D-Rocafella
April 20th, 2006, 1:23:43 AM
Lets use this post to put any playoff prediction you may have.
East:
1) Pistons vs 8) Bucks: I like the Bucks and I really like Reed, but Simmons never turned into that good player to complete the 1,2 punch which will leave the Bucks vunerable once the Pistons clamp down on Reed.
Pistons in 4
4) Cavilers vs 5) Wizards: Lebrons first taste of the playoffs will start of with a bang as he won't experience any playoff jitters and improve upon his regular season numbers. However, Arenas will put forth a great series and match James point for point. This will be a hard fought series and home court will be the deciding factor.
Cavilers in 7
3) Nets vs 6) Pacers: No team has been as hot in the past two months leading up to the playoffs then the Nets. Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson are all healthy and together the trio is showing just what they are capable of when healthy. The Pacers will put up a fight as O'Neal is back and Jackson and Stojacovich form a solid set of wing players. However, Peja's history of playoff failers and Jackson not being on the level of a Carter or even Jefferson lead to the Pacers downfall.
Nets in 6
2) Heat vs 7) Bulls: This is the wrong team for the Heat to be facing in the 1st round, Ideally they would have liked a team like the Bucks or Pacers whom they could have paced themselves with to get into playoff mode but the Bulls will fly out the gates and win the 1st game. The Heat are a 2 man act and while they have alot of other big names (Williams, Walker, Posey, and Payton) they are either too old, or too hyped to help Shaq and Wade. Also Shaq is not the same Shaq and Wade alone cannot combat the talented youth the Bulls possess (Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, and Chandler).
Bulls in 7
1) Pistons vs 4) Cavilers: Lebron takes it up a notch and shows us just what he is capable of. He will improve on his numbers from the 1st round and that is only the beginning of things to come for him. But Hughes is not ready to give James the proper support he needs after only playing a short time simce his injury. That and the lack of great perimeter defense will be the Cavs shortcomings.
Pistons in 6
3) Nets vs 7) Bulls: The Bulls do not let down from the high of knocking off the Heat and continue to play great ball. But the Nets will also continue to shine. Carter will eat up the Bulls short gaurd defeners and force them to go with a lineup of Deng and Nocioni at the 2 and 3 so one of them can gaurd Carter. However this will take Gordon or Hinrich off the court and take them away from there game.
Nets in 7
1) Pistons vs 3) Nets: Ths Pistons worst nightmare in the easternfinals is realized. Truth be told they would rather have faced the Heat and only worry about shutting down Wade but with the Nets they have Carter and Jefferson to contend with. Also Kidd will force Billups to play tougher D as to cut off passing lanes which will effect his offensive game. The Nets demise will be their lack of low post presence as the Wallace's will own the glass and Sheed should dominate the post.
Pistons in 7
West:
1) Spurs vs 8) Kings: Tough matchup for the Spurs early on. Duncan will not be able to rest his injured foot with 30 minute performances as they will need more from him to knock off the Kings. Bibby can keep up with Parker, and Artest can check Ginobili, but the Spurs have no answer for Duncan.
Spurs in 6
4) Mavericks vs 5) Grizzles: The Grizz will be second guessing themselves all summer and contemplate why they didin't do more to ensure the 6th seed and a home 1st round matchup against the Nuggets. That being said they have great personel and will not quite. But the Mavs possess too much offensive firepower and the Grizzles lack of superior wing scoring will put too much pressure on Gasol who will exert alot of energy checking Dirk.
Mavericks in 7
3) Nuggets vs 6) Clippers: Not only are the Clips in but they get a home playoff series as a 6th seed. With Maggette back to go along with Cassell, Mobely, and Brand the Clippers have too much fire power for the Nuggets to contend with. Melo will be great, but Martin is not a superstar and Camby is great at moments. But the Nuggets downfall will be their lack of a second scorer.
Clippers in 5
2) Suns vs 7) Lakers: Nash will win the MVP and he will showcase why he deserves it against the Lakers. While Kobe has the best numbers he does not make the players around him better. Nash on the other hand turns Marion into an all-NBA type player and a buch of former stiffs into great role players. Kobe will still have enough to make this a series but he can't outscore the Suns by himself.
Suns in 6
1) Spurs vs 4) Mavericks: It's a shame that the format works this way because the best seires of the playoffs will be in the second round. These teams no each other well and hate one another. Anyway you slice it this one is going the distance and the Spurs bug game experience will see them through.
Spurs in 7
2) Suns vs 6) Clippers: This will be an entertaining series as both teams will push the ball and both teams have plenty of players that can play. However, the Suns experience coupled with the Clipps inexperience will make this a short series, but each game will be close.
Suns in 5
1) Spurs vs 2) Suns: A rematch of last years western confrence finals pits these two squads against on another again. This year though the Suns are without Amare, but have a improved defense. However this new D is no where near good enough to contend with the Spurs and without Amare the Suns can only hope not to get swept.
Spurs in 5
NBA Finals:
Spurs vs Pistons: Again these two teams meet and again it will go to seven. But this time things are different. The Pistons have homecourt so that game seven is in their gym. But the Pistons will come into this series coming off a 7 game war against the Nets while the Spurs will have had a week off after thier easy victory over the Suns. This will enable the Spurs to win the 1st game in Detroit and split the 1st 2 games. Then they move on to 3 games in San Antonio with the Spurs winning the pivotal games (3 and 5) forcing the Pistons to play the whole series with the deficit. Gowing back to Detroit nd down 3-2 the Pistons will find a way to win game 6, tie things up and set up the all important game 7 like last year. But this time they have the homecourt. However, they will have gave everything they got in that 6th game and this time game 7 won't be as close as it was a year ago and Duncan once again proves to be the difference as he was last year and the Spurs go back to back with Duncan yet again recieving MVP honors.
Spurs in 7.
East:
1) Pistons vs 8) Bucks: I like the Bucks and I really like Reed, but Simmons never turned into that good player to complete the 1,2 punch which will leave the Bucks vunerable once the Pistons clamp down on Reed.
Pistons in 4
4) Cavilers vs 5) Wizards: Lebrons first taste of the playoffs will start of with a bang as he won't experience any playoff jitters and improve upon his regular season numbers. However, Arenas will put forth a great series and match James point for point. This will be a hard fought series and home court will be the deciding factor.
Cavilers in 7
3) Nets vs 6) Pacers: No team has been as hot in the past two months leading up to the playoffs then the Nets. Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson are all healthy and together the trio is showing just what they are capable of when healthy. The Pacers will put up a fight as O'Neal is back and Jackson and Stojacovich form a solid set of wing players. However, Peja's history of playoff failers and Jackson not being on the level of a Carter or even Jefferson lead to the Pacers downfall.
Nets in 6
2) Heat vs 7) Bulls: This is the wrong team for the Heat to be facing in the 1st round, Ideally they would have liked a team like the Bucks or Pacers whom they could have paced themselves with to get into playoff mode but the Bulls will fly out the gates and win the 1st game. The Heat are a 2 man act and while they have alot of other big names (Williams, Walker, Posey, and Payton) they are either too old, or too hyped to help Shaq and Wade. Also Shaq is not the same Shaq and Wade alone cannot combat the talented youth the Bulls possess (Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, and Chandler).
Bulls in 7
1) Pistons vs 4) Cavilers: Lebron takes it up a notch and shows us just what he is capable of. He will improve on his numbers from the 1st round and that is only the beginning of things to come for him. But Hughes is not ready to give James the proper support he needs after only playing a short time simce his injury. That and the lack of great perimeter defense will be the Cavs shortcomings.
Pistons in 6
3) Nets vs 7) Bulls: The Bulls do not let down from the high of knocking off the Heat and continue to play great ball. But the Nets will also continue to shine. Carter will eat up the Bulls short gaurd defeners and force them to go with a lineup of Deng and Nocioni at the 2 and 3 so one of them can gaurd Carter. However this will take Gordon or Hinrich off the court and take them away from there game.
Nets in 7
1) Pistons vs 3) Nets: Ths Pistons worst nightmare in the easternfinals is realized. Truth be told they would rather have faced the Heat and only worry about shutting down Wade but with the Nets they have Carter and Jefferson to contend with. Also Kidd will force Billups to play tougher D as to cut off passing lanes which will effect his offensive game. The Nets demise will be their lack of low post presence as the Wallace's will own the glass and Sheed should dominate the post.
Pistons in 7
West:
1) Spurs vs 8) Kings: Tough matchup for the Spurs early on. Duncan will not be able to rest his injured foot with 30 minute performances as they will need more from him to knock off the Kings. Bibby can keep up with Parker, and Artest can check Ginobili, but the Spurs have no answer for Duncan.
Spurs in 6
4) Mavericks vs 5) Grizzles: The Grizz will be second guessing themselves all summer and contemplate why they didin't do more to ensure the 6th seed and a home 1st round matchup against the Nuggets. That being said they have great personel and will not quite. But the Mavs possess too much offensive firepower and the Grizzles lack of superior wing scoring will put too much pressure on Gasol who will exert alot of energy checking Dirk.
Mavericks in 7
3) Nuggets vs 6) Clippers: Not only are the Clips in but they get a home playoff series as a 6th seed. With Maggette back to go along with Cassell, Mobely, and Brand the Clippers have too much fire power for the Nuggets to contend with. Melo will be great, but Martin is not a superstar and Camby is great at moments. But the Nuggets downfall will be their lack of a second scorer.
Clippers in 5
2) Suns vs 7) Lakers: Nash will win the MVP and he will showcase why he deserves it against the Lakers. While Kobe has the best numbers he does not make the players around him better. Nash on the other hand turns Marion into an all-NBA type player and a buch of former stiffs into great role players. Kobe will still have enough to make this a series but he can't outscore the Suns by himself.
Suns in 6
1) Spurs vs 4) Mavericks: It's a shame that the format works this way because the best seires of the playoffs will be in the second round. These teams no each other well and hate one another. Anyway you slice it this one is going the distance and the Spurs bug game experience will see them through.
Spurs in 7
2) Suns vs 6) Clippers: This will be an entertaining series as both teams will push the ball and both teams have plenty of players that can play. However, the Suns experience coupled with the Clipps inexperience will make this a short series, but each game will be close.
Suns in 5
1) Spurs vs 2) Suns: A rematch of last years western confrence finals pits these two squads against on another again. This year though the Suns are without Amare, but have a improved defense. However this new D is no where near good enough to contend with the Spurs and without Amare the Suns can only hope not to get swept.
Spurs in 5
NBA Finals:
Spurs vs Pistons: Again these two teams meet and again it will go to seven. But this time things are different. The Pistons have homecourt so that game seven is in their gym. But the Pistons will come into this series coming off a 7 game war against the Nets while the Spurs will have had a week off after thier easy victory over the Suns. This will enable the Spurs to win the 1st game in Detroit and split the 1st 2 games. Then they move on to 3 games in San Antonio with the Spurs winning the pivotal games (3 and 5) forcing the Pistons to play the whole series with the deficit. Gowing back to Detroit nd down 3-2 the Pistons will find a way to win game 6, tie things up and set up the all important game 7 like last year. But this time they have the homecourt. However, they will have gave everything they got in that 6th game and this time game 7 won't be as close as it was a year ago and Duncan once again proves to be the difference as he was last year and the Spurs go back to back with Duncan yet again recieving MVP honors.
Spurs in 7.