Western Conference Playoffs Round 1 Preview

#1 Sacramento Kings Vs #8 Los Angeles Clippers
 
v

Regular Season Record:
Sacramento Kings 4-0 Los Angeles Clippers

KINGS 135, Clippers 119: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/64-2.html
Kings 119, CLIPPERS 112: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/89-6.html
KINGS 119, Clippers 79: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/100-11.html
Kings 105, CLIPPERS 96: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/118-4.html

Predicted Line-Ups:
Center: DeAndre Jordan - Joey Dorsey
Power Forward: Taj Gibson - Brook Lopez
Small Forward: Josh Smith - Khris Middleton
Shooting Guard: Tyreke Evans - Devin Booker
Point Guard: John Wall - Reggie Jackson

Key Matchup: Tyreke Evans - Devin Booker

The top seeded Sacramento Kings swept the regular season series against the Los Angeles Clippers with the latest game coming on day 118, a nine point victory for the Kings. The Kings come into this as favorites but the Clippers team has been playing well since the Mike Conley trade and on paper do match up well against the Kings, the key for the Clippers is they will need their backcourt of Booker and Jackson to step it up on the defensive side of things and if they can then we could see an upset here. A key matchup to look out for in this series is the Evans-Booker matchup, both keys are the key scorers on their teams so it will be an interesting one to watch as the series develops.

#2 Denver Nuggets Vs #7 Minnesota Timberwolves
 
v

Regular Season Record:
Denver Nuggets 1-3 Minnesota Timberwolves

Timberwolves 111, NUGGETS 88: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/20-4.html
Timberwolves 122, NUGGETS 99: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/24-4.html
TIMBERWOLVES 94, Nuggets 90: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/76-6.html
Nuggets 101, TIMBERWOLVES 88: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/103-3.html

Predicted Line-Ups:
Center: Jusuf Nurkic - Ronny Turiaf
Power Forward: Julius Randle - Andrew Bogut
Small Forward: Andre Iguodala - Al-Farouq Aminu
Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade - Deron Williams
Point Guard: Brandon Knight - Evan Fournier / Jeremy Lin

Key Matchup: Dwyane Wade - Deron Williams

The Minnesota Timberwolves come into the playoffs down their key man Paul Millsap for the whole series and their starting point guard Jeremy Line for the first 3/4 games which is a huge blow coming up against the second seed Denver Nuggets team. The Timberwolves won the regular series 3-1 but most of those games came before the two mid-season trades that shaped these squads heading into the playoffs. Matchup to look out for in these one is between two veterans, 35 year old Dwyane Wade and 33 year old Deron Williams, Deron may switch to point guard for the injured Jeremy Lin but if not that would be a great battle to watch. Denver having the homecourt advantage and the current injuries for the Timberwolves, I would give the advantage to the Nuggets in this one but don't rule out the Timberwolves if they can get Jeremy Lin back.

#3 Phoenix Suns Vs #6 Houston Rockets
 
v

Regular Season Record:
Phoenix Suns 3-1 Houston Rockets

Suns 117, ROCKETS 106: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/29-10.html
SUNS 135, Rockets 112: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/73-2.html
ROCKETS 111, Suns 97: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/100-5.html
SUNS 128, Rockets 104: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/101-1.html

Predicted Line-Ups:
Center: Marcin Gortat - Robin Lopez
Power Forward: Ed Davis - Blake Griffin
Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony - DeMar DeRozan
Shooting Guard: Darren Collison - Patty Mills
Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas - George Hill

Key Matchup: Ed Davis - Blake Griffin

This is an interesting series, the Phoenix Suns are one of the oldest teams in the league but have played great basketball all season, but come into this series against a red hot Houston Rockets team. The two teams matchup well against each other and should be a fun series to watch. The Suns are missing two key pieces in Danilo Gallinari & Marcus Thornton for the first 2/3 games which could be big factor in this series. A matchup to watch here is Ed Davis & Blake Griffin, Ed Davis is an underrated bigman in this league and his hustle, heart, defense and rebounding matched up against Blake Griffin is going to be key in this series, it will be a fun battle between those two. If I had to call this one I would go with the Phoenix Suns but think this will be a close one throughout.

#4 Los Angeles Lakers Vs #5 Dallas Mavericks
 
v

Regular Season Record:
Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 Dallas Mavericks

LAKERS 119, Mavericks 106: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/81-3.html
Lakers 116, MAVERICKS 115: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/86-5.html
Lakers 117, MAVERICKS 98: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/95-4.html
LAKERS 117, Mavericks 108: http://sportsinsomnia.dx.am/boxes/101-10.html

Predicted Line-Ups:
Center: Jason Smith - Boban Marjanovic
Power Forward: Anthony Davis - Marc Gasol
Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard - Wilson Chandler
Shooting Guard: Eric Gordon - Mike Conley
Point Guard: Eric Bledsoe - Chris Paul

Key Matchup: Eric Gordon - Mike Conley

I think this is the best series out West, two great teams, both healthy and both have the ability to go all the way in the Western Conference. A little surprising to see the Lakers sweeping the regular season series between the two, with two of those victories coming after the Mike Conley trade for the Mavericks, but I expect this season to be a lot closer. On paper the two teams matchup incredibly well and there is great matchups at each position especially in the backcourt, will be paying closest attention to the Eric Gordon, Mike Conley duel. Definitely the toughest series to call, the Lakers will be glad to be fully healthy heading into the playoffs after a bad season of injuries, but the Mavericks have been playing great lately and seem to be built for the playoffs, can see this going to full distance to a game 7 with the Mavericks taking it.

$4