Thoughts running through my head as I laugh at the Gone Fishin' pictures...
Wow, what a great way to start off the 2006 NBA playoffs. Just great game after great game. From LeBron's coming of
age, to Kobe's huge meltdown, we've been privy to some of the best basketball all season. It's almost good enough to
compensate for such a boring regular season (almost). The playoffs are where players make their names and get their huge
contracts. So if history is any indication,
Anthony Johnson (capped off by his 40 point game in game six), Tim Thomas
(who will definitely find a home next season), Kevin Martin (with his improbable game winner in game three), Bonzi Wells,
and Andres Nocioni have all earned bigger roles with teams for next season. In Wells' case, someone's going to overpay him
for his great performance against the Spurs and he'll probably go back to being the underachieving player we've come to know
over the last six years. Oh well.
Nevertheless, eight teams have moved on and eight teams have gone fishin'. For the remaining teams, we've seen some
glaring weaknesses in all of their games, and it will be very interesting to see how they fair in round two. So without
further ado, here's a look at the matchups for the semi-finals starting with the East.
(1) Detroit Pistons v. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers
Before I get to the series, let me first address the phenomenon known as LeBron. Gilbert Arenas captured it perfectly
when he said after game four, "This is the LeBron show. We're all just witnesses." Bron Bron has raised his game to notches
that Emeril Lagasse can only dream about. I think he averaged something like 38/8/7 against the Wizards and single handedly
got his team to the second round. Then again, the Wizards play less defense than the LA Sparks. Without Lisa Leslie. Blind
folded.
That's not the case against the Detroit Pistons. They play with the
mentality that their next possession could be their last. The Pistons would not have let LeBron take over the game so easily.
The Pistons would have closed out on LeBron on the baseline with the game on the line. The Pistons would have closed out on
Damon Jones (who played a total of 48 minutes since mid-April) in the corner with the series on the line. Needless to say,
the Pistons aren't the Wizards.
If someone doesn't step up for the Cavs, this will be a very short series. Tayshaun Prince is a good enough defender
to make life for Bron a living nightmare. With the way Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace are playing, the Cavs will have a
hard enough time making plays; if James can't deliver and doesn't have a second guy running with him, the Cavs are going home
pretty early.
Prediction: Pistons in Five
(2) Miami Heat v. (3) New Jersey Nets
Ok, here's the thing. I'm like everyone else out there who hates the way Pat Riley assembled the Heat. They have too
many shooters and not enough complementary players. Plus, any team with Antoine Walker on it is bound for problems. But here's
the thing I can't decide: Is Shaq enough to negate all that's wrong with this team? My gut feeling says yes. I mean I have
another 50 win season and a defeat against the surging Bulls in the first round as evidence. But for some reason, I can't shake
the feeling that the running story all season that the supporting cast for Shaq and Wade (namely Walker, J-Will, and Payton)
will ultimately be their downfall will finally come into play. I mean if names like Gordon, Hinrich, and Nocioni can give the
Heat fits, imagine what Kidd, Jefferson, and Carter (all all-stars, by the way) will do? Well, if game one of the semis is any
indication, they can do a whole lot.
On the other side of the court, there are some things I like about the Nets and others I don't. I love Nenad Krstic.
He's clearly underrated and has been two seasons running now. I love Kidd and the way he's been able to make Vinsanity care
again. However, I hate the fact that the Nets are essentially six deep (five starters and Uncle Cliff who's clearly hanging on
by a thread). Even in the playoffs with shortened rotations and big minutes for star players, this won't be nearly enough to
beat the Heat four times. As much as I hate the Heat, I don't think the Nets can win. All Shaq has to do is show up for two
wins (like he did in game six against Chicago) and Wade and Co. can take care of the rest.
Prediction: Heat in Seven
(1) San Antonio Spurs v. (4) Dallas Mavericks
Aside from the pending rematch against the Pistons, this is clearly the most anticipated matchup going into the
playoffs. It's no secret that under former Spur Avery Johnson, the Mavericks are a much better team, especially defensively.
They are so stacked; they literally have talent coming out of their ears. Cap that off with the extraordinary MVP-caliber
season of Dirk Nowitzki, and the Mavs won't be an easy out.
The Spurs will definitely have their hands full. If Bonzi Wells could be such a monster and a pest on the boards, the
Spurs will undoubtedly have a rough time controlling Josh Howard and Marquis Daniels. Jason Terry is just waiting to explode,
and the Spurs might not have an answer for Jerry Stackhouse off the bench (as evidenced by his 24 point outing in game one).
With all of that said, I'm still going with the defending champs. If game six against the Kings was any indication,
it's that Spurs are a very deep team. With Duncan still less than 100% battling his foot problems, Tony Parker has stepped up
his game. Manu, after giving nothing in games three and four, bounced back and played well in games five and six. Off the
bench, the Spurs have playoff vets Mike Finley (a very underrated subplot with his return to Dallas), Big Shot Bob, Brent
Barry, and Not so Tricky Nicky. So regardless of how much better the Mavs are defensively, they're still not in the same
class as the Spurs and Pistons.
Prediction: Spurs in Six
(2) Phoenix Suns v. (6) Los Angles Clippers
Damn, we were one victory away from finally seeing the battle over Hollywood. There could have been so many subplots
for this series that would have made the next two weeks very enjoyable. Kobe against the team he stiffed and led along like a
hot chick leading an ugly guy at the bar. Kobe against
Cuttino Mobley, who, according to ESPN's Bill Simmons, can't stand
each other. It would have been the first time in recent memory where two teams would play against each other and neither team
had to even as much as drive anywhere else, let alone get on an airplane. Oh well...the Lakers couldn't handle their business,
despite being up 3-1, and they let the Suns regain their confidence.
(By the way, it really upsets me that Kobe has gotten a pass by the media for this colossal collapse after being up
3-1 on the Suns, yet
Tracy McGrady got ridiculed for his collapse against a much better
Pistons team. I know Kobe didn't exactly have the best players, but does anyone remember McGrady's teammates?
Chris Whitney?
Jacque Vaughn?
Gordan Giricek who didn't score a field goal until game three?
Come on. I know Kobe's trying to rebuild his image and all, but let's call a spade a spade. The Lakers lost a huge series lead
AND got blown out in game seven. Let's give him the criticism that he deserves. Anyway, my rant is over.)
Unfortunately for the Suns, however, if the Lakers series did nothing else, it exposed their glaring weakness inside.
If guys like Kwame Brown and Lamar Odom had a field day with the Suns in the paint, imagine what Elton Brand and Hulk Hogan's
illegitimate brother Chris Kaman are going to do. The Suns, for all of their firepower on the wings, don't really matchup with
the Clippers (scary thought, isn't it?). Sam Cassell will eat Steve Nash alive.
Corey Maggette and Mobley are more than capable of closing out on
the Suns shooters, and the Clippers are just too strong for the Suns (I don't care if game one disagrees with me). Then again,
for whatever reason, this Phoenix team has a never say die attitude and don't let their weaknesses become that big of a
problem, so I'm sure they're going to make this a very interesting series. But before the dust settles, the Clippers will be
on their way to the Western Conference finals.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go check the weather report to see if Hell has frozen over...
Prediction: Clippers in Seven
Kevin Anthony Jones is a contributing writer for MagicPride.t35.com. He is an instructional designer and technical
writer in his real life and won't bore you with the details. He writes articles every chance he gets and although he's never
busy, there is such a thing called writers block. If you'd like to contact KAJ, send your E-mail's to
bigsmooth7@gmail.com.
