I'm not really able to watch the playoffs as I'm in Europe right now. But I don't have too high hopes for my Celtics anyway.

Any predictions?

I'd love to see the Thunder make it in the west, but I have a feeling the Lakers will find a way to pull it out.

(04-19-2011 09:08 AM)Mark Wrote:  I'm not really able to watch the playoffs as I'm in Europe right now. But I don't have too high hopes for my Celtics anyway.

Any predictions?

I'd love to see the Thunder make it in the west, but I have a feeling the Lakers will find a way to pull it out.

I don't know Mark. I watched at least a bit of all the games in the opening round of the playoffs, and a number of top 4 teams looked noticeably weak.

There's a changing of the guard happening now, and whether it happens this year or next is still to be seen, but it's on it's way.

LA and Boston both looked like they'd lost that ability to lose the last 10 games of the season but still explode in the playoffs. But Boston still did win against the Knicks, and the way they did it is a symbol of their strength. They have experience in spades, and experience scores clutch shots like Ray Allen's. I think writing off either LA or Boston is always a mistake, and both sides may have a favourable schedule to get to the finals.

LA need to avoid OKC and the Spurs, though they'd still be favourites against either one.

Boston need to avoid Chicago and possibly the Heat. Chicago's ability in the playoffs is unknown, but I do back their big 3 of Boozer, Rose and Noah to handle the mental toughness aspect. So them as well, especially without home court advantage. Orlando et al should be a cinch.

I can't pick anyone for the finals really though. I think it just all depends on who plays who. Chicago can take anyone but Boston IMO.

Same with the Spurs with LA.

The thing is, the playoffs are all about mental toughness, and LA and Boston have that in spades. Spurs aren't far behind either. Every other real contender is an unknown though. I back Chicago to come good, the Heat to falter, OKC to come good, and Orlando to sadly dream about Vince Carter's glory days.

- Chicago is basically all defense + Derrick Rose. If Rose can keep playing at MJ levels the whole playoffs, they have a good shot. But that's a really big "if."
- Heat is a 3-man team and will eventually be exposed.
- Boston needs Shaq back. If they can get Shaq back, they match up well against Miami and may be able to get by Chicago with experience.
- Orlando is done either this round or next.

- Spurs are too small and old. Nice record, but not going to work in the playoffs.
- Lakers may come alive. I still think they're the favorites out west.
- Mavs are flawed and will be bounced either this round or next.
- OKC has the talent and depth and Durant and Westbrook are both clutch. Will come down to toughness I think.
- Nuggets and Blazers: interesting teams on the way up, but won't make conference finals most likely.

I think out east it will be either Chicago or Boston, depending on who wins the Boston/Miami series and if Shaq gets back in time. I think if Boston beats Miami and has Shaq, they'll have enough to take on Chicago.

Out west I think it'll be Lakers or Thunder with the Blazers as a dark horse. If Blazers beat the Mavs, they match up REAL well with the Lakers and if the Lakers can't get their shit together, they may get upset.

But if I had to put money on it, I'd say Lakers/Bulls finals with Bulls winning in 6 or 7, Derrick Rose averaging 35+ a game, and Kobe's legs finally giving out.

(04-19-2011 09:42 PM)Mark Wrote:  - Chicago is basically all defense + Derrick Rose. If Rose can keep playing at MJ levels the whole playoffs, they have a good shot. But that's a really big "if."
- Heat is a 3-man team and will eventually be exposed.
- Boston needs Shaq back. If they can get Shaq back, they match up well against Miami and may be able to get by Chicago with experience.
- Orlando is done either this round or next.

- Spurs are too small and old. Nice record, but not going to work in the playoffs.
- Lakers may come alive. I still think they're the favorites out west.
- Mavs are flawed and will be bounced either this round or next.
- OKC has the talent and depth and Durant and Westbrook are both clutch. Will come down to toughness I think.
- Nuggets and Blazers: interesting teams on the way up, but won't make conference finals most likely.

I think out east it will be either Chicago or Boston, depending on who wins the Boston/Miami series and if Shaq gets back in time. I think if Boston beats Miami and has Shaq, they'll have enough to take on Chicago.

Out west I think it'll be Lakers or Thunder with the Blazers as a dark horse. If Blazers beat the Mavs, they match up REAL well with the Lakers and if the Lakers can't get their shit together, they may get upset.

But if I had to put money on it, I'd say Lakers/Bulls finals with Bulls winning in 6 or 7, Derrick Rose averaging 35+ a game, and Kobe's legs finally giving out.

I can't believe I'm having to argue for the Celtics case with a Boston fan! Where is all the one-eyed supporting? Weren't you smugly nodding your head to Paul Pierce when he said "we're not going back to LA" last year? I oughta burn your Garnett jersey son...

Ok, so here's a little less solid analysis than what I offered the first time around, but the logic is undeniable.

Knicks can't defend for peanuts. Boston loves teams with players who score 40 plus points against them in a game, because they know that if you're getting that much it's because you can't do anything down the other end of the court. Carmelo Anthony, I'm looking at you. 4-1 in this series.

Heat will shine brightly only to burn out. Yes, Dwayne Wade's ice cool composure will help to disguise from the fact that he doesn't know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver. Why would he need to know that? Because LeBron will be choking! The fact is, LeWhine is not a winner. What do I mean by that? I mean that he can score 50+ points in games 1,3, and 6, tie the series 3-3, have game 7 tied at 86 all and be at the free-throw line with 0.6 seconds on the clock, and he will miss that free throw. When it really, really, really comes down to it, when you have that split second between accomplishing everything you dreamed of, of achieving that blissful state of reaching a destination instead of just inching closer than ever to it, he will think back to when he was 8 years old and the big kids teased him by playing keep away with his backpack, and he decided he was gunna teach them a lesson when he grew up, and those feelings of being a loser will rise up, and overcome him, and he will miss that shot. 4-3 in this series (4-2 actually, but then my story wouldn't apply).

Chicago aren't going to win this year. Why? Only four players in the history of the NBA have won their first MVP award and their first NBA title in the same year. The most recent is Hakeem Olajuw, in 1994. In the current era, it's even more unlikely, because individual players don't dominate teams like they did in periods of the 80s and 90s. You simply must have at least 3 good players in your team and a decent bench. Chicago are very close to this, but they're not there yet. Both Noah and Rose need more playoff games under their belt, win or lose, so they can truly understand what is required to win 16 playoff games. Ok, so this just explains why they'd lose to LA or Spurs in the final, but not to Boston. So I'm going to go with an injury to either Rose, Boozer, or Noah, and the inability of the team to cope with that.

Spurs in the final. Boston won both games in the regular season. If you saw the first game, you won't need any more arguments as to who'll win this match-up. 3 of the Spurs titles have come against piss-poor finals opponents (LeBron in 07=4-0 sweep), and the only exception was the 05 title versus the Pistons. I think the Pistons were just tired from taking 7 games to beat the Heat though. Ginobli was a lot younger too, and the Spurs will hurt more from their age than the Celtics will. 4-2.

LA in the final. This one's easy. If LA win, they become the most successful NBA team of all time, with 18 titles to Boston's 17. Do you think, especially after last year's Finals, that men like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett would let their team be the one to allow LA to take that from Boston? If so, you need to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyjOy7fRzs0

Case closed.

Man I'm hyped for LA vs Boston round 3!

Ugh... I just hope Shaq gets back soon.

(04-20-2011 04:16 PM)Mark Wrote:  Ugh... I just hope Shaq gets back soon.

Watching the first round so far... I think it'll be Lakers vs Bulls in the final. But Lakers (hopefully) win in 6 or 7. Too much fairytale romance here for it to go wrong - Phil's last stand, Kobe's 6th to match Mike's.

I do think the next few years will be ruled by Miami and Chicago though.

Lakers? Really? Clearly an LA fan. They've been pushed close by a good but not great New Orleans with a good but not great Chris Paul. If Paul was back to his pre-injury form the series would be over. No doubt. As it is, it may well go to game 7.

In the west I think OKC look the strongest, although I'd rate Spurs as still being a chance if they can come back from the Grizzlies. Any team that can come back from 3-1 down is just too unpredictable.

In the east I'm less convinced by Miami than I was at the start of the playoffs. They've really showed their cracks, even in the win tonight, and I think both Chicago and Boston will have seen enough to know that if they push them, they could really show them up as pretenders. Chicago are my favourites now, even over Boston, although this could all changed based on their first away game versus the Hawks or Orlando. That'll be their first real test of the playoffs. I want the Hawks to win this but I want to see Dwight Howard have his shot at Derrick Rose. Hmm. Either one will lose to the Bulls, so I'll just go with the Hawks in the hope that an early Orlando exit will send Dwight Howard to OKC to create the best 'big three' in the league. Imagine Durant, Westbrook, Howard, Perkins... Two big men, three scorers, four rebound champs, 3 play makers, 3 defensive aces... I really think OKC could be ruling the West by 2013 with one more good pick.

I think Chicago/Boston in the Eastern Finals, OKC/Lakers in West Finals. Anything short of those four teams I think would be surprising. If Celtics get Shaq back and Rondo keeps playing with the intensity we all know he can play with (that team's offense is as good as he is on any given night), then I think they may take Chicago. If they don't have Shaq and Rose runs all over Rondo, then Chicago will go.

Out in the West, I still stand by Lakers being the favorite. They do this every year... they play as hard as they have to, when they have to. It's the sign of any veteran team. If OKC can match their intensity and toughness, then they will win. That's a big question though, OKC is young and inexperienced.

Still think it'll be Chicago/LA. But any combination of those four wouldn't surprise me.

(04-28-2011 03:46 PM)Eros Wrote:  Lakers? Really? Clearly an LA fan. They've been pushed close by a good but not great New Orleans with a good but not great Chris Paul. If Paul was back to his pre-injury form the series would be over. No doubt. As it is, it may well go to game 7.

In the west I think OKC look the strongest, although I'd rate Spurs as still being a chance if they can come back from the Grizzlies. Any team that can come back from 3-1 down is just too unpredictable.

In the east I'm less convinced by Miami than I was at the start of the playoffs. They've really showed their cracks, even in the win tonight, and I think both Chicago and Boston will have seen enough to know that if they push them, they could really show them up as pretenders. Chicago are my favourites now, even over Boston, although this could all changed based on their first away game versus the Hawks or Orlando. That'll be their first real test of the playoffs. I want the Hawks to win this but I want to see Dwight Howard have his shot at Derrick Rose. Hmm. Either one will lose to the Bulls, so I'll just go with the Hawks in the hope that an early Orlando exit will send Dwight Howard to OKC to create the best 'big three' in the league. Imagine Durant, Westbrook, Howard, Perkins... Two big men, three scorers, four rebound champs, 3 play makers, 3 defensive aces... I really think OKC could be ruling the West by 2013 with one more good pick.

Eros... yes... definitely an LA & Kobe fan and OKC is definitely scary...

Hey a bit late on the debate, but if all the remaining teams played to their best potential hands down the Bulls are the best team. When they play their A game its so hard for teams to score on them, and the ability of D-Rose to take over games in the 4th quarter is astounding. An athlete of his caliber cannot be stopped once they see the ball go in a couple of times. At this moment on the east the Heat are up 2-0 on boston, so sorry all celtics fan but you will not pull the W. The Heat are playing really good basketball and seemed to have developed the formula for success, D-Wade ( greatest player) is their primary offense with Lebron having to step up in the second half. Also their a defensive team first, once thats on point they can't be stopped. Out of the east i believe it will be Miami vs. Bulls with Miami taking the win, just because in the playoffs the Bulls have been relying on D-Rose far too much.

The west however is a much harder side to discuss. The Thunder should be the grizzlies but i think the series will go to at least game 6 cuz the grizzlies are so resilient and are very underrated especially with a monster in Zac Randolph. The lakers at the best are better than the rest of the west but they need to step up. The conference final for the west, i predict will be Lakers vs. Oklahoma. The finals will be Heat vs. Lakers, heat winning in 6 games. Very predictable and safe but the Bulls are still the best team i just dont think can pull the championship with one primary offensive threat.