JALMOND
April 14th, 2011, 08:28 PM
NBA playoffs are here. Finally something to knock Blake Griffith off of ESPN. Here are my predictions.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
INDIANA PACERS (8)/CHICAGO BULLS (1)---Derrick Rose leads the Bulls into the playoffs with the best record in the league. The Pacers made the eighth spot but they may need Reggie Miller in order to beat the Bulls...Bulls in 5.
ATLANTA HAWKS (5)/ORLANDO MAGIC (4)---The Magic, with Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson, still found a way to lose the season series to the Hawks. The Hawks may have played to the level of their opposition all year, which should not be difficult in the playoffs...Hawks in 6.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (7)/MIAMI HEAT (2)---Adding LeBron James and Chris Bosh was supposed to get multiple championships for the Heat, not the second spot in the conference. Doug Collins did an admirable job with the Sixers this year, but too much power for the Heat...Heat in 5.
NEW YORK KNICKS (6)/BOSTON CELTICS (3)---Hard to imagine that Denver ended up with a better record than the Knicks after Anthony moved over to the Knicks. The Celtics may be older, but they play as a team, something the Knicks need to start doing...Celtics in 6.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (8)/SAN ANTONIO SPURS (1)---The Grizzlies rested their players early and dropped from sixth to eighth and face the Spurs. The Spurs may have limited use of Ginobli but should still have enough to get past the Grizzlies...Spurs in 5.
DENVER NUGGETS (5)/OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (4)---Hard to imagine that Chandler and Galinari could improve the Nuggets without Anthony, but that is what they did. Still, the deadline trade for Perkins gave the Thunder a strong presence in the middle...Thunder in 6.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (7)/LOS ANGELES LAKERS (2)---A bad matchup for the Hornets as the Lakers swept them during the season. The Lakers may have limited use of Bynum, but the Hornets will be without West...Lakers in 5.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (6)/DALLAS MAVERICKS (3)---After being hit with injuries early, the Blazers are getting healthy. The Mavericks still have Nowitzki and Kidd, but the Blazers took two games late in the year to instill confiedence...Blazers in 6.
CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
ATLANTA HAWKS (5)/CHICAGO BULLS (1)---With Rose leading the team, the Bulls should roll...Bulls in 5.
BOSTON CELTICS (3)/MIAMI HEAT (2)---The Celtics may be getting older, but the Heat still do not know who the main man is in close games. This series may haunt them in that regard...Celtics in 6.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (4)/SAN ANTONIO SPURS (1)---The Spurs may be getting older and the Thunder are getting hungry...Thunder in 6.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (6)/LOS ANGELES LAKERS (2)---The Blazers won't back down, but the Lakers should have everyone back including Bynum and Blake...Lakers in 7.
CONFERENCE FINALS
BOSTON CELTICS (3)/CHICAGO BULLS (1)---The Bulls may have the talent, but never count out the Celtics...Celtics in 7.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (4)/LOS ANGELES LAKERS (2)---The Thunder may think it is their time, but the Lakers shut the door on them...Lakers in 6.
NBA FINALS
BOSTON CELTICS/LOS ANGELES LAKERS---A Hollywood ending for Phil Jackson...Lakers in 5.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
INDIANA PACERS (8)/CHICAGO BULLS (1)---Derrick Rose leads the Bulls into the playoffs with the best record in the league. The Pacers made the eighth spot but they may need Reggie Miller in order to beat the Bulls...Bulls in 5.
ATLANTA HAWKS (5)/ORLANDO MAGIC (4)---The Magic, with Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson, still found a way to lose the season series to the Hawks. The Hawks may have played to the level of their opposition all year, which should not be difficult in the playoffs...Hawks in 6.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (7)/MIAMI HEAT (2)---Adding LeBron James and Chris Bosh was supposed to get multiple championships for the Heat, not the second spot in the conference. Doug Collins did an admirable job with the Sixers this year, but too much power for the Heat...Heat in 5.
NEW YORK KNICKS (6)/BOSTON CELTICS (3)---Hard to imagine that Denver ended up with a better record than the Knicks after Anthony moved over to the Knicks. The Celtics may be older, but they play as a team, something the Knicks need to start doing...Celtics in 6.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (8)/SAN ANTONIO SPURS (1)---The Grizzlies rested their players early and dropped from sixth to eighth and face the Spurs. The Spurs may have limited use of Ginobli but should still have enough to get past the Grizzlies...Spurs in 5.
DENVER NUGGETS (5)/OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (4)---Hard to imagine that Chandler and Galinari could improve the Nuggets without Anthony, but that is what they did. Still, the deadline trade for Perkins gave the Thunder a strong presence in the middle...Thunder in 6.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (7)/LOS ANGELES LAKERS (2)---A bad matchup for the Hornets as the Lakers swept them during the season. The Lakers may have limited use of Bynum, but the Hornets will be without West...Lakers in 5.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (6)/DALLAS MAVERICKS (3)---After being hit with injuries early, the Blazers are getting healthy. The Mavericks still have Nowitzki and Kidd, but the Blazers took two games late in the year to instill confiedence...Blazers in 6.
CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
ATLANTA HAWKS (5)/CHICAGO BULLS (1)---With Rose leading the team, the Bulls should roll...Bulls in 5.
BOSTON CELTICS (3)/MIAMI HEAT (2)---The Celtics may be getting older, but the Heat still do not know who the main man is in close games. This series may haunt them in that regard...Celtics in 6.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (4)/SAN ANTONIO SPURS (1)---The Spurs may be getting older and the Thunder are getting hungry...Thunder in 6.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (6)/LOS ANGELES LAKERS (2)---The Blazers won't back down, but the Lakers should have everyone back including Bynum and Blake...Lakers in 7.
CONFERENCE FINALS
BOSTON CELTICS (3)/CHICAGO BULLS (1)---The Bulls may have the talent, but never count out the Celtics...Celtics in 7.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (4)/LOS ANGELES LAKERS (2)---The Thunder may think it is their time, but the Lakers shut the door on them...Lakers in 6.
NBA FINALS
BOSTON CELTICS/LOS ANGELES LAKERS---A Hollywood ending for Phil Jackson...Lakers in 5.