NBA Playoffs Predictions!!!

[Dragnov]

Lakers.

 

[ElFenix]

if the spurs manage to get past the suns i think they win it all agains tthe nets

 

[hdeck]

go mavs

 

[bonk102]

i want to see my spurs and the magic in the finals

 

[First]

It?s so funny to see the tired argument that Shaq is too big and commits offensive fouls when he backs someone down. I wonder if the Shaq-haters here have actually watched more than a handful of Laker games this year. For that matter, do these same Shaq-haters even play basketball on a semi-regular basis? Unless Shaq throws an elbow (which he rarely does if you actually watch a Laker game), backing someone down by using your weight, strength, and quickness is not considered an offensive foul (unless the defender were to draw a charge obviously). Btw, can any of the Shaq-haters here explain to me why Shaq hasn?t fouled out of a Kings game this season with Vlade Diflop guarding him most of the time? In fact, did you know Shaq only averaged 2 fouls in each of the four Kings games this season with the league?s biggest flopper (Vlade) guarding him most of those games?

Anyway, if the Lakers can get past the Spurs in Round 2, then it?s the Lakers in the Finals with Detroit, assuming Wallace is OK. If Wallace isn?t OK, I?d go with the Nets. If the Lakers don?t get past Round 2, the Spurs will win it all against whoever ends up winning in the East.

 

[NewSc2]

How can you guys say that Shaq commits a foul every time he moves? In the NBA, you're allowed to throw your weight around as much as you can, even with elbows out - you just can't move your elbows while you're moving, i.e. you can pivot holding your elbows out; if somebody hits your elbow it's not your foul, but you can't pivot and move your elbows at the same time.

I find it dumb how people say all Shaq has is his weight too. There are a lot of big NBA players out there that don't move half as good as Shaq does - for his humongous size, he can spin around NBA players and dunk the ball - that's talent.

 

[Sid59]

all the matchups are awesome. It can swing either way. I can't decide.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NewSc2
How can you guys say that Shaq commits a foul every time he moves? In the NBA, you're allowed to throw your weight around as much as you can, even with elbows out - you just can't move your elbows while you're moving, i.e. you can pivot holding your elbows out; if somebody hits your elbow it's not your foul, but you can't pivot and move your elbows at the same time.

I find it dumb how people say all Shaq has is his weight too. There are a lot of big NBA players out there that don't move half as good as Shaq does - for his humongous size, he can spin around NBA players and dunk the ball - that's talent.

eh, i saw that behind the back little flip he did on the highlight reel last week... looked like he traveled doing it... also saw one where kobe got fouled, took a step, then the shot, and they counted the basket.

shaq isn't near so bad as karl malone though.

 

[gwlam12]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: NewSc2
How can you guys say that Shaq commits a foul every time he moves? In the NBA, you're allowed to throw your weight around as much as you can, even with elbows out - you just can't move your elbows while you're moving, i.e. you can pivot holding your elbows out; if somebody hits your elbow it's not your foul, but you can't pivot and move your elbows at the same time.

I find it dumb how people say all Shaq has is his weight too. There are a lot of big NBA players out there that don't move half as good as Shaq does - for his humongous size, he can spin around NBA players and dunk the ball - that's talent.

eh, i saw that behind the back little flip he did on the highlight reel last week... looked like he traveled doing it... also saw one where kobe got fouled, took a step, then the shot, and they counted the basket.

shaq isn't near so bad as karl malone though.

i think thats cuz kobe already picked up his dribble and was in the process of taking the shot

 

[Guybrush]

Blazers over the Mavs in 6.

 

[josphII]

Originally posted by: Chiboy

Originally posted by: vash
Lakers haters beware!

Laker fans will be rejoicing sometime in June.

vash

You wish!! Sacramento takes it this year.

about as much as they did last year i suppose. lakers >> rest of league

 

[jw791]

Go Suns!

Their record is a bit deceptive - They were #3 in the west before Penny/Googs/Tsakalides got hurt.

They have beaten San Antonio 3 out of 4 this year.

S. Marbury OWNS the SA point guards.

I think it will be tough to win the series, but they are much better than a #8 seed!

 

[Rickten]

if kobe stays on fire through the playoffs the lakers will win. He is just too damn good. To me its all about kobe's performance. The lakers winning it all comes down to him carrying the team simple as that.

edit: its not like fisher is going to step up and fill the void if kobe has a bad night.

 

[josphII]

Originally posted by: Rickten
if kobe stays on fire through the playoffs the lakers will win. He is just too damn good. To me its all about kobe's performance. The lakers winning it all comes down to him carrying the team simple as that.

edit: its not like fisher is going to step up and fill the void if kobe has a bad night.

if you remember fisher's performance through title run #2 you wouldn't say that. he was out of his freakin mind from 3pt range that post season

 

[DeafeningSilence]

My predictions, with picks in bold:

East
1st Round
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Orlando
(2) New Jersey vs. (7) Milwaukee
(3) Indiana vs. (6) Boston
(4) Philadelphia vs. (5) New Orleans

2nd Round
(1) Detroit vs. (4) Philadelphia
(2) New Jersey vs. (3) Indiana

Conference Finals
(2) New Jersey vs. (4) Philadelphia


West
1st Round
(1) San Antonio vs. (8) Phoenix
(2) Sacramento vs. (7) Utah
(3) Dallas vs. (6) Portland
(4) Minnesota vs. (5) L.A. Lakers

2nd Round
(1) San Antonio vs. (5) L.A. Lakers :Q
(2) Sacramento vs. (3) Dallas

Conference Finals
(1) San Antonio vs. (2) Sacramento


NBA Finals
Sacramento vs. Philadelphia

 

[Kev]

I think the finals will be Philly vs San Antonio with Philly taking it in 6...

 

[jbahseng]

Common, we need an *****Official *****Confirmed***** thread for the playoffs!

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: tagej
I don't like the Lakers, but it's hard for me to imagine any team beating them right now in a series as long as Shaq is allowed to bowl people over as he has been for years. If the zebra's start calling a foul every time he backs into someone sending them flying, he'd foul out of every game in the first quarter...

Anyway, it looks to me like Lakers vs. Nets, with the Lakers winning easily.

Expect that to get worse. Since 1980, every NBA Finals (with the single exception of when Detroit beat Portland in '89-'90) has included a team from one of their 4 largest markets (NY, LA, Chicago, and Houston). I have religiously watched NBA for 20 years now and I am convinced that the "zebras" rig the game. Game-changing "bad calls" simply seem to get worse ever year, particularly in the playoffs. If this year is any different, I will be shocked.

Flame on if you must...

 

[jbahseng]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: tagej
I don't like the Lakers, but it's hard for me to imagine any team beating them right now in a series as long as Shaq is allowed to bowl people over as he has been for years. If the zebra's start calling a foul every time he backs into someone sending them flying, he'd foul out of every game in the first quarter...

Anyway, it looks to me like Lakers vs. Nets, with the Lakers winning easily.

Expect that to get worse. Since 1980, every NBA Finals (with the single exception of when Detroit beat Portland in '89-'90) has included a team from one of their 4 largest markets (NY, LA, Chicago, and Houston). I have religiously watched NBA for 20 years now and I am convinced that the "zebras" rig the game. Game-changing "bad calls" simply seem to get worse ever year, particularly in the playoffs. If this year is any different, I will be shocked.

Flame on if you must...

I do agree with you that there are a lot of bad calls in NBA, but i don't think the games are rig. Those bad calls are normally bias to the good team because they have star players, and star players always have the advantage on the questionable calls and get bail out.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: maladroit
I think the finals will be Philly vs San Antonio with Philly taking it in 6...

Hehehe, Spurs losing to Pheonix tonite has got to be the biggest upset of the 1st round. if pheonix wins the series. WOW.

 

[dethman]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: tagej
I don't like the Lakers, but it's hard for me to imagine any team beating them right now in a series as long as Shaq is allowed to bowl people over as he has been for years. If the zebra's start calling a foul every time he backs into someone sending them flying, he'd foul out of every game in the first quarter...

Anyway, it looks to me like Lakers vs. Nets, with the Lakers winning easily.

Expect that to get worse. Since 1980, every NBA Finals (with the single exception of when Detroit beat Portland in '89-'90) has included a team from one of their 4 largest markets (NY, LA, Chicago, and Houston). I have religiously watched NBA for 20 years now and I am convinced that the "zebras" rig the game. Game-changing "bad calls" simply seem to get worse ever year, particularly in the playoffs. If this year is any different, I will be shocked.

Flame on if you must...

houston is not a top 4 market. look at the attendance in houston. it's pitiful.

 

[isekii]

NJ FOR EASTERN CONFERENCE AND THE FINALS!

 

[ixwesleyxi]

i got orlando in the east as a HUGE underdog and i got the lakers coming out west. IT would be GREAT if there was a TMAC-KOBE showdown...i would pay for that...

 

[Kev]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: maladroit
I think the finals will be Philly vs San Antonio with Philly taking it in 6...

Hehehe, Spurs losing to Pheonix tonite has got to be the biggest upset of the 1st round. if pheonix wins the series. WOW.

i'm going to be so pissed off if that happens. i figured the spurs would take care of the suns and then be the one team that could knock the lakers out of the playoffs, seeing as they have swept the lakers during the regular season i think it's pretty likely. if the suns win and the lakers roll over them, that would suck. if the lakers win the title this year, i swear to god i will never watch nba basketball again. ok maybe not because i said that last year too!

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: dethman
houston is not a top 4 market. look at the attendance in houston. it's pitiful.

Market size is determined by metro-area population and by TV viewing statistics, not by arena attendance.