Well, the Utah Jazz earned a first round matchup against the Houston Rockets.
And just like last year, they’ll be playing 4 games on Houston’s home court.
And just like last year, the Utah Jazz will be tough to beat at home.
And just like last year, Tracy McGrady will be gunning to get out of the first round for the first time.
Unlike last year, however, the Houston Rockets will be without their big man, Yao Ming, he went out with a season ending injury.
The Houston Rockets have fought well, however, including winning 14 of their 22 game win streak without them.
I don’t see the Utah Jazz having quite as tough of a time this year as they did last year.
I pick the Utah Jazz over the Houston Rockets in 6.
Next up…
Probably the Los Angeles Lakers. (If it’s the Denver Nuggets, Utah will own them — like they did in the regular season.)
Pau Gasol has never been much of a problem in the playoffs. Heck, he has never even won a SINGLE game in the playoffs. And he has been to the playoffs enough times to have at least taken ONE game.
Andrew Bynum may or may not be back. He sure won’t be 100%. Even if he did return for the second round, he might be a hindrance to the team (rather than a help).
Kobe Bryant, however, is always tough, especially for the Jazz. Who knows how many fouls Kobe will receive from Jazz players NOT fouling him?
And don’t sleep on Derek Fisher. As the Jazz know well.
(The Jazz would have been much better served to have been playing the New Orleans Hornets in the second round, but you can’t have everything.)
I still think the Jazz have what it takes to beat the Lakers and their porous defense. I’ll pick the Jazz in 7, but I can’t say that I’m not worried about this one.
Next up, my guess in the Phoenix Suns, who are likely to dispatch the San Antonio Spurs in the first round and the Dallas Mavericks in the second round (unless New Orleans is a lot more savvy than I think they are).
If it’s San Antonio, the Jazz might be in trouble, but I don’t think it will be.
If the Phoenix Suns had not made the trade, the Utah Jazz would have won this matchup. With Shaquille O’Neal and Amare Stoudemire in the frontcourt, this is going to be pretty tough for the Jazz to handle. Deron Williams, assuming he isn’t too banged up, can handle Steve Nash (who has lost a step this year, especially against the faster point guards). The Jazz would have the homecourt advantage in this one, so we’ll give this one to the Utah Jazz in 7, especially since they aren’t likely to lose to the Phoenix Suns in the Energy Solutions Arena.
Next up would be the winner between the Detroit Pistons (who aren’t likely to lose to the Philadelphia 76ers or the young Orlando Magic) and the Boston Celtics (who will easily dispatch the Atlanta Hawks and are likely to beat the winner of Washington and Cleveland without too much difficulty either).
Since it’s too close to call, I’ll take a look at both of them.
The Detroit Pistons have not proved too difficult for the Jazz over the last several years. Even when the Jazz were just horrible and the Pistons were the cream of the Eastern crop, they Jazz still managed to beat them (often both times). The Detroit Pistons would have to be the dream matchup for the Jazz, and the Jazz would likely win this matchup in 6.
The Boston Celtics, in spite of the fact that Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett do not have NBA Playoff experience, are not likely to be easy prey to the Jazz. The Jazz and the Celtics split their games this season with both of them winning in the opposing arena. Not easy to do when the home records of the Jazz and the Celtics were the best in the NBA. This matchup would probably be too close to call, but you have to feel good about the Jazz’s chances against all of the teams that they are likely to meet.
It’s certainly been a long time since the Utah Jazz even had a chance to win an NBA Championship.