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19th April, 2008 - 11:43 am
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| Current Features |
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TEAM RANKINGS: The RealGM Team Rankings For The Week Of December 1st
How do the Cavaliers respond to the flood of 2010 talk? They keep winning and winning in dominant fashion, climbing to first in our rankings.
PLAYER RANKINGS: The NBA Player Rankings For The Week Of November 25th
The current top-five players in the NBA according to RealGM's FIC, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, were all on Team USA's 2008 Gold Medal team. How does the rest of the NBA rank?
LOCKER TALK: Monta: I Was Racing Baron And Elton
Monta Ellis is still at least a full month away from his return to the court for the Warriors, but he recently called RealGM with the full story behind his ankle injury.
STANDING 10: Top-10 Careers Of Players Picked 3rd
Just three installments remain in the series, with this chapter housing names like Michael Jordan, Kevin McHale, and Carmelo Anthony. It was incredibly hard to leave off a number of players, and I’m sure after reading you’ll see exactly whom I decided skip over this time around.
MOCK DRAFT: 2008 NBA Mock Draft, Version 13.0 (Draft Day Edition)
Weeks and months of waiting has finally come to an end, and Draft day is officially here.
CLASSICS: Hakeem Vs. Ewing: Who Was The Better Center?
Born within six months of each other in opposite corners of the world, two seven footers who are finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame this fall are two of the best ever to play the center position.
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The 2008 NBA playoffs will tip off in just a few hours when the Wizards travel to Cleveland and begin an epic battle with the Cavaliers. The following eight first-round matchups will fill our time over the next two weeks, with a few bound to go the full seven games.
I had an engaging chat with my good friend Mark Rowan, a freelance writer I’ve known for quite some time, about each of this year’s bracket. Without further ado, here’s how our conversation went down.
(1) Boston vs. (8) Atlanta
Andrew Perna: So do the Hawks have any semblance of a chance against the Celtics?
Mark Rowan: You know, I'm glad you started in the Eastern Conference because as I'm sure you know – it's the easiest to predict, at least in the first round.
MR: But the short answer is, hell no.
AP: Most people are thinking sweep; I'll give Atlanta one game, though. The best thing about making the playoffs for them this year is the experience they’ll gain.
MR: Atlanta is a decent young team, and if they can build on this season then I don't see any reason why they wouldn't return to the playoffs in 2009. One win against the Celts may be their ceiling this year, though.
AP: That's why they'll win one game and only one game; young talent like theirs is bound to explode every couple of days. I've made my support for Al Horford as the Rookie of the Year well known, and I'm excited to see how he does against Kevin Garnett.
MR: They've been resting those old guys on Boston plenty this season, but you have to be worried about how they will all hold up through, what seems like, a year of playoff games.
AP: Are you calling the NBA playoffs long? Doesn't every league have a playoff schedule that runs for seven months?
MR: David Stern probably thinks so.
(2) Detroit vs. (7) Philadelphia
AP: The Philadelphia/Detroit series is similar to the one we just discussed. Who do you have, or rather, how long will it take the Pistons to down the Sixers?
MR: Again, I think the Sixers’ ceiling is a game. The Pistons are just too good and too experienced in the playoffs. They aren't going to let more than one get away from them, and to be honest I think this may be the most obvious sweep.
AP: I agree, and it's nothing against Philadelphia. Detroit is the San Antonio of the West. MR: Who the heck is Willie Green?
AP: Green is the nephew of Vida Blue, one of baseball's greatest pitchers - but that's neither here nor there.
MR: Now, if the Sixers make a run at someone like Elton Brand in the offseason, then maybe we can talk about possibly winning a series next year but not in 2008.
AP: They played well against good teams in the second half of the season, but the 76ers might as well make plans for two weeks from now when they'll be on the golf course.
MR: Willie "See You On The" Green.
(4) Cleveland vs.(5) Washington
AP: Okay, now onto what I think will be the most entertaining series of the first round in the East – LeBron versus the Wizards.
MR: Well, you have to respect the Wiz. They've been good all season and now they have Gilbert Arenas coming off the bench. Who is going to guard him, Damon Jones?
AP: Jones was good for a few days in Miami, I think.
MR: You may be thinking of Eddie, who was good for a few days on a number of teams.
AP: I'm thinking Washington in seven to be honest, but why on earth did Gilbert and DeShawn "I was the worst starter in the league a few seasons ago" Stevenson have to fuel LBJ's fire?
MR: This may go down as the NBA's version of Matt Hasselbeck. You don't call out LeBron.
AP: I already regret declaring Washington the winner of the series just a few seconds ago, simply because I hate to pick against LBJ, who single-handedly beat Detroit last season.
MR: That's what I was just about to say, if he can dismantle Detroit he can do the same to Washington.
AP: I gave Washington the nod because guys like Nick Young and other non-household names got a nice amount of experience with Arenas out for most of the season and Butler missing time as well.
MR: The Wizards might make them work for it, but I have to say LeBron and Co. in six.
AP: I also think it'd be a neat story to see the Cavs go down in the first round after pulling off a substantial trade just seven months after a Finals appearance.
MR: A lot of people are going to be looking at the teams that made big deals to go down, but I only see it happening to one team and we'll get to that soon enough.
AP: This is good though, because I have a feeling we might disagree a lot more once we head out West.
(3) Orlando vs. (6) Toronto
AP: Alright, let's get the boring East out of the way here – who is going to win the three/six battle between Orlando and Toronto?
MR: I wish I could say this one was going to be hard to pick, because I like Bosh a lot. Sadly, this isn't the NHL playoffs where a Canadian team will actually do something past the first round. The Raptors will see an early exit in five games.
AP: Wow. That's ballsy of you. I think it'll be closer, but I don't see the Raptors getting out of the first stanza either.
MR: I'm looking for Dwight Howard to pull a LeBron this year. Two years ago we were all talking about the steps LeBron took in the playoffs to elevate himself to the next level. This year we'll be talking about Howard in the same way. He's going to dominate this series.
AP: I think you just hit the nail on the head, or the head on the nail, whichever you prefer.
MR: I just hope Rasho Nesterovic and Andrea Bargnani show up to camp after they get put to shame this series. They may opt to play European ball after this.
AP: I'd really like for Bosh to match Howard, but there's like a sixty-pound difference there. It'd be like me fighting with Dwyane Johnson in the paint.
MR: I don't think you want Bosh guarding Howard. He'll tire himself out and won't be effective. This is Shaq 2.0. Just throw a body at him and hope he gets in foul trouble on the other side of the court.
AP: So you'd rather throw Rasho, who softer than Elmo, on the man-child?
MR: I'd throw Shawn Bradley if I had him. No one is going to be able to guard him. I'd rather have Rasho's confidence be shattered than my star’s. I don't need Rasho on the other end of the court, but I need Bosh. Whoever guards him can expect to be hanging on a poster in a 5th grader’s room in a couple months.
AP: This is true, but if the Raptors are going to win a few games they’ll need a heroic performance from Bosh, defensively as well.
MR: Someone still has to guard Rashard Lewis remember.
AP: And Hedo "I'm a Turk" oglu.
MR: Orlando has a real team here. We talk about Howard, but Turkoglu and Lewis are going to be important in this series. Bosh will have his hands full with whoever they put him on.
AP: I don’t know. I see Jose Calderon having a nice series as well. Ultimately, I'm going with Magic in six.
MR: I like the Raptors, but not enough. I'm sticking with the Magic in five.
(1) L.A. Lakers vs. (8) Denver Nuggets
AP: Now it's time to do battle. Let's hit the West starting with the Lakers and Warriors, I mean Nuggets.
MR: I'm honestly bothered that I don't get to see the Warriors in this year's playoffs. How much more exciting are they than Denver? Sixty, seventy times?
AP: Eh, maybe thirty times. Denver scores like 200 points a night now.
AP: Stern should have scheduled a three-game series between Golden State and Denver for the right to play L.A.
MR: Just what the NBA needs, a play-in game.
AP: You don't want the playoffs going until Christmas?
MR: If that's the case then Atlanta should have to play some YMCA team for the eigth spot in East.
AP: Overlooking my Pacers again? I can't say I blame you…
MR: Oh, that team in Indiana is called the Pacers? I thought that was the YMCA team.
AP: ...back to the Lakers and Nuggets. Marcus Camby should limit Pau Gasol and Carmelo Anthony/Allen Iverson will outscore Kobe Bryant, but I still like the Lakers.
MR: I love the Lakers here, even without Bynum in sight. They can obviously do it without him. Kobe is going to be huge here, but look for Lamar Odom to have at least a couple monster games. Kenyon Martin and Eduardo Najera don't exactly scare me at power forward.
AP: Najera is the Nacho Libre of the NBA, which doesn't bode well against a guy like Odom. However, anyone can score forty for Denver, especially J.R Smith off the bench, but that'll only be good for a pair of games in my opinion. It'll be L.A. in six.
MR: I want to be spiteful and say the Lakers sweep them, but Denver does have a good team. I mean, they did make the playoffs in the West. That's almost good enough.
MR: Neither of their benches are fantastic, but with all the injuries L.A. went through this season guys like Turiaf have had time to develop more. The Lakers take this without question, it's just a matter of how many games the Nuggets can extend the series. Screw it, I'm going for the sweep.
AP: Watch out, make sure Carmelo doesn't going driving under the influence in your town after hearing that prediction…
MR: If Melo is going to come all the way out here to drunk-drive, I think we'll have more problems than that on our hands.
AP: That is true...although Southern Connecticut does have its hot spots – like McDonalds and the occasional townie bar.
(2) New Orleans vs. (7) Dallas
AP: Okay, another great battle – New Orleans/Dallas.
MR: This is the first series I'm a bit unsure about, to be honest.
AP: Me too. The Hornets aren't proven, but at this point, neither is this Dallas squad as a whole. Youth is more exciting than experience in this league, but experience usually trumps youth in the postseason.
MR: You want to say Dallas, because in the last few years they've been here and I don't think I could imagine this team not getting out of the first round. But, it's more than possible…
MR: Oh wait, they went down first round last year...oops.
AP: I'm glad you brought up the Dallas/Golden State series from last season. I don't know that the league will see another series like that for a while; it was easily one of the most exciting in history.
MR: You'd never think it could happen again, unless maybe they played Golden State. You want to think Dallas is geared up and ready to go deep this time around, but I just don't see it in this team.
AP: New Orleans has been so good this year, but Jason Kidd's triple-double in the season finale against these very same Hornets might be a sign of things to come. Maybe it's his son's abnormally large head and mustache at age eight, but something is leaning me towards Dallas.
MR: I heard his son declared for this year's draft. He'll go above Kevin Love.
MR: Who on the Hornets’ team is going to guard Dirk though?
AP: David West is a beast, but is questionable as a defender on the perimeter. Dirk will play outside for a majority of the series, which is a problem. Peja is too small (and old) to cover for West out there.
MR: Dirk will be trouble, but so will Paul. I don't see Kidd keeping up with Paul for a whole series.
AP: Paul will be a handful, but Kidd might outthink him in a seven-game series. That's where experience comes into play.
MR: You may be giving Kidd a little too much credit here. He's experienced, but Chris Paul is a potential MVP winner.
AP: Potential? He has my vote, but what did that get Dirk last year?
MR: Exactly.
AP: I’m taking Dallas in seven. For the second straight year the Mavs are involved in a historic series, but they’ll come out on top this time
MR: I'm going with New Orleans, also in seven, and expect Bonzi Wells to make the Hornets’ bench look a little less pathetic.
(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6)Phoenix Suns
AP: Alright, Suns and Spurs fans are itching. Can Phoenix earn some revenge this season?
MR: Definitely. I think the Suns can easily do it, and I also believe this is the first time you're going to see one of this season’s big trades work out.
AP: Shaquille O’Neal is the answer?
MR: To Tim Duncan, yes.
AP: This Spurs team is the weakest they’ve had in a while, but they are still San Antonio. I can't count them out.
MR: However, I’ll be second guessing the praise I gave the Shaq trade in the first round once Phoenix is matched up against Dallas or New Orleans.
AP: I'll tell you this much, I got the Spurs in six. Manu is too good, Parker is too clutch and Duncan is too legendary. The Spurs are also in the Suns' head. You can’t convince me otherwise. If Amare gets in foul trouble, who is going to help Steve Nash on offense with Marion in Miami? Shaq can't be on the floor for too long, Raja Ball isn't the Matrix and Grant Hill is long past his prime,
MR: I'm going with the Suns in seven. Simply because I think they were built to beat the Spurs. They couldn't have gotten a better matchup, which is odd to say because we are still talking about the Spurs.
MR: I like Bell on Manu, Amare/Shaq on Duncan and I think Nash is going to give Parker fits. Not defensively, but Tony is going to tire out trying to guard him.
AP: Are you a friend of Steve Kerr's? You really seem to have bought into the Shaq deal as a real saving grace.
MR: Kerr is actually paying me for all this good press.
AP: Decent rate?
MR: One-hundred copies of Amare posters with Duncan getting facialed.
AP: Damn. Any of the other fifteen playoff GMs are welcome to call me. I'll take those aforementioned Howard posters involving Bosh.
MR: This is going to be a great series though, probably the best one we'll see in the first round, but I have to go with the Suns here.
AP: Agree to disagree, similar to that scene with Will Ferrell and whatsername in Anchorman.
MR: Christina Applegate?
AP: Yeah, her. Thanks, that'll come in handle when Google searching.
MR: Who's the Christina Applegate of this year's playoffs?
AP: It's rare that I mention the Spurs without uttering the name of Eva Longoria, so thank you for that opening. She makes a bedazzled pair of jeans look good, something I didn't think was possible post-1980s.
MR: Longoria-Parker. Don't forget she's a married woman as you're drooling over her.
AP: See, I always forgo adding the ‘Parker’ at the end. It's a buzz kill. Kind of like leaving off the last 's' for savings and dropping the Kerr off your last name.
(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Houston Rockets
AP: Lastly, can Tracy McGrady reach the second round without Yao Ming?
MR: No, the Jazz are just too good. Honestly, I'm still in shock the Rockets (sans Yao) are even in the playoffs.
AP: You can thank that 22-game run, but this could be rather one-sided. You can fool teams during the regular season, but Jerry Sloan will gameplan the heck out of Houston's empty interior.
MR: Carlos Boozer is going to trounce Luis Scola and CP3 is thrilled that he won't have to meet Deron Williams in the second round.
AP: You're right, even though Luis isn't your typical rookie. Deron will own Skip-To-My-Lou as well. It's not going to happen, but what a Western Conference Finals matchup Paul vs. Deron would be next month.
MR: That would be incredible. A man can dream.
AP: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though; we still have a month of first round action to enjoy. Plus, I've tried the whole dream thing and Indiana is always in the loss column when I wake up.
MR: Houston's bench is rather unimpressive too.
AP: While, Ashton Kutcher has fortified Utah's bench.
MR: He's a superstar in Utah. He's every polygamist’s dream.
AP: Kutcher or Kyle Korver?
MR: Is there a difference anymore?
AP: Little. One hits threes and the other marries older women, but I suppose both are impressive feats.
MR: Both have great range.
AP: Nicely put.
MR: We should probably make a prediction here. I'm going with Utah in five.
AP: Oh yeah. I'll take the Jazz too, but in six. I don't think a single Western series will be shorter than six games, it's too tight.
MR: I just love the Jazz in this matchup. I'm going offend some Houston fans by saying this, but the Rockets are the Western Conference's Hawks.
AP: Oh, no you didn't.
MR: Yeah, I said it.
AP: Actually, you're right you did say that.
MR: Hey, just give me a call if you want to talk about the second round. I'd love to see the egg on your face after picking Dallas over New Orleans.
AP: We will compare our egged faces before the round two, considering your loyalty to Phoenix and Mr. Kerr.
MR: Sounds great and good luck in the lottery. We'll both need it.
AP: You can say that again.
If you weren’t overly offended or bored by this piece, please let Andrew Perna know how you felt with an e-mail (Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com). |
