The second round of the NBA Playoffs is upon us. The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics gave us an epic series, whilst Dwyane Wade put up a mighty fight against the Atlanta Hawks as well. Meanwhile, as expected the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers are sitting in the driver’s seat in their respective conferences.
As was done for the first round, the Bloguin geniuses have combined their powers like Voltron to put together a joint playoff predictions piece, which you can find over at With Malice — highly recommended reading, well put together by Don.
Here are the A Stern Warning predictions, in isolation:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Los Angeles Lakers (1) v Houston Rockets (5)
Prediction: Lakers in 6
There will be at least one or two games where the Lakers simply can not handle Yao Ming in this series — Pau Gasol is not the world’s greatest defensive centre and Andrew Bynum is still at half-speed. Ron Artest and Shane Battier will do an admirable job of trying to slow Kobe Bryant (there is no such thing as “stopping” Kobe) and if those games where they are successful coincide with Yao’s big performances, the Rockets will see a couple of wins in this series. Offensively the Lakers’ three-pronged Kobe-Odom-Gasol attack will be the decider in this series, whereas the Rockets can only occasionally rely on Artest to perform at a huge level.
Denver Nuggets (3) v Dallas Mavericks (7)
Prediction: Nuggets in 7
This will be an interesting battle. Both teams are a model of inconsistency. The Mavs have faced criticism in the form of Dirk Nowitzki’s inability to win games, Josh Howard’s craziness and Jason Kidd’s agedness. The Nuggets’ season has been no better, with plenty of ups and downs, however they have an advantage over the Mavs — his name is Mr Big Shot, Chauncey Billups, a proven team leader and battle-tested campaigner. Billups’ arrival in Colorado has changed the basketball landscape dramatically and he provides the confidence for Carmelo Anthony to be the player he should be. Billups’ presence will be the difference between winning and losing for the Nuggs.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) v Atlanta Hawks (4)
Prediction: Cavs in 5
LeBron James has been a one-man-wrecking-crew for about two years now and the addition of a solid supporing cast, starring Mo Williams, has meant that the Cavs have been nothing short of brilliant this season. If anything, the only drawback for this squad may be that they managed to sweep the Detroit Pistons so convincingly in round one — their undoing may be caused by their relative lack of battle mentality, whilst the Hawks have just come off a huge seven game series with the Miami Heat. The Hawks do not have the firepower to contain the Cavs for an entire series and will no doubt be exhausted after their Wade experience, but should steal one game based purely on the Cavs partial complacency in their recent winning form.
Boston Celtics (2) v Orlando Magic (3)
Prediction: Magic in 7
Stopping Dwight Howard will be the key for the Celts — a problem exacerbated by the fact that Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe will not compete in this series. Kendrick Perkins and Big Baby Davis will have to stay out of foul trouble and contribute defensively for the C’s to stay in this series. Meanwhile the real outcome may be determined by Paul Pierce and Ray Allen’s perimeter contributions. They have both disappeared at times and if they do that for more than one game, the boys in green can wave goodbye to this series. The Magic would have loved to have Jameer Nelson around for this matchup — particularly against a rampaging Rajon Rondo who has been in epic form. Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu can not afford to take any nights off — but if they do what they’re supposed to, the Magic should just sneak this series.
