I believe that when you make predictions, you need to make them at the beginning of the year, stick with them until the bitter end, and accept the praise for being right and the ridicule for being wrong. But more than that, and truly above all else, every opinion you give needs to be filled with relevant, objective content. With that said I picked Lakers vs Celtics before the season started, with the Lakers winning a third straight title…not so sure how that’s going to end up now. The 2010-2011 NBA Playoff Preview:
Western Conference
(1)Spurs-(8) Grizzles: The Spurs have played great ball all year and they have done it with more offense than defense this year. They have stayed relatively healthy and have secured home court in the Wild Wild West. However if I am a Spur fan, which I am not, I would have preferred to play New Orleans over Memphis. I don’t think they will lose to Memphis, but I do believe they will be beat up physically and have their hands full. But with no Gay, it shouldn’t be a problem. Spurs win 4-1
(2)Lakers- (7) Hornets- When they play a focused and full 48 minutes no team can beat the Lakers…their best is truly better than everyone else’s best…there should be no argument to that. Unfortunately they don’t play a consistent, focused, full 48 every game. With that said, without another true scoring option outside of Paul, the Hornets will NOT win this series. But because it’s the Lakers, they will probably push this to 6 games. Lakers win 4-2
(3)Mavericks- (6) Trailblazers- Yes I agree with pretty much everyone who is picking the Trailblazers in what would be an upset? Face it you are only as good as your best player and when your best player is soft as Charmin toilet paper, you can’t win grind it out, hardnosed series. The only thing to not like about the Trailblazers is that they do not have a guy who can close out games. However, they will beat Dallas and I don’t think it will even go to 7 games. I am going out on a limb and saying Trailblazers win 4-1…and I’m not so sure about the one Dallas victory.
(4)Thunder- (5) Nuggets- The Post-Melo Nuggets have been great. They look like a team and they are playing inspired. But let’s be real…it’s still the Nuggets. The Thunder posses a dynamic scorer on the wing, a dynamic point guard, good role players, and a huge defensive presence inside. And unlike the Lakers, who have taken the Nuggets out for the past several years, OKC will play hard from start to finish. Get Your Brooms ready. Thunder win 4-0.
Eastern Conference
(1)Bulls- (8) Pacers- MVP, Coach of the year, good role play in the starting 5 and the bench, great offensive and defensive re-bounders and a scoring presence inside…what would keep the Bulls from winning the East? No one on the team has won anything significant. With that said, Granger would have to score 70 a night to beat them and that’s not going to happen. Bulls win 4-0
(2)Heat- (7) Sixers- The heat dodged a bullet not having to play the Knicks, and while the 76ers have played relatively well this year, if they were above .500 except right at .500 I would give them more of a chance (given the fact that the heat struggle against good teams). As long as the Heat can turn you over and get into transition and not have to play with the game close in the 4th quarter, it’s going to be tough to beat them. Heat win 4-1.
(3)Celtics- (6) Knicks- See I have less of a problem with the Celtics playing as a 3 seed, because I knew what I would get from them. My problem is without Perkins, they look like a wounded animal just trying to patch the wound with band-aids. The person most affected has been Rajon Rondo. When it was the Big 3, Perkins and Rondo, Rondo found great solace in being his own little dynamic duo. With Perkins gone, Rondo is being clumped in with the Big 3 and he is uncomfortable. Fortunately for the Celtics, the Knicks only play defense for 6 minutes a game. So if they can keep the game from being real close and avoid that inspired 6 min. of D, they should advance. But I will put them on upset alert. Celtics win 4-3.
(4)Magic- (5) Hawks- the only players I trust in Atlanta to be consistent in terms of doing what they do best is Al Horford and Jamal Crawford. Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are all over the place from game to game and everyone else on the roster has flashes of solid production. The Magic…will be the Magic. Shoot a lot of threes with Dwight going for 20 and 18 with 4 or 5 blocks. As long as they don’t have to rely on him shooting free throws late, that live by the three die by the three offense philosophy will not hurt them against the Hawks. Magic win 4-1
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