The weather has officially ushered in spring, and the buzz of opening day baseball has just about worn off. One hundred and sixty-two games? Good God. Wake me in October. So if, like me, baseball in late April makes you question the meaning of life, then you know the only important thing in the sports world this time of year is the NBA Playoffs. And so without any more overdone lead-ins, I give you the obligatory predictions for the postseason.
In the East, there has been a lot of anticipation lately about whether the Nets or the Cavs will make the playoffs, and at the time of this writing it appears it will be the Nets. The hype is moot, because neither team stands a chance against the Heat. If the Cavs do manage to slip in, you can expect a sweep. If it is the Nets, you might have a slightly more interesting series, especially if Richard Jefferson comes back. Still, the Heat are too much for the streaking Nets team, even if they manage to push it to six games.
The Pistons will get the Sixers, assuming the Pacers won on Reggie Miller night. Larry Brown will be facing his former team for the first time, and it should not be pretty. The Pistons are a cut above the Sixers even with AI, Webber and Ashton Kutcher on the top of their games. Still, Detroit has never just smoked a team in the playoffs, and their low-scoring offense will keep Philly in some games. Expect the Pistons to wrap this one up in five.
The Celtics better be praying for the Bulls to spoil Reggie Miller's final home game in Indiana, because right now they have a very tough draw with the Pacers. Indiana is much better than the record indicates, and they finished about even with Boston in the standings. You have to like Carlisle over Doc Rivers, since Doc's teams have done nothing but implode in the playoffs. Throw in a healthy Jermaine O'Neal and the C's are going to need all the shimmying from Antoine that they can get. If by some miracle Boston ends up playing the Sixers in the first round, expect the Celtics to advance. Otherwise, the Pacers will win in six, setting up a classic second round matchup with the hated Pistons.
The middle of the bracket will pit the Bulls against the Wizards in a battle to play the Heat in the second round. There is not a lot of juice to this series, partly because neither of these teams has been in the playoffs this century. The Wizards have the talent with their big three in Jamison, Arenas and Hughes, but the Bulls have been playing championship-caliber defense. It should be a very tight series. Eddy Curry's loss hurts the Bulls, and it just seems that a trip to the second round would be too good to be true for Chicago. The Wizards will come out on top in seven.
Out West, Phoenix and Memphis is going to be closer than people think. The two teams split the season series, and Memphis has Pau Gasol back. The Suns only scored over 100 points once in their four meetings during the regular season, and this is an untested Phoenix team. On the other hand, Mike Fratello has never impressed in the playoffs. His Cleveland teams almost always bowed out in the first round, and the Grizzlies will be no different. Just do not expect a sweep. The Suns will win in six.
San Antonio should spell the end of Denver's unbelievable run. The Nuggets have been on a historic roll since the All-Star break, going 25-4 over that stretch. They will probably win some games up in the high altitude, but San Antonio is just too boringly good in the end. Denver's fast pace could really bother San Antonio, and will make this series very interesting. San Antonio will advance after seven games.
Seattle against Sacramento is a battle of two teams that just do not impress very much. Sacramento has fumbled around all season, in spite of its record. The Sonics had a blazing start but have slowed down tremendously towards the finish line. Neither team will blow the other away, but expect the Kings to really regret trading Chris Webber in this series. Bibby will need a lot of help, and Peja has never been a great playoff player. Expect the Kings to fizzle out in five.
Finally, we come to what should be the best series of the first round: Dallas and Houston. Before the matchups were set, I thought that with a shaky Tim Duncan these two teams could meet in the Conference Finals. Instead, they are playing in the first round. Dallas has taken some real strides towards becoming a contender, with its unlimited artillery firing behind Dirk Nowitzki and improved defense. Houston needs McGrady to be McGrady, Yao to be adequate, and a pleasant surprise from someone like Dikembe Mutombo, who has been huge for them lately. If the Rockets can do that, their world class defense should be able to propel them out of the first round. This series will go seven games, and you might as well flip a coin. I am going to say the Mavericks, just because they have fewer question marks on offense, and I feel obligated seeing as how an earlier column of mine was all over them.
All that being said, the Eastern Conference is sure to have two great series: the Pistons/Pacers in the second round, and the Pistons/Heat in the Conference Finals. Out West all the series should have a little more charge, and a potential Dallas/Phoenix second round meeting could really cook.
Until then, I will eagerly watch the Knicks/Wizards game and hope that New York can solidify that seventh pick in the draft. Spring is definitely here.
Dennis Doyle is a senior majoring in engineering. He can be reached at Dennis.Doyle@tufts.edu.
