2012 NBA Playoffs: First round preview

Let me be honest for a second: I have no idea how to begin this preview of the NBA Playoffs. This entire week my mind has been somewhere else and to be honest, watching sports has not been my top priority. Crazy, right? Unfortunately watching sports all day isn’t making me enough money (not yet, still talking to Moe about that six-figure salary) so I still have to work to pay for my mortgage, my car and all other bills. Why am I tell you this when clearly no one gives a shit? Like I said, I had no way to begin this. Let’s just get into these matchups, no? I’ll go tell my personal problems to my diary.

(1)Chicago Bulls vs. (8)Philadelphia 76ers
Series start: Sat 4/28 1:00ET (by the time I turn this in)
What to make of these two teams? The Bulls have been without their PG and best player Derrick Rose for most of the season but they still managed to battle and attain the top seed in the East. Can the Sixers do anything to cause an upset here? I say no. They lack a superstar, they’ve been getting worse as the season goes on and unless they find that magic from the start of the season, I think this one’s over quickly.
Bulls in 5

(2)Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks
Series start: Sat 4/28 3:30ET
This first round series has the highest ceiling in terms of potential. Can the Knicks really pull off a monumental upset here? Can Melo score 50 one night or can the Novak/JR Smith combo rain 3s to steal a game in Miami? Before you talk yourself into an upset here try to be a bit objective for a minute. The Knicks haven’t won a playoff game since ’91. LeBron has been playing out of his mind the last couple of weeks. I’d like to take the Knicks in an upset but I can’t. Still, this is a must watch series.
Heat in 6

(3)Indiana Pacers vs. (6)Orlando Magic
Series start: Sat 4/28 7:00ET
Why aren’t these games on NBA TV? Not only are the Magic in turmoil but they have no Dwight Howard. Too much heart on the Pacers for anything weird to happen.
Pacers in 4

(4)Boston Celtics vs. (5)Atlanta Hawks
Series start: Sun 4/29 7:00ET
If I was Freep 1. I’d be four inches shorter with 25 pounds less muscle and 2. I wouldn’t be worried too much about my Celtics in this series. There’s too much “last hurrah” in this team for them to be ousted in the first round. The Hawks? I liked them to make this series a bit tougher that most would think but without Al Hortford I just don’t see that happening. Also, expect tons of Celtics fans at the games in Atlanta.
Celtics in 6

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8)Utah Jazz
Series start: Sun 4/29 1:00ET
Is this the best team in the west? Can the Jazz make another monumental upset just like the Grizzlies did last year against these Spurs? I expect lots of offense in this series. Speedy guards making moves to go along with big bodies banging inside the paint. I think the Jazz are prime to make this a tough series but there’s too much veteran experience and it’s clear that Spurs won’t let an 8-seed upset them again.
Spurs in 6

(2)Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7)Dallas Mavericks
Series start: Sat 4/28 9:30ET
It’s been painful to watch my Mavericks and their abysmal title defense this season but if last season taught me anything is this team can do anything in the playoffs. I think the one advantage that the Mavs have over the Thunder is their efficiency late in games. Toss in some “been there” and it can get interesting. Out of respect to the champions and because I’m a homer I’ll say that this series is going all the way.
Thunder in 7

(3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6)Denver Nuggets
Series start: Sun 4/29 3:30ET
Interesting series from several points of view. The Nuggets have no stars while the Lakers have three. The Nuggets want to speed the game up while the Lakers want to slow things down. Can the Nuggets pull off an upset here? Not if Kobe has anything to say about it. He gave up the scoring title this week for one reason only: his sixth ring. Too much size for the Lakers and not enough experience on the Nuggets but I think this series will be closer than most think.
Lakers in 6

(4)Memphis Grizzlies vs. (5)Los Angeles Clippers
Series start: Sun 4/29 9:30ET
We have the Grizzlies who are everyone’s pick as dark horses in the west versus the Clippers who most people think aren’t made for the playoffs. I’ll ignore all the stories in the background and tell you what this series will come down to: turnovers and crunch-time efficiency. Can a Clipper aside from Chris Paul find a way to score late in games? Can the Grizzlies live up to everyone’s expectation of the team that no one wants to face? We’ll see but pencil this in at the best series of the first round.
Grizzlies in 7