"Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best." -- Tim Duncan

My playoff preview continues as we head out West to makes some VERY tough decisions. Some of these series seem impossible to pick. No more time wasting, let's do this!

Made that extra big, that's the goal.


Lakers vs Thunder

I'm sorry OKC fans but you guys will not get to pull a Golden State. This will be harder for L.A. than it should be because 1. Westbrook will kill Derek Fisher 2. Kobe and Fish sure do like shooting bad shots  3. Ron Artest cannot guard Kevin Durant (neither can Kobe so chill out). Number 1 means Westbrook should play well as long as that jumper can fall at a rate that requires it to be respected. Numbers 2 and 3 could be why the Lakers don't sweep. If they forget that Jeff Green (at barely 6'9) is guarding Pau Gasol then they deserve to lose. To win L.A. needs to remain focused long enough during each game to maintain control of each. I feel like they will slip up one game at least so prepare Lakers fans.


OKC needs Durant to go supernova in this series to win it. I'm talking upper 30 ppg to go with 6 assts and 8-9 rbs. Add in a block and a steal and he's done all he can. Thabo Sefolosha will have to continue frustrating Kobe as he tends to do. He is a great defender, he gets no love, he may end up being this seasons Dahntay Jones. Jeff Green may have to emerge as a full blown 2b option (to Durant's #1 and Westbrook's 2a option). That means a double double and somehow finding a way to slow down Pau. As one who tends to guard stronger players, the key is ball denial. Make Fisher and Kobe hesitate to dump the ball down with constant movement, remember, Pau doesn't bring the ball up and pass to himself. OKC wins if Bynum and Gasol aren't involved, but Phil Jackson won't let that happen.


Lakers in 5


Suns vs Blazers

(AP Photo/Matt York)

That looks fun I guess. That picture also perfectly summarizes how this thing turns out. The Suns are not a defensive monster, but they are solid as a team. In order to win the series they need to stop (of all people) Andre Miller. If Brandon Roy doesn't play Miller gets 90% of ball-handling and creating responsibility. Keep him out of the paint using Grant Hill and Jared Dudley (two versatile defenders). Marcus Camby can't be allowed to own the boards so Channing Frye (and maybe Robin Lopez) need to box the hell out! Amare needs to continue playing for that contract and yes, Goran Dragic needs to continue playing well (because Nash will be Nash). This one should be fun with or without Roy.

The Blazers can win this. It would be nice if LaMarcus Aldridge would become the #1 guy now, but its unlikely. What they need is a team effort on offense. The scoring will be done by Aldridge, Miller, and Fernandez. They should attack the problem of the Suns the same way San Antonio did a few years back. Allow Amare to do anything (pretty hard to stop anyway) and slow down the rest. Hopefully they won't forget the Suns were 41% from three this year (league best). Run them off the line and take your chances. Sadly, they will succumb.

Suns in 6.

Mavs vs Spurs

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/NBAE

Well this should be good. Probably my two favorite teams in the West. Unfortunately for me, one has to go fishing after the first round. To avoid that sad fate so early in the game San Antonio needs their X-factor Tony Parker to magically get back into his old form. Manu will have a tough job scoring on two pretty good individual defenders in Shawn Marion and Caron Butler. They need to take advantage of Dallas' seeming inconsistency. Stopping Dirk is not an option, but limiting the Mavs to one shot per possession (by keeping Dampier and Haywood of the offensive boards) will help since those tend to lead to wide open perimeter shots for guys like Terry and Kidd. Tim Duncan won't need to dominate, but he better do enough to let the Mavs know he's still around.

How does Dallas win? Simple, outscore the Spurs. Seriously though, Dirk will get his, but Caron Butler needs to become Tough Juice like he was with the Wiz. 20ppg from him would be nice along with the same from Jet (Jason Terry). I don't see them suddenly becoming lock down on defense and that zone they love to run won't cut it against the great 3pt shooting the Spurs have. Stopping Tim Duncan may be doable, but the key is locking down Ginobili. Slow him down, this could be over in a hurry.

Richard Jefferson finding his way changes everything, btw. With each team relying on so many players I have no idea which of the non-superstars can step up. They will decide this thing.

Mavs in 7.

Nuggets vs Jazz

 (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

C.J. Miles up there doing some wild stuff. So lets get to it, the hardest series to call. Denver can wins this by swarming the Jazz on D. That last night of the season exposed what some Jazz fans already knew, they can be rattled. They also desperately need Carlos Boozer to play well. Denver needs Carmelo to take advantage of the fact that no one on Utah can guard him. AK-47 is a game time decision, Miles is too small, and Kyle Korver (despite being the savior of basketball) just won't do. If they do to the Jazz what they did to L.A. last year Utah will be done quickly. Pressuring the passers will stagnate the Jazz offense and cause Deron Williams to have to create for everyone, bad news for the Jazz.

Utah can win this by limiting turnovers and racking up assists. Ball movement and man movement are key. They are one of the better passing offenses around so that should be their goal. The major question is how to stop Denver. It's going to take a special team effort to hold off the Nuggets offense. Boozer needs to give 20-10s each game (Deron too) and Okur better hit some threes to keep Denver honest. It sounds like the Jazz are an underdog here but the truth is neither is an underdog.

This one could be good. Both teams at their best will have some high scoring games and some exciting overtime battles. If Denver can't regain their lost 'swagger' (I hate typing that) the Jazz roll. If Utah continues to suck almost randomly they could get swept away. I guess I need to be the decider like George W so...

Jazz in 6.

That's it, all done. 

Had to get a Pacers reference in here somewhere.

"If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball." Phil Jackson

What does that mean? Not sure, but I do know it's playoff time!

That right there is why they do it, so lets get to it.

Eastern Conference


Cavs vs Bulls

(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

I'll be doing this but don't expect too much in the way of numbers. I kinda feel like I don't need them. I've watched each of these teams many times and I think I have some feel for what they are capable of. I'm no fan of either, but I can't think of a reason why Chicago will get one game here. This is probably the only sweep in the first round. LeBron will do his best LeBron impersonation, Rose will punish the Cavs backcourt, and the Cavs will be able to get stops where the Bulls won't. 

Cleveland will blow these kids out one game, another will be close but the Cavs will prevail (game 3 I think), and the other two will beat ho-hum Cavs win by 9 or so. In order for the Cavs to win this series they just need to show up and care.

Chicago will need to do more than show up to win, Noah must own the offensive and defensive glass (20+ boards a game type stuff). Luol Deng has to limit LeBron as much as possible, and Rose needs to channel some 2006 Finals D-Wade. Plus, the team D has to lock up the other Cavs. Yeah right.

Cavs in 4.

Celtics vs Heat

Honestly I dislike both teams. That won't cloud my analysis though because this is too close in my opinion. On second thought, no. The Celtics should win. Why? Because they are a better team. Wade is the best player by far of the two teams, but Boston know what needs to be done. What exactly is that you ask? Limit turnovers is one. The Celtics like to give up the rock, the Heat will gladly score in transition since they aren't the most explosive offense (25th in scoring, 17th in FG%). Boston needs to win at home, because the road may be unkind again this year just like the previous two playoffs. Lastly, make D-Wade do it alone. That shouldn't be too hard, right?

The Heat getting to the next round is simple, Wade dominates on offense, the Heat lock up Boston on defense. Boston is a jump shooting team (not Rondo) so I say keep it that way. Dare Rasheed Wallace to shoot that broken three of his, keep Pierce off the line by playing off him. You'll have to live with that three because I don't see anyone on Miami (outside of Wade) that can defend Pierce. Maybe Dorrell Wright has some actual talent I can't see and he can do it (doubtful). 

Anyway... this series may not be pretty to watch.

Celtics in 6.

Hawks vs Bucks

I can barely contain my excitement. The Hawks play some ugly ball (isolation tag: each guy except Mike Bibby takes a turn iso'ing on offense). The Bucks just shoot a lot of jumpers. Watching this is like watch a pick up game in the gym except everybody sucks at the gym, and I don't care about these teams on the screen. This has no chance of being entertaining, the Hawks in the playoffs haven't been watchable since that 7 game series against Boston all those years ago.

How can the Hawks win? Just keep doing whatever it is they do. Force turnovers, run the break, iso each player and hit contested shots, get dunks at the buzzer, whatever. They have the athleticism to lock the Bucks down for long stretches, as long as they sometimes score during that time they should cruise.

The Bucks need to hit those threes they love in order to win. Ridnour(38%), Salmons(38%), Jennings(37%), Stackhouse(35%), Illyasova(34%), Bell(37%), Delfino(37%), Redd (not Redd, bet you forgot he was on this team) these guys love to jack shots from deep, and they hit them. Wow, watching them play I noticed they could shoot well, but that's crazy. Without Bogut I notice they like to run 4 shooters and a big to really space things out (a lineup of Jennings, Salmons, Stack, Delfino, and Kurt Thomas should see some action). Writing about this one actually makes me want to watch it, nice.

Hawks in 5

Magic vs Bobcats

(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

I live pretty close to Orlando and I would love to go to a playoff game, just not any of these. Why you ask. Well, the Cats will do their best to make this ugly as hell. They want a low score and a slow grind to the finish, because they struggle to score themselves (28th in scoring at 95.3 ppg). That's atrocious and I wish I could say they were by far the lowest scoring team in the playoffs but there are 4 other playoff teams in the bottom 20. 

The Magic win by doing what got them here. Play some defense, hit plenty of threes, keep Dwight out of foul trouble so he can roam the paint. Simple really, you win by outscoring your opponent and Orlando will do that here. Their bench may be the deepest in the league (Brandon Bass would probably start in Indiana but here, no time). Solid offense, good team defense, hello second round.

How can the Cats compete? That was rhetorical, they can't. That's why the slow it down Mike Fratello style (not that bad though). The fewer possessions the Magic have the fewer chances to score. They play like a soccer team with a two goal lead and 15+ minutes left in the game. Watching them often I'm still confused about how it is they score, I guess it works. Stephen Jackson is gonna have to be unconscious and hit everything, Gerald Wallace is my second favorite SF in the league. He needs to not let Matt Barnes get to him (he will though). Maybe they can bore the Magic to death. Maybe fory one game.

Magic in 5

The Western conference is coming later, I'm tired.

Every hero needs a good origin story

Let's begin with something about me. I love NBA basketball. My favorite team is the Indiana Pacers (yeah they suck hater) and I try to watch every game. As the NBA season draws to a close the Pacers are out of playoff contention (for those who don't know the playoffs happen after the season ends) and yet they keep winning games, decreasing their chances of getting a high draft pick and maybe a future superstar. This angers some fans, but I don't care. They just keep winning. The "experts" at ESPN predicted Indy would finish near the bottom of the East. My boys look to be 10th (instead of 14th or 15th) so suck it "experts." More on these guys later (and a playoff preview).

Change of pace after the jump.