Post by New Jersey Nets on Oct 31, 2008 5:50:11 GMT -5
Dallas Mavericks
[/size][/center]Starting Lineup
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Anytime you have Chris Bosh and Dirk Nowitzki on your team, you will be favored. Both had good seasons and Bosh is in the running for league MVP. They both have favorable matchups too. Bosh goes against Kirilenko and although AK is a good to great defender, Bosh will be too much on offense. Dirk is unguardable and Tayshaun Prince will be up to the challenge but Dirk's size and jump shooting ability will give Dirk the edge. Brook Lopez has been a good rookie this year and Melvin Ely doesn't present much of a challenge. Lopez should make the most of his opportunities. Manu Ginobili should also have a big series since Grant Hill is only a shadow of the player he once was. Jameer Nelson is better as a shooting guard but he shouldn't be outplayed too much by Mo Williams. Williams will score more but Nelson will make his teammates better by making good decisions.
Bench
[/color][/center][/size]James Posey, Anderson Varejao, Ronald Murray, Jason Hart, Quincy Douby, Carl Landry, Julian Wright, and Josh McRoberts should provide enough help off the bench. Posey, Varejao, and Murray are the only bench players with extensive playoff experience. Posey is the perfect role player and has proven to be a clutch player recently. Varejao can rebound and defend while bringing needed energy off the bench. Murray is more of an offensive player and can provide a spark off the bench. Douby is in his second year and hasn't done much so far. Hart is an undersized point guard that is in the true point guard mold. Landry will also help clean up the boards. Wright brings athleticism and potential for the jaw dropping play but needs to be more consistent. McRoberts is still young and unproven but has the talent to be a contributor in this league.
Golden State Warriors
[/size][/center]Starting Lineup
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The Warriors are in trouble. Their "star" player, Chris Webber, is most likely out for the series and they face the trio of Bosh, Dirk, and Manu. Maurice Williams becomes the best player even though Prince at times plays like an all-star. For the Warriors to have any chance in this series they will need more efficient production from Williams (A-TO not good) and a major step up from Prince. Prince had worse numbers against the Mavs during the season series and his defense on Dirk will play an important role. Kirilenko could have a better series than Bosh, his counterpart, but it isn't likely. Look for a few good games from AK but not enough. Ely will have all kinds of problems with Lopez and will be a non factor.
Bench
[/color][/center][/size]Tony Allen, Rafer Altson, Bobby Simmons, Tyler Hansbrough, Kyle Lowry, and Walter Herrmann from the slim bench. Allen can be a good bench player but he too rarely is good on both ends of the floor. Alston could start in the league but he's more of a make the right decision player not blow people away player. Simmons has talent but since his break out season with the Clippers he hasn't done much. Lowry just needs more playing time and he'll break out. He should be starting at SG somewhere. Herrmann provides defense off the bench and Hansbrough is still raw and not ready to take on a bigger role.
Final Analysis
[/color][/center][/size]Even though Dallas is the better team by far this series won't be a sweep. The Bosh-Dirk combo is just too much to overcome and the loss of Webber before the playoffs sealed Golden State's fate. The Warriors will need their starters, that including Ely, to play out of their collective minds to have a chance. Yeah, that ain't happening.
Prediction: Dallas 4
[/color] Golden State 2[/center]San Antonio Spurs
[/size][/center]Starting Lineup
[/center][/size]Dwight Howard is always in beast mode and continues to improve every year. He should have his way with Zo for most of the series. Ben Wallace takes some of the pressure off of Dwight on the defensive end and on the boards. He won't score much and no one wants to see him try but he'll be solid in other areas. He should shut down Okur. Danny Granger will find it tough to get open looks against Josh Howard. They are very similar players but Granger is better on offense and is also improving year to year while Howard has peaked. Mike Miller had a breakout year but his looks will be limited. He should out perform Ricky Davis as Davis has been a big disappointed since he was drafted. Smush Parker might as well not show up as Nash will do what he wants but Parker could off set Nash's play with stepping up his offensive play. The Hughes injury shouldn't hurt the Spurs that much.
Bench
[/center][/size]Earl Boykins, Robert Swift, Francisco Elson, Jamont Gordon, JaVale McGee, Trenton Hassell, Morris Almond, Greg Buckner, and Dan Gadzuric form a very deep but young bench. Boykins is still fast and quick but a defensive liability which is why he's on the bench. Swift still can't beat the injury bug which will deter his career if he can't get on the floor soon. Elson is a very efficient player when given time. Gordon provides offense and that's it. McGee is a very talent young player and is already being compared to Dwight Howard. He's at least another year away. Hassell brings experience and the ability to defend. Almond can shoot lights out but is stuck behind some good players. Buckner and Gadzuric won't be playing a lot in this series as both aren't very good.
Houston Rockets
[/size][/center]Starting Lineup
[/center][/size]Mehmet Okur will have to be a factor in this series for the Rockets to have a chance. Zo will give everything he has but age is finally catching up to him and he won't be able to keep up with Howard. Josh Howard could outplay Granger and also needs to to give the Houston a chance. Ricky Davis won't be a factor as he tends to disappear but Nash will have a huge series. If Nash gets hot from three this could be a long series.
Bench
[/center][/size]James Jones, Donyell Marshall, Chuck Hayes, Anfernee Hardaway, Lamond Murray, Clifford Robinson, Jannero Pargo, Coby Karl, Michael Olowokandi, and DJ Strawberry form the bench. Jones and Marshall provide consistent three point shooting which could provide a spark off the bench when Davis and Howard have to sit down. Hayes and Robinson play D and rebound. Murray brings experience and can still shoot the ball. Pargo is a good defender and has shown offensive savvy in the playoffs. Karl is buried on the bench along with Strawberry even though both are talented. Olowokandi might be the biggest #1 pick bust ever but he is serviceable.
Final Analysis
[/center][/size]Even without Larry Hughes, the Spurs will win. Dwight Howard is just too much to handle for the Rockets while the Spurs defense should shut down everyone but Steve Nash. The Spurs bench is deeper and better but San Antonio shouldn't have to rely on their bench much during the series. Okur needs to step up and take advantage of Ben Wallace's age for the Rockets to have a serious chance. Josh Howard also needs to put down the joint and start playing better basketball. In the end, the Spurs are too talented.
Prediction: San Antonio 4
[/color] Houston 2[/center]Phoenix Suns
[/size][/center]Starting Lineup
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Antonio McDyess won't do well against Ilgauskas due to Z's size and length advantage. Dice will be able to hit some jumpers but his rebounding and defense should be sub par. The Duncan/Boozer matchup should go Duncan's way although he won't be able to stop Boozer from scoring and otherwise getting his. Duncan will stop Boozer from being a deciding factor in this series though. Jeff Green is subbing in for the injured Caron Butler and should play enough defense to keep Michael Beasley in check. Ray Allen will destroy Chase Budinger and should have the best series of all of the Suns. Baron Davis will dominate Marbury but Marbury could have a few games where he impresses. He still has the talent.
Bench
[/color][/center][/size]Damien Wilkins, Sam Cassell, Danilo Gallinari, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Dikembe Mutombo, Brent Barry, Jorge Garbajosa, and Darko Milicic form the bench. Cassell, Mutombo, and Barry provide extensive playoff experience. Cassell is all but washed up and this should be his last year in the league. Barry is a sharp shooter that can play some defense but is best used in limited minutes. Wilkins can score and is an ok defender. Gallinari is a rookie that can shoot but hasn't proven anything else as of yet. Sarunas is a big point guard but isn't very athletic and could be out of the league soon too. Milicic has starter ability but hasn't put it together yet. Garbajosa is looking to bail to Europe even if he gets a ring.
Utah Jazz
[/size][/center]Starting Lineup
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The Jazz might as well forfeit this series. Even with Caron Butler on the injured list, the Suns talent is overwhelming. Big Z could have a good series but he is older and slower than even before he was drafted by Cleveland. Boozer is the key to the Jazz success. He needs to have a big series to open up opportunities for those around him. Budinger can shooter but can't defend and with Ray Allen his responsibility it doesn't look good. Marbury is offensive minded and will let Baron into the paint all day. Beasley has played well for a rookie but even if he dominates Jeff Green it won't be enough.
Bench
[/color][/center][/size]Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Paul Millsap, Marco Belinelli, Marcus Banks, Ronnie Brewer, Nenad Krstic, Marreese Speights are the bench. Telfair backs up Marbury but Sebastian isn't starter quality in the league. He is too small and misses too many shots. Green is uber athletic and when he got a chance in Boston he played well but he hasn't done much since. Millsap is a beast waiting to be let out of the cage. He is a rebounding machine is will defend any PF in the league. Brewer is a defensive specialist that is putting it all together. He provides versatility and length off the bench. Banks and Belinelli can shoot the ball, especially in up tempo games. Krstic has all the talent but none of the luck. He hasn't had an injury free year in the league. Speights has a ton of talent but the rook hasn't got a lot of burn behind Millsap and Boozer.
Final Analysis
[/color][/center][/size]A fully healthy and gelling Suns team is almost impossible to beat given the talent the GM has gathered during the year. The problems are health and chemistry. Since the Tim Duncan trade, the Suns have fallen off atop the league but with so much talent it will be hard for Utah to win even one game let alone four.
Prediction: Phoenix 4
[/color] Utah 1[/center]Denver Nuggets
[/size][/center]Starting Lineup
[/size][/center]With the way Shaq has been playing, Bogut won't be able to stop him. Bogut should still be a force in the paint but don't expect big numbers. Amare Stoudemire is becoming unstoppable on offense. His knee injury proved to be a driving force that improved his game. He can knock down jump shots all day and his post up game is much better. Odom with be run over. If there is anyone that can slow down Marion it is Batter. Marion can do everything so Battier won't be scoring much. Leandro Barbosa is lightning quick but McGrady can handle him. Barbosa won't be able to stop TMac at all so look for another disaster for Denver. Felton hasn't lived up to the potential and he isn't the best point guard in this series. He may be able to do some damage to the score board as Calderon isn't known for his defense.
Bench
[/center][/size]Brandon Rush, Darrell Armstrong, Doug Christie, DerMarr Johnson, Chris Lofton, Joey Dorsey, Alando Tucker, and John Lucas make up the bench. Rush is only a rookie but can play is now a proven defender and deep threat. Armstrong and Christie provide experience and leadership to this young bench. Lofton isn't ready to start at point yet but he provides a nice spark off the bench. Dorsey brings an intensity to both ends and Tucker is a good jump shooter. John Lucas hasn't done much and he won't see a lot of time in this series.
Oklahoma City Thunder
[/size][/center]Starting Lineup
[/center][/size]Shaq could have a big series with his recent play but look for inconsistency as his age is showing. Odom needs to match Amare for the Thunder to improve their chances. He can do it all but Amare is a beast. Shane Battier's only job is to shut down Marion. If he can do that for most of the series the Thunder should win. Tracy McGrady should light it up from game 1 since Barbosa is on him. Calderon is a very efficient point guard but could have problems defending Felton.
Bench
[/center][/size]Trevor Ariza, Mike James, Josh Boone, Richard Roby, Bostjan Nachbar, and Wilson Chandler form the thin bench. Ariza is a good role player and plays hard on defense. James can shoot but needs the ball in his hands. Boone is good for D and rebounding with some blocks. Roby is a rookie that isn't ready. Nachbar has some playoff experience and is a deadly three point shooter. Chandler is still young but has a lot of talent. He may get more minutes than expected.
Final Analysis
[/center][/size]This will be a close series even though the Thunder have streaked into the playoffs and are without Duhon for a few games. The Shaq and TMac combo is made for the playoffs but Amare and Marion aren't too shabby either. This will come down to whose star show up more and I give the edge to the Thundercats...uh...Thunder.
Prediction: Oklahoma City 4
[/color] Denver 3[/center][/color]