Eastern Conference

The frenetic pace of the Wizards, plus favorable perimeter matchups, might give the Heat reason to worry, but it probably shouldn?t.  

Gilbert Arenas versus Dwyane Wade will be one of the 2nd round?s most fascinating individual match-ups.  Arenas is a better perimeter shooter, equally athletic, but Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas are not Shaquille O?Neal.

After torching the Nets, Damon Jones won?t have the run of the court when he is matched with the superior Larry Hughes.

Antawn Jamison?s in between game will pose match-up problems for either Eddie Jones or Udonis Haslem.

All of this should be irrelevant now that Shaq has had a full week?s rest.  Haywood, Thomas and Mark Ruffin are adequate defensively, but none of them strike any hesitancy into Shaq?s mind.

The suspended Kwame Brown, who looked very good in Game 1 against the Bulls could have actually become a factor, but not in the end result.

Prediction: Heat in 5

If the NBA was more concerned with what was just than they are with making players and now coaches know that there is one order of things, then this would be the most exciting and intense series in the entire playoffs, but instead the undermanned Pacers will head back to Detroit to finish off what has been a tumultuous season for the club.  

With Ron Artest still suspended, the Pacers will have to play four flawless games in order to have any chance to beat the Pistons and advance to this season?s Eastern Conference Finals.

Reggie Miller struggled in the Boston series and will have to regroup for both team and legacy reasons.

Jermaine O?Neal?s shoulder does look better, but Stephen Jackson will have to continue to provide the Pacers with their scoring punch.

Early strikes will be pivotal for the Pacers.  The Sixers were able to get to the Pistons early in multiple games of their series together, but by the end of the series, Detroit was showing complete resemblance of their championship team of a year ago.

The knock on this season?s Pistons team is that they aren?t as deep, but depth is not a factor when facing a depleted and injured Indiana club.

TayShaun Prince will shadow Jackson, while the Wallace?s frustrate O?Neal, but Reggie will personally steal one game, while the Pistons fail to show up for another, yet it won?t be enough.

Prediction: Pistons in 6

Western Conference

The Rockets took the Mavericks to the edge of the limit and despite being blown out in Game 7, Houston outplayed Dallas at least five of the seven games.

With no athletic frontcourt to speak of to counter Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash will be able to run wild against his former team and feed his high-flyers.

The subplot of Nash playing against his former team will fascinate few.  There is no bad blood and they have already played against each other several times.

The Mavericks will try to run with the Suns, but that could only get them one win maximum.

Prediction: Suns in 5

Who is the real Jerome James?  Is it the Jerome James who averaged 4.9 points and 3 rebounds during the regular season?  Or is it the Jerome James who averaged 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds against the Kings?

Duncan and Nazr will not allow James to score at will like an injured Brad Miller did in the first round, but Rashard Lewis will pose huge problems for whomever is assigned to defend him.  Bruce Bowen will be assigned to guard Ray Allen, which will negate what Allen did in the first round, which was putting on a series that was rivaled only by Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson.

The Sonics will go as far as Lewis can take them, because his versatility will allow him to exploit any defender not named Bowen.  Robert Horry is the one Spur who would allow Bowen to remain on Allen, though if Bowen switched to Lewis, Ginobili should be able disrupt Allen, especially because Manu is left-handed, making it easier for him to put a hand on the ball.

But as good as Lewis might be, he is not Tim Duncan and Seattle lacks the frontcourt talent to adequately contain the two-time champion.  They will throw Reggie Evans, some Jerome James and Danny Fortson at him, but it will be Nick Collison who is likely to have the biggest impact.  Nate McMillan routinely inserts Collison for the first few minutes of the 4th quarter and if he can be a pest before the final stretch run, Seattle could position themselves perfectly for end game situations.

The Spurs are built to contend for titles and will ultimately wear down a young Sonics? team that is just beginning to play championship basketball.

Prediction: Spurs in 6