NBA Playoffs Preview
Even though I already wrote an article about Why No One Cares About the NBA Playoffs, I still feel compelled to write my predictions for the first round of the playoffs. Even more, people could care less now that the 76ers will not be competing in this postseason but Micah and I will give it a go.
Starting with the Eastern Conference.
1 Seed Detroit Pistons vs. 8 Seed Milwaukee Bucks
Kyle’s View and Prediction: Detroit is the best team in the league and will definitely win this series. It’s more a matter of when will they win it. It’s too easy to pick a sweep here and Detroit tends to lose a game or two per round so I’ll take the Pistons in 5.
Pistons in 5 games
Micah’s View and Prediction: Since I’ve gotta pick a sweep or two in the first round, this has to be one of them. Detroit is consistent enough to come out primed for each game.
Pistons in 4 games
2 Seed Miami Heat vs. 7 Seed Chicago Bulls
Kyle’s View and Prediction: This could be a very good series if Chicago had a center that could handle Shaq. Since they don’t I think Miami will win this series in 5 or 6 games. Also, people talking about the Heat need to start realizing that Dwayne Wade is the best player on that team and he needs much more recognition for what he does for that team.
Heat in 5 games
Micah’s View and Prediction: I agree with Kyle. Chicago is better than most people realize and Miami has been anything but dominant this year (they were vulnerable to the Sixers, of all teams!). I see this series being a surprising 7 gamer, with Miami pulling it out.
Heat in 7 games
3 Seed New Jersey Nets vs. 6 Seed Indiana Pacers
Kyle’s View and Prediction: This is my fantasy land pick of the first round haha. For some reason I get the feeling that Indiana is going to upset the Nets, who having been playing great towards the end of the season (So if you’re a betting man, place your bets on Jersey). Indiana won the season series 2-1 and I think Jermaine O’Neal and Peja could carry Indiana into the 2nd round. And after all, the Nets lost 2 of their final 5 games to the Philadelphia 76ers, enough said.
Pacers in 7 games
Micah’s View and Prediction: Kyle, come on now, this isn’t a fantasy land pick. The Nets were bottoming off at the end of the season…their hot streak was cooling off. They lost 4 out of the last 6 and 5 out of the last 7. On the other hand, Indiana has a solid, skilled team and they won 5 of their last 6. Still, I think the Nets pull the series out.
Nets in 7 games
4 Seed Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5 Seed Washington Wizards
Kyle’s View and Prediction: I think everyone would pick Cleveland here simply cause of LeBron, but that’s exactly why I’m picking Washington. I don’t like the way Cleveland plays cause it reminds me of the 76ers. Their offense looks confused the second that LeBron doesn’t have the ball. I also believe that Gilbert Arenas still thinks he has something to prove and he can do exactly that by carrying his Wizards past the Cavs.
Wizards in 6 games
Micah’s View and Prediction: Man, Kyle’s nailing these picks. And since I have to go second, I’m at a disadvantage. Anyway, there hasn’t been a great 1 man team since the Jordan days (no, Kobe’s one man show is not great). LeBron hasn’t given me any reason to think that he’s got what it takes to take MJs mantel. On the other hand, the Wizards have a solid team with distributed talent.
Wizards in 7 games
Now let’s check out the Western Conference.
1 Seed San Antonio Spurs vs. 8 Seed Sacramento Kings
Kyle’s View and Prediction: The Spurs are a very solid team that won’t lose in the first round with Tim Duncan at the helm. San Antonio is too good with Finley and Parker in the mix and Ron Artest can only defend one player at a time. Sacramento will win Game 3 at home but the Spurs will win this in 5.
Spurs in 5 games
Micah’s View and Prediction: I like San Antonio here, but the Kings are hot. They’ve won 8 out of their last 10 games including a 10 point win over the Spurs. I just think the Spurs are too good over a 7 game series.
Spurs in 6 games
2 Seed Phoenix Suns vs. 7 Seed L.A. Lakers
Kyle’s View and Prediction: I can’t imagine how good this Suns team would be with a healty Amare Stoudamire. Even without him in the lineup, Phoenix has a much better team than the Lakers. Kobe might be able to win 1 game by himself but he can’t win an entire series by himself.
Suns in 5 games
Micah’s View and Prediction: Like I said about LeBron: you can’t win in the NBA with a 1 man team. Not with Kobe, not with anyone. Phoenix has a well-oiled team that plays great together. Expec them to dominate this series. I see a Kobe sweep coming.
Suns in 4 games
3 Seed Denver Nuggets vs. 6 Seed Los Angeles Clippers
Kyle’s View and Prediction: There’s an oddity to this matchup since the Clippers actually have home court advantage even though they are the 6 seed. Denver won their division but had less overall wins than the Clippers so Game 1 is out in LA. As for the series, I think the Clippers will prevail in 7 games in a very tight series. As much as I like Carmelo Anthony, I think it’s time the Clips see the 2nd round. The home court advantage could turn out to be the difference in the series.
Clippers in 7 games
Micah’s View and Prediction: The theme of my predictions is: “teams win basketball games, superstars don’t.” I like the Clippers here. They’ve got a clear advantage with their seasoned veterans like Sam Cassell and Vin Baker. Plus they’ve got two youths in Corey Maggette and Elton Brand who bring explosive play. The Nuggets rely too much on their superstar, and I think that will come back to bite them in the butt.
Clippers in 7 games
4 Seed Dallas Mavericks vs. 5 Seed Memphis Grizzlies
Kyle’s View and Prediction: Dallas has a good lineup and Dirk Nowitzki is always a threat to score 30 and grab 10 rebounds. Pau Gasol leads Memphis but his production won’t be enough to win more than 2 games this series. I like Dallas here in either 5 or 6 games.
Dallas in 5 games
Micah’s View and Prediction: Here’s my lunybin, fantasy land pick. I like Memphis taking it in 6 games. Dallas continues its decline from the league’s elite and gets knocked early on, disappointing all those big hearts down in Texas.
Grizzles in 6 games
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Posted on April 20, 2006 by Kyle Garis | Filed Under Philadelphia
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