Playoff Previews (2012): Round 1

Playoffs have started, 4 games today, 40 games in 40 nights!! Oh it's an exciting time of the year, but some tough injuries have occurred already, let's see how the 1st round will play out as a result.

Eastern Conference 

 

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 8. Philadelphia Sixers

This should not have been a very competitive series, but now with Derrick Rose tearing his acl this series may become more interesting than expected. While D-Rose's injury wipes out any chance the team has of making the Finals, they will be fine in this series. The Sixers are really not that good and the Bulls were able to win 50+ games this year without Rose being the Rose we're accustomed to. For this series, CJ Watson will be fine as a replacement and the Bulls should still not face any problems. Look for Richard Hamilton to now become a much bigger focal point of the offense, Luol Deng to become the leader once again, and even expect surprise performances from John Lucas III. It's really unfortunate for such a young and talented star like D-Rose to have an injury that is surely to alter his playing style and cost him that explosiveness he is known so well for in the future. Tough luck for Bull fans and their promising season, and most importnatly tough luck for all NBA fans. The basketball gods unforgiving terror has struck us again and it is definitely a bunch of bullshit.

Series: Chicago Bulls (4-1)

 

4. Boston Celtics vs. 5 Atlanta Hawks   

This is it. The final run, the last push for 18 with the Big 4 and if there is any team licking their chops more than the Heat yesterday after hearing of the Rose injury, it is the Boston Celtics. The C's have done what it takes to put a team together to return to the Finals for one more time, and with the changing tides of these playoffs, the C's now find themselves with a potential favorable match-up in the next round if they can get by the Hawks. That being said, the Hawks will not be an easy out whatsoever and they will push the Celtics to the brink of elimination. The Hawks have had a very good season without the presence of Al Horford and as much crap as people have given to Joe Johnson and Josh Smith the past few years, both players have stepped up their roles as leaders this year, and have played at very high levels. Most importantly Josh Smith may finally get it and it's about time. They have a closer, athleticism, Ivan the Terrible, and three point shooting while the Celtics have to worry about injuries and high expectations. I believe the Celtics are the better team, but the Hawks are no pushovers. I'll take experience over mediocrity, and I'll take the luck of the Irish in 7.

Series: Boston Celtics (4-3)

2. Miami Heat vs. 7. New York Knicks

Alright look, this series is supposed to be great simply because of all the big names, it's Knicks/Heat like the late 90s, and both teams are super fun to watch, but let's be honest here. The Knicks do not stand a chance in this series at all, and we were all witnesses of it yesterday, no pun intended. The Knicks are a pretty dysfunctional bunch and until they hire Phil Jackson next year perhaps, this season is all smoke screens. They have had way too many issues this year to beat the Heat even though on paper they look like a great team, the chemistry is lacking, and they are just way too inconsistent to be a legitimate threat. As for the Heat they look ready to return to the finals and win their first championship. Lebron looked great and the team just looks ready this year to dominate the playoffs. They should have no worries in this series (the Knicks will make it interesting though) and should not have any later on in these playoffs. They impressed me a bunch yesterday. Then again we have not reached the fourth quarter of the entire season just yet so the verdict is still out on Bron Bron and the Heat. 

Lastly, a crazy yet sad observation from yesterday's game: Remember when Iman Shumpert injured his knee in the first game of the season and cheated a torn acl with an mcl sprain? Well in the first game of the second season, the basketball gods got him as payback. It really is unfortunate... 

    

Series: Miami Heat (4-2)

3. Indiana Pacers vs. 6. Orlando Magic   

This series is not very interesting and it's great that most of their games will be on NBA TV and we won't miss much. The Pacers really are not that fun to watch and their inexperience in big games will be the reason the Dwight Howard-less Magic will make this series actually very good. As we saw yesterday, there is no issue for them with Big Baby at center, and he has been great since replacing Howard. They also displayed their three point arsenal which will make them a tough match-up. It is pretty phony how Dwight quit on his team this year because with him, they could have beaten the Pacers easily. 
I'm not going to talk about the Pacers because let's be honest there really isn't much to talk about. They're just ok, but like I've said for awhile, wait till next year for these guys when they get Eric Gordon then they'll be ready to win. I'm going with my gut for this series and picking the trey game. Magic in 7.

Series: Orlando Magic (4-3)

Western Conference

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 8. Utah Jazz

This is going to be a much tougher series for the Spurs than most fans expect. The Spurs have had a hell of a season and their depth and mix of experience and youth make them a much better team than last year and far less vulnerable from being upset by an 8-seed. The Spurs will win the series, but the Jazz are much better than you think. Old Devin Harris is back, Gordon Hayward can shoot, and when they play the 3x3 they can cause some serious match-up problems and live off the boards. I really like this Jazz team, but they'll come up short of the upset.

Series: San Antonio Spurs (4-2)

4. Memphis Grizzlies vs. 5. LA Clippers

This is a series that I really cannot give an edge to either team. I believe that both teams are legitimate title contenders and two teams that no one wants to face. Fortunately for those other teams, they won't have to worry about one of them as they'll have to fight to eliminate each other. I'll give the edge to the Grizzles cause I've liked them all season and I just love how they can match up with any team and play any style. They also have the super x-factor that they didn't have last year, an all-star closer in Rudy Gay. Given the success of the team last year without Gay, just imagine them with him this year. He's replacing Shane Battier's role! Yeah 25 year old Rudy Gay for 62 year old Shane Battier (2:48). The Clippers in my opinion are actually not as scary as I think they are because they're actually inexperienced for the playoffs besides Christopher Paul and realistically they only give fits to one team and that's the Thunder. It will be a hard fought series and the only deciding factor I used for determining the winner is home-court advantage. Therefore advantage Grizzlies. 

Series: Memphis Grizzlies (4-3)

 2. OKC Thunder vs. 7. Dallas Mavericks

I'm going to avoid jinxing my team by being humble and saying the Mavericks really worry me, Dirk Nowitzki is another animal in the playoffs, and they can actually beat the Thunder if they are not careful as we saw last night. They are the defending NBA champions if we all forgot, and they will not make it easy for the Thunder. I will just hope that we find a way to guard Dirk and not allow Jason Terry to get going from three, and hopefully we'll shoot better from here on out. We were lucky to steal last night's game and we need to play better from the get-go. I still have Thunder taking this series, but it will be tough.

Series: Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2)

3. LA Lakers vs. 6. Denver Nuggets

If I had to pick a favorite in the West right now, gun to my head, and I had to pick someone, I am choosing the Lakers. You can't trust the Thunder down the stretch, the Spurs are still old, Clippers and Grizzlies are dark horses, and the Mavericks don't care (they just want D-Will). As much as I hate to say it, the Lakers are clicking at the perfect time and with a recharged Kobe, Gasol hitting threes, and Bynum working his way to challenging Dwight Howard for the #1 spot who cares if Ron Jon Jones-Artest is suspended for six playoff games. Devin Ebanks can play and Jordan Hill is alive folks. This year's playoffs give me a feel that we're heading back to the old days in the west where a Spurs/Lakers match-up in the conference finals is more than likely. The Nuggets are a good team with a ton of depth, but they stand no chance against the Lakers.

Series: Los Angeles Lakers (4-1)