NBA Playoffs - Round 2

My predictions for the NBA Playoffs weren't so bad. In the Eastern Conference I had all four series winners -- Pistons, Bulls, Cavaliers and Nets. Out West I went 2-for-4, missing on the Mavericks (though I did have the Warriors lasting six games) and the Rockets (I called a 7 game series, I didn't see Carlos Boozer turning into Superman in Houston though). Both of my "projected" NBA finalists -- the Suns and Cavs -- are still alive and three of my four Conference finalists are playing as well. Overall I think that Round One of the Playoffs has been great. The basketball has been exciting for the most part and new teams -- the Bulls, Warriors and Jazz -- are stepping into the spotlight which, as Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated pointed out in this enlightening piece, is great for the NBA. As Round Two opens, I think that I will lose my NBA Champion. I just don't see Phoenix getting past San Antonio. Watching Game One of that series yesterday, I can't believe that I missed Tim Duncan and the Spurs all season -- while Dallas was burning itself out winning 67 games before collapsing against Golden State and the Suns were running all over the Association the Spurs were playing it smart, staying quiet and gearing up for a run at their fourth (third if you don't count the '99 strike season) title of the Duncan era. I love the Suns and their brand of up-tempo basketball but the Spurs are too good defensively to let Phoenix run all over them and they have no answer for Duncan. The best part of this series will be watching Steve Nash and Tony Parker post ridiculous offensive numbers because both are great with the ball and neither plays particularly good defense. I'm holding out hope that the Suns will gets their moment but my head may win out over my heart for once -- the Spurs just look too good. This is not a good development for the NBA. The Spurs are a great team -- as anyone who really knows hoop can tell you -- and Duncan is the greatest winner of the post-Jordan NBA but the casual fan wants Phoenix and their 150 point-per-game offense to shine. Sadly, the NBA at the bottom line is about money and while defense wins titles, offense sells sponsorships. Here are my updated predictions: EASTERN CONFERENCE Cavaliers over Nets (4-2) -- LeBron inching closer to Finals; Nets on last legs. Pistons over Bulls (4-1) -- Bulls can't beat the Pistons shooting jumpers. Pistons over Cavs (4-1) -- A total flip-flop on my part but unless LeBron morphs into 1991 Jordan, the Cavs aren't pulling this one off. WESTERN CONFERENCE Spurs over Suns (4-2) -- Losing Nash in the final minutes of Game One was a death blow for the Suns. Duncan is too much for Stoudemire. I just hope that the Suns don't get broken up because this team will win a title with this nucleus. Jazz over Warriors (4-2) -- Nellie is a great coach and the media loves him right now but don't expect him to outclass Jerry Sloan in this series like he did Avery Johnson in the first round. I give the edge to the Jazz because they have two players to defend Baron Davis (the wildly underrated Deron Williams and former Laker Derek Fisher). Boozer is the low post threat that G-State didn't have to worry about with against Dallas. Spurs over Jazz (4-3) -- The Jazz may not be well known but they are a very good team and they will push San Antonio to the brink. NBA FINALS Spurs over Pistons (4-3) -- A well played and well coached series that will have most of the idiots in the media complaining about lack of interest and games that aren't appealing to fans. Let 'em complain, I'll enjoy a matchup of these two teams.