2008-09 NBA Playoffs

[Cynosure]

Go

[Cubswin11]

I am generally strictly a NCAA basketball guy, but I usually pay more attention to NBA playoffs than the regular season. There is as best a chance this year to see a lot of upsets in the 1st round than there has been in a long time IMO. Unless a 1st round game is going down to the final minutes or is in game 7 I doubt I will follow that closely, but I will pick up interest in the later rounds. NBA needs to go back to best of 5 in the first round.

[CubbieBum]

I really wanted to beat the Spurs for the division title but no Jason Terry had to make 5 or 6 straight shots in the 4th to make us lose. Now we are likely the 5 seed and have to play on the road against Portland to open. Still I think the Rockets advance.

[Guest]

Every series in the West should be pretty entertaining. I think the Lakers will come out of there, but I don't think there are any easy picks like there are in the East with Cleveland over Detroit and Boston over Chicago. Even whoever Cleveland plays in the second round will be a huge underdog.

 

In the West, the Lakers are clearly the favorite, but I wouldn't be nearly as surprised if they go down as I would if Cleveland lost before the conference semifinals.

 

Lakers over Jazz

Nuggets over Hornets

Mavericks over Spurs

Rockets over Blazers

 

Lakers over Rockets

Nuggets over Mavericks

 

Lakers over Nuggets

 

Cavaliers over Pistons

Celtics over Bulls

Magic over Sixers

Heat over Hawks

 

Cavaliers over Heat

Celtics over Magic

 

Cavaliers over Celtics

 

Lakers over Cavs in 6.

[mhuber92211]

i hate the fact that the Trailblazers get no credit for having a shot. In reality they would have matched up better against the Spurs but oh well. I think the Blazers would actually have the best shot against the lakers in the West.

 

Of course, with such a young team that could have a big effect but I think they have the talent to get there.

[Guest]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if each of the first round series (yes, that even includes the Lakers) went the other way. I could see Portland, San Antonio, Utah and New Orleans all winning. As I said, the Lakers are obviously the favorite, but there certainly not a near lock to make the conference finals like the Cavs are.

 

Basically, the West is a crapshoot this year and who knows what will happen and it should be fun to watch.

[CubbieBum]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if each of the first round series (yes, that even includes the Lakers) went the other way. I could see Portland, San Antonio, Utah and New Orleans all winning. As I said, the Lakers are obviously the favorite, but there certainly not a near lock to make the conference finals like the Cavs are.

 

Basically, the West is a crapshoot this year and who knows what will happen and it should be fun to watch.

 

This is a year I could see the West beating each other up and being spent by the time they get to the Finals. Then again Celtics and Cavs have the potential to be a great 7 game series.

[Guest]

Definitely. I hope Garnett can get healthy for that series. I don't see anyone else beating the Cavaliers but the Magic could take down the Celtics if Garnett isn't healthy.

[CubbieBum]

Definitely. I hope Garnett can get healthy for that series. I don't see anyone else beating the Cavaliers but the Magic could take down the Celtics if Garnett isn't healthy.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Magic beat the Celtics even with Garnett . I just wouldn't bet on it.

[illiniguy]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if each of the first round series (yes, that even includes the Lakers) went the other way. I could see Portland, San Antonio, Utah and New Orleans all winning. As I said, the Lakers are obviously the favorite, but there certainly not a near lock to make the conference finals like the Cavs are.

 

Basically, the West is a crapshoot this year and who knows what will happen and it should be fun to watch.

No way is Utah winning. They have been awful. As someone who kinda follows them, I can't wait until Boozer is gone. He held them hostage all year.

[hawkeyecub]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if each of the first round series (yes, that even includes the Lakers) went the other way. I could see Portland, San Antonio, Utah and New Orleans all winning. As I said, the Lakers are obviously the favorite, but there certainly not a near lock to make the conference finals like the Cavs are.

 

Basically, the West is a crapshoot this year and who knows what will happen and it should be fun to watch.

No way is Utah winning. They have been awful. As someone who kinda follows them, I can't wait until Boozer is gone. He held them hostage all year.

 

What in the world happened to him? He looked like he was going to be solidly in that 2nd tier of stars.

[rawaction]

The Lakers may sweep the Jazz. No way Utah wins that. The other 3 series could all be won by the lower seed.

 

Lakers over Jazz in 5

Hornets over Nuggets in 7

Mavs over Spurs in 7

Blazers over Rockets in 6 (it would be wrong if Houston won w/o T-Mac)

 

Cavs in 5

Celtics in 5

Magic in 5

Heat in 7

 

Lakers over Blazers in 6

Hornets over Mavs in 6

 

Cavs over Heat in 6

Celtics over Magic in 7

 

Lakers over Hornets in 6

Cavs over Celtics in 7

 

Cavs over Lakers in 6

[wolf stansson]

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm16/dhohulin/playoffbracket.jpg

[Keener98]

I think you have the seeds wrong on the East side Wolf. I dont think Boston gets by Orlando without KG

[bukie]

Lakers over Jazz in 4

Hornets over Nuggets in 6

Mavs over Spurs in 6

Blazers over Rockets in 5

 

Lakers over Blazers in 6

Mavs over Hornets in 6

 

Lakers over Mavs in 4

 

Cavs over Pistons in 5

Bulls over Celtics in 4

Magic over Sixers in 5

Heat over Hawks in 6

 

Cavs over Heat in 5

Bulls over Magic in 5

 

Bulls over Cavs in 6

 

Bulls over Lakers in 5

 

...what?

[SouthSideRyan]

I think you have the seeds wrong on the East side Wolf. I dont think Boston gets by Orlando without KG

 

I wonder if Rivers is holding out KG to save him for that series. Risky to take the Bull series for granted, but considering they'll need him to beat Orlando, it's not a terrible idea.

[Keener98]

I think you have the seeds wrong on the East side Wolf. I dont think Boston gets by Orlando without KG

 

I wonder if Rivers is holding out KG to save him for that series. Risky to take the Bull series for granted, but considering they'll need him to beat Orlando, it's not a terrible idea.

 

That was my 1st thought when I heard it this morning. Also was wondering if Rivers may just be blowing smoke and if its just a little gamesmanship.

[CubbieBum]

All you guys who keep picking Portland is 5 or 6 know the Rockets beat them in the season series 2-1 and the one loss was in overtime in Portland right?

[Guest]

Blazers over Rockets in 6 (it would be wrong if Houston won w/o T-Mac)

 

I actually think it would be hilarious if Houston won without TMac.

[mhuber92211]

All you guys who keep picking Portland is 5 or 6 know the Rockets beat them in the season series 2-1 and the one loss was in overtime in Portland right?

 

Yes but each time Portland played them, one of their stars were out. Roy missed 1 game and I believe Oden missed 2 of them. As did Fernandez

[CubbieBum]

All you guys who keep picking Portland is 5 or 6 know the Rockets beat them in the season series 2-1 and the one loss was in overtime in Portland right?

 

Yes but each time Portland played them, one of their stars were out. Roy missed 1 game and I believe Oden missed 2 of them. As did Fernandez

 

Looking at the box score of the first game I only see Oden missing from Portland. Meanwhile it was in the first week of the season when the Rockets still had no idea how to play Artest and T-Mac and Battier was still out with an injury (plus Wafer wasn't playing yet). That was the 2 pt overtime loss at Portland.

 

The second game I only see Oden missing and that was when Landry was out for the Rockets. The Rockets won that game by 4 at home.

 

The third game I don't see anyone missing from Portland but Landry was still out for the Rockets. The Rockets won that one by 14 at home.

[wolf stansson]

All you guys who keep picking Portland is 5 or 6 know the Rockets beat them in the season series 2-1 and the one loss was in overtime in Portland right?

It was the toughest pick of the bunch. Tougher for me than Cavs/Lakers or Magic/Celtics.

[Mike Aller]

This just in: LeBron James is really good. I'd be shocked if this isn't a sweep.

[Mike Aller]

Really? Can't have one thread for the entire series? :(

[Guest]

Do you think we'll get a lot of posts?

 

I merged it because I figured it'd be you and Tranny talking to yourselves and we already had an NBA thread.

 

If you want, go ahead and start it again.