My Playoff Predictions
The NBA playoffs get underway tomorrow, so I best be making my picks. Before I do, though, let's look back at my, accurately dubbed, “insanely inaccurate” picks at the beginning of the season. Out of the east I thought the conference would shake out like so:
- Detroit
- Pacers
- Heat
- 76ers
- Bucks
- Cavs
- Nets
- Knicks
Personally I think those picks weren't too bad. Who could have guessed the Bulls of all teams would have had the season they've had, or the Wizards for that matter? Or that the Cavs would self-implode? Or that an in-stands brawl would knock out one of Indiana's top players for the season (Artest) and their premier center (O'Neal) for a month?
In the West I did a bit worse, IMO. Here's how I envisioned the season would shake out:
- Spurs
- T-Wolves
- Kings
- Rockets
- Nuggets
- Mavs
- Lakers
- Jazz
Regardless, though, I don't think these picks were too far astray. The Lakers should have made the postseason, and who knows how the Jazz would have fared with AK, a productive Boozer, and a content Arroyo? And the T-Wolves surely disappointed.
I guess what's most disappointing is that all my picks were safe. I didn't roll the dice on a team like the Bulls, Sonics, or Wizards breaking out. I didn't have the foresight to see that young and gun + a true point guard would have equalled excitement and Ws in Phoenix. Eh, so it goes.
Without further adeu, here are my picks for the playoffs:
Eastern Conference
Round 1
Miami (1) beats New Jersey (8) - New Jersey is playing well now, but Miami is a better team. There will be matchup problems on both ends - the Heat have no answer for VC, the Nets no answer for Shaq. Miami in 6
Detroit (2) beats the 76ers (7) - Detroit is going to cruise through this series. They ended the season hot and are ready to repeat as NBA champs. Detroit in 5.
Celtics (3) lose to the Pacers (6) - will be a tough fight, especially with O'Neal not being 100%. I think the series could go either way, but I'd rather put my money on a team I think has more consistency. Pacers in 6.
Chicago (4) loses to the Wizards (5) - the Bulls have been hurt with Curry and Deng injuries. Bummer. Plus, team is too young. If Krause keeps the nucleus together, this team will be back here next year and will be better/smarter. Wizards in 6.
Round 2
(1) Miami beats the Wizards (5) - Miami is a better team than these Wizards. More postseason experience, too. Miami in 4.
(2) Detroit beats the Pacers (6) - Detroit is the team to beat in the postseason. They are on a roll, have a healthy roster, and will manhandle the Pacers (or the Celtics, if they make it). Detroit in 5.
Round 3
(1) Miami loses to Detroit (2) - Personally, I'd like to see Shaq make it to the Finals (again), but I think the Heat are going to have a hard time against the Pistons. Miami limped into the postseason with a piss poor finish; Shaq is older; the Heat don't have much of a supporting cast. Compare that to Detroit, which has a deeper team, the experience/swagger of being the NBA champs, and is on quite the roll. Pacers in 6.
Western Conference
Round 1
(1) Phoenix beats Memphis (8) - Phoenix is red hot, the Grizz are ice cold. Memphis hasn't won a playoff game in its team's history yet, and it ain't gonna happen this season, either. Suns in 4.
(2) San Antonio loses to Denver (7) - This is my “risky“ guess here, rollin' the dice.... Denver is the last team the Spurs want to face, and they'll provide a great challenge. I think that the Spurs are better than the Nuggets and have more experience, but the Spurs have a track record of folding in the playoffs in the past... Denver in 7.
(3) Seattle beats Sacramento (6) - Peja is hurt; the Sonics have been in a slump. Prediction: this playoff series will not be nearly as exciting as it could be if both teams were playing top-notch, light-'em-up basketball. Sonics win in 6.
(4) Dallas beats Houston (5) - Dallas is playing well and the Rockets are still waiting for Yao to become a true franchise player (although I doubt he ever will). Dallas in 5.
Round 2
(1) Phoenix beats Dallas (4) - This is likely to be one of the most exciting and fun series to watch - two offensively minded teams going at one another on one end of the court (but not really the other). Plus this series will have the extra drama of Nash's chance to show Cubes what's up. Should be a close and fun series, but the Suns are a more talented, younger, and exciting team. Suns in 6.
(3) Seattle loses to Denver (7) - bouyed with their win over the Spurs, an energetic Denver will take it to Seattle, winning the series in 6.
Round 3
(1) Phoenix beats Denver (7) - this will be a good series, but not quite the Spurs/Suns series everyone was itching to see. The Nuggets will get frustrated by early Suns wins and pack it up and go home. Suns in 5.
NBA Finals
Phoenix loses to Detroit - we have a repeat, ladies and gentlemen. If this matchup comes to fruition, I don't care who wins - it's bound to be one helluva exciting and entertaining series.