Will the Indiana Pacers sort it out?

MD - Well they've kinda showed that they may have turned that corner, but I reckon even if they do get back to their old (early season) ways they won't be able to win the East. Without Danny Granger and with little off their bench I can't see them having the depth to challenge the top dogs and then you add the fact that they still don't know how to play - do they go inside to Roy Hibbert, do they rely on Paul George, do they light a fire under Lance Stephenson's bum? There's just too much uncertainty.

W - Can I say let’s wait and see? No, that’s cheating. Let’s not forget that Paul George was in the MVP conversation for a large part of this year. That speaks to how far he’s fallen, but also to how far he can rise. It’s Roy Hibbert that they need to get going most of all though. On his day there’s not a player in the league defends the rim better. It looks like the Pacers problems are stemming from them falling apart from within. Lance Stephenson is a famously difficult character, as is Andrew Bynum. Plus, aside from David West, this is a team lacking in veteran leadership - coach Frank Vogel is only 40 himself. So, no, I’m not at all convinced that they can sort things out. They should win R1, but trouble’s brewing once they run into a bunch of savvy vets from, say, Chicago or Brooklyn. Of course, there’s always the chance that they go into full siege mentality and start rampaging.

Is it Miami's title to lose still?

MD - Yes and no. I think a team from the West will win, but the Heat are the champs and they're the bench mark of the NBA. Because they have done what they've done, everybody's gunning for them and so that means that it's theirs to loose. I mean if they play at their best with all cylinders firing, Lebron in beastmode, role players contributing, Bosh knocking down jumpers etc then it's theirs to loose. But that's why dynasties are so hard to achieve because teams start to figure out your recipe.

W - Umm, yeah. Probably. The Spurs look the form team, and OKC are obviously floating around, but so long as Dwyane Wade is fit and playing, the Heat have that crucial extra scorer and should take the Eastern Conference out. The West is gonna be so competitive that nothing will be easy. If the top seeds aren’t completely focussed and up for it, then they’ll be bundled out. But in the East, with the Pacers struggling, only Brooklyn seem to have the scoring to threaten a fired up LeBron James. Nothing can be taken for granted but you’ve gotta favour the team that’s been there done that before. Supposing of course that they can handle the physical impact of effectively having played a full extra season in the past 3 years.

Are the Clippers legit?

MD- Yup and Blake Griffin is legit. He's an obvious athlete but when they didn't have Chris Paul, Griffin showed just how far he's come as he took control of the team. Throw CP3 back in to the picture + all their other pieces (DeAndre Jordan, Jamaal Crawford, Danny Granger) and you have a team who will be mighty hard to beat. They're legit, but it's hard to see them dominating the Spurs or Thunder ... possible but hard to see.

W - Yeah, sadly, they are. The Clippers have power in the paint and finesse outside of it. They have a great coach, multiple all stars and a deep bench. You’d better believe they want it after they were bundled out by Memphis in round one last year despite a franchise record win total and a first ever division title. Well, they’ve followed that up with an even better season. The only thing that they’re missing is a playoff run. This could be the year it all comes together.

Who'll be this year’s Steph Curry (aka the breakout player of the playoffs)?

MD - Kawhi Leonard was pretty good throughout the playoffs last season but if the Spurs manage to get to the Finals and have some success then I think it'll be off the back of some fine performances from Leonard. He's constantly overlooked and he had a taste of some appreciation last season, but this season he'll become a bonafide star.

W - There are a few guys poised to make an explosive impact on the league, it’s just whether or not their teams can go deep enough for it to happen. Curry announced himself last year with a flurry of three pointers and heat checks as Golden State took San Antonio deep in the second round. Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry, John Wall and Kemba Walker are all guys primed for the bigger stage but without the realistic chances of making it happen with the tools around them. The player I’m nominating though is Kawhi Leonard. The Spurs forward is the future beyond the big three. He had a great finals series last year, and was expected to make great strides this season. After struggling with injuries for the first half, he’s been nothing short of fantastic. He has the postseason experience, he plays for a great team, and he’ll get the looks and the defensive opportunities to make an impact. 

Which player most needs this ring?

MD - Kevin Durant needs a ring. Americans love to judge players on rings, ships etc and KD is the only player in the same realm as Lebron right now. He'll have plenty of opportunities to get a ring because he is so talented and young, but what better time to get your first than now. It's what we all want, then he's like in direct competition with Lebron and the NBA has a Bird/Johnson type of rivalry. Until then King James is chillin'.

W - I think we’re still a few years away from Durant drawing heat for not winning a championship yet. And being the guy he is, he’s never gonna be the butt of jokes like LeBron was for a while there. Speaking of LeBron, yeah, he’s working on a three peat, but his legacy is set, and he’ll probably win a couple more still so he’s safe now. The Pacers and Clippers could both really use the certification of a ring – especially the Clippers, given how they have to play in an arena endowed with Lakers championship banners. So LAC probably need it most for that reason, especially given where the Lakers are now, but I’m saying that the more likely winners with something left to prove are the Spurs. If they can win one more title – a fifth for Duncan & Pop – then they can be confirmed as one of a handful of all-time great legacies in the NBA. The Lakers (Magic/Kareem era & Kobe era), Bulls (Jordan era) and Celtics (Russell era & Bird era) are the only teams with at least five titles within a 15 year period.

Who's most likely to get upset round 1?

MD - The only upset I can really see happening is the Pacers loosing to the Hawks. It's a bit of a cop out with the way the Pacers have been playing, but the Hawks have some nice players that could trouble the Pacers if they don't show up.

W - You never know, really. 4 v 5 seed games are always too close to call so I’m focussing on the top few seeds. Indiana’s struggles are well known, though Atlanta simply doesn’t match up well enough for an upset. They’d probably be the fourth worst team in the West. Miami shouldn’t have too much trouble advancing. Toronto will have their work cut out against Brooklyn, but Toronto were such a surprise 3rd seed, that it barely counts. On to the West then. San Antonio can compete with anyone, and they’ve beaten the Mavs in 9 straight games. The other two series though? Yeah, that’s where our upsets could be coming from. The Golden State Warriors are a dangerously good shooting team that can outscore anyone on their day. They impressed last year, and should be even better with an elite defender in Andre Iguodala in the mix. Their only issue is the fitness of Andrew Bogut, and what his indefinite absence means for the style and production of this team. David Lee probably won’t feature either which may mean the Clippers just annihilate them at the rim. But if those two guys are healthier than expected, the possibility is there. Likewise with the Thunder’s two-pronged offence (where Durant/Westbrook are responsible for at least 50 shots a night) may have some issues against the defensive minded Memphis. 

What’s the dream finals match up?

MD - There's a few but it has to be the Thunder vs the Heat. I'd love to see the Spurs make it and I'd love to see the Bulls do well, but we all want to see who is the best and these two teams are the best. It's one hell of a matchup and over seven games, Lebron and KD going up against each other, Westbrook chipping in, D-Wade and Bosh adding their 5 cents there's storylines all over the show.

W - If things go as expected, you’ve got Miami against the Spurs in a rematch of last year – one of the best finals series in a long time, or Miami against OKC, where it’s LeBron vs Durant. I’m not picky, I’ll take either one.

What do you wanna see throughout the playoffs?

MD - Basketballin' wisdom. This is where the strategy, research and preparation all come to the front. I love learning so listening to the commentators tell us that these guys gave Joker A some space cos they know he can't shoot a jumper, or they make him drive left etc all that shit gets me going. And pure basketballin' ability can win you many games throughout the season, but to win a seven game series you need a nice game plan and perfect execution of that game plan by everyone and I wanna see how teams break down their opponents.

Oh and a cheeky underdog, winning streak would be nice too.

W - Mostly I wanna see the Mavericks go on a run. Can’t see it happening, but maybe some other underdogs can ruffle some feathers? A Golden State run would be nice, as would any upsets in the East. The important thing is that we get to see the best players playing fit and healthy and on top of their games. Championships are everything to players, so if you want one you’d better earn it. The personal battles are the best of all. Curry vs Paul. Noah vs the world. And dare I say it… James vs Durant…