It’s Playoff Time….
By Jeff Platt
I absolutely love the NBA Playoffs…it’s a little long sure (a 2-month process), but the competition is incredibly intense, and nothing is better than sitting down and watching your favorite team fight for their lives in an elimination game. Of course, I’m not sitting down most of the time…
The playoffs can take a team on the ride of its lives, and the fans along with it…
With that said…let’s get to my playoff predictions, with explanations on my first-round choices, and who I think will take the title (the answer might surprise you)
Let’s start with the Eastern Conference under the philosophy “Save the Best for Last” (The West is best)
#1 Boston vs. #8 Atlanta
I actually think Atlanta steals game 3 at home to make things a tiny-bit interesting. But Boston’s Big 3 is too tough. KG would win the Eastern Conference MVP…if there were such an award. PREDICTION: Boston in 5
#2 Detroit vs. #7 Philadelphia
Philly really has the makings of a pretty solid team, if C Samuel Dalembert can play up to his potential. The second coming of AI (Andre Iguodala) makes the 76ers exciting to watch, and I think they win Games 2 and 3 of this series!!! But in the end, Detroit is too good. PREDICTION: Detroit in 7
#3 Orlando vs. #6 Toronto
Dwight Howard vs. Chris Bosh is enticing, as is Carlos Arroyo vs. Jose Calderon, but I think the Magic’s Hedo Turkoglu is the difference in this series. Turkoglu should be named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. PREDICTION: Orlando in 6
#4 Cleveland vs. #5 Washington
This is the most tantalizing matchup in the Eastern Conference. Washington talking trash about Cleveland is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard of. To call Lebron James “overrated” is absolutely absurd (ahem, DeShawn Stevenson)…to say “Everyone wants Cleveland” is not smart (ahem, Gilbert Arenas). Ben Wallace is the key here, he has to snap out of a relative playoff slump for the Cavs to win, and he will. PREDICTION: Cleveland in 6
Ok….now the fun stuff….
#1 LA Lakers vs. #8 Denver
My appeals to the higher-ups to have future Sports Director Marcelo Figueroa and future Sports Multimedia Manager Jeremy Hall fired due to the fact that they are both Lakers fans was denied immediately. My bet with Marcelo on a Lakers-Mavs last longer in the playoffs (ATVN does not condone gambling…but I do!!!) leads me to root for the Nuggets, but there is no reason to get my hopes up. The Nuggets don’t play defense…they don’t, their defense is non-existent. They score so many points that they’ll be able to steal a game, but that’s it. PREDICTION: LA in 5
#2 New Orleans vs. #7 Dallas
Mavs dominate, they sweep
#3 San Anton------
Ok just kidding about the previous spot, although I do believe this is the best match-up the Mavs could’ve asked for. Chris Paul (#2 in MVP race to Kobe) does not have any playoff experience, which should prove vital because he will have to get used to more of a half-court game…The game slows down in the playoffs. I really don’t see David West containing Dirk Nowitzki, and Josh Howard is provided an opportunity to have a break-out series. PREDICTION: Dallas in 6
#3 San Antonio vs. #6 Phoenix
This should be a good one!!! Boy, does Shaq help the Suns out in this kind of a series!!! There’s already plenty of bad blood between these teams (go back to last year when Robert Horry gave a forearm check to Steve Nash’s face). I think Shaq pushes the Suns into a 7th game, but the Spurs are just too good (as tough as that is for me to say). Their boost off the bench from Ginobli leads them to victory. PREDICTION: San Antonio in 7
#4 Houston vs. #5 Utah
I really am struggling to see how the Rockets can win a playoff series without Yao Ming (despite their huge winning streak…against weaker competition). But Utah could really make a run at things in the playoffs. This could be Deron Williams’s year to shine. PREDICTION: Utah in 6
Western Conference Finals: LA vs. Dallas
Eastern Conference Finals: Boston vs. Detroit
NBA Finals: Dallas vs. Boston
NBA Champs: My unbiased opinion says….DALLAS!!!!
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