Post by 4th and Maine on Apr 19, 2009 23:14:07 GMT -5
Well after 6 plus months that seemingly would never end, the NBA regular season is finally in the books and the playoff match-ups are set and have all begun. The regular season saw two teams dominate each league (The Lakers and the Cavs) as well as three players dominate the MVP talk (Lebron, Kobe, and D-Wade). There was a big time trade (Billups for Iverson) and both top picks in the draft (Rose and Beasley) played up to the hype helping lead their teams to the postseason. It was an NBA season that had a little bit of everything, including a late injury as it appears that the Celtics will be without Kevin Garnett for the entire post season.
That opens things up a little it, or does it? We may have been lucky and saw a terrific regular season, however, this could be shaping up to be a pretty predictable postseason. It looks like we are on a crash course for the Lakers vs. The Cavaliers. Kobe vs. Lebron. Will anyone be able to stand in their way? It's highly doubtful, but none the less we do have some intriguing match-ups in the first round.
Perhaps someone can pull of a little bit of an upset and get on a little bit of a roll. Make a little run in the postseason and throw a wrench into the dream NBA match-up. We'll see. But anyway, KG or not, we're pulling for the Celtics to get it done. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are still all-star players and the role players aren't that bad. They have the two go to guys and they have the experience. I hope that's enough against a young hungry Bulls team.
Anyway, here are our first round playoff picks:
Eastern Conference:
#8 Detroit Pistons vs. #1 Cleveland Cavaliers
DETROIT BASKETBALL! Sorry I couldn't help it. It wasn't long ago that the road to the NBA finals always went through mo-town. In fact, the Pistons have at least made an appearance in six straight conference finals. Impressive, yes. However, that streak is about to end. The Billups for Iverson trade blew up in their face and now they have the tall task of trying to win one game against King Lebron and co. let alone four. I don't think they do it. Cavs are already up 1-0 and will continue to cruise. Sweep.
Cavaliers win series 4-0.
#7 Chicago Bulls vs. #2 Boston Celtics
So KG is going to be out the entire postseason? Ouch. Danny Ainge has a heart attack at 50? Wow. The Bulls come into Boston and steal game 1 behind a heroic performance by rookie Derek Rose? Very Impressive. The Bulls showed no remorse for the bad news of KG going down and came in and out worked the C's in game one. It's not going to be something they are going to stop doing. The Celtics need to turn it around and come out and take it to the Bulls in game 2. Open things up a little more and let Allen touch it more down the stretch. Ultimately somehow I think the Celtics do advance, but in seven games again.
Celtics win series 4-3.
#6 Philadelphia 76ers vs. #3 Orlando Magic
The 76ers have played well down the stretch even without big off-season pickup Elton Brand. The new AI is playing really well and they came in and stole game one. The now have the home court advantage and will put the pressure on Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and company as the Magic look to live up to a very impressive regular season record. Slow out the gate but they win the rest at home while taking games three and six on the road.
Magic win series 4-2.
#5 Miami Heat vs #4 Atlanta Haws
The Hawks used a very impressive first round last year against the Celtics, taking them seven games, to roll into a very nice regular season in 2009. So nice in fact, they have home court advantage against MVP candidate Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat. The Hawks blasted the Heat in game one behind a huge performance by Josh Smith who had a double double. It was a great game for Atlanta and it is a very tough place to play. But in the end we think D-Wade rallies the troops, throws them on his back and leads them on. Maybe we are not thinking entirely with our heads with this pick after game one, but we desperately want to see D-Wade vs. Lebron in the playoffs.
Heat win series 4-3.
Western Conference
#8 Utah Jazz vs. #1 Los Angeles Lakers
Really? Kobe has Gasol and Odom playing out of their minds and at all-star levels. He also has a healthy Andrew Bynum back and this team is hungry after last year. They will stop at nothing to get to the finals and the Staples Center in the postseason is electric. I love Jerry Sloan and what he does in Utah, leading them to the playoffs again. But he is over-matched here, and badly.
Lakers win series 4-0.
#7 New Orleans Hornets vs #2 Denver Nuggets
As a guy who loved the trade when Denver was able to bring in Chauncey Billups and all of his playoff experience, as well as ship Me, Myself, and Iverson (thanks Skip) out of town, I am excited to see what the soft nugent Nuggets can do in the playoffs against CP3 and the Hornets. This is probably one of the most exciting match-ups in all of the first round. It should go back and forth and most of the games will be nail bitters, I expect Denver's offense to be too much for the Hornets. Denver can come at you in so many ways with Billups, Anthony, Smith, Martin, and more. In the end it will be too much and Carmello will get out of the first round.
Nuggets win series 4-2.
#6 Dallas Mavericks vs. #3 San Antonio Spurs
This is the most unappealing series to me. The Spurs are older and Ginobili is out for their entire postseason. I also don't find the combination of Jason Kidd and Dirk to be very exciting and they are just lucky to be running into the right team at the right time. I think the Spurs will have pride and take a couple, but somehow some way this Mavericks team is getting out of the first round when a much better one a few years ago couldn't.
Mavericks win series 4-2.
#5 Houston Rockets vs #4 Portland Trail Blazers
The Houston Rockets might be hotter then any other team heading into the postseason. They are playing true team basketball and Artest and Ming are playing very well. The Trail Blazers meanwhile may be the NBA's most exciting young team and like the Hawks they were able to secure home court advantage. That is huge in this series. I think that will be the difference. The Blazers have slightly more depth and the home court.
Blazers win series 4-3.
There ya have it. We will be back with out entire second round picks based on how it actually plays out. For the record if you want our second round picks just based on these ones above. Cavs beat the Heat in five. Celtics beat the Magic in seven. Cavs beat Celtics in five. Out West, Lakers beat Blazers in five. Nuggets beat Mavericks in six. Lakers beat Nuggers in seven. Cavs beat Lakers in seven.
That's right. As of now we are going with a King James championship. His first on his way to the chase of MJ. One for the new #23. At least that's the way we see it now. Who knows. But we will be picking the whole way, each round. So check back and give us some feedback. Check out the message boards and join the discussion or send us an e-mail for the mailbag!
The next blog will look at the first month of the Major League Baseball season, the first round of the NHL playoffs, and reaction to UFC 97. Check back.
That opens things up a little it, or does it? We may have been lucky and saw a terrific regular season, however, this could be shaping up to be a pretty predictable postseason. It looks like we are on a crash course for the Lakers vs. The Cavaliers. Kobe vs. Lebron. Will anyone be able to stand in their way? It's highly doubtful, but none the less we do have some intriguing match-ups in the first round.
Perhaps someone can pull of a little bit of an upset and get on a little bit of a roll. Make a little run in the postseason and throw a wrench into the dream NBA match-up. We'll see. But anyway, KG or not, we're pulling for the Celtics to get it done. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are still all-star players and the role players aren't that bad. They have the two go to guys and they have the experience. I hope that's enough against a young hungry Bulls team.
Anyway, here are our first round playoff picks:
Eastern Conference:
#8 Detroit Pistons vs. #1 Cleveland Cavaliers
DETROIT BASKETBALL! Sorry I couldn't help it. It wasn't long ago that the road to the NBA finals always went through mo-town. In fact, the Pistons have at least made an appearance in six straight conference finals. Impressive, yes. However, that streak is about to end. The Billups for Iverson trade blew up in their face and now they have the tall task of trying to win one game against King Lebron and co. let alone four. I don't think they do it. Cavs are already up 1-0 and will continue to cruise. Sweep.
Cavaliers win series 4-0.
#7 Chicago Bulls vs. #2 Boston Celtics
So KG is going to be out the entire postseason? Ouch. Danny Ainge has a heart attack at 50? Wow. The Bulls come into Boston and steal game 1 behind a heroic performance by rookie Derek Rose? Very Impressive. The Bulls showed no remorse for the bad news of KG going down and came in and out worked the C's in game one. It's not going to be something they are going to stop doing. The Celtics need to turn it around and come out and take it to the Bulls in game 2. Open things up a little more and let Allen touch it more down the stretch. Ultimately somehow I think the Celtics do advance, but in seven games again.
Celtics win series 4-3.
#6 Philadelphia 76ers vs. #3 Orlando Magic
The 76ers have played well down the stretch even without big off-season pickup Elton Brand. The new AI is playing really well and they came in and stole game one. The now have the home court advantage and will put the pressure on Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and company as the Magic look to live up to a very impressive regular season record. Slow out the gate but they win the rest at home while taking games three and six on the road.
Magic win series 4-2.
#5 Miami Heat vs #4 Atlanta Haws
The Hawks used a very impressive first round last year against the Celtics, taking them seven games, to roll into a very nice regular season in 2009. So nice in fact, they have home court advantage against MVP candidate Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat. The Hawks blasted the Heat in game one behind a huge performance by Josh Smith who had a double double. It was a great game for Atlanta and it is a very tough place to play. But in the end we think D-Wade rallies the troops, throws them on his back and leads them on. Maybe we are not thinking entirely with our heads with this pick after game one, but we desperately want to see D-Wade vs. Lebron in the playoffs.
Heat win series 4-3.
Western Conference
#8 Utah Jazz vs. #1 Los Angeles Lakers
Really? Kobe has Gasol and Odom playing out of their minds and at all-star levels. He also has a healthy Andrew Bynum back and this team is hungry after last year. They will stop at nothing to get to the finals and the Staples Center in the postseason is electric. I love Jerry Sloan and what he does in Utah, leading them to the playoffs again. But he is over-matched here, and badly.
Lakers win series 4-0.
#7 New Orleans Hornets vs #2 Denver Nuggets
As a guy who loved the trade when Denver was able to bring in Chauncey Billups and all of his playoff experience, as well as ship Me, Myself, and Iverson (thanks Skip) out of town, I am excited to see what the soft nugent Nuggets can do in the playoffs against CP3 and the Hornets. This is probably one of the most exciting match-ups in all of the first round. It should go back and forth and most of the games will be nail bitters, I expect Denver's offense to be too much for the Hornets. Denver can come at you in so many ways with Billups, Anthony, Smith, Martin, and more. In the end it will be too much and Carmello will get out of the first round.
Nuggets win series 4-2.
#6 Dallas Mavericks vs. #3 San Antonio Spurs
This is the most unappealing series to me. The Spurs are older and Ginobili is out for their entire postseason. I also don't find the combination of Jason Kidd and Dirk to be very exciting and they are just lucky to be running into the right team at the right time. I think the Spurs will have pride and take a couple, but somehow some way this Mavericks team is getting out of the first round when a much better one a few years ago couldn't.
Mavericks win series 4-2.
#5 Houston Rockets vs #4 Portland Trail Blazers
The Houston Rockets might be hotter then any other team heading into the postseason. They are playing true team basketball and Artest and Ming are playing very well. The Trail Blazers meanwhile may be the NBA's most exciting young team and like the Hawks they were able to secure home court advantage. That is huge in this series. I think that will be the difference. The Blazers have slightly more depth and the home court.
Blazers win series 4-3.
There ya have it. We will be back with out entire second round picks based on how it actually plays out. For the record if you want our second round picks just based on these ones above. Cavs beat the Heat in five. Celtics beat the Magic in seven. Cavs beat Celtics in five. Out West, Lakers beat Blazers in five. Nuggets beat Mavericks in six. Lakers beat Nuggers in seven. Cavs beat Lakers in seven.
That's right. As of now we are going with a King James championship. His first on his way to the chase of MJ. One for the new #23. At least that's the way we see it now. Who knows. But we will be picking the whole way, each round. So check back and give us some feedback. Check out the message boards and join the discussion or send us an e-mail for the mailbag!
The next blog will look at the first month of the Major League Baseball season, the first round of the NHL playoffs, and reaction to UFC 97. Check back.