After a fantastic regular season, its finally time for the postseason. No more Knicks-Grizzlies games to worry about. All thats left now are the top 16. Its sad to see teams like Golden State left out while teams like Atlanta get in, but its all about being in the right place at the right time.

The east has two teams who can match up with anyone in the West and a bunch of teams that are light on playoff experience. Cleveland has the best player in the conference, but the midseason trade to bolster his supporting cast hasn't worked out exactly like they'd hoped so far.

In the first round we have:

(1) Boston vs (8) Atlanta...I can't see this going more than 5, but I'm guessing it will be a sweep.

(2) Detroit vs (7) Philadelphia...I could see Philly giving Detroit a scare, but not enough to have any real chance at winning. Detroit in 6

(3) Orlando vs (6) Toronto...Orlando was the least talked about 'good' team all year, while Toronto started strong and faded down the stretch...Orlando in 6

(4) Cleveland vs (5) Washington...The 3rd year in a row these teams have met. Cleveland won the first two times, but I don't see them winning again...Washington in 6


On to the West, where we had one of the best conference races in League history, at least the best since I've been watching NBA basketball. A flurry of deadline deals drastically reshaped several teams, and the battles for playoff positioning continued up to the final night.

In the first round we have:

(1) LA Laker vs (8) Denver Nuggets...A game filled with star power, but the Lakers are the only one who knows how to play on both ends of the floor. The big question: Does Bynum come back, and will be he effective? Lakers in 5

(2) New Orleans Hornets vs (7) Dallas Mavericks...The Jason Kidd trade hasn't worked out quite as well as Dallas might have hoped, but I'm predicting their tons of playoff experience pays off here as the upset the upstart Hornets in 7 games.

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs (6) Phoenix Suns...This doesn't feel right as a first round matchup, as these teams seem to play each other every year deep in the postseason, including last years controversy filled series. Phoenix traded for Shaq specifically to deal with Duncan and other West fowards who abused them in the past. Even with Shaquille, I don't see them beating the Spurs, who'll win in 7 games in the best series of the first round.

(4) Utah Jazz vs (5) Houston Rockets...A rematch of last years first round where Utah won game 7 on Houston's flood and T-mac couldn't make it through the postgame interviews. I want to see him get out of the first round, but the Jazz are too good. Even though they don't have homecourt, Jazz in 6.


Second round predictions forthcoming.




It all kicks off this Saturday...I'm fucking excited.

4/17/2008 12:59:13 AM

yay nba season time
note: I don't follow the nba closely at all

East:

Celtics in 4
Pistons in 6
Magic in 6
Cavs in 7

Celtics in 4
Magic in 6

Celtics in 6

West:

Nuggets in 7
Hornets in 7
Suns in 5
Jazz in 5

Jazz in 5
Hornets in 6

Hornets in 6

Finals:
Celtics in 5

4/17/2008 2:10:39 AM

Why is life so unfair? Iverson finally gets traded and he ends up in the most competitive playoff race ever and arguably the toughest conference in the history of the NBA, and then he gets fucking Kobe, KOBE in the 1st round!

Damn you basketball Gods.

Go Nuggets!

4/17/2008 2:16:48 AM

For some reason I see the Nuggets giving Lakers trouble.

But now that I think about it...its probably because I just don't want the Lakers to win. That being said...with AI, Carmelo, and JR Smith hitting on all cylinders...the Nuggest could be extremely tough. Camby and Martin should also do a decent job on Gasol and/or Bynum. Not bad role players in Kleiza and Najera too.

Go Nuggets please....

4/17/2008 3:24:04 AM

the Nuggets' defense is sub-par. Lakers will win in 5

4/17/2008 2:30:18 PM

East:

Celtics in 4
Detroit in 6
Orlando in 5
Washington in 6

West:
Lakers in 6
Hornets in 5
Spurs (whom I hate) in 7
Jazz in 6

4/17/2008 2:38:05 PM

The only potential sweeps in the first round are the 1/8 match ups in both conferences. I agree with the Mavericks upsetting the Hornets in the first round, especially if last nights game was any indication. Everything else should go by the seeding, Washington isn't beating LeBron.

4/17/2008 2:42:16 PM

Quote :

"the Nuggets' defense is sub-par. Lakers will win in 5"

Nuggets defense efficiency is actually around 10th (at least it was about a week or two ago). Which is based on their defense per possession. It just looks worse because they have so many possessions which allows the opponents to score more points. They definitely clamped down against the Warriors last week.

Also, their FG% defense is 14th. Not exactly sub-par (at least closer to par).

I'd at least like to see them make the Laker's work for it.

4/17/2008 3:15:26 PM

it's just Lakers, not Laker's

4/17/2008 3:43:05 PM

WEST Finals:

Lakers vs. Spurs

EAST Finals:

Celtics vs. Pistons

NBA Finals:

Spurs vs. Pistons

NBA Champion:

Who cares I win money if its SA and DET

4/17/2008 4:40:35 PM

David Stern won't let that final happen

no one wants that to happen

4/17/2008 4:42:31 PM

only me!

realistic prediction:

Lakers over Celtics in 6

4/17/2008 4:42:48 PM

Been sayin' Lakers all year even though I'm not a Laker fan. Wouldn't mind seeing Denver take the championship as an underdog though... except for their prick of a coach.

4/17/2008 4:43:22 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/080418

Quote :

"3. Point guard play: Everything runs through the point guard position and Chris Paul outperformed all of his peers by a long shot. But the knock against the Hornets entering the playoffs is that they don't have enough experience to win in the postseason. Rubbish. You are forgetting the intangibles that Chris Paul provides. You are forgetting his performance in his last postseason appearance. The Hornets are getting handled by a more experienced player? Not anymore. Chris Paul just punched him in the crotch. That guy has bigger concerns now. Edge: New Orleans Hornets."

DJ Gallo just became my new favorite sports writer.

4/18/2008 3:23:37 PM

Lakers in 4 (sweep city!!)
Hornets in 7
Suns in 7
Jazz in 6

Celts in 4
Magic in 5
Pistons in 5
Cavs in 7

2nd Round of West
Lakers over Jazz in 6
Suns over Hornets in 7

2nd Round of Easy(i mean East)
Celts over Cavs in 6
Pistons over Magic in 6

Western Conference Finals
Lakers over Suns in 7

Eastern Conference Finals
Celts over Pistons in 6

NBA FINALS
Lakers over Celtics in 7

KOBE = FINALS MVP (and regular season MVP)

4/18/2008 3:31:09 PM

Den-LAL Denver is actually an okay defensive team, their offense is just overrated. The numbers back it up. Lakers are overrated right now, they would win the West if they were healthy but they aren't. Lakers in six.

NO-Dal NO in 7. They are much better than Dallas but they don't have playoff experience and they've faded down the stretch.

Spurs-Phoe I have way too much riding on to see straight. Phoe seems due and the Spurs look vulnerable this year. Still, Phoe hasn't looked the same this year so its hard to know where they are. Ill say Phoe in 6 but i wouldnt be surprised if the spurs steal it in 7.

Jazz - Hou Utah may be the toughest out in the west, their defense stinks but their offense is flat out sick. Houston can't score with them so ill go Jazz in 6. They do suck on the road though.


Bos - ATL Boston in four. KG isnt fucking around with this team.

Det- Philly Det in 5, they are not that good this year but Philly doesnt have enough veteran talent to win games. I do expect these games to be very close.

Orlando-Toro Ill go Orlando in 7 just because I think Toro has the horses to hang tough or maybe pull an upset. Orlando is too balanced and healthier than Toro.

Cle - Wash Have to take the cavs in 7. Its just dumb to go against lebron even though the wizards are a better team.



Should be some great matchups. Utah-LAK is a great round 2 matchup that is much closer to 50/50 then people think. I could easily see Utah win the series, and would def take them if only they werent so bad on the road. The lakers are a year away i think.

NO would beat phoenix but would probably lose to the spurs.


Boston is the clearcut favorite in the East they are dominant on both ends of the floor. Rondo/Perkins have been underrated and Pierce/Garnett/Allen are the perfect combination of veteran experience with hunger to win. I cant see Lebron or Wash giving them much trouble at all.

Detroit could falter against Orlando, i'd expect that series to go 7 games. Orlando would give Boston more problems than the pistons will.


Overall, you have to like Boston to win it all because of their strength and relative ease compared to the West. It doesnt hurt either that they'll have homecourt advantage throughout and have played very well out west.

4/19/2008 12:06:36 PM

Holy shit

4/19/2008 1:40:21 PM

Haywood and Jamison showing off that Carolina Class right there

4/19/2008 1:45:44 PM

haha funny to see Jamsion say motherfucker...he had a crazy look in his eyes

It looks like LeBron instigated it tho by trying to come up between Haywoods legs after he drew the foul...he could have just come straight up and there wouldn't have been all that contact

4/19/2008 1:52:31 PM

why the hell are these shitty east games even televised?

[Edited on April 19, 2008 at 3:01 PM. Reason : ^^haywood didn't do anything and jamison just tried to back him up]

4/19/2008 3:00:38 PM

whats so shitty about the wizards cavs game? would you prefer a blowout instead of a 2 point game?

i agree that the 2nd round east matchups will be much better than the first but i dont know how anybody has a problem with the cavs wiz game

[Edited on April 19, 2008 at 3:03 PM. Reason : .]

4/19/2008 3:03:24 PM

cause its hyped being a playoff game but has absolutely no bearing on the playoffs at all, and is insulting that just cause of a west/east division, that the 8 seed in the west could beat both these teams

4/19/2008 3:14:55 PM

oh well dont watch then

and you act like its some kind of certainty that lebron couldnt get past the nuggets??

4/19/2008 3:17:18 PM

lol @ dude bashing 6th man award

4/19/2008 3:44:40 PM

^^^8-seed? Don't you mean the sitting at home Golden State Warriors?

I agree with twista though, if you didn't enjoy that game, you must hate basketball.

[Edited on April 19, 2008 at 3:46 PM. Reason : :]

4/19/2008 3:45:36 PM

jeff van gundy is hilarious. I've always thought the same thing about the sixth man award.

Gilbert turned it over too many times down the stretch, Lebron was great.

4/19/2008 4:20:11 PM

wow, the Cavs/Wiz game was 10000x more entertaining than this Suns/Spurs garbage

4/19/2008 4:43:12 PM

^ care to revise..

Western Conference bball is >>>>>>> any other sport out there.

4/19/2008 6:06:24 PM

ginobli drives & nash doesn't foul him?

4/19/2008 6:06:26 PM

Dammit I hate the Spurs, with Stoudemire out not looking good for the Suns.

4/19/2008 6:10:29 PM

One of the best NBA games I've ever seen.

Tim Duncan is unbelievable this game.

4/19/2008 6:12:16 PM

duncan is always fantastic

damn, I wish Amare was still in. Not looking good, but so many clutch shots hit. This will be the best series in the entire playoffs no matter who wins

4/19/2008 6:23:18 PM

I cannot believe the Suns didn't score right there..

4/19/2008 6:24:12 PM

i say they go for two

4/19/2008 6:28:19 PM

what an amazing game!

4/19/2008 6:31:37 PM

Holy shit what a finish.

I still think the Spurs got away with some bullshit having Kurt Thomas clear out the lane like a lead blocker every time Parker or Ginobili drove to the basket. NBA needs to clamp down on that shit.

4/19/2008 6:32:45 PM

We all knew that Western Conference would provide some great games and man I am glad that game was on ABC so I could watch, since i don't have cable.

4/19/2008 6:36:53 PM

i just lost some respect for Tirico on his comment that zoolander was one of the worst movies ever

4/19/2008 7:13:02 PM

good line by you Mr. Stinky fish face

4/19/2008 8:01:44 PM

The lakers really didnt play well today and still scored 128!!

4/20/2008 6:33:00 PM

4/20/2008 7:38:08 PM

Quote :

"The lakers really didnt play well today and still scored 128!!"

Eh? The Lakers played great, Kobe played like shit. 33 assists on 46 made field goals is phenomenal.

4/20/2008 7:57:46 PM

pistons about to screw me on centsports

4/20/2008 8:25:48 PM

pistons are playing god awful... and they still have a chance to win this game

4/20/2008 8:27:38 PM

why the hell does the boston garden always look so smoky/cloudy?

4/20/2008 8:52:39 PM

everybody has been all 4/20 on those celtic clovers

4/20/2008 8:53:23 PM

i would guess that their pregame intros involve some smoke

and they just dont know how to ventilate it quickly

4/20/2008 8:54:03 PM

dwight howard is a friggin' beast.

4/20/2008 10:06:20 PM

with skip probably out again tomorrow night and the jazz being so good at home

i could prob see the rockets being swept




is there any other playoff team that has 2 key starters out for multiple games during the playoffs?

4/20/2008 10:55:32 PM

phoenix, lakers, cleveland(home team), and boston are my teams this year

4/20/2008 10:59:32 PM