If shaq is heathly come playoff time then i dont see anyone stopping them...also the fact kobe is playing amazng basketball right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "defrocked":</div><div class="quote_post">What's with all of these Celtic picks? Who's there beyond Pierce and Walker? They're one of the shallowest teams in the league. </div> I can explain. Detroit is a very good team. they have a better bench than the celtics or anyone in the east for that matter but they lack one or two cornerstone players that will just lead them all the way. In the playoffs in the NBA its usually the team with the best one or two players who make it all the way or win it. I mean honeslty do you really think that Wallace and Hamilton stack up against walker and pierce? Thats why u see a lot of people picking the celtics. beccause no one in the east has a duo better than pierce and walker. The buzz seemse to be that the home and home sweep was kind of a fluke and detroit was just letting off steam after they got embarrased by the celtics in the playoffs last year. Also the celtics arent as shallow as they used to be. Jr Bremer is proving to be one the better point guards in the east as a starter and that puts shammond williams AND delk in depth positions. if detroit does beat the celts in the playoffs it will be because of their depth which isnt out of the question. in fact its really hard to say that the celts or any team in the east is a clear favorite to get to the finals. Indy has as almost as much depth as detroit and better frontline players. New Jersey has.........well, new jersey has Jason Kidd but hey, it was enough last year....anyway its kind of irrelevant too because again, the winner will likely come from the west and will for the next 5 or so years sadly (unless you love every team in the west) Im kind of surprised at all the laker picks. I mean they like the celts have maybe the best duo in their league but they arent even in the PLAYOFFS yet. and if theyre the 7th or 8th seed they have to face dallas or sacremento in the FIRST ROUND! i dont think they can beat either.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "OnlineX":</div><div class="quote_post">I really dont see the nets going very far in the playoffs!</div> I dont see how you see that. The have the best PG in the league. They have a seven footer who is a great defensive player. They have athletic talent in Jefferson and Martin. They have experience and they fixed the one problem they had last year. SIZE!!!!!!!!! I see them in the Finals once again.
... For some reason I just don't see the Celts or Kings as championship calibur teams...so for right now (I may change later as the season progresses) I am going to go with the Pacers vs Kings with the Pacers winning in 6 games...if not the Kings then I'll go out on a limb and say the Blazers...
You noticed there is No "I" in team. You need a team to win a championship not a player. And the nets dont have to many good players to do it agian i think. The key word is I THINK! That is just my oppion. Hey for all i know is that they could go agian.
I'll say Lakers-Pacers even tho I hate Isiah Thomas. If Ron Artest is as intense as he is during the regular season, how will he be in a long playoff run? :shock: He could kill someone!
Pistons vs Lakers They will meet up in the finals for the first time since 1990. The nets like other people I cant picture them in the Finals. The celtics will go nowhere in the playoffs cause the role players will not stnad up. The Pacers will just get unlucky.
anyone who doesnt think the Kings are championship caliber team is out of their minds. you couldput their top 5 players on the shelf for a whole year and theyd stilll probably be good enough to get the playoffs theyre so deep. anyway I dont think the blazers are going anywhere it seemse like their best players are past their prime and rasheed just isnt great enough to take them all the way. bonzi wells could be an X-factor but ijust dont see them getting past any of the big three. same with the lakers by the way. Im amazed so many people think they can even get past the first ROUND let alone to the finals. The Pacers dont need to get lucky to get to the finals but anyone in the east would need to get MORE than lucky if theyre to win the finals. Also who can you say with such certainty that the celtics role players wont stand up. thats a VERY dangerous assumption because you just dont know especially since they stepped up in the playoffs last year and theyre deeper and better this year. As for the nets. sure they have size now and its on the bench. Rodnye Rogers is big too but hes had kind of an off year. You can pretty much cgarentee that any good defense is going to shut down kenyon martin. once again itl be up to kidd and theyll only go as far as hell take them and how can you expect one man to beat the whole eastern conference two years in a row? i guess it could happen but Id be less surpirsed to see the pistons make it. my prediction.....Pacers/Celtics vs. Kings/Mavs I know thats kind of broad but hey....i like ending up right
... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">anyone who doesnt think the Kings are championship caliber team is out of their minds. you couldput their top 5 players on the shelf for a whole year and theyd stilll probably be good enough to get the playoffs theyre so deep</div> Of course talent wise Sacto is a championship calibur team, but if you go by talent then the Blazers should have a few championship rings themselves. What brought them down? Their attitude...I just don't think the Kings have that kind of winner's mentality it takes...instead of concentrating on winning the game they concentrate on what calls the refs are giving the other team...while Vlade is flopping and turning on the floor in anger the other team will be scoring on a fast break...not to mention teams that Rick Adelman coaches never seem to get over the hump...
mmm....i dont think its fair to say that the blazers are absolutley LOADED with talent. rasheed isnt that great. pippens over the hill as is damon. but sacramento doesnt reall have an attitude problem certinly not like the blazers or the pacers. they dont whine to the refs nearly as much as somme other teams and yeah rick adelmans had trouble in the past but hes nevedr had a team like this before. either they or dallas will win the championship this year
I'm going with Detroit vs. Sacremento Detroit, while not the most exciting team in the league to watch, is one of the most complete teams in the NBA, and a team's ability to play good defense is vital in the playoffs. Sacremento should speak for itself, their second team is better than half the first teams out there. Not to mention the outstanding first team play of Bibby, Stoj, Webber, Christie, and Divac.
Lakers and Nets (yes, again) Nets in 7. The way the Nets are playing they can beat anyone right now. They will have homecourt advantage too!!!! The dynasty is over!!!
i dont see anyone from the east taking it but they do it wont be the nets. even if they make the finals i dont like their chances against the west as much maybe indy or boston
yeah........i think its a pretty safe assumption that it will be either the kings or the mavs who take the title this year