If The Playoffs Started Today Eastern Conference (1) BOSTON (1H) vs. (8) Charlotte (Boston leads 2-1) (2) CHICAGO (1H) vs. (7) Philadelphia (Series tied 1-1) (3) MIAMI vs. (6) New York (Series tied 2-2) (4) ORLANDO (1A) vs. (5) Atlanta (Atlanta leads 2-1) Western Conference (1) SAN ANTONIO (1A) vs. (8) Memphis (San Antonio leads 2-1) (2) DALLAS (2A) vs. (7) Portland (Dallas leads 2-0) (3) LOS ANGELES (1H) vs. (6) New Orleans (Los Angeles leads 3-0) (4) OKLAHOMA CITY (1H/1A) vs. (5) Denver (Series tied 1-1) Above records are for the season series between the two teams
Miami-New York would be so intense. All the other match-ups seem fairly winnable for the higher-seeded team. Dallas-Portland should also be a good one as well.
On paper the 7th ,8th seed look terrible , but in reality i could see both 7th,8th giving top seeds a lil tougher fight than people expect. Mavs/Blazers will be interesting , i haven't watched the Blazers in forever. So i have no idea how B.Roy is doing at all. The guy was money when he was healthy , but Blazers will a decent Roy off the Bench could make it interesting.
My Playoff games prediction (East)Round1: Celtics over Bobcats/Pacers in 5 games Bulls over 76ers in 4 games Heats over NYKnicks in 7 games Magic over Hawks in 6 games (West)Round 1: Spurs over Grizzlies in 6 games Mavs/Lakers over NOH in 5 games LAL/Mavs over Blazers in 6 games OKC over Nuggets 5 games [East]Round 2 Celtics over Magic in 6 games Bulls over Heats in 7 games [West]Round 2 Spurs over OKC in 6 games LAL over Mavs in 6 or 7 games {East}Finals Celtics vs Bulls (Bulls or Celtics by 7) {West}Finals Spurs vs LAL (LAL or Spurs by 7) FINALS: (you decide...) What are your playoff predictions??..
My Playoffs Prediction [rquoter]East First round: Boston vs Charlotte (Bos 4-0) Boston Sweeps them Chicago vs Philly (Chi 4-3) Chicago wins in it 7, Philly has a big athletic PG, in Jrue Holiday to match up and give fits to Derrick Rose. Miami vs New York (NY 4-3) New York takes it in 7, I pick NY in an upset, I just think they can match up better against Wade then what Miami can do against Billups. Also, Amare is going to make Bosh is his personal b****. Orlando vs Atlanta (Orlando 4-1) Orlando continues is domination over Atl. -------------------------------------------- East Second round: Boston vs Orlando (Boston 4-2) Boston takes it in 6, Orlando hasn't improve in their trade IMO, and the only guy they have to guard Garnett is Brandon Bass. Chicago vs New York (Chicago 4-2) Chicago wins it in 6, NY has a PG in Billups to match up well with Derrick Rose, but Bulls still have the more complete team. -------------------------------------------- Easter Conference Finals: Boston vs Chicago (Bos 4-3) The rematch from the amazing 2009 1st round series. The two best teams in the east, I take Boston in 7, there home court advantage gives them the edge IMO. Eastern Conference Champs: Boston Celtics[/rquoter] [rquoter]West First round: San Antonio vs. Memphis(San Antonio 4-1) San Antonio take it in 5, Memphis get one at home, but San Antonio closes it out in game 5 at home. Dallas vs. Portland (Dallas 4-3) Dallas and Portland both have their top players at the PF position. But Dallas takes it in game 7 at home, through its deep roster. Los Angeles vs New Orleans (Los Angeles 4-1) LA manages to close it out in LA in game 5, NO get one due to CP3 having a monstrous game. Oklahoma City vs Denver (OKC 4-1) OKC, takes it in 5, but Denver get one at home ------------------- West Second round: San Antonio vs Oklahoma City (OKC in 4-2) OKC takes it in 6, with the addition of Kedrick Perkings, I don't think San Antonio can handle their frontline. As well as their wing players KD, Harden and Westbrook. Dallas vs Los Angeles (Dallas in 4-3) This is a close one, two of the deepest teams in the NBA, each with Hall of Fame(rs). But I think Dallas takes it due to the home court advantage. ------------------- Western Conference Finals: Dallas vs Oklahoma City (OKC 4-2) I'll go with an upset, I think the athleticism of the back court with Westbrook and Harden in combo with the big frontline of Ibaka and Perkins is to much for Dallas to handle. Also Dallas has no one to stop OKC raising super-star Kevin Durant. Western Conference Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder[/rquoter] My Finals match up: Oklahoma City Thunder vs Boston Celtics Westbrook vs Rondo: equal Harden vs Allen : equal Durant vs Pierce : adv. Thunder Ibaka vs Garnett : adv. Celtics Perkins vs Kristic : equal NBA Champions: Boston Celtics Boston takes it in 7. They win due to the home court and experience advantage.
The reason I'm high on them, is with the addition of Perkins, it moves Ibaka to their PF. Giving them a very large defensive front-line. Which is what they we're primarily missing to overtake the Lakers last year in the playoffs. In addition, Westbrook can play on par with any point in the NBA, including D-Rose, and they also have the best and most dynamic scorer in the league in Kevin Durant. If this team can gel in their last 17 games, they'll be able to go far in the playoffs, possibly to the finals. And truth be told I just don't see a team in the west that we'll be able to match up with their offensive fire power and defensive tenacity.
Miami or Chicago vs LAL orSpurs. That's how it will end up. People who say NY can beat Miami in the playoffs, must be on some some Charlie Sheen drugs. Chicago right now has the best chance of betting Miami, but they will need to be fully healthy to have the chance.
Perkins hasn't even played yet, but I like the chemistry change now that Jeff Green is gone and no longer soaking up big minutes. It's allowed Ibaka to start growing again and James Hardin has really bloomed. Ibaka was dominant today with 12 reb and 7 blocks. Having a C (Nazr Mohammed so far) to man the low block on defense allows him to roam around and deny the rim. The only problem with Ibaka recently is his jumper has deserted him. He needs to find his touch to take advantage of the open looks. Jeff Green killed OKC missing wide-open jumpers and they can't have Ibaka repeating that performance. Jeff Green moving on to Boston proves that addition by subtraction is a valid concept. The last 17 games will be crucial for OKC to get in tune with each other and establish a playoff rotation. Even if everything goes right, I don't see them making the Finals.
What's also stopping OKC def the lLakers, is how badly Durant plays against them. Durant struggles against Artest, and OKC will not win, if Durant cannot oversome this.
A lot of star-power in that NY-Miami match-up. But, I think Miami handles them easily. I bet no first round series goes more than 5 games. The second round gets interesting.
If Pau had been blocked out on one play, OKC would have taken the Lakers to 7 games despite Durant's efficiency struggles. I think OKC is in much better position this season to beat the Lakers in a series because their players have matured and the additions of Perkins & Mohammed (and the subtraction of Green). But you still have the play the games. Who knows, maybe the Lakers beat them easier this time. You never know.
Miami can beat NY, but they won't even have a chance to get Bulls. They haven't been able to beat Celtics since forever.
quote:East First round: Boston vs Charlotte (Bos 4-0) Boston Sweeps them Chicago vs Philly (Chi 4-3) Chicago wins in it 7, Philly has a big athletic PG, in Jrue Holiday to match up and give fits to Derrick Rose. Miami vs New York (NY 4-3) New York takes it in 7, I pick NY in an upset, I just think they can match up better against Wade then what Miami can do against Billups. Also, Amare is going to make Bosh is his personal b****. Orlando vs Atlanta (Orlando 4-1) Orlando continues is domination over Atl. -------------------------------------------- East Second round: Boston vs Orlando (Boston 4-2) Boston takes it in 6, Orlando hasn't improve in their trade IMO, and the only guy they have to guard Garnett is Brandon Bass. Chicago vs New York (Chicago 4-2) Chicago wins it in 6, NY has a PG in Billups to match up well with Derrick Rose, but Bulls still have the more complete team. -------------------------------------------- Easter Conference Finals: Boston vs Chicago (Bos 4-3) The rematch from the amazing 2009 1st round series. The two best teams in the east, I take Boston in 7, there home court advantage gives them the edge IMO. Eastern Conference Champs: Boston Celtics quote:West First round: San Antonio vs. Memphis(San Antonio 4-1) San Antonio take it in 5, Memphis get one at home, but San Antonio closes it out in game 5 at home. Dallas vs. Portland (Dallas 4-3) Dallas and Portland both have their top players at the PF position. But Dallas takes it in game 7 at home, through its deep roster. Los Angeles vs New Orleans (Los Angeles 4-1) LA manages to close it out in LA in game 5, NO get one due to CP3 having a monstrous game. Oklahoma City vs Denver (OKC 4-1) OKC, takes it in 5, but Denver get one at home ------------------- West Second round: San Antonio vs Oklahoma City (OKC in 4-2) OKC takes it in 6, with the addition of Kedrick Perkings, I don't think San Antonio can handle their frontline. As well as their wing players KD, Harden and Westbrook. Dallas vs Los Angeles (Dallas in 4-3) This is a close one, two of the deepest teams in the NBA, each with Hall of Fame(rs). But I think Dallas takes it due to the home court advantage. ------------------- Western Conference Finals: Dallas vs Oklahoma City (OKC 4-2) I'll go with an upset, I think the athleticism of the back court with Westbrook and Harden in combo with the big frontline of Ibaka and Perkins is to much for Dallas to handle. Also Dallas has no one to stop OKC raising super-star Kevin Durant. Western Conference Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder West 1st SA v Memph SA in 5 Mavs v Port D in 6 LA v. NO LA in 5 OKC V Den OKC in 4 2nd SA v OKC SA in 6 D V LA D in 7 (Kobe Cries) WCF D v SA D in 6 East Bos V Indy Bos in 5 Chi v Philly Chi in 5 Miami V Ny Miami in 6 they will get it together this series Orl V Atl Orl in 5 Joe Johnson will get boo'd off the court 2nd Bos v Orl Bos in 6 Chi v Miami Chi in 6 Miami cries together Lebron and Wade go on non speaking terms ECF Chi over Bos Chi in <b> 5 </b> Rose shuts down Rondo and rest of team is too old Finals Chi over Dallas in 6 after Mavs start 2-1
