Playoff wish list

Derryberry’s NBA corner

I have kept my promise to myself and followed the NBA closer than ever this year. I’m hooked on a nightly basis, checking box scores, reading every article that I can get my hands on, and watching as many games as possible. I very much plan on falling asleep tonight to the Suns vs. Denver game and catching as much of the Detroit vs. Boston game has possible. Besides rooting for Lebron this season I find my self-pulling for a couple of teams real hard, the Hornets, Warriors, Magic, and the Suns. The Knicks still own my heart more than likely because their crazy and I seem to be attracted to crazy but since they aren’t relevant I get to cheer on band wagons teams. This week I will talk about the ten-playoff match-ups I would like to see. It could be very easy to pull this list out to 15. Most of these could be likely scenarios but some of them are just wishful thinking on my part.


TEN
Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors This match up is the least likely of them all considering the Nuggets are on the outside looking in right now. Can’t you just imagine the amount of defense that wouldn’t get played in a series like this? We would be talking 130-120 games for seven games. There is star power with Iverson, Melo, and Davis.

NINE
San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors This one has a chance of happening. We could see discipline against free style basketball. I have grown to appreciate and respect the Greatness of Tim Duncan. I would love to see Captain Jack and The Lord Baron Davis pull off another first round doozey. Contrasting styles, and I think playing the Warriors would show some of the Spurs nasty side, like it was beneath them to play this team. I can’t imagine the type of low class stuff Bruce and Horry would do if Golden state won a couple of games. The thing about Golden State is they play better in borderline crazy mode. I would be pulling hard of the Warriors in this one.

EIGHT
Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavs Lebron is the future of the NBA but titles are easier to win with big men. Howard is the next great big man. Lebrons go to move going to the basket. Howard can take that away. I could see these two battling for the Eastern Conference for a long time, lets get it started early. Maybe they elevate each other games. Maybe Howard becomes Ewing to Lebron. Maybe Howard becomes Lebron’s roadblock to the finals. Either way let’s get this rivalry started sooner than later.
(let's hope the Heat become good again so Wade can throw his hat in this ring)

SEVEN
Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Hornets this one is simple Deron Williams vs. Chris Paul who doesn’t want to see that for seven games.

SIX
San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns The rematch from last year with a twist. Shaq is here this time. Who doesn’t like watching a series with Shaq and Duncan involved. I could see Shaq having one of his last throw back series with this one. He would love to take out Duncan and the Spurs just to stop all this talk that Duncan was better than him and if you don’t think Duncan wants to beat a Shaq lead team your nuts.

FIVE
Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors They are too many story lines here to not want to see this again.

FOUR
Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavs The third battle. Mainly I want to see it because I think Lebron has this team’s number in the playoffs. I want Detroit gone. I want the good people of Detroit to know last year wasn’t some fluke and to know that no matter what you say or do, Cleveland has Lebron and you don’t so we win.

THREE
Los Angles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns The Lakers and Suns have had two really good playoffs series before the Suns added Shaq. Kobe against Shaq for a whole series, both of them would be super motivated to prove they can win with out the other.

TWO
San Antonio Spurs vs. Boston Celtics this is simple Duncan vs. Garnett. I always felt Kevin would have had the career Duncan did if they switched teams. Seeing them battle it out for a title might open the debate on who is better. What if Garnett dominates Duncan don’t we have to consider Garnett may have been better along but was stuck on bad teams. But if Duncan dominates cased closed.

ONE
Los Angles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavs Lebron vs. Kobe that all I have to say about this series. Who wouldn’t be glued to the television?