NBA playoff capsules

April 15, 2010

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21) vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls (41-41)

Season series: Tied 2-2

Injuries: Cavs -- Danny Green (ankle) questionable; Bulls -- none

Coaches: Cavs -- Mike Brown; Bulls -- Vinny Del Negro

The Cavs win if: They play at anything approaching their level during the regular season while working injured players back into the lineup.

The Bulls win if: They somehow can take advantage of the Cavs' rustiness to steal a game in Cleveland and then find some kind of magic.

Prediction: It was a small miracle the Bulls even made the playoffs, considering all the drama surrounding Del Negro. Winning more than one game in this series also would be a major accomplishment. Cavs in 5.

No. 2 Orlando Magic (59-23) vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats (44-38)

Season series: Magic won 3-1

Injuries: Magic -- None; Bobcats -- Alexis Ajinca (thumb) is out

Coaches: Magic -- Stan Van Gundy; Bobcats -- Larry Brown

The Magic wins if: Dwight Howard's teammates don't go long stretches forgetting they have a dominant center in the post.

The Bobcats win if: Brown can make it the kind of physical, grinding, defensive series that no one likes to watch but that he favors.

Prediction: The Magic's reward for running away from the Hawks in the Southeast Division is a tough matchup against an opponent that will demand some work. Magic in 6.

No. 3 Hawks (53-29) vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks (46-36)

Season series: Hawks won 2-1

Injuries: Hawks -- None; Bucks -- Andrew Bogut (elbow, wrist) and Michael Redd (knee) are out

Coaches: Hawks -- Mike Woodson; Bucks -- Scott Skiles

The Hawks win if: They figure out how to take on the road the energy and intensity they usually show at home.

The Bucks win if: They can pressure the Hawks by staying close late in games and seeing if the Hawks' execution falters.

Prediction: The Hawks appear rejuvenated by the start of the playoffs, and that should mean they'll be more consistent and overwhelm the Bucks with talent. Hawks in 5.

No. 4 Boston Celtics (50-32) vs. No. 5 Miami Heat (47-35)

Season series: Celtics won 3-0.

Injuries: None

Coaches: Celtics -- Doc Rivers; Heat -- Erik Spoelstra

The Celtics win if: Kevin Garnett can stop dragging his bum leg and dig down for one more big series.

The Heat wins if: Dwyane Wade's teammates can make the open shots he's going to create for them.

Prediction: It's hard to write off the Celtics when they've got all that pedigree on the court, but physically they just haven't show they can still do it. Heat in 6.

Western Conference

No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) vs. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder (50-32)

Season series: Lakers won 3-1.

Injuries: Lakers -- Sasha Vujacic (ankle) is doubtful, and Andrew Bynum (Achilles' tendon) is probable; Thunder -- Nenad Krstic (knee) is probable.

Coaches: Lakers -- Phil Jackson; Thunder -- Scott Brooks.

The Lakers win if: No one joins an injury report that at times in the final month included Bynum, Vujacic, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest and Jordan Farmar.

The Thunder wins if: It they can take advantage of any Lakers rust and make them work harder than they would like.

Prediction: The struggles of the Lakers have been greatly exaggerated. They have simply been saving something for now, and the young Thunder isn't ready yet. Lakers in 5.

No. 2 Dallas Mavericks (55-27) vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs (50-32)

Season series: Mavericks won 3-1.

Injuries: Mavericks -- Tim Thomas (personal); Spurs -- Malik Hairston (ankle) is out.

Coaches: Mavericks -- Rick Carlisle; Spurs -- Gregg Popovich.

The Mavericks win if: They win Games 1 and 2, and thus don't have to feel the kind of pressure that has derailed them in the past.

The Spurs win if: If Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are truly healthy and Tim Duncan can find another level.

Prediction: The Mavericks don't have a history of performing in the clutch, but they've got everything else over the Spurs. Mavericks in 6.

No. 3 Phoenix Suns (54-28) vs. No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers (50-32)

Season series: Trail Blazers won 2-1.

Injuries: Suns -- Robin Lopez (back) is out; Trail Blazers -- Greg Oden (knee) and Joel Przybilla (knee) are out and Brandon Roy (knee) is doubtful.

Coaches: Suns -- Alvin Gentry; Trail Blazers -- Nate McMillan.

The Suns win if: They keep playing like they have while posting a 23-6 record since the All-Star break.

The Blazers win if: Brandon Roy makes a miraculous return from injury and inspires them.

Prediction: The Suns quietly have become a dark-horse pick in the West while the Blazers can't overcome their avalanche of injuries. Suns in 5.

No. 4 Denver Nuggets (53-29) vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz (53-29)

Season series: Nuggets won 3-1

Injuries: Nuggets -- Joey Graham (ankle) and Kenyon Martin (knee) are questionable; Jazz -- Andrei Kirilenko (calf) and Carlos Boozer (oblique) are questionable.

Coaches: Nuggets -- George Karl; Jazz -- Jerry Sloan.

The Nuggets win if: They can find some defense to go with their elite offense and a road game to complement their home dominance.

The Jazz wins if: Boozer and Deron Williams work over the Nuggets with the pick-and-roll.

Prediction: There are lots of wild cards in this series -- the return of Karl from cancer treatments, the health of Kirilenko and Boozer -- but the one sure thing is Anthony will raise his level of play in the postseason. Nuggets in 6.

Note: For each best-of-seven series, the higher seed is at home for Games 1 and 2, the lower seed is at home for Games 3 and 4 and (if necessary) the higher seed plays host to Games 5 and 7.

* -- Denotes if necessary. Times have yet to be announced for some games.

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