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Sports Interaction's Al Dannity breaks down some of the weekend's big NBA playoff games. What follows is his own NBA Playoff games predictions.
The Suns will raise the temperature in Portland this weekend. With two trips to the Blazers on the cards, Phoenix looks well positioned to win both its road games as the injuries pile up in Portland. Already down Greg Oden and Brandon Roy entering the post-season, the Blazers lost Nicolas Batum in game two and he may not return before the series ends. This is the worst possible news for a Portland team which felt the full fury of Steve Nash as he dropped 16 dimes on the Blazers in game two. Portland showed bravery to win the first game, they will not win another.
Boston's trip to Miami could, in theory, end the series but more likely than not the Heat will turn it up a notch. After finding a way to beat Miami without Kevin Garnett, the Big Ticket's return does not mean the Celtics will sweep Miami. I expect the Heat to win at least one game on its home stand and given recent history they could win both of this weekend's matchups. The Celtics don't know how to take an easy ride in the playoffs. When Garnett, Allen, and Pierce brought that 17th championship to Boston they did it the hard way, going the full seven games twice and six games twice more. This one has a few games in it left, look for the Heat to burn the Celtics this weekend with Sports Interaction.
One of the lower profile match-ups could provide the most entertainment this weekend. Denver and Utah slugged it out in the opening two games at the Pepsi Center and there's no reason to think thus weekend's games will be any different. Having been outgunned in game one, the Jazz changed the tempo in game two and made it a more bruising encounter with bodies strewn across the court. Home advantage should see the Jazz win at least one of this weekend's game but I don't see any way Denver fails to come out of the trip without picking up a win. My NBA Playoffs prediction for Denver vs. Utah: This one is going all the way to game seven so back the Nuggets and the Jazz to split the difference this weekend.
Atlanta will swoop into Milwaukee on Saturday night more like vultures than Hawks. Having cruised in the opening two games of the series, Atlanta will take a 3-0 series lead over an ailing Milwaukee team. No Bogut mean no joy for the Bucks in the post-season. This one is going to be a sweep, back the Hawks to win big with Sports Interaction.
