It's (almost) Playoff Time!

In lieu of our Suns less than inspiring play as of late, and also due to my total lack of knowledge pertaining to the Diamondbacks play, my hypomanic attention has turned to the NBA playoffs.

In efforts to supply the readers something to further discuss/argue about, I have compared each team likely to make the Western Conference Playoffs with the Suns playoff roster in efforts to predict a possible series outcome.

I give you the first annual Hypomanic Squirrel Playoff Prediction. Enjoy!

New Orleans Hornets
Good team, but inexperienced. Chris Paul has been on a tear recently, making any claim that he is not the rightful MVP a hard one to make. Regardless, I think placing Raja Bell in charge of guarding Paul with playoff-like intensity might rattle the point guard’s playmaking capabilities and halt the Hornet juggernaut to a standstill. Suns win 4-2.

Predicted Matchups
PG Chris Paul / Raja Bell
SG Morris Peterson / Steve Nash
SF Peja Stojakovic / Grant Hill
PF David West / Amare Stoudemire
C Tyson Chandler / Shaquille O’Neal

San Antonio Spurs
The reigning champs. Getting older as a team, but every bit as potent during playoff basketball. Once vulnerable to the Spurs “dirty” physical playmaking tactics, the Suns have displayed an ability to answer their toughness since the Shaq trade. While questionable officiating and foul trouble from Shaq and Amare may complicate success, I still see the Suns finally conquering last year’s demons. Suns win 4-2.

Predicted Matchups
PG Tony Parker / Raja Bell
SG Michael Finley / Grant Hill
SF Bruce Bowen / Steve Nash
PF Fabricio Oberto / Amare Stoudemire
C Tim Duncan / Shaquille O’Neal

Los Angeles Lakers
Ever since the highway robbery that was otherwise known as the Paul Gasol trade, the Lakers have been on nothing less than a tear. Tallying up wins on a consistent basis even with Bynum’s absence due to injury, many believe the Lakers are ready and poised for their first title since the dismantling of the Shaq/Kobe dynasty. Personally, I think this team poses the biggest threat to Phoenix’s first title. Regardless, banking on Bynum’s struggle to regain the momentum lost due to injury and the Lakers subsequent struggle to acclimate him into the offense, I’m staying loyal and picking the Suns in 7, 4-3.

Predicted Matchups
PG Derek Fisher / Steve Nash
SG Kobe Bryant / Raja Bell
SF Lamar Odom / Grant Hill
PF Paul Gasol / Amare Stoudemire
C Andrew Bynum / Shaquille O’Neal

Utah Jazz
Even with all of the buzz surrounding the Utah’s homecourt advantage, I still consider them a typical overachieving Jerry Sloan product. The Jazz play slow-paced, mistake-free, defensive-minded basketball, and any team that wants to win needs to plan on playing a grinding, tough-it-out, every-possession-counts series. While the Suns have shown considerable lapses in these areas throughout the season, they also have shown the ability to play mistake-free basketball. Playing the Jazz away, they are going to need a lot of the ladder, especially with Okur’s tendency to shoot the three at a high percentage. Still, I believe the Suns have the ability to sustain sufficient levels of focus in the playoffs in this mini-Spurs series preview. Suns win 4-3.

Predicted Matchups
PG Deron Williams / Raja Bell
SG Ronnie Price / Steve Nash
SF Andrei Kirilenko / Grant Hill
PF Carlos Boozer / Amare Stoudemire
C Mehmet Okur / Shaquille O’Neal

Houston Rockets
The most over-rated team in the Western Conference Playoffs. While Houston has supplied this years Cinderella feel-good story of the regular season, Hollinger’s pick for the NBA title will unfortunately go home quickly due to their personnel and style of basketball. If they survive long enough play the Suns, their up-tempo style will certainly lead to their demise. Suns win 4-0.

Predicted Matchups
PG Bobby Jackson / Steve Nash
SG Tracy McGrady / Raja Bell
SF Shane Battier / Grant Hill
PF Luis Scola / Amare Stoudemire
C Dikembe Mutombo / Shaquille O’Neal

Dallas Mavericks
The second most over-rated team in the Western Conference Playoffs. Since the Kidd trade, this team looks like an old, one-trick pony. Don’t expect yesterday’s loss to go unremembered if these two teams meet in the playoffs. Sorry Dirk, your team is way too soft to make any extended playoff run. Based on the premise that they score more than 9 points a quarter, the Suns win the series against Dallas in a snoozer, 4-2.

Predicted Matchups
PG Jason Kidd / Steve Nash
SG Jason Terry / Raja Bell
SF Josh Howard / Grant Hill
PF Dirk Nowitzki / Amare Stoudemire
C Erick Dampier / Shaquille O’Neal

Denver Nuggets
This young, talented group seems like it could give a great many teams fits in the playoffs. Utilizing the classic Iversen/Anthony one/two punch, the Nuggets would provide some defensive issues that the Suns would likely need to address. Where to place Nash and Bell the greatest of these concerns. Assuming that Bell and Hill are able to do an adequate job on the Nuggets two main (and only) scorers, the Suns win in a high scoring, low-defensive series, 4-2.

Predicted Matchups
PG Anthony Carter / Steve Nash
SG Allen Iverson / Raja Bell
SF Carmelo Anthony / Grant Hill
PF Kenyon Martin / Amare Stoudemire
C Marcus Camby / Shaquille O’Neal

There it is boys and girls. Feel free to discuss, criticize, and rip apart the picks as you see fit. Let me know what you think!

Hypomanic Squirrel Out!