Who’s gonna win it all?
Ok, so I posted some pre-playoff predictions and they didn’t quite come through. Oh well, things happen. Its a hard sport to predict, but thats what I like about it. Now that the playoffs are officially starting, I am rolling out predictions once again…all the way to the Finals. If the teams I predict don’t move on, I will make round by round predictions too.
Eastern Conference
First Round
Celtics over Hawks This will be the first and only sweep of the NBA playoffs this year. This is too easy for the C’s! They should just be given a by. I mean, how does a team like the Hawks makes the playoffs and then limp into playoffs by going 1-4 in their last 5 games. I mean, c’mon! And the last loss was to the Heat! How in the world does the coach let that happen. I would have given them a decent chance at taking a game from the C’s, but not with that finish. They have like a .5% chance at winning a game in this series. They may be competitive, but that will only be in the first 5 min of each game….if that. Honestly, its sad, but the C’s move on to the second round pretty easily.
Wizard over Cavs This is a tough pick for me. I love watching LeBron play…he is a beast, a human highlight reel. Third year in a row these teams have met in the playoffs and the third time will be the charm for the Wizards. With Arenas coming off the bench and the whole team being healthy, I think they got it this year. The Cavs don’t seem to have it all quite together and LeBron won’t be able to carry them this year as in years past. I would love to see LeBron do well, but I think the Wizards have the upper hand this year, winning in 7 games.
Magic over Raptors Intriguing matchup here. Bosh and Howard will be the focus of their respective teams, so the role players will be important factors. The Raptors are a tough team, but not quite all there to make a good postseason run. I think “Superman” and the Magic will win this one in 6.
Pistons over 76ers The 76ers could pose some problems for the Pistons, but not enough to win the series. The Pistons are THE QUIETEST story going into the playoffs this year. They have won like they always do, but have been overshadowed by the C’s, which I’m sure they don’t mind. They seem to play a lot better when they don’t have the spotlight on them all the time. And their bench…wow, they got a solid bench, deeper than its been for a few years. With already having the second seed locked up early, they were able to give their bench players a lot of playing time with the starters, getting them ready for the playoffs. That will be key as the playoffs go on. Pistons in 6.
Second Round
Celtics over Wizards Finally, somewhat of a challenge for the C’s. The Wizards gave the Boston 3 party troubles during the season, but won’t have quite enough to take the series after a grueling series against the Cavs. The fact that they are healthy gives them a chance, but it won’t be enough in the end as the C’s will take them in 6.
Pistons over Magic This will be another one of those intriguing matchups. The Magic are one or two more players for getting past the second round, but they’ll put up a decent fight. The Pistons will dispatch them in 6 games.
Conference Finals
Celtics over Pistons This is going to be a long series, all 7 for whoever does take the series. Its a matchup everyone has been waiting for…the Pistons have experience, but the Celtics have that impressive trio of KG, Pierce, and Allen. Its gonna be a dogfight, and only to face a Western team that has been battle-tested already. However it falls, its going to be great to watch. Celtics in 7.
Western Conference
First Round
Lakers over Nuggets The Nuggets are loaded with talent, but have a coach that doesn’t know how to use it to their full potential. Two of the top 5 scores one team? One of the best defensive players in the game? Yet only the 8th seed in the West? I mean, I know its tough, but they could have won a few more games in my opinion. They’ll take a couple from the Lakers, but the Lakers have one of the most complete teams in the playoffs and a bench that can play almost as well as most of the starters. Lakers in 6.
Jazz over Rockets This is a rematch of last year, and the Rockets have home court this year. That could possibly help as the Jazz are an excellent home team. The Rockets couldn’t win last year with Yao, and I don’t think they can do it without him either. The Jazz are pretty much the same, except with the addition of sharpshooter, Kyle Korver. He’ll make a big difference as the Jazz take the series in 6.
Suns over Spurs This will be one entertaining series, a rematch of last years’ series that many called the Finals. The Spurs are just a little older and hurting on the bench. Ginobli has carried the team a lot this year and he will be integral to a playoff run. The Suns added Shaq before the deadline and its starting to look like a really good move. The move has made Amare even more of a force this year then before. There is a small rivalry brewing here and both Shaq and Duncan are trying for their 5th ring. Its going to be so much fun to watch, I wish it wasn’t a first round matchup. Suns win a long, hard fought series in 7.
Hornets over Mavs Going against what most people are saying. The Mavs got in thanks to Dirk shaking off his injury playing some great ball. Kidd is finally getting used to the system I think. They are looking good, but Paul and the Hornets aren’t ready to bow out just yet. Hornets take the series in 7.
Second round
Lakers over Jazz One of the most balanced teams against one of the toughest teams. But the Lakers have this guy named Kobe. Jazz might get a couple games, but Lakers win this in 6
Suns over Hornets This will be one high-scoring, high-octane series. So much scoring, the scoreboards may catch fire. Steve Nash vs. Chris Paul will be so much fun to watch. Nash will go down as one of the best PGs ever…Paul is on his way to that staus two. But the Suns are hungry, they want it bad this year, taking the series in 7 games.
Championship Round
Lakers over Suns As hungry as the Suns are, they will be getting pretty tired by this point, the Lakers having a little more rest and possibly Bynum playing too. Its another one of those grueling series of the West, with the Lakers going all 7, but winning it.
NBA Finals
Celtics over Lakers A series for the ages. A series that will increase the popularity of the NBA once again. The best Finals since the Jordan era. A rivalry that will be renewed. Maybe we’ll even see some throwback jerseys. Its a great matchup all around. Two balanced teams…two deep teams. But in the end, the C’s end up adding to their banners and win it all in 7, bringing even more glory to the city of Boston.
