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ESPN’S ANTHONY, LEGLER AND SMITH DISCUSS NBA PLAYOFFS

With the NBA Playoffs tipping off with four games Saturday, including the opener at 3 p.m. ET on ABC and a tripleheader on ESPN beginning at 5:30 p.m., ESPN NBA analysts Greg Anthony, Tim Legler and Stephen A. Smith share these thoughts, including Miami vs. Phoenix (which has better NBA Finals chances?), Shaquille O’Neal vs. Steve Nash (which was the better off-season acquisition?), Detroit ’05 vs. Detroit ’04 (can they repeat?) and more. Anthony, Legler and Smith will be breaking down the NBA Playoffs nightly throughout the post-season on SportsCenter, NBA Shootaround and NBA Fastbreak at 12:40 a.m. (9:40 p.m. PT) on ESPN.

Miami vs. Phoenix – which team has the best chance to make the Finals?

Miami (Anthony) – “I’d give a slight edge to Miami because there are so many good teams in the West capable of making the Finals. In the East, you have two legitimate teams (Miami and Detroit) and in the West there are four or five (Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Seattle). And there’s also the Shaq factor. Whenever you have the most dominant player in the game, it gives you a lot more margin for error.”

Miami (Legler) – “There is only one legitimate threat to them in the Eastern Conference, Detroit. Indiana is probably the third best team and they (Pistons and Pacers) will likely have to face each other in the second round. Shaq, in the post season, is going to get to the free throw line and alter the pace of the game and Dwyane Wade, the way he is playing, is a top five player in the league. Those two guys will get them through in the East.”

Smith – “Quite Frankly, the Miami Heat have the best chance to make the Finals simply because they have Shaquille O’Neal. He is the most dominant force in the game. He’s made everyone around him better. Dwyane Wade has emerged as one of the superstars of this league, although he might have done it without Shaquille O’Neal, O’Neal has certainly made it easier on him. You have to give them an edge over the Phoenix Suns because the Suns will have to face Tim Duncan.”

Shaq vs. Steve Nash – which was the better off-season acquisition?

Shaq (Anthony) – “You could make an argument for Steve Nash from a pure basketball standpoint and, as a chemistry move, he was the right type of player for their personnel. But Shaq’s greatness is…no matter what team he would go to, he gives them a chance at a World Championship. They were both the best possible moves for their teams, but Shaq is the biggest star in the game. It’s hard not to win when you put him on your roster.”

Shaq (Legler) – “In the short term, they have been equal, but Shaq is going to finish his career in Miami and Dwyane Wade isn’t going anywhere. Phoenix has some decisions to make to keep that team together. It was a career year for a lot of those Suns players and, the way Nash plays the game, his body could start to break down a bit. He may have his best years behind him.”

Smith – “Quite Frankly, Shaquille O’Neal. Obviously, Steve Nash would be a close second. He has been exceptional for the Phoenix Suns, but he’s playing with two other All-Stars in Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. In the case of Shaquille O’Neal, you are inheriting a team that made the playoffs, but they barely won more that 40 games last season even with Dwyane Wade emerging as a star. If you asked anybody in this league whether they’d rather have Steve Nash or Shaquille O’Neal, I’d bet you they’d pick Shaquille O’Neal, including Phoenix Suns President of Basketball Operations Brian Colangelo."

Detroit ’05 vs. Detroit ’04 – can they repeat?

Pistons ’04 (Anthony) – “Based on pure talent, last year’s team was better. They had a better bench last year. But you also have to consider the confidence they have now, having won the title. Collectively, their starting five is the best in the game, with their ability both offensively and defensively. They have a little bit of an edge, intimidating their opponents now, from what they did last year. They are my favorites to win it all.”

Detroit ’04 (Legler) – “Last year, coming into the playoffs, they were so hot and everything was clicking for them. They’ve got a shot this year with only about four teams with a chance to win it – Miami, Detroit, Phoenix and San Antonio. The guy who could put them over the top in the Eastern Conference Finals is Tayshaun Prince. He has taken dramatic steps and you could make a case for him as their best overall player. He’s extremely versatile. The most detrimental factor is their bench is not as good this year, with the losses of Corliss Williamson, Mike James and Mehmet Okur. They will not beat the Heat because they have no answer to Shaq.”

Smith – “Quite Frankly, I expect them to repeat. They are more seasoned, they are more experienced and more confident. Their bench is a huge question mark because Mehmet Okur, Mike James and those guys did a lot for them last season. But, the core of their team has returned and, because of that, they will repeat as World Champions."

Tim Duncan vs. Jermaine O’Neal – which player’s health is more important to his team’s playoff run?

Duncan (Anthony) – “No doubt, it’s Tim Duncan. Even with Jermaine O’Neal playing healthy and great, I still don’t think they can get out of the East. Duncan’s won two MVPs and two World Championships. He has more of an impact on his team.”

Duncan (Legler) – “Their (Spurs) offense is so predicated on getting it to Duncan in the low post and spreading the floor…he is unguardable one-on-one. With Duncan, they can put three shooters on the court or, with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the game, can attack the opposing defense. Indiana has proven they can run their offense through other people and they can still be a very competitive team without Jermaine O’Neal.”

Smith – “Quite Frankly, the San Antonio Spurs have championship aspirations. They mean absolutely nothing without Tim Duncan. Regardless of what the Indiana Pacers tell you, they are going series by series. They know they are extremely fortunate to be in the position they are in right now, because they have been playing this season, practically, without the services of Ron Artest."

Knicks vs. Lakers – which team has the bigger upside in 2006?

Lakers (Anthony) – “I don’t think either has big upside. The Knicks have more flexibility, but the Lakers have by far the best player in Kobe Bryant. They can’t get much better at that position. Kobe has a better understanding of the responsibility he has with the team and that will benefit them next year. They were a lot closer to making the playoffs than the Knicks this season.”

Lakers (Legler) – “The Lakers have a better salary cap situation and Kobe is a guy you can add some parts around and be a lot closer to a playoff team. In New York, 80-90 percent of the offense is coming from two smaller guards, Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford, who take a lot of jump shots. Detroit did it with Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, but that team played great defense.”

Smith – “Quite Frankly, the Lakers because they have Kobe Bryant and they are not as salary strapped as the New York Knicks. I know Tim Thomas and Penny Hardaway are approaching the last year of their deals, but the New York financial situation is an utter disaster. Their superstar doesn’t have three championship rings to his credit. Nobody on the Knicks roster has experienced that at all."

LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan – is it a fair comparison at this stage in LeBron’s career?

Anthony – “It’s never fair, but it’s always legit. It’s a compliment to LeBron, because you are comparing him to the greatest player of all time. It’s what makes the game great, having a barometer to measure yourself and who you are playing against. There is no comparison to LeBron in terms of 20-year-olds. The question is whether LeBron can get to Jordan’s level in the future. He’s already ahead of the curve. The greatness of Michael Jordan was every step he took was forward.”

Legler – “He’s actually way ahead of Michael Jordan at age 20. He’s putting up numbers that most guys haven’t put up in their careers. LeBron, at age 20, is a better all-around player. Jordan was quicker, but LeBron is bigger. Like Jordan, LeBron plays the wing, is similar in height and is a tremendous athlete. It’s a natural comparison at this stage of his career.”

Smith – “Quite Frankly, Michael Jordan has six World Championships. LeBron James hasn’t even been to the playoffs yet. He’s a tremendous talent, we all know he has a tremendous upside, but right now he is working with an organization that is sub-par. You have to hope that they get better parts around him so he’s in a position where he can show and further display what his capabilities are. Michael Jordan doesn’t deserve to have someone so young, so inexperienced, who’s accomplished so little thus far, being compared to him."

Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith will premiere Monday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The one-hour weekday show will deliver a daily dose of sports news, opinions, issues and headlines in front of a live studio audience in New York City.