Abbreviated NBA Playoff Preview

The NBA playoffs start today and only four teams have a hope in hell of winning the title - Detroit, Miami, San Antonio and Dallas. I like Detroit over San Antonio in the finals because Tim Duncan isn't 100% healthy.

Eastern Conference

Detroit Pistons (1) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (8)
This series is going to be short and ugly. The Pistons have too much talent in their starting five for Milwaukee to overcome. Milwaukee also doesn't have any consistent scoring behind Michael Redd and the Pistons will be able to key in on him and make his life miserable. The Pistons biggest weakness is a lack of depth but that won't make a lick of difference in this series.
Prediction: Detroit in 4

Miami Heat (2) vs. Chicago Bulls (7)
Everybody thought that the Heat would come together on time for the playoffs and be the huge favorite in the east and knock off the Pistons. I don't see it. Dwayne Wade is better than last year, and is arguably the second best player in the league behind Kobe Bryant, but Shaq is on the decline and not playing to the level he did last year. The Heat additions of Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, and Gary Payton hasn't helped chemistry to no one's surprise. But they are still loaded enough to beat the Bulls, even if Shaq is only 80% of what he used to be. The Bulls are not big enough up front and don't have an answer for Wade defensively. The Bulls will score points in this series and win a couple of games and continue to get better because they have a bright future with their young nucleus.
Prediction: Miami in 6

New Jersey Nets (3) vs. Indiana Pacers (6)
This will be an interesting series in the same way a car accident is interesting, The car wreck analogy is a perfect way to sum up the Pacers season after Ron Artest sabotaged them again. They have talent but don't look comfortable as a team right now. On the Jersey side it will be interesting to see how Vince Carter performs. He has absolutely no guts but thankfully for the Nets Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson are the key to this team. These teams offer an interesting contrast as the Nets have a great perimeter game and no inside game at all, and the Pacers have a great inside game and a terrible perimeter game. Pacers center Jermaine O'Neil will be enough for the Pacers to hang around but ultimately Jason Kidd will control the series.
Prediction: New Jersey in 6

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Washington Wizards (5)
The Cavs LeBron James makes his playoff debut and is on his way to becoming the league's best player. The Cavs would have missed the playoffs without him. The Wizards are better than most people think and have some playoff experience. I think the Wizards have more defense than the Cavs who will not be able to stop both Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. LeBron is going to average over 30 per game but he is a year or two away from being to win in the playoffs without a better supporting cast.
Prediction: Wizards in 7

Western Conference

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs. Sacramento Kings (8)
San Antonio won a franchise record 63 games this year despite all world forward Tim Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili playing at about 80% healthy. That's how good point guard Tony Parker has become this year. The Spurs are the west's most mentally tough team and know what it takes to win. The Kings on the other hand are relying on Ron Artest. That says everything about how they are mentally. The Kings are playing with a new found swagger but they just don't have enough to compete with the Spurs.
Prediction: Spurs in 5

Phoenix Suns (2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (7)
This is going to be the most entertaining series in the first round. Every game could finish 120-118. Points are going to be scored and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is going to average over 40 per game for the series and I wouldn't be surprised if he went over 50 a couple of times. As for those who say he's a hog, I say this - He has to score for them to be successful. Think about it how, many teams can start Smush Parker and Kwame Brown and make the playoffs? That's how dominant Kobe is right now and the Suns defense can't stop him. But the Lakers can't stop guard Steve Nash and the Suns offense either and the Suns have too many offensive weapons. Kobe will make this series interesting but none of the other Lakers will score enough to pull off the upset, though if Lamar Odom steps it up the Lakers will win the series.
Prediction: Suns in 6

Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (6)
That's a typo right? The Clippers in the playoffs? Damn right they are in the playoffs and they are dangerous as hell. Anytime your point guard is Sam Cassell you have a chance to win, especially when he's surrounded by guys like Elton Brand and Cory Magette. The Clips are playing with nothing to lose and play an up tempo game with not great but tough interior defense. And they have Cassell to take the big shots so they won't be nervous at the end of games. The Nuggets have Carmelo Anthony who has become a great game on the line player as well. The problem is that Kenyon Martin has not played well the last couple of months and he is their second scoring option. They have a strong defensive game with Marcus Camby anchoring the middle but it won't be enough. This won't really be an upset because the Clips were six games better than the Nuggets in the regular season, but have the lower seed because the Nuggets won their division.
Prediction: Clippers in 6

Dallas Mavericks (4) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (5)
The Mavs play good defense. Another typo? No they really do, they finally figured it out. They don't play Spurs or Pistons defense but they play well enough to potentially win the whole thing because they are still phenomenal offensively. Look for Dirk Nowitzki to dominate games down the stretch and to take all the big shots. The Grizzlies have a well balanced team, led by Pau Gasol, and all five starters are capable of scoring 20 points. That's their problem though, they don't have anyone who really dominates and that's what you need in the playoffs. The Griz are a nice team but no match for the Mavs.
Prediction: Mavericks in 5