Introduction
Unlike the NFL and college basketball, parity is not a luxury the NBA possesses. The NBA playoffs are well into the first round and have been somewhat boring and predictable as the higher seeds in each series have dominated with three teams already completing sweeps. And while there have been numerous intensely fought close battles, the upper seeds have prevailed on almost every occasion as the lower seeds have combined to win a total of just five games in the first round.
Eastern Conference
1. Indiana Pacers vs. 8. Boston Celtics—The Pacers swept this best of seven series 4-0, and there are several reasons why. The Celtics made the playoffs with a pathetic record, 36-46, while the Pacers boasted the NBA’s best record at 61-21.
The Celtics did not put up much fight in any of these games. Their inability to score or play defense was on full display, while Indiana’s talent and discipline showed why they garner the league’s top mark. Even after sweeping Boston in convincing fashion, the jury is still out on the Pacers.
Indiana won 61 games, most of those in the weak and bleak Eastern Conference. The Pacers will not truly be tested until the Eastern Conference Finals where they will surely face either New Jersey or Detroit, the only other two respectable teams in the East.
2. New Jersey Nets vs. 7. New York Knicks—After a 4-0 thrashing of the Knicks, the New Jersey Nets not only advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but also established their dominance as the New York metropolitan area’s most dominant team. The Nets seem to be returning to the style of play that has gotten them to the NBA Finals the last two seasons.
Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson were flawless in transition, while bad boy forward Kenyon Martin dominated a weak New York front court. But don’t pencil in the Nets to make a third straight trip to the NBA Finals quite yet. The Nets were untested in this series by a sub-.500 Knicks squad and will not truly be tested until they take on the Pistons in the second round. However, with their playoff experience and athleticism, it would be no surprise to see New Jersey back in the Finals for another loss to whoever comes out of the West.
3. Detroit Pistons vs. 6. Milwaukee Bucks—When the Bucks stole game two in Detroit and became the first and only lower seeded team to win on the road in the first round, this series had all the makings of an upset. However, the Pistons quickly put those thoughts to rest as they took games three and four in Milwaukee from the home team, taking a 3-1 series lead.
The Pistons have looked deadly in these match ups combining their tough, in-your-face defense with an efficient offensive attack. The Pistons, although less talented than the Nets and Pacers, may have the best chance to knock off the Western Conference champions should they reach the finals. The Pistons’ tough, scrappy play could really hamper the finesse style of play most teams in the West execute.
The Bucks have little chance to come back in the best of seven series, as they need to win three straight—including two on the road—in order to pull off the upset. Game five will be played Thursday night at 8 pm in Detroit as the Pistons look to close out the series.
4. Miami Heat vs. New Orleans Hornets—The young Heat have been nothing but impressive the entire second half of the season. Miami rallied from near the cellar of the Eastern Conference to the conference’s fourth best record, and their role did not end in the regular season. This series has probably been the closest series in the NBA playoffs.
The Heat won game one on a Dwayne Wade buzzer beater in Miami, while New Orleans eked out a must-win in game three at home. The series currently stands at 2-2 with the series heading back to Miami for game five.
Both of these teams are dangerous for the Pacers in the second round. New Orleans certainly has a group of proven playoff contenders in Baron Davis, David Wesley, and Jamal Mashburn—if he is healthy—while the Heat, led by veteran Eddie Jones, are full of young talented players who are playing with enthusiasm and confidence under their new coach, Stan Van Gundy. However, before these teams can look ahead to Indiana, they must focus on surviving the always difficult, but exciting 4-5 match up.
Western Conference
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.
