NBA Western Conference Finals Preview

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Western Finals - May 24, 2006

Dallas and Phoenix start their Western Conference finals tonight, and VIPsports Edge has the match-ups and a prediction.

Bet Now: Western Confernce Finals Preview - Dallas is (-6) tonight and (-400) for the series

Frontcourt

The Suns’ Shawn Marion averaged 25 points and 12.5 rebounds in the Clippers series, holding his own against Elton Brand. Tim Thomas has found a new home in the Valley of the Sun and is playing the best basketball of his career. Boris Diaw is an undersized, but willing center.

Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki has answered any remaining questions about him with a tremendous series against the Spurs. With all apologies to Steve Nash, Dirk is the best overall player in this series. Nowitzki is joined in the frontcourt by defensive minded center, DeSagana Diop and underrated small forward, Josh Howard. Edge: Dallas

Backcourt

Phoenix’s Steve Nash is not the best player in the NBA, but he is the two-time defending MVP because he elevates his team to new heights. Nash pairs with the scrappy Raja Bell, a guy who wasn’t afraid of Kobe Bryant and should get most of the defensive assignments on Jerry Stackhouse.

Dallas point guard, Devin Harris had his moments early in the San Antonio series, but he was basically a no-show for Games 6 and 7. As long as Jason Terry doesn’t punch anyone else in the groin, then he will be a go-to guy for the Mavericks, and the second scoring option behind Nowitzki. Edge: Phoenix

Bench

Phoenix’ bench is very easy to detail as it really only includes two players, Leandro Barbosa and James Jones. Barbosa is averaging over 14 points per game in the playoffs in 30 minutes of action. The Wild Card is injured big man, Kurt Thomas who will be a valuable addition even if he is limited to 10-15 minutes a game.

The Dallas bench is led by sixth-man Jerry Stackhouse and center Erik Dampier. Stackhouse doesn’t rebound, pass or play good defense, but he can put the ball in the hoop. Dampier plays more minutes than Diop and is pretty much a starter coming off the bench. Marquis Daniels and veteran Keith Van Horn are additional options. Edge: Dallas

Coaching

The Suns’ Mike D’Antonio is not one of the better known coaches in the NBA, and he is underrated by the fans and media. Any team that loses Amare Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas and still makes it to the conference finals is doing a great job in my book. Phoenix may get out-gunned in this series, but not out-coached.

You can’t rave more about the job that Dallas coach, Avery Johnson has done. Not only did he instill a defensive mindset on this team, but he also got them by their hated rivals in San Antonio. If Johnson gets Dallas into the NBA finals, he might be the most popular coach in Dallas since Jimmy Johnson left the Cowboys. Edge: Push

Prediction

The big question I have about Dallas is how will they respond after coming off such a grueling and emotional series? I guess you can say the same thing about the Suns, who needed a full seven games to dispatch the pesky L.A. Clippers.

However, Dallas beating the Spurs was more emotional as they were the defending champions, and a team that previously had the Mavericks’ number. I think Dallas may come out flat in Game 1 and struggle with the Suns throughout the series, but eventually make their way into the NBA finals in seven games. Pick: Dallas

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