The NBA West will produce a standing team in the end, but what a battle it will be to narrow things down.
All eight teams are good, some great, but perhaps no great team in the group. The reason may be that they hit each other a lot during the NBA regular season, and the playoffs will be more of the same, but turn the intensity up a few notches and there you are.
Easily the best first round matchup is the San Antonio Spurs against the Phoenix Suns. Shaquille O’Neal has been traded for this express reason, to produce against the likes of Tim Duncan. These teams don’t like each other, and it seems Duncan and Shaq have been standing in each other’s way for a decade for the right to be called the best. The Spurs defeated the Suns in 6 in the Western Finals before the season started, so let’s stick with the Spurs in 6, just at an earlier date. The Spurs and the Suns will wear each other down. Watch the effect on the winner as the playoffs progress.
The New Orleans Hornets blew the No. 1 seed late and got the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. It’s ironic that the Mavericks come into this season as the low seed, not much is expected. Last year, it was the No. 1-seeded Mavericks who were outclassed and wasted by the Golden State Warriors, an embarrassing loss for Dallas. I really like Chris Paul, but I smell disgust here. Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best when he’s healthy, and he’s been playing in MVP form in recent weeks. Dallas has the experience, and they have something to prove to themselves and the NBA. Going with Dallas at 6 to upset the rising Hornets. New Orleans has to make a living and learn to win at this level.
The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are really good teams, but not at the elite level it will take to win the NBA West. This is also a rematch from a year ago, when the Jazz defeated the Rockets in 7 games, including a Game 7 win on the road. I think the Rockets had a great season, especially the way they played without Yao Ming at the end. It ends here, with the Utah Jazz picking and eliminating the Rockets in 5.
The Los Angeles Lakers maneuvered through injuries and drama to capture the No. 1 seed in the West, no easy feat. They get the Denver Nuggets, an excellent assembly of talented players, but something is missing when you add up. Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony can score with anyone, but they can’t cover anyone either. The Lakers have too much equipment and too much Kobe Bryant. Go with the Lakers in 5.