2011 NBA Playoffs Thread

[DivineBovine]

My homer picks:

 

San Antonio in 5

OKC in 6

Portland in 7

LA in 5

 

Chicago in 5

Orlando in 6

Boston in 5

Miami in 6

 

 

San Antonio in 6

LA in 5

 

Chicago in 6

Boston in 6

 

Chicago over LA in 7

 

 

 

I'm actually happy with so many people in the media giving Boston and Miami the East. Tougher to be a frontrunner. If Chicago plays either Boston or Miami in the finals, both sides are going to try and play underdog.

 

The lack of playoff experience makes me a little nervous for the Bulls. However, anyone who cites this as a reason that Miami is better is smoking crack. Neither LeBron or Bosh have won much in the playoffs.

[Banedon]

I see a lot of Heat over Bulls predictions. I know I'm a homer, and I won't even defend myself against that, but I just wonder why people think that when the next Heat victory over the Bulls will be the first this season.

 

 

The playoffs are a different beast!!!!

[UMFan83]

I see a lot of Heat over Bulls predictions. I know I'm a homer, and I won't even defend myself against that, but I just wonder why people think that when the next Heat victory over the Bulls will be the first this season.

 

 

The playoffs are a different beast!!!!

 

Devil's Advocate, a couple of reasons:

 

-The 3 games between the Bulls and Heat were decided by a combined 8 points (3 pts, 4 pts, 1 pt). 2 of the 3 were in Chicago and 1 was without LeBron. Another Bosh shot 1-18, and in the 3rd, the Bulls won from a questionable foul to Deng. No foul is called there, the Heat are likely up 3 with under 20 secs left.

 

-The Heat used the regular season to gel with each other and learn how to perform the best with the pieces they had. After that disasterous 5 game losing streak, I think they only lost 1 more game the rest of the year, maybe 2.

 

-No one expected the Bulls to win the East this year, so its trendy to say the Bulls are a year away and don't have enough experience to win this year.

 

-The concept that the Bulls have been playing in top gear all year long. People don't believe they have "another gear" that other experienced playoff teams have been saving for right now.

 

-One thing I heard on the Simmons podcast yesterday made me think. They talked about how when the Heat signed LeBron to go along with Wade, people were gushing about how they can run the pick and roll with each other and play a 2 man game based off their athleticism and speed. Well the funny thing is, the Heat barely used that play most of the season. In fact when people questioned Spo about it he basically brushed it aside and seemed annoyed it was brought up. Well over the last month of the season, they've started to use that play a little bit more now, supposedly. And its worked really really well. If they can get that going in the playoffs...damn

 

 

I don't necessarily agree with any or all of this, again just playing devil's advocate here.

[Exile on Waveland]

Also, because it's the NBA. You can't discount things like Dwayne Wade being allowed to drive the basket, punch Noah in the face, and have the foul called on Noah (see, 2006 Finals, Nowitzki's face fouling Wade's hand/elbow).

 

 

 

(Edit: On second thought, I think I want to amend my finals prediction to Lakers-Heat.)

[Guest]

I see a lot of Heat over Bulls predictions. I know I'm a homer, and I won't even defend myself against that, but I just wonder why people think that when the next Heat victory over the Bulls will be the first this season.

 

 

The playoffs are a different beast!!!!

 

Orlando was 2-0 against the Lakers in the 08-09 season but that didn't seem to matter in the Finals.

[scarey]

Also, because it's the NBA. You can't discount things like Dwayne Wade being allowed to drive the basket, punch Noah in the face, and have the foul called on Noah (see, 2006 Finals, Nowitzki's face fouling Wade's hand/elbow).

 

 

 

(Edit: On second thought, I think I want to amend my finals prediction to Lakers-Heat.)

 

 

Crap. I forgot why this isn't going to work out for the Bulls. I'm not quite as excited anymore. :(

[SouthSideRyan]

Glad to see you guys have your excuses lined up already.

[illiniguy]

Glad to see you guys have your excuses lined up already.

You have one title in the last 20 years. Some of us have over 6 in that time frame. Quiet while we talk about the NBA.

[UMFan83]

Glad to see you guys have your excuses lined up already.

You have one title in the last 20 years. Some of us have over 6 in that time frame. Quiet while we talk about the NBA.

 

Ahh good ponit. That's why he has to interject his thoughts about the Bulls every 2 seconds.

[illiniguy]

Glad to see you guys have your excuses lined up already.

You have one title in the last 20 years. Some of us have over 6 in that time frame. Quiet while we talk about the NBA.

 

Ahh good ponit. That's why he has to interject his thoughts about the Bulls every 2 seconds.

In his defense the Celtics killed it when there were 10 teams in the league and you could only have two black guys playing for you.

[SouthSideRyan]

Glad to see you guys have your excuses lined up already.

You have one title in the last 20 years. Some of us have over 6 in that time frame. Quiet while we talk about the NBA.

 

Please stop talking about the Cubs and Illinois basketball

[illiniguy]

Glad to see you guys have your excuses lined up already.

You have one title in the last 20 years. Some of us have over 6 in that time frame. Quiet while we talk about the NBA.

 

Please stop talking about the Cubs and Illinois basketball

Lol, I try not to talk about the Cubs much anymore.

[Exile on Waveland]

Glad to see you guys have your excuses lined up already.

 

You're not seriously including me in that "you guys" are you? I don't need excuses for why my team is going to lose -- they're just not very good.

[SpongeWorthy]

I have my excuses, SSR has his Skip Bayless talking points.

[SouthSideRyan]

I have my excuses, SSR has his Skip Bayless talking points.

 

I have points?

[SpongeWorthy]

imb and Skip Bayless have never been seen in the same room together

[imb]

he's a self-hating OU fan too

[SpongeWorthy]

The whiteout is so gay

[bukie]

Apparently Miami also forgot about the early start time today.

[imb]

The whiteout is so gay

 

You know they're only doing it to make the arena look full

[bcl412]

Philadelphia had their fun I guess. I'm not sure if they'll be close the rest of the game.

[Guest]

Miami is trying to blow this thing. 12-0 run from Philly and it's 88-87 Miami with two minutes to play.

[SpongeWorthy]

And Miami goes to the "everyone clear out for Wade, Lebron you go stand in the corner" offense as Philly got back into it near the end.

[Magnetic Curses]

if miami wins the title, it will be because wade made some great shots at the end of games.

[imb]

if miami wins the title, it will be because wade made some great shots at the end of games.

 

from the free throw line