NBA Playoffs Quick Thoughts

Some thoughts as the NBA playoffs get started on Saturday...

• A year after being ousted from the playoffs as the number one seed, look for the Mavs to get some redemption and knock out the number 2 seed in the first round - Mavs in 6
• Hornets have about as much playoff experience as the Charlotte Bobcats - Peja has more playoff games played than the rest of the guys combined. AND they don't match up with the Mavs well at all - Dallas has to be happy.
• Lakers in 5 - Denver has no one who can contain Kobe. Look for AI to go off a few times (he scored 51 against the Lakers earlier in the season), but that's really it.
  
• Most exciting first round series - Suns at Spurs. I'm taking Spurs in 7 given the home court, but this series may wear them down.
  
• I'm pulling for the Rockets in there matchup with the Jazz - I want the Jazz out of the playoffs.
  
• Am I the only one who thinks the Wizards will knock off the Cavs? I think they will - in 6 games.
  
• Am I also the only one who thinks that the Pistons can and likely will knock off the Celtics in the Easter Conference Finals? Pistons have too much experience and too much chemistry (although they lack a consistent go-to guy to win a game) - the Celtics' hopes will ride on their role players - Rondo, Glenn Davis, Eddie House, James Posey, etc. - those guys HAVE to continue to play at the same level they have throughout the year.
• Although not a spectacular "team" matchup, the Chris Bosh vs. Dwight Howard matchup could be hugely entertaining. Howard has continued to improve each year he's been in the league, but this year's playoffs will tell us a lot about his growth.
  
• Look for Boston to roll past Atlanta in 4 games - and win those games by an average of 15-20 points. May be the least-watched playoff series in a long, LONG time.
• John Hollinger of ESPN has the Jazz beating the Lakers in the second round and then going on to face the Celtics in the finals. Talk about trying to stand out for standing out's sake. Look, if Utah has home-court advantage (which they won't against the Lakers) I would pick them over just about any opponent. Buuut, they don't. No way the Jazz get through the Lakers, Spurs or Suns without home court.
  
• Not playoffs related, but are folks seriously considering giving the ROY to Horford over Durant? Dumb, dumb, dumb. I've said it before, Horford has had a great year on a pretty bad team, but to say he's had an equal year to Durant is nuts. And don't give me the "the Hawks made the playoffs" crap - they're in the East. In the West they'd be a lottery team. With that said, Horford will have a tremendous pro career, but he's no Kevin Durant.
  
• How many folks had the Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals at the start of the season? A lot.
  

That's what I got folks. Enjoy the games - heck of a lineup on Saturday.