SERIES PREVIEWS

No. 2 MIAMI

vs. No. 3 NEW YORK

Eastern Conference semifinals

* Season series: Miami, 3-1.

* Story line: It wouldn’t be an official postseason if these hated rivals weren’t going bump in the night, hopefully within the rules. The Heat suffered the ultimate agony of being the better team the last two seasons and getting sent home in the first round in the last two postseasons. The teams are mirror opposites, no surprise since Miami’s Pat Riley came from the Knicks. Riley’s team has the advantages of home court and Alonzo Mourning, who is 30 to Patrick Ewing’s 37. The taller Ewing used to outplay Mourning but this season Mourning outscored Ewing, 23.3 to 15.3. But Miami’s Tim Hardaway, who is expected back after sitting out the first round, isn’t what he was, and the Heat had enough problems when he was the vintage Hardaway.

* Prediction: Unless Jamal Mashburn busts out on Latrell Sprewell, the Knicks have more size, more players who can score and they’ll win, 4-2.

*

No. 1 LAKERS

vs. No. 5 PHOENIX

Western Conference semifinals

* Season series: Lakers, 4-0.

* Story line: Talk about your postseasons of destiny. This was the Lakers’ preferred matchup, rather than having Tim Duncan return and facing the Spurs’ Twin Towers. Shaquille O’Neal averaged 33 points against the Suns this season. Kobe Bryant averaged 23 and shot 56.7%. The Lakers won all four meetings. However, the first was in Phoenix Nov. 15, when newly arrived Penny Hardaway was trying to figure out how to fit in, and before Danny Ainge resigned. The second was in Staples Center. The last two were after Jason Kidd was hurt. In between, Scott Skiles took over as coach and turned the Suns into a harder-nosed team that climbed from No. 19 on defense last season to No. 8. Kidd’s injury forced Penny to step up and now Jason is back too. The Suns won’t go easily.

* Prediction: But go, they will. Lakers, 4-1.

*

No. 2 UTAH

vs. No. 3 PORTLAND

Western Conference semifinals

* Season series: Trail Blazers, 3-1.

* Story line: Despite holding the higher seeding, based on winning its division, Utah does not have home-court advantage. After the first round, best record decides. The Trail Blazers won 59 games to Utah’s 55 and there goes the neighborhood. The deep Trail Blazers have been off since last Tuesday. Meanwhile, the old Jazz players had to play twice, including a close, tense Game 5 on Friday, before flying to Portland on Saturday. With a long line of big guys--Rasheed Wallace, Brian Grant, Jermaine O’Neal, Arvydas Sabonis--to throw against Karl Malone, the Trail Blazers held Malone to 22 points a game in four meetings, and 47.5% from the field, well below his season averages of 25.5 and 50.9%. Malone will turn 37 in July and this matchup is a funny idea of a birthday present.

* Prediction: The Trail Blazers are bigger, deeper, more rested and they will win, 4-1.