Official NBA Playoffs Thread (Predictions Welcome!)

[thepd7]

Haven't seen much posted and things are really exciting this year!

Here's the current matchups:

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/matchups

Obviously with the Suns up by 20 it looks like they will get the 3 seed, the Nuggets by virtue of a tiebreak with Utah will have the 4 seed, and the Jazz fall to the 5 seed.

How crazy is it that a team with 53 wins will be the 5 seed?

Here are my predictions

West Round 1
Lakers def OKC 4-1
Mavs def Spurs 4-2
Suns def Portland 4-1
Jazz def Nuggets 4-3

East Round 1
Cavs def Bulls 4-0
Orlando def Charlotte 4-1
Hawks def Bucks 4-2
Celtics def Heat 4-3

West Semifinals
Lakers over Jazz 4-2
Mavs def Suns 4-1

East Semifinals
Cavs def Celtics 4-1
Magic def Hawks 4-2

West Finals
Mavs def Lakers 4-2

East Finals
Magic def Cavs 4-3

NBA Finals
Magic def Mavs 4-3


Post your predictions!

 

[cheezy321]

Suns all the way!!

 

[Miramonti]

Bulls over Cavs, 4-3.

 

[JMapleton]

Celtics win it all.

They have been lagging behind their potential because of injuries, but they are a sleeping giant.

 

[cheezy321]

Celtics win it all.

They have been lagging behind their potential because of injuries, but they are a sleeping giant.

KG hasn't been the same all year and Rasheed poisoned the rest of the team. Only shining star this year is Rondo.

 

[zerocool84]

KG hasn't been the same all year and Rasheed poisoned the rest of the team. Only shining star this year is Rondo.

Yep they're a sinking ship and even Doc Rivers knows it which is why he's talking about leaving.

Cavs win it all

 

[neegotiator]

KG hasn't been the same all year and Rasheed poisoned the rest of the team. Only shining star this year is Rondo.

at the very least sheed was good for a few chuckles this season

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VeaNSiFIEM&feature=related

 

[slayer202]

there will be upsets this year

The thunder have a tough draw against the Lakers. I would have picked them against just about any other team in the west, but they will have a tough time winning a series against the lakers. However, I think theres a chance that they make LA play 7 games which will be very big. They do have a slim chance at winning, it would be real fun to see. Best possible scenario in my eyes would be durant beating lebron in the finals

In the east, I'll start by saying I hate the cavs, so I think theres a chance the bulls beat them. DRose's dunk tonight was nasttyyyy. In other matchups, the Magic and Heat will win pretty easily. Boston should beat Miami but anything could happen there, it should be fun to watch.

Back to the West, I think all the underdogs have a good chance at winning. I really like the blazers, they are a fun team to watch and they have the talent to win. The spurs are always a live dog, playoff time they get it done, no questions asked. If they get bounced first round this year they are going into a rebuilding process, otherwise they will continue a downward spiral. Utah and Denver will be a very fun series to watch. Denver gets the advantage with clearly the best player, and chauncey has been here before. The Jazz have been even better than expected though, and if they're healthy they do have a shot.

I'll go out on a limb, and against my prayers I'll predict that the cavs beat the Nuggets in the finals

 

[zerocool84]

there will be upsets this year

The thunder have a tough draw against the Lakers. I would have picked them against just about any other team in the west, but they will have a tough time winning a series against the lakers. However, I think theres a chance that they make LA play 7 games which will be very big. They do have a slim chance at winning, it would be real fun to see. Best possible scenario in my eyes would be durant beating lebron in the finals

In the east, I'll start by saying I hate the cavs, so I think theres a chance the bulls beat them. DRose's dunk tonight was nasttyyyy. In other matchups, the Magic and Heat will win pretty easily. Boston should beat Miami but anything could happen there, it should be fun to watch.

Back to the West, I think all the underdogs have a good chance at winning. I really like the blazers, they are a fun team to watch and they have the talent to win. The spurs are always a live dog, playoff time they get it done, no questions asked. If they get bounced first round this year they are going into a rebuilding process, otherwise they will continue a downward spiral. Utah and Denver will be a very fun series to watch. Denver gets the advantage with clearly the best player, and chauncey has been here before. The Jazz have been even better than expected though, and if they're healthy they do have a shot.

I'll go out on a limb, and against my prayers I'll predict that the cavs beat the Nuggets in the finals

You don't talk about the Mavs at all. They've been on a role since the All Star break. They'll easily beat the Spurs (my team) and will take the Lakers to 7 games and beat them cus we know the Lakers always slack off. Lakers are nothing like last year. Their bench sucks bad and Artest just hasn't been performing great but still good defensively and Gasol won't be able to guard Nowitzki outside of the paint. Mid-way through the season I had the Nuggets as the only Lakers threat but they've fallen hard since then. I guess maybe Karl and Martin being out really hurt them a lot it seems. I really think the Cavs are going to take it this year. Jamison is too big of a threat with James and the other players to not win. Them getting Jamison puts them over the Magic that killed them in the past.

 

[Xed]

I'm hoping the bulls win a series or two. Just because it'll probably cause Paxson to go Kratos on Vinny since he won't be able to fire him until May.

 

[phreaqe]

Lets go BUCKS!!!!

I was pretty pumped the way they were playing lately, but when Bogut went down it kind of took the wind out of my sails. They have still looked ok without him, buts its going to be tough to move on without him.

 

[Drekce]

Magic, Magic, Magic. I've got my tickets and am pumped for another run to the finals.

 

[dougp]

You don't talk about the Mavs at all. They've been on a role since the All Star break. They'll easily beat the Spurs (my team) and will take the Lakers to 7 games and beat them cus we know the Lakers always slack off. Lakers are nothing like last year. Their bench sucks bad and Artest just hasn't been performing great but still good defensively and Gasol won't be able to guard Nowitzki outside of the paint. Mid-way through the season I had the Nuggets as the only Lakers threat but they've fallen hard since then. I guess maybe Karl and Martin being out really hurt them a lot it seems. I really think the Cavs are going to take it this year. Jamison is too big of a threat with James and the other players to not win. Them getting Jamison puts them over the Magic that killed them in the past.

Normally I'm cool with you - but being a Spurs fan, you obviously have NO clue how the teams matched up this season man.

Two of the games occurred at the beginning of the year while the Spurs had some injuries, with another occurring in January before the Mavs got Butler and Haywood. The last game of the season, the Mavs won by 6 without Duncan or Manu playing, and Hill going out in the 1st quarter. DeJuan Blair put up 27 points and 23 rebounds against their "new" and improved front line. A freaking rookie with NO ACLs did this - sorry, but it doesn't scare me. The Mavs simply don't have someone who can guard Manu or Tony, and all they'll do is throw bodies against Duncan.

I think it's going to be a 7 game series, with the Spurs winning it - but that's me. I look at the whole picture and I think our odds are best against the Mavs or the Jazz, who are missing 3 main players.

The team I DON'T want to play is the Thunder - they scare me. They're one of the top defensive teams, and they also seem pretty good on offense with that guy name Durant (I hope my sarcasm was oozing off that last part like oils off a nice pair of tits in a girl on girl oil wrestling match.)

My predictions:
West Round 1
Lakers def OKC 4-3
Spurs def Mavs 4-3
Suns def Portland 4-2
Nuggets def Jazz 4-2

East Round 1
Cavs def Bulls 4-1
Orlando def Charlotte 4-3
Hawks def Bucks 4-1
Celtics def Heat 4-2

West Semifinals
Lakers over Nuggets 4-1
Spurs def Suns 4-3

East Semifinals
Cavs def Celtics 4-1
Magic def Hawks 4-1

West Finals
Spurs def Lakers 4-3

East Finals
Magic def Cavs 4-3

NBA Finals
Spurs def Magic 4-2

Yes, I'm partially biased, but a lot of major players in the West have injuries, and my team matches up well. I know I'll get flamed by a Lakers player, and they'll be biased too - but hey, my last ban came from an NBA thread ... :awe:

 

[dbk]

West Round 1
Lakers def OKC 4-2
Spurs def Mavs 4-3
Suns def Portland 4-2
Nuggets def Jazz 4-3

East Round 1
Cavs def Bulls 4-1
Magic def Charlotte 4-0
Hawks def Bucks 4-3
Heat def Celtics 4-2

West Semifinals
Lakers def Nuggets 4-3
Spurs def Suns 4-3

East Semifinals
Cavs def Heat 4-2
Magic def Hawks 4-1

West Finals
Lakers def Spurs 4-1

East Finals
Cavs def Magic 4-2

NBA Finals
Cavs def Lakers 4-3

Finals MVP: Bron

 

[slayer202]

You don't talk about the Mavs at all. They've been on a role since the All Star break. They'll easily beat the Spurs (my team) and will take the Lakers to 7 games and beat them cus we know the Lakers always slack off. Lakers are nothing like last year. Their bench sucks bad and Artest just hasn't been performing great but still good defensively and Gasol won't be able to guard Nowitzki outside of the paint. Mid-way through the season I had the Nuggets as the only Lakers threat but they've fallen hard since then. I guess maybe Karl and Martin being out really hurt them a lot it seems. I really think the Cavs are going to take it this year. Jamison is too big of a threat with James and the other players to not win. Them getting Jamison puts them over the Magic that killed them in the past.

you're right, the mavs have had a great season, nothing less than that, but I think spurs vs. mavs can defy past performance. mavs have clearly been the better team but the spurs need to prove themselves and they know it. this might be it for them.

Lakers have been struggling heavily, but I was just looking at how they've done against the thunder and they have done very well against durant so I don't think the Thunder have a chance. If they make it competitive it will be very impressive. I'm not sure how the lakers will do past the first round. Matchups will be important

Denver does miss karl and martin, who knows what will happen. Chauncey should be able to lead the team, I doubt melo can. Blazers might be in the same boat if Brandon Roy can't play 100%, that would be dissapointing

 

[vi edit]

Holy crap. I don't know how Chicago snuck in...but they did. Anywhoo...I don't see them winning more than a game against Cleveland. They just have no post threat and only have Noah for defense down low...and I'm not even sure if he's healthy.

I think Orlando walks out of the east and I'm liking the Spurs out of the west. San Antonio is just looking scary on the final stretch. I don't like Dallas...they just seem like every other year...strong regular season...soft in the playoffs.

I think Orlando takes it all in 6 games vs San Antonio.

 

[dbk]

Cavs have been cruising all year.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I'm skipping the preliminaries and guessing the conference finals will be Cleveland - Orlando and LA - Dallas.

Orlando will beat Cleveland again. Even though Cleveland has the best record in the NBA I don't think they can take Orlando in a best of seven, particularly since the Magic have a healthy Jameer Nelson going into the playoffs. Orlando wins 4-2 or 4-3.

The West is a different animal this year. LA is not the steamroller it was last year. If Dallas can manage to make it to the conference finals my prediction is that they'll beat LA 4-2.

Orlando will have home court advantage and that will be a big factor besides their ability to beat teams on the road. Magic beat Dallas 4-1.

 

[KeithTalent]

Cavs look unstoppable. They should come through the East without difficulty and I'll be cheering for that. As for the West I'll be cheering for OKC (Zombie Sonics ) first and Phoenix (go Nash!). I am really cheering for the Lakers to lose as soon as possible.

Suns (I'm hoping for this anyway) - Cavs final with the Cavs taking it in 6.

KT

 

[dougp]

Cavs have been cruising all year.

Except their record is worse than last year. Cruising through the Eastern Conference, and not exactly a hard schedule the last month or two is not what I'd describe with your phrase.

The last teams the Cavs will want to match-up with would be the Bobcats, Celtics or Magic. These are teams they either had a losing record to, Bobcats, or teams they split their season series with, Celtics and Magic. Any competent coach just needs to figure out how to neutralize the "tangibles" in Cleveland - stopping LBJ will not happen.

I'll be cheering for the Magic out of the East though.

 

[bigrash]

Knicks all the way!!!

Seriously, since the Knicks aren't in, I'm going with the Cavs. Cavs vs Lakers should be awesome!

 

[mesthead21]

Spurs beating magic in the finals???? hahahahahahahhahahahahhaha

What are you on dougp? I'm a Suns fan, but I'm realistic.

 

[OCGuy]

Spurs beating magic in the finals???? hahahahahahahhahahahahhaha

What are you on dougp? I'm a Suns fan, but I'm realistic.

this

 

[BlackTigers]

Cavs over the Magic in 6.

Lakers over the Mavs in 7.

CAvs over the Lakers in 6.

 

[dougp]

Spurs beating magic in the finals???? hahahahahahahhahahahahhaha

What are you on dougp? I'm a Suns fan, but I'm realistic.

Series split of 1-1

Both teams winning convincingly, but Parker wasn't in either game.