Here is my take on the Playoffs: #1 Indiana takes care of Mil. #2 Miami takes care of Detroit. I usually don't expect much out of miami but I think ZO can take care of Detroit. #6 Toronto upsets NY. I like all the vets on NY with Willis & Oakley to go along with Vince. #4 Charlotte holds off Philly. I'm not sure about Iverson's health. I think Eddie Jones plays like a soon to be FA and takes over. #1 Lakers beat Sacramento. Sacramento has a nice team, but can't match up with LA. #2 Utah beats Seattle. I don't think Sea has enough Gary Paytons on its roster to beat Karla, Pasty & Horny. #6 Minnesota upsets Portland. This may be wishful thinking, but teams with no go to guy usually stumble in the playoffs. Portland is a better team, but KG finds a way. #4 SA over Phoenix. This changes if Duncan can't play, but I think Duncan & David are too much #1 Indiana over Charlotte. I like Indianas blend of youth and experience. #6 Toronto over Miami. Toronto's rotating wide bodies eventually break down Zo. #1 Lakers over SA. I just think LA is too tough. #2 Utah over Minnesota. Karla & Co. make one last run. #1 Indiana over Toronto. Indiana old guns (Smits and Reggie) take over in clutch time. #1 Lakers over Utah. Lakers hold off Indiana for the title. I look for a good series with Indiana taking it to at least 6 games. How about your predictions? ------------------
I suppose those are some fine predictions, if you are going for realism. Here's what I want to happen. Lakers beat Kings in 4 (no matter how much wishful thinking I do, I still can't have the Lakers leave in the first round). Utah beats Seattle in 5. TWolves beat Blazers in 5 (ha ha!). Spurs beat Suns in 4. Spurs beat Lakers in 7. Jazz beat TWolves in 6. Spurs beat Jazz in 6. Indiana comes out of the East and beats the Spurs in 7. Everyone is stupefied. ------------------
Damn... JV, that is exactly how I would like for it to play out, ... at least in the West. In the East, I would like to see either Charlotte or Detroit sneak into the finals. I don't like the Pacers because of Miller (or as my wife would refer to him as "The Girlly man". Sorry ladies, I didn't make it up, my wife did.) and Bird. I don't like Bird because I was a Sixer fan (Dr. J, Chocalate Thunder, B. Jones, Mo Malone, Boston Strangler "A. Toney", M. Cheeks, Chuckster). I know, I know, wishful thinking...
JV, Bus & Chuckie, I started a similar thread where we can track the success of our picks round by round. Might want to take a stab at it. Incidently, for the whole enchalada, I would have the Lakers over the Knicks in 6. But if the Knicks lose to Toronto (I agree, it could happen), look for the Lakers over the Pacers in 4. I also view 2 offseason moves as finally coming back to haunt there teams: Utah losing SA. Now Russell is the only athletic guy on that team, and he isn't quick enough to guard Payton. Indiana losing A. Davis. He was a great PF/C sub and losing a veteran well-rounded body like that has to hurt when you are playing guys like Ewing, Camby, Zo, Brown, Thorpe. If Indiana couldn't make it with A. Davis the last few years, without him plus another year's age on the core of the team--MJ, RM, RS, CM--don't look for them to have snowball's chance at a title. They might make it to the finals if everything falls just right--someone else can take out the Knicks and beat up Miami pretty good, but zero chance they can play with the West. The Knicks (or maybe even Toronto-but they are too young) are the only teams with enough athletes and bodies to compete againt the West. [This message has been edited by sir scarvajal (edited April 20, 2000).]
