The 2011 NBA playoffs tip off soon. On the heels of my wildly popular [/sarcasm] NHL playoff predictions, I’m continuing this unprecedented use of my crystal ball, once again managing to, through pretense, predict what is gonna go down and HOW.
Dig it.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#8 Indiana Pacers vs. #1 Chicago Bulls
The Pacers come into this as fairly heavy underdogs. While it is really nice to see the Pacers get it together down the stretch and get in the postseason with an exciting young team, the Bulls have been one of the best 2nd half stories this season with Rose stalking the inside track on MVP. The combination of Boozer and Noah (even in limited action this round) up front will give the Pacers (and whoever comes next, honestly) lots of trouble and the slew of scorers surrounding Rose are capable of putting up points when Rose attracts multiple defenders (which he will).
I was tempted to give the Pacers a game but this is most likely over in four. Bulls will move forward with relative ease.
Bulls in 4
#7 Philadelphia 76ers vs. #2 Miami Heat
The Sixers have been pretty good since starting the season off sluggishly and out of sync. However, the way the Heat have closed out the season, it doesn’t look promising for what should be a good Sixers team in upcoming seasons if they keep the core together. Right now, the Heat are getting contributions from the “other guys” making the work that Wade and LeBron do that much more infuriating for opponents. The Sixers might not even take one game in this one, either unless they are able to minimize Bibby and Miller and Chalmers and force the entire offense to go through only Lebron and D Wade. As for Bosh, this series gives him time to get back into the flow without needing him in order to advance. A very critical postseason “tuneup” for South Beach .
This should be a four or five game series at longest.
Heat in 5
#6 New York Knicks vs. #3 Boston Celtics
Things are not going well for Boston . I believe that a sports city that truly embraces its teams as a part of its culture has a dynamic relationship with its multiple teams. In other words, the Red Sox suck and right now, so do the Celtics who are struggling to resemble the team that early on in the season looked like a favorite to reach the finals. Since then, Perkins was shipped to the Western Conference, the guys they got in return haven’t really adjusted to the system, the Bulls have put together an impressive 2nd half of the season and now even the Heat have overtaken them for the 2 spot. Suddenly, a first round matchup with a New York team that would love to bounce a Boston team looks like it might be a challenge. The key to the C’s after the Perk trade was that their aging bigs, Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal, would pick up the slack down low. As recent weeks would suggest, that plan isn’t working. Ray Allen isn’t getting looks and Pierce and Rondo are not finding much space in the paint to slash and operate. The Knicks on the other hand are finally getting some chemistry together between the new pieces and if Melo, Amar’e and Chauncey can play big, I wouldn’t count them out of anything.
Still, the Celtics are championship pedigree and Doc Rivers knows how to manage his studs, old and young. When all is said and done, the C’s are moving on to the next round.
Celtics in 6
#5 Atlanta Hawks vs. #4 Orlando Magic
There is not much that Al Horford and/or Josh Smith can do to slow down Dwight Howard except maybe foul him, harass him and if they can frustrate him enough to get him out of his game, they can maybe turn him into an overachieving Clark Kent. Otherwise, Superman is going to dominate inside and allow for the rest of the crew to rain jump shots from everywhere on the court. The Hawks just don’t resemble the team that no more than a couple of years ago looked like they had a bright future… now they’re looking like the wrong mix of pieces. They’re in the five spot and can score some points but so can the Magic who could still make a run at the conference championship if they pull the right matchups.
That run will start with an easy five game series against the mismatched Hawks
Magic in 5
WESTERN CONFERENCE
#8 Memphis Grizzlies vs. #1 San Antonio Spurs
If there was a bad 1st round matchup for the top seeded Spurs, this is the one. They’ve historically had trouble with the Grizz, they were stumbling down the stretch since a torrid start and they may have lost Manu for a game or two if the hyperextended elbow needs some rest. Need more proof that the Grizz are in the perfect spot to pull a monumental upset? They rested their starters for the past handful of games as if to secure their position and their matchup. I’ve always felt that Zach Randolph was underrated and not given nearly as much credit as other double double grabbin big men in the league. However, Randolph swooped up 12 boards a game while leading a balanced offensive attack that includes Gay, Gasol, Mayo and Conley with 20 points a game. The Spurs will really need Manu’s points as he was their best offensive player in nearly every category.
If the Grizzlies can earn a split in San Antonio , they’re on the inside track to win the series. Oh snap son! I’m feelin’ bold! Hold me back!
Grizzlies in 7
#7 New Orleans Hornets vs. #2 Los Angeles Lakers
Unlike the Spurs, the Lakers were able to avoid their trap matchup. Instead of squaring off against the Blazers, the Lakers turned to Kobe to get ridonkulous at the end of regulation against the Kings and then handled them in the OT period to ensure they’d get the Hornets instead of a Blazers team that could give them trouble in the 1st round. The Hornets back into this series without David West, with only CP3 and with the risk of igniting a dormant giant. Bynum should be ready for the series as it turns out his hyperextended knee isn’t all bad but it would not behoove the Lakers, if they find the going easy in the speak easy, to rest Bynum a bit for the next round.
The Lakers should easily handle the Hornets.
Lakers in 4
#6 Portland Trailblazers vs. #3 Dallas Mavericks
This is going to be an exciting series. The Mavs and Blazers split four meetings this year never more than by eight points and I don’t think this 1st round matchup will really be any different. The Mavs are an elite finesse team that, when playing a fast paced, jump shooting contest, can win on any night with scorers like Dirk and Terry. The Mavs, though, don’t rebound well and don’t play defense particularly well either and that combo can spell trouble against a team that is also balanced on the offensive attack and is considerably better on the boards especially now with the addition of Gerald Wallace. If Brandon Royresembles his old self at ALL, the Blazers will be far more than just a tough out for the Mavs; they can make a serious run at the Western Conference title.
I watched the game between the Mavs and Lakers when Terry, Blake and eventually Matt Barnes all got chippy and kicked off the court. The outlook on the Mavericks, at least for me, since then has not been particularly optimistic.
Blazers in 6
#5 Denver Nuggets vs. #4 Oklahoma City Thunder
Great series. Best of the 1st round, in my opinion; it’ll certainly be the most entertaining as almost everything else (with the exception of my bold Grizzlies pick) is a predictable lock. Most would not have thought so before hand but the Nuggets are a much better basketball team without Carmelo Anthony. In fact, I’d have to say that Melo’s departure did wonders on JR Smith’s maturity and it is clear that the responsibility has focused his game to the point the Nuggets come into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the West. There is a balanced attack, tough gritty play in the paint and much more activity defensively. Melo who? However, as sexy a pick as the Nuggets would be in this scenario, the fact that they face the Thunder makes a Nuggets upset much harder to get behind. Truthfully, I think that he Thunder, outside of the Lakers of course, are the favorite to go to the Finals and will dominate the Nuggets down low. Durant is the second best player in the Western Conference field and Westbrook has elevated himself to elite point guard status. The addition of Perkins cannot be overstated; his presence instantly gives the Thunder the best big man combo (Perk and Ibaka) outside of a healthy Bynum and motivated Gasol. And that isn’t to mention the slew of excellent role players that litter this roster.
There’ll be plenty of fireworks in this series. There may be stretches early on in the series where there may be a little doubt but when all is said and done, it’ll be the Thunder that are moving on.
Thunder in 6
And there you have it. The 1st round is always the easiest to call. Next round is where the real work begins as actual personnel matchups start to matter a lot more. But for now, enjoy my brilliance (rofl lulz) and let me know what you think!
DIG IT.
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