NBA Playoff Preview Round 2

Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

With the Hawks upset of the Orlando Magic the test gets even tougher with the Chicago Bulls up next. The Hawks have played very good basketball but the Bulls should cruise on to the Conference finals. The Pacers gave the Bulls some trouble in their first round match up but the Hawks don't play the same scrappy style that the Pacers did. The Hawks have shown glimpses of playing great basketball and can be enough to upset the Bulls in a game or two if Derrick Rose's supporting cast doesn't come up big. The Bulls defense will notch it up and in the end are too good for the Hawks and will advance on.

Prediction: Bulls in 5

Miami Heat vs. (3) Boston Celtics

The marquee series every basketball fan has been waiting for ever since Miami signed the Big 3 last offseason. Boston is the defending Eastern Conference champion and Miami is striving to get where Boston has been. Since the Kendrick Perkins trade for the Celtics the only time the two teams met resulted in Miami blowing out the Celtics and beating them for the first time all season. Miami clearly looks like the better team of late and seem difficult for the Celtics to contend with in a seven game series. Look for Lebron, Wade, Bosh and company to move one step closer towards their goal and get past the Celtics in a hard fought series.

Prediction- Heat in 6

Western Conference:

(8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (4) Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City is set up perfectly to advance into the Western Conference Championships after winning their first playoff series since moving to Oklahoma City from Seattle. Kevin Durant and company took care of business against Denver and match up very well against the Grizzlies although the Grizzlies are equally athletic. Memphis has enough talent is playing well enough right now to steal a game or two but the Thunder are the better team in the end and will come through in the series.

Prediction: Thunder in 7

Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks

Surprisingly the Lakers and Mavericks have not been in the playoffs during Kobe and Dirk's runs with their teams. Dallas is a very deep team but not where it will be necessary to match up with the Lakers. The Lakers struggle defending quick and athletic point guard and wings which is not where Dallas excels. What is concerning for Laker fans is that they took six games to get through New Orleans and didn't seem as sharp as they normally have in their deep playoff runs. The Mavericks will certainly put up a fight and Dirk will lead them to a few victories but not enough to win the series.

Prediction: Lakers in 6