However, unlike previous post-seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers are sitting atop the conference standings and have a much tougher route to the NBA Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs claimed the top seed in the conference and they will play the young Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round. As for the 4-5 match-up the Oklahoma City Thunder (4) will go up against the revamped Denver Nuggets team (5). The other series will feature the (3) Dallas Mavericks and the dangerous (6) Portland Trail Blazes. The Los Angeles Lakers, the second seed, will play the (7) New Orleans Hornets in Round 1.
The Western Conference playoff bracket features many capable teams, and fans will be delighted to see great basketball for the next couple weeks.
Next: Previews- Spurs vs. Grizzlies, Thunder vs. Nuggets
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The top seeded team in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs, will play the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. The Spurs held the number one ranking in the conference for the majority of the season, but they went 2-2 against the Grizzlies. The Spurs will have trouble guarding Memphis in the open court and the up-tempo style of play the Grizzlies run.
Just like how the Oklahoma City Thunder troubled the Lakers last season in the playoffs with their speed and athleticism, the Grizzlies are capable of doing the same to the Spurs. However, the uncertainty of Rudy Gay and his shoulder injury will eliminate a key component to the Grizzlies’ system. Gay developed into one of the league’s best players and he became the closer for the team in the fourth quarter.
Nevertheless, the secret to winning in the regular season is the antithesis to fundamental key to success in the playoffs. The Spurs are a celebrated franchise and they have won a myriad of post-season series. As for the Grizzlies, the team is still fairly young and the lack of veteran leaders will hurt the team’s chances of winning. The Spurs are too balanced of a team, and their “Big 3” will survive a hard fought match-up with Memphis.
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs win in 6 games
(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Denver Nuggets
After taking the Los Angeles Lakers to six games last season as the eight seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder have worked themselves up to the number fourth spot in the West. However, the Thunder will not get an easy opponent in the first round as they will play the potent Denver Nuggets. In the 2010-2011 regular season, the Thunder won the seasons series 3-1 and they defeated the Nuggets twice after the Carmelo Anthony trade.
The Thunder have a very talented roster with a multitude of players who are able to score 20 points on any given night. Compared to last season, the Thunder have become a more physical team and their players are experienced when it comes to playing in the playoffs. The acquisition of Kendrick Perkins added another dimension to the Thunder team and they now have the ability to match-up with the other elite teams in the West.
The Denver Nuggets completely transformed their team in a mid-season trade that shipped Carmelo Anthony to New York. Even though many people believed the Nuggets would falter and that the trade would led to the demise of the team. However, despite a dearth of marquee names, the Nuggets are a prolific scoring team and the team chemistry is impeccable. The Nuggets are a well balanced team and they have prove that they can beat the upper echelon teams.
This series is probably the most hyped and most intriguing match-up of the playoffs, and both teams’ play resembles the other. The seven-game series will be hard-fought and they were been a plethora of exciting games and thrilling finishes. However, the fact that the Thunder have home-court advantage gives them an upper hand in the series. The Lakers know first-hand how difficult it is to beat the Thunder in Oklahoma, and a game-seven at the arena will be mayhem.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder win in 7 games
Next: Previews- Mavericks vs. Blazers, Lakers vs. Hornets
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(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers
Despite the high seed in the Western Conference, the Mavericks will play the very dangerous Portland Trail Blazers in the second round. However, the Mavericks are prone to an upset in round one, and if history has any indication, the Mavs will fall in the first round. Dallas usually finishes with a top seed in the West and a 50+ win season is nothing new; however, it seems as though the team has a penchant of losing its energy once the post-season begins.
The Trail Blazers are one of the deepest teams in the NBA, and although they are the sixth seed, the Blazers can beat any of the top seeds in the West. The mid-season trade that brought Gerald Wallace to Portland was a boon for the team, and it provided back-up for Brandon Roy. The Blazers have many scoring options and their feistiness on the defensive end always keeps them in games.
The Dallas Mavericks have yet to proven that they are capable of winning playoff series, year-in-and-year-out the Mavs are eliminated early in the playoffs. As for the Blazers, they can easily exploit the Mavs weakness and will likely pull-off the upset.
Prediction: Trail Blazers win in 6 games
The Los Angeles Lakers will begin their quest for a three-peat by playing the New Orleans Hornets. After battling the Mavericks and Thunder for the second seed in the West, the Lakers were rewarded with a fairly easy opponent. The Lakers swept the Hornets in the regular season 4-0, and they should have no problem handling New Orleans in the playoffs. The 2011 Playoffs will be the last time Phil Jackson partakes in a post-season tournament, and the Laker players are determined to send their coach off right.
After a disappointing performance last season, the New Orleans Hornets have bought into Monty Williams’ defensive system and they have earned the seventh seed in the West. The Hornets are led by Chris Paul, one of the best point guards in the NBA. Alongside Paul, there are versatile players who have the ability to finish in the paint. Former Lakers Trevor Ariza and DJ Mbenga will be amped up to play the series, and the Lakers must match the Hornets energy and intensity in order to win.
However, the Hornets need to play a perfect series just to challenge the two-time defending champions. New Orleans cannot defend the Lakers, nor can they match the Lakers’ offensive explosion. The Lakers are too big of a team, and they will breeze into the second round to face the winner of the Mavericks-Trail Blazers series.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers win in 4 games
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