Second Round Midview

Sorry I was too lazy to do a preview.

East:

1 Boston Celtics vs. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers: Here we have the most overachieving team of the regular season against the most underachieving team. The Celtics' biggest strength was how hard they worked. Yeah, they were unselfish on offense and played great defense, but that stems from literally playing with playoff-level intensity all season. The Cavaliers had contract holdouts, Lebron missing seven games (0-7), injuries, and a late-season trade. Now, both teams are at 100% and trying 100%, and there isn't much difference between the two teams.

In Game 1, Lebron shot 2-18 (0-6 from three) and committed 10 turnovers, the Cavs shot 31% and 22% from three (4-18), yet had a lead with 90 seconds left, were tied with 39 seconds left, and Lebron missed a freakin' layup that would have tied the game with nine seconds left. While the Celtics played poorly, the Cavaliers played abominably. I think the Cavaliers have more room for improvement than the Celtics.

Mike Brown is an awful offensive coach, but he is a great defensive coach. The Cavs were fourth in the league last year in defensive efficiency, and were only 12th this year, but the Varejao holdout and then injury hurt them. Since January they've given up 95.2 points per game, which would be fifth in the league. The Cavaliers don't give up easy baskets and they rebound the ball well (#1 in rebounding margin this year). Defense is less flashy and sometimes overlooked, but the Cavs almost won a road playoff game over a 66-win team in which they shot 31%. Good defense is less noticeable than bad defense. When your team is contesting shots, getting stops, and grabbing rebounds, it's easy to take it for granted, but when they're giving up open threes and uncontested layups and dunks and putbacks, you start pulling your hair out. The Cavs usually look bad, but give them credit. They're going to have a chance to win most games.

Prediction: Cavs in six. The Celtics haven't impressed me at all. Even ignoring the seven-game series with the 37-45 Hawks, I think their biggest strength, playoff-intensity, has been factored out because everyone's raised themselves to the Celtics' level. Also, the Cavs really should have won Game 1, and I think they are less likely to play as terribly as the Celtics are.

2 Detroit Pistons vs. 3 Orlando Magic: I don't have any more insight than I did when I wrote my original playoff preview. Well, besides the first three games of the series, but I didn't watch any of them.

Prediction: Pistons in six.

West:

1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. 4 Utah Jazz: In my original preview, I wrote, "[t]his matchup, should it occur, would showcase the fourth and fifth highest scoring teams in the NBA (behind Golden State, Phoenix, and Denver)." Obviously, I would want to watch this one, right? Yes, but I didn't want to hear commentators frothing at the mouth when describing the 2008 MVP. I didn't want to hear the Laker faithful cheering "MVP" whenever Kobe did something good. I originally predicted the Lakers would win in six.

Prediction: Lakers in five, with the Lakers winning either Game 3 or 4, and being blown out in the other one, then finishing up at home.

2 New Orleans Hornets vs. 3 San Antonio Spurs: Chris Paul is really good. 24/5/12 on 50% shooting for the playoffs. The Spurs are really old. While it may seem like the Spurs are good since they just beat the Suns, keep in mind that the Suns are no longer good. I originally picked the Mavericks to win this series, and while I'm tempted to stick by that prediction, I am actually going to change my prediction and go with the Hornets.

Prediction: Hornets in five. While I should be careful not to underestimate the experience and discipline of the Spurs, I should also be careful not to underestimate the unstoppability and genius of Chris Paul. Does anyone have an answer for Chris Paul?