NBA Western Conference Playoff Preview

BY EVAN SPORER

EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP IMAGES

The NBA season has finally concluded. And while much has been made of the Eastern conference and the likes of the Miami Heat, probable MVP winner Derrick Rose, and the ageless Celtics, the Western Conference is certainly formidable in its own right. Check out how the West might play out.

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs.  #8 Memphis Grizzlies

The Spurs have heard the criticisms before.

They’re too old. Their time has passed. They’re boring to watch, and haven’t adjusted to the new NBA.

Well, I’ll take boring and effective over flashy and on the outside any day (a’hem, Golden State Warriors).

The Spurs finished first in the Western Conference this year, amassing 61 wins, giving them home court throughout the West’s playoffs. They did so with the many of the same faces -- Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili -- but also an infusion new producers: DeJuan Blair, George Hill, and Gary Neal.

Even Richard Jefferson, whose acquisition was supposed to be a bust, came up big for the Spurs this year.

So, as always, this team was a defensive juggernaut. Although their 98 points allowed per game is deceptively high, the Spurs will wear you down on D. They’ll make you work on every possession just to get a decent look, and on many possessions, teams won’t. Defense wins championships; plain and simple, just ask Spurs head coach Greg Popovich (the guys has won four NBA titles).

And it is these new producers that separate this version of the Spurs from prior years. Popovich can finally go to the bench and insert a second unit that is not only competitive, but also capable of changing games.

So what this series comes down to is that Memphis could win its first playoff game since they played in Vancouver. What they cannot do is knock out the number one seed. The Spurs do too much too well, and while Memphis is a nice young team, they lack the playoff experience to take down a Pop team.

What it comes down to for the Griz is the youth factor. Guys like Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, and Marc Gasol are all nice pieces, and will certain go out there and compete in this series, but in no way do they match up against Duncan – Park – Manu.

So, the fix pick is in. Give the nod to the old guys; San Antonio 4, Memphis 1

#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #7 New Orleans Hornets

I’m going to give Andrew Bynum some advice for this series -- don’t play in it.

Here’s why.

There was a time not so long ago this season when the Hornets was sniffing the top spot Southwest division, hopeful of a top four seed in the West, and firing on all cylinders.

Then reality hit, David West tore his ACL, Chris Paul booked a plane ticket to Charlotte for the off-season, and the Hornets fell to the six seed.

And just like how the Hornets season took for the worst, this first round series should be no different.

Aside from Chris Paul, the Lakers are better than the Hornets at every position on and off the court (meaning bench, coaching, cheerleaders; anything, you name it).

I’d call the Hornets a tune up match-up for the Lakers, but I think it would serve the two-time defending champs well to rest Andrew Bynum in this series, and gear up for the three peat. Where the Lakers is lacking right now is inside, but with the Hornets having no David West, this series should prove too difficult in the paint for the two-time defending champs.

I also think Shannon Brown needs to see a lot of time. Everyone knows that despite the fact that he’s a playoff warrior, Derrick Fisher is not the player he used to be (he’s an older, slower, worse version). So in those later rounds when the Lakers are forced to play Tony Parker, or Russell Westbrook, Brown’s play will go a long way in determining the outcome.

In a season of turmoil, coaching change, and constant rumors, the New Orleans Hornets performance is commendable. What head coach Monty Williams has done with this squad is certainly deserving of coach of the year. But plain and simple, no combination of Trevor Ariza or Marco Belinelli can guard Kobe, and Emeka Okafor will be eaten alive by Pau Gasol.

I think it’s also worth mentioning this is Kobe’s last post season with Phil Jackson, and probably one of (if not the) last shot he’ll get to win a fifth title. And while I’ll do my fair share of Kobe-hating just like the next guy, one thing no one can deny is his determination, which will only be heightened by the circumstances of this post season.

Colorado, stand up! Los Angeles 4, New Orleans 0

#3 Dallas Mavericks vs. #6 Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are sort of like an ant (bear with me).

You try to step on them over-and-over again, but you can’t squish them. And sure, the ant will move slower, one of its legs will get all mangled and nasty, but when you look down, that ant is still moving (ps. The mangled arm is Greg Oden, always the first to go).

And that’s what makes this series so interesting.

The Mavs are the better team on paper. They also cause some match-up nightmares for Portland. Tyson Chandler is a guy for the Mavericks who can defense Portland’s best player, LaMarcus Aldridge. But likewise, Portland’s Marcus Camby can do the same thing to Dirk Nowitzki.

And then there are the swingmen. Dallas boasts such players as Shawn Marion and Peja Stojakovic who have playoff experience and the ability to fill it up. But, Portland has guys like Rudy Fernandez, Gerald Wallace, and Nicolas Batum who can do the same thing.

See where I’m going yet?

This match-up, plain and simple, will come down to back court play. And while the Mavericks have a very tough, high basketball IQ backcourt with Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Jose Barea, and Rodrigue Beaubois, Portland has an ace in the hole that could turn this series upside down.

Now entering the game: Brandon Roy.

I don’t care how many times this guy has had his knee operated on. I don’t care if he’s had them redone more than Brittney’s boobs. The guy is a flat out superstar. He’s a shot taker, and a shot maker, and more importantly, when the game is on the line, you want the ball in his hands.

If Brandon Roy can play like… Brandon Roy, then Portland has the ability to pull this upset off.

Dallas will throw DeShawn Stevenson at B-Roy all series, but if Lebron has taught us anything (and that’s not much) it’s that Mr. Stevenson chokes come playoff time. Crab-dribble or not, I don’t expect Stevenson to give Roy too many problems.

So there’s usually one of these every year (or just about every year) in the Western Conference. And unfortunately for them, Dallas is usually on the receiving end.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I’M GOING WITH THIS NOW! Portland 4, Dallas 3

#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #5 Denver Nuggets

No Melo? No problem… right?

Denver went 18-7 without the Melo-man, something no one could have predicted. And the way the Nuggets did it was with improved defense, curious, considering the new Nuggets boasted a slew of former New York Knicks.

But when the mile high club shipped Anthony to the Big Apple, head coach George Karl looked at his roster, analyzed what he had, and asked his team to speed things up, which they did.

When the Nuggets traded away Chauncey Billups, they handed over the reigns to Ty Lawson. The UNC standout has filled in stupendously, using his combination of speed and lack of size to evade defenders and find the hoop.

Even with the newly acquired Raymond Felton, Denver has found a way to use both him and Lawson effectively, and at times run sets with the two guards, creating match-up nightmares for their opponents.

But then again, Denver’s first round opponents isn’t your average NBA team.

The Thunder also like to speed things up, and Russell Westbrook and Eric Maynard will have no problem keeping up with Denver’s guards. On the flipside, Denver will struggle to find anyone to guard last year’s MVP Kevin Durant.

This series is going to be a track meet. Both team’s will take any opportunity they can to push the pace. In the post, it should be fun to watch the Thunder’s newly acquired Kendrick Perkins to battle with the no-nonsense Nene.

For Denver to win this series, it’s going to take a huge performance from Danilo Galinari. The Italian was the major piece of the Melo trade, and has the potential to elevate his game to all-star level.

I think the Thunder’s duo of Durant and Russell Westbrook will cause too many problems for the Nuggets, though. Durant’s length and scoring touch make him virtually impossible to defend. The Nuggets will throw Wilson Chandler, Galinari, and even Kenyon Martin at Durant. And for Westbrook, his ability to penetrate the lane and open up the wings for OKC will cause problems for Denver.

So this is definitely the most intriguing first round match-up. But the Thunder were there last year, and were one shot away from taking the eventually champs to a game seven.

This team won’t get bounced in the first round, but this will be a thrilling series. Oklahoma City 4, Denver 3