We used the artsy photo above when handicapping the baseball season, so why not do the same for the NBA playoffs? Before you have to subject yourself to “Who can scream loudest?” between ESPN’s Greg Anthony and Tim Ledger (with some Stephen A. Smith thrown in, just for good measure), here’s a special NBA playoff edition of roundup:

Questions:
- Detroit coach Flip Saunders has been a playoff choke artist for the last decade. Is he a good enough coach to get Detroit to the finals?
- ESPN has already dropped Eva Longoria and Tony Parker’s photo into the first playoffs preview earlier in the week – how many more of these will we be subjected to, especially after taking into account the fact that Disney owns ESPN and ABC, and “Desperate Housewives” airs on the latter network, and May sweeps are coming up?
- Of all the great solo acts – Kobe, LeBron, Gil Arenas, Dirk, Carmelo Anthony – who will take their team furthest?
- When the Queens Kings give the Spurs all they can handle in the first round, but lose, what will Ron Artest do?
- Do the New Jersey Nets actually have a better chance against the Pistons than the Miami Heat?

Answers:
1. Detroit’s starting five will reach the finals – but not because of anything Flip does.
2. The over/under on Spurs games Longoria will not attend for the entire postseason is three.
3. Because of the draw, Kobe or Melo (both may meet in round 2).
4. Whatever it is, Bruce Bowen will be on the receiving end.
5. No.

NBA First Round Matchups (ESPN.com)