2007 NBA Playoff Results - Round 1

Here's an update on Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs.

After tonight, all the series will be through with two full games. There are big surprises on both ends of the bracket. Dallas and San Antonio lost their home opener. The Heat lost 2 in a row in Chicago.

Here's the full scoreboard.

New Jersey Nets 83 Toronto Raptors 89

Series tied at 1-1

Miami Heat 89 Chicago Bulls 107

Bulls Lead Series 2-0

Los Angeles Lakers 98 Phoenix Suns 120

Suns Lead Series 2-0

MONDAY's RESULTS

Orlando Heat 90 Detroit Pistons 98

Pistons Lead Series 2-0

Utah Jazz 90 Houston Rockets 98

Rockets Lead Series 2-0

REVIEW

The Bulls are making a push to knock the defending champs out of the playoffs. The Heat look like they did last year in the Finals, when they went back to Miami down 0-2. Let's see if they have another big turnaround in them.

The Bulls have a lot of young guys who have to come through for them. It will be interesting to see how they hold up on the road. Still, this looks like a bad match up for Pat Riley and his team. If the Bulls knock out the champs, should we consider them a title contender?

THE ROCKETS AND SUNS

The Jazz and Lakers face the same situation. Going home down 0-2, they have to find a way to take two on their home court.

The Lakers look like Kobe and a bunch of D-leaguers. Kobe Bryant may be the best player in the league right now, but one guy can only do so much. Steve Nash and the Suns are loaded this year, and it looks like they will coast to a win. Expect Kobe to go crazy in one L.A. game to save the sweep.

The Jazz are a different story. This might be the natural ebb-and-flow of a 4-5 showdown; each time scores wins on their home courts.

Or, the Jazz might be a sham. They sprinted out to a hot start, but looked to be out of gas by the end of the regular season. Even 41 from Carlos Boozer wasn't enough to help Utah in Game 2.

I expected the Rockets to win this series, but I also expected Utah to make it tough. Now's the moment of truth for the Jazz.

DETROIT AND THE EAST

Detroit looks to be cruising against an 8 seed with a star in his first playoff action. The Magic will probably do well to avoid a sweep.

I bet the Pistons are happy to see the Bulls pushing the Heat around. They probably hated the idea of a second round match up against the guys who put them out last year. At the very least, the winner of the Heat-Bulls series should be worn down physically and emotionally from a tough series.

The Nets and Raptors look like they will be closely matched. This also looks to be an afterthought of a series. I doubt anyone out of New York/New Jersey and Toronto expects either of these teams to make much of a mark in the playoffs this year.

HERE ARE OTHER NBA POSTS

2007 NBA Playoffs
NBA Playoff Winners

2007 NBA Playoff Results - Round 1