2009 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Rocky]

NBA playoffs kick off tomorrow. Click here for the complete schedule plus tv listings.

First Round matchups:

West
Lakers
Jazz

Blazers
Rockets

Spurs
Mavs

Nuggets
Hornets

East
Cavs
Pistons

Hawks
Heat

Magic
Sixers

Celtics
Bulls



Let's hope I'm not the only person who posts in this thread.

 

[Rocky]

My Predictions:

First Round:

West

Lakers 4
Jazz 1

Blazers 3
Rockets 4

Spurs 4
Mavs 2

Nuggets 4
Hornets 2

East

Cavs 4
Pistons 0

Hawks 3
Heat 4

Magic 4
Sixers 2

Celtics 4
Bulls 3

Second Round:

West
Lakers 4
Rockets 2

Nuggets 4
Spurs 3

East
Cavs 4
Heat 1

Celtics 2
Magic 4

Conference Finals:

Cavs 4
Magic 3

Lakers 4
Nuggets 2

NBA Finals
Cavs 3
Lakers 4


I think the Rockets might make it out of the first round now with no T-Mac. Celtics will have a hard time without Garnett, can't see 'em making the conference finals or let alone the NBA finals. Heat will beat the Hawks 'cus they have Wade who will propel them over the Hawks. Hawks have no superstars(Joe Johnson and Josh Smith clearly aren't), exactly what you need in the playoffs. The Nuggets will hopefully retire the Spurs. I predicated the Lakers winning the title, but Cavs is 7 was my close 2nd.

 

[yoyo913]

Mine:

West
Lakers 4
Jazz 1

Blazers 3
Rockets 4

Spurs 4
Mavs 2

Nuggets 4
Hornets 3

East
Cavs 4
Pistons 2

Hawks 4
Heat 3

Magic 4
Sixers 1

Celtics 4
Bulls 1
-------------------------

West
Lakers 4
Rockets 1

Spurs 3
Nuggets 4

East
Cavs 4
Hawks 2

Magic 3
Celtics 4

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

Cavs 4
Celtics 2

Lakers 4
Nuggets 2

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

Cavs 3
Lakers 4

 

[Áļéאָ]

West

Lakers 4
Jazz 1

Blazers 4
Rockets 2

Spurs 4
Mavs 3

Nuggets 3
Hornets 4

East

Cavs 4
Pistons 1

Hawks 4
Heat 2

Magic 4
Sixers 1

Celtics 4
Bulls 2

Second Round:

West
Lakers 4
Blazers 2

Spurs 3
Hornets 4

East
Cavs 4
Hawks 2

Celtics 2
Magic 4

Conference Finals:

Cavs 4
Magic 3

Lakers 4
Hornets 2

NBA Finals
Cavs 2
Lakers 4



and tbh I'm not sure both spurs and celtics will be able to go thru the first round without Ginobilli and KG

 

[rony31]

Go Hawks.

 

[Bobby]

I love how the NBA follows the greatest spectacle in basketball with...this.

 

[yoyo913]

Rose played kick ass, Chicago got first game wohoo... I didn't think they would take it in OT but Thomas hit some clutch shots.

 

[Áļéאָ]

**** this series rocks. This game should have gonnne to 4th OT just to see it happen

 

[yoyo913]

The best series I've seen, the only negative is that its only a first rounder.

 

[Áļéאָ]

Aye, and I'm pretty sure that whoever goes thru will be exhausted and wont make it past 2nd round.

anyway, just in case anyones interested..
http://www.skai.gr/hd/hd.html
euroleague final-4 (semis)

Barcelona Vs CSKA
Pao Vs Olympaikos

 

[Chacarita Juniors]

Come on! 7 overtimes in the Bulls-Celtics series. I don't know when we're going to experience a battle like this again, but I know one thing for certain, I am not missing game 7. What can Jesus Shuttlesworth do in the next game to keep the Celtics alive? Who will come out victorius in the brewing rivalry Rose-Rondo? Will the big baby flop...again? Who will have a physical altercation with who? My questions will be answered in this most anticipated NBA playoff game since I think...ever. (for me at least)

Witness...

 

[leungtl]

Just thought I'd chime in with something different and say... Rockets and Yao FINALLY out of the first round



Ron at 1:02... Classic.

 

[Rocky]

Let's go Magic! I bet Mo Williams feels like crap, guaranteeing a series win twice and then losing, ha! Plus, it's always nice to see Lebron lose.

 

[yoyo913]

Yeah I'm glad Orlando won altough I'm not a fan of Dwight at all.
I was sad to see the Nuggets go.

 

[Áļéאָ]

Same. The nuggets just need a little something extra imho. Dunno what, maybe melo improving his D or something.

And Howard is just a bellow average center with the best body in the league (well.... behind the King ofcurz) It's a shame he didnt go to college really.

 

[Rocky]

Below average? He's the best center in the league, he just has a raw offensive game. If the Cavs series is anything to go by, Dwight is starting to develop and shape his offensive game with more go-to moves from what I saw. Hit his free-throws in game 6 too. I don't think dropping 40 points in a closeout game makes you a below average center.

And the Nuggets could do nothing, they faced the better team. When the Lakers flip that switch and actually care about winning a game, there is no one that can stop them.

 

[yoyo913]

I agree with Alex, if Dwight was 6 foot 7 he wouldn't be in the league IMO.

 

[Rocky]

What if this, what if that. We might not be witnessing the golden generation of centers, but the reality is, Dwight is the best center in the league. He's the league's best rebounder, shot blocker, and the best defensive big-man in general. Howard has improved on the offensive end, going from just a dunker to actually developing a few go-to moves. He's only 23, and we don't know if he has hit his ceiling yet.

So what if Dwight was 6-7? Well, he'd possibly be a better dribbler, shooter and slasher. This is assuming he also retains his other qualities like rebounding, shot-blocking, and defense. You can talk hypotheticals all you want, but assuming Dwight would be out of the league if you simply shrunk him is nonsense, and just flat out stupid and illogical. A shrunken Dwight is essentially...Lebron James, minus the court vision. See how ridiculous that sounds? On the surface, it sounds just as dumb as saying Dwight would be out of the league if he was smaller. Fact is, if Dwight was 6-7, he'd be a completely different player, maybe not, who knows. However, since that player doesn't exist, we can't predict that that player would be out of the league.

 

[Parra Power]

How would Lebron go if he was 6'3? How would Chris Paul go if he was 5'7?

 

[Áļéאָ]

he is mediocre technically, and there's no denying that.
Im not saying he's bad the way he is, but one running hookshot that he learned after 4 years in the league just isn't...
Anyway, as long as he doesnt get some serious injury his raw physical ability is enough to keep him the best center until he's ~30