OK, now onto the playoff matchups - winners in bold
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| Playoffs?! |
Eastern Conference
Bulls (1) vs. Pacers (8)
Storyline: Contrary to what Skip Bayless says, the Bulls didn't "luck into" the best record in the NBA. In what is the most open NBA playoffs since the Spurs beat the Knicks in the lockout shortened 1998-1999 season, the Bulls enter the playoffs on a roll. The starting lineup is deadly and thanks to a string of coaches who have emphasized defense - Scott Skiles, Vinny Del Negro, and now the master, Tom Thibodeau, the defense is absolutely sickening to play against. Noah, Deng, Rose, and even Boozer to an extent all play solid defense, rotate when necessary, and shut down high scoring offenses. But what's really scary about Chicago is that in the last month or so of the season, their offense has picked up considerably.
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| Cheating on your SAT's is Step 1 to becoming MVP of the NBA |
Prediction: 4-2 Bulls
Heat (2) vs. Sixers (7)
Storyline: Everyone outside of Miami/every real fan/everyone with a soul will be rooting for the 76ers, but the biggest storyline of this series is the matchup we were cheated out of - New York vs. Miami...a flashback to the great series of the late 1990s, but with ten times more starpower...but I digress. The Sixers will make the Heat play all 48 minutes in every game, but they simply don't have the starpower to keep up with the Heat. Doug Collins should be a top three candidate for coach of the year and this is with Evan Turner being a disappointing draft pick.
Matchup to Watch: Andre Iguodala vs. Dwayne Wade
Prediction: 4-1 Heat
Celtics (3) vs. Knicks (6)
Storyline: The Knicks roar into this one coming off a late-season seven game winning streak versus a Celtics team that has yet to figure out how to play post-Kendrick Perkins. What Doc Rivers hasn't done is play Jeff Green alongside the big four instead of replacing one of them with Green. If the Celtics play small with Garnett/Rondo/Pierce/Allen/Rondo, I dare anyone to find a team that can guard that starting five. That being said, the chances of that happening are slim to none and I expect the Knicks to pull the surprise of the first round and the playoffs and beat the Celtics. I see Amare and Melo working the pick and pop to perfection and D'Antoni running the Celtics to the ground.
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| The Savior of Madison Square Garden |
Prediction: 4-3 Knicks
Magic (4) vs. Hawks (5)
Storyline: This is the hardest matchup to predict. The Magic, after blowing up their team during the season and acquiring another new group of three point shooters, are extremely similar to the Magic team that went to the Finals two years ago. Arenas, Richardson x 2, Redick, and Turkoglu have got to produce for Dwight Howard to see less double teams and to keep the Hawks defense honest. Joe Johnson has to prove his worth in the playoffs after signing a larger contract than the big 3 in Miami. (Reason #1 for NBA lockout - Joe Johnson's max contract) The Hawks, with former Wizard Kirk Hinrich, have been tumbling in the second half of the season, but they have beaten the Magic 3 out of 4 times this year. That's big for a team, especially after being swept by the Magic last year by an average of 20+ points in each game.
Matchup to Watch: Dwight Howard vs. Al Horford + Josh Smith + Zaza Pachulia
Prediction: 4-2 Hawks
Western Conference
Spurs (1) vs. Grizzlies (8)
Storyline: As good as the Grizzlies have played down the stretch, they have no shot against the Spurs. Losing Rudy Gay for the season doesn't help either. (Reason #2 for NBA lockout - Rudy Gay's max contract) Manu won't play in the first game and perhaps more, but it shouldn't matter. The Grizzlies are athletic, young, and good and Zach Randolph has been playing out of his mind and into another contract extension, but the Spurs are too savvy and too veteran tested for this type of team. Look for the Grizzlies to win some accolades for playing hard, but that's about it. I am personally excited to see Greivis Vasquez play in his first NBA playoffs.
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| The One, the only Greivis Vasquez |
Matchup to Watch: Tim Duncan vs. Zach Randolph
Prediction: 4-1 Spurs
Lakers (2) vs. Hornets (7)
Storyline: It's the playoffs, which can mean only one thing - the Lakers will return to playing like champions again. Kobe, coming off of calling someone a word that rhymes with maggot (Reason #3 for NBA lockout - Kobe Bryant being fined $100,000 and Phil Jackson being fined $75,000 for speaking the truth. Maybe David Stern should fine himself for being the antichrist.), is going to be more motivated than ever and I expect his teammates to pick it up along with him, provided the entire team does not come down with Chicken Pox - keep Steve Blake away. The only reason I can see the Hornets stealing a game is if Chris Paul (Reason #4 for NBA lockout - Chris Paul will almost absolutely force his way to New York in two years, which he should not be able to do) absolutely demolishes Derek Fisher and Shannon Brown, which is entirely plausible, but the Lakers have enough star power at other positions to come away quickly with the win in this series, providing enough time for Andrew Bynum to gather additional rest for the second round.
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| Trade me to Washington for Andray Blatche and a pick! |
Prediction: Lakers 4-0
Mavericks (3) vs. Blazers (6)
Storyline: The Mavericks' window to win a championship is closing...really quickly. Dirk is still a top ten player in the league, but his supporting cast is becoming old very quickly. After this season, the Mavericks have about three starters, which they can count on for the long run - Dirk, Beaubois, and Chandler. It's time to retool after this season. On the other side are the Blazers - the most injury riddled team over their entire history, going back to Bill Walton, Brian Grant, Damon Stoudamire, and now Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. That being said, many people are picking the Blazers especially with LaMarcus Aldridge going from not being voted to the NBA All Star team to a possible All-NBA selection. I just don't see Dirk going down early or easily to the Blazers. The pressure is on the Mavs to not lose in the first round again - three out of the last four times, they've bowed out before the second round.
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| I don't play in half the games, but I take pictures of my junk. |
Prediction: 4-2 Mavs
Thunder (4) vs. Nuggets (5)
Storyline: I can't believe I am doing this either, but yes, I am picking against the greatness that is Kevin Durant. The Nuggets, since the Carmelo Anthony trade, have been one of the best teams in the league and go 8 deep - Gallinari, JR Smith, Chandler, Martin, Felton, Nene, Lawson, Afflalo. They are the hardest team to guard and don't play much defense either similar to the old-school Nuggets teams of Dan Issel. Perkins adds a whole new dimension to the Thunder, but the Nuggets can negate the Perkins effect by pulling him outside. Durant and Westbrook will get theirs, but the Nuggets have 8 players who can go for 30+ on any night. I expect big things from the Nuggets in the playoffs..big things.
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| Adarsh's new favorite white player |
Prediction: 4-2 Nuggets
Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks over Bulls 4-3
Western Conference Finals: Lakers over Nuggets 4-1
Finals: Lakers over Knicks 4-2
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