Panther's Perspective: NBA 2nd round predictions

With the final round of the NBA playoffs now complete, I will analyze and predict the second round matchups.

1.Chicago Bulls vs 5.Atlanta Hawks

The Chicago Bulls struggled more than expected against the eighth seeded Indiana Pacers but I think they match up better with Atlanta than they did against Indiana.  Atlanta's frontcourt did a good job at roughing up Dwight Howard in the first round and getting under his skin, but the Bulls have a two-pronged frontcourt in Joakim Noah and Carloss Boozer.  Unless Josh Smith actually decides to play to his potential and talent level, the Bulls should be able to dominate Atlanta's frontcourt.  If Derrick Rose can keep his ankle healthy, I can't see Atlanta winning more than one game this series.  Chicago Bulls 4-1 is my prediction.

2.Miami Heat vs 3.Boston Celtics

This is the most interesting second round matchup.  Boston swept an injured Knick team in the first round while the Heat took care of a pesky 76er team that has a bright future.  The key to this series will be the power forward matchup between Chris Bosh and Kevin Garnett.  We all know that LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo are all going to do their thing; but the power forward matchup will likely decide this series.  Throughout the regular season, when Bosh has been on, the Heat have had a great record; the Heat go as Chris Bosh goes.  At the end of the day, I have to give the Heat a slight edge.  I still can't get Boston's 15-12 ending to the season out of my mind.  The Heat have been the  hotter team over the last month and a half so that's why I give them the slight edge.  Miami Heat win this one 4-2.

2.Los Angeles Lakers vs 3.Dallas Mavericks

If the Boston-Miami matchup is the best series of the second round, this is without a doubt the second best series.  The Lakers struggled mightily against the seventh seeded New Orleans Hornets who were without their second best scorer (David West) due to a torn ACL and seemed to be going through the motions at time.  That's the problem with the Lakers, you never know which team will show up.  Some nights, they'll lose to the Cavaliers (as they did in February) and other nights, they'll beat the Celtics or the Heat.  Dallas on the otherhand has always been labled as "chokers" when it comes to the playoffs seeing how they have an inablity to win when it counts.  If Dallas can pull off this upset, all of their past playoff transgressions would be forgiven, though I think the Lakers get this one done in seven games.  Lakers 4-3.

4.Oklahoma City thunder vs 8.Memphis Grizzlies

The good news for the Memphis Grizzlies?  They became only the second eighth seed in NBA playoff history to win it's first round series and they did so against a 60+ win Spurs team.  The bad news?  Now they have to play Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Thunder are the most balanced team left in the playoffs.  They have an all-star point guard that can make big plays happen in Westrbook, they have one of the top wing-scorers in the NBA in Kevin Durant, and they have a defensive force in the paint in Kendrick Perkins.  I think Memphis' wild season ends against the Thunder (despite the fact that Memphis is 3-1 versus OKC this season) as Durant proves to be too tough for the Griz.  Thunder 4-1.