Who Can Stop Them?

    With less than 10 games left in the NBA regular season, it's time to start thinking about the playoffs. The biggest question on my mind is: Will anyone be able to slow down the top seeds in each conference, or are we destined for a Finals matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors.

If the season ended today, the first round matchups in the Eastern Conference would look like this:
(1) Atlanta Hawks v. (8) Boston Celtics
(2) Cleveland Cavaliers v. (7) Miami Heat       

(3) Chicago Bulls v. (6) Milwaukee Bucks.

(4) Toronto Raptors v. (5) Washington Wizards

    The Hawks would make quick work of the Celtics as they don't have the depth or size to hang with Atlanta. Then, the second round matchup would likely be Atlanta v. Washington. This is a matchup that Hawks fans should be worried about. Despite being fifth seed, Washington has one of the most complete starting lineups in the league with the addition of Paul Pierce. One year ago, I said that the one thing standing between the Wizards and a championship was a solid small forward, which they now have thanks to Pierce. Washington's quickness up and down the floor might also cause problems.

    If the Hawks make it out of Washington, this would likely set up a conference finals matchup with Cleveland. However, don't automatically place the Cavs in the conference finals just yet. They will likely have a tough road. LeBron James has struggled against his former team this season, and their likely second round opponent, Chicago, should have former MVP Derrick Rose back from injury by then.

    

    I am still predicting a conference final between Atlanta and Cleveland, and with the injury to Anderson Varejo, the Cavs' only true center, and the fact that Kevin Love still doesn't seem to be fitting in with his new club, it doesn't seem like Cleveland has the size to compete with the combination of Al Horford and Pero Antic for the Hawks. Send Atlanta to the Finals.

If the playoffs began today in the Western Conference, the first round matchups would look like this:

(1) Golden State Warriors v. Oklahoma City Thunder

(2) Memphis Grizzlies v. (7) Dallas Mavericks

(3) Houston Rockets v. (6) San Antonio Spurs

(4) Portland Trailblazers v. (5) Los Angeles Clippers

    The road to the NBA Finals in the West is a must harder road than in the East. Golden State's first test comes in the first round against Oklahoma City. In this matchup of MVP candidates, the absence of reigning MVP Kevin Durant will prove too large an obstacle for the Thunder to overcome.

In the second round however, the Warriors would do battle against the defending champion Spurs. Last night, Golden State won their franchise-record 60th game, and under the leadership of head coach Steve Kerr and the Splash Brothers Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the boys from the bay have seemed unstoppable in the regular season. However, the playoffs are a different animal and the Spurs have seen it all before. In the end, I think that the experience and skill of the Spurs will be the downfall of the Splash Brothers. The Spurs will also likely find their way to the finals again.

There you have it. The Hawks will make the NBA Finals and the Warriors will fall short, and the Spurs will win the West to force a date with Atlanta. While I am not ready to predict a winner in a Spurs-Hawks Finals matchup, it should be interesting nonetheless. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich and the Spurs just three short years ago. This classic teacher vs. pupil matchup would certainly be entertaining.

    With that, I leave you. See you next time and enjoy what is certain to be a fantastic NBA playoffs.