EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Chicago, Miami, Boston and Orlando all first-round winners.

Chicago over Orlando (5 games)
Boston over Miami (6 games)

Chicago over Boston in 6 games

WESTERN CONFERENCE
SA, LA, Portland and Denver in the 1st round

San Antonio over Denver (6 games)
LA over Portland (sweep)

LA over SA in 6 games

FINALS:
LA over Chicago in 7 games [The finals are a tough call for me, because I think if they play their best, nobody can touch the Lakers. But Chicago is playing lights out right now and will have the home court. This could go either way, and I'm surprised to be saying that. I'm giving LA the nod due experience.]

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 4/14/2011 10:30a).]

gonna be a fully-loaded postseason:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Chicago, Miami, Boston and Orlando all first-round winners. *only sweep of the playoffs happens here when Chi sweeps Indy*

Chicago over Orlando (6 games)
Boston over Miami (7 games)

ECF- Chicago over Boston (6 games)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
SA, LA, Portland and OKC all first-round winners

OKC over San Antonio (6 games)
LA over Portland (6 games)

WCF- LA over OKC (7 games)

FINALS:
LA over Chicago (6 games)

OKC vs Heat Finals.....Heat in 6.

Top 4 seeds on both sides win 1st round

Chicago over Miami in 7 in ECF

LA over OKC in 6 in WCF

Chicago over LA in 6 in Finals

Chicago vs. San Antonio in the finals... not sure if San Antonio can pull it off.

dam

East

First Round

Orlando sweeps
Chicago sweeps
Miami in 5
Boston in 7

Second Round

Chicago in 6
Miami in 6

EC Finals

Miami in 7

Western Conference

First Round

San Antonio in 6
OKC in 6
Dallas in 7
Lakers sweep

2nd Round

OKC in 7
Lakers in 5

WC Finals

Lakers in 6

Finals

Lakers in 6

Why is everyone so sure the Lakers can flip a switch, but nobody believes the Spurs can do it?

Interesting that the majority of folks here are predicting an OKC upset in the 2nd round.

quote:

---

Interesting that the majority of folks here are predicting an OKC upset in the 2nd round.

---

interesting no one wants to put money on it, either.

uncertainty of Ginobili maybe? Or the fact that the Thunder may be the best team since the All Star break?

speculating.

San Antonio will need to shoot the 3 ball well against OKC, as SA is the best 3pt shooting team in the NBA, and OKC is one of the worst. And what OKC lacks in 3pt%, they'll make up for in stellar FT shooting (league leader), and 2 of the top 10 league leaders in free throw attempts. I predict a ton of beetching from Spurs fans about the calls/FT's Westbrook and Durant are going to get.

The Thunder are dangerous as hell. And they can match up with SA across the board. and can run them out of the gym with athleticism. But what the Spurs will give up in speed and youth, they'll make up for in coaching and experience/poise. That's OKC's only weaknesses right now.

Spurs, Lakers, Mavs, and Thunder in round 1

Spurs over Thunder
Lakers over Mavs

Spurs over Lakers

Not gonna bother with the east.

Spurs over Bulls in the finals

Eastern Conference

Bulls over Pacers in 4
Heat over Sixers in 6
Celtics over Knicks in 6
Magic over Hawks in 5

Bulls over Magic in 6
Celtics over Heat in 7

Bulls over Celtics in 6

Western Conference

Spurs over Memphis in 6
Lakers over Hornets in 5
Blazers over Mavericks in 6
Thunder over Nuggets in 6

Spurs over Thunder in 7
Lakers over Blazers in 5

Spurs over Lakers in 6

NBA Finals

Bulls over Spurs in 6

quote:

---

Why is everyone so sure the Lakers can flip a switch, but nobody believes the Spurs can do it?

---

Because the Lakers are tall while the Spurs are old. Of course that's be true all season, but the playoffs are a different animal.

I think LA will win the title, but I wouldn't be shocked to see them go down anytime after the first round. I do like the matchups though.

Eastern Conference:
Bulls in 5
Heat in 5
Knicks in 7
Magic in 6
R2
Magic in 7
Heat in 6
Semis
Heat in 7

Western Conference
Spurs in 6
Lakers in 4
Blazers in 6
Thunder in 6
R2
Spurs in 6
Lakers in 6
Semis
Lakers in 7

Finals
Lakers in 6

East:

Bulls
Heat
Celtics
Magic

Bulls
Heat

Heat

West:

Spurs
Lakers
Mavs
Thunder

Lakers
Thunder

Lakers

Lakers over Heat

(Stern's wet dream comes true after he jobs the Bulls in the ECF)

hm. not a lot of you giving SA a chance

I think a lot of people don't give the spurs that much credit because they are boring as hell to watch most of the time. And I'm as big of a spurs fan as you can get. I worry about the way they have been playing lately, but I realize that the spurs live for the playoffs. They have some of the best coaches and also players that have years and years of experience with winning when they need to. I am fully confident that they will perform their best in the playoffs and get to at least the WCF.

you do realize the Spurs haven't advanced past the WCF in 4 years, have won a grand total of 1 game in the WCF the past 3, and have won 0 games past the first round in the last 2 years.

that's why no one's picking the Spurs.

Spurs Heat final

West:

R1

SA over Memphis in 5
LA over NOLA in 5
Dallas over Portland in 6
Denver over OKC in 7

R2

SA over Denver in 6
Dallas over LA in 6*

*Dallas is due to finally make another run, I think they surprise everyone and pull off the upset over the defending Champs

WCF

SA over Dallas in 7

East:

R1

Chicago over Indy in 5
Miami over Philly in 4
Boston over NY in 7
Orlando over Atlanta in 6

R2

Chicago over Orlando in 6
Boston over Miami in 6

ECF

Boston over Chicago in 7

Finals

SA over Boston in 7



"First in Sight, Ready to Fight"

quote:

---

you do realize the Spurs haven't advanced past the WCF in 4 years, have won a grand total of 1 game in the WCF the past 3, and have won 0 games past the first round in the last 2 years.

---

quote:

---

The Thunder are dangerous as hell. And they can match up with SA across the board. and can run them out of the gym with athleticism. But what the Spurs will give up in speed and youth, they'll make up for in coaching and experience/poise. That's OKC's only weaknesses right now.

---

You do realize that in the Thunder's entire existence, they haven't even beaten the Spurs enough times to win a series, let alone do it in 7 games or less.

I am not saying it can't be done, but I think it is awfully foolish to bring up the Spurs past two post seasons as an indicator they can't get it done, then completely ignore the fact that the Thunder have had extremely limited success against them.



"First in Sight, Ready to Fight"

My Prediction

WEST

ROUND 1
SA over Mem in 4
OKC over Den in 5
Dal over Por in 6
LAL over NO in 5

ROUND 2
OKC over SA in 6
LAL over Dal in 6

WC FINAL
LAL over OKC in 5

EAST

ROUND 1
Chi over Ind in 4
Orl over Atl in 5
Mia over Phil in 7
Bos over NYY in 7

ROUND 2
Chi over Orl in 7 (should be classic)
Mia over Bos in 6

EC FINAL
Chi over Mia in 6

NBA FINAL
Chi over LAL in 6

quote:

---

I am not saying it can't be done, but I think it is awfully foolish to bring up the Spurs past two post seasons as an indicator they can't get it done, then completely ignore the fact that the Thunder have had extremely limited success against them.

---

Oh snap!

Memphis in 6
Lakers in 5
Mavs in 7
Nuggets in 6

Nuggets in 5
Lakers in 5

Lakers in 7

---------------------

Chicago in 4
Miami in 5
Boston in 7
Orlando in 7

Chicago in 6
Miami in 5

Miami in 6

-----------------------

Lakers in 7

Even with the Spurs doing what they've done to the Thunder in the regular season, I'm a big believer that the horses mean so much more than the coaches when it comes playoff time and you are going head-to-head 7 straight games. I'm not overwhelmingly confident in the Thunder knocking the Spurs off, but I think they will... wouldn't be surprised either way though.

quote:

---

Even with the Spurs doing what they've done to the Thunder in the regular season, I'm a big believer that the horses mean so much more than the coaches when it comes playoff time and you are going head-to-head 7 straight games. I'm not overwhelmingly confident in the Thunder knocking the Spurs off, but I think they will... wouldn't be surprised either way though.

---

I don't think you can under estimate coaching in the playoffs. Two coaches have 15 out of the last 20 titles. (With one of them winning 11.) Yes, both had their own horses, but it is not like they had to go through scrubs to win those titles either.

"First in Sight, Ready to Fight"

I prefer to enjoy the games rather than predict anything.

That said a couple of things, I don't believe Bulls, Mavs, Spurs or maybe the Heat will get to the Finals.

Bulls - Too soon, they have to pay their dues. They had a terrific season, but the playoffs are a different animal reserved for those who have been there. i.e. Boston

Mavs - Dirk as a superstar leading the team to the Finals hasn't really worked out and it isn't going to happen this year. They rely too much on shooting jumpers and not enough aggressive play. One more thing, they really miss Caron Butler.

Spurs - In addition to age, they don't have any bigs that can help out Duncan. Sure they can spread other teams out by inserting Bonner in the lineup, but can he really defend anyone? Blair is undersized; kind of reminds me of Big Baby but more mature. lol

Heat - Too many question marks and they are inconsistent. Who's team is it? Who's going to take the last shot? Will Bosh disappear? How is the bench going to play? You get the point...

Upset special: Magic over the Bulls in Round 2. Bulls will be a consistent force but I think it will take a few years to get a title.

Spurs lose to LA in 6 in WCF.

Lakers over Heat in Finals.

[This message has been edited by moorehead01 (edited 4/14/2011 5:23p).]

quote:

---

I don't think you can under estimate coaching in the playoffs. Two coaches have 15 out of the last 20 titles. (With one of them winning 11.) Yes, both had their own horses, but it is not like they had to go through scrubs to win those titles either.

---

... of course it doesn't hurt that one has had the best player in the game in multiple eras to do his thing and both had head and shoulders the 2 best post players in the past 15 years or so. My theory is that in the NBA, where you are playing 24 second possesions and whatnot, there's only so much coaching that you need to do from an X's and O's standpoint. As such, it is way more about matchups than schemes. With that said, if a single team is playing you 7 straight games, it becomes much more difficult to scheme around things than it is on a single game basis. Therefore, while coaching is still somewhat important, it is exponentially LESS important come postseason time because so many things are just out of a great coach's hands when a lesser coach has the time to catch up to them.

East

Round 1 winners: Bulls, Heat, Celtics, Hawks

Round 2 winners: Bulls, Celtics

Finals Participant: Celtics


West

Round 1 winners: Spurs, Lakers, Mavs, Thunder

Round 2 winners: Spurs (only if Manu healthy), Lakers

Finals Participant: Lakers



Wins it all: L.A. in 6

East Final - Heat over Bulls in 7
West Final - Spurs over Lakers in 7
Finals - Heat over Spurs in 6

The East was a tough call between the Heat and Bulls, but I feel like the Bulls just aren't quite there yet. Rose will definitely lead them to the Finals, but not sure if this is the year.

The West is up for grabs. Yeah, the Spurs or Lakers are everyone's choices, but OKC could make a run now that they have Perkins in the post and Denver could surprise people again and make a run to the WCF. What George Karl has done this year with the Melo-drama (see what I did there) and all the new players is incredible. Thibs should win COY but Karl better get a few solid votes.

heat win it all (and the next 5 titles too per lebron and wade)...

In a true shocker, dallas wins both the eastern and western conference finals

quote:

---

I'm a big believer that the horses mean so much more than the coaches when it comes playoff time

---

I'd agree with you if the Spurs hadn't knocked off two MORE TALENTED teams than themselves (Lakers, Blazers) on the way to their first championship. Then the Lakers went out and hired Phil Jackson and BAM three championships.

Coaching is JUST AS IMPORTANT as players in the playoffs, moreso than regular season (SEE: Flip Saunders). When you get into a series where your opponent is the same for 7 games straight, winning/losing comes down to the adjustments each team makes between games.

Talent is important, yes. But coaching is a lot more important than you are giving credit for, IMO.

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 4/15/2011 8:44a).]

I just realized who I am responding to. Seems like we've hit this point before.

quote:

---

winning/losing comes down to the adjustments each team makes between games.

---

Precisely. There is a big difference between playing the same team every game in a seven game series, versus playing a different team every single night, including back to backs. Adjustments are everything in the playoffs, and that falls squarely on coaching.

"First in Sight, Ready to Fight"