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NBA Playoffs Week 1

By Ryan Cates • Apr 28th, 2008 • Category: Basketball

West #1-Los Angeles Lakers vs. West #8-Denver Nuggets

(Lakers Lead Series 3-0)

The Lakers have controlled every game winning by an average of 15 points. Kobe Bryant and Pao Gasol are leading this team easily through the first round while getting help from someone different every night. The duo of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony have received any help and not been able to do it all themselves.

West #2-New Orleans Hornets vs. West #7-Dallas Mavericks

(Hornets Lead Series 3-1)

The Hornets are for real. Tuesday night’s game in New Orleans is a must win for the Hornets. They have Dallas right where they want them and should deliver the final blow insuring they don’t have to return to Dallas for a difficult game six. Tyson Chandler has come a long way from the skinny high school kid on the Bulls and has complimented Chris Paul well.

West #3-San Antonio Spurs vs. West #6-Phoenix Suns

(Spurs Lead Series 3-1)

A career night from Boris Diaw kept the Suns from getting swept out of the series. Tony Parker is having a magnificent series along with Tim Duncan. As the series heads back to San Antonio I’d look for the Spurs to get their game faces back on and finish Phoenix off.

West #4-Utah Jazz vs. West #5-Houston Rockets

(Jazz Lead Series 3-1)

It takes a big man to admit his mistakes and did I make a big one with the Jazz. I like this team. The Jazz have a well balanced core and are just flat out playing good solid basketball. Can this series go six games? Yep, but it’s going to take a tremendous effort from the Rockets to send this game back to Utah.

East #1-Boston Celtics vs. East #8-Atlanta Hawks

(Celtics Lead Series 2-1)

Atlanta doesn’t want to just roll over and die in this series. They are out to prove something. Al Horford was a force in Atlanta’s Game 3 upset of Boston, scoring 17 points, grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds and doling out six assists. He’ll need to keep it up Monday night when the Hawks try to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. This was just a wake up call for Boston’s Three-Headed Monster. I’m expecting a big game from them in Atlanta.

East #2-Detroit Pistons vs. East #7-Philadelphia Sixers

(Series Tied 2-2)

This series isn’t getting any easier for the Pistons. The young Sixers are giving the older Pistons all they can handle. Not wanting the go down three games to one, the veteran Pistons should why they are the number two seed. This is the series to watch in the first round.

East #3-Orlando Magic vs. East #6-Toronto Raptors

(Magic Lead Series 3-1)

Dwight Howard’s continued domination of the series has moved the Magic to within one game of moving on to the next round. After stumbling in game three, Orlando came out strong in game four and can now wrap up the series in Orlando.

East #4-Cleveland Cavaliers vs. East #5-Washington Wizards

(Cavaliers Lead Series 3-1)

Lead by the calm, cool play of LeBron James the Cavs have won the two closer games of the series. Each team has a blow out in this series, but Cleveland has show themselves to be the superior team series. The Cavs have been doing a nice job of getting someone new every night involved in the offense. They should end this series on Wednesday in Cleveland.