With the postseason just around the corner, it's time to make some predictions.
Eastern Conference
Indiana vs. Boston: The Pacers -- the NBA's best team, record-wise -- won the regular season series three games to one, with the only loss occurring when center Jermaine O'Neal spent the majority of the game on the bench in foul trouble. Even if O'Neal's fouls become a problem, the Celtics have been inconsistent offensively and the team stumbled into the playoffs losing five of their last six games, giving the clear advantage to Indiana. Pacers win in five games.
New Jersey vs. New York: The series for New York bragging rights showcases two of the NBA's premier point guards, as Jason Kidd, battling back from injury, will take the court for the Nets against cross-town foe Stephon Marbury and the New York Knicks. While Kidd and the Nets will try to create a high-tempo game by virtue of their speed and quickness, Marbury and the Knicks will try to combat Kidd's style of play with strong interior defense anchored by Dikembe Mutumbo and Nazr Mohammed.
If Kidd and forward Kenyon Martin still show signs of injury and the Nets cannot maintain their fast-break, up tempo style of play, the Knicks could steal the series. However, those are two big "ifs." Nets in six.
Detroit vs. Milwaukee: Milwaukee, led by rookie coach Terry Porter, will try to use their speed and athleticism to undermine Detroit's advantage in the paint, featuring all-stars Ben and Rasheed Wallace. Detroit, headed by veteran coach Larry Brown -- making his 16th trip to the playoffs -- will counter the Bucks' high-potency offensive game with a conservative, defensive-oriented style of play. Traditionally, defense has often superseded offensive in the playoffs, and this series is no exception. The Wallaces control the game and Detroit's experience wins out. Pistons in four.
Miami vs. New Orleans: The Heat, though young and featuring a rookie coach, Stan Van Gundy, enter the playoffs as one of the league's hottest teams, winning seven of their last nine games. Led by guards Eddie Jones and Dwayne Wade and forwards Caron Butler and Lamar Odom -- all of whom can run the floor and score in transition -- the Heat will try and out-run the Hornets, who staggered into the postseason after suffering injuries to their top three scorers, Baron Davis, David Wesley, and Jamal Mashburn. Without the full complement of its players and an entirely healthy roster, the youthful Heat will exploit the Hornets' roster deficiencies and squeeze out of the series with a win. Heat in six.
Western Conference
Minnesota vs. Denver: The acquisitions of Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, made to complement MVP candidate Kevin Garnett, provide Minnesota with three all-star caliber offensive players and top-notch defenders. Minnesota's depth, firepower and desire to transcend historical playoff collapses -- the franchise has never ventured beyond the first round -- will be more than enough to vanquish the efforts of star rookie Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets. T'Wolves in four.
Los Angeles vs. Houston: Although the two teams split the season series, the Lakers and their four future hall of famers in Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton should be too much for a Houston team that had difficulty scoring all season long. Despite the emergence of Yao Ming as a viable force in the paint, O'Neal and Malone should counteract Yao's inside play, giving the series to the Lakers. Lakers in six.
San Antonio vs. Memphis: A great late season run of 11 wins in a row sent the defending champion Spurs flying into the playoffs against the Cinderella story of the Memphis Grizzlies, a team of role players and unrecognizable rising stars. The oft-beleaguered Memphis franchise attempts to win its first playoff series against the Spurs, who are primed to defend their title, led by all-world power forward Tim Duncan.
In a complete contrast of styles, the Spurs' defense-oriented team, led by reigning MVP Duncan, will combat the Grizzlies' more up-tempo, fast break offense. The Grizzlies are known for their ability to score and win against all odds, but in the playoffs, defense wins championships, and in this series, look for the defending champion Spurs and Duncan's low-post presence to control the tempo of the games. Spurs in five.
Sacramento vs. Dallas: The scoreboard operators will get their money's worth in this series, as the Kings and their high-powered offense combat the perennial underachieving Mavericks and their equally strong offense. The Kings entered the postseason losing four of their last five games, including the regular season finale, which could have given them the number two seed. With that -- and an injury to key reserve guard Bobby Jackson -- the Kings will not have the momentum or depth to match that of the Mavericks. Mavs in seven.
