My NBA Playoff Picks

by user BMetts

FIRST ROUND

East (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee has no chance here. Just another day at the office for the Pistons. Prediction: Pistons, 4-0 (2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Chicago Bulls Chicago is a solid team, but get real, this is the Wade and Shaq show. They'll be ready to play. Prediction: Heat, 4-2 (3) New Jersey Nets vs. (6) Indiana Pacers This isn't Reggie Miller's Pacers. Had questions about the Nets earlier in the year, but they're on a roll now. Prediction: Nets, 4-1 (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Washington Wizards Should be the series of the first round. Both teams are young, talented and upstart, but Washington has been here before. Wait until next year, Lebron. Prediction: Wizards, 4-3

West (1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Sacramento Kings Kings have been better since they got Artest, but they're not ready for this. Duncan's health is an issue as always, but Spurs should cruise through this matchup regardless. Prediction: Spurs, 4-1 (2) Phoenix Suns vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers Interesting matchup with two very unique teams. The Suns are solid, but I expect Kobe and Co. to take them the distance. Should be fun to watch. Prediction: Suns, 4-3 (3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Los Angeles Clippers One of the interesting consequences of realignment (see #2 below). The home court issue wouldn't be an issue if I felt the Nuggets were a solid team, but I just don't think they're ready yet. Not only that, but the Clippers are a force to be reckoned with (how weird does that sound?) Clippers in a close one. Prediction: Clippers, 4-2 (4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies The second interesting consequence of realignment. Memphis shouldn't a problem for the Mavs, but they have a brick wall awaiting them in round 2. Prediction: Mavericks, 4-2

SECOND ROUND

East (1) Pistons vs. (5) Wizards Pistons have to be careful not to look past the Wizards, or they'll get torched. I don't anticipate a bump in the road here, but you never know. Washington swept the Pistons in the regular season. Prediction: Pistons, 4-3 (2) Heat vs. (3) Nets This will be another fun series to watch. Carter averaged 38.5 a game against the Nets in the regular season, and New Jersey won 3 out of 4 games. This is playoff time, however, and The Diesel will be truckin'. Prediction: Heat, 4-3

West (1) Spurs vs. (4) Mavericks This one's being hyped as the actual Western Conference finals, and rightfully so. Neither of these teams have many holes, and while it would be easy to pick the Mavs in this one, I'm picking the Spurs, and by more than you might expect. It seems like Tim Duncan's been around forever, but he's not that old - he turns 30 on the 25th of this month. Prediction: Spurs, 4-2 (2) Suns vs. (6) Clippers Clippers in the Western Conference finals? Why not? The Suns went down to San Antonio last year, and they're not nearly as good this year. It'll be close, mind you, but I'm taking the Clips. Prediction: Clippers, 4-3

CONFERENCE FINALS

East (1) Pistons vs. (2) Heat In a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference finals, both teams will be focused. Miami should have won last year, but they let it slip away. Seeing as this matchup won't happen for at least a month it's difficult to predict, but I'm picking the Heat in a battle. Prediction: Heat, 4-3

West (1) Spurs vs. (6) Clippers The Clip stops here. I know, you probably thought I was crazy enough to pick them this far, so don't worry, I don't see them beating the mighty Spurs. Elton Brand versus Tim Duncan will be fun to watch, however. Prediction: Spurs, 4-2

NBA FINALS

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs The television execs get to breathe a sigh of relief that there will be no Pistons-Spurs rematch, and Miami is breathless when the Spurs fail to win their third title in four years. The Heat live the dream they imagined when Shaq first stepped foot on South Beach, and Alonzo Mourning gets that elusive ring. Rumors of Larry Brown taking over Pat Riley's spot are just that: rumors. Prediction: Heat, 4-2

So that's that. Feel free to comment and let me know what you agree/disagree with, and I'll tell you why you're wrong. :p Peace out!

Date
Fri 04/21/06, 7:40 pm EST