A look at our 2006 NBA playoffs.

[Son of Simon]

Well, we're into the conference semi-finals of this season's playoofs, and one thing is clear: No one is safe. With no possibility of teams sweeping in this round, I really think we're in for an exciting postseason.

Eastern Conference

No.1 Detroit Pistons vs No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers Psitons Lead 2-1

Detroit has put together a phenomenal season this year, but that doesn't make them shoe-ins for the Eastern Conference champs. They've opened up their offense tremendously, but the team faces its share of scoring droughts, and I fear this team enjoys the three-ball more than I like. With arguably the best shooting and rebounding frontcourt in the league, they do have some deficits on the bench, and they still lack the definitive go-to-guy, though in some series it's been a strength more than a weakness. I fully expect them to beat the hungry, though still unpolished Cavs, but a long series here will cripple Detroit in the Eastern finals.

No.2 Miami Heat vs. No.3 New Jersey Nets

Here's a great showdown between two of the league's more exciting teams to watch. "Vinsanity" Vince Carter and Jason Kidd are a formidable duo, but the Nets break down if Miami is able to settle into their half-court offense, they simply don't have the roster to deal with Shaq up the middle while keeping Dwayne Wade in check. Miami is going to want to keep games slower and low scoring, because while their roster is full of big "names", most of their players are past their prime. Keeping that frontcourt disciplined and hustling is a must for Miami, while the Nets need to keep the flow uptempto and athletic in order to compete. I feel the Heat has what it takes to beat New Jersey, but it'll take 7 games to finish the job.

Western Conference

No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 4 Dallas Mavericks

Mavs, Mavs, Mavs are fun to watch. But they've been plagued again with inconsistency, and it's almost like the Spurs are trying to bore everyone into submission with their ever-reliable screen-roll half-court set. The difference for the Spurs this year?- maybe it's a former Mavs player- Nick Van Excel- coming off the bench to support Tony Parker. Nick-at-Nite was absolutely brilliant as the Mav's backup, and this author believes it was a mistake to ever let this solid performer and crowd energizer go. Despite the explosiveness of the Mav's offense, I think the Spurs will have this all wrapped up in 6.

No. 2 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Clippers

Okay, so the Suns have the best point guard in the league, and a prime MVP candidate in Steve Nash. So they've got the speed and explosiveness of Marion, with the quickfooted Barbosa and Diaw. So what? We're talking Clippers baby! Elton Brand has put some phenomenal numbers, and don't forget their own backcourt weapons Sam Cassell and Corey Maggette. If the Lakers can take the Suns to a 7th game, I feel the Clips can do the same. What the Clippers need most here is to control the boards- something they've done remarkably in game 2, but got unraveled in games 1 and 3. The Suns will win in 7, but again, I hope I;m wrong here.

So that's my look at the NBA playoffs. Overall- I'd be happy with anyone except the San Antonio Spurs winning it all.

[Son of Simon]

Overall- I'd be happy with anyone except the San Antonio Spurs winning it all.

And WAHOOO!!! It is. No repeat champs this year- though I feel bad for my dudes Nick the Quick and Michael Finley. Wish the Mavs had kept them both.

So now we're into the conference finals. How do these matchups fare?

Eastern Conference

No.1 Detroit Pistons vs. No.2 Miami Heat

The shocking thing here is that at the end of each of their semi-final series, it was Detroit- not Miami- that needed a break. The young Cavs ran them up and down the floor, but the D-town team buckeld down and showcased their legitimacy with some brilliant clutch-play. On the Miami side it's good to see Shaq in playoff form, and again it will boil down to Wade and Shaq- along with good defensive contributions from Udonis Haslem on Rasheed Wallace- to beat the Pistons. Right now I'm still favoring Detroit mainly because they don't respect Miami- they have demonstrated that they can clamp down in a halfcourt defense, and force Wade and Shaq into bad decisions. Watch for my man Tayshaun Prince to switch on Wade on defense, and more minutes for Antonio McDyess to soak up fouls on Shaq.

Western Conference

Arrghh...Clippers we were so close! (except for the fact that Phoenix shot >50% from beyond three and beat us by 20 in game 7...)

No.2 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 4 Dallas Mavericks

If the Eastern conference is about defensive games, the West will come out guns-a-blazin'. Both teams here like to open it up. Both teams love the three-ball. Look for speed and accuracy to be the story here. Phoenix will have their hands full trying to guard Dirk Nowitzski, but that doesn't mean that Dallas will have answers for Steve Nash either. Considering the fact that the Suns had to struggle past the shadow of the Lakers' former glory, and a clumsy, undermanned Los Angeles Clippers club, I'd call them the underdogs against the giant-slaying Dallas. Look for big games out of Jason Terry and Josh Howard, or I'd say the Mavs are in for a long series.

[RushDog]

I'm pulling for Phoenix. Mainly because they're underdogs and Steve Nash is my favorite player. Last night's game was a nailbiter.

[Son of Simon]

Anyone at this point that doesn't think Nash deserves to be MVP needs to have their head checked.

Nash is a quintessential point guard. He opens up the floor, rewards the go-ahead runners on the break, and shoots a high percentage from the field. Nash has improved every single player to share a roster with him. The guy's a phenomenal talent.

At this point- I don't have a favorite. It would be great to see any of the four teams win it all.

[RushDog]

Yeah, I like all four of the teams. I'm tired of the Spurs. I'm not Pat Riley fan, but I'm pulling for the Heat against the Pistons. With the exception of Gary Payton, I like most of the guys on that team.

[Son of Simon]

What's wrong with the Glove? Too cocky for your taste?

Dwayne Wade is the real deal. I loved 'Zo back in the Charlotte Hornet days too. And who can forget Jason Williams- the modern day Pistol Pete!

[RushDog]

I just don't care for his attitude. Although, I'm not a Laker fan, he really screwed up that team. I loved those Hornet teams with Zo and Larry Johnson and Muggsy Bogues. If they could've kept that team together and added a couple more players, they could've done something. I love "White Chocolate". I guess he went to high school with Randy Moss. They're good friends.

[Son of Simon]

Oh yeah man, that Hornets team was great.

Who was the player known as "Wonderdog"? I forget his real name. The white kid that threw down some awesome dunks...man I can't believe I forgot Wonderdog's real name!!

[TaylorHicksRocks]

I am pulling for the Spurs!:luxhello:

[Son of Simon]

Um....sorry. The Spurs were already eliminated. :(

You still have a Texas team in the Dallas Mavs though!

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Go Dallas!!! Lol well after leaving San Antonio 25 years ago it is difficult to keep up....:yelrotflm

[RushDog]

Dallas vs. Miami in the finals. Who ya got?

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Go Mav's!!!!

[Son of Simon]

Dallas vs. Miami in the finals. Who ya got?

I for one am really looking forward to this finals matchup. Both teams were impressive at dealing with last year's finalists, and each squad is looking pretty sharp going in.

Miami was thorough in their handling of Detroit- which was very impressive considering Detroit is the much deeper team on paper, and seems to always do well in elimination games. With Shaq looking and playing more like a 25 year old, and strong contributions from Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, and James Posey, the team proved it can win decisively despite the subpar performance from its star player, Dwayne Wade. Perhaps Miami's only weakness going in is the age of its bench along with Shaq. I expect that they'll encounter some matchup problems with Dirk Nowitzski up front, which means more minutes for Posey off the bench.

However, I wouldn't count out the Mavericks, who have really earned this trip to the finals by beating the defending champion Spurs, and the MVP-toting Phoenix Suns. The Mavs have proven they can deal with the dominant center-guard combo of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, who are collectively younger and faster than the Shaq/Wade duo, yet physically cannot compare with either. Dirk the Daring has demonstrated MVP form and he really shines in the playoffs, and while Jason Terry is the more accurate trigger than Jason Williams, the Mavs will struggle with Devin Harris trying to keep up with Wade on the offensive end. Look for more minutes from Djop and Eric Dampier in trying to contain Shaq, and the key to winning will be breaking down the Heat's transition defense.

My prediction: If the Mavs don't come up with good defensive answers for O'Neal/Wade, then the Heat can win in 6 games. Push this series longer, and Dallas will see an advantage in the war of attrition.

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Elliott sang the National Anthem Tonight in Dallas for the 2nd game in the finals. I hope Dalls takes this game! Go Mav's!:luxhello:

[Son of Simon]

Elliott sang the National Anthem Tonight in Dallas for the 2nd game in the finals. I hope Dalls takes this game! Go Mav's!:luxhello:

Right now- the series is looking like sweeps-ville, population: Miami.

Miami is looking tired right now. Shaq can't buy a free-throw to save his life, and Miami seems to have forgotten its run game completely. The Dallas D is swarming and frustrating Shaq. They're playing the passing lanes, they're defending agressively, and shooting the ball with no weight on their shoulders whatsoever. Dallas is downright beating Miami on both ends of the floor.

Miami's half-court set is in shambles. I think their best stretches of the night were with the 2nd unit in, and White Chocolate pushing up the floor with D Wade going fearlessly to the bucket. They have to give Shaq some rest. Prove that they can open up the floor with their smaller players, and force Dallas to play honest D.

[RushDog]

Jerry Stackhouse! Who'da thunk it? Shaq is no match against Dirk. Go Mavs!

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Jerry Stackhouse! Who'da thunk it? Shaq is no match against Dirk. Go Mavs!I am with ya' there RushDog! Go Mavs!

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Who won last night?

[RushDog]

Miami by two.

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Oh man well at least the Mav's still have a 1 game lead.......

[RushDog]

Oh man well at least the Mav's still have a 1 game lead.......

I'm not really worried about it. Dwayne Wade had a career game and they still only won by two. Now Wade's hurt, so Miami is in trouble. I didn't expect the Mavs to sweep, but I think it'll go six games, with the Mavs coming out on top.

[TaylorHicksRocks]

I'm not really worried about it. Dwayne Wade had a career game and they still only won by two. Now Wade's hurt, so Miami is in trouble. I didn't expect the Mavs to sweep, but I think it'll go six games, with the Mavs coming out on top.
As long as the Mavs come out on top that is all I care about right now! They have never won A NBA championship! When my team is out I go for the one that has never won! Or for the one without Shaq! LOL! What a motto......I love my spurs and Shaq burned them many many years ago. He used to live in San Antonio and after he had made into the NBA he came back to San Antonio to play the spurs a rerporter asked him how it felt to be back home. He said San Antonio is not my home and never was! He spent st least 4 years there I believe at Cole High School. Which is in San Antonio. He could have been more diplomatic.:outtahere

[RushDog]

He was military brat. His dad was stationed there. Sometimes Shaq is cool, then sometimes he can be a real jerk. I'd really love to see the Mavs win it all. Mark Cuban would really be out of control then.LOL

[TaylorHicksRocks]

He was military brat. His dad was stationed there. Sometimes Shaq is cool, then sometimes he can be a real jerk. I'd really love to see the Mavs win it all. Mark Cuban would really be out of control then.LOL
Yeah I know San Antonio having 5 military bases at the time and all.....but still spending your high school years there one would think you would have a little diplomacy.......I want the Mavs to win too........:luxhello: The high school I went to had students from 2 military bases going there and we still keep in touch with each other. Go Judson Rockets!!!:boldred: Red and Gray

[RushDog]

Okay, now I'm getting worried. The Mavs looked horrible last night.

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Okay, now I'm getting worried. The Mavs looked horrible last night.
I finally got to see some of the game and I agree.....I feel like I jinxed them! The first time I wathced any of the game and they lose:mecry:

[TaylorHicksRocks]

I know they played again the other night.....I only saw a little of the game. My son did not want to watch basketball. So how did things go? The Mavs were up but not by much and they kept making fouls, to me it looked ugly at the time.:confused:

[RushDog]

The Mavs blew it! They choked! Oh well, as a Celtics fan, I'm happy for Antowan Walker. He gave us alot of great years in Boston. I'm glad he finally has a title.

[TaylorHicksRocks]

Such A shame..........:mecry: