Post by Jahallstar on Jul 9, 2010 11:50:40 GMT -5
#1 Sacramento Kings
vs
#8 Dallas Mavericks
Key Match-up : Travis Outlaw vs Jonas Valanciunas
Injuries : Kings - NONE , Mavs - None
Season Series : Tied 2-2
KINGS 83, Mavericks 65
Mavericks 97, KINGS 89
Kings 90, MAVERICKS 62
MAVERICKS 94, Kings 93
Outlook : The Kings shocked everyone this year by taking the #1 seed in the Western Conference. Now the question is can they back it up with a deep playoff fun. They are led by a great 3some in Bosh/Outlaw and Wagner. Youngster Ricky Rubio has also come up big this season. Their defensive presence in the middle, Hassan Whiteside, will be huge this upcoming series. The Mavericks made a late season push behind their two bigmen Jonas and Emeka. These two have been dominating opposing teams all year. It should be really interesting to see the contrast in styles and Jonas and Outlaw duke it out at the SF position. Both teams play great defense. The Kings have a lot more offensive weapons though. The huge hole at SG and the lack of depth will probably come back to haunt the Mavs in this series. They did a great job to get into the playoffs. The ride will not last that long though. At least Jonas will get a taste of what the playoffs is all about
Prediction : Kings in 5
#2 Houston Rockets
vs
#7 Denver Nuggets
Key Match-up : Ray Allen vs Brandon Roy
Injuries : Houston - NONE , Denver- Caron Butler (games 1-2)
Season Series : Tied 2-2
Nuggets 138, ROCKETS 116
NUGGETS 102, Rockets 94
Rockets 114, NUGGETS 101
ROCKETS 112, Nuggets 103
Outlook : When I look at this series I see two things. The Rockets have an amazing duo in Allen and Durant. Second the Nuggets have a great looking team for a #7 seed! Caron Butler being out for games 1 and 2 will hurt. I don't think it will be end game though. Youngster Ekpe Udoh will be tasked with keeping Durant in check. If he can keep him to around 26 ppg the Nuggets will be in great shape. John Wall should be able to dominate the PG spot this series. If he can control tempo and get his teamates involved the Nuggets will be in great shape to come out on top. Brandon Roy vs Ray Allen is one of the best matchups in this years playoffs. If Roy can play even to Allen I think we could see an upset in this series. The Rockets will need to get help from their supporting cast. They won't be able to expect Durant and Allen to do it all. If they can get some help from Flynn it will be a huge boost. When I take a step back and just look at the talent though I think the Nuggets have every chance to pull the upset. So much as I will say they can do it on their home court even.
Prediction : Nuggets in 6
#3 Los Angeles Lakers
vs
#6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Key Match-up : Yao Ming vs Amare Stoudemire
Injuries : Lakers - NONE , Wolves - Sebastain Telfair (game 1)
Season Series : Wolves 3-1
Timberwolves* 112, LAKERS 103
TIMBERWOLVES* 84, Lakers 82
Timberwolves* 85, LAKERS 81
Lakers 137, TIMBERWOLVES* 134
Outlook : Do we have a big man battle here. Amare vs Yao....You don't get any bigger than that. The one bad thing for the Wolves is that Yao has a lot more help down low. I think the Lakers come into these playoffs as the favorite to win it all. Since Yao and Gilbert have come to town this team has been on a tear. They are very very hard to score on. However you can't count out Amare. Amare can come in and take over a game by putting up 60 in any given game. Missing Telfair for game 1 might hurt the Wolves rhythm but all indications are that he will be back in time for game 2. The Wolves also have had a lot of luck against the lakers this season. True it was pre Gil and Yao and Marty..but still some confidence never the less. When it all comes down to it though I am not sure the Wolves will be able to find a 2nd scorer to help Amare. When Telfair comes back he will have to put up over 20 PPG to keep this series close. I don't really see that happening.
Prediction : Lakers in 5
#4 Portland TrailBlazers
vs
#5 Seattle Supersonics
Key Match-up : Tony Parker vs Mo Williams
Injuries : Blazers - Andray Blatche (Series)..Josh Howard (games 1-2) , Sonics - Dorell Wright (Games 1-3)
Season Series : Tied 2-2
SUPERSONICS 102, Trailblazers 93
TRAILBLAZERS 136, Supersonics 124
SUPERSONICS 110, Trailblazers 103
TRAILBLAZERS 101, Supersonics 100
Outlook : Well we go from a great big man battle to an amazing PG battle. Tony Parker and Mo Williams are both amazing PGs that can carry their team to a title. These two teams actually mirror eachother very much. Great PGs, a great wing player and a very good wing player, defensive centers, great PFs....Heck both even have their #2 wing injured right now. This series is going to be a flat out war. A big key is if Tim Duncan can keep up his high level of play against a much younger Dwight Howard. If Howard can take Duncan out of the game it will give the Sonics a huge edge. I look for Batum and Evans to each have huge series. A lot might come down to how Wright and Howard fair. The more you look at these two teams the more you can't figure out who will come out on top. Each can either lose in the first round or for all intents and purposes win the whole damn thing. As hard as it is to pick a winner I will have to go with....
Prediction : Sonics in 7
