Portland Trailblazers versus Utah Jazz is a series that will test the mettle of both teams. Both teams are very deep. Portland is the deepest team in the NBA. They are two deep at every position. They have numerous first round picks, mostly lottery picks. They have specialty players, defensive, offensive, rebounders, shooters, etc. Any player on that team can go off and score 20 points. They are that scary. John Stockton showed his age versus the younger and quickly Jason Williams. Of course, the Jazz still won and Stockton did hit the game winning jumper at the end of Game 4. Damon Stoudamire and Greg Anthony each bring different aspects to the game. Stoudamire is more an offensive force, which will make Stockton, and his backup Howard Eisley, work on defense. Anthony will make Stockton work more on offense. Jerry Sloan utilized a two point guard set having both Eisley and Stockton, to give the Jazz better ball handling. It will be interesting if Utah continues this trend. Jeff Hornacek wil l have to a better series or you'll be seeing more of Shandon Anderson at shooting guard. Both will have their hands full with the two headed monster of Isaiah Rider and Jimmy Jackson. Both are capable of scoring 30 points. Jackson gives Mike Dunleavy the hammer needed to control Rider. If Rider acts up, Dunleavy sits Rider, plays Jackson without a noticeable drop off in production. Bryon Russell needs to shoot better. When he scores in double digits, the Jazz will win. If he doesn't they don't have a good chance. He will probably be guarded by Stacey Augmon, which means Russell will have to work to get good looks. Walt Williams is the designated shooter and gets a lot of time at small forward. Brian Grant against Karl Malone is just another battle of the Mailman. Brian Grant is having his best year, but now he'll have to go against the master for seven games. Grant is a great rebounder and is a good defender, but I don't think he can handle Malone without help. If Malone isn't double teamed, loo k for Malone to run wild. Rasheed Wallace, the talented sixth man, will get a shot at Malone as well. Wallace gives the Trailblazers energy and scoring off the bench. To match his youthful enthusiasm, Utah will probably play "Father Time" Thurl Bailey. Bailey had an excellent series against Sacramento, so look for him to continue to have a good playoffs. At center, Portland can throw out Arvydas Sabonis, Kelvin Cato and Jermaine O'Neal. Utah can counter with Greg Ostertag, Greg Foster and Todd Fuller. Sabonis is a mountain of a main, with great passing skills. Ostertag will have to stay out of foul trouble because Fuller and Foster aren't nearly strong enough to stop Sabonis is post. If Sabonis plays outside, the Jazz are better served by playing Foster, who is more mobile and who would make Sabonis work on the defensive end, as Sabonis rarely leaves the paint. Cato and O'Neal are energetic players who can give up 6 fouls. It's hard to pick this series. Portland can play any style. They have athl etic players who can run and smart, tough players who can play in the half-court game. Utah is Utah. You know what you're going to get with Utah. Sacramento exposed Utah's weaknesses. But I think Utah matches up well with Portland. Malone will have a big series. Stoudamire won't be much of a factor. Anthony will have more meaningful minutes, as he will be the number one guy in charge of containing John Stockton. If Ostertag can stay out of foul trouble, he should be a match for Sabonis. I think Utah is the best team here. My gut is saying Utah. My brain is telling me go for Portland. How can't you like a team with a backup as good as the starter? Still, it's Utah's turn. Prediction: Jazz in 7.

Los Angeles Lakers versus the San Antonio Spurs will have the best collection of big men in one series in a long time. The Spurs are playing great basketball. A lot of things have changed since last year. Tim Duncan might be the best player in the NBA. David Robinson has become the second option on offense. He's now the defensive stopper and defensive rebounder. Mario Elie has given the Spurs needed toughness and great outside shooting. He, along with Steve Kerr, give the Spurs some playoff experience and five championship rings. Sean Elliot is back to his all-star self. He is the prototype for an NBA small forward. Avery Johnson is playing great. For the Lakers, they learned they can win. It's simple. They are getting more confident. The Lakers are more talented. But are they a better team? Derek Fisher is playing some terrific basketball. He'll have his hands full guarding Avery Johnson. Both of these lefties are quick to the basket and will have to hit their outside jumpers to keep th e defenses honest, since they are going to be the players who are going to double team. Derek Harper is always dangerous from the outside at the point guard position. Antonio Daniels has been a non-factor at point guard this year. Mario Elie will have his hands full guarding Kobe Bryant. He'll try to use his strength to push Kobe around. I think Kobe's quickness will be too much and the Spurs will have to switch Elliot and Elie around. Look for Elliot to get a crack at Bryant. Glen Rice, if he's healthy, gives the Lakers a killer outside presence. He's getting into the flow and hitting his shots. When Elliot moves over to guard Bryant, Elie will have to guard Rice. Look for Rice to go to the post when this happens, as Rice will try to use his height advantage. The Spurs have a deep bench this year. Jerome Kersey, Will Purdue, Jaren Jackson and Malik Rose give the Spurs quality minutes. The Lakers have a great bench. J.R. Reid has been starting since the departure of Dennis Rodman. Which has mea nt that Robert Horry has been coming off the bench with Derek Harper, Rick Fox and Sean Rooks. Horry and Fox give the Lakers some much needed flexibility. Tim Duncan can't be guarded alone. It's unlikely Tim Duncan will be guarded by Shaquille O'Neal. Look for a combination of Reid, Horry and Rooks, and possibly Travis Knight to try to stop Duncan. Horry is the best match for Duncan. They are about the same size, while Horry can't stop Duncan alone, he can make Duncan work on defense. Horry can take Duncan outside, where Duncan isn't as comfortable and will keep him from giving weak side help. David Robinson will probably match up against Shaq Daddy. Robinson's stats may be down this year, but he's still a dangerous player. He's still a 20 and 10 guy when the Spurs need it. This year, they haven't needed it as much. Robinson will likely try to move Shaq outside on defense and on offense, will try pray for a double team. Luckily, the Spurs have Will Purdue, a strong center, who plays good low post defense and it a good defensive rebounder. Purdue will give 6 strong fouls and is not stranger to mixing it up under the basket. The Spurs are playing some great basketball. They were the hottest team in the NBA coming into the playoffs and beat Minnesota quite handily. The Lakers have picked up the pieces of their lost season and brought them together quite well. The Lakers have some of the best talent in the NBA. Rice, Bryant and O'Neal can go for 30 at any time, but is it enough? Probably not. Look for San Antonio to break through and beat the Lakers. Prediction: Spurs in 6.