The NBA Playoffs Thread

[StanFan]

With a few more games left in the NBA regular season, I figure I'll get the ball rolling and start the playoff discussions.

I'm looking forward in seeing what the Western Conference matchups are going to be. I'll most likely be watching more NBA playoff games now than I have in my entire life. I'll do my best to check out any game that doesn't interfere with watching the Toronto Raptors.

Eventhough their record was 41-41, I think the Raptors have a good chance at beating the Orlando Magic. Both teams are fairly inexperienced as playoff performers, they both have long distance shooting capability, and they both have two big men that any team wouldn't want to face (Chris Bosh for Toronto and Dwight Howard for Orlando). This series could go the distance.

[jrthebassguy]

This year, practically every team but maybe Denver in the Western Conference has a shot at winning the title. I think my choice is obvious







The only teams in the Eastern conference that can be taken seriously are Boston and Detroit, imo.

[StanFan]

I was pulling for the Warriors to sneak into the playoffs. I like their style of play.
The final games have been played, so here are the matchups:

West:
Lakers vs Nuggets
Hornets vs Mavericks
Spurs vs Suns
Jazz vs Rockets

East:
Celtics vs Hawks
Pistons vs 76ers
Magic vs Raptors
Cavs vs Wizards

I'm pulling for the Suns in the West. It's a shame either them or the defending champions will have to make an early exit.

[Adam Barkley]

Originally Posted by StanFan

I was pulling for the Warriors to sneak into the playoffs. I like their style of play.
The final games have been played, so here are the matchups:

West:
Lakers vs Nuggets
Hornets vs Mavericks
Spurs vs Suns
Jazz vs Rockets

East:
Celtics vs Hawks
Pistons vs 76ers
Magic vs Raptors
Cavs vs Wizards

I'm pulling for the Suns in the West. It's a shame either them or the defending champions will have to make an early exit.

East First Round Picks:
Celtics in 5
Pistons in 7
Magic in 5
Cavs in 4

West First Round Picks:
Lakers in 4
Hornets in 5
Suns in 6
Jazz in 7

[Lorenzini]

My 1st round picks. We are going to be looking at good basketball all post-season. I hope Dwight, Rashard and Hedo make me proud.

West:
Lakers in 4
Hornets in 7
Spurs in 6
Rockets 7

East:
Celtics in 4
Pistons in 6
Magic in 6
Cavs in 4

[StanFan]

I don't know why you guys think the Cavs will sweep. I'm not saying it won't happen, but I can't see the Wizards going down that easily. I guess I'll post my picks.

West:
Lakers in 4
Hornets in 7
Suns in 7
Rockets 7

East:
Celtics in 4
Pistons in 6
Raps in 7
Cavs in 6

[Eric Perry]

GO JAZZ!!!!!

[StanFan]

Originally Posted by Eric618

GO JAZZ!!!!!

You guys should switch team nicknames with New Orleans.

[Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by StanFan

You guys should switch team nicknames with New Orleans.

Utah Hornets?

[Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by StanFan

I don't know why you guys think the Cavs will sweep. I'm not saying it won't happen, but I can't see the Wizards going down that easily. I guess I'll post my picks.

West:
Lakers in 4
Hornets in 7
Suns in 7
Rockets 7

East:
Celtics in 4
Pistons in 6
Raps in 7
Cavs in 6

Interesting picks. Personally I'm surprised you guys are writing the Spurs off in the first round. They prove time and time again what they're made of.
Of course, we're all writing the Mavs off

In the grand sceme of things, I see the Boston Celtics coming home with the trophy this year!

[burk48237]

Yeah, I'm also surprised at the Pistons in 6 predictions. I personally see the Cavs having more trouble in the first round then the Pistons. The Pistons starters, have had about 20% less minutes then at this point last season. I just think they're way to deep for the Sixers, I think the Sixers would probably need seven games to beat the Pistons bench. Right now the Class of the league is Boston and Detroit. And the Eastern conference finals, baring injury, will be the NBA finals. My biggest fear as a Pistons fan. The NBA wants a LA-Celtics finals for the ratings, and The Pistons don't get an especially good whistle anyway. As a Celtics fan, my biggest question would be Rondo's playoff performance, and the bench.

My first round;

Lakers 5 (Not sure they yet have that playoff temperament)
Hornets 6 (I know the Mavs don't have a playoff temperament)
As a Pistons fan the team in the west I would love to face would be the Mavs or of course Denver.
Spurs 7 The Suns want revenge, I'm not sure they can play the defense to get it. Unfortunately for the Spurs, the physicality of playing Shaq in the first will keep them from repeating
Jazz 6 The Jazz have to many guns, and both teams play D

Celtics 4 Atlanta will not be in any game with five minutes to go
Pistons 4 When the Pistons have been focused this year they've won big. I think they want to get this one over with.
Raps 7 Point guard play gives the Raps the edge. The Raps have one.
Cavs 6 A healthy WA might pull an upset. Cleveland still looks unfocused and they are not a TEAM at this point. WA might win if Mike Brown insist on having Voraho and Wallace on the floor at the same time.

[StanFan]

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

Utah Hornets?

Maybe not, but give Jazz back to New Orleans.

[markjazzbassist]

Go Cavs!!

I don't think we'll make it to the finals but i definately think we can beat the wizards and make a great run.

[bwv1013]

i love my lakers and i think they have a shot. the west is crazy deep this year so not much would surprise me. the spurs are always relevant but the suns might have just enough with shaqamare to keep t-dunc out of the series. other than my team that will be my favorite series to watch. if the lakes don't make it i'm rooting for the celtics, garnett has been playing his a** off for a decade and i like the way they play team ball.

[Hawaii Islander]

It would be nice to see the Celtics complete a great season with a championship.

[StanFan]

I can't wait until tomorrow. It looks like only one channel I get is running playoff games that day (Raptors NBA TV). I'll watch the Hornets/Mavs and Jazz/Rockets games. I'll double check tomorrow, but those are the only ones I know of unless a fellow Canadian could tell me different.

[StanFan]

What a thrilling game. Double overtime, and quite a few players fouling out of the game. And Tim Duncan with a game tying 3 ball???? Amazing.

That poor shot clock management near the end of regulation hurt Phoenix badly, but for most of the second half it felt like the Suns were trailing.

[Fontaine]

West:
Lakers 4
Hornets 6
Spurs 7
Jazz 7

East:
Celtics 5
Pistons 6
Raptors 6
Cavs 4

[Beta]

Originally Posted by burk48237

Point guard play gives the Raps the edge. The Raps have one.

Jameer Nelson's line: 24 pts., 7/13 FG attempts made, 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot.

Combined Raptors PG play: 14 pts., 4/20 FG attempts made, 14 assists. T.J. Ford is still their starting PG. This is NOT an edge. Seriously, Ford and Nelson are almost the exact same player: both probably graciously listed at 6', average 5-6 assists and 11-12 points per game. The big difference is that Nelson shoots about 41% on 3 point shots, and Ford is somewhere in the sub-30% range.

The only position where Toronto has an edge is at shooting guard. Bargnani isn't quick enough to handle Turkoglu, and Moon and Kapono aren't big enough. I don't think Bosh will have a statistical edge over Rashard Lewis.

Orlando is a bad matchup for the Raptors.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by burk48237

Pistons 4 When the Pistons have been focused this year they've won big. I think they want to get this one over with.

*coughcoughcoughcough*