Western Conference
(1) LA Lakers vs (8) Oklahoma City
Dangit I really like Oklahoma City. The Thunder have a good roster. Their young players play well together and Kevin Durant is awesome. I like what Russell Westbrook brings to the game. Jeff Green, James Harden, and Thabo Sefolosha have proven to be valuable role players capable of stepping up and having big games. This is a good team. It really is.
Too bad they finish fourth in their division. Wait, is it possible to win 50-games and still be fourth in your division. In the West, more specifically the Northwest apparently yes.
The Thunder have a great season and how do they get rewarded? A trip to LA against the city’s good team in the first round. Poor Thunder.
With the third best record in the league, the defending champs enter the playoffs with more question marks than last season. Showing inconsistency at times this year, the Lakers seemed almost indifferent at times. But their roster is too good to be ignored. And despite some struggles, they still are the number one seed in the brutal Western conference.
Did you know Kobe has FOUR championship rings? Kobe Bryant is a masterful playoff artist. And this year, he probably has the best overall team on either side of the bracket. The Lakers are going to be tough to beat in a seven-game series.
Because I like the Thunder so much I’ll give them two games, but LA is too good.
Lakers in 6
(4) Denver vs (5) Utah
What makes the Western conference so difficult is the miniscule separation between playoff teams. The top-seeded Lakers only won seven more games than the eight-seeded Thunder. Denver and Utah? Same record. So your saying advantage Denver because of homecourt advantage? Considering the Nuggets finished tied for the second-best home record in the NBA, I could agree. The Nuggets are just so blasted inconsistent.
Carmelo Anthony is a top-flight NBA player. Though he’s gotten better with his attitude, he still doesn’t bring it every night. JR Smith is an explosive scorer who, when hot can put up 40. Or when not, shoot Denver right out of games. I really like Chauncey Billups, Chris Anderson, and Nene Hilario (I thought he didn’t have a last name, when did that change?). But those three are complementary guys. Maybe they can change the pace of a game, but with the exception of Chaunce, it’s unlikely they’ll alter a series.
Utah, on the other hand, is a great team. Typical of Jerry Sloan coached teams, the Jazz play well together and are getting hot (and healthy) at the right time. Deron Williams is one of the most impressive players in the league. And a revitalized Carlos Boozer has been carrying the scoring and rebounding duties for the club. I love this team’s tenacity and killer instinct, led by Williams. They have role players. They have scorers. They play hard. But will it be enough?
Denver is a tough matchup for any team. Carmelo can hurt you from in or outside. But, defensive stopper Wesley Matthews, CJ Miles, and Andrei Kirilenko theoretically have the size and speed to bother the superstar (especially in combination). Billups often uses his size to overpower opposing pg’s. He can’t do that to Williams. Tough matchup, but the Jazz have the pieces in place.
Tough call, but because of the Kyle Korver alliance (I may or may not be friends with his brother) we’ll go Jazz stealing one in Denver.
Jazz in 7
(3) Phoenix vs (6) Portland
For the first time in years, we’re finally seeing a different Phoenix team. Yes, they still lead the NBA in scoring with 110.2 PPG. Yes Steve Nash is still running the show. But, somehow watching them play is different. They run-and-gun, but are better in the half-court. They even play better defense (yes Amare Stoudemire and Nash and still liabilities, but defense is a team thing).
For the first time in the Nash-era, The Suns’ bench has an identity. Newbie Goran Dragic’s presence allowed Nash to limit his minutes to his lowest as a Sun this season. Three-point specialists Jared Dudley and Channing Frye are among the league-leaders in three-point shooting and give a big spark off the bench. The loss of Robin Lopez hurts interior defense and makes the Suns thin on the inside, but it allows more minutes for Frye. They’ll need big minutes from him against Portland.
The Trail Blazers have completed their transition from the Jail Blazer past. Resident good-guy Brandon Roy is a fan favorite. The face of the franchise is a fantastic player to boot. Too bad a partially-torn miniscus will keep him away from the Suns.
While Marcus Camby has been a big addition, I just don’t see enough on the Blazers’ roster without a healthy Roy. Andre Miller and LaMarcus Aldridge can have big games, but are not marquee players.
Suns in 5
(2) Dallas vs (7) San Antonio
I hate the Western conference. How is a team like San Antonio, a team with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli, a seven-seed? Oh yeah, didn’t they add Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess this offseason too? How is this a seventh-place team?
I forgot. They’re not. Its just the West.
The Mavs exploded after trading for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Finally having a center other than Erick Dampier (second best center in the West – self-described years ago despite Shaq’s insistence he was really Erica Dampier in the WNBA – see trivia), maybe its the Mavs time. Jason Kidd is approaching the end, but is still effective. Butler fits well as a third scoring option, while Shawn Marion provides hustle-plays. This is a balanced team, and if Dirk Nowitzki can stave off the playoff demons they have a shot.
I just can’t ignore the Spurs. They’re top-five are too good. They’ve been good for a decade (This hurts a little. It doesn’t seem like five years ago that the Pistons and Spurs fought for supremacy with physical defensive styles. Now the Pistons have Ben Gordon. Times have changed).
Honestly, I like Dallas’s roster better (other than Dampier). But, Gregg Popovich, Duncan, and the Spurs are playoff masters. This is my big (kinda) upset pick.
Spurs in 6
Adam Emmenecker 