EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
8 INDIANA VS 1 CHICAGO- Chicago Wins 4-0. The meteoric rise to the top of the Bulls continues with a sweep of the young Pacers.Should be MVP D-Rose overpowers Darren Collison and the gang mentality on the defensive end is too much for Indiana. Conseco Fieldhouse's college like atmosphere will make games 3 and 4 interesting but its not enough as the Bulls make light work of Indiana.
5 ATLANTA VS 4 ORLANDO- Orlando Wins 4-1. Despite the Hawks taking 3 of 4 in the regular season against the Magic, I can't shake last years destruction by the Magic in round 2 vs ATL. One year has nothing to do with the next but Atlanta looked uninterested down the stretch and D12 is still a hellacious matchup for an undersized ATL frontline. Hinrich should be able to do a better job on Jameer Nelson than Bibby would have but Orlando's firepower and D12 are too much
7 PHILADELPHIA VS 2 MIAMI- Miami wins 4-1. Doug Collins has done a great job in turning around a team that looked dead after a 3-13 start. Sixers are athletic and play great team defense but none of that can hide the fact that they cant score. Miami for all the issues gets a favorable matchup against a team that they handled in the regular season. The Heat roll in this series
6 NEW YORK VS 3 BOSTON- Boston wins 4-2. The much talked about Kendrick Perkins trade does not rear its ugly head....yet. The most hyped first round series goes to the Celtics who are able to grind out the Knicks at home and tough enough to get one in MSG. The Melo-Amare duo will keep every game close in what will be an entertaining series which should feature at least one near scuffle. In the end, Boston's experience wins out
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
8 MEMPHIS VS 1 SAN ANTONIO- San Antonio wins 4-2. The Grizzlies tank job to get to the Spurs combined with a banged up SA team makes this series competitive. Z-Bo and Gasol are a handful for the Spurs front court but Tony Parker has a similar advantage over Mike Conley. Rudy Gay might have made the Grizz an interesting pick but his absence finally shows up and Spurs with a little more effort than what we think win the series
5 DENVER VS 4 OKLAHOMA CITY- OKLAHOMA CITY WINS 4-2. This is the NBA equivalent of two really good mid majors. The Post -Melo Nuggets have been one of the better stories in 2nd half the season while the Thunder continue to push for elite status. The difference in this series is the bigger OKC guard of Westbrook, Harden, and Sefalosha punishing the smaller Nuggets backcourt while the lack of Melo comes to bear in close games. I will take OKC.
7 NEW ORLEANS VS 2 LOS ANGELES- Los Angeles wins 4-0. Bynum's knee and a sluggish finish has everyone up and arms. Relax, the Lake Show get a nice appetizer in the Hornets without David West and Marcus Thornton (traded to Kings). The wear and tear is evident on CP3 from carrying the franchise and they just are not good enough. Light work for the Lakers
6 PORTLAND VS 3 DALLAS- Portland wins 4-2. Dirk, Poor Dirk...Since the 2006 Collapse in the Finals and the 2007 upset by Golden State, the first round has always been a difficult task for the Mavs. The weight of expectations again proves to be too much as they take on an athletic and deep Blazers team. The Blazers throw multiple bodies at Dirk and ugly up the game. Portland, who also has had its first round issue advances which could begin the end of the Mavericks as you know them
EAST SEMIS
4 ORLANDO VS 1 CHICAGO- Chicago wins 4-3. Styles make championship boxing matches and Styles makes series. Orlando and Chicago are perfect compliments to each other. Orlando's spread the floor-shoot the 3- dump to Howard offense vs the constricting, agressive Bulls defense. Rose and Howard cancel each other out which leaves it to the supporting pieces. This is where the trade hurts Orlando. Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis were Bull-killers even when bad, not having is difference. The Bulls win all 4 in the UC to advance
3 BOSTON vs 2 MIAMI- Miami wins 4-1. A long drawn out series with New York combined with the Heat having gained their sea legs towards end of season is bad news for the C's. With no Perkins, and the corpses of the Oneals as subsitute, Wade and James drive to hoop with no fear. The Heat are able to speed the game and Boston's age shows. Miami wins this surprisingly easy
WEST SEMIS
4 OKLAHOMA CITY VS 1 SAN ANTONIO- Oklahoma City wins 4-3. The old dogs have one last trick up their sleeve as they take advantage of the Thunder's eagerness to run. However, the Spurs don't have an answer for 2-Time Scoring Champ Kevin Durant who is tall for Jefferson, too quick for Bonner and McDyess. Sefalosha and Harden are able to contain Manu and OKC wins Game 7 in SA in a mild surprise to advance.
6 PORTLAND VS 1 LOS ANGELES- Los Angeles wins 4-2. Portland has a team built to give the Lakers trouble with their athleticism, depth, and toughness. A healthier Bynum along with Odom and Gasol are still a huge advantage over Portland and no one in the league is better in closeout games on the road than Kobe. In an exciting series, Lakers kick it up another level to finish off Portland
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
2 MIAMI VS 1 CHICAGO- Chicago wins 4-3. Bulls fans will remember 1998 win the Larry Bird coached Pacers gave the MJ title teams the toughest series in the dynasty years. In that series, the home team won every game. Homecourt advantage is the only thing that seperates these two in a back and forth series. The young Bulls are extremely tough to beat in the UC and that overcomes their relative lack of experience. Deng is able to hold his own against LBJ and Rose is the difference in what will be several close games.
WESTERN CONFERNCE FINALS
4 OKLAHOMA CITY VS 1 LOS ANGELES- Los Angeles wins 4-2. Just not quite ready , OKC. Championship experience, Kobe staring down the barrel of history and the skill of Odom and Gasol push the Lakers through in six. Durant starts to solve the puzzle that has been Artest at times and Westbrook continues to run circles around Fisher/Blake/Brown but in the end, beating LA in Staples Center is too much to ask of the young Thunder
NBA FINALS
1 LOS ANGELES VS 1 CHICAGO- Los Angles wins 4-3. 20 years ago, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Lakers for title #1. It was the passing of torch officially from Magic to MJ. Unfortunately, Kobe is not so willing a participant in torch passing. The lack of experience appears just one time in the playoffs and that would be in Game 7. Every ounce of my heart and basketball brains wants me to be able to pick this Bulls team. The best record, the MVP, the great team D, the feel-good story it would be about how to build a champion. That being said, I just can't pick against Kobe and Phil while they are holding the 'ship. As stated before, no one is better in a closeout situation on the road than Kobe..The Bulls are far from overmatched and will lead this series more than once but in the end the championship mettle of two of the greatest of all time is just enough to give Phil a fourth 3 peat, and Kobe a second three peat to match MJ.
((PLEASE LET ME BE WRONG ON THIS.......ENJOY THE SECOND SEASON)
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