There not a playoff team yet they made it all the way to the WCF's last year. Im not Suns fan but I know the facts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DTP @ Mar 22 2007, 11:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Remember in the finals its a 2-3-2 format so your expecting Phoenix to take 2/3 on the road in Detroit? I just don't see that happening, especially not game 3.</div>Phoenix is a great road team. They definitely have a great chance at winning 2 out of 3 there, especially if Detroit wins game 1. They lost the 1st year because San Antonio was just a better team, not because of any style of play. They also had 0 depth and couldn't even get close to replacing Johnson's production after his injury. They lost last year because they had to deal with worse injuries than any other team. If the Suns get past the Spurs and Mavs, which I think they can, Detroit will be easy.
Good, with the Lakers playing well the Suns can play Denver instead which I really would prefer. Playing another up-tempo team would be great because they won't keep up with the Suns in a series....you just can't beat them trying to run. Then Kobe goes against the Spurs and with how he's played this season an upset is possible... and Dallas may have to go against Houston, a team that I think will be tough for them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dagameplayer @ Mar 22 2007, 09:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Its like the old saying goes. Every team has a shot at the playoffs at the beginning no matter what team it is. I believe the Lakers have just as much a chance at getting to the finals and winning the whole thing. Look at what they pulled off last year. They came together as a team and racked up 3 wins against one of the best teams in the west. If they could pull that off and again this year against whoever they play I believe they won't make the same mistake twice. I think that playoff experience will help them. Team work will win us games.</div>That's why 89% of the time in the east the conference finalists have been the first and second seed? And a similar percentage for the west?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dagameplayer @ Mar 24 2007, 09:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>There not a playoff team yet they made it all the way to the WCF's last year. Im not Suns fan but I know the facts.</div> Played against two unexperienced teams in Lakers and Clippers, they won't beat teams like San Antonio and Dallas who has been there and can play defense.
If Nuggets can pull out the 6th seat away from the Lakers I will say this BIG UPSET try Denver over the Spurs I really think this can happen. Spurs are older I think Nuggets can deff out run them so if they can atleast play decent D they can pull the upset.Not even just saying that cause AI is in Denver I really believe this if Denver get's the 6th seat they can upset the Spurs.
1.Detroit vs 8.Orlando-----Wins in 72.Cleveland vs 7.New Jersey-------Wins in 63. Miami vs 6. Washington----------Wins in 64. Toronto vs 5. Chicago------------Wins in 6<u>Eastern Conference Semifinals</u>Detroit vs Chicago-----Wins in 7Cleveland vs Miami----------Wins in 7<u>Eastern Conference Finals</u>Detroit vs Cleveland-------------Wins in 7---------------------------------------------------1. Dallas vs 8. L.A. Clippers------Wins in 62. Phoenix vs 7. Denver.---------Wins in 63. San Antoino vs 6. L.A. Lakers-------Wins in 54. Utah vs 5. Houston--------- Wins in 7<u>Western Conference Semi-Finals</u>Dallas vs Houston---- Wins in 7Phoenix vs San Antonio Wins in 7<u>Western Conference Finals</u>Dallas vs San Antonio---- Wins in 7---------------------------------------------------<u>NBA Finals</u>Cleveland vs San Antonio---- Wins in 6<u>NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs</u>
I don't think Cleveland is tough enough to beat NJ, Miami, and Detroit. NJ record might not be that good but they do have veterans and will put up a fight, same with Miami and by time they get to detroit I think they'll be worn out if things went the way your bracket says.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Serge @ Mar 26 2007, 02:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If Nuggets can pull out the 6th seat away from the Lakers I will say this BIG UPSET try Denver over the Spurs I really think this can happen. Spurs are older I think Nuggets can deff out run them so if they can atleast play decent D they can pull the upset.Not even just saying that cause AI is in Denver I really believe this if Denver get's the 6th seat they can upset the Spurs.</div>Sergey, seed is not spelled SEAT, your making people think their pulling a seat out underneath them, and the Nuggets won't upset the Spurs, the spurs won't let the Nuggets control the tempo.
Eastern Conference:1. Pistons2. Cavaliers3. Wizards4. Raptors5. Bulls6. Heat7. Nets8. PacersRound 1: Detroit Pistons VS Indiana Pacers (Detroit wins 4-2)Cleveland Cavaliers VS New Jersey Nets (Cleveland wins 4-1)Washington Wizards VS Miami Heat (Washington wins 4-3)Toronto Raptors VS Chicago Bulls (Toronto wins 4-3)Round 2:Detroit Pistons VS Toronto Raptors (Detroit wins 4-1)Cleveland Cavaliers VS Washington Wizards (Cleveland wins 4-3)Eastern Conference Finals:Detroit Pistons VS Cleveland Cavaliers (Detroit wins 4-3)Western Conference:1. Mavericks2. Suns3. Spurs4. Jazz5. Rockets6. Nuggets7. Lakers8. WarriorsRound 1:Dallas Mavericks VS Golden State Warriors (Dallas wins 4-1)Phoenix Suns VS Los Angeles Lakers (Phoenix wins 4-3)San Antonio Spurs VS Denver Nuggets (San Antonio Wins 4-1)Utah Jazz VS Houston Rockets (Utah wins 4-2)Round 2:Dallas Mavericks VS Utah Jazz (Dallas wins 4-1)Phoenix Suns VS San Antonio Spurs (Phoenix wins 4-2)Western Conference Finals:Dallas Mavericks VS Phoenix Suns (Dallas wins 4-3)NBA Finals:Dallas Mavericks VS Detroit Pistons (Dallas win 4-3)Finals MVP: Dirk
Eastern Conference:1. Pistons2. Cavaliers3. Raptors4. Heat5. Bulls6. Wiz7. Nets8. PacersRound 1:Favorites win. Round 2:Favorites lose. Eastern Conference Finals:Raps winWestern Conference:1. Mavericks2. Suns3. Spurs4. Jazz5. Rockets6. Nuggets7. Lakers8. WarriorsRound 1:Favorites win except Rockets beat Jazz. Round 2:Rockets and Suns win. Western Conference Finals:Rockets winNBA Finals:Raptors WinFinals MVP: BoshIts what I want to happen. :dribble:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DTP @ Mar 26 2007, 07:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think Cleveland is tough enough to beat NJ, Miami, and Detroit. NJ record might not be that good but they do have veterans and will put up a fight, same with Miami and by time they get to detroit I think they'll be worn out if things went the way your bracket says.</div>I think Detroit will be just as worn out by the time they get to the eastern conference semi-finals also. Facing Orlando in the first round is going to beat them up on the inside for most of the series, and I believe Orlando will play them tough. Then the Chicago series will be rough on them also according to mine. Chicago plays tough defense, will get up on their men. Ben Wallace will beat them up defensively on the inside, and play rough with everyone. So by the time they get to the Cleveland series they will be just as worn out as the Cavaliers will be. With Ben Wallace not there, and no real shot blockers on the team, Lebron James impact on the series will be alot bigger than it was last year. He will be able to get to the rim alot easier without getting his shot altered as bad. With the emergence of Pavlovic who can hit the three with some degree of consistency, if Detroit trys to pack it in they are going to leave him open and I think he will hit threes to force them to stretch it out. Cleveland in my eyes is also deeper, and has a better bench than Detroit does which will leave them feeling just a bit fresher. That team has also proved over this month that they are able to cut leads without James being on the floor, as well as score without Lebron James being on the court. So when he is not in, this team is going to be much more competitive than they was last year when James would leave the floor. I see them being able to beat Detroit in a seven game series if it plays out the way I think it will.
Orlando has 0 playoff experience whatsoever. There is no chance that they stand a chance against hte Pistons. However you have to wonder how worn out the Pistons will be by the time they get to the ECF or Finals with their small bench. No one can really dominate the Pistons like the Heat did last year in the last games of the Heat series.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DTP @ Mar 27 2007, 10:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Are you serious? If Detroit does play Orlando first round that won't go longer than 5 games.</div>I think Orlando could easily take the series to 6 games against the Pistons. Orlando has a pretty good team. They can control the boards with Howard, and beat up the Pistons on the inside, as well as play good defense and keep the score close throughout the games. With that keeping the score close it will help them to build confidence to make runs and win games, just like with any young team. Garenas, there are plenty of teams with little to no playoff experience that has been able to put up good fights against the favored teams. The might not have won the series, but they still put up good fights, and with this Orlando team that is what I would expect from them in a seven game series. I obviously don't think they will win the series, but they have a good enough team to put up a fight and make a series out of it.
I'm not saying that the Magic are going to lose because of zero playoff experience but that it will be factor going to the final couple of games. Detroit has a powerhouse starting lineup and has sealed playoff berth while the Magic have struggled like crazy the past couple of months. If it wasnt for their great start, they would not be close to the playoffs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Mar 27 2007, 10:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Orlando has 0 playoff experience whatsoever. There is no chance that they stand a chance against hte Pistons. However you have to wonder how worn out the Pistons will be by the time they get to the ECF or Finals with their small bench. No one can really dominate the Pistons like the Heat did last year in the last games of the Heat series.</div> That's the thing you don't realize though, the bench is playing very well right now and isn't getting half the credit it deserves from the national media. If you don't watch them on a game to game basis then you wouldn't know. Everyone knows Murray and Dice has been playing well but Delfino has been very consistent lately along with Maxiell who just put up a 19pts 15rebounds game in Milwaukee. Hunter was playing really well before getting suspended also, he's a little rusty since coming back but that's expected. Dale Davis and Nazr Mohammed are both experienced guys, Dale has been playing at a high level all season and Nazr I'm sure will step it up when needed also. I think this is the deepest team Detroit has had since winning the championship. During the first round, If Orlando is their opponent I can see them going to a 9 men rotation with starters and Flip, Lindsey, Delfino, and Dice all coming off the bench. Maybe even 10 if they need Dale to guard Dwight a few minutes.
I'd like to see the Hornets make the playoffs, but I think they've let things slide a little too much.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (41nowitzness41 @ Mar 30 2007, 11:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'd like to see the Hornets make the playoffs, but I think they've let things slide a little too much.</div>Well when you bring in a scorer from Free Agency who will do alot of your teams scoring and he gets injured instantly along with a few other key players then thats what happens.Here are updated playoff standings.East:1. Detroit2. Cleveland3. Toronto4. Miami5. Chicago6. Washington7. Orlando8. New Jersey(Chicago and Cleveland could switch places as soon as tommorow)West:1. Dallas2. Pheonix3. San Antonio4. Utah5. Houston6. Los Angeles Lakers7. Denver 8. Los Angeles Clippers
