The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: 2012 NBA Playoff Preview
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| Grigori Yefemovich Rasputin |
The beginning of the season displayed some bad basketball in many spots as players were getting their legs, wind, and familiarity with new teammates and coaches. However, it's time for the playoffs! I'm a little agitated that I had to pump this out in one day with the season ending Thursday and the playoffs starting Saturday, but here it goes. My apologies if it comes off as sloppy...
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Chicago vs. (8) Philadelphia
I don't expect much from this series. It almost feels just like Chicago/Indiana from last year's playoffs. Philly is a scrappy team that is young and athletic, but they are missing that stabilizing force or forces that top teams have on their roster. Like Indiana last year, I think Philly will keep some games close and definitely make Chicago earn their victories. Nonetheless, it looks like Chicago in 5.
(4) Boston vs. (5) Atlanta
Due to the playoff seeding rules, Atlanta has home court advantage despite being the lower seed due to having a better overall record. Boston was guaranteed a top 4 seed for winning the Atlantic Division. For some bizarre reason, I have just a little more faith in Atlanta. In years past, I've hated them as they would in explicably find themselves as a 4 or 5 seed when I thought they were just okay. I want to have ultimate faith in Boston, but they are thin in the frontcourt, which is evident by being DEAD LAST in rebounding. Their core chemistry and saavy can get them through many teams, but not all. I actually see this as a good series. I think Boston will advance in 7.
(3) Indiana vs. (6) OrlandoWhile Orlando may be deemed shaky due to the recent consternation and the loss of Howard for the rest of the season, I'm not that quick to throw them out. Yes, their chances of advancing deep are all but gone, but I don't think they will be push overs. People are quick to throw Van Gundy under the bus, but look at their roster. Their roster was never that good after Howard and yet remained in the elite class of the Eastern Conference. Van Gundy can coach, despite what Shaq says. Shaq's whole argument against Van Gundy while they were in Miami was that Van Gundy "wasn't proven as a championship coach." Um, excuse me? Every coach started with 0 championships and were thus unproven. Van Gundy will keep them competitive. Indiana is a better, more experienced version of last year's Indiana, especially with the emergence of Paul George (who is a member of the All-Two-First-Name Team with Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard). Indiana should not be looked over. Hibbert should have a great series. Indiana in 6.
***(2) Miami vs. (7) New York***
This has, probably, a lot more sizzle than substance. I think this will be a fun matchup, though. Since D'Antoni stepped down, New York has been playing with more zeal and feistiness. This should serve them well, making them more competitive against arguably the favorites in the east (but we'll see). I get the feeling this will be a scrappy series with lots of glares, bumps, hard fouls, and harmless face-offs. Despite that, Miami is superior, but not as superior as they were earlier in the season when New York was playing lackluster (Lin actually delayed the inevitability of D'Antoni being fired or forced to resign). I hope we get to see Melo and 'Bron going at it in the clutch moments. I like watching Melo when he's fully engaged, which he will be when having to guard 'Bron, perhaps, in spots during the clutch. I wish he would be this way more often. Should be entertaining with a Miami victory in 5.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
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| The reigning NBA Coaching Champion |
How about that. We witnessed the resurgence of Tony Parker and reemergence of Devin Harris. Utah is a very solid team. It's just too bad that the state of Utah is too westerly to be considered being in the east. They will have at least a puncher's chance in every game with Harris, Milsap, who I love, and Jefferson. San Antonio is just doing it with Tony Parker, an aged Tim Duncan, Manu and his bald spot, and a phalanx of producing role players that now have more experience. Popovich is currently holding the, fictitious, Coaching Title Belt. Utah will be scrappy, but I like San Antonio in 6. I'm thinking Utah will win their first 2 home games.
(4) Memphis v. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
It's not often we have to put anything after the words "Los Angeles" when going over the playoffs. It's usually just the Lakers. However, the Clippers did it this year. Chris Paul is probably at least 75% responsible for their success, seriously. He should be finishing in the top 3 in MVP voting as he has meant everything to the Clippers' success this season. Memphis is awesome. They are one of those teams that nobody wants to play right away in the playoffs. Ask the top-seeded San Antonio team from last year about them. This is the other series I will be glued to and probably should be my highlighted series over Miami/New York. This series probably has more substance and less sizzle. Honestly, I have no idea how this is going to play out, but this will be fun. I'm going to go with Memphis in 7 since they have home court. This could go any way and will most likely go at least 6 games.
(3) Los Angeles Lakers v. (6) Denver
Should be another fun series. Seems like the Lakers always get those athletic, pesky teams in the first round. I can already see Kenneth Faried totally out working Gasol on the boards as Gasol has problems with small energetic power forwards and centers (a la Paul Milsap). Denver is very deep and athletic, which always gives the Lakers fits. The loss of World Peace probably will not hurt them too much as Denver does not have any players that he needs to shut down. They should be fine. Nonetheless, Denver in altitude with all that depth and energy might be insurmountable. Lakers in 7.
(2) Oklahoma City v. (7) Dallas
This is actually difficult to play out in my mind. Oklahoma seems ready to take over, but they could not outdo the Spurs as the best in the west in a truncated season in which the Spurs rested their star players more often. We all would be quick to say OKC in a quickie, but Dallas just knows how to play basketball, though they aren't going to outrun or out jump anyone. They know how to execute down the stretch and their weakness, their front court, will not be exposed as much against OKC who doesn't rely on frontcourt scoring themselves. Also, will OKC just rely on the jump shot? If so, they better go in and hope Dallas, another jump shooting team, doesn't make theirs. Nonetheless, I like OKC in 7 because Rick Carlisle can coach and may take Scott Brooks to school.
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