2009 NBA Playoffs predictions
The NBA Playoffs arrive each year with a quiet buzz -- if you compare them to the NCAA tournament that has just ended two weeks before.
They are full of drama, intriguing matchups and compelling storylines, yet they don't grip the nation collectively quite like March Madness does. And that's fine. Those who appreciate the Playoffs don't need moral support. They're just glad it's here.
Which brings me to why I'm here: To pick, correctly, each of the 15 series that are about to play out over the next two months.
EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Cleveland over No. 8 Detroit in 5
No. 2 Boston over No. 7 Chicago in 5
No. 6 Philadelphia over No. 3 Orlando in 7
No. 5 Miami over No. 4 Atlanta in 7
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Cleveland over Miami in 6
Boston over Philadelphia in 6
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Cleveland over Boston in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Los Angeles over No. 8 Utah in 5
No. 2 Denver over No. 7 New Orleans in 6
No. 6 Dallas over No. 3 San Antonio in 7
No. 4 Portland over No. 5 Houston in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Los Angeles over Portland in 6
Denver over Dallas in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Los Angeles over Denver in 6
NBA FINALS
Here's where I get crossed up. On one hand, I'd like to think this is LeBron's coronation. On the other, I find it hard to pick against Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson, who both have something to prove. Kobe has never won a ring without Shaq. Phil has never won a ring with as little talent as he currently has. Ultimately, it comes down to who plays better between LeBron and Kobe -- and that's what makes the NBA what it is: Spectacular matchups between players with overwhelming skills. And I'm taking LeBron.
Cleveland over Los Angeles in 7
Yes, it's a sad day when I haven't picked my beloved Pistons to wear the crown. But their run is done. Time for a new King. I just hope he stays in Cleveland and doesn't bolt to the big market. That would be bad for the game.
posted by RGarfield @ 9:00 AM
2 Comments:
At 12:22 PM ,
Anonymous said...
What in God’s name possessed you to take Philly over Orlando? The 76ers are not that good. They cannot shoot. They want to get turnovers and fast break points, but that is just not going to happen in the playoffs. Orlando will beat them in five. Orlando dominated the 76ers in the regular season. Is there something the rest of the country is missing here that you are seeing? This seems like that Detroit logic, which sent the league’s most underrated player to Denver for the league’s most overrated player. Orlando and Boston in the semifinals is going to be a great series and it is going to exhaust the Celtics enough for the Cavs to beat Boston in six. If Detroit could have just stayed the number 8 seed that would have been a nightmare schedule for Boston.
Don’t worry, Lebron is not going anywhere, especially if he wins a championship this year.
At 10:15 PM ,
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