Playoffs Will Answer 10 Questions -- NBA FanHouse

A two-month fastbreak is what the NBA playoffs are.

Lots of games, lots of teams and lots of players. A lot to keep track of, too.

Here are some things I look forward to finding out about this postseason:

Can Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets win a playoff series? Anthony is 0-for-5 in his career in the postseason. This year, he'll enter the first round as a favorite.

Can the Rockets get out of the first round, and if they do, what does that say about Tracy McGrady? Of course, it won't reflect well on McGrady, who has never advanced to Round 2, if Houston does it without him this season. But if the Rockets go down to Portland in Round 1, it might be time to start taking a look at Yao as critically as McGrady.

How hurt is Kevin Garnett? At this point, it's obvious K.G. has a significant injury. At the same time, I'm not buying coach Doc Rivers' "one-percent" to "five percent" prognosis for return, either. We're not sure if the Celtics can overcome the Cavaliers even if Garnett were close to full strength. But we know they can't beat the Cavaliers (and maybe the Bulls?) without him.

Latest NBA Playoff Photos

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: Ron Artest #96 of the Houston Rockets flashes a smile in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 18, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ron Artest

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PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: Coach Rick Adelman, Aaron Brooks #0 and Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets discuss the game in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 18, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Yao Ming;Rick Adelman;Aaron Brooks

NBAE/Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: Aaron Brooks #0 of the Houston Rockets goes up for a shot over Sergio Rodriguez #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 18, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sergio Rodriguez;Aaron Brooks

NBAE/Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: Brandon Roy #7, LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and Greg Oden #52 of the Portland Trail Blazers watch their team lose in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 18, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brandon Roy;LaMarcus Aldridge;Greg Oden

NBAE/Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: Aaron Brooks #0 and Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets take a break in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 18, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Yao Ming;Aaron Brooks

NBAE/Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: Ron Artest #96 of the Houston Rockets takes a shot in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 18, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ron Artest

NBAE/Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: LaMarcus Aldridge (L) #12, Greg Oden (C) #52 and Rudy Fernandez (R) #5 of the Portland Trail Blazers watch the game from the bench against the Houston Rockets during Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2009 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LaMarcus Aldridge;Greg Oden;Rudy Fernandez

Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: Greg Oden #52 of the Portland Trail Blazers grabs for a rebound infront of Dikembe Mutombo #55 of the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 18, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dikembe Mutombo;Greg Oden

NBAE/Getty Images

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 18: Aaron Brooks #0 of the Houston Rockets drives against Steve Blake #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers during Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2009 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2009 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Aaron Brooks;Steve Blake

Getty Images

What's going to become of the San Antonio Spurs? Maybe the Spurs -- even without Manu Ginobili -- can slip past Dallas in the first round and maybe even win a round after that. It doesn't solve the Lakers' riddle that likely awaits. Point is, it's getting close to decision time in San Antonio, and it's going to be fascinating to see how the Spurs' front office approaches the beginning of the post-Tim Duncan era.

Are there too many expectations too soon for the Portland Trail Blazers? It's tough to find anyone out there who doesn't like what the Blazers have going. But this is Playoff series No. 1 for their meat and potatoes: Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. And Houston is due.

Are the Detroit Pistons done as we (used to) know them? The Pistons have the look of a team that knows it will not be together much longer. Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace are free agents, and Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince are on short money, meaning Joe Dumars has plenty of options.

Is Dwyane Wade so good that he'll be able to will the Heat to a first-round playoff win over Atlanta? People tend to remember Wade's brilliance in the 2005-06 playoffs, but he struggled terribly the last time he was in the postseason. Wade shot 43 percent from the floor and averaged almost six turnovers per game when the Heat was swept by Chicago in 2006-07. It's almost as if he's expected to carry Miami in this series. That's a big burden.

How good is Dwight Howard? His regular-season numbers can't be denied, but what's more important is whether Howard can be a viable low-post scorer consistently in the postseason. Howard is going to get follow ups, tips, dunks and a lot of garbage in between. He's going to get rebounds by accident and he's going to spend a lot of time at the line. Now, though, it's about being efficient with the ball with his back to the basket, not turning it over and getting something positive out of double-teams.

How will Kobe Bryant and LeBron James handle the pressure of their teams being prohibitive favorites to reach the NBA Finals? If either the Lakers or Cavaliers get knocked off, it will be Bryant and James who will have to bear the brunt of it.

Do Deron Williams and Chris Paul have anything up their sleeves? Both point guards are living up to their considerable reputations, but their teammates are not. Both are facing long odds when it comes to advancing to the second round.