2011 NBA Playoffs Thread

[soccer10k]

Here are the first round matchups:

 

WEST

1. San Antonio vs. 8. Memphis

4. Oklahoma City vs. 5. Denver

3. Dallas vs. 6. Portland

2. Los Angeles vs. 7. New Orleans

 

EAST

1. Chicago vs. 8. Indiana

4. Orlando vs. 5. Atlanta

3. Boston vs. 6. New York

2. Miami vs. 7. Philadelphia

 

In case you didn't know (like I didn't up until a couple weeks ago) there is no reseeding in the NBA playoffs.

Edited April 14, 2011 by soccer10k

[bukie]

It was pretty funny how Memphis was frantically trying to make it a game with the Clips once there was actually a chance the Lakers could lose. Then when it went to OT, they stalled like crazy with timeouts. Once LA took over again in OT, the tanking resumed.

[ELCABALLO45]

Just about to make this thread. Anyone have some early FINALS predictions?

[Guest]

I think either Lakers or Thunder out West and either Bulls or Heat in the East. I still don't know what to make of Denver and Portland is a bit of a darkhorse. Boston is the only other team in the East that could make it. Orlando doesn't stand a chance unless Rose and LeBron get hurt.

 

I think it's Lakers-Bulls in the Finals with the series being back and forth like last year's.

[CubsBears29]

Just about to make this thread. Anyone have some early FINALS predictions?

 

Its impossible for me to be impartial, so Bulls out of the East and (not really following the NBA all that closely) I'll go with the old [both recent and historical] stand-by, the Lakers, out of the West.

[Flames24Rulz]

I've never understood why the NBA doesn't re-seed in the playoffs.

 

Three of the four matchups in the West look extremely intriguing and Boston-New York should be a fun one to watch as well.

[SouthSideRyan]

Lakers-Heat

[bcl412]

Bulls over Pacers in 5

Orlando over Atlanta in 6

Boston over New York in 6

Miami over Philadelphia in 4

 

San Antonio over Memphis in 7

Denver over OKC in 7

Dallas over Portland in 6

Lakers over New Orleans in 5

 

Bulls over Magic in 5

Miami over Boston in 6

 

San Antonio over Denver in 6

Lakers over Dallas in 5

 

Bulls over Miami in 7

Lakers over Spurs in 6

 

Bulls over Lakers in 7

 

Last two times I've done homer picks in sports it has worked for me so I have keep up that trend.

[SouthSideRyan]

Chicago over Indy in 4

Miami over Philly in 6

Boston over NY in 5

Orlando over ATL in 5

San Antonio over Memphis in 4

OKC over Denver in 6

Dallas over Portland in 6

Lakers over New Orleans in 6

 

Chicago over Orlando in 7

Miami over BOS in 6

San Antonio over OKC in 7

Lakers over Dallas in 6

 

Miami over CHI in 6

Lakers over San Antonio in 5

 

Heat over Lakers in 7

[bukie]

If I'm going homer, I'm going full-homer.

Chicago over Indiana in 4

Miami over Philadelphia in 5

Boston over New York in 5

Atlanta over Orlando in 6

 

San Antonio over Memphis in 5

Oklahoma City over Denver in 5

Dallas over Portland in 5

LA Lakers over New Orleans in 4

 

Chicago over Atlanta in 4

Boston over Miami in 6

 

Oklahoma City over San Antonio in 6

Dallas over LA Lakers in 6

 

Chicago over Boston in 4

Dallas over Oklahoma City in 7

 

Chicago over Dallas in 4

 

Bools wee-un.

[UMFan83]

Chicago over Indy in 4

Miami over Philly in 6

Boston over NY in 5

Orlando over ATL in 5

San Antonio over Memphis in 4

OKC over Denver in 6

Dallas over Portland in 6

Lakers over New Orleans in 6

 

Chicago over Orlando in 7

Miami over BOS in 6

San Antonio over OKC in 7

Lakers over Dallas in 6

 

Miami over CHI in 6

Lakers over San Antonio in 5

 

Heat over Lakers in 7

 

Did you go temporarily dyslexic during that Celtics Heat pick? Or reverse jinx. I don't think you really are giving up on the C's because of the last couple of weeks.

 

I hate situations in sports where the general opinion goes completely in one direction despite the fact that the other team is good, so I think I might change my pick to Celtics over Heat.

 

I've seen the same games everyone has seen but I've also seen an apathetic team play .500 ball the last half of the season, have everyone count them out then go on to game 7 of the Finals. This team seems a little different, but at the same time, they were good enough to win 56 games this year, they have an extra gear that they aren't showing. Miami is still flawed and can still just as easily crumble like they did during their 5 game losing streak in February. You cant just forget about all those disapointing losses they've had this year.

 

We'll see but I feel like people are giving up way too soon on this celtics team. They have to have another gear that they haven't showed in the last month.

[Tyrant]

Chicago over Indy in 4

Miami over Philly in 6

Boston over NY in 5

Orlando over ATL in 5

San Antonio over Memphis in 4

OKC over Denver in 6

Dallas over Portland in 6

Lakers over New Orleans in 6

 

Chicago over Orlando in 7

Miami over BOS in 6

San Antonio over OKC in 7

Lakers over Dallas in 6

 

Miami over CHI in 6

Lakers over San Antonio in 5

 

Heat over Lakers in 7

 

That would seem like a disappointment now, but man, if you had told me in October that's how the season would finish up, I would have been more than fine with it.

[Guest]

Spurs over Grizzlies in 5

Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Blazers over Mavericks in 6

Lakers over Hornets in 4

Bulls over Pacers in 4

Magic over Atlanta in 5

Celtics over Knicks in 7

Heat over Sixers in 5

 

Thunder over Spurs in 6

Lakers over Blazers in 7

Bulls over Magic in 5

Heat over Celtics in 6

 

Lakers over Thunder in 7

Bulls over Heat in 6

 

Lakers over Bulls in 7

Split the first two in Chicago, Lakers take two of three in LA and Bulls win Game 6.

Edited April 14, 2011 by soccer10k

[CubInOK]

Spurs over Grizzlies in 5

Thunder over Mavericks in 7

Blazers over Mavericks in 6

Lakers over Hornets in 4

Bulls over Pacers in 4

Magic over Atlanta in 5

Celtics over Knicks in 7

Heat over Sixers in 5

 

Thunder over Spurs in 6

Lakers over Blazers in 7

Bulls over Magic in 5

Heat over Celtics in 6

 

Lakers over Thunder in 7

Bulls over Heat in 6

 

Lakers over Bulls in 7

Split the first two in Chicago, Lakers take two of three in LA and Bulls win Game 6.

Didn't know the Mavs got both the 3 and 5 seeds in the West. They're gonna be really tired playing 2 games a day.

[Guest]

Spurs over Grizzlies in 5

Thunder over Mavericks in 7

Blazers over Mavericks in 6

Lakers over Hornets in 4

Bulls over Pacers in 4

Magic over Atlanta in 5

Celtics over Knicks in 7

Heat over Sixers in 5

 

Thunder over Spurs in 6

Lakers over Blazers in 7

Bulls over Magic in 5

Heat over Celtics in 6

 

Lakers over Thunder in 7

Bulls over Heat in 6

 

Lakers over Bulls in 7

Split the first two in Chicago, Lakers take two of three in LA and Bulls win Game 6.

Didn't know the Mavs got both the 3 and 5 seeds in the West. They're gonna be really tired playing 2 games a day.

 

Haha, good catch.

[UMFan83]

Spurs over Grizzlies in 5

Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Blazers over Mavericks in 6

Lakers over Hornets in 4

Bulls over Pacers in 4

Magic over Atlanta in 5

Celtics over Knicks in 7

Heat over Sixers in 5

 

Thunder over Spurs in 6

Lakers over Blazers in 7

Bulls over Magic in 5

Heat over Celtics in 6

 

Lakers over Thunder in 7

Bulls over Heat in 6

 

Lakers over Bulls in 7

Split the first two in Chicago, Lakers take two of three in LA and Bulls win Game 6.

 

I'd closing it out in game 6 would be a lot more likely than winning game 7 on the road.

[ctcf]

If I'm going homer, I'm going full-homer.

Chicago over Indiana in 4

Miami over Philadelphia in 5

Boston over New York in 5

Atlanta over Orlando in 6

 

San Antonio over Memphis in 5

Oklahoma City over Denver in 5

Dallas over Portland in 5

LA Lakers over New Orleans in 4

 

Chicago over Atlanta in 4

Boston over Miami in 6

 

Oklahoma City over San Antonio in 6

Dallas over LA Lakers in 6

 

Chicago over Boston in 4

Dallas over Oklahoma City in 7

 

Chicago over Dallas in 4

 

Bools wee-un.

 

Do you actually think Dallas could beat LA, let alone in 6 games?

[bukie]

If I'm going homer, I'm going full-homer.

Chicago over Indiana in 4

Miami over Philadelphia in 5

Boston over New York in 5

Atlanta over Orlando in 6

 

San Antonio over Memphis in 5

Oklahoma City over Denver in 5

Dallas over Portland in 5

LA Lakers over New Orleans in 4

 

Chicago over Atlanta in 4

Boston over Miami in 6

 

Oklahoma City over San Antonio in 6

Dallas over LA Lakers in 6

 

Chicago over Boston in 4

Dallas over Oklahoma City in 7

 

Chicago over Dallas in 4

 

Bools wee-un.

 

Do you actually think Dallas could beat LA, let alone in 6 games?

Err, since when is 6 games too few? If Dallas is going to beat LA, they're doing it game 6 at home, not game 7 in LA. And yes, the way LA has played the past 3 weeks, Dallas can certainly beat LA.

[rawaction]

Here are the first round matchups:

 

WEST

1. San Antonio vs. 8. Memphis

4. Oklahoma City vs. 5. Denver

3. Dallas vs. 6. Portland

2. Los Angeles vs. 7. New Orleans

 

EAST

1. Chicago vs. 8. Indiana

4. Orlando vs. 5. Atlanta

3. Boston vs. 6. New York

2. Miami vs. 7. Philadelphia

 

In case you didn't know (like I didn't up until a couple weeks ago) there is no reseeding in the NBA playoffs.

 

Spurs over Grizzlies in 5

Thunder over Nuggets in 6

Blazers over Mavs in 6

Lakers over Hornets in 5

 

Lakers over Blazers in 6

Thunder over Spurs in 7

 

Lakers over Thunder in 7

 

-------------------------------------------------------

Bulls over Pacers in 5

Hawks over Magic in 7

Celtics over Knicks in 6

Heat over Sixers in 4

 

Bulls over Hawks in 5

Heat over Celtics in 7

 

Heat over Bulls in 7

 

----------------------------------------------------

Heat over Lakers in 6

[wolf stansson]

WEST

1. San Antonio over Memphis 4-2

4. Oklahoma City over 5. Denver 4-3

6. Portland over 3. Dallas 4-2

2. Los Angeles over 7. New Orleans 4-0

 

4. Oklahoma City over 1. San Antonio 4-3

2. Los Angeles over 6. Portland 4-2

 

2. Los Angeles over Oklahoma City 4-2

 

 

EAST

1. Chicago over 8. Indiana 4-0

4. Orlando over 5. Atlanta 4-1

3. Boston over 6. New York 4-2

2. Miami over 7. Philadelphia 4-2

 

1. Chicago over 4. Orlando 4-2

2. Miami over 3. Boston 4-3

 

1. Chicago over 2. Miami 4-3

 

2. Los Angeles over 1. Chicago 4-2

[Exile on Waveland]

Bulls in 5

Heat in 5

Celtics in 6

Magic in 6

 

Bulls in 6

Celtics in 7

 

Bulls in 7

 

 

Spurs in 5

Lakers in 4

Mavericks in 7

Thunder in 6

 

Thunder in 7

Lakers in 6

 

Lakers in 7

 

 

Lakers over Bulls in 6

 

I really hope I'm wrong and the Lakers recent struggles continue. But it's the NBA.

[imb]

I think OKC either loses in 6 to denver, or makes it to the West Finals.

 

I'll go Lakers over Thunder

Heat over Bulls

 

Lakers over Heat

[Guest]

Was listening to some of Bill Simmons' playoff podcast earlier while taking the dog for a walk and listening to J.A. Adande blabber on about playoff experience got me thinking...

 

What playoff results would make the sportswriters' heads explode?

 

There's all this BS about the Bulls and Thunder not having won in the playoffs, but what happens if they meat in the finals by beating the Celtics and the Lakers? What about a Bulls-Heat ECF? There you have the Bulls team that hasn't won anything against LeBron and Chris Bosh.

[UMFan83]

Was listening to some of Bill Simmons' playoff podcast earlier while taking the dog for a walk and listening to J.A. Adande blabber on about playoff experience got me thinking...

 

What playoff results would make the sportswriters' heads explode?

 

There's all this BS about the Bulls and Thunder not having won in the playoffs, but what happens if they meat in the finals by beating the Celtics and the Lakers? What about a Bulls-Heat ECF? There you have the Bulls team that hasn't won anything against LeBron and Chris Bosh.

 

The talk of playoff experience is overrated IMO. It's a factor no doubt but in terms of people saying "THIS Bulls team hasn't made it out of the first round." Ok well...THIS team hasn't but all of the key players have significant experience in both the NBA playoffs and NCAA Tournament. They understand what it takes to co mpete in the playoffs. It's not like they start playing game 1 and think "holy [expletive] this is completely different than the regular season."

 

Some will argue that Rose, Noah, etc. don't know what it takes to get deep in the playoffs and win a title because they haven't done a playoff run yet. But neither did Pierce, Allen and Garnett their first year together. This iteration of the Lakers didn't have playoff experience together when they went to the Finals...Gasol joined mid-year, he barely had chemistry with the rest of the team.

 

The Bulls all individually have a decent amount of playoff experience. They've gotten to where they are by playing their asses off, hitting an extra gear when they needed to, played and won against various different styles, survived close late game situations and came out on top. I just don't see how it has a significant effect. But if the Bulls lose to the Magic, this is what it will be blamed on. It's a really lazy thing for a sportswriter to say IMO, but I'd welcome counter arguments.

[TruffleShuffle]

i'll consider it a moral victory if the sixers win a game.