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Saturday, April 28, 2012

The Millennium NBA playoff preview

With the NBA playoffs starting today, how can we not put up an article with some analysis (may contain predictions), but we will do more than that with Luka doing a full on running diary of the day's action that will be posted later. So, without wasting too much of your time, let's preview each series (in the order of the weekend TV schedule).



# 1 Chicago Bulls vs. # 8 Philadelphia 76ers

Or as I like to call this one "integrate Derick Rose into the line-up" series. Chicago could not have asked for a better match-up. The 76ers like to play defense and slow it down, they are offensively challenged, and some would argue that Philly didn't even deserve to make the playoffs with the way they closed out the season. On our podcast (which should be posted fairly soon) Luka made the argument that all teams need a closer, or at least someone who they know is going to be taking all of the big shots late in games, Philly definitely does not have "that guy" and it will probably hurt them in this series. There really isn't much to say about the Bulls, they are a contender, they managed to win 50 games despite Rose missing a significant chunk of time, and they will be ready. Expect a quick series, with few entertaining games.

The prediction: Bulls in 5.

# 2 Miami Heat vs. # 7 New York Knicks


The best match-up in round one (or at least, the most interesting to watch). Every NBA fan has been asking for this series for a solid two months and it finally came to be. I don't even know what I'm looking forward to the most. Is it Tyson Chandler (who may miss game one due to illness) vs. Miami round two (we all know who won round one), is it Wade's offence versus Shumpert's defense? The highlights of past rivalry games between these two teams (they had a really under-rated 90's rivalry), or will it be the Melo and Lebron match-up? When is the last time that the two key guys in a series played the same position? I wont even try to hide how excited I am for this series. Now, having said all of that, we know what we are getting with New York, but we have to wait and see how much Miami (and you know they will) will turn it up. I see this series going one of two ways, a really close one, or a Heat blow out, I don't think there is an in-between.

Prediction: Heat in 7.

# 3 Indiana Pacers vs. # 6 Orlando Magic

The mandatory "I will not be watching this series" series. Poor Magic, how do they always manage to be so un-interesting year after year? Am I the only one hoping that Orlando wins so they can stick it to Dwight? But we are a long way from that. The Pacers were a middle of the pack team in the East playoffs for a large part of the season and then just caught fire. This team led in the 4th quarter of every game in last year's playoff series with the Bulls, and are much better this year. If they are for real, they will sweep this Magic team.

Prediction: Pacers in 5.

# 2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. The defending Champion Dallas Mavericks

Dallas gets to begin their title defense against the team they beat in last year's conference finals and OKC begins their quest for a title against the team that they feel they should have beaten last year. This Dallas team is not as good as the one last year (Barea, Peja, Stevenson, and Chandler are all gone) but they still have Dirk Nowitzki who has already proven that he can and will win a playoff series on his own. For Oklahoma it seems simple on paper: they are younger, faster, they have home-court advantage, and they have the best player in the series (maybe even the best two), they should, by all accounts run this Mavs team into the ground. But, and this is a big but, Dallas has one thing on the Thunder and that is the coaching. Dallas is a better coached team, and will make adjustments, play zone, and execute. This one could go either way, and I am giving Dallas the benefit of the doubt as they are the defending champions.

Prediction: Dallas in 7

Sunday's games will be posted tomorrow. Enjoy your day

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