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Post by mikethadude on Apr 16, 2010 22:41:10 GMT -6
Feel free to debate my predictions, make your own predictions, or just comment on the NBA playoffs so far.
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Post by belushiclone on Apr 16, 2010 23:37:55 GMT -6
Interesting prediction. You know I have always like Dirk and I do not think a team that relies on him can win the whole thing. Like I said interesting.
MY picks: Western Conference Lakers over Thunder in 7- I think Kevin Durant makes this series really good. Kobe has struggled down the stretch but the Lakers have more talent than anyone in the West and get it done in a series that is closer than people think.
Nuggets over Jazz in 5- Nuggets are super talented and in my opinion second best team in West. Jazz hurt not having AK47, but are still tough at home. Nuggets have too much though with Melo, Billups, JR, and Kenyon.
Suns over Blazers in 4- Brandon Roy not playing makes this a walk in my opinion. Andre Miller and Marcus Camby (see what I did there) can't carry them past a surging team. Amare, Frye, Richardson, Hill, and Nash are too much for the Blazers to handle.
Mavs over Spurs in 7- Best series of first round againts rivals from same division. Caron makes this team so much better, and the Spurs are getting old. I do not think they are healthy enough to make it through, but they give the Mavs all they want.
Semi-finals: Lakers over Nuggets in 7- Lakers have too much talent and the best closer in the league. This is the best matchup of playoffs and I think this war might effect the next round as well.
Semi-finals: Suns over Mavs in 6- I think the Suns might be playing the best basketball right now. Nash and Amare are scary, then Frye, Richardson, and Hill make this team dangerous. I do not think a Dirk team is able to win the 'big' series. Caron makes them scary, but I think the Suns are too much.
Finals: Suns over Lakers in 7- This pains me, because I love the Lakers. I think their talent is undeniable, but the Nuggets series will be a drainer. The Suns ride the momentum of playing great basketball, and beat the Lakers in a shocker.
Eastern Conference Cavs over Bulls in 5- Lebron James v Joahkim Noah (even if Noah has actually won something in his life)... Cavs are too good here.
Magic over Bobcats in 6- A team with Vince Carter as a key component at this age scares me, but they are too talented to let the Bobcats win this one. Happy for the Bobcats to be this far, but they can't stop Howard.
Hawks over Bucks in 5- I give Brandon Jennings one win, but the Hawks are so talented. Josh Smith and Joe Johnson will lead the Hawks to an impressive first round victory.
Heat over Celtics in 7- Celtics look beat. They have put it on cruise control and given up down the stretch. On the other side, Dwayne Wade and Michael Beasley are a great duo, and I do not think the Big Three can get past the Heat and Wade, even with all the talent the C's have.
Semi-finals: Cavs over Magic in 7- Another great series in the Semifinals. The Magic know how to beat the Cavs, but the Cavs are on a mission. I think Vince Carter is a downgrade from Turkoglu from last year. James has been here before and his team with Shaq guarding and rebounding with Howard is a plus. Great series, but Cavs win.
Semi-finals: Hawks over Heat in 6- I have been on the Hawks all year, so I can't back down now. I think this will be a good series with a bunch of close games. Joe Johnson outplays Dwayne Wade and the Hawks win.
Finals: Hawks over Cavs in 7- I love the Hawks. They have so much talent. I think LeBron is not clutch. I think all things are working against LeBron. There is so much pressure at this point and the Hawks are capable of good basketball with their talent. Josh Smith shows his athleticism, and role players like Mike Bibby, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams come through, and outplay a more talented Cavs team.
NBA Finals: Suns over Hawks in 6- I tried to not be normal with my picks. I think the Lakers are the best team and could be in this spot just as easily. LeBron could have his team here is well, and the NBA wants that more than anything. However, if they let them play the game, this matchup is very possible. The Suns have the edge at the point and I think that could be critical, if Mike Bibby can play with Nash, then the Hawks have a chance. I think Amare can be controlled and the Suns shooters will have to be on. I think they are playing better than anyone right now, and it is time for one of the best PG to play the game to get his first title. This would be a heck of a scoring series, and I think the Suns have the advantage in 6.
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Post by mikethadude on Apr 17, 2010 12:06:51 GMT -6
1. Kobe only played 3 of the last 7 games for the Lakers...and still scored over 20 in each game..the only struggle was his shooting percentage other than that not so much
2. Get over your Lebron hatred (the Noah comment)...
3. Suns and Hawks in Finals?...I'll buy you dinner if that happens within the next 10 years
4. You're giving Mike Woodson, Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby too much credit and not enough credit to Jamal Crawford
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Post by mikethadude on Apr 17, 2010 12:08:16 GMT -6
also you'll take Grant Hill, Channing Frye, and whoever else on the Suns over the Mavs lineup...cmon now
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Post by tbrown115 on Apr 17, 2010 18:00:59 GMT -6
Western Conference Lakers over Thunder in 5- Thunder-too young, too soon. Lakers-KOBE. Seven games? Get real.
Nuggets over Jazz in 5- Nuggets are more talented than a healthy Jazz team. Utah may win one game at home cause their building is outstanding. But an injured Boozer and AK47, so I wouldn't be surprised if this one was a sweep.
Suns over Blazers in 5- Marcus Camby will win one game in this series. Laugh now, buy later.
Spurs over Mavs in 7- Could be the best series of the entire playoffs. I think Tony Parker will give the Mavs fits. I like the Spurs in seven. This could obviously go either way and I am a huge Spurs hater, but I think they get it done in 7.
Semi-finals: Lakers over Nuggets in 7- I really like the Nuggets talent. Melo and Chauncey are winners. Kenyon, Birdman, and Nene can D up. JR Smith can fill it up. But how much will they miss George Karl if he doesn't return? Also, I don't think Kobe bows out this early.
Semi-finals: Suns over Spurs in 6- The Suns are playing the best basketball in the league, and maybe the best complete overall basketball of the decade. They are deep and loaded on offense. But more importantly, Amare decided to start doing more than dunking--mainly, rebounding. I think the Spurs lose a lot in the first round series, and the Suns finally get over the Spurs hump.
Finals: Lakers over Suns in 6- I think the Lakers just take care of business here. Kobe would go bonkers in this offensive series. Too much inside for the Lakers to lose this one. Lamar can match up with Amare.
Eastern Conference Cavs over Bulls in 4- Cavs are just better. A lot better. Lebron is "focused," apparently.
Magic over Bobcats in 5- The Magic are practically indefensible. The only reason I didn't go with the sweep is that Orlando may have one atrocious shooting night, but I wouldn't count on it. No one on the Bobcats can match up with Dwight Howard. You can't double him because the Magic have too many shooters. Just an impossible match up.
Hawks over Bucks in 6- I think the Bucks can take a couple of games at home. Even without Bogut, the Bucks are still solid. The Hawks aren't all-world. Jamal Crawford is the key to the ignition.
Heat over Celtics in 7- I love the Rondo. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Celtics get swept, or to be in the Finals. However, DWade wins this series.
Semi-finals: Cavs over Heat in 6- DWade (and Mike Brown) wins a couple of home games for the Heat, but this series isn't close to fair talent-wise.
Semi-finals: Magic over Hawks in 6- Magic > Hawks at atleast 4 positions.
Finals: Magic over Cavs in 7- Out of respect for Lebron..ha. This will be a great series. Shaq was brought in to defend Dwight, or so I've heard all season. Not gonna happen. Magic win this one.
NBA Finals: Lakers over Magic in 7- Magic get closer, but as long as Kobe is still taking jumpers..you can't go away from him.
To BelushiClone concerning his picks: -You got the teams wrong in the Eastern Second Round -I don't think you knew the Suns were even in the playoffs until the other day when I told you they were the hottest team in the league -Joe Johnson will never outplay DWade, ever. -The Hawks will go as far as Jamal Crawford will carry them. -Vince Carter is an upgrade from Hedo, not a downgrade.
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Post by bigmemph on Apr 19, 2010 12:59:14 GMT -6
If it makes any one feel better the only 1st round playoff game I know the result of is the Lakers/Thunder... Western Conference Lakers in 5-experience Nuggets in 6-goodness Blazers in 6-bigness Mavs in 5-goodness
Semis Lakers in 6-black mamba Mavs in 5-boogie nights
Finals Lake Show in 5-black mamba slangs more than dirk diggler
Eastern Conference Cavs in 4-goodness Magic in 6-superman Hawks in 4-bc i said so Celtics in 7- irish luck
Semis Cavs-the King Hawks- 08 7 game series c's barely won, hawks were like thunder now...2 years later they avenge that loss
Finals-Cavs in 6-fortunately for the Cavs they probably won't be out coached before the finals
SHIP- whoever would have home court in 7...yeah that's my final answer
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Post by bigmemph on Apr 19, 2010 13:11:11 GMT -6
i was following clone's matchups when I wrote this...my mistake...cavs over hawks in the semis magic over c's...then i'll say cavs take magic in 7. Getting rid of Hedo will prove to be a mistake.
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Post by tbrown115 on Apr 19, 2010 14:00:44 GMT -6
Can we get off the hedo wagon please? You realize the only reason he was even relevant last year was Jameer Nelson was hurt. I think he had something like 32 pts in Game 1. The Magic are real. If you don't wanna pick them, to each his own. But Hedo has nothing to do with it.
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Post by mikethadude on Apr 19, 2010 17:31:22 GMT -6
i will agree the Hedo bandwagon is a little full for no real reason...carter is an upgrade over hedo 10 times out of 10...hedo takes bad shots...so does carter..ill take carter still any day
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Post by bigmemph on Apr 19, 2010 20:05:48 GMT -6
Hedo's size is what caused a problem. I think Vince is better than Hedo too, but the Cavs match up much better size wise this year than last year, and I thought that was their undoing last year. That's all I'm saying.
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Post by tbrown115 on Apr 19, 2010 20:18:51 GMT -6
I just discovered the most interesting part of this Cavs-Bulls series and I can't believe it hasn't been brought up yet. Who's more of a douche--Joakim Noah or Anderson "Side Show Bob" Varajeo?
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Post by tbrown115 on Apr 19, 2010 20:20:09 GMT -6
And all I can say for for Hedo is--if the Raptors could give him away, they would
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Post by mikethadude on Apr 19, 2010 21:28:08 GMT -6
what really killed the Cavs last year was the combonation of Lewis and Hedo...The cavs were bringing in a SF/athletic PF type at the draft deadline no matter what in order to address that issue and they got Jamison...unfortunately the Magic brought in VC at the beginning of the year which now gives the Magic a mismatch again at the SG position....I think this year's matchup won't give the Cavs as much trouble as last years did but there are till mismatches......
Also Dwight did work last year and obviously Shaq will wear him down over the course of the series if they meet
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Post by mikethadude on Apr 19, 2010 21:30:44 GMT -6
varajeo is definitely the bigger douche...simply b/c he sucks...and noah does not
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Post by bigmemph on Apr 20, 2010 8:24:08 GMT -6
I think Noah is better, but he's a bigger douche. If I need a reason to support my feelings I'll say because I like Varajeo's hair better.
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