Is there really no thread on this yet? Who are your picks to advance past the first round. Here are mine (somehow, I end up predicting the team closer to the midwest of the country to win every series) : WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas (1) vs. Golden State (8) Dallas in 5 Phoenix (2) vs. L.A. Lakers (7) Phoenix in 6 San Antonio (3) vs. Denver (6) San Antonio in 5 Utah (4) vs. Houston (5) Houston in 7 EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit (1) vs . Orlando (8) Detroit in 4 Cleveland (2) vs. Washington (7) Cleveland in 5 Toronto (3) vs. New Jersey (6) Toronto in 7 Miami (4) vs. Chicago (5) Chicago in 7
West Dallas in 6 Phoenix in 6 San Antonio in 5 Houston in 6 East Detroit in 5 Cleveland in 5 Toronto in 7 Miami in 7
Man I'm irritated with the Cavs 2-seed. Now they are going to go deep into the playoffs again, prompting another egregarious Lebron love-fest even though their playoff run is really more a product of the lousy eastern conference than anything else. /end rant dallas in 5 spurs in 6 phoenix in 6 rox in 5 bulls in 7 cavs in 4 detroit in 5 raps in 6
East: Pistons 4, Magic 0 Cavaliers 4, Wizards 0 Raptors 4, Nets 3 Bulls 4, Heat 3 West: Mavericks 4, Warriors 2 Suns 4, Lakers 3 Spurs 4, Nuggets 1 Rockets 4, Jazz 3 Comments - with both Arenas and Caron Butler out, I don't see how there is any possible way that the Wizards can win 1 game against Lebron James and company. Maybe if Antawn Jamison scores a 100, but even then that may not be enough. I think Vince Carter will go off against his old team and make the Nets a tough out. And you know the defending champs will be a tough out even though the Bulls are younger and the better team. Out west, I think the Warriors play well enough to get all of the Maverick haters like ourselves hope that they can pull the upset. I wouldn't be surprised if the Warriors win one of the first 2 games of that series, but I see Dallas rebounding just when people are starting to doubt them. As much as I hate Kobe and Phil, I see them extending the Suns to 7 games (which is the last thing other than losing the series that the Suns want to have happen). The Spurs do their typical, boring playoff thing against Denver and our series will have the home team winning every game.
Warriers in seven, yes I am serious Suns in four Spurs in four Rockets in five Pistons in four Cavaliers in four Raptors in six Bulls in seven
East: Pistons 4, Magic 0 Cavaliers 4, Wizards 1 Raptors 2, Nets 4 Bulls 3, Heat 4 West: Mavericks 4, Warriors 3 Suns 4, Lakers 1 Spurs 4, Nuggets 0 Rockets 4, Jazz 2
Alright, I should state my bias: I don't like the spurs and living in San Antonio only makes this hatred exponential. but why does everyone think that the Spurs will beat the nuggets in 5 much less a sweep. Fact: Nuggets have won 10 out of their last 11, one loss in the month of April. Also, Melo since last year has played rather well against Bowen, this wasn't the case the first two years of his career. Iverson and Blake, if both get a combined 15 ast. will really cause damage. Camby does play pretty good against Duncan, think back to 99. He is not just a stiff center and is above average/superb in two categories (blocks, reb.) I still think the Spurs will win, but make no mistake, the Nuggets do pose a threat. Two years ago, this was one of the most dirtiest series in the playoffs. George Karl made some really nasty comments againt Manu, and will again make it very physical. Finally, I still do not understand why Parker gets playoff respect, he still has not proven himself in the playoffs.
I'd love to see the Nuggets upset the Spurs, but I don't think this series will be close. The Nuggets were insanely red hot in '05 heading into the postseason and even won Game 1 in San Antonio, but then proceded to lose 4 straight. The problem with Denver is that they almost never win if they don't top 100 points. And San Antonio is #1 in the league in points allowed. It's not a favorable matchup for the Nuggets. I do hope I'm completely wrong about this.
WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas (1) vs. Golden State (8) Dallas in 5 Phoenix (2) vs. L.A. Lakers (7) Phoenix in 4 San Antonio (3) vs. Denver (6) San Antonio in 5 Utah (4) vs. Houston (5) Houston in 5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit (1) vs . Orlando (8) Detroit in 4 Cleveland (2) vs. Washington (7) Cleveland in 4 Toronto (3) vs. New Jersey (6) Toronto in 7 Miami (4) vs. Chicago (5) Chicago in 7
(L)EAST: Detroit vs Orlando - Detroit in 5 Miami vs Chicago - Chicago in 7 Cleveland vs Washington - Cleveland in 5 Toronto vs New Jersey - Jersey in 7 WEST: Dallas vs Golden State - Dallas in 6 Houston vs Utah - Houston in 6 Phoenix vs LA Lakers - Phoenix in 6 San Antonio vs Denver - San Antonio in 6
West will be as follows - Mavs over Warriors in 6 games. Spurs over Nuggets in 7 games. Suns sweep the Lakers. Rockets over Jazz in 5...maybe 6 games. East will be as follows - Who cares?.. Miami and Cleveland in the ECF.
WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas (1) vs. Golden State (8) Dallas in 6 Phoenix (2) vs. L.A. Lakers (7) Phoenix in 5 San Antonio (3) vs. Denver (6) San Antonio in 7 Utah (4) vs. Houston (5) Houston in 5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit (1) vs . Orlando (8) Detroit in 4 Cleveland (2) vs. Washington (7) Cleveland in 4 Toronto (3) vs. New Jersey (6) New Jersey in 7 Miami (4) vs. Chicago (5) Miami in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas (1) vs. Golden State (8) Golden State in 6 - Yeah, I'm crazy...but so is the fact that the Warriors have won the last five meetings. Phoenix (2) vs. L.A. Lakers (7) Phoenix in 6 - Repeat of last year...but with Amare. San Antonio (3) vs. Denver (6) San Antonio in 6 - Nuggets put up a fight, but come up short. Utah (4) vs. Houston (5) Houston in 7 - Houston will use it's home court advantage and take it. EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit (1) vs . Orlando (8) Detroit in 4 - Orlando overpowered by the Pistons. Cleveland (2) vs. Washington (7) Cleveland in 5 - Wizards can't put up fight without Arenas/Butler. Toronto (3) vs. New Jersey (6) Toronto in 6 - The only 3rd seed that can win in an "upset." Carter will do his best, but Toronto will take it. Miami (4) vs. Chicago (5) Chicago in 7 - Bulls send Wade off to finish his rehab.
Pistons 4, Magic 1 Cavaliers 4, Wizards 0 Raptors 4, Nets 3 Bulls 4, Heat 3 West: Mavericks 4, Warriors 3 Suns 4, Lakers 1 Spurs 4, Nuggets 0 Rockets 4, Jazz 0
WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas (1) vs. Golden State (8) Dallas in 5 Phoenix (2) vs. L.A. Lakers (7) Phoenix in 5 San Antonio (3) vs. Denver (6) San Antonio in 6 Utah (4) vs. Houston (5) Houston in 5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit (1) vs . Orlando (8) Detroit in 4 Cleveland (2) vs. Washington (7) Cleveland in 5 Toronto (3) vs. New Jersey (6) Toronto in 6 Miami (4) vs. Chicago (5) Miami in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas (1) vs. Golden State (8) Dallas in 4, Dallas show why they are the defending Western champions. Golden State will suffer from a lack of an inside game (on off/def). Upset: Phoenix (2) vs. L.A. Lakers (7) Lakers in 6 u Suns are a better regular season team, but I think Phil and Kobe take it to another level in playoffs, and eliminate the Suns in closely contested series. I think in the games that are very close in the end will favor the Lakers, because they have the best closer in the game. San Antonio (3) vs. Denver (6) San Antonio in 6, Denver will steal the one of two first games in S.A., and lose the next 3 win 1 and lose the 6th game. Utah (4) vs. Houston (5) Houston in 6, Houston will benefit from Homecourt, while Utah will make the series interesting. But T-Mac and Yao will be too much for the Jazz to handle. EASTERN CONFERENCE Detroit (1) vs . Orlando (8) Detroit in 4 I don't think series will be pretty. Detroit might win two or three games by 15 or more points. Cleveland (2) vs. Washington (7) Cleveland in 7 This will be great series, Washington might benefit from being the underdogs and Arenas will explode in a few games to keep them close, but the Cavs are a better team. Upset special: Toronto (3) vs. New Jersey (6) New Jersey in 6 New Jersey started out slow, but will prove that their stars are too much for on the brink Raptors. I think Vince will go insane in this series and average over 30 ppg. But it really wouldn't be an upset, because New Jersey has been hurt most of the year. Miami (4) vs. Chicago (5) Miami in 6 People think this will be Chicago's year and they will finally go deep in the playoffs since the days of MJ. But I don't think it will happen this year. 1. Chicago still doesn't have anybody who can guard Shaq. 2. The depth favors Miami. 3. Wade will explode at some point. 4. Chicago's lack of prolific scorers will hurt them in decisive moments in the series.
