NBA Playoffs time!

[dymed]

Well, with the Lakers' victory over the Hornets tonight, the playoff brackets have officially been set. Sixteen teams, one trophy.

 

 

 

Here are my picks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's a mix between what I want to happen and what I think will happen (but mainly what I think will happen.) I think I was too nice in some cases with the amount of games each series will be, mainly because I'd like them to play out like that so they are more exciting. :D

 

 

 

One definite upset in the first round that is very possible is the Pacers over the Nets. Another is the Clippers over the Nuggets. I think a lot of teams will use their playoff experience to win the round, especially the Lakers over the Suns.

 

 

 

In the end, it should definitely be Spurs vs. Pistons. That'll be a tough match that could go either way, but the Pistons are just too effecient. The depth and versatility of that team is amazing. I say Pistons over the Spurs in 6 for the championship.

 

 

 

Fill out your own and post them. Remember to put the amount of games you think each series will be. That's the truly hard part. :D

 

 

 

[weezcake]

I'm sad that the Warriors kind of gave up in the middle of the season. I'm sure they could have made it to the playoffs. :(

 

 

 

I really don't know who to root for. I guess I'll just root AGAINST the teams I don't like!

[Shadd]

Spurs fan since 96', no backing down now :D

[vladmoney]

lets go cavs!!

[tintmangbpack]

The Jazz were so close to slipping in, if only Boozer would have been healthy the whole year.

 

 

 

I am rooting for Dallas, but I personally think that the NBA playoffs take to long, I think the first round should be best of 3, then rounds 2 and 3 best of 5, and the finals would be the only best of 7 game series.

[SickTwisted]

I think its going to be the mavs vs Detroit. Even though Ginobli and tony parkers driving to the basket is deadly, I dont think they will be able to take Dirk and the Mavs down. Another reason I say this is that I hate the Spurs and want them to lose :lol: . I absolutely cannot stand Tim Duncan because every time it seems like he flops and they call a foul. Detroit is about the only team that you can really call a team. All the players know their roles and they like them. Billups can nail the free throws during pressure as he did against the Heat in last years playoffs. Tim Duncan has also been a bit banged up recently so I think the Mavericks will take advantage of that.

[krunkthemonk]

Once again I've got the bulls playing the Nuggets in the Finals and the Bulls wining in 6 games. Even though both conference finals are going to be the same as last year and so will the finals. If I chose who I know is going to win rather than who I want to my brackets would be much different. Pistons in 7 against the Spurs

[magikjandro]

I think miami will beat New Jersey clearly.

 

And I believe the Grizzlies can also beat mavs, maybe it will be very difficult, but they can win or at least fight till the last match.

[Adam007]

Pistons are going to reclaim the championship this year, and that's all that really matters to me. :P

 

Beating the heat might be tough, but this year Detroit has a better team than San Antonio, who I'd imagine will make it to the finals.

[BlackXXX]

GO Spurs!!! :)

[azntemplar_00]

I've been a Pacer fan ever since I was a little kid (when Reggie was still causing those New Yorkers plenty o' grief) living in Indianapolis. I hope the Pacers play well against the Nets (they've won 2 out of 3 against them during the season, but they've been really inconsistant as of late) and if they do, perhaps they can make it to round 2. dymed, I don't really agree with your pick of Lakers over Suns. You say they'll use their playoff experience to their advantage. When you "they", I believe that refers solely to Kobe and Phil :P. Suns have been playing great this year even without Amare while Lakers have been all Kobe (he needs more help from Lamar and Co.). Plus the Suns are alot more enjoyable to watch in my opinion :wink:

[SickTwisted]

I've been a Pacer fan ever since I was a little kid (when Reggie was still causing those New Yorkers plenty o' grief) living in Indianapolis. I hope the Pacers play well against the Nets (they've won 2 out of 3 against them during the season, but they've been really inconsistant as of late) and if they do, perhaps they can make it to round 2. dymed, I don't really agree with your pick of Lakers over Suns. You say they'll use their playoff experience to their advantage. When you "they", I believe that refers solely to Kobe and Phil :P. Suns have been playing great this year even without Amare while Lakers have been all Kobe (he needs more help from Lamar and Co.). Plus the Suns are alot more enjoyable to watch in my opinion :wink:

 

 

 

No kidding, did anyone see that game not too long ago where nash dribbled right into the key and fed Marion I think it was a behind the back left handed pass which he layed it up and in :D . I think Kobe might steal one or two games from the Suns but over all I think the suns should take them down because Kobe win the whole series single handedly. Plus in my opinion Nash and Marion by themselves would should make someone think Phoenix will take it. Nash is just too good. But, if Phoenix didnt have Nash it would be way harder for them to win the series. The same goes for Kobe. I really dont think that Phil Jackson is all that great of a coach, he has just been around once teams got good, as a pose to someone like Larry Brown who makes teams good. Even though that he had a terrible season with the Knicks I think they will improve slowly. I do agree with the posters thoughts about Detroit winning the championship this year. Even if the Spurs make it to the finals(which is highly possible) Detroit has played superior to last year. And if the Spurs barely beat them last year then they should lose to Detroit this year. I still blame Rasheed for Trying to trap whoever it was in the corner leaving Horry open for three to win one of those Finals series games. Most people say that the Spurs will beat the Mavs because they will probably Match up, but I think anyone who says that is mostly just riding the bandwagon and not appreciating how great the Mavs really are.

[shannon]

No way! Miami Heat all the way! I think Miami Heat will totally beat New Jersey Nets....

 

 

 

Although..yeah i think Spurs and pistions will be in the end. Miami Heat would be in the semi-finals. :P

[Centuramage]

firstly, the bracket listed is wrong. The Bulls are the 7 seed in the East, the Bucks are the 8 seed.

 

 

 

Next order of business is my championship predictions...I say Pistons over Heat in 6, Spurs over Suns in 7, and Pistons over Spurs in 7.

 

 

 

With a new coach, Detroit is allowed much more freedom than they had with Larry Brown taking the reigns. I think that allowing the incredibly talented team to play as they see fit will do wonders for them. Also, 'Sheed is a scaaaaary man. I'd be afraid to walk past him on the street.

[Shadd]

 

Next order of business is my championship predictions...I say Pistons over Heat in 6, Spurs over Suns in 7, and Pistons over Spurs in 7.

 

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I was with ya until you said Pistons over Spurs in 7 :( lol

[azntemplar_00]

I've been a Pacer fan ever since I was a little kid (when Reggie was still causing those New Yorkers plenty o' grief) living in Indianapolis. I hope the Pacers play well against the Nets (they've won 2 out of 3 against them during the season, but they've been really inconsistant as of late) and if they do, perhaps they can make it to round 2. dymed, I don't really agree with your pick of Lakers over Suns. You say they'll use their playoff experience to their advantage. When you "they", I believe that refers solely to Kobe and Phil :P. Suns have been playing great this year even without Amare while Lakers have been all Kobe (he needs more help from Lamar and Co.). Plus the Suns are alot more enjoyable to watch in my opinion :wink:

 

 

 

No kidding, did anyone see that game not too long ago where nash dribbled right into the key and fed Marion I think it was a behind the back left handed pass which he layed it up and in :D . I think Kobe might steal one or two games from the Suns but over all I think the suns should take them down because Kobe win the whole series single handedly. Plus in my opinion Nash and Marion by themselves would should make someone think Phoenix will take it. Nash is just too good. But, if Phoenix didnt have Nash it would be way harder for them to win the series. The same goes for Kobe. I really dont think that Phil Jackson is all that great of a coach, he has just been around once teams got good, as a pose to someone like Larry Brown who makes teams good. Even though that he had a terrible season with the Knicks I think they will improve slowly. I do agree with the posters thoughts about Detroit winning the championship this year. Even if the Spurs make it to the finals(which is highly possible) Detroit has played superior to last year. And if the Spurs barely beat them last year then they should lose to Detroit this year. I still blame Rasheed for Trying to trap whoever it was in the corner leaving Horry open for three to win one of those Finals series games. Most people say that the Spurs will beat the Mavs because they will probably Match up, but I think anyone who says that is mostly just riding the bandwagon and not appreciating how great the Mavs really are.

 

 

 

Yeah, Nash is the glue that binds the Suns together. I wouldn't be suprised if he gets MVP again, though there are several players that equally deserve it. I believe the guy Rasheed tried to trap was Manu. Mavs have come a long way from last year thanks to improved play from all of the guys and great coaching from Avery (I mean they were good last year, but Houston had a 2-0 lead in the first round before they blew it). They'll be a formidable opponent for the Spurs.

[dymed]

Yeah, Nash is the glue that binds the Suns together. I wouldn't be suprised if he gets MVP again, though there are several players that equally deserve it.

 

 

 

The arguement over what MVP actually means boils down to two things: should the MVP go to someone who is good but from a bad team or should the MVP go to someone who is good and is on a good team. If you believe the former, Kobe Bryant is probably the most talented, single player in the NBA right now. But the Lakers aren't that good so a lot of people say he shouldn't get it. A good player for a good team who was consistent in both the first and second half of the season is Nowitski. Billups is another contender, but he cooled down in the second half. Dirk was very efficient both halves.

[azntemplar_00]

Yeah, Nash is the glue that binds the Suns together. I wouldn't be suprised if he gets MVP again, though there are several players that equally deserve it.

 

 

 

The arguement over what MVP actually means boils down to two things: should the MVP go to someone who is good but from a bad team or should the MVP go to someone who is good and is on a good team. If you believe the former, Kobe Bryant is probably the most talented, single player in the NBA right now. But the Lakers aren't that good so a lot of people say he shouldn't get it. A good player for a good team who was consistent in both the first and second half of the season is Nowitski. Billups is another contender, but he cooled down in the second half. Dirk was very efficient both halves.

 

 

 

In my opinion, the MVP doesn't have to be either from a good or bad team. The MVP is the player that is good but at the same time makes all of his teammates better. Hence why Nash is still a good example of an MVP. Marion, Bell, Diaw, and the entire bench feed off of him and his energy. The only thing Nash has going against him right now is the fact that he won it last year, and most people don't like seeing the same guy win MVP twice in a row (unless his name is Michael Jordon lol).

[Zerocool11]

I actually think Kobe deserves it more than Nash. Sure, we all know Nash can pass the ball and is responsible for Phoenix's fast-paced gameplay, but if you took him off the Suns team, they'd still be pretty respectable with Marion and Amare. This isn't so true when you consider the Lakers. When you take away the 30+ points that Kobe scores a night, the Lakers have absolutely no one. Their next best player, Lamar Odom, can't begin to match that on a consistent basis and lead the team.

 

 

 

Kobe should also get the MVP award because he also managed to smooth things out (somewhat) with Phil Jackson. Nash doesn't really have to bury the hatchet with his coach...

[he_is_an_avalanche]

I've been a spurs fan since Duncan came aboard. I just don't want them to win the championship this year, I'd much rather see another team from them or the pistons to win. I got sick and tired of the refs favoring the pistons last finals, rather annoying.

 

 

 

I'd love to see shaq win a championship before he retires, and he's only getting worse and wade can't lead a team even to the western conf. finals without shaq so this is probably the year if it's going to happen.

 

 

 

I like seeing lebron in the playoffs, triple double on his first came...one of only 3 people to do that.

 

 

 

I can't wait to see Kobe fail. Kobe is such a [cabbage]ty team player, and can't wait to see his team lose within the first 2 rounds. He should go back to raping women and give up the game.

 

 

 

EDIT: Kobe for MVP? Are you kidding me? He was on a championship team and ran off Phil and Shaq. So they made a trade that didn't seem that bad. Kobe doesn't have an inside force now so all he knows how to do is score. He doesn't make his team better, check out his assist/turnover ratio...downright pathetic for a guard. He turned a championship calibur team to a team that will be lucky to make it past the first round and hardly made the playoffs. MVP? Pfft, not even close.

 

 

 

Look at what Lebron has done. In 2 seasons he made the worst team in the league become a good playoff team even with the loss of Boozer that averaged about 20 points and 10 boards this season. Kobe couldn't make his team do that if his skill matched his passion to rape women.

[SickTwisted]

I've been a spurs fan since Duncan came aboard. I just don't want them to win the championship this year, I'd much rather see another team from them or the pistons to win. I got sick and tired of the refs favoring the pistons last finals, rather annoying.

 

 

 

I'd love to see shaq win a championship before he retires, and he's only getting worse and wade can't lead a team even to the western conf. finals without shaq so this is probably the year if it's going to happen.

 

 

 

I like seeing lebron in the playoffs, triple double on his first came...one of only 3 people to do that.

 

 

 

I can't wait to see Kobe fail. Kobe is such a cabbage team player, and can't wait to see his team lose within the first 2 rounds. He should go back to raping women and give up the game.

 

 

 

EDIT: Kobe for MVP? Are you kidding me? He was on a championship team and ran off Phil and Shaq. So they made a trade that didn't seem that bad. Kobe doesn't have an inside force now so all he knows how to do is score. He doesn't make his team better, check out his assist/turnover ratio...downright pathetic for a guard. He turned a championship calibur team to a team that will be lucky to make it past the first round and hardly made the playoffs. MVP? Pfft, not even close.

 

 

 

Look at what Lebron has done. In 2 seasons he made the worst team in the league become a good playoff team even with the loss of Boozer that averaged about 20 points and 10 boards this season. Kobe couldn't make his team do that if his skill matched his passion to * women.

 

 

 

 

 

As much as I hate to say this, Kobe WAS more of a team player today against the Suns, but it just wasnt enough to take down Nash and the Suns. Not to mention Tim Thomas was having an amazing night. I think he went 9 for 10. Nash had like 22 points and 10 assists. If the Lakers lose when they play team basketball, then they arent going to win when its all Kobe. Even if they somehow beat the Suns, Kobe cant keep giving 40+ points a night for a whole series. I hate to hear some of these people on the shootaround crew(its kind of like a basketball talk show) say that Kobe and the Lakers are going to win because Kobe is just so great. :x

 

 

 

I also like to watch LeBron. He is just so powerful and takes it to the hole when they really need it. I think that he will actually end up having a better career then Kobe will. Ultimatly LeBron is a better player. He averaged 7 rebounds and 6 assists during the regular season. Plus he is really a guarenteed 30+ points every night, and he isnt afraid to take the big shot. I dont really like the Spurs because of Tim Duncan, as great as he is, I just really dont like the way he plays. Its just post-up, flail arms, get to free throw line. I doubt the Spurs will win it this year because Tim Duncan has some sort of condition that makes some ligament on the bottom of your foot swell up or something like that.

 

 

 

How can you say that the Pistons got every call, I remember so many calls I was sitting there yelling "what in the hell are the refs thinking?" The Pistons are a great team, they are actually the only team that is a real TEAM. I mean, all their players know their role, and they like it. Like someone said earlier, they have more freedom under Flip Saunders which means they get to play the way they want to play.

 

 

 

On another note, I cant believe the Pacers beat the Nets, that foul call at the end was BS.

[Mmm000_Cow]

Pistons will take it all against the Suns ;)

[SickTwisted]

Yeah, Nash is the glue that binds the Suns together. I wouldn't be suprised if he gets MVP again, though there are several players that equally deserve it.

 

 

 

The arguement over what MVP actually means boils down to two things: should the MVP go to someone who is good but from a bad team or should the MVP go to someone who is good and is on a good team. If you believe the former, Kobe Bryant is probably the most talented, single player in the NBA right now. But the Lakers aren't that good so a lot of people say he shouldn't get it. A good player for a good team who was consistent in both the first and second half of the season is Nowitski. Billups is another contender, but he cooled down in the second half. Dirk was very efficient both halves.

 

 

 

You want to know why Dirk was very efficient both halves of the season? Because the teams offense is based around him. Detroit could win alot of their games if Chauncey didnt play, but they do MUCH better when he does. It also depends on what you consider is efficient, for example, Chauncey gets their offense and defense going, he provides assists and big shots. Now Im not saying that Nowitzki is bad, but there is no reason to give him more credit than Billups. Billups is piece of the puzzle and thats what makes him so good. I do believe that Nowitzki can score more points and such, but Chauncey is much more of a team player than Dirk is.

[Shadd]

Again, I say Spurs! Spurs! Spurs!!!!

 

 

 

Fanatic? YES!

 

 

 

 

 

MVP selection will be hard to choose from this year, I don't even have a mere idea on who will win it.

[vladmoney]

LeBron = MVP

 

 

 

Not only is he a scorer, but he is a team player overall. This guys avg: 31.4pts, 7 reb, 6.6 assists. I mean he truely is a team player not just an Iverson or Nowitzki (sp?) as somone has mentioned. An MVP can't just be a scorer, there alot of scorers out there that are good, but Lebron makes his team mates look good. His triple-double in his first ever post game is just amazing, only done by MJ. He brought Cavs back from nothing. He shares, he scores, he rebounds, he does everything, and he does it good. That's an MVP.

 

 

 

long live the king