PLAYOFF CAPSULES

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NO. 2 PHOENIX (54-28) VS. NO. 6 CLIPPERS (47-35)

* Season series: 2-2.

* What you need to know: The Clippers think they have a great chance because they already have a good inside game. The Lakers invented one and almost pulled it off. The Clippers won the teams’ last meeting in Phoenix, 119-105, as Elton Brand scored 34 points. As the Lakers learned, if you don’t keep pounding the ball inside on the Suns, you’re in trouble. In the Suns’ two victories over the Clippers, they rolled up 238 points and won by a total of 41. Coaches don’t like to rely on young players in the playoffs, but the Clippers’ key may be 20-year-old Shaun Livingston. He has to spell Sam Cassell, who’s 36 and can’t hold up long chasing Steve Nash through pick-and-rolls all night.

*

EASTERN CONFERENCE

NO. 2 MIAMI (52-30) VS. NO. 3 NEW JERSEY (49-33)

* Season series: New Jersey, 3-1.

* What you need to know: The pundits are talking upset after Shaquille O’Neal scored a total of 40 points in Games 3, 4 and 5 against the smaller Bulls before dominating -- for a night -- with 30 points and 20 rebounds in Game 6. However, Chicago had hard-nosed defenders, and the Nets are soft and have little size behind Harvard-Westlake graduate Jason Collins. Nenad Krstic, a 7-footer, averaged 18 points in the first round but is slight; Clifford Robinson is 39. Coach Lawrence Frank may turn to little-used John Thomas. With Antoine Walker and Jason Williams shooting less than 40% against the Bulls, the burden falls on Dwyane Wade, who hopes he can get enough help from O’Neal and the guys.

-- MARK HEISLER