2009 NBA Playoffs

[texasdave]

The NBA Playoffs are here which means we are about two months away from crowning a champion. That seems a bit excessive to me, but David Sterns isn't taking my calls so let the journey begin.

Here is a link for the schedule of first-round matchups: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ule/index.html

I'll take a stab at what I think is going to transpire in the playoffs. Color me a hater because this is far from what I would like to see happen. The possibility that Kevin Garnett misses the playoffs is great news as far as I am concerned. If the Celtics, Lakers, Spurs and Cavs all went down in the first-round it would be Christmas in April for me. I told you I was a hater. Any of the remaining 12 teams are golden in my eyes (particularly Houston).

Lakers over the Jazz in five. Phil Jackson throws Jerry Sloan a one-game bone.
Denver over NO in six. Altitude plus Attitude. CP3 can catch a summer bowling league.
Dallas over San Antonio in six. Not without Manu they don't. Dirk drives Dallas.
Houston over Portland in seven. They say never pick with your heart. I didn't. Portland a year away.

Cleveland over Detroit in five. AI is not the answer. Next question.
Boston over Chicago in seven. This would be my upset special, except it's not.
Orlando over 76ers in six. Superman has nothing up his sleeve. Philly once again 'Brand'ed a loser.
Miami over Atlanta in seven. DWade IS in my fave five.

Lakers over Houston in six. Artest and Kobe talk non-stop smack, but Kobe backs his up.
Denver over Dallas in seven. Dirk misses all seven shots in the fourth quarter of game seven. Altitude or Choke? Doesn't matter. Denver moves on.

Cleveland over Miami in five. Lebron is a bigger DWade. 'Nuf said.
Orlando over Boston in six. This is my upset special, but, with no KG, it's not.

Lakers over Denver in six. They can boo Kobe all they want in Denver, it's not gonna matter.
Cleveland over Orlando in five. Yawn. ZZZZZ.

Lakers over Cavs in seven. Great series goes down to the wire. Kobe versus Lebron. Blah, blah, blah. I hope they both lose.

Yes, I am a hater.

[leakbrewergator]

Good post despite your hate, Dave.

Here's the way I see it.

LA over Utah in 5
Denver over NO in 7
San Antonio over Dallas in 6
Portland over Houston in 7

Cleveland over Detroit in 6
Boston over Chicago in 6
Orlando over Philly in 5
Atlanta over Miami in 7

LA over Portland in 7
San Antonio over Denver in 7

Cleveland over Atlanta in 7
Boston over Orlando in 7

LA over San Antonio in 5

Cleveland over Boston in 4

LA over Cleveland in 6

Kobe MVP. LeBron cries. Wade gets carried off in a wheelchair.

[Unassisted]

IMO, texasdave has the East right and leakbrewergator has the West right.

If the Lakers represent the West in the finals, I won't be watching and don't care how many games it takes them to win it.

[NorrisHopper30]

Utah will beat the Lakers
76ers will beat Orlando
Mavs will beat Spurs

Those are my first round upsets.

[WMR]

Lakers - Cavs in the NBA Finals

Could be one of those all-time great series.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Lakers - Cavs in the NBA Finals

Could be one of those all-time great series.

If this doesn't happen you are talking about a major major upset.

KG is out possibly for the entire playoffs in case you hadn't read.

[leakbrewergator]

Utah will beat the Lakers
76ers will beat Orlando
Mavs will beat Spurs

Those are my first round upsets.

Utah over LA? It'll never happen.

[TeamSelig]

Yeah, no way do the Lakers lose out to Utah IMO. Also, I don't see the Sixers winning more than 1 game in the playoffs.

[WVRed]

San Antonio and possibly Portland could be the only teams I see in the west with a realistic shot of knocking off the Lakers.

The road through the east runs through Cleveland. Boston isn't going to be a threat without KG and Orlando relies on Dwight Howard almost entirely.

[MasonBuzz3]

1st Round:
Cleveland def Detroit 4-0
Boston def Chicago 4-2
Orlando def Philadelphia 4-1
Miami def Atlanta 4-3

LA def Utah 4-2
Denver def NO 4-3
SA def Dallas 4-2
Portland def Houston 4-3

2nd Round:
Cleveland def Miami 4-1
Orlando def Boston 4-2

LA def Portland 4-3
Denver def SA 4-2

Conference Finals:
Cleveland def Orlando 4-2
LA def Denver 4-2

Finals:
Cleveland def LA 4-2

Denver-New Orleans and Lakers-Blazers will be the best series of the playoffs besides the Finals. Home court rules the Finals IMO

[DTCromer]

Is there anyone in the east who will the least bit challenge Cleveland?

[TeamSelig]

Lakers over the Jazz in five
Denver over NO in six
San Antonio over Dallas in seven.
Portland over Houston in seven

Cleveland over Detroit in four
Boston over Chicago in seven
Orlando over 76ers in five
Miami over Atlanta in six

Lakers over Portland in six
San Antonio over Denver in seven

Cleveland over Miami in six
Orlando over Boston in seven

Lakers over San Antonio in five
Cleveland over Orlando in six

Cleveland over Lakers in six

[TeamSelig]

Chicago beats Boston in OT. Rose puts up 36 and 11. Wow. Surprising victory, would love to see Chicago upset the Celtics.

[Revering4Blue]

Chicago beats Boston in OT. Rose puts up 36 and 11. Wow. Surprising victory, would love to see Chicago upset the Celtics.

KG or no KG, this is impressive.

Yes, KG is KG. But Salmons is playing injured and the Bulls are missing Luol Deng.

No excuses for the Celtics should they lose the series. We'll see.

[TeamSelig]

Well, they actually play very well without KG so I was kinda surprised.