watch: We'll see how long Nets point guard Jason Kidd can chase
T.J. Ford before New Jersey goes with back-up Marcus Williams.
Bottom Line: Raptors in six.
# Miami Heat (4) vs. Chicago Bulls (5) Season Series: Bulls, 3-1
Theme: Dwyane Wade goes home ... but can he still go to the hoop?
Match-up to Watch: The Bulls are paying Ben Wallace good money for strong post
defense. Shaquille O'Neal may qualify as the motivation for this financial
windfall.
Bottom Line: Bulls in seven
West
# Dallas Mavericks (1) vs. Golden State Warriors (8) Season Series: Warriors,
2-1
Theme: Whoa, Nellie!
Match-up to Watch: Enjoy the ultra-athletic perimeter war between the Mavs
(Jason Terry, Devin Harris, Josh Howard) and Warriors (Baron Davis, Monta
Ellis, Jason Richardson). Enjoy seeing the Mavs play defense.
Bottom Line: Mavs in five.
# Phoenix Suns (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7) Season Series: Suns, 3-1
Theme: Go time vs. Slow time.
Match-up to Watch: In addition to the cage match co-sarring Kobe Bryant and
Raja Bell, let's see if Laker Lamar Odom can take quick-rising Sun Shawn Marion
on the post. The Lakers had some success there last season.
Bottom Line: Suns in five.
# San Antonio Spurs (3) vs. Denver Nuggets (6) Season Series: Spurs, 2-1
Theme: Can the Nuggets speed up when the Spurs try to slow "em down?
Match-up to Watch: Spurs Bruce Bowen could make life miserable for Carmelo
Anthony. Let's hope he doesn't ask 'Melo for an autograph.
Bottom Line: Spurs in five.
# Utah Jazz (4) vs. Houston Rockets (5) Season Series: 2-2
Theme: Can T-Mac get past AK-47?
Match-up to Watch: Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy vs. Jazz mastermind Jerry
Sloan. Van Gundy, you may recall, is a disciple of Pat Riley. Sloan is a
disciple, who - according to witnesses - was first seen at The Last Supper.
Bottom Line: Rockets in seven.
.
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