Showtime! NBA Playoff Preview

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

April 23, 1998 / 4:36 AM EDT / CBS Sportsline

	height="24" border="0" usemap="#header_nba">
	Showtime! NBA Playoff Preview

	AP

The Bloods and Crips of the NBA meet in the playoffs for the second straight year. And ever since Pat Riley left New York for Miami in 1995, these teams have been unable to play more than a game or two against each other without the equivalent of an international incident. "Everyone knows the history," Riley said. "I think these are two teams that have a genuine respectful dislike for each other."

Friday @ 7:00pm ET

EASTERN CONFERENCE	WESTERN CONFERENCE
Chicago vs. New Jersey	Utah vs. Houston
The Bulls are going for their second "three-peat" of the 1990s and their sixth championship in eight seasons. The last team to win three straight NBA titles before Chicago did it was the Boston Celtics, who won eight in a row from 1959-66. This is also likely to be superstar Michael Jordan's last run with the Bulls. Jordan has said he will retire after this season if coach Phil Jackson does not return. Friday @ 8:00pm ET	These two teams have gotten together in the playoffs four times, including three of the last four years. The Jazz have been playing the best basketball in the NBA over the past two months, and have been getting solid contributions all the way down their bench. Since Utah is perpetually ready to play, the real question of this series is: do Houston's old lions have the fire in their belly for one last battle? Thursday @ 9:30pm ET
Miami vs. New York	Seattle vs. Minnesota
The Timberwolves learned a lot about the changes come playoff time from facing the Rockets last year. This year may be another story entirely. For Seattle, playing a team like Minnesota can only help prep the Sonics for the larger tests waiting. Their young guns should provide enough of a threat to keep Seattle from looking ahead, and the Sonics have something to prove as many have made Utah or the Lakers the pick out West. Friday @ 9:30pm ET
Indiana vs. Cleveland	Los Angeles vs. Portland
Larry Bird's resume reads like a history of the NBA. From championship trophies to MVPs to All-Star Game appearances, the former Boston Celtics star has accomplished just about all there is. Except for one thing, Bird has yet to coach a game in the playoffs. Cleveland is expected to play with more enthusiasm than Indiana, but that may not be such a good thing at this point in the season. Thursday @ 8:00pm ET	With the way the Lakers have been playing down the stretch, it wouldn't be a shock to expect Portland to have little chance in the series. But Damon Stoudamire, finally healthy again, is anxious to put the ball in the hands of his teammates and create the open shots. If he wins the point guard battle, the Blazers have a shot. In the playoffs, the Blazers and Lakers have met seven times before, with the Lakers holding a 5-2 series edge, including last year's 3-1 triumph in the first round. Friday @ 10:30pm ET
Charlotte vs. Atlanta	Phoenix vs. San Antonio
Lenny Wilkens, who has been coaching for 25 years, believes the regular season doesn't mean a thing once you get to the playoffs. Dave Cowens, who has been coaching for a little more than two years, doesn't agree. Wilkens is being overcautious, which comes with experience. But Cowens has enough experience to know this: When the Hornets played the Hawks this season, they got waxed. Thursday @ 7:00pm ET	This series has the potential to be the best of all the first round matchups, and could possibly provide some moments to remember for a long time to come. With Duncan, Kidd and McDyess on the stage, fans will be looking at a big part of the NBA's future. The Suns and Spurs have met three times in the playoffs, with San Antonio winning the meeting in 1996, beating Phoenix in four games in the first round. The Suns had won the two previous series between the teams. Thursday @ 10:30pm ET