Playoff Predictions

well i say:

Round 1:

(6)kings over (3)seattle in 7
(1)suns over (8)memphisin 5
(2)spurs over (7)nuggets in 6
(5)rockets over (4)mavs in 7

(1)heat over (8)nets in 5
(2)pistons over (7)76ers in 6
(5)wiz over (4)bulls in 5
(6)pacers over (3)celtics in 7

Round 2:

(1)suns over (5)rockets in 6
(2)spurs over (6)kings in 6

(1)heat over (5)wiz in 5
(6)pacers over (2)pistons in 7


Round 3:

(1)suns over (2)spurs in 6
(1)heat over (6)pacers in 5

Finals:

(1)heat over (1)suns in 6

 

Interesting. These playoffs should be very good. I personally like the Mavericks(who was my sleeper team this year from the West), from the West, along with the Spurs. So that would be my Western Confrence Finals. I believe that the Mavericks are easily the deepest team in the NBA, and I beileve they have so many good players it is rediculous. I think Dampier's health is important into just how far they get in the playoffs. And I believe the Spurs will be in the Western Confrence finals as I see Bowen being able to contain Carmello Anthony and the rest of the Spurs defense being able to contain the Nuggets. And I think that the Spurs could get by the Sonics or the Kings pretty easily.

From the East it is very tricky. I like the Heat the Pistons for the Eastern Confrence Finals. I think the rest of the matchups will be very interesting, but I think that the Pistons and Heat will prevail.

So my WCF and ECF would be Mavericks vs. Spurs and Heat vs. Pistons.

I think from those matchups that the Pistons will be able to prevail over the Heat, even though it will be a very exciting series. And the Mavericks/Spurs series would depend on the health of Dampier and Duncan. I am personally leaning toward the Mavericks, unless if Duncan could totally come in and become superman or something.

So my finals would be Mavericks vs. Pistons.

Billups/Rip/Prince/Rasheed/Ben
vs.
Terry/Stackhouse/Finley/Dirk/Dampier

Anyway it goes, I am sure it will be a fun playoff.

 

I guess I'll do mine too.

Eastern Conference:
1st Round
(1) Miami def. (8) New Jersey 4-1
(2) Detroit def. (7) Philly 4-1
(6) Indiana def. (3) Boston 4-3
(4) Chicago def. (5) Washington 4-3

Semifinals
(1) Miami def. (4) Chicago 4-1
(2) Detroit def. (6) Indiana 4-2

Finals
(1) Miami def. (2) Detroit 4-2


Western Conference:
(1) Phoenix def. (8) Memphis 4-0
(2) San Antonio def. (7) Denver 4-2
(6) Sacramento def. (3) Seattle 4-3
(4) Dallas def. (5) Houston 4-3

Semifinals
(1) Phoenix def. (4) Dallas 4-3
(2) San Antonio def. (6) Sacramento 4-1

Finals
(2) San Antonio def. (1) Phoenix 4-3


NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
(1) Miami def. (2) San Antonio 4-2

 

I think it's just going to be Dallas and San Antonio and Miami and Detroit (If Rip and Sheed are back).

No use mapping it out, really. The running teams that don't play much defense, have no interior presence on both ends and rely on the 3ball are going to get smoked.

Dallas has Jason Terry (can defend), Michael Finley (can defend), Josh Howard (can defend), Erick Dampier (can defend). And all perimeter players can drive and shoot. Nowitzki and Dampier can both rebound and post up and Nowitzki is probably the hardest matchup to guard as well as when they put Keith Van Horn in at small forward.

San Antonio is just scary even without Duncan or Rasho. A well coached and disciplined team that has everyone in the starting 5 able to play some defense, run out in the open court, or slow it down to the halfcourt game.

Miami, doesn't play that much D, but they got Shaq and Wade. Shaq can pretty score on every posession by outmuscling the other guy for position in the paint. Lots of 3 point specialists. Power forward position is weak.

Detroit. Like the Spurs, when healthy, a well oiled machine that is disciplined and can beat you with smothering defense, and run out in the open court, or in the half court track.

All these run and gun teams that were division leaders will probably see an early exit for the first round.... unless they're against teams with a lot of key injuries.

I would like to say San Antonio will win it, but I think the Miami Heat might just win because the chemistry seems to be there and after Shaq being traded to there and them winning would just be funny.

 

Here's my bracket predictions just for fun:

East

Miami 4-0
v.
Nets

<div align="center">Miami 4-1
v.
Washington</div>

Chicago
v.
Washington 4-2

<div align="right">Miami 4-2
v.
Detroit</div>

Detroit 4-1
v.
Philadelphia

<div align="center">Detroit 4-1
v.
Indiana</div>

Celtics
v.
Indiana 4-3


West

Phoenix 4-1
v.
Memphis

<div align="center">Phoenix 4-3
v.
Dallas
</div>
Dallas 4-2
v.
Houston

<div align="right">Phoenix 4-3
v.
San Antonio
</div>

San Antonio 4-2
v.
Denver

<div align="center">San Antonio 4-1
v.
Sacramento</div>

Supersonics
v.
Sacramento 4-3

Finals

Miami
v.
Phoenix 4-3


It's hard to predict in the West - but in most matchups I still see the West beating out Miami this year.
*edit: I just noticed that my West coast first round matchups are like map's!

 

Ill do my biased one
Kings in 6 v.s. Seattle
Kings in 7 v.s. S.A.
Kings in 7 v.s. Phoenix
Kings in 7 v.s. Detroit

A man can have his dreams

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sactomofo:</div><div class="quote_post">Ill do my biased one
Kings in 6 v.s. Seattle
Kings in 7 v.s. S.A.
Kings in 7 v.s. Phoenix
Kings in 7 v.s. Detroit

A man can have his dreams </div>
I feel bad for the Maloofs. All that spending and the window of opportunity closed on them.

 

The Suns and Miami played like teams of destiny this year,but both are newly assembled and the current version hasn't faced the playoff grind as a group. Dallas seems so deap,so loaded with guys able to do whatever is needed,and yet the Spurs have been the team to live up to their potential in the playoffs---if Duncan is 100%. Indy could surprise,but would need several surprises to go the distance. A few years ago,the refs approach to fouls,and Shaq pretty much gave him a blanck check to charge,elbow spindle and mutilate while giving defenders no options except to stand clear. If that is the case again,Miami would seem to have a big edge,though they are not deep. Despite mild upsets along the way,by the finals,the survivors will be no big surprise.. ...Memphis vs Sixers? nope.

 

Nash and Shaq are definitely players that set the tempo. If the running team gets the big man in trouble, I could see the Suns kicking butt, but you never know how the refs will call these games. Remember those conspiracy theories that David Stern fixes the NBA?

 

Sorry for bumping an older thread, but I'd just like to point out that for the first round I'm doing pretty well in my predictions so far. I called the East almost dead on, and in the West I was about one game off for each matchup. It depends if Indiana comes through like I expect, and if the Mavs continue like I expect. The only total mistake was the Kings, whew, did I understimate that matchup. I thought Miller would be healthier than he was. Then again, who expected Jerome James to dominate the Kings?

I hope next year I can predict how the Warriors do.

 

Well, Washington Warriors just made to second round. Wonder what would have happened if we were in East whole time . Although, Wiz did get a break with Curry's absence, it's nice to see them advancing to the next round. And, what's up with Chandler at the end? He made the mistake when it counted the most.

Spurs are good. Darn good. Denver was as hot as it can get, and if they didn't meet Spurs, they probably would have upset either Suns or Sonics. But, Spurs really solved Nuggets, even without 100% Duncan.

'Refs 'fixing' the game theory' is really funny to me. They couldn't make a right call to save their lives, and some people believe that refs are in control to 'fix' the game, when it matters? Some people are actually believe that Stern fixed the game to favor certain teams, when in reality, it will completely destroy NBA if one official comes out with solid evidence, and say Stern ordered us to do certain things. It's like betting your entire fortune for a candy, yet conspiracy theory still lives on...

 

Well as far as the ref controversy, it seems like everyone is sending those "tapes" to the league. I'm surprised that any of those complaints actually get listened to by the league much less the refs. You're right that the refs have a hard enough time as it is, that they probably don't think about fixing the game... they have to deal with a ton of players who are ultra-competitive and always whining, coaches who are yelling at them constantly, and watching 10 men all at once. Can they really keep in mind, "oh yeah, call more fouls on Yao?" If it were like that, it'd be a lot more obvious, and thus easier to point out instead of the speculation that we have.

 

Although, it's annoying, I also find coaches whinning bit funny as well. Adelman was complaining about flopping? The league should send Divac's tape to Adelman's house, but those tapes probably can't fit into his house anyway. And, the league siding with Mavs and Cuban? 'Punishing' Yao, when the league is trying to expand all over the world? Yeah, upsetting billions of Chinese should do well for Stern's plan. I mean, I understand why they do those, because the refs may second guess when they call a foul, but those excessive whinning isn't too pleasant. Heck, they should be in our shoes and face how we can get a short end of the call virtually every single game...

 

Sorry to change subject, I just had to add that the Rockets losing just goes to show that Dallas can win with their depth despite their superstars playing like crud. Jason Terry just rocks!
Bird's team beat Ainge's team, which is good for Reggie. If the Pacers somehow advance and beat the Pistons without Artest, that would be something of karma after what happened in Detroit. If the Pacers somehow win a championship, that would be a story book ending for Reggie, another ring for Stephen Jackson, and another punch in the stomach for Portland who didn't make the playoffs and saw another former Blazer(s) win a championship.

As for conspiracy theories... if the Lakers win the lotto this season, I'll believe it

 

I'm gonna go with Mavs over Suns. You take a look at the numerous factors in Phoenix's favor but they still can't play Defense. AJ is legit. To comeback from an 0-2 series when you lose your first 2 home games is definitley a sign of keeping your composure. Dallas also has perimeter defenders in Harris & Howard. Those guys play prety dirty and we'll see how Phoenix copes with that. If they go hard at Nash on both ends of the floor, Dallas wins.

 

Marquis Daniels can score, Josh Howard can score, Jason Terry can score, Finley can score, and on top of that they can all play defense. Plus with Dirk Nowitzki nobody has figured out how to guard him unless they rough him up. Ryan Bowen was playing him pretty well this whole series, but Dirk's team stepped up and played D. Having Dampier as a center also probably helps. Stack is also an allstar and can play D when motivated.

Houston just didn't have the depth nor the chemistry nor the D. They got D, but it's kind of overrated. Also these guys tend to drop a lot of passes... Houston doesn't have a whole lot of scorers. They could have certainly used Juwon Howard in this series.

 

Wee, Damp probably should have shut his mouth about being the best center in West. Actually, I am rather surprised how he was relatively quiet against Yao, since he generally pushed around Yao, when he was with us. But against Hunter, I think there is a good chance that he can be a monster against Suns. As for Dallas beating Suns? I don't know. Suns is still pretty darn good team, and they really dismantled Griz. And, it's not like Dallas will play against Suns' style. If Dirk plays like how he played against Mavs, it can be a very quick series. Either way, I don't see either teams beating Spurs.

Shaq and Wade against Arenas, Hughes and Jamison... Should be a fun series. But, unless Arenas decides to defend Wade a bit, this series can turn out to be a sweep. Wade's stat against Wiz is mind boggling.

Who would thought that Detroit and Indiana will meet in PO. They will probably have to strip search people just to protect players. I expect quick whistles, number of TOs just to control games, and overall ugly, slow paced game...

 

I wonder if Artest has to watch the game on TV...

BTW did anyone see Baron Davis as a guest tv broadcaster on ABC on Sunday?

 

Well, it has been a bumpy ride for Dampier to say the least. Dirk is yelling at him, Avery is whipping him, and now Shaq is making fun of him. Actually, I don't get why Dampier doesn't get more touches. Stoudmire wants no part of defending Dampier, and one too many times, Dampier is literary parked right under the basket. Yet almost all he can get is O. rebound + dunk or dunk by pass from other teammates. And, despite poor outing, he is actually shooting 65% from the field. If they don't plan to use his post up games, even against teams with no center, why did they even bother to sign him? Why won't they post up more and at least try to give Stoudmire some fouls, especially when he is averaging 37 pts per game?

Dang, Washington Warriors are going down fast. Couldn't even beat Shaqless Heat...