Playoff picks and points

PARIS (The Monday International Show) - Let me start off by inviting everyone to read Bill Simmons' latest espn.com article on why Garnett should be MVP because he uses alot of the same arguments I used in my article two weeks ago!

Now on to the best playoffs since... two years ago and the fabulous first round matchup opposing San Antonio and Phoenix already being touted as the best first round duel EVER, but don't forget Dallas-Golden St. from last season fellas!

I see the majority of experts in the USA have the Suns as favorites but when the money time comes in decisive games the Spurs championship experience might be the key whereas the Suns only have an aging Shaq with that kind of background and trophy collection(and poor free throw percentage)!

The first game WAS a barnburner and this dream rivalry is hotter and hotter than the fire under D'Antoni's collar, so buckle up and enjoy the joy ride( I love mixing metaphors)!

Another key,by the way, might just be Mike's easing up on the refs a bit because his constant complaining and grimacing is tiresome and reminds me of the Larry Brown era in Detroit('95 NBA Finals).

This only increases stress on his players who don't need any more and there is a fine line between defending your players and becoming a whiner who turns the refs against your team!

Since the Lakers should dominate the no-defence bros from Denver and Utah should win out at home vs Houston, the other excitng west first round matchup that might produce some surpprises, according to most NBA experts, opposes the Hornets and the Mavs.

This line of thinking has the Mavs pulling an upset with their superior playoff experience and thirst for revenge after last season but I see David West almost equalling Dirk's output,Chandler outplaying Dampier , Paul dominating Kidd and Avery Johnson rivalling D'Antoni for the heavy stress quotient he imposes on his players while Byron Scott seems more laid back in order to fuel the confidence of his young team!

In the east, all eyes are on the annual Cleveland-Washington series because of crazy talker Gilbert Arenas but also his teammate Deshawn Stevenson who dared to say that Lebron was overrated!

As Charles Barkley said,how stupid can you be?

As with another famous number 23, the only tactic possible is to let sleeping dogs lie and DON'T give those superstar talents extra motivation to kill you as we saw quite clearly in game one!

Of course round two against Boston will be a different story for the Cavs!

In the other first round series' Atlanta and Philadelphia will be happy with a win while Orlando should eliminate Toronto 4-2 despite a big-time Jose Calderon, the king of the assist to turnover ratio!

In the end this should all lead to Lakers-Spurs and Celtics-Pistons in the conference finals with the NBA family praying for a marketer's dream final of LA vs Boston and not a defence-a-thon slugfest between old warriors in San Antonio and Detroit!

How a bout a defence-a-thon slugfest between the Spurs and the Celtics and an eventual crowning of KG's new look leprechauns?

What do our dear readers think?