Sorry guys, but I'm going to ruin the playoffs for you by telling you exactly how everything will play out.


EAST (1st Round)

(1) Detroit-4
(8) Milwaukee-1

(4) Cleveland-4
(5) Washington-2

(3) New Jersey-4
(6) Indiana-0

(2) Miami-4
(7) Chicago-2

WEST (1st Round)

(1) San Antonio-4
(8) Sacramento-2

(4) Dallas-4
(5) Memphis-1
(3) Denver-2
(6) LA Clippers-4

(2) Phoenix-4
(7) LA Lakers-2

EAST (2nd round)

(1) Detroit-4
(4) Cleveland-1

(3) New Jersey-4
(2) Miami-3

WEST (2nd round)

(1) San Antonio-3
(4) Dallas-4

(6) LA Clippers-1
(2) Phoenix-4

EAST (3rd round)

(1) Detroit-3
(3) New Jersey-4

West (3rd round)

(4) Dallas-4
(2) Phoenix-2

NBA FINALS

(3) New Jersey-2
(4) Dallas-4

NBA Champions....Dallas Mavericks.

Here are the picks from an expert in the field(I got the inside scoop). Stephen A Smith has my cell phone number

EAST (1st Round)

(1) Detroit-4
(8) Milwaukee-0

(4) Cleveland-3
(5) Washington-4

(3) New Jersey-4
(6) Indiana-1

(2) Miami-4
(7) Chicago-3

WEST (1st Round)

(1) San Antonio-4
(8) Sacramento-1

(4) Dallas-4
(5) Memphis-2

(3) Denver-4
(6) LA Clippers-2

(2) Phoenix-4
(7) LA Lakers-3

EAST (2nd round)

(1) Detroit-4
(4) Washington-2

(3) New Jersey-3
(2) Miami-4

WEST (2nd round)

(1) San Antonio-4
(4) Dallas-3

(6) Denver-2
(2) Phoenix-4

EAST (3rd round)

(1) Detroit-4
(3) Miami-2

West (3rd round)

(4) San Antonio-4
(2) Phoenix-2

NBA FINALS

(3) Detroit-3
(4) San Antonio-4

NBA Champions....Spurs.

I agree, Spurs all the way (I'm a little biased). Although Mavericks could very well pull it off. Spurs aren't 100% healthy with Duncan's foot causing him problems. The Mavs definitely scare me.

Bwahhhaaaaaaaaaaa

well done expert!

You're right, I missed one first round game...I am an idiot now and am forever shamed...lol.

Pacers going down.

This is going to be a problem if Quintin Ross continues to lock down Carmelo Anthony.
(3) Denver-4
(6) LA Clippers-2

And I'm hoping this was a typo. Come on, Koop.
(4) Dallas-4
(2) Phoenix-2

Put a fork in them, the Nuggets are D-U-N!

I never thought I'd see the day the Clippers played the Nuggets in the NBA playoffs. One of my life goals has been fulfilled.

The second one never will be (thta there will ever be a travelling call).


My prediction: Whoever David Stern decided would win at the beginning of the year in 7 (so that at least a couple people watch the finals).

I think that Dallas is just gonna be too much for everybody, quite frankly. Also, seems to me that the Suns struggled a bit toward the end, but I don't know.

Also, I don't know if you are referring to me with your Denver/LAC comment, but I picked LA to win that series.

Nah, that one was at gilbertology.

It's not that I don't think the Mavs will do well in the postseason, they just got jacked by the Suns all season even when they weren't at full strength. It's a bad matchup for them. I'd say they have a better chance at beating the Spurs than the Suns.

Well I dont think the Mavs have a better chance of beating the Spurs than the Suns. And I dont think the Mavs got "jacked" by the Suns either. They were 2-2 vs the Suns.

That said I think it would take the Mavs 7 games to beat the Suns. The problem for the Mavs is their offensive style. They like to play the up and down game, and that plays right into the Suns primary strength. Nobody is better at the run and gun game like the Suns, but I think the Mavs improvements on the defensive side would give them the edge in a 7 game series.

I still think the Spurs will beat the Mavs anyways, but it will take 7 games. The Spurs looked like they were coasting all year long and still got the best record in the West. If they decide to turn it on like I think they can, watch out.

If only it were as simple as a 2-2 record.

November 1: Dallas 111, Phoenix 108, where Dallas found itself down 17 points in the fourth quarter before finally waking up and playing solid basketball the rest of the way.

December 14: Dallas 102, Phoenix 96, where the Suns had only seven players available to dress and had to play Jim Jackson 20 minutes (Barbosa, Burke, Ford, Grant, Jones, Stoudemire and Thompson were all hurt) and still almost managed to win despite a solid outing from Nowitzki.

March 5: Phoenix 115, Dallas 107, where the vaunted and improved Dallas defense allowed the Suns to shoot 54 percent, and Dirk Nowitzki scored 3 points on 1-of-5 shooting in the fourth quarter.

April 13: Phoenix 117, Dallas 104, where the vaunted and improved Dallas defense allowed the Suns to shoot 16-of-24 from 3 -- and again 54% overall -- and lost by 13 despite 19 offensive rebounds.

I'll concede the first game, as the Suns' defense collapsed and let Dallas back in the game. I'm not exactly sure what stands out about Dallas' performance in the other three games, however, particularly on the defensive front. Their biggest problem is not playing directly into the Suns' style of play -- it's running out stiffs like Mbenga and Dampier and expecting them to offset Boris Diaw at center. This is a direct contrast to the Lakers (or especially the Spurs) and their ability to exploit the Suns on the inside with Odom and Brown. At least against those two teams, there are horrendous mismatches at center on both sides of the ball. With Dallas, their only position advantage is PF (Nowitzki > Thomas).

The Spurs will kill the Suns in five games. The Mavs will be lucky to survive six.

The Lakers are trying to take advantage of the Suns weak post defense, but the majority of that is being done by Odom. Odom is one of the few fowards in the league that can give Marion problems (Marion is actually a good defensive player). As for Brown, he is a stiff and is somehow causing trouble (although not much) for the Suns. I'm still seeing Brown making a ton of mistakes down there. How many passes did he flat out drop tonight? If Brown is causing problems, the Suns are in real trouble and I dont see why the Mavs couldnt do the same. Is there really that big of a difference between Brown and Dampier?

And I still think style of play is the main reason. I watched the Lakers win tonight, and the thing that really stood out to me was the pace of the game. The Lakers used the shot clock on offense and got back on defense. The result was that the Suns didnt get nearly as many fast break points as they would like and had to get most of their points in the half court offense where they arent as comfortable. I'm not saying the Suns are a bad half court team, but they would much rather play an up and down game. Style of play and pace made a big difference tonight and Phil Jackson deserves a lot of credit for that.

Hahahahahaha! I just saw this thread.

The Pacers are winning the first round. Take it to the bank.

There's a huge difference: Brown is about twice as good. And I can't even stand Kwame Brown. All Dampier does is block an occasional shot and have a rebound fall into his long arms. That contract was one of the worst ever coming off a clear play-to-get-paid season.

Anyway, you're right about Odom, and this continues to be a problem for Marion ever since he was switched to PF. Although it creates matchup problems both ways, he generally gets abused by solid PFs, and there's usually a bunch of those in the playoffs: Nowitzki, Duncan, Odom, Garnett (well, not anymore), Brand, etc. It's not that he doesn't play solid defense on them, it's just too much of a mismatch to overcome. When he's at SF, he can stay farther away from the hoop and collect longer rebounds, which results in him being involved on the fast break.

If the Lakers win this series, it will be because of Odom (and Marion's inability to get 20 and 10), not anything Bryant does.

Cavs/Wizards game just ended and I have to say this:

That was the worst non-travel call in a long time on LeBron. He jump-stopped, then took two full steps towards the basket. Sick hang and hit, but what a joke that travel wasnt called... even in the NBA.

Yup. Looks like he's getting the Jordan treatment in the playoffs already. That was pretty atrocious.....guess the Super Bowl refs got a little bored and decided to jump in an NBA game.........

WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!

What a finish to that Spurs-Kings game........I knew the Kings were at least gonna scare the Spurs a little bit.

I would like to point out that I made this statement before learning that Peja was not going to be playing.

also Jeff Foster and Jamaal Tinsley.
They did a great job considering.


also Jeff Foster and Jamaal Tinsley.
They did a great job considering.

Awesome double post.

Tinsley woudl be a hell of a PG if he could avoid the injuries.

Got 3 of the final 4 teams right. Guess that means I'm the smartest basketball person ever.

Is that really a title one would want to carry around with them though?

Except you put the nets in the finals... they were the first one out of the final 8.

Doh!


Guess I'll just have to settle with being a basketball genius, but not necessarily the single smartest one. Oh well.

Yeah..the Nets kinda let me down..I thought they were primed to really make a run.....damn you Nenad Kristic!!!!

BUMP IT!!