duncan228
04-17-2009, 09:32 PM
Eastern Conference playoff preview (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Eastern_Conference_playoff_preview.html)
Mike Monroe - Express-News
(1) Cavaliers (66-16) vs. (8) Pistons (39-43)
Season series: Cavaliers won 3-1.
Key matchup: LeBron James vs. Tayshaun Prince — In truth, the key matchup for every team that plays the Cavaliers is their team defense vs. LeBron, the favorite to win this season’s MVP award. Prince is a long defender but hardly physical enough to keep James from getting to the basket.
Cavaliers can win if: Mo Williams, Delonte West and Daniel Gibson take advantage of all the open looks they’re going to get when the Pistons do whatever they can to limit James.
Pistons can win if: Rasheed Wallace plays like the playoff monster he was in 2005, when he nearly derailed the Spurs’ championship victory train. Wallace must disrupt the Cavs’ defense from 3-point range.
Prediction: Cavs in 5
* * *
(2) Celtics (62-20) vs. (7) Bulls (41-41)
Season series: Celtics won 2-1.
Key matchup: Paul Pierce vs. John Salmons — In the Bulls’ lone victory during the regular season — on St. Patrick’s Day, no less — Salmons led the way for the Bulls with 38 points. With Kevin Garnett unavailable, Pierce has to carry so much of the scoring load, he doesn’t have a lot left to give to a key defensive matchup.
Celtics can win if: They stop feeling sorry for themselves about Garnett’s injury long enough to play the sort of smothering defense that resulted in an NBA title last year.
Bulls can win if: Soon-to-be Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose plays like a five-year veteran and starts making some perimeter shots.
Prediction: Celtics in 7
* * *
(3) Magic (59-23) vs. (6) 76ers (41-41)
Season series: Magic won 3-0.
Key matchup: Dwight Howard vs. Samuel Dalembert — Dalembert is long, and Howard is strong, but Dalembert was able to limit “Superman” some in three regular-season games, in which Howard produced 15.7 points and 10 rebounds per game, well below his season averages. With perimeter shooters ailing, Howard needs to be utterly dominant.
Magic can win if: Both Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis approximate their regular-season 3-point shooting percentages.
76ers can win if: Andre Miller plays as big in playoffs as he has in the past, when he occasionally becomes one of the league’s best scorers from the point.
Prediction: Magic in 5
* * *
(4) Hawks (47-35) vs. (5) Heat (43-39)
Season series: Hawks won 3-1.
Key matchup: Joe Johnson vs. Dwyane Wade — This will be the best one-on-one matchup of the East’s first round, two of the NBA’s most versatile scorers locked in a head-to-head duel. Wade is an MVP candidate. Johnson is capable of triple-double dominance.
Hawks can win if: They approach their first home-court advantage series with the same “we’ll show ’em” attitude that scared the Celtics in last year’s first round. They have to defend as they did then.
Heat can win if: Their contributing rookies play like savvy veterans. Point guard Mario Chalmers and forward Michael Beasley have to think of this series as if it were the NCAA tournament and approach each game like it’s win or else.
Prediction: Heat in 6
Mike Monroe - Express-News
(1) Cavaliers (66-16) vs. (8) Pistons (39-43)
Season series: Cavaliers won 3-1.
Key matchup: LeBron James vs. Tayshaun Prince — In truth, the key matchup for every team that plays the Cavaliers is their team defense vs. LeBron, the favorite to win this season’s MVP award. Prince is a long defender but hardly physical enough to keep James from getting to the basket.
Cavaliers can win if: Mo Williams, Delonte West and Daniel Gibson take advantage of all the open looks they’re going to get when the Pistons do whatever they can to limit James.
Pistons can win if: Rasheed Wallace plays like the playoff monster he was in 2005, when he nearly derailed the Spurs’ championship victory train. Wallace must disrupt the Cavs’ defense from 3-point range.
Prediction: Cavs in 5
* * *
(2) Celtics (62-20) vs. (7) Bulls (41-41)
Season series: Celtics won 2-1.
Key matchup: Paul Pierce vs. John Salmons — In the Bulls’ lone victory during the regular season — on St. Patrick’s Day, no less — Salmons led the way for the Bulls with 38 points. With Kevin Garnett unavailable, Pierce has to carry so much of the scoring load, he doesn’t have a lot left to give to a key defensive matchup.
Celtics can win if: They stop feeling sorry for themselves about Garnett’s injury long enough to play the sort of smothering defense that resulted in an NBA title last year.
Bulls can win if: Soon-to-be Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose plays like a five-year veteran and starts making some perimeter shots.
Prediction: Celtics in 7
* * *
(3) Magic (59-23) vs. (6) 76ers (41-41)
Season series: Magic won 3-0.
Key matchup: Dwight Howard vs. Samuel Dalembert — Dalembert is long, and Howard is strong, but Dalembert was able to limit “Superman” some in three regular-season games, in which Howard produced 15.7 points and 10 rebounds per game, well below his season averages. With perimeter shooters ailing, Howard needs to be utterly dominant.
Magic can win if: Both Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis approximate their regular-season 3-point shooting percentages.
76ers can win if: Andre Miller plays as big in playoffs as he has in the past, when he occasionally becomes one of the league’s best scorers from the point.
Prediction: Magic in 5
* * *
(4) Hawks (47-35) vs. (5) Heat (43-39)
Season series: Hawks won 3-1.
Key matchup: Joe Johnson vs. Dwyane Wade — This will be the best one-on-one matchup of the East’s first round, two of the NBA’s most versatile scorers locked in a head-to-head duel. Wade is an MVP candidate. Johnson is capable of triple-double dominance.
Hawks can win if: They approach their first home-court advantage series with the same “we’ll show ’em” attitude that scared the Celtics in last year’s first round. They have to defend as they did then.
Heat can win if: Their contributing rookies play like savvy veterans. Point guard Mario Chalmers and forward Michael Beasley have to think of this series as if it were the NCAA tournament and approach each game like it’s win or else.
Prediction: Heat in 6