The NBA Playoffs.
 

The East:

1 Celtics
8 Hawks
Celtics will sweep the crap out of the Hawks.

4 Cavaliers
5 Wizards
If Arenas is back in a groove, the Wizards are easily talented enough to make this work.

3 Magic
6 Raptors
The Magic would have struggled with the 76ers, but the Raptors match up poorly with them.

2 Pistons
7 76ers
76ers may pick off a game here.

The West:

1 Lakers
8 Nuggets
The Nuggets definitely had a shot with the Hornets -- but the Lakers offense will shred them.

4 Jazz
5 Rockets
The Rockets can't make any mistakes at home -- if they do, this series is over.

3 Spurs
6 Suns
Nightmare matchup for the Spurs. The Suns are built to beat them, and now they will.

2 Hornets
7 Mavericks
Both teams are relishing this matchup. The Hornets know the Mavs are vulnerable, and the Mavs know the Hornets could melt in the bright lights.

I am predicting no fewer than five Game Sevens, and while I think the Celtics are taking this sucker, the Western team I like the most is going to surprise you....

My prediction.

I could see the suns beating the hornets.

I'll put a couple hundy casino cash on it....wanna bet? I take the Nugs straight up over the LA Ponds

I'll take that bet.

first in....done and done....looks like you need the cash anyway :p

just to be clear the bet is for $200... I take the Nuggets in a straight up series win over the Lakers

What is this "NBA" thing you speak of? :spock:

The West is going to be insane. I'm pulling for the Hornets, but I could easily see the Mavs beating them.

sounds good

Go SUNS

I really can't see anybody but the Hornets and Lakers making it too the finals in the west...maybe the Spurs.

If the refs don't take over the game, if Bowen & Manu get called/teched for their cheap shots, if Barbosa can come off the bench and play strong the Suns will handle SA this year.

I'm looking forward to a Shaq vs. Kobe grudge match.
The bitch against the diesel.

FYP

The Hornets just don't have the muscle to advance.

The Lakers have the muscle, and the only team that's really big enough to match them sizewise if Bynum returns are the Celtics in my opinion. I just think the Jazz are too powerful at home, and if they can pick off a win on the road against any of these teams they can pull it out.

The Jazz upset over the Lakers is the most unlikely thing I mapped out, I'll admit it.

Im so happy my mavs get the hornets in the first round, i see us winning that one in 6

You must have forgot that NENE is coming back

I... what?

Do you seriously think Denver's second-worst-defense in the NBA can stop the Lakers and the best offensive player of a generation?

with two of the leagues top 4 scorers? and the league leader in blocked shots/rebounds? with the deep bench they offer? J.R. Smith, Chucky Atkins, Linas Kleiza, KMART?

Don't get me wrong the Lakers aren't pushovers but neither are the Nuggets

I honestly think the Nuggets will be lucky to win one game against LA. They were just aweful against them in the regular season

Even national media was saying the suns get screwed by the refs
If manu wants to flop I bet Shaq will help him make it look convincing

Who cried like a little girl then sold out his teamates when he got caught poking the maid?
Who never developed emotionally past the high school level?
Kobe has mad offensive skills but he plays like a bitch off the court.
If you are a fan and can overlook his breaking of the man code then good on you. I'm not and I don't.

THEY CAN'T DEFEND.

The only team with a WORSE defense are the Warriors, and they DON'T EVEN TRY.

I'm actually going to agree with you on the Finals pick, Direckshun. I'm buying the Jazz hard this year.

The Hornets are the perfect first-round matchup for the Mavericks. They are a bunch of pussy jump shooters who can't defend the paint and don't have a single "uber-superstar" player who the refs will favor.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, are a tough team that plays defense and have a superstar. They also have mounds of playoff experience, the Hornets have very little.

Unless Dirk just totally chokes I see the Mavs taking it. I'm very pleased they beat the Hornets to avoid the Lakers in round 1.

1 Celtics
8 Hawks
Cs in 5 games. Hawks surpise game one.

4 Cavaliers
5 Wizards
Wizards got it in 6 games. Lebron will be the heroe twice, but will choke it up in the end.

3 Magic
6 Raptors
Magic will win in a sweep.

2 Pistons
7 76ers
Yeah, probably a sweep.
The West:

1 Lakers
8 Nuggets
Lakers win it in five, because they won't take game 4 seriously and the nuggs will.

4 Jazz
5 Rockets
Jazz will win it in 7.

3 Spurs
6 Suns
Suns win in a sweep. Yeah, I know.

2 Hornets
7 Mavericks
The Mavs take strong and win on the road, but the Hornets'll come together. Hornets in 7 games.


1 Celtics
5 Wizards

Wizards play 4 hard games and but fall to the celtics. Boston's on a 7 game winning streak.

3 Magic
2 Pistons

Piston's win in 5 games. Rasheed Wallace takes over.

1 Lakers
4 Jazz
Jazz are tired. Lakers win another in 5 games in a similar fashion.

6 Suns
2 Hornets
Suns pull the upset in and tough seven game series.


1 Celtics
2 Pistons
Detroit blazes boston in 5 games.

1 Lakers
6 Suns
The rested Lakers win in a sweep.

Lakers
Pistons
A fun series that will pump up non-nba fans for next year. Lakers win in 6.

okay? they still won 50 games with that HORRIBLE DEFENSE

and im very pleased we (mavs) avoided the lakers

ROFLROFL I can't believe that loser is still in the NBA.

The same things could be said about Shaq. I don't care much for Kobe's attitude, but I'll take it over Shaq's.

I used to like the Suns in the west but the Shaq for Marion trade still baffles me. Shaq is easily the most washed up player in the league.

Also the winner of the Cavs/Wizards will win the East.

I agree with most of your comments Direckshun, but you're wrong about the Raptors/Magic. As much as I despise Toronto, they actually matchup well with Orlando. Bosh/Ford give the Magic fits. The Raptors have been playing like shit lately so they'll lose anyways.

And as far as LA/Denver goes, yeah Melo and Ai will combine for 50+ a game against the Lakers, but how much is Kobe going to drop on Anthony Carter/JR Smith? Neither team plays good perimeter defense, and defensively speaking, the Lakers do not have what it takes to make this series a sweep, but they will win in 5 or 6.

Watching Cavs v. Wiz right now. Not really that exciting, but Arenas just came in.

They just showed a quote of his from a day ago -- "I am an assassin, I haven't played in a while but the shot's still there."

Love that confidence coming off the bench. Right now the Cavs lead in the 1st of Game 1, 17-12.

Be on the watch out for a new lockdown defender, Robertson from the Wizards. He's done a stupendous job against LeBron so far.

Are you insane DC? I can see the Nugs winning 1 maybe 2 games in the series. I can also see them getting swept.
Unless they miraculously wake up with a defense tomorrow other than Camby that is. Then all bets are off.
The Nuggets have the firepower to beat anyone. But without defense it's like the Chiefs of 02 to 05 all over again. :shake:

ARENAS HIT A THREE FROM 10 FEET BEHIND THE THREE POINT LINE.

HOLY SHIT.

NENE is probably the one guy they missed the most this year. But he's no where near 100%. Hell he can barely stay on the court for over 5 minutes at a time.

Arenas cans another 3.

Wizards up 27-19, 10:44 left in the half.

Guess who?

Arenas has canned four 3-pointers.

Holy god the kid's got game.

Gibson -----------> LeBron = one of the best alley oops I've ever seen.

Cavs coming alive, 40-38 in favor of the Wiz.

that dunk was just plain Sick

LeBron and Haywood in each other's face after LeBron draws a charge -- with 1 second left in the half.

PLAYOFFS, BABY.

3 technicals called.

I ****ing love this shit.

One of the most unremarkable matchups in the first round has provided the very best first half imaginable.

46-46 going into the half.

I got a pickup game I'm going to at 3 this afternoon -- kind of pisses me off, I'll be missing most of the Spurs/Suns Game 1, and that promises to be the best matchup in the entire first round.

LeBron -- 12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks.

Arenas -- 14 points, 4-4 from three point land, 1-1 from beyond 30 feet. LOL

Great game so far.

Who's that crazy ass commentator for ESPN?

That guy is ****ing nuts.

LeBron's come alive. He's hit 7 of his last 8, and has started the Cavs off in the 2nd half with a half-court alley oop and a stone-cold swish from the 3 point line.

53-50, Cavs.

Lebron will choke the end of this game away.

the wiz, are ****ed, they pissed lebron off way too much

Wiz should win this series. They've been playing as well as anybody in the Eastern Conference the last two weeks. Gil has provided them a boost too, but it's more than that. I say the Wiz in six.

3 people in bron's grill and he puts it in two times in a row. CLUTCH

what was that again?

Yeah LeBron delivered that game. He shot well over 50%. That was a great game to start off the playoffs.

Spurs v. Suns right now. I ****ing love the Suns this year.

The Suns are just shitting all over the Spurs right now, and they're doing it with Shaq on the bench (and he's played, like, four total minutes), and Stoudemire doing very little on the offensive end.

16-point lead with only 20 minutes played. Suns are f'ing raping the old fuggers.

What a whiny bitch Duncan is. I don't think there's a player I loathe watching any more than Tim Duncan. SHUT THE **** UP!

I loved that Bron Bron gave a little STFU to Gilbert and DeShawn.

**** VAN GUNDY AND **** THE SPURS!!!!

ROFL

OT?

OT?

Are you kidding me?

Dammit Suns, finish this game.

Duncan for 3!

are you f'n kidding me?

:cuss:

Holy **** on Duncan's 3 point shot. haha

you know, you gotta give it up to Lebron James, that team would still be the laughing stock on the NBA if it weren't for him. It's fun watching a guy like James play!

That is like running a play to get Darnell Jackson a 3 to win the game. Haha. Hilarious.

2nd OT

2nd OT without Stoudemire

This is the Spurs' to lose at this point.

in 30 seconds Thomas and Parker foul out. What a game.

I didnt see a foul there on Parker? Camera must have missed it??

Touch the shooter's elbow and that's a foul.

WOW!!! Steve Nash fadeaway 3. Holy shiii

Wow, what a ending.

MANU!!! MANU!!!! MANU!!!

this sucks. I hate the Spurs.

Why the hell didn't the Suns foul someone on the last play?

Well, there goes my sense of humor for the next couple hours.

There's the game.

Miracle win for San Antonio. Doubt that happens again or even comes close to happening.

Wow, I hate the Spurs

So what do you guys think? Do the Suns remain the better team?