The first round of the NBA Playoffs is here and intriguing match ups can be found across the board.
After five consecutive years of first round exits, the Denver Nuggets are looking to make a lengthy playoff run this spring, or at least get to the second round.
After a 17-65 season in the 2002-2003 season, the Nuggets selected rising star Carmelo Anthony with the third pick in the 2003 NBA draft. Other notable picks in that draft class are ‘Melo’s buddies LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, both have been to the NBA Finals, and Wade has won a championship along with a Finals MVP Award. With Carmelo, the Nuggets have yet to advance to the second round.
The playoffs are here and Anthony has the supporting cast to make a deep run in the postseason. The acquisition of Chauncey Billups, a mostly healthy Kenyon Martin, a breakout season for Nené, and an efficient bench including the rise of J.R. Smith have all played monumental roles in the Nuggets resurgence.
But the 2009 NBA playoffs have several other storylines that will be interesting to follow. Will LeBron James cap off his MVP season and lead his Cleveland team to a championship? Can Kobe win it all without Shaq? Will injuries to big name players play a role for the Celtics, Spurs, and Pistons?
This is only the first round series and here are some predictions on how they might play out:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
NUGGETS (2) VS. HORNETS (7)
This is it Denver fans, another chance for the Denver Nuggets to come in contact with life in the second round after suffocating the past five years in the first. Although the Nuggets are the second seed this year, the New Orleans Hornets won’t be a cake walk for the Nuggets, primarily for one reason: Chris Paul. Paul, arguably the best point guard in the NBA, is averaging 22.8 points, 11 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game, and is a game breaker and can change the flow of a game at any juncture. The Nuggets have at times been able to contain Paul, but if Paul is getting his teammates involved and into the flow of the game on a consistent basis the Nuggets may have some trouble. Peja Stojakovic has been a three-point threat for years, and the addition of James Posey, a proven NBA champion and shutdown defender will both be important factors for the Hornets. David West is another weapon the Hornets have and the Nuggets will look to Kenyon Martin to shut him down. Martin has established himself as the backbone of the Nuggets’ defense and if Denver wants to get out of the first round, defense will be key. When it comes down to it, both teams have outstanding starters, but bench play will win this series. Denver has a deeper and more talented bench. J.R. Smith and Chris “Birdman” Anderson will be called upon to keep up momentum for the Nuggets and overpower the Hornets. The Nuggets’ bench is too deep for the Hornets and New Orleans just does not have enough firepower to get past Denver in the 1st round. Carmelo Anthony has heard enough about the Nuggets’ failure to advance in the playoffs, and look for Nené to take advantage of the Hornets weaker interior players. Chris Paul will have his moments and steal a couple of games, but Nuggets will knock out the Hornets in advance.
Prediction: Nuggets in six.
LAKERS (1) VS. JAZZ (8)
The Jazz gave the Lakers a run for their money in playoffs last season, winning two of six games, but don’t count on the same type of series this season. The Jazz has stumbled into the playoffs losing eight of their last 12 games, and don’t seem to have the same flare of seasons past. Darren Williams is an all-star caliber player and will be the focal point of Utah’s success if any happens. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are simply too powerful for the Jazz to reckon with. No player on the Jazz has the ability to guard the Lakers’ 7′ foot center Andrew Bynum, and with Bynum back from injury that slides Pau Gasol back into his natural position of power forward. On top of that, the Lakers have too deep a bench and a Hall-of -Fame coach in Phil Jackson, so this one is in favor of the Lakers. The Jazz do stand a slim chance, but a very slim one if Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer have a flawless series and give Williams some help, but that is not likely.
Prediction: Lakers in five.
ROCKETS (5) VS. TRAIL BLAZERS (4)
This is one of the most intriguing series in the West. Many experts are considering the Trail Blazers as the sleeper team in the West with a strong core of young talent, led by Brandon Roy. Roy has led this squad into the playoffs, and since the All-Star break they are 21-8, and they are coming in hot. The Rockets have also played well down the stretch without Tracy McGrady, with Ron Artest and Yao Ming leading the way for Houston. Yao is an unstoppable force when he is playing his best, and even with Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla, the Trail Blazers will have difficulty containing Yao. But Yao has been feeling pain in his right foot, so health is an issue for him. Besides for Przybilla and point guard Steve Blake, Portland’s experience is a concern, but should stop them from moving on to the second round. With young stars like LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw, and Rudy Fernandez, Portland should be able to win a tight series against the Rockets.
Prediction: Trail Blazers in seven.
SPURS (3) VS. MAVERICKS (6)
Could it be the end of an era for the Spurs? It could be. San Antonio limped into the playoffs and will have to get the job done without their Argentinean star Manu Ginobili. Tim Duncan is showing signs of aging but don’t count out the almighty Spurs to pull this one out. Tony Parker poses a mismatch for nearly every point guard in the league, not to mention an aging Jason Kidd. The Mavericks do have former MVP Dirk Nowitzki has been shooting the ball well of late and Dallas also has boasts the soon to be Sixth Man of the Year Award Winner Jason Terry. What it comes down to is San Antonio has a group of proven winners, and knows what it will take to get past the first round.
Prediction: Spurs in six.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
CAVALIERS (1) VS. PISTONS (8)
Cleveland finished the season with a league best 66 wins. Expect the Cavaliers to head into the second round with 70. The Pistons stand no chance against LeBron James and Cleveland in this one. Detroit dealt Chauncey Billups to the Nuggets, and now they have nothing to show for that deal in the playoffs because Allen Iverson is out for the season. Rasheed Wallace and Tayshon Prince still remain from the Pistons’ championship days but the Pistons will enter postseason play with a losing regular season record and barely clinched a spot. The Pistons should start making vacation plans now; they are all but finished in 2009.
Prediction: Cavaliers in four.
CELITICS (2) VS. CHICAGO (7)
The Celtics received terrible news when they found out Kevin Garnett will most likely be out for the duration of the playoffs. Boston is 44-13 with KG and 18-7 without him, so they are still capable of winning basketball games with Garnett out of the lineup. Garnett’s absence will affect Boston later on in the playoffs, but they will be fine in the first round. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen will handle the offensive load for the Celtics against Ben Gordan and presumed Rookie of the Year winner Derrick Rose, while Kendrick Perkins and Glen “Big Baby” Davis will push around the skinnier big men on the Bulls. Chicago is still young and inconsistent and will be dealt with by the defending champs.
Prediction: Celtics in five.
MAGIC (3) VS. 76ERS (6)
Dwight Howard has solidified himself as one of the best big men in the league, and most likely will win the Defensive Player of the Year Award. No player on the 76ers will be able to deal with Howard or their lethal three point shooters, Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, and Mickael Pietrus. Philadelphia has an extremely athletic team led by Andre Iguoldala and Thaddeus Young, but the 76ers are still not a complete team. A steady dose of Dwight Howard and three-point shots will send the 76ers back to Philadelphia for the summer.
Prediction: Magic in five.
HAWKS (4) VS. HEAT (5)
Unlike the rest of the Eastern Conference this series is up for grabs. Dwayne Wade had an outstanding regular season and will be the center of the Hawks focus in this match up. Wade has the ability to carry the heat on his back and steal this series, but the Hawks have done a nice job containing him in the three times he played against them during the regular season holding him to 21, 35, and 21 for an average of 25.6. Those point totals are immense, but compared to Wade’s season average of 30.2 they are down. Even so, a healthy Wade is scary in the playoffs as seen in the 2006 NBA Finals and has gotten even better since, so don’t count the Heat out of this one.
Prediction: Heat in seven.
