Playoffs Part 2

Before I break down the remaining Western Conference series, I'd like to give everyone a Wilbon link which discusses the Wizards-Cavs series and hits on many of the points I brought up yesterday. Specifically that:

- These teams really just hate each other and you know what that means: hard fouls, bad blood, and the potential for bench-clearing brawls!
- It's okay for Arenas and Stevenson to talk trash as long as they back it up with wins.
- Along the same lines -- trash talking is okay if you really believe in the strength of your team and the arguments for your team to win.
- This will be one the best series in the first round, if not the best.
- Their rivalry goes back three years now

Wilbon touched on some other important points, too:

- The Wizards will have to shut the heck up if they lose
- The Cavs are very beatable due to injuries and the terrible trade they made mid-season (Wallace's back, Lebron's spasms)
- Arenas wasn't just talking trash - he was vocalizing a somewhat common thought shared throughout the league (that the Cavs are beatable and vulnerable due to injuries and trades)

Okay. Back to the Western Conference match-ups. Enough about the Wizards and Cavs.

Utah vs Houston - I know Houston has a hard time getting out of the first round, but this year I see TMac getting it done. Winning 22 games in a row means you have a good team. Winning 22 games in a row while playing in this year's Western Conference actually means you have a ridiculous team. I know Boozer is good, but Tmac and Co. will get this one done.

San Antonio vs Phoenix - Intriguing series here. A part of me wants to say, "Shaq is back" and believe in the Nash / Stoudemire / Shaq axis. But another part of me wants to say, "playoff experience and Tim Duncan will show up for this series, along with a healthy Manu Ginobili." Here is the bottom line: if Shaq doesn't play well and Nash gets shut down, the Spurs will win this one easily. It's too easy to get Stoudemire in foul trouble, especially when he has to guard Duncan, too. And when it's said and done, the Spurs have enormous playoff experience and coaching ability to boot. I foresee the Spurs taking this one in 7, and having Duncan turn out big time.

New Orleans vs Dallas - Another intriguing series, frought with bad consequences for the Mavs if they don't win. Think about it: the Mavs mortgaged their future on Jason Kidd and traded away some of their best players to "win now." If they don't win, having last season's MVP and one of the best point guards in the league, what the heck is Mark Cuban supposed to do? Wait another season? Even though the Hornets are seeded higher, a lot more is on the line for the Mavs and I think Scott and Paul know this deep-down. It should be very interesting to see how Dirk and Kidd play during this series and how Chris Paul elevates his game in relation to Kobe Bryant.