Post by jahallstar on Aug 1, 2010 22:46:21 GMT -5
#1 Phoenix Suns
vs
#8 Houston Rockets
Key Match-up : Chauncey Billups vs Jason Kidd
Injuries : Suns - NONE , Rockets - None
Season Series : Tied 2-2
ROCKETS 105, Suns 101
Suns 101, ROCKETS 91
Rockets 91, SUNS 90
SUNS 132, Rockets 104
Outlook : This is a battle of two teams going in opposite directions. The Phoenix Suns have built their team for a title run. They have one goal in mind after adding pieces like Billups and Marion around Yao Ming. And that goal is a BBS championship. The Houston Rockets on the otherhand are at the beginning of a rebuild. The Rockets however have fared decently against the Suns during the regular season. They split 4 games with Phoenix. For the Rockets to have any chance they are going to have to have a huge series from Jason Kidd. He will have to dominate Billups and not only outplay him, but outplay him by a large margin. I don't really see that happening. I expect Billups to play well and set up the big time trio of Hughes, Marion and Ming and dominate this series. We would all like to see an entertaining series but I just don't see it. I expect the Suns to win this with ease.
Prediction : Suns in 4
#2 Minnesota Timberwolves
vs
#7 Portland Trail Blazers
Key Match-up : Michael Redd vs Vince Carter
Injuries : Minnesota - Jason Terry (Games 1-3) , Portland - NONE
Season Series : Timberwolves 3-1
Timberwolves 109, TRAIL BLAZERS 108
TIMBERWOLVES 113, Trail Blazers 90
Trail Blazers 106, TIMBERWOLVES 101
Timberwolves 112, TRAIL BLAZERS 79
Outlook : This could be an interesting series. If you look at it on paper the Wolves should win this easily. The Blazers make their living behind the 3 point line and the Wolves have the best 3 point defense in the league. However the Wolves are coming into this series without their point guard Jason Terry for the first 3 games. Vet Rod Strickland is going to have to take full advantage of that. If he can come out and the Blazers can steal homecourt you never know what is going to happen. Both teams have a legit superstar wingman in Redd and Carter. The Wolves also have a man named Shaq though. If Shaq can stay out of foul trouble and be his normal dominate self the Wolves should win the series. Taylor really has no chance to guard him down low. Injuries do have a way of evening stuff up though. In short the Blazers will have to steal home court early and hold on for dear life. I don't really think it is going to work out that way but anything is possible.
Prediction : Wolves in 6
#3 Golden State Warriors
vs
#6 San Antonio Spurs
Key Match-up : Rashard Lewis vs Joe Johnson
Injuries : Warriors - Ray Allen (games 1-5) , Spurs - Ronald Murray (games 1-5)
Season Series : Series Tied 2-2
SPURS 114, Warriors 111
WARRIORS 120, Spurs 95
WARRIORS 125, Spurs 119
SPURS 113, Warriors 111
Outlook : This is a battle of two of the youngest teams in the league. Most people think that the Warriors are young and already there and that the Spurs are young and will be there in the future. These two teams are colliding now though. The Warriors were on fire coming down the stretch, however they are going to be without Ray Allen for the first 5 games of this series. That could deal them a major blow. The Spurs have been a much better team during the 2nd half of the season than they were in the 1st. A battle between Joe Johnson and Rashard Lewis should be a great one. Joe Johnson has taken a leadership role in S.A and has averaged about 23 ppg since the all star break. When it comes down to it the Warriors are going to find out if they need Ray Allen to win in the playoffs or not. I look for this to be a close series and if Allen was out for all 7 games I think the Spurs would take it. As is Allen is going to be back by the end however...
Prediction : Warriors in 7
#4 Denver Nuggets
vs
#5 Dallas Mavericks
Key Match-up : Dwayne Wade vs Keith Van Horn
Injuries : Nuggets - Popeye Jones (series) , Mavs - NONE
Season Series : Mavericks 3-1
Mavericks 123, NUGGETS 114
Nuggets 91, MAVERICKS 75
MAVERICKS 119, Nuggets 111
Mavericks 84, NUGGETS 82
Outlook : The Nuggets have all types of expectations. However the Dallas Mavericks come into this series as the team with all of the momentum. The Mavs led by Dirk Nowitski have come storming down the stretch to rise from the 8 seed all the way to #5. Dirk and KVH have been handling the offensive load while Ratliff and Raef try to add the defensive side to the Mavs overall game. Alot has been said about the famed youthful trio of Arenas, Wade and Kobe in Denver. To date they have not really done anything though. As for this series Kobe and Dirk will both get their own. This series will probably be determined by the matchup of Dwayne Wade and Keith Van Horn. So far this season you have to give the advantage to KVH in heads up matchups. I think you have to stick with the hot hand. On paper and through popular opinion the Nuggets will win this series. However that is why we play the game....
Prediction : Mavs in 6
