Has there ever been a more built-up, more anticipated, more pressure-packed NBA postseason than the one getting underway right now?
So many big stars looking to make big statements. So many young guys hungry to take that next step. So many veterans looking for one last hurrah. So many deep, dangerous capable teams are in position to win an NBA championship.
We've been through March Madness already, but this year the insanity will continue into April, May and June. These next two months are going to be unforgettable. The field is wide open, and while it would be a stretch to say "anyone can win," there are certainly seven, eight, maybe even nine teams with a good shot.
So who you got? Everyone's opinions will vary. But here's mine.
Eastern Conference
Bulls (1) vs. Pacers (8)
This series will be closer than you think. The matchups work for Indiana — Darren Collison is a quick young point guard to mirror Derrick Rose, Roy Hibbert is a skilled big man to muscle up to Joakim Noah, and the Pacers have just enough offensive potency from their forwards — Danny Granger, Tyler Hansbrough, Josh McRoberts — to make this interesting. But the Bulls are the better team, obviously, and the mastermind Tom Thibodeau will have them ready to take care of business. Prediction: Bulls in five.
Heat (2) vs. Sixers (7)
In what may well be the worst of the eight first-round playoff series on the schedule, you can expect Miami's trio of superstars to absolutely overpower the Sixers. Doug Collins has a solid group of role players who work well together, but they're way overmatched here. This is the postseason, where rotations tighten and star players shine for 40-plus minutes a night. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will shine bright, there's no doubt. Prediction: Heat in four.
Celtics (3) vs. Knicks (6)
Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups are playoff warriors. One was in the West finals last year, one has made eight straight postseasons, and one has made 11 straight, with a title and a Finals MVP to boot. But what else? Not much. The Celtics are deeper, they're stronger defensively and they fit better. They've been here before — together, that is. This Celtics team has been anticipating the playoffs for months on end, and now that they're here, you'll see their best effort. It'll be too much for the Knicks to handle. Prediction: Celtics in five.
Magic (4) vs. Hawks (5)
Another "closer than you think" series. The Magic are a far better team on paper, with 52 wins this season to the Hawks' 44, but the Hawks have won three straight games against Orlando. Normally, these regular-season track records mean next to nothing, but a key wrinkle has emerged for Atlanta this season: Jason Collins. The Hawks have found one of the best one-on-one Dwight Howard stoppers in the NBA, and that's more important now than ever before. Collins will neutralize D12, the Hawks will clamp down on the wings, and this series will become a tough defensive struggle. On the other hand, the Hawks just aren't that good. Prediction: Magic in seven.
Western Conference
Spurs (1) vs. Grizzlies (8)
This is why the Spurs have been cautious with Tim Duncan all season — they need him for playoff series like this one. They may be the No. 1 seed, but if the Spurs don't give an outstanding effort in the paint against the Grizzlies' post scorers, they're toast. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol will be out for blood in the first round, so it's up to Duncan and Antonio McDyess to give the Spurs toughness, defensive fundamentals and solid rebounding. If they can do that, then San Antonio should survive the upset bid of a young, ambitious Memphis club. Prediction: Spurs in six.
Lakers (2) vs. Hornets (7)
Even if Chris Paul plays like Magic Johnson in his prime, it's hard to imagine this series being competitive. Again, not to rely too heavily on regular-season stats, but the Lakers are 4-0 against the Hornets this season. They're 10-3 since trading for Pau Gasol three years ago. Pretty simple — the Hornets already couldn't stop Kobe Bryant alone, but when you throw in three 7-footers, it just gets ugly. Take an already lopsided matchup, subtract an injured David West, add a dialed-up Kobe in the playoffs, and you get a laughingstock. Too bad you can't pick the Lakers in three. Prediction: Lakers in four.
Mavericks (3) vs. Blazers (6)
This is what makes the West so scary. The Blazers were already a playoff threat months ago — even before they got anything from Brandon Roy, before LaMarcus Aldridge made his leap to bona fide star status, and before they made the coup of the trade deadline getting Gerald Wallace for nothing. Now, they're still only a six seed. That tells you something. But hey — the Blazers are lucky to be No. 6, because they've got the most vulnerable opponent on the top half of the bracket. The Mavericks' depth behind Dirk Nowitzki is questionable, and the Blazers have a deep team with a shot at upsetting them. Then again, Dirk is a dynamo right now, so it's tough to pick against him. Prediction: Mavs in seven.
Thunder (4) vs. Nuggets (5)
Isn't that interesting? On one side of the bracket, the team that got Carmelo takes on the team that got Jeff Green. On the other side, the team that shipped Carmelo out plays against the club that traded Green for Kendrick Perkins. These are the two fan favorites — the Nuggets are a lovable bunch of egoless supporting guys, no longer overshadowed by Melo's star power, and the Thunder have added a hardworking big man in Perk who can help them in the playoffs. America will be happy no matter who wins this series. It should be a close one, but you can't go wrong siding with the two best players in the series. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are ready to make some noise. Prediction: Thunder in seven.
Second Round
Bulls (1) vs. Magic (4)
In a battle between the two strongest candidates for MVP, who will win? Will it be Rose, whose high-flying scoring ability makes him an impossible cover for pretty much anyone in the league, or Howard, whose presence in the middle can alter games like no one else can? Smart money says Rose — not necessarily because he's the better player, but because the matchups look good for him. The Magic don't have the bodies to stop Rose, but the Bulls have an energetic and fearless big man in Joakim Noah to butt heads with Howard. The Bulls' defense will take away Orlando's 3-point shot, Noah will do his job, and the Bulls can coast into the Eastern Conference finals. Prediction: Bulls in six.
Heat (2) vs. Celtics (3)
The Celtics have beaten LeBron James in the playoffs before. They've beaten Dwyane Wade, too. Chris Bosh? Well, not a fair question, he hasn't really been there much. The question is whether the C's can stop all three guys together. But if there's one team you can trust against the Heat's big three, it's Boston. They've got a hard-working trio of their own that works together to get stops, and they've also got Rajon Rondo, who's got the potential to dominate this series. It's a question of desire — if the Celtics play like they desperately want to return to the East finals, they can do it. Prediction: Celtics in seven.
Spurs (1) vs. Thunder (4)
It's time for the big three to meet the new two. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have never won a playoff series before — yet — but now's their time to make a deep run. They've got a pair of able bigs in front of them with Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka, they've got a nice group of defensive-minded role players, and they've got what it takes to beat San Antonio. The torch will be passed as Duncan's Spurs fall to Durant's Thunder. A new power is rising in the Western Conference. Prediction: Thunder in six.
Lakers (2) vs. Mavericks (3)
Finally, we get to see Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki go head to head in the West playoffs. We've only been waiting 13 years. But now that it's finally here, we might be in for a dud of a series. Dirk's an incredible player, but the supporting casts just aren't even close, and there's no way Dallas can stand up to L.A.'s trio of big men. This matchup is exactly why the Mavs acquired Tyson Chandler last summer, but let's face it, Dallas isn't winning this series without cloning him. They need three powerful bigs to slow down Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. They don't have them. Prediction: Lakers in five.
East Finals
Bulls (1) vs. Celtics (3)
The Celtics won the first two meetings with the Bulls this season, both at home; then the Bulls won the next two, both at their place. But we've yet to see these two teams at full strength. When we see the Celtics with both O'Neals and Kevin Garnett all healthy, plus the Bulls with Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer firing, then we'll really be in for an epic series. It can go either way, as both teams are loaded and defensively sound, with great young point guards leading the way. But it's hard to pick against the Celtics, whose experienced Big Three have won conference titles before and have all the goods to capture one more. Prediction: Celtics in seven.
West Finals
Lakers (2) vs. Thunder (4)
Kendrick Perkins says Phil Jackson's arrogant, and Pau Gasol's soft. The Lakers don't need to answer Perk's trash talk — they can simply respond on the court. They beat OKC last year before Perkins got there, and can they win again? Sure. They still have an overpowering army of bigs. Perk's only one guy. Who's going to stop Lamar Odom? What about Gasol? The Lakers just have too many weapons. Ron Artest can do his thing and neutralize Kevin Durant, while meanwhile, the Thunder just won't have enough against L.A. Prediction: Lakers in six.
NBA Finals
Lakers (2) vs. Celtics (3)
It always goes back to Lakers-Celtics, doesn't it? Well, there's a reason — these two teams are big, they're strong, they're fearless, they're experienced and they have incredible leadership. These two teams are still the class of the NBA, at least for now.
The Lakers won last year, largely because their bigs were healthier down the stretch. Will that be the case again? Quite possibly. It's hard to trust a 39-year-old Shaquille and 32-year-old Jermaine O'Neal. The Lakers are the known commodity here. They're the champs.
Kobe Bryant has won five rings in his career. Phil Jackson has won 11. These are two of the absolute best ever at what they do. You're welcome to pick against them, but do so at your own risk. You may wind up disappointed. Prediction: Lakers in seven.
