Saturday matchups: 

DETROIT   VS  ORLANDO 

Detroit and Orlando will play one of the semi finals of the Eastern conference and this series is expected to be way more closer than the series between these two teams last season, in which Detroit won by 4-0. The factor that we have to highlight in here is that Orlando is stronger this season, as not only they have a better roster, as Dwight Howard is playing at a level way better than last season. Howard against Toronto in the first round of the playoffs showed numbers just reachable by Wilt Chamberlain, getting 20 pts and 20 boards with an amazing regularity and he will be the key of Orlando to try to beat Detroit in this series. These two teams shared the wins in the four games of the regular season, which showed how this series will be close. However in the wins of Orlando, they happened in special circumstances in which Detroit had some scheduling problems and in the playoffs that simply won't exist.

Orlando had a soft series against Toronto, in which it was frequent to see both teams scoring more than 100 points per game, on the other side Detroit had a way more physical series against the Sixers and probably this will be favor Detroit in the first games of this series, not only because they have played their last game of the previous round later than Orlando, as they will also be more prepared than the Magic for a physical matchup. The matchup between Billups and Nelson will be the biggest problem of Orlando in this series. Billups is bigger, stronger and he has been taking advantage of that in the games he faces Nelson going to the interior positions in the field. If Orlando is capable of solving this problem, then they will have a shot to win this series. If they can't solve it, then they won't be capable of winning this series. The most improved player of the season could have some edge against Prince, but the player from the Pistons besides being the best defender of the two is also on a terrific offensive form, shooting above 70% FG since the playoffs began. It is expected that Howard will be the key for Orlando in this series, but Detroit's frontcourt players aren't as soft as Bargnani or Nesterovic, no way, actually if there is a center capable to stop Howard, his name is Rasheed Wallace, who is a smart player and he has enough game and power to stop Howard.

Orlando is clearly on a superior level than last season, however I think they haven't reached the level of Detroit and I remember that Detroit played their best basketball in their last three games against the Sixers.

NEW ORLEANS  VS  SAN ANTONIO

The Spurs showed against the Suns that they are the strongest team in the playoffs in the last seasons and this season they will continue to have that title until they get eliminated. The answer is simply, the Spurs know what they need to win and what to adjust in the following game when things don't work well in the previous game.  I think nobody was expecting a win of the Spurs against the Suns in just 5 games, but they did it and this shows how good they can still be. In the conference semi finals they will face the Hornets, who even though don't have the experience of the Spurs at this level has already showed against Dallas that they aren't afraid of anyone and that they can be very dangerous. The regular season ended 2-2 with both teams winning one game at home and the other one on the road, however it was amazing how the Hornets won their two games by 100-75 and 102-78, impressive numbers for a win especially against the Spurs, so the Hornets can begin this series with a lot of confidence.

However it's important to say that the key players of the Spurs are all in good form right now, especially Tony Parker, which makes us expect a great duel between Parker and Paul. Both teams will try to get some advantage over their opponent in this specific matchup. David West made an amazing game in the last game against Dallas with 29 points and 10 boards, so if Popovich puts Oberto or Thomas guarding him, West will be too fast for these two players, so Pop may need to put Duncan there and that decision may cause a couple of extra fouls to the Spurs leader.

The Hornets have everything to beat the Spurs in here and I believe the first two home games of the Hornets will be crucial for this series. If the Spurs are capable to win at least one of these games, then it will be very hard for the Hornets to comeback, as that would give the home court advantage to the Spurs. I believe this will be a very close series, but I think the Spurs have a small edge over the Hornets in this series, as they may find easier to win at New Orleans than the Hornets to win at San Antonio.