And finally, ending the season long drought of low quality articles, here's a view on the upcoming playoffs and who will get where:
Let's move right on with part two, analyzing who'll make it out of the West:
#1 Clippers vs. #8 MavsWhat a season finish for the Mavs. Sitting at the 2nd seed only a week ago they dropped all the way to #8, losing the #7 seed - and avoiding the Clips - on the final sim (it sure didn't help they had to play the Clippers THREE times - lost thrice - and Kings, Sonics, Wolves). Just plain unlucky. Now they have to face the dominant team in the West, that didn't even need its 2nd leading scorer to beat the Nets on the road in its final game. Still, the Mavs came along this season and have a very deep team, so by taking care of the ball and holding Elton & Co off the boards they could make things interesting ...
Injuries: Maggette (Clips) will miss first 2 games
Outlook: Clippers in 7#4 Kings vs. #5 WarriorsAnd another series nobody expected as late as before last sim. Here the injury-ridden whining Queens, in danger of pulling a Raps'09 and missing the big dance alltogether, over there the 2nd best team in the west -or so it seemed. Now the Warriors even lost home court and face the hottest team currently, rolling in on a 7 game win streak, sans TMac and Hoffa no less. But don't expect this to go on. The Sacto boys had chemistry problems all season and only in the face on adversity got their act together ... which can fall apart as easily. So I expect a monster series going all the way. ...
Injuries: Hoffa (Kings) out until game #5; McGrady, Bibby, Camby & Fortson (all Kings) will most likely break down at some point of this series
Outlook: Kings in 7#2 Timberwolves vs. #7 JazzThe surprise team this year, just barely making the playoffs in 2009, was sneaking by everyone in the Midwest and getting the 2nd seed ... only to face the most dangerous 7th seed imaginable, a former two time champ. The Jazz had a rollercoaster season where it could beat anybody (3-1 vs Clippers, beat Nets & swept Celtics) and lose to anybody too. The Wolves took the season series so they seem to match up pretty well, but i wouldn't underestimate the strategic skills of the JazzGM which got him two titles, the latter one from a low seed as well. So IF (big IF) KG & Gatling win the battle with AK47 and Larry the Wolves can take this, but i'm not convinced ...
Injuries: not a single bruise
Outlook: Jazz in 5#3 Sonics vs. #6 GrizzliesAs they did in previous years the Sonics didn't exactly impress during the regular season. Huge wins (evidence: 105ppg) and surprising losses led to a home court adv seed only secured in the last week. Now as they did in the previous playoffs will they put on the game face now and start klicking again or was the Shaq/Posey for Camby/Kundla swap altering their chemistry too much? We'll find out soon. The Grizz on the other side rely on an undersized PF to lead their scoring and i'm sure Big Daddy is quite amused. So unless KMart can contain Dirk (doubtful) and Lewis/JRich take over the scoring load I doubt this will last past game 5 ...
Injuries: nope
Outlook: Sonics in 4So much for this first round preview, next up we'll check who made it actually. So stay tuned ...
