Post by TrailDucker on Apr 14, 2011 0:52:54 GMT -5
Eastern Conference:
Round 1:
#1 Chicago Bulls vs #8 Indiana Pacers
Not much to say here. Chicago pretty much is going to steam roll the Pacers. I could see the Pacers winning the first one at home, but I'm going with the sweep in this one.
Chicago Wins 4-0
#2 Miami Heat vs #7 Philadelphia 76er's
I know some people say sometimes the Heat take it easy at times and that Iggy guards LeBron really well (He shoots 25% when guarded by A.I.) but I think this is what the Heat have been waiting for since the summer. They are going to be out for blood in this round and I just don't see Philly stealing one, even at home.
Miami wins in 4-0
#3 Boston Celtics vs #6 New York Knicks
I see this going back and forth at first. Boston winning game 1, New York game 2, Boston Game 3, New York game 4. After that, it's the Celtics winning out. I might be too down on the Celtics, but I think winning a home and away game for New York is pretty accurate if not too high on them.
Boston Wins 4-2
#4 Orlando Magic vs #5 Atlanta Hawks
This is the most intriguing first round match up by far to me. I can see this going either way. Orlando of old I would see in 5-6 games. But I'm not sold on the post trades Magic (mainly the trade with the Wizards I think didn't help them). I think Orlando still has more talent on the team, but Hawks play a better team game. I think in the end Richardson vs Johnson will be a deciding factor. I think Richardson will make it hard on Johnson late in games enough that they will sneak out the final win at home. How they get to game 7, I have no idea though
Orlando wins 4-3
Round 2:
#1 Chicago Bulls vs #4 Orlando Magic
I see Chicago being in the same category as Atlanta in team ball style, but with better players. Orlando is just too much of an incohesive hodge podge. They have the fire power to keep up in games, but it's not organized enough as it was in the past for me to see them making it out of this match up
Chicago Wins 4-1
#2 Miami Heat vs #3 Boston Celtics
This will be a battle! But, in the end, I think Boston screwed their chances of taking advantage of Miami's biggest weakness when they traded with OKC. The O'Neals and Krstic wont affect the game in the way Perkins could have. They got a little bit more athletic in the wing/forward position with the addition of Green. But aren't anything close to the athleticism of the Heat in those positions! I do see the Celtics great Team D keeping them in the games from start to finish, and could see the Celtics even win Game 7 in Miami, but personally I think they are getting too old and lost their size advantage to do that. The Home Advantage is the final edge to put Heat over in 7.
Miami wins 4-3
Eastern Conference Finals:
#1 Chicago Bulls vs #2 Miami Heat
This is hard! I think Chris Bosh will have a little fire after battling with KG last round. I think Dang will play decent D against James. The key to this series will be Wade. He will demand to guard Rose in the later games, and I don't see any of the Chicago Guards guarding Wade adequately. LeBron will play his best Pippen impersonation and play a lot of Point Forward, averaging over 10 assists a game. Chris Bosh will average a double-double for the series and Wade will average over 30. Miami's bench will win Chicago some games, but in the end Miami wins.
Miami Wins 4-3
Western Conference:
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #8 Memphis Grzzlies
From what I have heard Gay will still be out. Without that go-to player I don't see Memphis putting up that much of a fight for the Spurs. With Gay they would still lose, but it would be much harder for the Spurs
San Antonio Wins 4-1
#2 Los Angeles L*kers vs #7 New Orleans Hornets
Hornets just don't have the offense to keep up with the L*kers. If Bynum is playing ever game potentially could be a blow out. Without or a limited Bynum I still see the sweep.
Los Angeles Wins 4-0
#3 Dallas Mavericks vs #6 Portland Trail Blazers
I already hear the "HOMER" chants starting. The issue for Dallas is how well Portland matches up with them. Dirk will be defended by Aldridge, Camby, Wallace and Batum. All can take him one-on-one and all bring something different in their defenses. That is a lot for someone to constantly adjust to. Jason Terry will be defended by Matthews, Batum, Roy and a defensively revitalized Rudy. Marion will be guarded by Batum, Wallace and Aldridge. Portland's versatility is what makes them so difficult for Dallas. Then that leaves all sorts of mismatches in the backcourt and everyone of our guards is significantly bigger then theirs. I just don't see the Mavericks able to establish enough consistency. Plus Aldridge LOVES playing at home in Texas, check the stats.
Portland Wins 4-2
#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #5 Denver Nuggets
This should be fun to watch. I have said it sense the trade, Denver is the deepest team in the NBA. What hurts them is they don't have that Go-To player. I see them still putting up a real good fight with OKC but in the end falling short as the Thunder ride Durant in game 7 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Wins 4-3
Round 2:
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #4 Oklahoma City Thunder
I see after Spurs winning game 1, Oklahoma sneaking a win in game two then winning both at home. For some reason I see this scenario with the 'been-there done-that' Spurs digging in and winning the next three for the series win. Durant will be less and less as big of a factor as the SA defense settles down more. Expereince will just eek out over Youth this year.
San Antonio wins 4-3
#2 Los Angeles L*kers vs #6 Portland Trail Blazers
I so want to give this to my Blazers! But in the end I just see Kobe's will being too much and Odom and Gasol being key ingredients. Odom will have some big games in this one early, then Kobe comes on late. A Game 7 would sure be crazy to watch.
Los Angeles Wins 4-3
Western Conference Finals:
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #2 Los Angeles Lakers
Call me crazy, but I see San Antonio winning this one by a hair. Will they still have enough in their tank? I think just enough. The L*kers just don't seem so physically dominate as the last two years which will allow Duncan to still be able to have a role and give Parker, Hill and Ginobli free reign to run. Maybe I'm just being a Home Court whore, but I see SA being the winner in 7.
San Antonio Wins 4-3
NBA Finals:
Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
After such a hard fought Western Conference trip I don't know if Spurs will have that much left. Also with LeBron Pippen, Michael Wade and Chris Rodmen working in the conference finals I see the Heat continuing their basic strategy for the win. Spurs will win the first two at home before Heat win the final two games for the NBA Championship. LeBron has is revenge on the Spurs and I officially am a "prisoner of the moment" in picking The Heat.... Damnit
Miami Wins 4-2
What's Your Bracket Look Like?!
Round 1:
#1 Chicago Bulls vs #8 Indiana Pacers
Not much to say here. Chicago pretty much is going to steam roll the Pacers. I could see the Pacers winning the first one at home, but I'm going with the sweep in this one.
Chicago Wins 4-0
#2 Miami Heat vs #7 Philadelphia 76er's
I know some people say sometimes the Heat take it easy at times and that Iggy guards LeBron really well (He shoots 25% when guarded by A.I.) but I think this is what the Heat have been waiting for since the summer. They are going to be out for blood in this round and I just don't see Philly stealing one, even at home.
Miami wins in 4-0
#3 Boston Celtics vs #6 New York Knicks
I see this going back and forth at first. Boston winning game 1, New York game 2, Boston Game 3, New York game 4. After that, it's the Celtics winning out. I might be too down on the Celtics, but I think winning a home and away game for New York is pretty accurate if not too high on them.
Boston Wins 4-2
#4 Orlando Magic vs #5 Atlanta Hawks
This is the most intriguing first round match up by far to me. I can see this going either way. Orlando of old I would see in 5-6 games. But I'm not sold on the post trades Magic (mainly the trade with the Wizards I think didn't help them). I think Orlando still has more talent on the team, but Hawks play a better team game. I think in the end Richardson vs Johnson will be a deciding factor. I think Richardson will make it hard on Johnson late in games enough that they will sneak out the final win at home. How they get to game 7, I have no idea though
Orlando wins 4-3
Round 2:
#1 Chicago Bulls vs #4 Orlando Magic
I see Chicago being in the same category as Atlanta in team ball style, but with better players. Orlando is just too much of an incohesive hodge podge. They have the fire power to keep up in games, but it's not organized enough as it was in the past for me to see them making it out of this match up
Chicago Wins 4-1
#2 Miami Heat vs #3 Boston Celtics
This will be a battle! But, in the end, I think Boston screwed their chances of taking advantage of Miami's biggest weakness when they traded with OKC. The O'Neals and Krstic wont affect the game in the way Perkins could have. They got a little bit more athletic in the wing/forward position with the addition of Green. But aren't anything close to the athleticism of the Heat in those positions! I do see the Celtics great Team D keeping them in the games from start to finish, and could see the Celtics even win Game 7 in Miami, but personally I think they are getting too old and lost their size advantage to do that. The Home Advantage is the final edge to put Heat over in 7.
Miami wins 4-3
Eastern Conference Finals:
#1 Chicago Bulls vs #2 Miami Heat
This is hard! I think Chris Bosh will have a little fire after battling with KG last round. I think Dang will play decent D against James. The key to this series will be Wade. He will demand to guard Rose in the later games, and I don't see any of the Chicago Guards guarding Wade adequately. LeBron will play his best Pippen impersonation and play a lot of Point Forward, averaging over 10 assists a game. Chris Bosh will average a double-double for the series and Wade will average over 30. Miami's bench will win Chicago some games, but in the end Miami wins.
Miami Wins 4-3
Western Conference:
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #8 Memphis Grzzlies
From what I have heard Gay will still be out. Without that go-to player I don't see Memphis putting up that much of a fight for the Spurs. With Gay they would still lose, but it would be much harder for the Spurs
San Antonio Wins 4-1
#2 Los Angeles L*kers vs #7 New Orleans Hornets
Hornets just don't have the offense to keep up with the L*kers. If Bynum is playing ever game potentially could be a blow out. Without or a limited Bynum I still see the sweep.
Los Angeles Wins 4-0
#3 Dallas Mavericks vs #6 Portland Trail Blazers
I already hear the "HOMER" chants starting. The issue for Dallas is how well Portland matches up with them. Dirk will be defended by Aldridge, Camby, Wallace and Batum. All can take him one-on-one and all bring something different in their defenses. That is a lot for someone to constantly adjust to. Jason Terry will be defended by Matthews, Batum, Roy and a defensively revitalized Rudy. Marion will be guarded by Batum, Wallace and Aldridge. Portland's versatility is what makes them so difficult for Dallas. Then that leaves all sorts of mismatches in the backcourt and everyone of our guards is significantly bigger then theirs. I just don't see the Mavericks able to establish enough consistency. Plus Aldridge LOVES playing at home in Texas, check the stats.
Portland Wins 4-2
#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #5 Denver Nuggets
This should be fun to watch. I have said it sense the trade, Denver is the deepest team in the NBA. What hurts them is they don't have that Go-To player. I see them still putting up a real good fight with OKC but in the end falling short as the Thunder ride Durant in game 7 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Wins 4-3
Round 2:
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #4 Oklahoma City Thunder
I see after Spurs winning game 1, Oklahoma sneaking a win in game two then winning both at home. For some reason I see this scenario with the 'been-there done-that' Spurs digging in and winning the next three for the series win. Durant will be less and less as big of a factor as the SA defense settles down more. Expereince will just eek out over Youth this year.
San Antonio wins 4-3
#2 Los Angeles L*kers vs #6 Portland Trail Blazers
I so want to give this to my Blazers! But in the end I just see Kobe's will being too much and Odom and Gasol being key ingredients. Odom will have some big games in this one early, then Kobe comes on late. A Game 7 would sure be crazy to watch.
Los Angeles Wins 4-3
Western Conference Finals:
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #2 Los Angeles Lakers
Call me crazy, but I see San Antonio winning this one by a hair. Will they still have enough in their tank? I think just enough. The L*kers just don't seem so physically dominate as the last two years which will allow Duncan to still be able to have a role and give Parker, Hill and Ginobli free reign to run. Maybe I'm just being a Home Court whore, but I see SA being the winner in 7.
San Antonio Wins 4-3
NBA Finals:
Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
After such a hard fought Western Conference trip I don't know if Spurs will have that much left. Also with LeBron Pippen, Michael Wade and Chris Rodmen working in the conference finals I see the Heat continuing their basic strategy for the win. Spurs will win the first two at home before Heat win the final two games for the NBA Championship. LeBron has is revenge on the Spurs and I officially am a "prisoner of the moment" in picking The Heat.... Damnit
Miami Wins 4-2
What's Your Bracket Look Like?!
so it's just a hope.
