PHILADELPHIA
VS.
INDIANA

MILWAUKEE
VS.
ORLANDO

MIAMI
VS.
CHARLOTTE

NEW YORK
VS.
TORONTO

SAN ANTONIO
VS.
MINNESOTA

L.A. LAKERS
VS.
PORTLAND

SACRAMENTO
VS.
PHOENIX

UTAH
VS.
DALLAS
Wednesday, May 30
Dr. Jack's Breakdown: Jazz-Mavs
ESPN.com

No. 4 Jazz (53-29) vs. No. 5 Mavericks (53-29)

Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. Also a former color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.

Throughout the 2001 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intanglibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.

BACKCOURT EDGE
There will be some great battles here. John Stockton vs. Steve Nash will be a dogfight. Stockton is the old pro, very smart and still highly skilled. Nash is having a breakthrough season, he's very clever and quick with the ball. Nash isn't as good of a defender as Stockton is, but he might get Stockton in foul trouble, because he's so quick. At the two guard, John Starks against Michael Finley is a tough matchup for Starks, who is a bulldog defender. Finley has a tremendous amount of weapons, and Starks probably won't be able to handle him.

FRONTCOURT EDGE
Calvin Booth has been starting more than Shawn Bradley, and is a better all-around player. Bradley is a better shot-blocker, but Booth is a better rebounder and a better scorer inside. Whether it's Bradley or Booth or a combination, the Mavs gets the edge over Olden Polynice and Greg Ostertag. Karl Malone will get his and Donyell Marshall is a concern, but the Mavs should be able to hold their own; don't expect them to get dominated inside.

BENCH EDGE
The Jazz have the veteran guys with Ostertag, Danny Manning, Bryon Russell, John Crotty. But Howard Eisley has been good, Vernon Maxwell has playoff experience, and Eduardo Najera is a good all-around player. If Greg Buckner gets back in time for the playoffs, he could be a huge boost for Dallas. Until then: push.
Even

INTANGIBLES EDGE
Utah has a wealth of experience Dallas doesn't have. But with experience comes old legs, and the Mavericks legs' are young and quick. Experience vs. freshness in the intangible category makes this one a push.
Even

PREDICTION
Mavs in five. Their firepower, quickness, youth and the flexibility of their lineup will be the difference for Dallas. They can come at their opponents a dozen different ways.

Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories