1. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. 8. Denver Nuggets—Minnesota will finally get out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time when all is said and done in this series. The series stands at 3-1with the critical game five coming later in the week in Minnesota.
Despite losing games one and two in Minnesota, the young Nuggets have appeared solid and tough against a superior Timberwolves squad in game three, taking the contest 107-86. Rookie sensation Carmelo Anthony and point guard Andre Miller rose to the challenge posed by Minnesota veterans Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell.
The Nuggets may have been dealt a break as Minnesota forward Wally Szczerbiak will miss the rest of the series with a fractured vertebra. However, the inside presence of Kevin Garnett—who should win this year’s MVP award—Sprewell, and Cassell will eventually be too much for the youngsters of Denver.
2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 7. Houston Rockets—The Lakers should be feeling fortunate right now. Los Angeles leads the Rockets 3-1 in the best of seven series, but could just as easily be down 3-1 in what has been a highly publicized and extremely competitive series. Houston had chances in both games one and four to steal wins from the Lakers, but failed to convert late. The Rockets’ Jim Jackson missed an open three to win the game in the series opener in L.A., while the Rockets blew a four point lead in overtime to lose game four.
While the media hype surrounding the match-up between Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming has been justified, it has ultimately been the play of the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Gary Payton, and the Rockets’ Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, that has decided the series. The Lakers will win this series in game five on Wednesday, but Houston exposed a number of their weaknesses, particularly the Lakers failure to successfully, stop the pick and roll.
The constant soap opera between the four superstars of O’Neal, Bryant, Payton, and Karl Malone may be the eventual downfall NBA’s most talented team.
3. San Antonio Spurs vs. 6. Memphis Grizzles—Memphis earned its franchise’s first ever trip to the postseason after an impressive regular season that earned head coach Hubie Brown Coach of the Year honors.
The defending champions showed the Grizzles that the playoffs are a different type of game. The Spurs dismantled Memphis throughout the series, easily taking the first two games at home and then stealing two close games in Memphis. Tim Duncan was impressive as always, but it was the play of Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and the rest of the San Antonio squad that allowed the Spurs to ride their brooms back to Texas.
All was not lost for the Grizzles, who gained some valuable insight into what the playoffs are really like. Memphis will certainly be a team to watch in the future, but at the moment it is the Spurs’ time to shine. San Antonio, with its role players contributing where and when needed and Duncan at MVP form, looks to have regained its championship form and seems poised to hoist the championship trophy for the second straight season.
4. Sacramento Kings vs. 5. Dallas Mavericks—The Kings came into this series on their heels. Sacramento dropped six of their last 10 games, to fall from first to fourth in the Western Conference standings, and many saw the makings of an upset in this battle of offensive juggernauts.
However, those who expected the Kings’ collapse to continue were sadly disappointed. Sacramento has gotten back to early season form, as the Mavericks have unfortunately discovered.
Chris Webber has finally started to gel with his teammates, while Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby have been deadly against Dallas in the backcourt. The Mavericks have been in all four games this series but have lost several nail-biters, including a 94-92 loss in game four on Monday. Sacramento leads the series 3-1 with a decisive battle taking place on Thursday in Sacramento.
