Round One Recaps

(1) Boston vs. (8) Atlanta

Prediction:  Boston Celtics
Result:  Celtics in 7

No one expected this series to go 7 games but the Hawks proved to be a resilient bunch.

Atlanta did most of their damage by pushing the basketball and getting buckets in transition.  Joe Johnson and Josh Smith led in Atlanta’s three home victories.  Johnson averaged 20 per game and Smith put up 16 points a game in the series.

With Johnson, Smith, newly acquired Mike Bibby, and Rookie of the Year runner-up Al Horford, the Hawks have a promising future.

Even more intriguing is the success that Johnson and Smith had in attacking the Celtics defense.

Up next is a matchup with the NBA’s leading scorer this season, LeBron James.

(4) Cleveland vs. (5) Washington

Prediction:  Washington Wizards
Result:  Cavaliers in 6

I picked the Wizards under the assumption that Gilbert Arenas would be at full strength.

He wasn’t and it may not have mattered if he had been.

LeBron James led the way for the Cavaliers in averaging 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in this first round series.  The Wizards and Cavs exchanged plenty of words in this one but Washington’s talking amounted to a lot of bark, no bite.  Aside from a few physical fouls, LeBron did virtually whatever he wanted on the court.

That’s a testament to his perseverance and the porous Wizards defense.

King James’ continued development will be tested in the next round when he faces the Boston Celtics defense.  The C’s led the league in virtually ever defensive category and were second in points allowed.

(3) Orlando vs. (6) Toronto

Prediction:  Orlando Magic
Result:  Orlando in 6

Dwight Howard absolutely annihilated the Toronto Raptors in this series.

Howard averaged 20 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocks, and shot 61% from the field.

Hedo Turkuglu and Rashard Lewis paced the Magic with averaged of 19 and 18 points respectively.

The Raptors have some key roster decisions to make over the off-season. 

Do you they build around T.J. Ford or Jose Calderon?  Both are starting point guards in the NBA and Ford hasn’t shown a willingness to split minutes with Jose.

(2) Detroit vs. (7) Philadelphia

Prediction:  Detroit Pistons
Result:  Pistons in 6

Detroit did what they always do.  They played lackadaisically over the course of the series until the media and their fans lit a match under their backsides. 

We’ll see if they’re able to sleepwalk their way into their 6th conference finals appearance against the Magic.

(1) LA Lakers vs. (8) Denver

Prediction:  Los Angeles Lakers
Result:  Lakers in 4

I rarely get overly excited about my team but I’m very excited about the Lakers championship prospects over the next 6-7 seasons.

This team has a chance to be SPECIAL.  I’m talking Jordan’s Bulls in the 90’s special.

As for the Nuggets, they were better off with Andre Miller. 

Allen Iverson just doesn’t get ‘it’ and unfortunately, it doesn’t look as if he ever will.

(4) Utah vs. (5) Houston

Prediction:  Utah Jazz
Result:  Jazz in 6

Of all the Western Conference matchups, I thought this one was most likely to result in a sweep.

With Yao Ming out, I didn’t think Tracy McGrady would be enough to win even one game but the Rockets managed to get two victories.

Barring injury, which is a big ‘if’ since T-Mac and Ming are extremely injury prone, the Rockets will be legitimate NBA championship contenders next season.

Five years from now, what will people remember most about the 2007-2008 NBA season, that the Rockets won 22-games in a row, or that team “x” won the NBA championship?

I know what I’ll remember…

(3) San Antonio vs. (6) Phoenix

Prediction:  San Antonio Spurs
Result:  Spurs in 5

Even I was surprised at the relative ease in which the Spurs dispatched the Suns.

I’ll always believe that the Shaquille O’Neal trade was made under false pretenses.  The belief that he would improve their interior defense was absurd and was sliced to shreds by Tim Duncan’s scoring and Tony Parker’s penetration in round one.

Bottom line:  the Suns, while always mediocre defensively, were better on that end with Shawn Marion and no statistical “proof” will persuade me otherwise.

(2) New Orleans vs. (7) Dallas

Prediction:  Dallas Mavericks
Result :  Hornets in 5

I’ll admit, I’ve been a Chris Paul skeptic for much of the season.

But the kid is making me a believer.

I love the way he manages his team.  Chris plays with a maturity far beyond his 23 years of age and eons beyond his two years in the league.

He’ll need every ounce of that maturity to get past the NBA’s oldest team (average age 31) and winner of four of the last ten NBA championships.

First round prognostication results:  6-2