The NBA Tonight: Celtics at Cavaliers, Spurs at Suns (3.5.10)

This is a new feature that I'll be rolling out through the duration of the NBA Playoffs. It's basically a tool for all you die hards that want to follow the NBA while the Thunder are out of contention. I'll throw down some analysis for each game, things to look for, and a prediction. Feel free to use this as an open thread for discussing the night's games, how the playoffs are going in general, or how much you'd love to have Dwight Howard on the Thunder.

4. Boston Celtics at 1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cavaliers Lead 1-0

The Cavaliers Won Game 1, but it wasn't in convincing fashion. Boston had narrowed the deficit to one with only two minutes remaining in the fourth, before LeBron James hit a jumper, Shaq Bullied his way to a trash bucket, and LeBron hit a huge three. In essence, the Cavaliers' Superstars carried them to victory in the final moments, and Paul Pierce missed a couple of critical shots. Game 2 should have a similarly grandiose finish, as these are two veteran teams with legitimate shots at the title. The Cavaliers will probably edge the Celtics out again, but it's gonna be close, and the Celtics will have their revenge with their backs to the Wall in Boston.

Prediction: Cavaliers 101, Celtics 98

7. San Antonio Spurs vs. 3. Phoenix Suns

Series Tied 0-0

The lowest seed to advance from the first round was the San Antonio Spurs, but that should be no surprise to anyone who knows the history of San Antonio Basketball or the Spurs-Mavericks Rivalry. The Suns manged to roll through the Trail Blazers in the last round, but that was a team with some serious injuries. It will be interesting, to say the least, to see how both of these teams deal with some real competition. It will also be interesting to see how the Spurs slow paced style will contrast with the Suns' faster paced game. This was a close series in the regular season, but I'm going to have to go with the Suns in Game 1. Tim Duncan has been rather unimpressive lately, and I think the guards on both teams will cancel each other out, leaving Amare Stoudemire as the big X-Factor that propels the Suns to victory.

Prediction: Suns 110, Spurs 95

How do you think the games will go? Leave a comment and let us know.