by knockout » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:04 pm
haha got sidetracked with work and forgot to post this, here we go!
East
1.Chicago > 8.Philadelphia(In 4) Philadelphia peeked early this year and won a lot of games by playing good regular season defense. However, this is the playoffs and the schedule is finally less hectic, which actually works against this sixers team. Although I really like their squad, I think the Bulls are finally healthy and are going to be even more impressive than they have been all year. Philly has weak inside presence and the Bulls depth in the back court is just going to dominate. Can't see the sixers winning a single game.
2.Miami < 7. New York(in 7) This is the closest matchup right now in my opinion. The Knicks are playing really good ball and I think Chandler and Amare are going to give them some real trouble assuming Amare plays within himself and isn't completely worthlses. Melo is always a monster in big games, and I think this is the perfect opportunity for the Knicks to pull a big upset. I would definitely not be surprised if Miami took this series (obviously), but something tells me this one is going 7 and the Knicks have a real shot. They just need to avoid their big scoring droughts and keep Miami from getting into transition off missed long shots (JR Smith bricks come to mind)
3.Indiana > 6.Orlando(in 5)A really deep Indiana team vs. an Orlando team which really isn't much without Howard. They might take a game off a big Ryan Anderson performance but I don't see them putting up much of a fight
4.Boston > 5. Atlanta(in 6) Boston has great defense like the original post said, and Atlanta still won't have Horford. This will allow Boston to play KG at the 5 and really spread the floor on offense, allowing Rondo and Pierce room to work.
West
1.San Antonio > 8.Utah(in 6) - San Antonio is very deep and looks unstoppable, but we all saw what happened with a very similar San Antonio squad last year. Utah's young bangers might give them some issues and take a game or two, but in the end San Antonio moves on.
2.Oklahoma City > 7.Dallas(in 5) - This Dallas squad would be unstoppable in the year 2003. Unfortunately, Kidd and VC are winding up their careers. Dirk is really playing by himself here- any team with less firepower than OKC and I would say Dirk could beat them by himself, but to do that he's still going to have to outscore Durant/westbrook. I say Dallas takes a game when Terry gets hot and helps Dirk out on offense, but their defense isn't going to be enough to keep the games close enough to win this series.
3.Lakers > 6.Denver(in 6) - As a Laker fan, I'm really worried to see the Lakers play Denver. I had my fingers crossed for Dallas, and even moreso when Ron displayed his brilliant MMA moves earlier in the week. The quick guards are going to give the Lakers some issues, but the Lakers play suprisingly good defense this year. Afflalo has difficulty scoring on bigger guys, and I think Barnes and Ebanks will do a great job at limiting opportunities for Afflalo to shoot, putting the burden on the point guards to get the ball in the basket. Sessions has made the Lakers a real contender, but they're going to have to beat a very tough Denver team without Artest.
4.Memphis > 5.Clippers(in 5) - I just want to say that Vinny Del Negro would win SO MANY NCAA titles if he would just gtfo of the NBA. Three guard offense, no matter how good your guards are, cannot win in the playoffs. Memphis plays tough, semi-dirty ball and they're going to punk the clips out of the building. The clippers, although entertaining, are a disgustingly overrated, regular season team. I see CP3 winning them a game and Memphis taking this in 5 with at least a pair of blowouts
haha got sidetracked with work and forgot to post this, here we go!
East
1.Chicago > 8.Philadelphia(In 4) Philadelphia peeked early this year and won a lot of games by playing good regular season defense. However, this is the playoffs and the schedule is finally less hectic, which actually works against this sixers team. Although I really like their squad, I think the Bulls are finally healthy and are going to be even more impressive than they have been all year. Philly has weak inside presence and the Bulls depth in the back court is just going to dominate. Can't see the sixers winning a single game.
2.Miami < 7. New York(in 7) This is the closest matchup right now in my opinion. The Knicks are playing really good ball and I think Chandler and Amare are going to give them some real trouble assuming Amare plays within himself and isn't completely worthlses. Melo is always a monster in big games, and I think this is the perfect opportunity for the Knicks to pull a big upset. I would definitely not be surprised if Miami took this series (obviously), but something tells me this one is going 7 and the Knicks have a real shot. They just need to avoid their big scoring droughts and keep Miami from getting into transition off missed long shots (JR Smith bricks come to mind)
3.Indiana > 6.Orlando(in 5)A really deep Indiana team vs. an Orlando team which really isn't much without Howard. They might take a game off a big Ryan Anderson performance but I don't see them putting up much of a fight
4.Boston > 5. Atlanta(in 6) Boston has great defense like the original post said, and Atlanta still won't have Horford. This will allow Boston to play KG at the 5 and really spread the floor on offense, allowing Rondo and Pierce room to work.
West
1.San Antonio > 8.Utah(in 6) - San Antonio is very deep and looks unstoppable, but we all saw what happened with a very similar San Antonio squad last year. Utah's young bangers might give them some issues and take a game or two, but in the end San Antonio moves on.
2.Oklahoma City > 7.Dallas(in 5) - This Dallas squad would be unstoppable in the year 2003. Unfortunately, Kidd and VC are winding up their careers. Dirk is really playing by himself here- any team with less firepower than OKC and I would say Dirk could beat them by himself, but to do that he's still going to have to outscore Durant/westbrook. I say Dallas takes a game when Terry gets hot and helps Dirk out on offense, but their defense isn't going to be enough to keep the games close enough to win this series.
3.Lakers > 6.Denver(in 6) - As a Laker fan, I'm really worried to see the Lakers play Denver. I had my fingers crossed for Dallas, and even moreso when Ron displayed his brilliant MMA moves earlier in the week. The quick guards are going to give the Lakers some issues, but the Lakers play suprisingly good defense this year. Afflalo has difficulty scoring on bigger guys, and I think Barnes and Ebanks will do a great job at limiting opportunities for Afflalo to shoot, putting the burden on the point guards to get the ball in the basket. Sessions has made the Lakers a real contender, but they're going to have to beat a very tough Denver team without Artest.
4.Memphis > 5.Clippers(in 5) - I just want to say that Vinny Del Negro would win SO MANY NCAA titles if he would just gtfo of the NBA. Three guard offense, no matter how good your guards are, cannot win in the playoffs. Memphis plays tough, semi-dirty ball and they're going to punk the clips out of the building. The clippers, although entertaining, are a disgustingly overrated, regular season team. I see CP3 winning them a game and Memphis taking this in 5 with at least a pair of blowouts