Post by sunsgm on Mar 24, 2013 14:42:52 GMT -5
East
1. Bulls (58-24) vs 8. Raptors (44-28)
Key Injuries: None
Players to Watch: Derrick Rose (Bulls) Andrea Bargnani (Raptors)
In a match up of two of the leagues top 10 scorers in Bargnani and Rose the top seeded Bulls will try and use their league leading defense to put the clamps on the Raptors and move in to the second round. This series is a key one in the playoffs as the winner will play the winner of the Bucks Vs Heat and a possible date with a Lebronless Miami team. Bargnani and Rose will put on a show but in the end it will be up to the supporting casts to determine who wins this series. The advantage here clearly goes to the Bulls.
Prediction: Bulls Pull it out in 6
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2. Sixers (54-28) vs 7. Nets (45-27)
Key Injuries: Tyson Chandler (Sixers)
Players to Watch: Deron Williams (Nets) Carmelo Anthony (Sixers)
Tyson Chandlers injury could be big here as he is out for the first 3 games of the series. Brooklyn will need Brook Lopez to step up and dominate without chandler in the game and hope to steal at least 2 of the first 3 games to have a shot in the series. On the sixers side they are going to have to hope that their new combo of ersan ilyasova and Carmelo Anthony can lead them through the round.
Prediction: Losing Chandler Hurts but Melo and Ersan are too much Sixers in 6
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Deron Williams will try and take advantage of injuries to eliminate Melo and the Sixers
3. Pacers (55-27) vs 6 Pelicans (46-26)
Key Injuries: Dwight Howard (Pelicans)
Players to Watch: Serge Ibaka (Pacers) Zach Randolph (Pelicans)
Dwight Howard will be out the first game of this series because he is a pussy and cant play through migraines. This is a huge break for the pacers and they should take advantage. The pacers need their defensive front line of Ibaka and Hibbert to neutralize one of the best front lines in basketball of Dwight and Zbo. Look for the team whose bigs perform better to win the series.
Prediction: Pacers make it interesting but Pelicans pull the upset in 7.
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Serge Ibaka will have to shut down Zach Randolph if the Pacers want to beat the Pelicans
4. Bucks (53-29) vs 5 Heat (51-31)
Key Injuries: Lebron James (Heat), Monta Ellis (Bucks)
Players to watch: Danillo Gallinari (Heat), John Salmons (Bucks)
This series is very hard to predict as both teams have key injuries. For the heat lebron will likely be out until the eastern conference finals with a hernia, and for the bucks monta ellis will likely be out for the majority of the series as well. Because of this it could come down to which teams bench steps up. I am looking at Danillo and John Salmons to fill the void. If the heat can steal a game on the Bucks floor things will get interesting.
Prediction: Even without Lebron I think the Heat pull it off in 7
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Danilo Gallinari will have to step up in LBJs absence while John Salmons will have to carry the load for Monta
West
1. Thunder (64-18) vs 8. Rockets (42-40)
Key Injuries: Demarcus Cousins (Thunder)
Players to watch: Danny Granger (Rockets) Kevin Durant (Thunder)
Cousins injury puts a wrench into the series as he will be out for the first 3 days of the series. The key for the rockets is the recently acquired Danny Granger. He will need to put up at least 30 every game for the rockets to have a shot. In the end the Thunders allstar team will probably be too much for the rockets though. Look for Russell Westbrook to abuse Goran Dragic and the Thunder to run away with it.
Prediction: Thunder in 5
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Danny Granger will have to be on all series if the Rockets are going to have a chance
2. Grizz (50-32) vs 7. Nuggets (44-38)
Key Injuries: None
Players to Watch: Dwyane Wade (Nuggets) Marc Gasol (Grizzlies)
The Grizzlies were somewhat of a surprise this season taking the western conferences number 2 seed. They have a very deep team led by their two superstars in Gasol and CP3. However, the Nuggets dynamic backcourt of Kemba Walker and Dwyane Wade could give them problems. I think this series will be closer than people think as the Nuggets backcourt is not a good match up for a grizzlies team that starts caron butler at the shooting guard spot. Look for wade to put up big numbers but it ultimately will not be enough to pull the upset.
Prediction: Grizzlies in 7
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Wade is salivating at the thought of being matched up against butler but Gasol looks to counter his matchup edge
3. Suns (49-33) vs 6. Spurs (48-34)
Key Injuries: None
Players to Watch: Kevin Love (Spurs) Al Horford (Suns)
This is where it gets interesting in the west playoffs. The 3, 4, 5, and 6 seeds were all separated by only 1 game combined! This matchup is interesting because of the matchup problems these teams face. For the Spurs Kevin Love should eat Nikola Pekovic alive and for the suns Joe Johnson will have to put up big numbers against the underachieving James Harden. This is a tough matchup for the suns and I am sure they would have rather taken the 5 seed and played the warriors than the spurs.
Prediction: Tough draw for suns Spurs pull the upset and handle them in 7
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Al Horford is a big unknown in the series having only played 10 games for the suns this season
4. Warriors (49-33) vs 5. Twolves (49-33)
Key Injuries: Michael Beasley (Wolves)
Players to watch: Devin Harris (Wolves) David Lee (Warriors)
This is an interesting matchup that pits two teams with identical records who tied for the 3rd seed in the west against each other. This should be a very entertaining series as both teams have stars all over their rosters. The key for the Wolves is the Duo of Mayo and Stoudemire. If they can hit their averages they will be tough to beat. Likewise for the warriors if curry and lee get rolling they will take the series. In the end I think the warriors have too much depth and will give the wolves all they can handle.
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Devin Harris has been a surprise for the wolves this year but he will be facing a deep and talented warriors team
Prediction: Warriors in 6
