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NBA Western Conference playoffs preview

By Brian Mahoney
Associated Press

Published: Thursday, April 20, 2006 8:04 p.m. MDT

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X-factor: The Staples Center crowd. There's been enough talk about the circumstances surrounding this series that the NBA will discuss the way it seeds playoff teams. But the Clippers have the home-court advantage, and they best put it to good use.

Little-known fact: The Clippers haven't won a postseason game since 1993. The last postseason series victory for the franchise was in 1976, when the Buffalo Braves beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Prediction: Nuggets in 7.

No. 4 DALLAS MAVERICKS (60-22) vs. No. 5 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (49-33)

Season series: Mavericks won, 3-1, after the Grizzlies won by 20 at Dallas in the first meeting.

Storyline: The Mavericks had the second-best record in the Western Conference, but had to settle for the No. 4 seed because the top three go to division winners and they finished behind San Antonio in the Southwest. The Grizzlies have never won a postseason game, getting swept in the first round in each of the last two years.

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Key matchup: Dirk Nowitzki vs. Pau Gasol. Nowitzki is a much better defender than he was earlier in his career, Gasol was slowed by a sore foot at the end of the regular season, and if he's limited at all, it's hard to imagine Memphis having any shot.

Key Matchup II: Mike Miller vs. Jerry Stackhouse. Arguably the two best sixth men in the league this season. Whichever produces the quickest when he comes off the team will give his team a huge boost.

X-Factor: Jake Tsakalidis and DeSagana Diop. Both centers were first-round picks who never looked like they would be productive NBA players until this season. But now either could help swing a game with his rebounding and defense, and Tsakalidis has even provided the Grizzlies with some unexpected offense from time to time.

Little-known fact: The Grizzlies set a dubious NBA record by losing their first eight playoff games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Nets had the old record by dropping their first six postseason games.

Prediction: Mavericks in 6.

Coming Saturday: Eastern Conference preview