Must See TV

April 24, 2006 – 12:21 pm

2006 NBA Playoff Breakdown;

The seemingly endless 7 month marathon that is the NBA regular season has come to an end. It’s now time to start the seemingly endless marathon that is the NBA playoffs. I’m not complaining though, I love this time of year. This is a pivotal playoff season for the NBA. The league has lost speed since MJ and the lockout season. Whether it’s the increasing diversity of sports on TV to compete with or the growing disconnect between the consumer and the player, the NBA has lost fans. The league needs these playoffs to be epic, to prove its star quality and marketability. The NCAA tourney has become the most anticipated event in basketball. Yet the NBA is still the highest level of basketball, the league has simply lost focus; looking to globalize while forgetting its domestic relevance. There is hope yet for the NBA. The league has an incredible crop of young and brilliant stars to showcase now that the 2003 draft trio has truly ascended. LeBron has finally joined Melo and Wade at the party. Each player has become the face of their respective franchises, and now are becoming the key marketing focus of the league. They’re successes and failures will be the driving force of the playoffs. However, their presence is only one of many riveting subplots set to play out in the next two months;

• The Heat and Pistons seem destined to battle for the Eastern conference title. There are no other teams in the east that can win a series against these teams. It’s basically the Piston’s berth to lose. I’m not sold at all on Riley’s offseason moves. They are not built to challenge this current Piston’s squad. They can not effectively defend both Rip and Chauncey in the same game, few in the league can affect Rasheed’s unique game, and Ben Wallace is the single most effective defender ever on Shaq. Wade will be incredible though. (Don’t believe the trendy picks to have the Heat bow out to the Nets or Bulls, the Nets are softer than dairy queen on the front court and people often forget that Shaq is still a beast whose bowel movements are larger than Krstic. Name another player in the league who needs his own toilet in all 29 arenas, they make power forward’s legs swing. The baby Bulls however are still a power forward away from being a threat.)

Don’t Sleep on Shaq

• In the West you have the state of Texas to contend with. With the backwards way the league seeds its playoff teams the Mavs and Spurs will meet in the second round. It’s not right that the only two 60 win teams are facing off before the conference finals. It will still be an incredible series though. These teams represent the ascent of international scouting, both are 60 game winners with dynamic rosters and two amazing MVP level 7 footers in Dirk and Timmy, expect a battle.

• The Clippers are in the playoffs. No really, and they are actually a team to fear. The perennially cheap Donald Stern has finally invested in his team and they have rewarded his newfound excess with homecourt in the first round. In an interesting application of the NBA playoff rules, the Clippers as the 6th seed will host the 3rd seeded Nuggets. This odd switch is due to the fact that the Nuggets won their division, but the Clippers have a better record. Either way it will be cool to see Melo and Brand battle for the series.

He’ll put on a show for you

• Kobe Bryant will need to go nuts vs. Phoenix, just watch the games. Trust me, for as much of an anti hero he has become, he will fight tooth and nail this spring for some respect. I doubt he can actually carry the series, but he will make it interesting.

• Watch out for Indiana; I know they have been beset by injury and drama all year, but the Nets have no one for O’neal, it could be an interesting series. (I wrote this pre Sunday by the way)

Eastern Conference predictions;

The Definition of Team

• (1)Pistons vs. (8)Bucks; There is no question here. The Bucks should have their parents tape the games because they won’t be in the playoffs very long. Sweep.

• (2)Heat vs. (7)Bulls; Like I said, not enough low post talent in Chi town. Hinrich is a future allstar and Gordon is instant offense, but Wade and Shaq are far too much to contend with. Heat in 5.

• (3)Nets vs. (6)Pacers; The Pacers already took homecourt away, and they did it with little from Peja. The Nets need more balance out of their offense. It will be hard to establish any since their frontcourt is so strugglesworth. This is the best matchup in the eastern first round. I like the Pacers in 6 (don’t sleep on Carlisle).

• (4)Cavs vs. (5)Wizards; As he should be, LeBron is the talk of the league. The Wiz are simply outmatched. This series will be the James show, and the Wiz are simply extras. Arenas is the leagues least known super star, but his support is inconsistent. The Cavs should win in 5.

Conference Finals; Pistons vs. Heat; Pistons win in 6. No team is so balanced and concise; they host the finals for a reason.

Western Conference predictions;

• (1)Spurs vs. (8)Kings; Artest has been impressive, a model citizen (up untill game 1) and a leader on a team that desperately needed an identity. The Kings are no longer the Shaq dubbed “Queens�, though they are still wildly overmatched. Duncan can rest in this series and prepare for the looming Mavs series. Spurs in 5.

• (2)Suns vs. (7)Lakers; Even though I think the Suns should win in 6 at the most, Kobe will make it very interesting. I’ll watch every game in this one, just to see if Kobe goes off. Against the high octane Suns he could easily drop 50. Only that doesn’t mean they’ll win. Suns in 5.

• (3)Nuggets vs. (6)Clippers; Melo has established himself as the clutchest in basketball. He is a proven winner on every level and he has lead Denver to the playoffs in his first three seasons. He still needs more help and a shooter to stretch the offense. His name will be mentioned in the same breath as Wade and James after this series. The Clips are a balanced veteran team, with some quality young talent. Look for Quinton Ross in this series, he is among the best on ball defenders in basketball. The combination of homecourt and Brand will prove too much for the Nuggets, although look for Melo to win a couple himself. Clips in 7.

Dirk Diggler; the true MVP
,

• (4)Mavs vs. (5)Grizzlies; Memphis has quietly become a stable quality franchise. Pau Gasol is a star and his supporting cast is deep and versatile. If they get a high caliber point guard they could emerge as a contender in a few years. The Mavs on the other hand are a true contender. Dirk is the MVP in my opinion, an elite star. Avery Johnson has changed the climate in Dallas in just his first full season. They are now a hungry defensive team, with a very deep bench and a superstar to carry them. Mavs in 5.

Conference finals; Spurs vs. Suns; In what should be Mavs/Spurs, the Suns simply can’t contend with Duncan and Parker. For the Suns to win a major playoff series they need to force a team to play their run and gun style. Without Amare to help offset Duncan, and with Nash not able to stop Parker’s penetration, the Spurs will win in 6.

I’ll continue to update the playoffs throughout, with breakdowns after each round. Trust me; watch the games, the league may win you back.