General Chat / Official NBA Playoff Predictions/Discussion Thread

This is gonna be an awesome playoffs. Huge stories everywhere, even in the East! So lets get this started fast.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs ( Denver Nuggets
Prediction: Wolves WIN 4-1
Analysis: This is the easiest prediction of the bunch in this conference. Sure, the Wolves have blown it seven straight years, but Denver is much too green to stand up to this year's powerful Minnesota team. The Wolves have finally put it together, with Kevin Garnet, who WILL win be this year's MVP, leading the way. Sprewell is playing in top form, and Cassel is having a career year and is relishes on pressure. Troy Hudson's injury may hurt the team, but not in this round. Denver is too inexperienced, and even a huge series by Carmelo Anthony (and I'm willing to bet he will have one) will not save the Nuggets from a loss.
X-Factor: Team confidence. All Minnesota needs to do get over that whole 0 for 7 stigma and they're good as in the second round. It might not help that Denver knocked off #1 Seattle ten years ago in the first round of the playoffs...

(4) Sacramento Kings vs (5) Dallas Mavericks
Prediction: Kings WIN 4-3
Analysis: Sacramento ended the year on a huge slide, playing terribly and giving away the Pacific Division. Aside from a huge win over the Lakers, the Kings essentially played like the serfs. Dallas comes in playing great ball, ever since its switch to "small ball," with a great team effort and great confidence. And yet I still pick the Kings to win? I'm probably in the minority, but I think the Kings will regroup. Lacking Bobby Jackson will really hurt, but at this point, the Kings have no pressure. They've shown they can play some great defense if they're inspired, and they should be plenty inspired to make a statement and avenge last year's loss to Dallas. It will be a great series, probably the best of the first round, but ultimately, it will be the Kings' home court advantage that gives them the edge.
Average Score: 150-147
X-Factor: Chris Webber. If he can give a good 20 and 10 a night, he can lead a recharged Sacramento King team. They can gel, but he'll probably be the stone that tips the scale.

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs (6) Memphis Grizzlies
Prediction: Spurs WIN 4-2
Analysis: San Antonio might just be the most underrated defending champion ever. They've been playing some amazing basketball, and unlike the Kings, they've played even better after upping their play when their All Star power forward went down. No doubt about it, the Spurs know how to win, and they have experience, confidence and the defense (league best) to run the gauntlet. Memphis will provide a challenge, though. They won the season series 3-1 and have ten players who can all step up. Their greatest strength is their depth, and that may tire out San Antonio. Overally, however, I believe the Spurs overall superiority will give them the edge.
X-Factor: Tony Parker. He leads the system and really starts a lot of options. Potentially, teams can give Duncan his 30 points and still win if they stop the rest. Parker runs the system and has rapidly established himself as one of the best point guards in the league, but San Antonio struggles when the team doesn't flow.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs (7) Houston Rockets
Prediction: Lakers WIN 4-2
Analysis: The Lakers were seemingly coasting to a #1 seed and possibly home court advantage throughout the playoffs until they got smoked by San Antonio and Portland, eeked out a win over the Grizzlies, then got destroyed by the Kings. Two comeback wins against Golden State and Portland brought back some momentum, though it may have given the team the idea that they can just coast and flip the switch. The Rockets play tough defense, though, and Jeff Van Gundy has done some great work with the team. Yao continues to improve and plays his best against Shaq, while Mobley and Francis are an awesome tandem. However, the Rockets have been plagued with breakdowns down the stretch. They struggled to clinch a spot, losing five in a row before picking up a couple of victories to finally nail down the #7 slot about two weeks too late, and they lost their last two games against the Lakers this season. Houston will be a force next year, but for now, inexperience and mental toughness will prove to be their undoing.
X-Factor: Karl Malone. The Lakers gel when he's in the game, and his sprained ankle may hurt them this series if it keeps him out of the series. Maurice Taylor has proven to be a sore in the Lakers' side this season, and he may provide trouble against an inexperienced backup like Slava Medvedenko. That and Slava would pick up two fouls in three minutes.


EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Indiana Pacers vs ( Boston Celtics
Prediction: Pacers WIN 4-0
Analysis: The Pacers soared to a league best 61-21 record while the Celts stumbled their way into a #8 seed. Two teams heading in opposite directions... Indiana will want retribution against the Celts for eliminating them last year, and their team is way too powerful for Pierce and Davis to handle. This is by far the easiest pick of the playoffs.

(4) Miami Heat vs (5) New Orleans Hornets
Prediction: Heat WIN 4-2
Analysis: Wow. After starting 0-7, who would have ever thought the Heat would wind up with home court advantage in the first round? Rafer Alston and Dwayne Wade have been sizzling over the season, and the Heat are looking to make a return to glory after years of drudgery. New Orleans, meanwhile, caught themselves before they fell completely into oblivion with a few late season wins, but as a whole, they're definitely not playing to their earlier season potential. Baron Davis is just back from the injured list and is definitely a concern for the Hornets. Ultimately, Miami's momentum will catapult them into a second round date with Indiana.
X-Factor: Baron Davis. If he can have a great series and help carry the team again, the Hornets might stand a chance.

(3) Detroit Pistons vs (6) Milwaukee Bucks
Prediction: Pistons WIN 4-1
One was supposed to finish last, the other first. Well, Detroit more or less held up to his bargan, but Milwaukee shocked a ton of people by vaulting into the playoffs, playing well above expectation. But Detroit has become the East's best team with defense, defense, and two Wallaces. Their powerful front court combo is the best in the East, and their suffocating defense is rivaled only by San Antonio and Houston. Redd and company will be hard pressed to score against this machine, and it will be defense that puts an end to Milwaukee's storybook season.
X-Factor: Desmond Mason. Michael Redd needs to go ballistic, but Mason needs to provide a solid #2 support so that Detroit won't just double Redd all the time. Milwaukee as a whole will need to figure out a way to pick apart that Detroit D.

(2) New Jersy Nets vs (7) New York Knicks
Prediction: Nets WIN 4-3
Analysis: Madison Square Garden will be open for business past mid-April for the first time in three years, and the NBA will have its version of the Subway Series when the Nets square off against the Knicks. New Jersey treaded its way to a division title in the awful Atlantic while New York rejuvenated itself with the acquisition of Stephon Marbury. This will be a tough series, with the underdog Knicks coming in with plenty of fire while the Nets will be hanging by a fragile injury thread. It may very well come down to home court advantage on game seven, as this Hudson Bay civil war will be hotly contested by both teams with something to prove (mainly who gets the rights to lose to Detroit...)

(1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs ( Denver Nuggets
Prediction: Wolves WIN 4-1
it clear. 1 against 8. the t'wolves take it

(4) Sacramento Kings vs (5) Dallas Mavericks
Prediction: Kings WIN 3-4
this one is really the best first round game this year. i hope the mavs take it. the home games are already won and i think the mavs will win one game in sacramento.
dirks gives them 20 points per night an around 10 rebound jamison is the best 6th man in the league nash give around 10 balls walker scores around 10 point and finley is the player who makes the mavs win it. if he has a good night nobody can stopp him. moreover dalles has good rookies.


(3) San Antonio Spurs vs (6) Memphis Grizzlies
Prediction: Spurs WIN 4-3
i think spurs are better but memphis can ply goof games either

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs (7) Houston Rockets
Prediction: Lakers WIN 4-3
this is difficult. la has some really good players, but not everything was good this season. although la will take it.



EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Indiana Pacers vs ( Boston Celtics
Prediction: Pacers WIN 4-1
see (1) Minnesota Timberwolves vs ( Denver Nuggets. moreover for me the oacers are my team of the year. i didn't expect them to be that good.

as to the other games i can'zt tell you much, cause i didn't see one game from the eastern conferece this year. in germany it's not hat easy to watch nba games.
(4) Miami Heat vs (5) New Orleans Hornets
Prediction: Heat WIN 3-4
(3) Detroit Pistons vs (6) Milwaukee Bucks
Prediction: Pistons WIN 4-2
(2) New Jersy Nets vs (7) New York Knicks
Prediction: Nets WIN 4-2

As a CELTICS fan, it pains me to say that even +2 or 3 (games), I pick Indy. A sweep is likely, though maybe Pierce will get freaky for a game at home.

Who knows.

To think 2 years ago we went to the Conf. Finals.

Other first round picks: East - Detroit, Miami, NJ..........West - Wolves, Lakers , Mavs and Griz.

Yea, taking a chance on the last two, rather than taking the easy way out and prediction higher seeds (eyes Corky and maggi)....fun fun fun!

Let it begin!

Kai

I predict the Celtics to suck horribly and me to go back to not caring about basketball.

You cared about basketball despite this year's atrocity that was Boston?

All your picks and no upsets? Come on Corky...I taught you better then that...

-Minnesota Timberwolves over Denver Nuggets (5 Games)
-Los Angeles Lakers over Houston Rockets (6 Games)
-San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies (6 Games)
-Dallas Mavericks over Sacramento Kings (6 Games)

-Indiana Pacers over Boston Celtics (4 Games)
-New York Knicks over New Jersey Nets (7 Games)
-Detroit Pistons over Milwaukee Bucks (6 Games)
-Miami Heat over New Orleans Hornets (6 Games)

A few changes:



-Minnesota Timberwolves over Denver Nuggets (7 Games)
-Houston Rockets over Los Angeles Lakers (6 Games)
-San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies (7 Games) something tells me that this series will be the biggest surprise.
-Sacramento Kings over Dallas Mavericks (7 Games) -B. Jackson will play!

-Indiana Pacers over Boston Celtics (4 Games)
-New York Knicks over New Jersey Nets (7 Games)
-Detroit Pistons over Milwaukee Bucks (6 Games)
-New Orleans Hornets over Miami Heat (6 Games)

You cared about basketball despite this year's atrocity that was Boston?

It was Danny Ainge, that really killed it.

Knicks over Nets? The few times I've seen the Knicks play post-Marbury trade, they didn't play very well. There's a reason they're in the number 7 seed. Unless Jason Kidd doesn't play, and possibly even if he doesn't, the Knicks are history.

Pacers over Boston is a gimme. Pistons over Bucks should be, but the Bucks can shoot the lights out and Detroit isn't exactly a high scoring team. Sometimes all the defense in the world won't stop the jumpshots from dropping. Then again, is that really gonna happen for 4 games? Not likely. Detroit's moving on.

Miami and New Orleans is interesting. One of them started the season well and ended it poorl, one of them started poorly and ended well. The Heat are the ones with the fire right now (appropriatly) but if the Hornets wake up it could be a good series. I haven't seen either play, so I'm going to take a guess here and say NO not because I don't like the Heat, but because there's bound to be at least one upset in 4 matches and since I picked favorites in the other 3, I've got to pick the upset here.

Memphis has been giving San Antonio problems all season but the Spurs have been injured too. I don't see Memphis taking 4 games from the Spurs even if they did win the series 3-1.

Minnesota may be the #1 team going in, but in a playoff series, I think at least the Lakers and Spurs have an edge over them. They should be able to handle the Nuggets though what with the zone defense and the multtitude of scorers they have. The Nuggets will take a game though, maybe two.

I love how the Rockets were giving LA hell earlier in this season but really, everyone has given LA hell this season at some point. Assuming Malone isn't seriously injured from that ankle twist, LA is ready for playoff ball. Kobe's two 3 pointers over the Blazers got them in the playoff mood I'm sure. Houston isn't anywhere near consistent enough to take 4 games from the Lakers even with Kobe's court case and Malone on the sideline if that be the case.

So that leaves Dallas and Sacramento. We saw Dallas kill Sacramento and Sacramento kill Dallas. If those last few weeks have shown anything it's that those games before Webber game back are irrelevant now. As bad as the Kings have played, the Mav's road record speaks for itself. One of them's got to win 4 games, I still favor the Kings. I'm thinking 7 games here and at least two end in OT. I know the Kings are gonna give me a heartattack by missing everything in the 4th quarter until the last 40 seconds when suddenly the 3s start dropping.

And if the Kings do lose in the first round, at least I've got the A's and Jermaine Dye's 6 homers in 10 games.

LOL! I'm sure I'm not the only one wishing I'd picked him up.

So far so good, only I didn't know Baron Davis was going to be hobbled. That doesn't speak well for the Hornets' chances. It was still a close game but the Hornets without Davis are not going to beat Miami so if his injury gets any worse, Miami is definately taking that series.

And how about that Houston-LA game? Horrible shooting from both teams the whole game. Was it all suffocating defense or just both teams having an off night at the same time?

-Minnesota Timberwolves over Denver Nuggets (5 Games)
-Los Angeles Lakers over Houston Rockets (7 Games)
-San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies (5 Games)
-Sacramento Kings over Dallas Mavericks (6 Games)

-Indiana Pacers over Boston Celtics (5 Games)
-New York Knicks over New Jersey Nets (7 Games)
-Detroit Pistons over Milwaukee Bucks (5 Games)
-Miami Heat over New Orleans Hornets (6 Games)

almost the same as iris here, i even copyed his post and edited it to save time

Oh man, the Mavs DESTROYED the Kings tonight. This is why I think it'll go seven, but that the Kings' homecourt advantage will give them the edge.

Also, credit goes out to Houston for a nice game last night. Defense was crisp and Francis carried the team through the end, when the Lakers made a run. So they deserve some props for that.

I guess the Nets and Spurs are the only ones ruining my predictions on how many games they'll win the series.

Go Nuggets. Go.

The Kings will take the next one. Obviously Dallas was gonna take the first home game but Sacramento shot horribly. They didn't make one shot from the field in the whold thrid quarter. After losing, they'll play with determination in game 4 and hit their shots. That's my prediction. We shall see. I'm guessing 6 games to wrap this up now.

I also thought the Kings would lose the first in Dallas. I have to say even though they got beat, they didn't look to bad in the first half. I do think they were a bit shaken with the injury to Bibby, that may have thrown them off their game waiting to see how he would do. Someone needs to throw an elbow into Ed Najara's neck, that guy is a "cheap" player. The refs got him on it a bit in the 2nd but that kind of crap doesn't belong.

Cheap because he bugs you? He's like Bowen: very physical and sticky, and very irritating, but he's not really dirty. He just plays defense ALL THE TIME and NEVER gives up on you, which most players aren't used to.

I think his hustle and effort really help a Mavs team that struggles on defense.

I still say every game will be won by the home team.

Your Lakers are going down Corkscrewed.

I hope Kobe goes to jail.
That bitch.

We blew the lead. Then you turned the game over to us. Thanks!