You can also check out our first round preview of the Eastern Conference.
#8 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #1 Los Angeles Lakers
Game 1 – Sunday 3:00 PM ET
Coach Phil Jackson fired a pre-series, misdirection bomb yesterday, claiming that Thunder F Kevin Durant receives star treatment from the refs. Durant took the bait and played the ‘disrespect’ card. The youthful Thunder, led by Durant, G Russell Westbrook and F Jeff Green are fun to watch, but they are clearly over matched against LA.
About the only edge you can give to the Thunder is on the injury front, but even if Lakers’ C Andrew Bynum (Achilles) isn’t able to contribute fully, the Lakers’ experience should wrap up this series in five games. The games may be close but the series will not be.
Luke Walton and Lakers look to flex some muscle
#7 San Antonio Spurs vs. #2 Dallas Mavericks
Game 1 – Sunday 8:00 PM ET
If this playoff series was a movie, it would be called ‘Old and Older’. The Mavs’ acquisition of Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson prior to the trading deadline, significantly improved Dallas’ athleticism, defense and attitude; all missing from their recent playoffs past.
San Antonio started slow, but as a veteran team, they understand, it’s not how you play in December, but in April and May that matters. The Spurs enter the playoffs on a roll, having had an entire season to work F Richard Jefferson into the mix. The Spurs have five players averaging double figures in points, the Mavericks have six.
This is easily the one series that could go either way, the survivor will have an easier second round match up, versus either Phoenix or Portland. I’m thinking the Mavericks in seven, based on home-court advantage.
Tony's got the Spurs on a roll.
#6 Portland Trailblazers vs. #3 Phoenix Suns
Game 1 – Sunday 10:30 PM ET
Injuries have plagued Portland all season long, so it’s no surprise to hear that Brandon Roy will undergo surgey for his torn meniscus, missing the first round series against the Suns.
Phoenix’s wild-ass, no defense style of play normally gets stuffed in the defensive minded playoffs. With Brandon Roy, Portland has a chance, without Roy, the Suns will blow by the Trailblazers in just five games.
Diener's good looks don't translate to much playing time.
#5 Utah Jazz vs. #4 Denver Nuggets
Game 1 – Saturday 10:30 PM ET
Bill this first round series as the Rockies vs the Wasatch or East Slope vs the West Slope, but make no mistake, in order to get to the second round, the higher seeded Nuggets have a huge mountain to climb.
Utah is solid and plays fundamental basketball, emphasizing defense and rebounding. What else would you expect from head coach Jerry Sloan, whose teams seemingly always overachieve?
Recent injuries, the absence of head coach George Karl (throat cancer) and the total abandonment of their defense-first philosophy, dropped the Nuggets, a team once considered a serious threat to the Lakers Western Conference dynasty, to at best the fourth best team in the West.
Taking into account how each team finished the second-half of the season, the seeds should be flipped, but considering the Nuggets owned their division rivals this year, winning three out of four against the Jazz, I’m going to stay away from the chic upset pick, and say Nuggets in seven.
Mysterious hottie Kyle Korver
What do you think? Drop some game knowledge on me in the comments below.
2010 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Bracket
2010 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Bracket
