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2000 Playoff Preview
Eastern Conference 1st Round Preview
Charlotte Hornets v. Detroit Pistons
Edge
PG Michael Adams x Jalen Rose
SG Latrell Sprewell x Reggie Lewis
SF Michael Finley x Cliff Robinson
PF Robert Horry x JR Reid
C Isaac Austin x Jeff Foster
6th Grant Hill x Chris Morris
The defending DABL champions seem to be priming themselves just in time for another run at the title. This years version is doing it without a strong inside game and go as far as Isaac Austin can take them on the inside. In a potential first round matchup with Detroit there doesn’t seem to be much for Detroit to hang its hat on other than Jalen Rose. With a matchup advantage at every other position, look for Charlotte to easily win this series. Prediction: Charlotte 4 Detroit 0
Miami Heat v. Philadelphia 76ers
Edge
PG Kenny Anderson x Ivan Posey
SG Winston Garland x Rex Chapman
SF Christian Laettner x Vince Carter
PF Shawn Kemp x Ivano Newbill
C Rik Smits x Sharone Wright
6th Kendall Gill x PJ Brown
Here’s a matchup no one saw coming even a few weeks ago. Miami vs. 76ers? Miami might still squeeze into the top spot, but regardless, Miami should advance to round 2. Miami has strut its stuff at home this year with the league’s best home record and as long as they have the home court advantage there’s no reason to think they won’t advance. Miami relies on an inside game that the 76ers have no answer for. Wright is no defensive stopper and the size and strength of Kemp/Laettner will overwhelm Newbill/Carter. Philly’s not been so bad themselves at home this year and with Rex Chapman firing away, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Philly sneak one at home in this series. Prediction: Miami 4 Philly 1
Orlando Magic v. Milwaukee Bucks
Edge
PG Steve Nash x Gary Payton
SG Penny Hardaway x Manu Ginobili
SF Scottie Pippen x Peja Stojakovic
PF Vlade Divac x Ben Pepper
C Luc Longley x Greg Ostertag
6th Rodney Rogers x Billy Owens
Milwaukee rebounds the ball surprisingly well, but that may be the only thing you can say for the Bucks in this series. Individually the Bucks only have the advantage at one position and their point guard turns the ball over much too much. But the Bucks have the 2nd best home record in the East this year. Too bad for them they don’t have home court advantage. The Magic have been one player away all year long from being the potential #1 seed in the East this year. Ownership has tried some psychological games on the roster that seems to have motivated them at times. But that motivation will only take the team so far. Expect the Magic to win this series, but after that….? Prediction: Magic 4 Bucks 1
New York Knicks v. Boston Celtics
Edge
PG Damon Stoudamire x Nick Van Exel
SG Stanley Jackson x Bruce Bowen
SF Mitch Richmond x Antoine Rigadeau
PF Mario Bennett x Antonio Davis
C Ghitza x Milos Babic
6th Sasha Danilovic x Marcelo Nicola
According to seeding this should be the closest matchup in the Eastern 1st round. Looking at individual matchups it’s easy to see why. The Celtics have actually been one of the hotter teams in the league the 2nd half of the season. Maybe it’s taken a while to gel. The Celtics have one of the leagues best interior games, but have struggled at the guard position all year. Now with Eric Snow off the bench they seem to be better off. The Knicks are the Knicks. Hard-nosed in your face style of basketball year in and year out. The Knicks have the worst home record of all playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. Of course their road record is pretty decent. According to the player edge rater, Boston holds a 4-2 advantage. That’ll be my prediction here in the slight upset. Prediction: Celtics 4 Knicks 2
Western Conference 1st Round Preview
Los Angeles Lakers v. Sacramento Kings
Edge
PG Stephon Marbury x Tiit Sokk
SG Michael Ansley x Rimas Kurtinaitis
SF Andrei Fetisov x Trevor Kieta
PF Alonzo Mourning x Dino Radja
C Elmore Spencer x Rony Seikaly
6th LaBradford Smith x Bonzi Wells
Don’t know what it is but this years version of the Lakers doesn’t quite feel as dominant as last years version. They have the best record. Maybe it’s expected this year, so doesn’t feel like last year. This team goes as far as Alonzo Mourning can take them. Going into the playoffs Mourning is experiencing some health issues. All reports indicate he’ll be healthy though by the time playoffs get here. The Lakers have one of this years best home records, so even without Mourning, the Kings may not have enough to challenge. Prediction: Lakers 4 Kings 0
San Antonio Spurs v. Golden State Warriors
Edge
PG Sam Cassell x Allen Iverson
SG John Williams x Kobe Bryant
SF Danny Manning x Donyell Marshall
PF Shaq O’Neal x Kurt Thomas
C Dikembe Mutombo x Scot Pollard
6th Kevin Garnett x Antoine Walker
On paper, this seems like a matchup that might favor Golden State. Luckily these things aren’t played on paper. The Big Aristotle is such a dominant force that he single handedly can make up for lapses in the rest of his team. Sam Cassell is certainly an above average point guard as well and probably is only slightly at a disadvantage against Iverson. Certainly the Warriors will claim that losing Juwan Howard this close to the playoffs will hurt their chances. Somebody tell them they didn’t have a chance anyway. San Antonio is dominant at home. Despite only the 4th best record in the West, they might ride that home court a long way. Prediction: Spurs 4 Warriors 1
Phoenix Suns v. Denver Nuggets
Edge
PG Vinny Del Negro x Tim Hardaway
SG Doug Christie x Corey Crowder
SF Dennis Scott x Marlon Maxey
PF Derrick Coleman x Yinka Dare
C Arvydas Sabonis x Shawn Bradley
6th Corliss Williamson x Shawn Respert
Seems like we’ve seen this matchup before. Suns v. Nuggets seems like it should be a classic matchup. The Nuggets bring their defense stalwarts in the middle on the road against the hottest team of the 2nd half. The Nuggets are actually better on the road than they are at home. Defense can do that for you. If the Nuggets can get Sabonis or Coleman for the Suns into foul trouble then they may be able to steal this series. This one might be close. Prediction: Suns 4 Nuggets 3
Seattle Supersonics v. Vancouver Grizzlies
Edge
PG Pooh Richardson x Dana Barros
SG Cedric Ceballos x Hubert Davis
SF Fred Hoiberg x Chris Webber
PF Armen Gilliam x Tim Duncan
C David Robinson x Stanley Roberts
6th Antonio McDyess x Steven Jackson
This one should be a knock down drag out. Both teams early on looked like championship contenders that have had a few more struggles lately than what it seems they should have. The Sonics have a new lineup that they are trying to adjust to that puts their star SF Cedric Ceballos at the SG position. Will he thrive there or be exploited by quicker guards? The Sonics do have the West’s 3rd best record and are very solid at home. The Grizzlies have pretty much decided to stand pat with their roster since an early acquisition of multi-MVP award winner Dana Barros. The Grizzlies were probably one SG away from challenging for the #1 seed in the West and being a championship contender. As it is they start Hubert Davis out of position and he is a liability there. It’s hard to go against Dana Barros in a series. Prediction: Sonics 4 Grizzlies 3
