Playoff predictions

Ok my NBA Heads...playoffs start this sunday. How do you think the playoffs will turn out. I know we are in for surprises, but there are some things that are just obvious will happen. My predictions for round 1: THE EAST: Miami vs. New Jersey: Miami was on a roll this year...they did have the best record in the NBA for a while, but they lost it after a few losses and Phoneix making a good run. I'm so disappointed in New Jersey..went from #2 last year to #8. I don't expect much from them. Jason Kidd and Vince Carter cannot do it by themselves...maybe next year when Jefferson comes back. Miami has too much fire power. Wade and Shaq makes a good combo and will be hard to beat. Miami also has some good defense, so it will be hard for the Nets to do anything good. I see this series as 4-1. Detriot vs. Philly: Detriot right now is on a 10 game winning streak. They are going to hand Inverson and his teams their behinds. AI is still one of the best players in the game today, but to be honest, when he isn't on the court, the team is horrible. Detriot big men (the Wallaces) will give it to them. Hamilton, Prince, Billups....this will be a quick series..a sweep. Boston vs. Indiana: This one is kinda hard for me. I think that Indiana can come out with the win for the series just because they have good young players who have a lot of heart (and hot heads). Boston is a good team...they haven't been this good since 2001-2002. I think this will be an entertaining series. I don't think that Reggie Miller will let his team go out in the first round on his final year. Washington vs. Chicago: This is going to be the best series of this round. I think that Chicago has come up from a long drought (since 98 ). The wizards have been doing the dam thing but so has chicago. Their defense is one of the best in the east. I think this is going to be a series that will go up to game 7. MY WEST PREDICTIONS: Phoenix vs. Memphis: This is going to be a sweep. The Suns have a fast paced game and I don't think that Memphis can handle it. This will be one of the most boring series because it will be a blow out. The only way this will be something to watch is if Nash gets hurts (God forbid). He is the reason why the team has done so well this season anyways. San Antonio vs. Denver: Denver is a good team. They won't be able to beat the Spurs because they have players that are stepping up even when Duncan isn't around. Ginobili, Parker, Horry...this won't be a sweep, but the Spurs will win. Sacramento vs. Seattle: Sacramento is my team, BUT I don't see them beating Seattle. Sacramento doesn't have Peja, but Bibby will be holding them down and so will Mobley, but I just don't see them going away with the win. Dallas vs. Houston: I see this as being one of the best series in the first round. Houston has pick themselves up and have won the last 7 games. T-Mac (my favorite player) brings out the best in his entire team. He has players around that is willing to help out as best they can. I think that Dirk and Finley will work hard to try and spoil Houston's run. I think that T-Mac and Ming will find a way to finally win a first round series.

Since I'm bored (and a chronic insomniac), I might as well do my predictions now (my previous post wasn't a prediction, but more of a set-up). Get the coffee out, this'll take a while....just warning you now. The First Round - West: #1 Phoenix vs. #8 Memphis - A no brainer. Memphis should've gotten better this year, but didn't (weren't they #7 last year?). Phoenix in a sweep. #2 San Antonio vs. #7 Denver - As much as I respect what the Nuggets have done this season, turning their team around, against San Antonio, Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli will be too much for them. And without Marcus Camby, Duncan's sure to trash any other nig man they put on him. Spurs in 5, maybe 6. #3 Seattle vs. #6 Sacramento - Probably'll be the most boring series in the first round. Stojakovic wants to play, but even if he does, how will he hold up? Seattle's not all that exciting, but they can play serious ball. Sonics in 6. #4 Dallas vs. #5 Houston - A very exciting match-up on paper. T-Mac will step his game up, and I even see Yao Ming bringing the heat, so to speak. The Mavericks are too well stacked for Houston, with waaaaay too much talent. Dallas in 6, possibly 7. The First Round - East: #1 Miami vs. #8 New Jersey - I don't think this one will be the laugher we first thought. There's now rumors (which I saw on Sports Center) that Shaq, still bothered by his calf injury, may not play the first game of this seres, maybe longer. And I even heard that Richard Jefferson may play in this series. Although he's been out for the majority of the season with the wrist injury, he has been cleared to practice again...uh oh! This could give the Heat a bit of a scare. And there's that Vince Carter/Dwayne Wade match-up. Still, I see Miami rollin' on. Heat in 6 #2 Detroit vs. #7 Philadelphia - Of the three divison winners Philly could've gotten, they get the champs. I was rooting for them to get Boston - they can beat them in a series. I would've even liked them to draw Miami, cause Philly has taken them out twice at home this season. But noooooo, they get the Pistons. Tough task, tougher team. A.I. will snap, but it won't be nearly enough. C'mon, Chris Webber, show us why we traded for you! Larry Brown would like to send Iverson home again in the playoffs. I have faith in my Sixers, but I'm a logical person, too. Detroit in 5. #3 Boston vs. #6 Indiana - Who knows what may happen here? Both teams are staggering a bit coming into the playoffs. I give the Pacers the edge for two reasons: 1) I don't think Boston has anyone to match Jermaine O'Neal 2) Don't think Reggie's last playoff run will be short-lived. Pacers in 6 #4 Chicago vs. #5 Washington - Both teams come in the playoffs as virgins...not having done it before (at least with their current rosters). Both teams are out to prove they belong. Both teams have very young, very high-energized rosters. A true run-and-gun series in the making. This will go the full seven. In the end, the absence of Eddie Curry will hurt Chi-Town. Wizards in a nail biter in Game 7. The Western Confernece Semi-Finals: #1 Phoenix vs. #4 Dallas - Whoo! Talk about offense! I predict that BOTH teams will at least score 110 points per game in this series. Neither one of them plays defense too well. It's a question of whose offense is better, and right now, the Suns are. Look for the scoreboards to never stop running. Suns in 7. #2 San Antonio vs. #3 Seattle - Geez, talk about boring! Psyche! This one will be good because of the defense. Jesus Shuttlesworth will do his thing, but the Spurs will triumph. San Antonio in 6. The Eastern Confernece Semi-Finals: #1 Miami vs. #5 Washington - OK, now that the Wizards are actually playing a team with playoff experince, they'll get the true meaning of playoff basketball. The Wizards have NO answer for Shaq. I mean, no team really does, but they probably won't even slow him down. And by then, he'll be healthy....and hungry. Heat in a possible sweep, but 5 won't suprise me. #2 Detroit vs. #6 Indiana - .....And their playoff rivalry wages on. Didn't Detroit knock off the higher-seeded Pacers in last years East Finals? I don't think Indy has forgotten, but the champs are still....the champs. I like 'em here. A classic playoff series from start to finish. Pistons in 6. The Western Conference Finals: #1 Phoenix vs. #2 San Antonio - Now, lets get down to it. Phoenix has that high-powered offense, but plays NO defense, which is what will **** them in the end. The Spurs can score 80-90 a night and still win off their defense; the Suns can't do that. If Duncan & Co. can hold Phoenix to under 100, they'll win. Point blank. You call it upset based on the seeds, I call it "The New England/Pittsburgh AFC title game in the NBA", meaning the higher seed will be the severe underdog. Spurs in 6, they go the NBA Finals. The Eastern Conference Finals: #1 Miami vs. #2 Detroit - This is what we wanted. Shaq's chance for revenge after last year's crushing defeat at the hands of the Pistons. The differnce now: He'll have a better point guard around him who can give Chauncey Billups some competition instead of ol' Gary Payton. He'll have another explosive scorer in Wade, who more into team ball than Kobe was. And his back-up center; A guy named Zo...and y'all don't wanna sleep on Zo. Still, the Pistons will give all they have. Look for both teams to win on the road in this series. However, Game 7 will be in Miami....and if it gets there, I guarantee you Shaq WILL NOT LOSE! Heat in 7, they go to the NBA Finals The NBA Finals: (West Champs) San Antiono vs. (East Champs) Miami - This could be one for the ages. I say could, because if Duncan doesn't get help, it'll be a stinker. I don't think he'll have to worry about that. Tony Parker will step up, and Ginobali will, too. Isn't Robert Horry still on that squad? We all know the kind of clutch-**** he can provide. I wouldn't be surprised in Heat coach Stan Van Gundy starts both Shaq and Zo for a game, just to try it out. Think about that one, if you will. The ending result: The much power down the stretch, combined with the athleticism of Wade, the much improved **** of Damon Jones, Eddie Jones getting alot more involved, and a very decent bench. I Like the Heat to win it all against San Antonio in six, or possibly seven games Shaq wins his 4th title, and probably his 4th Finals MVP to go with it. Well, there my take on it. Don't like it? make me believe something better.....

well there were some surprises...i know denver is on a roll, but i didnt expect them to take the first game IN san antonio...lets see what they do tonight...seattle is takin care of buisness...im really gonna enjoy that washington/chicago series, it might go to seven...indiana and boston as well...otherwise everybody who is supoosed to be wining is...the nets and sixers dont stand a chance...i wish we could just go straight to the miami detroit series...that series is gonna be a battle...

Yea in the east when it all comes down to it detroit and miami not goin to get beat. The third best team in the east was the BULLS and this not their year cause they have too many injuries and plus they just too young to compete with two teams w/ winning playoff experience. Everybody else in the east just not on their level. Now in the west, I think thats a toss up. If the spurs lose at home to denver in their first game that makes me not see them as so much of a powerhouse. Tim's not 100%. And all those teams seem to be shoulder to shoulder talent-wise. This is a rare claim, but I think the championship is goin to stay in the east. Shaq gave them that edge of power and I think its gonna stay that way for years to come.

the heat are overated..when the series comes dont be surprised to see detroit winning in five...and who does damon jones think he is..he thinks hes better than he really is and hes gonna come back down to earth real wuick when he plays us...therea a reason why you got shipped around the league that much...but hes better jus because of shaq and he wont get wide open looks against us..whats gonna happen then?

I wanna see Phoenix and Miami in the finals. To be honest, I dont care who gets to the finals as long as it aint Detroit or San Antonio.