If Utah falls we could end up playing them if we make the 4 spot. I wouldn't mind but it would be tough.
I would love a 1st round match-up with the Jazz or Lakers. Odom doesn't scare me, Battier is an excellent cover for him. Hayes can also spend time on him, Howard is probably hte 3rd choice. Kobe is obviously hard to contain, but the more he goes off the less his players stay involved--and I'll take my chances in Yao and Tmac more than compensating for him. Besides, Snyder, Tmac and Wells are good guys to make Kobe work. For the Jazz, I simply think we can out play them in a playoff style defensive half court game. For these kinds of games, the best individual match-ups tend to take over, and their best (Boozer versus our PFs) is only the 3rd best matcch on the floor after Yao and Tmac versus their opponents. The Suns have made it to 2 strait WCF. Last year they did it without Amare at all and Thomas was inured, basically no inside presence (consider Boris Diaw is now their 6th bets player instead of their 3rd or 4th). The year before Barbosa was still a limited, inconsistent, player, they didn't have Raja Bell, and they had a shallow bench. Now they are deeper and more balanced than ever--this team is more of load than the team that took apart the Mavs in the semis' 2 years ago. IMO the Suns will be a bigger problem than the Mavs (not near the off the ball shooters in the role players as the Suns, a much easier team to contain offensively) and the Spurs (age and lack of athleticism really catching up in their role players in particular--the Mavs can now do what they to and also play other styles better).
i hate to think about things like that, just play and see where everyone falls. that being said, utah/lakers would be the 'best' matchup. as for the suns, yes the rockets havent played them well. Despite that, however, i would love to watch the rockets kick their ass in the playoffs
