NBA Western Conference 1st Round Playoff Preview
A Look At The NBA Playoff Match-Ups Out West
Eight Western Conference teams will take to the court this weekend with hopes that their journey will take them all the way to the NBA Finals. This is a preview of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8 Utah Jazz
Season Series - Los Angeles leads 2-1
The Los Angeles Lakers have been the class of the Western Conference all season long and that is likely to continue in the playoffs. They have the best player in the conference in Kobe Bryant, an elite power forward in Pau Gasol, and an emerging center in Andrew Bynum, who returned from injury shortly before the playoffs. If he is 100%, the Lakers will be awfully tough to beat. These three lead a prolific Lakers offense which led the league in scoring.
The Utah Jazz have a strong team but they ended the season poorly and dropped all the way to the eighth seed. They are led by two very good young players in point gaurd Deron Williams and power forward Carlos Boozer. Mehmet Okur gives them a legit third option. Williams will give the Lakers point guards trouble and Okur will give their centers trouble with his ability to step back and shoot threes. The key is whether Boozer can get the better of his match-up with Gasol. Boozer had an injury-plagued season this year and does not appear to be 100%. Expect Gasol to be the x-factor as the Lakers win the series fairly comfortably.
Prediction: Lakers in 5
2 Denver Nuggets vs. 7 New Orleans Hornets
Season Series - tied 2-2
The Denver Nuggets had a great regular season, finishing with the second seed. The trade for Chauncey Billips gave them the leadership that they had been lacking. The strength of the team, though, is a very solid front line of Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, and Nene Hilario. J.R. Smith has been a major factor off the bench, especially with his three-point shooting. Carmelo, though, is turning into the next Tracy Mcgrady, the great player who can't get out of the first round.
The New Orleans Hornets are a very good team led by their two all-stars, Chris Paul and David West. Paul is arguably the best point guard in the league and West is one of the league's premiere power forwards. Tyson Chandler gives them a presence inside with his rebounding and shot-blocking. This series, though, is likely to come down to the point-guard match-up. The feeling here is that the young, fresh legs of Paul will run circles around the aging Billips and that will be the difference in the series.
Prediction: Hornets in 6
3 San Antonio Spurs vs. 6 Dallas Mavericks
Season Series - tied 2-2
These two great rivals will renew acquaintances once again. The San Antonio Spurs go into the post-season short-handed. Manu Ginobli, who has been a huge part of their last three championships, is out for the season. However, they still have two superstars in Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. They also have good three point-shooting with Michael Finley, Roger Mason Jr., and Matt Bonner. Drew Gooden should also give this team a boost with his scoring, rebounding, and overall athleticism. This is still a very formidable team.
The Dallas Mavericks finished the season strong, moving up to the sixth seed. They are led by their superstar, Dirk Nowitski, point guard Jason Kidd, and small forward Josh Howard. Kidd, however, is not the same player that he was in New Jersey and Howard has had a down year by his standards. Kidd will struggle defensively against Parker and Nowitski will struggle against Duncan. Dirk's offense will keep them in the series, but they don't have enough to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Spurs in 6
4 Portland Trail Blazers vs. 5 Houston Rockets
Season Series - Houston leads 2-1
The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the best young teams in the NBA. They are led by their two young stars, Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge. Roy is alredy a top-ten player and improving every year, while Aldridge is a solid second option. Their center, Greg Oden, still has a long way to go, put he is already a presence in the paint. Like most young teams, the Blazers are inconsistent on the road, but they are awfully tough to beat at home.
The Houston Rockets will try once again to get out of the first round of the playoffs. They are missing their best player, Tracy Mcgrady, but, ironically enough, they have played better without him the last couple of years. They are led by center Yao Ming, the best big man in the West, and guard Ron Artest, an excellent all-around player. The key for the the Rockets, though, is whether the combination of Artest and Shane Battier can contain Roy defensively. Expect them to keep him in check in Houston, but expect Roy to go off in Portland. The home court will be the difference in this series.
Prediction: Trail Blazers in 7
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