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NBA Playoff Predictions
2008 Dallas Mavericks v. New Orleans Hornets Playoff Predictions
The New Orleans Hornets
were the best in the West for most of the season
and head into the playoff as the number two
seed, facing off with the Dallas Mavericks –
last year's one seed in the West. Can the young
Hornets move into round two behind their MVP
candidate or will last season's MVP, Dirk
Nowitzky, carry the veteran Mavs into the second
round? Jimmy Boyd's Mavs/Hornets round one NBA
Playoff predictions dissect this series.
The Argument:
The Hornets were on the outside looking in last
season and now have emerged as one of the best
teams in the West, but they are anything but a
lock to beat the playoff tested Mavs in this
series. Chris Paul has been sensation all season
long, but he has struggled against other
talented guards, especially Deron Williams, and
I expect the savvy Jason Kidd to give the
youngster all he can handle and more. Late in
the year, Paul really started to struggle and as
a result the Hornets fell out of first place. I
can't help but wonder if the pressure and a
season worth of playing big minutes has started
to catch up with him. I believe Paul and the
Hornets will have their time in the sun, but I
don't think it will be this year.
These teams met on the last day of the regular
season and Dallas embarrassed the Hornets by 13
points sending them a message. Kidd was
sensational in the win, racking up his 100th
career triple-double and backcourt partner Jason
Terry added 30 points as the Mavericks guards
outshined Paul. The problem for the Hornets is
that Paul must put up big numbers for them to
win. The advantage for the Mavs is that they
have a number of guys who can go out and take
over a game. Dirk Nowitzy, Josh Howard, and
Jason Terry, are all capable of going for 30 and
Kidd can take over a game doing everything else.
The Mavs did not want the Lakers in the first
round and they got their wish. They also know
the disappointment of making a first round exit
after being upset by the Warriors last season.
It took a little while to get things figured out
with Kidd, but now they appear to be an even
better team with the future Hall of Famer on the
floor. Expect the Mavs to play with a chip on
their shoulders and really take it to the
Hornets.
Prediction:
Mavs in 6
Check out our
Spurs
Hornets series predictions and preview.
Make sure you check out all of Jimmy Boyd's 2008
NBA playoff predictions to help you break down
each and every series through the NBA Finals.
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We now have all of the first round
games broken down series by series:
Updated April 17th, 2008
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