Write On Sports LLC - "Partial conference semifinals preview" by Jake Lloyd

Partial conference semifinals preview

2007-05-07 00:00:56 | By: Jake Lloyd

What's up with this: The Pistons and Bulls are playing their conference semifinals Game 1 before the Rockets and Jazz wrap up their round one series?

Because of this, it would impossible (unless, of course, the Pistons-Bulls game goes into 30 overtimes) for me to write a complete preview of the conference semifinals before one game is already in the books. So I've swallowed the truth and decided I'm bigger than the NBA. I can deal with such a dilemma. And with that said, here is my partial second round preview.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Detroit vs. No. 5 Chicago
For once, the Pistons have been saying all the right things this week. There's been no trash-talking, no Guaransheeds (the only guarantee made was by Chicago's Andre Nocioni, predicting victory for the Bulls). Detroit appears focused on the task at hand and as hungry as the upstart Bulls to move on in the playoffs.

I know that's just an "intangible," but it's huge. Last year one of the Pistons' main undoings was that they were cocky and thought they were unbeatable. That's why they almost lost to Cleveland in this same round.

With that said, this is going to be a great back-and-fourth series. Expect the difference to be Chauncey Billups. Against Miami I was surprised at how well Chicago closed out games. In this series Detroit will have the edge in that area because of Mr. Big Shot. Also, the Bulls will have to rely too much on jump shots, and expect Tayshaun Prince to bother Luol Deng, who has been one of the top players so far this postseason, but will struggle against Prince's long wingspan.

Prediction: Pistons in 7 games

No. 2 Cleveland vs. No. 6 New Jersey
Another intriguing matchup (boy, this second round is going to be nuts). Cleveland's success will depend on how its players not named "LeBron" perform on the offensive end. In the first round sweep of Washington, they played admirably. But, again, that was against a hobbled, "I can't wait for the offseason" Wizards team. Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas each averaged 19 points in that series. If they combine for 30 a game against the Nets, Cleveland should be in good shape.

However, if New Jersey's big three -- Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson * play like they did in the Nets' wins over Toronto, attacking the basket with a fearlessness that you can't teach, the Nets could make this a very difficult series for the Cavaliers.

I'm going with experience over the superstar and role players.

Prediction: Nets in 6 games

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 2 Phoenix vs. No. 3 San Antonio
Poor Suns. This is the worst possible matchup for them. During the regular season, the Spurs won two of three from the Suns, holding Phoenix to 85 points in their final meeting. This series will be much of the same.

Granted, Phoenix* has to be the hungrier team, having failed to make it to the NBA Finals each of the past few years (while San Antonio has won three championships in eight years), but that won't be enough against the Spurs, who also are hungry to get back to the Finals.

Remember what Los Angeles did to Phoenix in its Game 3 win? It got in Steve Nash's face, forcing him into difficult passes and taking away his ability to score. Expect that in every game of this series. Plus, San Antonio will not let Phoenix run. That's the Suns' only chance -- to turn this into a track meet. As long as the Spurs keep things slow and methodical -- which I fully expect them to do -- they should be able to control the series.

This is not to say this will be an easy series for the Spurs. No way. It will be long and taxing on San Antonio's older players. But Manu Ginobili will provide that spark when needed and Tim Duncan will win the battle of big men against Amare Stoudemire.

Finally, one of San Antonio's wins will be thanks to Robert Horry, who is the most clutch shooter in the playoffs. Phoenix, meanwhile, hasn't won a close playoff game yet. That will hurt them at least early in the series.

Prediction: Spurs in 6 games

So there's my partial preview. I promise you I'll finish it off well before Game 1 of the to-be-determined is started Monday night. But until then, enjoy the games. Especially Big Ben's return to The Palace.

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