Beast in the East: NBA Playoffs - Round 1 Analysis

#1 Detroit Pistons v/s #8 Milwaukee Bucks (Series 2-1 Detroit)
I have a confession to make.... I despise the Pistons and the last thing I want to see is a Detroit v/s San Antonio matchup for the NBA finals. That said... I don't think the Bucks are going to be the team that eliminates the Pistons from the playoffs over a 7 game series. This is a case of experience v/s youth and in the playoffs where mental toughness is a big factor, I don't think the young Milwaukee Bucks team has enough power and depth to roll over the seasoned vets who are trying to make their third straight appearance in the NBA Finals. Looking purely in terms of matchups by positions Billups is far superior in all facets of the game over TJ Ford. Michael Redd is a pure shooter but having to run around screens on the defensive end to keep up with Richard Hamilton is tiring him out, but with RIP playing with a bum ankle, Redd was able to rest up on defense some and broke out with his offense and lights out shooting in Game 3. An ailing Bobby Simmons doesn't help when the guy you have to defend is Tayshaun Prince and the MIP from last year has had a rough transition to his new team. Andrew Bogut playing in his first NBA season has his hands full with Rasheed Wallace. Bogut's game is closer to the basket but he has to spend his time on the outside defending Sheed and the 3 point line, thus giving a major edge to Wallace. The battle on the boards between Magloire and Ben Wallace is a good matchup for both teams. Magloire is not as quick on his feet but he is a wide load to handle down low and if used properly he can be more of an offensive threat. Looking at the benches of both teams on paper, I think the Bucks win it but if you add in years played then the Pistons bench, even though they might lack the talent have the experience and mental make up to know their roles. The Pistons are like a well oiled machine and it may take a tank like Shaq to bulldoze over them in the later rounds.

#2 Miami Heat v/s #7 Chicago Bulls (Series 2-2)
Building though free agency v/s building through the draft. This is what this matchup brings forth in the first round and an intriguing one it is. The baby Bulls have little to no experience in the post season and at times during a game the oldest person on the floor in a Bulls jersey is 25 years of age and has played a grand total of 6 playoff games. In contrast the average age of the Miami Heat is close to 29 years and their roster has a cumulative total of 624 playoff games under their belt. Looking at the matchup's there is really no one the Bulls can throw out on the floor to stop the Shaquille O'Neal and coach Scott Skiles has tried playing multiple players at the C position to find the best matchup. Shaq has not been as effective as he has been in his past playoff series and a lot has to do with the abundance of offensive fouls being called against him. This takes him out of the flow of the game and foul trouble has become an issue when we talk about Shaq all season long. Question is though is Shaq getting to slow for the game? or, is it that the players defending him are not close to his strength and a little spin move by Shaq sends his defender flying? Either way this is just one story line of this series... Another being Udonis Haslem's suspension. The refs have kept the players on a short leash this post season and technical and flagrant fouls are being handed out atleast once a game on average in this series. Haslem was furious over a missed foul call and in reaction tossed his mouthguard over at the ref and the NBA will not tolerate that... Completely understandable. James Posey on the other hand shoves a shoulder and an elbow into a driving Kirk Hinrich in a game that the Heat were getting blown out in and he gets thrown out followed by a suspension. I understand a lot of frustration mounts up and a 7 game series builds a lot of animosity but the Heat players need to focus right now because if they keep letting their emotions control the outcome of games they will be on the outside looking in. Wade needs to step up his game come game 5 and in game 6 this whole "he chokes when he plays in Chicago" notions needs to be shed if the Heat want to make any kind of statement to the Pistons who I think will end their series with the Bucks tonight.

#3 New Jersey Nets v/s #6 Indiana Pacers (Series 2-2)
I am a raptor fan so seeing Vince Carter flourish with another team has not been an easy pill to swallow but I cant deny the man has talent. One problem... In the post season the mind has to be as strong as this becomes a mental game over the course of a series along with the physical game for the 48 minutes on the floor. If History is any indicator, then the post season is the last place Vince Carter will succeed. Lucky for him he is just one part of the three headed monster down in the swamp. Jason Kidd is playing like he went back in time 5-6 years and a healthy Richard Jefferson adds to that lethal trio. As a bonus they have gotten significant contributions from Nenad Kristic in his first playoff series. The Indiana Pacers have been a constant fixture in the eastern conference playoff picture over the last decade but this is the first time they had to head into it without Reggie Miller. During the season the Pacers made their biggest move by trading away Ron Artest to the Sacramento Kings in return for Peja Stojakovic. They were looking to remove a cancer from their team and at the same time they acquired a player with a deadly 3 point shot which would help spread the floor out in turn creating more space for Jermaine O'Neal down low. After stealing game 1 the Pacers did not have Peja for game 2 and foul trouble rendered Jermaine O'Neal ineffective for the most part. A $15,000 fine later Jermaine O'Neal was back on track dropping 37 points and 15 rebounds securing a victory for his team. This series is probably the most even in terms of matchups but the Nets have the advantage at PG and the Pacers have that advantage at PF but if the pacers want to take this one they are going to need a healthy Peja and a significant contributions from Danny Granger and Stephen Jackson. Looking at the Nets they have a good mix of youth and experience, Cliff Robinson (uncle Cliffy) has played in the NBA almost as many years as Nenad Kristic has been on the planet. In order to win the series they are going to need solid games from Robinson and Kristic to support the big three of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson and if it comes down to the final shot... Just make sure anyone but Vince Carter takes it.

#4 Cleveland Cavaliers v/s #5 Washington Wizards (Series 2-2)
He wears the #23 on his jersey now he has the opportunity to show us more of why he holds the title of King James. Lebron James' first post-season appearance did not disappoint as he ended the night with a Victory and a triple double that got them there. I am not ready to call him the next Michael Jordan of our time because until he has more rings than fingers on a hand ... All he will be is Lebron James. He was the youngest player to be the MVP of the all-star game, he averaged over 30 PPG during the regular season... but this is the playoffs and here he is a rookie. His supporting cast has been less than stellar in the 4 games that I have watched and aside from game 1 where Donyell Marshall stepped up and Game 3 where Drew Gooden took charge the other players have not fulfilled their roles very well. The Cavs have been unable to move the ball effectively and even with Gilbert Arenas and Jamison for the Wizards having bad nights they are now looking at a best of 3 situation. We all know what Lebron can do but this is a team sport and the team needs to play as a unit being led by him. Just watching the last game it was pretty obvious that those isolation plays are getting old and a lot easier to defend as that's all that is being run with no ball movement. Larry Hughes has been a non factor for the most part and even though Flip Murray was a good piece they added heading into the post season the guy who needs to step up his game is Big Z. He is a matchup nightmare on paper and if he was able to get into the flow of the game early his 7'3" frame would make more room for other things to happen besides Lebron trying to go through 3 levels of defence before getting to the rim. The Wizards have gotten great support from their role players and they have needed every bit of it as Gilbert Arenas has struggled into he early games but they are giving the Cavs fits right now and I think they have the right gameplan in order to win this series. In hindsight... If only the traveling call was made on the buzzer beater by Lberon in game 3, we might have been looking at a 3-1 series in favor of the wizards but I think the "STAR" factor worked to the advantage of Lebron and the NBA needs him to be playing well into may and June to keep raking in the "green".

Random quotes and stats and links from the first round...
- 2 Miami Heat players have received a 1 game suspension: Udonis Haslem & Antoine Walker.
- $40,000 in fines have been paid by players after they criticized the referee's following losses. Shaquille O'Neal ($25,000) and Jermaine O'Neal ($15,000)
- The Indiana Pacers have made the post season 15 out of the past 16 years yet this is the first time the roster does not have Reggie Miller on it.
- Lebron James became the third player in NBA history to register a triple-double in his playoff debut, joining Johnny McCarthy (1960) and Magic Johnson (1980).
- "If (they) want to come to South Beach and have some fun, they all have the money to do that in the summer. . . . Now is not the time for that." - Coach Scott Skiles (East Valley Tribune)
- "Back in the day, the guy would have just bounced up, got two free throws and went about his business. Nowadays, it's not like that. You breathe on somebody it's liable to be a foul." - James Posey in reaction to his flagrant foul.(ESPN)
- "(Carter) was out there trying to play tough, which we all know he's not," - Anthony Johnson (New York Daily News)
- Seeing Michael Jordan jump up and down like a crazed fan when the Bulls were about to win game 3 of their series = CLASSIC!!
- Gilbert Arenas changed his jersey, shorts, shoes and tights at the half after going 1-9 in Game 4, saying what he was wearing had brought bad luck. (Sports Illustrated)
- Dwayne Wade has played in 30 playoff games in his 3 year career in the league. In contrast the entire starting lineup of the bulls has played a total of 42 games.

Last time I checked this is what we call "TRAVELING!!!"