2011 NBA Playoff Preview
WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
1 San Antonio vs 8 Memphis
I wish I had a crystal ball that told me how badly injured Manu really is. The Spurs sans Manu could absolutely be taken down in this series. I'm banking on his coming back healthy after either one or two games.
The pick: Spurs in 6.
2 Lakers vs 7 New Orleans
The Lakers could not have received a better match up, which is why winning those last two games was so important. David West is done for the season and so is New Orleans after this one. The Lakers take one game off on the road.
The pick: Lakers in 5.
3 Dallas vs 6 Portland
People are acting as if Dallas isn't a good team. I know they have a history of flame outs but I just don't see it in this one. The Rose Garden is a nightmare to play in for road teams but I think Dallas can hold serve at home and win a hard fought series.
The pick: Dallas in 7.
4 Oklahoma City vs 5 Denver
These are two great home teams, especially Denver since the Melo trade. I just think that OKC is too tough inside defensively for Denver. OKC is the one team that can keep up with Denver's pace, and oh, did we mention Durant and Westbrook?
The pick: Oklahoma City in 6.
EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
1 Chicago vs 8 Indiana
I'm not wasting time breaking this one down.
The pick: Chicago in 4.
2 Miami vs 7 Philadelphia
I think Philly can win one game in this one, maybe.
The pick: Miami in 5.
3 Boston vs 6 New York
I know that Boston hasn't looked all that great lately, but, again, who backs up NYK's superstars? Who plays the 5? And have you seen the Knicks on the defensive end?
The pick: Boston in 5.
4 Orlando vs 5 Atlanta
I'm pretty sure the Hawks want a mulligan on that Joe Johnson contract. Dwight Howard has a field day in this series.
The pick: Orlando in 5.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
1 San Antonio vs 4 Oklahoma City
The Spurs will absolutely be motivated with every talking head picking OKC in this one (besides Skip Bayless). The problem is, those talking heads will be right. Oklahoma City is too fast for an aging Spurs team and Ibaka will handle things inside.
The pick: Oklahoma City in 6.
2 Lakers vs 3 Dallas
How lucky can we get with these match ups? Did you see what happened the last time the Lakers tried in a game against the Mavs? 110-82. This series is a non-event.
The pick: Lakers in 5.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
1 Chicago vs 4 Orlando
This one could get interesting if Dwight Howard stays out of foul trouble and the Bulls decide to double team him, leaving the 3-point barrage open as a possibility. I don't see it though. Tom Thibodeau was the architect of Boston's leave Dwight down there alone and cover the shooters defense. He does it again and the Magic don't know how to counter.
The pick: Chicago in 5.
2 Miami vs 3 Boston
Get excited. This one's going 7. The only problem, who to root for as a Lakers fan. Either way, this comes down to a LeBron clanked three to win in Game 7.
The pick: Boston in 7.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
2 Lakers vs 4 Oklahoma City
I am not happy that OKC got bigger and meaner inside. I still think that the Thunder are one more year away from dethroning the Lakers in the Western Conference. Durant still lets Artest bother him for some reason, although KD is getting closer and closer to solving that puzzle. The difference is still Kobe because OKC has nobody to guard him. This one will make Lakers fans sweat, a lot.
The pick: Lakers in 7.
1 Chicago vs 3 Boston
The Bulls have too many answers inside for Boston. The Celts have lost that defensive mindset that set them apart from the rest of the league and Rondo needs to have his head examined. I am way too excited to watch Derrick Rose pick apart the Celtics.
The pick: Chicago in 6.
NBA FINALS
1 Chicago vs 2 Lakers
I do not like this match up for the Lakers. Luol Deng is a difference maker on both sides of the ball, and really, who guards Derrick Rose? Can Kobe keep up with him for four quarters? My strategy: putt Steve Blake on him and hope Rose catches the chicken pox. But in all seriousness, this one has the feeling of MJ over Magic. The Lakers looked like the Lakers. Magic looked like Magic. But he was a step slower. The Lakers' dynasty couldn't keep up, even with a one last gasp type effort. That's how I see this one going down. Unless Bynum somehow becomes the best player on the court, I see this as Derrick Rose's true coming out party. Everyone acts like there's a competitve piece of him missing just because he happens to be a good human being who says the right things because he actually thinks the way good people think and communicates as such. But he's as competitive as they come. He will abuse whoever's guarding him. The Lakers may try and throw Lamar at him, but not even that length will work. Too much D-Rose.
The pick, begrudgingly: Chicago in 6.
1 San Antonio vs 8 Memphis
I wish I had a crystal ball that told me how badly injured Manu really is. The Spurs sans Manu could absolutely be taken down in this series. I'm banking on his coming back healthy after either one or two games.
The pick: Spurs in 6.
2 Lakers vs 7 New Orleans
The Lakers could not have received a better match up, which is why winning those last two games was so important. David West is done for the season and so is New Orleans after this one. The Lakers take one game off on the road.
The pick: Lakers in 5.
3 Dallas vs 6 Portland
People are acting as if Dallas isn't a good team. I know they have a history of flame outs but I just don't see it in this one. The Rose Garden is a nightmare to play in for road teams but I think Dallas can hold serve at home and win a hard fought series.
The pick: Dallas in 7.
4 Oklahoma City vs 5 Denver
These are two great home teams, especially Denver since the Melo trade. I just think that OKC is too tough inside defensively for Denver. OKC is the one team that can keep up with Denver's pace, and oh, did we mention Durant and Westbrook?
The pick: Oklahoma City in 6.
EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
1 Chicago vs 8 Indiana
I'm not wasting time breaking this one down.
The pick: Chicago in 4.
2 Miami vs 7 Philadelphia
I think Philly can win one game in this one, maybe.
The pick: Miami in 5.
3 Boston vs 6 New York
I know that Boston hasn't looked all that great lately, but, again, who backs up NYK's superstars? Who plays the 5? And have you seen the Knicks on the defensive end?
The pick: Boston in 5.
4 Orlando vs 5 Atlanta
I'm pretty sure the Hawks want a mulligan on that Joe Johnson contract. Dwight Howard has a field day in this series.
The pick: Orlando in 5.
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
1 San Antonio vs 4 Oklahoma City
The Spurs will absolutely be motivated with every talking head picking OKC in this one (besides Skip Bayless). The problem is, those talking heads will be right. Oklahoma City is too fast for an aging Spurs team and Ibaka will handle things inside.
The pick: Oklahoma City in 6.
2 Lakers vs 3 Dallas
How lucky can we get with these match ups? Did you see what happened the last time the Lakers tried in a game against the Mavs? 110-82. This series is a non-event.
The pick: Lakers in 5.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
1 Chicago vs 4 Orlando
This one could get interesting if Dwight Howard stays out of foul trouble and the Bulls decide to double team him, leaving the 3-point barrage open as a possibility. I don't see it though. Tom Thibodeau was the architect of Boston's leave Dwight down there alone and cover the shooters defense. He does it again and the Magic don't know how to counter.
The pick: Chicago in 5.
2 Miami vs 3 Boston
Get excited. This one's going 7. The only problem, who to root for as a Lakers fan. Either way, this comes down to a LeBron clanked three to win in Game 7.
The pick: Boston in 7.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
2 Lakers vs 4 Oklahoma City
I am not happy that OKC got bigger and meaner inside. I still think that the Thunder are one more year away from dethroning the Lakers in the Western Conference. Durant still lets Artest bother him for some reason, although KD is getting closer and closer to solving that puzzle. The difference is still Kobe because OKC has nobody to guard him. This one will make Lakers fans sweat, a lot.
The pick: Lakers in 7.
1 Chicago vs 3 Boston
The Bulls have too many answers inside for Boston. The Celts have lost that defensive mindset that set them apart from the rest of the league and Rondo needs to have his head examined. I am way too excited to watch Derrick Rose pick apart the Celtics.
The pick: Chicago in 6.
NBA FINALS
1 Chicago vs 2 Lakers
I do not like this match up for the Lakers. Luol Deng is a difference maker on both sides of the ball, and really, who guards Derrick Rose? Can Kobe keep up with him for four quarters? My strategy: putt Steve Blake on him and hope Rose catches the chicken pox. But in all seriousness, this one has the feeling of MJ over Magic. The Lakers looked like the Lakers. Magic looked like Magic. But he was a step slower. The Lakers' dynasty couldn't keep up, even with a one last gasp type effort. That's how I see this one going down. Unless Bynum somehow becomes the best player on the court, I see this as Derrick Rose's true coming out party. Everyone acts like there's a competitve piece of him missing just because he happens to be a good human being who says the right things because he actually thinks the way good people think and communicates as such. But he's as competitive as they come. He will abuse whoever's guarding him. The Lakers may try and throw Lamar at him, but not even that length will work. Too much D-Rose.
The pick, begrudgingly: Chicago in 6.
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