The playoffs are finally upon us. A long regular season has seen 16 teams survive to fight it out for the big prize. The conference disparity has never been larger, but that’s an argument for another column.
Let’s rank the series in order of interest, from least to the most intriguing.
8th – Indiana versus Atlanta
With a fit Al Horford, we would see whether the Pacers’ problems could be exposed in the first round. Without him, Indiana win an uninspiring series easily.
7th – Miami versus Charlotte
LeBron James and co. were happy to concede the first seed for a little rest in the last week of the regular season. They know they can win anywhere, anytime, and this series figures to be little more than a glorified four-game training run unless Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson become John Stockton and Karl Malone.
6th – Chicago versus Washington
Who needs Derrick Rose and Luol Deng? Not the Bulls. John Wall is the brightest young point guard in the game and Bradley Beal provides a lethal backcourt partner. While these kids probably get two wins for the Bullets, the Bulls keep the scores in the 80s as they prepare for an unlikely run to the Eastern conference finals.
5th – San Antonio versus Dallas
This series features two of the top 12 players in NBA history. One has the best supporting cast in the land, and one has a lethal offensive team that couldn’t guard a locked door. 2010-mode Dirk Nowitzki send this series to six games, but logic says the Spurs break out the brooms despite the Mavs consistently scoring 100+ points.
4th – Houston versus Portand
The Blazers bolted out of the blocks, hit the wall and charged home as LaMarcus Alridge regained fitness. The Rockets had a fantastic season based on the craftiness and guile of James Harden and the imposing play of Dwight Howard.
This series figures to be high scoring with minimal defence and should go the distance. Here’s hoping the officials let the teams play and don’t turn this potentially fascinating series into a free-throwathon.
3rd – Toronto versus Brooklyn
Despite having a record that would have had them spectating in the West, the Raps were the leagues most-surprising team and are lead by a dominant backcourt. The Nets mailed in the last week of the season to avoid a first-round match-up with Chicago, and have what they wished for.
This Brookyn team was put together for the post-season, and should find a way out of this series but Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan will make this the most entertaining first-round series in the East.
2nd – Oklahoma City versus Memphis
Forget what the Thunder might say publicly, this is the first round series they didn’t want. Memphis have getting ability to give them fits and will challenge any OKC player not called Kevin Durant.
Will Scott Brooks continue to commit to the inefficiency and waste of minutes that are Kendrick Perkins and Derek Fisher? Can Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph support the league’s most underrated point guard, Mike Conley?
Will Mike Miller break open the game like Memphis hope he will? Will the Grizz have to bite the bullet and play Tayshawn Prince to provide a defensive lift?
And can Russell Westbrook’s undeniable talent overshadow his propensity to turn the ball over and take bad shots? If Memphis split the first two games this series has upset written all over it
1st – LA Clippers versus Golden State
It is a shame Andrew Bogut is injured because this series looked to have hatred, differing styles and some of the most exciting players in the league.
Doc Rivers is seen as a genius, but a first round loss here would put him under serious pressure. DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin should dominate inside against David Lee and an undersized front line, but can they turn regular season brilliance into post-season results?
Steph Curry will be all-world, but will it be enough unless Klay Thompson finds a way he to be more than a sporadic spot-up shooter? Can Andre Igoudala find a way to guard Blake Griffin?
Will Chris Paul have enough energy to run the Clippers offense after chasing Curry around screen after screen after screen? Even if this is a short series, it is almost certain to be a most entertaining series, and ESPN might explode as the two most marketable and hyped at Western Conference teams go head to head.
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