Western Conference Playoff Preview

I was going to make an Eastern Conference preview first, but who knows if I'll write again tomorrow so I'd better just get the West out of the way.

Mavericks vs. Warriors (Mavs in 4)
Much will be made of the Warriors sweeping the regular season series vs. the Mavericks. Speculation will abound that Don Nelson has the secret to beating the Mavericks. I would like to note that the reason that Don Nelson was fired, excuse me - "retired", is because the Mavs couldn't win in the playoffs.

You might think that because I'm predicting a sweep I'm not excited for this series. Wrong. This will be crucial viewing. First of all it is time to really get reacquainted with the vicious unstoppable chameleon attack of the Dallas Mavericks. Dirk is a given. Stack is proven. What fascinates me is how much this team relies on scorers who can't really score in Jet Terry and Josh Howard. I love the scorer who can't really score, because it's who I think I am in the pickup game sense. I can get mine in streaky situations especially early in games, but when it comes down to it you don't really want me shooting. On the other hand, I function best when the other team is keying on someone else and I slip in for a bucket or two. I think these prime conditions for scoring also apply best to Josh Howard and Jet Terry albeit in a they are much better than me sense.

As far as the Warriors, there are going to be some inspired sequences of play between B Diddy, Monta Ellis, J Aura, Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington. There will also be some terrible stretches of play. Honestly if you want to know who I'm rooting for in this series it's actually the Golden State Pacers...I mean Warriors.

Suns vs. Lakers (Suns in 6)
We saw this series a year ago and it was awesome. Raja vs. Kobe!!!! The problem with the Suns last year is that they needed seven games to dispatch the Lakers and the Clippers. By the time they got to game seven against the Mavs they were spent. Steve Nash needs rest and they only way to guarantee it is to get rid of clown teams in the early rounds. I pray they do because the Suns are the great hope of the NBA. If I haven't demanded you read Seven Seconds Or Less by Jack McCullough btw, you should read it. I have a copy. I'll loan it to you. Unfortunately I think it's too hard to get rid of Kobe in the expedient manner the Suns require for success. I'd love to be proven wrong.

Spurs vs. Nuggets (Spurs in 4)
In which winners meet the gifted. It's a shame that the ether of success so prevalent in Iverson and Carmelo doesn't translate into anything tangible. I love potential because it's all I am, but in the end what matters is results. The Spurs have it in a cold efficient manner. The Nugs do not. I read recently that Tom Wolfe dogged George Karl because his system only ever worked with Gary Payton and to a far lesser extent Andre Miller running the show. Anything less like say Steve Blake, would be uncivilized. However, I hope the Nuggets become a story. Please.

Jazz vs. Rockets (Rockets in 7)
What a fucking conference!!! Who wants to play either of these teams? NO ONE!! And it's the 4-5. Derron Williams? Welcome to the big stage, in what unfortunately I fear is a wakeup year for you. Boozer can beat up Yao when he's on offense. No one can stop Yao when he's on offense. Tracy is ready to write a new chapter to his career. Kirilenko? Okur? Get ready.

Projected Conference Semis
Mavs vs. Rockets
Suns vs. Spurs

I'm more than ready for this. A lackluster regular season has given way to what could still be a post season for the ages.