Nick Shiambouros' NBA Play-off Previews: Part one

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 16 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

Betting.Betfairs' NBA expert begins his look at the play-offs by weighing up the chances of the title favourites. Tomorrow, Nick will preview the rest of the first round games...

Eastern Conference

Cleveland v Detroit

Cleveland will be heavily favoured to win this series easily and there will be no argument from me. LeBron James and co will want to end this quickly so they can rest for the next round and I think they can sweep the Pistons. Detroit should have avoided meeting the Cavaliers but they finished the season with some dismal play. In addition, there is talk that Alan Iverson is going to retire and Rasheed Wallace wants to be traded.

Prediction: Cleveland to win 4-0

Boston v Chicago

The Boston Celtics will be hot favourites to win the series but I think the Bulls can give them something to think about. Rookie Derrick Rose has had a superb season and will make his presence felt. There are only a handful of players that can come in to a team straight from college and make this kind of an impact at this level. Rose plays like a veteran and is not afraid to take a shot. Boston has had the health of Kevin Garnett to worry about in recent weeks but they remain very much the team to beat. The Celtics will wear down the Bulls in six games.

Prediction: Boston to win 4-2

Western Conference

Denver v New Orleans

The Denver Nuggets finished the regular season with the second best record in the West behind Los Angeles. They will be red hot favourites to beat New Orleans but I smell an upset. The Hornets really had to dig deep in the last 10 games of the season to make it to the play-offs and as a result they are playing with a lot more intensity. This team is led by Chris Paul and he is a quality point guard. There is no question that Denver is a much improved team with Chauncey Billups in the line up but there are still occasions when they defend poorly. Paul is lethal he is in the paint and he is sure to expose every defensive weakness the Nuggets have. I think this will be a long series and it just may go the distance.

Prediction: New Orleans to win 4-3

Los Angeles v Utah

The Lakers finished the season with the best record in the Western Conference and they will be a very short price to beat the Jazz in this series. These two teams met on Tuesday night at the Staples Center when Los Angeles won 125-112. I think the Lakers will win the series but it will not be easy to win in Utah. The Jazz have only lost eight games at home all year, Deron Williams has had a great year and is now considered one of the best point guards in the NBA. This is not the ideal match-up for the Lakers as this could turn out to be a long and tiring series for them.

Prediction: Los Angeles to win 4-2