Prediction - Cavs in seven - LBJ breaks out of his shell.
(3) New Jersey (6) Indiana
New Jersey struggled a bit at the end of the season after pulling off a franchise high 15 game winning streak. When the Nets are hot they are simply dangerous with one of the most talented starting 5 in the league. With the triumvirate of Olympians on the floor the possibility of an interesting game is always there but lets not forget that this is the team that brought us the most boring finals in recent history (vs. the Spurs).
The Pacers are in shambles and have been since the Artest trade. I love Peja but he’s not going to be enough. With a record of 41-41 if they were in the western conference they would be headed for the lottery instead of a first round loss. Steve Kerr sums this series as the first to 85 wins. He may have something there.
Prediction - Nets in five.
(2) Miami vs. (7) Chicago
Winners of 6 in a row and 9 of the last 10 the Bulls haven’t been this hot since Jordan was hogging the ball and the world was pretending Pippen was an all-star. Peaking at the right time is important and the Bulls are defiantly peaking. The addition of Kirk Hinrich a few years ago added a measure of stability to the team what was in desperate need of some leadership. Unfortunately for Hinrich and the Bulls, they’re facing Shaq and the Heat. After a season of his lowest production ever this may be the last chance for Shaq to make a run for a title. If Shaq can stay healthy and take pressure off Wade they should be able to pull this one out. If Shaq goes down, look for the upset.
Prediction- Bulls in seven.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
The western conference has been the best for a while. It’s got more interesting teams, a faster style, and the best players in the league. It’s like the big brother of the NBA with the fast car and fast women. With the sole exception of Detroit, the east offers little in the way of challenges for the top western squads.
Article comments
1 - RJ Elliott
Pistons in 4 or 5
Cavs in 7
Heat in 6
Nets in 5 or 6
Spurs in 5 or 6
Mavs in 5
Clippers in 6
Suns in 5 or 6
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Wow, the Bulls. Hey, can't argue with how they finished.
3 - djfreq
I just don't think that the Heat are as good as they should be.
4 - RJ Elliott
Heat up 2-0, without Udonis Haslem...
Indy up 1-0 on the Nets...
Pistons up 1-0 on the Bucks...
Cavs up 1-0 on the Wiz...
Mavs, Spurs, Clippers, and Suns all up 1-0...
5 - Dj freq
Ok ok so the Bulls are getting spanked.. I still think the Nets are going to pull it out. Kidd had a shity day (2-11) and Carter wasn't doing so well either (12-31)
I've only gotten to watch the Lakers/Suns game and I think it's going to be a good series.. Look for Kobe to try to do it all by himself in the next game.
6 - RJ Elliott
Nets 1, Indy 1...
Spurs up 2-0, in OT...
7 - RJ Elliott
Indy up 2-1, Bulls win one, but still down 2-1...
8 - RJ Elliott
Oh, and the Lakers now tied with the Suns, 1-1...
9 - RJ Elliott
Pistons up 2-1 over the Bucks...
Nets and Indy tied 2-2...
Miami up 2-1 over the Bulls...
Cavs up 2-1 over the Wiz...
Spurs up 2-1 over Sacramento...
Lakers and Clippers both up 2-1...
Dallas is the only team up 3-0...
10 - dj freq
i'm surprised that the Kings are doing as well as they are those games have been close.. I can't help but wonder what the Lakers would have been like had Kobe learned to pass earlier in the season.
11 - RJ Elliott
Pistons up 2-1...
Heat tied with the Bulls 2-2...
Cavs up 2-1...
Nets and Indy tied 2-2...
Spurs up 2-1 over the Kings...
LAKERS UP 3-1 OVER THE SUNS!!!
Clippers up 3-1 over Denver...
Dallas up 3-0...
12 - Jimmy
Dude....Lakers man. and how is kobe destroying the team? Yes, the loss of shaq was a great one and those shoes are hard to fill. but look at him now, hes not playin as well as he used to and he cant turn on his game whenever he wants to anymore and the end result? heat and bulls are tied up at 2 apiece. Kobe has just had to step up his points. Look at how the other players have stepped up in them as well. Smush Parker? Lamar Odom? even Luke Walton? Luke Walton's and Lamar Odom's hustle and quick feet and hands have allowed the Lakers to get a 3-1 lead over the Suns and I truly believe they have what it takes todo well in these playoffs. As for Kobe's 81 point game, that was truly beautiful. Yes many poeple talk about how he got like 2 assists, but why not shoot when you have the hot hand? As post conference interview junk videos show, his teammates realized that this was a special night for Kobe so they tried to feed him the ball as much as possible, and why not? 81 pts? and Kobe is only averaging now about 25 pts in these playoffs because these other players stepped up in their points. Kobe steps up when he needs to. As much as people will argue it, hes really not that much of a ballhog.
and now that i read it over, this makes no sense at all haha i was typing whatever came to mind
13 - RJ Elliott
Pistons advance, Clippers advance, Dallas advances...
14 - RJ Elliott
2nd round -
Pistons-Cavs
Heat-Nets
Dallas-?
Clippers-?
15 - RJ Elliott
Dallas-Spurs - THE BATTLE FOR TEXAS!
16 - djfreq
wow the suns beat the lakers like a red headed stepchild. too bad we won't have the battle for los angles. i could already hear the RAGE AGAINT THE MACHINE playing in thebackground
17 - RJ Elliott
Pistons up 2-0...
Dallas and the Spurs tied 1-1...
The Nets whipped the Heat in Game One...
Suns up 1-0...