Eastern Conference Playoff Outlook

4/17 Eastern Conference Playoff Outlook

 

 

            Well, the NBA regular season has finally come to a close.  The playoff matchups are set for both conferences and it looks like it will be an entertaining postseason.  The eastern conference has been dominated by the Celtics all season long as they have the best record in the NBA.  The Hawks just snuck into the playoffs at the eighth seed despite being eight games below five hundred.  In fact, the seventh and eighth seed teams are both below five hundred.  The sixth seeded team is right on five hundred with a record of 41-41.  This really shows you how much stronger the west is, as the eighth seeded team in the west is eighteen games over five hundred.

            In the one seed against the eighth seed, Boston plays Atlanta.  Boston will easily take this series in four games.  Atlanta just does not have enough fire power to contend with the Celtics let alone score enough points.  The Celtic’s big three have gelled right from the first game of the season and they will only be stronger in the playoffs.

            Detroit plays Philadelphia in the two versus seven series.  Detroit is such a well balanced team that I think they will take this series in four games as well.  Detroit has started four out of five same starters, every game, for the past couple of years.  They are a team that has so much chemistry and they know how to win in the playoffs.  Although Philadelphia has been a surprise team in the East this year, they just don’t have enough playoff experience to hold their own against the veteran Pistons.  They are a younger team and the Pistons will tool on them in this series.

            It is Orlando at the three seed versus Toronto at the six seed in an intriguing series.  This will be a close series, and a slight chance of an upset.  You might compare the two team’s regular season records and say “how can this series be even close.”  Toronto has a solid team with a star inside player in Chris Bosh.  They have a reliable point guard that can really push the ball up the floor making the game fast paced.  Orlando has been pretty consistent all year, but they will have to get big games out of Rashard Lewis night in and night out.  Toronto will need to keep the pace quick to have a chance in this series.  Orlando will win this series in six games.

            Finally in the most captivating series in the east you have got Cleveland at the four seed against Washington at the five seed.  These teams have been matched up in the first round of the playoffs for the past two years.  Cleveland has taken the series both times.  This year the series will be as close as ever.  Washington has an excellent team this year and they are starting to get healthy at the right time.  They have battled lots of injuries all year, but finally have their team ready for the playoffs.  Washington has lots of scorers and an unselfish point guard in Gilbert Arenas.  Washington has quick players on the perimeter that play good defense.  Cleveland, however, has been riding on the back of their star player LeBron James.  He has single handily gotten the Cavaliers through the season.  Cleveland has been peppered with injuries forcing them to make a big trade in the middle of the season.  However, Cleveland has not been doing so hot since the trade.  Cleveland needs their bench and role players to step up for this series.  After all, LeBron can not continue to carry this team on his own, especially in the playoffs.  The Wizards will take this series in seven games. 

            Overall, the four playoff series’ in the east have a lot of variety.  There will be some boring blow-out matchups, and some tight, close ones.  It will be very interesting to see how The Eastern Conference Playoffs turn out.  

 

Race for Eighth in the West

4/11 Race for Eighth in the West

                                   

            Never before have we seen this type of season for the NBA’s Western Conference.  It has been full of blockbuster trades and a remarkably even regular season race.  This shows how strong the western conference will be heading into the playoffs.  What is also astounding is that there are only two teams in the top eight that have not yet won fifty games.  There is still enough time for these teams to accomplish this.  The first six teams are locked in with either playoff berths or division titles with four regular season games to go. 

            However there is a close race between the last two teams trying to make it into the playoffs.  You have got Denver and Golden State, separated by one game, as Denver has pulled into the final spot with each team having three games left to go.  However, Golden State is the team I expect to make it into the final playoff spot.  In their last three games they play Los Angeles (Clippers), Phoenix, and Seattle.  Golden State needs to win their last three games assuming Denver wins their last three games.  Golden State got really lucky with these remaining games as they could easily beat LA and Seattle.  Phoenix will present problems for Golden State. Phoenix will be tenacious in trying to win their remaining games so that they can move up a seed or two in the west.  A factor to watch out for, which will be working against this Golden State team, is their stamina heading into the playoffs.  If they do make it into the final playoff spot, look for a very tired and worn out team in the Warriors.  They will have been working hard just to make it into the eighth spot in the west.

As for the Denver Nuggets, they are going to have a very difficult time making it into the final spot in the west because of their shaky defensive play.  Although the Nuggets have a tremendous duo in Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, as well as a powerful inside game, their defense is not up to par.  This team could be a playoff team if they would only stop hurting themselves by not playing well defensively. Getting this team to play solid defense night in and night out is a major flaw for the Nuggets.

Not only is the Nuggets lack of a strong defense going to keep them out of the playoffs this year, but their remaining schedule could seriously damage their chances of being playoff bound.  In their last three games Denver plays Utah, Houston, and Memphis.  Utah and Houston are regular playoff teams in the NBA and they are both part of the top five seeds in the Western Conference.  It is just so hard for me to envision Denver beating the very solid Utah Jazz who are led by talented point guard, Deron Williams.  It is also hard for me to picture Denver beating Houston one of the most, if not the most, tightly knit team in the Western Conference.  At one point they won 22 straight games in a row despite losing their star center, Yao Ming.  Houston is a team built on teamwork and is led by one of the better offensive players in the league, Tracy McGrady.  However, Denver could very well beat the Memphis Grizzlies as they have not had a great season.  The Nuggets will not win enough of these remaining games though to make it into the playoffs.  I’m sorry Denver, but it seems you will be watching the playoffs at home. Start gearing up for next year.