NBA Playoff Field Down to Four

Late May means conference finals time in the NBA playoffs and the narrowing of the field is down to the final four clubs. Surely, the NBA's Final Four isn't nearly as big a deal as the NCAA's elite quartet, perhaps because in college hoops the Final Four decides a champion with just three more games, while in the NBA it takes three best of sevens to close the deal, but regardless, the best of the bunch have clearly emerged.

In the East, as expected, it's going to be the Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat, a rematch of last year's conference finale. The Heat dispatched of New Jersey's feisty Nets in a five game series that saw Miami win the last four in a row. Dwyane Wade is unquestionably the best player in the league at driving the basket, drawing contact and finishing, while Shaq and Zo are a two-headed beast in the middle, even in their advancing years. It was too much for New Jersey to handle down low, but it probably won't be the same against the Pistons.

Detroit comes in after engaging in a surprisingly ferocious seven game battle with Lebron James and the young Cavaliers. Still Detroit brings its experienced legions to the table after a tremendous regular and post-season run, all in all. I think the rematch of last year's East Finals will be another seven game war. In the end, I'll take Pistons to bring the home the bacon, just as I did at the start of the year.

Over in the West, it's the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns getting together. The Mavs surprised many NBA watchers, including myself, by playing a defensive-minded game against San Antonio. (And talk about a gutsy performance in overtime on the road in the Game Seven win over San Antonio.) Indeed Avery Johnson deserved his Coach of the Year award this season as his Dallas club showed more speed and effort on the 'D' side of the floor than I've ever seen them show before. It clearly took the Spurs by surprise as well. Dirk's getting all the calls in and around the basket, which is a very scary prospect for the Suns.

Surely, with Amare Stoudemire injured for the year, Phoenix has met and exceeded any expectations from when the season started. Raja Bell and Boris Diaw are greatly improved, Shawn Marion and Steven Nash are just plain great, but Dallas is playing with tremendous confidence and poise. Look for the Mavericks to reach the NBA Finals, beating the Suns in six games.

Finals Prediction: Detroit over Dallas in six
Finals MVP: Chauncey Billups

-JAB