Post by Orlando Magic Johnson on May 28, 2020 11:26:56 GMT -8
Hello and welcome to DB's First Round Playoff Preview. This is my opinion on the upcoming playoff landscape as it sits currently. I hope you enjoy and good luck to everyone.
Eastern Conference Playoffs:
(1) New Jersey Nets vs (8) Detroit Pistons
Whoever play the Nets in the first round will have a TOUGH task against this eastern conference powerhouse. They’re stacked defensively led by Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo. Michael Jordan is still a force to be reckoned with at 38 years of age. I see the Nets making it to the Finals this year. They’re just too good and well rounded. While their point guard situation is lacking the team has more than enough weapons to make a deep playoff run. The Pistons, Hornets or anyone else who plays them just won’t have enough to compete.
Prediction: Nets in 4.
(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Washington Wizards
This is another match up that should be a cake walk for the Cavs. They have to be considered heavy favorites with all of their offensive weapons. The Wizards just don’t have enough fire power to compete. The Cavs led by young stud Kevin Garnett are a very intriguing team that you could see as being a tough match-up for the Nets. A well-structured roster with KG, Van Horn, Hill and the glove Gary Payton makes this a tough matchup for any team. I believe they have a good shot of winning it all.
Prediction: Cavaliers in 5.
(3) Miami Heat vs. (6) Chicago Bulls
Kobe vs. Insane/Play. This should be a fun heated match up. Lots of trash talk should come out of this or maybe just some from one side either way, this should be good. The Heat are obviously the better team led by Alonzo Mourning up front. He is a top 5 player in this league and just an all-around beast. It will be interesting to see how far ZO can carry the Heat. They recently traded back for Mash which was a nice move to help carry the load. This Bulls team is intriguing and will put up a fight though. A squad led by Marcus Camby and Michael Finley are nice pieces, but, in the end, will be no match for Mourning and the rest of the Heat.
Prediction: Heat in 6.
(4) New York Knicks vs. (5) Boston Celtics
Ah yes, the match I have been waiting for. This will prove to be the best match-up of the first round. I think this series will go seven games. The Knicks led by sharpshooter Jamal Crawford who has become the talk around the league vs. Allen Iverson of the Celtics who I feel doesn’t get talked about enough. AI is offensive beast and a defensive stud at the guard position. Bringing in Sheed to help the Celtics was important even though some people think he doesn’t sim to his ratings, which may be the case. In the end, I think the Celtics 3 stars will overmatch the Knicks and advance in the playoffs.
Prediction: Celtics in 7.
Western Conference Playoffs:
(1) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (8) San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs and frankly the entire Western Conference are no match for the Clippers and Tim Duncan. The best player in the league and an absolute force will skate his way to the finals to face (IMO) either the Nets or Cavaliers. It should be interesting to see. Did the Clippers do enough to help Tim reach the top? We shall find out. It sucks for the Spurs but they’re a fun young team and they will be back. It is Tim’s time to carry the load.
Prediction: Clippers in 4
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks
The Nuggets traded their prize possession in Shaquille O’Neal for Paul Pierce and a couple firsts. They will not make it far in the playoffs with their current roster. Expect the Mavs to “upset” them and win this round. The Nuggets are no longer a good team and the Mavericks have the pieces and talent to win this series easily. I also believe the Mavs are a team that can make a deep run this year. The West is wide open.
Prediction: Mavs in 5
(3) Sacramento Kings vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
A very intriguing series that I think can go either way. Both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. The Kings are a nice offensive team while the Warriors are led by MVP Candidate Dirk Nowitzki. I think that the Kings will end up taking this series because the Warriors don’t have much talent around Dirk besides Billups. The Western Conference is really wide open (Besides Clippers) in a lot of areas. A team could make a run here. No team really scares you besides the Clippers. The Winner of the next series though could prove to be a challenge once again though.
Prediction: Kings in 7
(4) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5) Utah Jazz
Oh boy! Jeff has a tough task here. Jazz come in as the defending champs with a pretty similar squad that could make another run as the 5th seed. I gotta say, Jeff has put together a really nice team though. He has a lot of strong bigs and 3 20 ppg scorers. It’s a fun team that will test the Jazz. It might be the most underrated team of the entire playoff landscape. They have a lot of good pieces. I can’t wait to see how this one plays out because like I said before the Jazz are the defending champs with pretty much the same squad. The Admiral, Big Dog, Allan Houston and Bobby Jackson still make this team as deadly as ever. I think it goes 7 games and really tests the defending champs. In the end, I believe that the Jazz will win giving them the chance to have one more shot at being on top. This will probably be their last year with this current squad to get there.
Prediction: Jazz in 7
Thank you for reading! Until next time!
- DB
- DB
