Post by Speed Racer on Mar 15, 2009 11:49:53 GMT -5
Hellllooooooo. It seems very fitting that the playoffs will start on the ever-so-crazy 'Selection Sunday'. The playoffs have been fascinating the last few seasons and should be just as competitive this year. Neither the East or West have a clear-cut favorite.
#1 seed Orlando Magic v. #8 seed New Jersey Nets
Why the Magic will win: These boys are near impossible to score against. They are sick defensively after the additions of Roe and Ibaka around the trade deadline. Ibaka is one of the most frustrating players to face in a series - he can effectively remove even the best of players from having an impact. Dwight Howard, the newly named DPOTY, is still probably the best Center in the league. They aren't the most attractive team on paper but these dudes get it done. Blocks and steals have become the flavor of the day in BBS and the Magic are certainly the winners in that category right now.
Why the Nets will win: Mike Conley is injured for seven days. The Nets are probably still outmatched but that does give them a window of hope. The Nets are a young team that should be dangerous for years to come, but they have their hands full even with an injury riddled Magic squad. Unfortunately for the Nets, they don't have an outstanding PG to really take advantage of Conley being injured. They might put up a stronger fight but it'd be truly shocking if they won this series.
The Verdict: Magic in 5.
#2 see Detroit Pistons v. #7 seed Boston Celtics
Why the Pistons will win: They struggled early in the season but have been on-fire since the All-Star Break. The climbed the ranks of the Eastern Conference in the latter half of the season to claim the second seed. This is one of the more balanced teams in the league right now - they have a solid guy at every position and can claim three 20+ PPG scorers. They are very efficient with the basketball and clamp down on defense. Tyreke Evans has emerged over the past few seasons as one of the elite PG's in BBS.
Why the Celtics will win: They won't, but LeBron James will keep things interesting. He will be matched-up against Rudy Gay, arguably the weakest link in the Pistons starting five. Bron, despite being old as shit, can still ball with the best of them. He is capable of taking over a series. Honestly, this team looks solid on paper, but they have compiled the all-underachieving team. DeRozan, Patterson, and Griffin are all players that probably never lived up to their career expectations. They are weak defensively and do not shoot particularly well, but Bron can still be dangerous.
The Verdict: Pistons in Four
#3 Philadelphia 76ers v. #6 Cleveland Cavaliers
Why the Sixers will win: DeJuan Blair. The Sixers have a solid starter in every spot, but Fella' is the cog that makes this team rumble. Despite a piece of shit loss to the Jazz to end the season they still managed to tie for the first seed with the Magic and Pistons. Blair had one of his best seasons and is capable of dominating any single player in the league. Jack Creamer, despite being gravely overpaid, has been a solid addition for the Sixers this season. They match-up well with the Cavaliers but have often struggled with them in the past. Tristan Thompson, a very solid defender, should be able to limit the damage of Jeremiah Gress. Blair should cause match-up problems for a team with solid but unspectacular bigs.
Why the Cavaliers will win: Jeremiah Gress is one of the coolest players in this league. The do-it-all SF looks like the closest thing to an 'in his prime' LeBron James that this league has seen in a while. This is another team with a solid starter at every position, but they do struggle defensively. Tyler Hansbrough was a great, cheap addition for this team and has excelled playing in Cleveland. Hansbrough has long been one of the most underrated players in this league after suffering from career-long 'Jahism' (the act of being dormant and useless throughout the entirety of your career because nobody knows you exist). Still, the Cavs are dangerous because they can fill the baskets with the best of em'.
The Verdict: Sixers in Five
#4 Indiana Pacers v. #5 Miami Heat
Why the Pacers will win: They are still one of the better defensive teams in the league, but they also have the star scoring punch that has been missing in the past. Lance Stephenson is the difference maker that this team has lacked in the past - he can take over a series on his own. The Heat do not have a guard capable of keeping up with Stephenson. Ty Walker, one of the best defensive bigs in the league, should be able to neutralize Greg Oden. If he can throw Oden off of his game then the Pacers should win fairly easily.
Why the Heat will win: Greg Oden and Ricky Rubio still form one of the most dangerous inside-out threats in the league. Oden is still looking like he's in his prime and they do have a solid starting line-up. Not much to say about this team, honestly. If Oden can have his way with Walker they will make it interesting. Otherwise, they'll struggle.
The Verdict: Pacers in Six
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#1 Orlando Magic v. #4 Indiana Pacers
Why the Magic will win: The Magic will be back at full strength come the Second Round. Also, they have a match-up for the ever-so-dangerous Lance Stephenson. Delvon Roe and Co. should have enough to shut-down Stephenson. Dwight Howard is talented enough to overcome the defensive efforts of Ty Walker. When healthy, they simply over-match the Pacers.
Why the Pacers will win: Ty Walker will control Howard and effectively remove their inside presence. If he can do that, Lance Stephenson should be explosive enough to make it a series. The Pacers know that a guy like Serge Ibaka is only really effective when facing a star big. Unfortunately for the Magic, Ibaka cannot do much against a guy like Stephenson.
The Verdict: Magic in Seven
#2 Detroit Pistons v. #3 Philadelphia 76ers
Why the Pistons will win: This would be the type of series where trading for Darko could pay off. He's a solid defensive big, even at his old age, that could slow down DeJuan Blair. The Pistons are balanced enough offensively to overcome the solid defensive play of the Sixers. The two teams split the season series so it'd certainly be a hotly contested match-up. Tyreke Evans could cause Stephen Curry some problems and they aren't very good without an effective PG.
Why the 76ers will win: Again, DeJuan Blair. He had his way with the Pistons in the last match-up of the regular season. Basically, this team goes as far as Mr. Blair takes them. Curry and Warren are solid enough defensively to neutralize their very dangerous back-court. If Blair can dominate the bigs of the Pistons then the 76ers have a very good chance of winning the series.
The Verdict: Sixers in Seven
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#1 Orlando Magic v. #3 Philadelphia 76ers
Why the Magic will win: The Magic swept the 76ers during the regular season so logically they will be the favorites to win this series. They contain DeJuan Blair's mortal enemy in Mr. Ibaka. I hate that fucker. The Magic are probably the only team with a solid enough front-court to handle Blair. That spells trouble for the Sixers. Dwight Howard should be extremely effective against a solid but not spectacular Jack Creamer.
Why the 76ers will win: Blair finally figures out how to play against Ibaka. He has had a few solid games against him in the past, but Ibaka has been the one guy in this league that has shown the ability top shut Blair out. The 76ers will win if Curry, Warren, Thompson, etc. step up the scoring and provide Blair with some help. That's no easy task against the defensively stout Magic.
The Verdict: 76ers in Seven. Why? Because this is my article!
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Am I going to do the West? Probably not. Why? Because I don't care about the West. They all suck.
#1 seed Orlando Magic v. #8 seed New Jersey Nets
Why the Magic will win: These boys are near impossible to score against. They are sick defensively after the additions of Roe and Ibaka around the trade deadline. Ibaka is one of the most frustrating players to face in a series - he can effectively remove even the best of players from having an impact. Dwight Howard, the newly named DPOTY, is still probably the best Center in the league. They aren't the most attractive team on paper but these dudes get it done. Blocks and steals have become the flavor of the day in BBS and the Magic are certainly the winners in that category right now.
Why the Nets will win: Mike Conley is injured for seven days. The Nets are probably still outmatched but that does give them a window of hope. The Nets are a young team that should be dangerous for years to come, but they have their hands full even with an injury riddled Magic squad. Unfortunately for the Nets, they don't have an outstanding PG to really take advantage of Conley being injured. They might put up a stronger fight but it'd be truly shocking if they won this series.
The Verdict: Magic in 5.
#2 see Detroit Pistons v. #7 seed Boston Celtics
Why the Pistons will win: They struggled early in the season but have been on-fire since the All-Star Break. The climbed the ranks of the Eastern Conference in the latter half of the season to claim the second seed. This is one of the more balanced teams in the league right now - they have a solid guy at every position and can claim three 20+ PPG scorers. They are very efficient with the basketball and clamp down on defense. Tyreke Evans has emerged over the past few seasons as one of the elite PG's in BBS.
Why the Celtics will win: They won't, but LeBron James will keep things interesting. He will be matched-up against Rudy Gay, arguably the weakest link in the Pistons starting five. Bron, despite being old as shit, can still ball with the best of them. He is capable of taking over a series. Honestly, this team looks solid on paper, but they have compiled the all-underachieving team. DeRozan, Patterson, and Griffin are all players that probably never lived up to their career expectations. They are weak defensively and do not shoot particularly well, but Bron can still be dangerous.
The Verdict: Pistons in Four
#3 Philadelphia 76ers v. #6 Cleveland Cavaliers
Why the Sixers will win: DeJuan Blair. The Sixers have a solid starter in every spot, but Fella' is the cog that makes this team rumble. Despite a piece of shit loss to the Jazz to end the season they still managed to tie for the first seed with the Magic and Pistons. Blair had one of his best seasons and is capable of dominating any single player in the league. Jack Creamer, despite being gravely overpaid, has been a solid addition for the Sixers this season. They match-up well with the Cavaliers but have often struggled with them in the past. Tristan Thompson, a very solid defender, should be able to limit the damage of Jeremiah Gress. Blair should cause match-up problems for a team with solid but unspectacular bigs.
Why the Cavaliers will win: Jeremiah Gress is one of the coolest players in this league. The do-it-all SF looks like the closest thing to an 'in his prime' LeBron James that this league has seen in a while. This is another team with a solid starter at every position, but they do struggle defensively. Tyler Hansbrough was a great, cheap addition for this team and has excelled playing in Cleveland. Hansbrough has long been one of the most underrated players in this league after suffering from career-long 'Jahism' (the act of being dormant and useless throughout the entirety of your career because nobody knows you exist). Still, the Cavs are dangerous because they can fill the baskets with the best of em'.
The Verdict: Sixers in Five
#4 Indiana Pacers v. #5 Miami Heat
Why the Pacers will win: They are still one of the better defensive teams in the league, but they also have the star scoring punch that has been missing in the past. Lance Stephenson is the difference maker that this team has lacked in the past - he can take over a series on his own. The Heat do not have a guard capable of keeping up with Stephenson. Ty Walker, one of the best defensive bigs in the league, should be able to neutralize Greg Oden. If he can throw Oden off of his game then the Pacers should win fairly easily.
Why the Heat will win: Greg Oden and Ricky Rubio still form one of the most dangerous inside-out threats in the league. Oden is still looking like he's in his prime and they do have a solid starting line-up. Not much to say about this team, honestly. If Oden can have his way with Walker they will make it interesting. Otherwise, they'll struggle.
The Verdict: Pacers in Six
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#1 Orlando Magic v. #4 Indiana Pacers
Why the Magic will win: The Magic will be back at full strength come the Second Round. Also, they have a match-up for the ever-so-dangerous Lance Stephenson. Delvon Roe and Co. should have enough to shut-down Stephenson. Dwight Howard is talented enough to overcome the defensive efforts of Ty Walker. When healthy, they simply over-match the Pacers.
Why the Pacers will win: Ty Walker will control Howard and effectively remove their inside presence. If he can do that, Lance Stephenson should be explosive enough to make it a series. The Pacers know that a guy like Serge Ibaka is only really effective when facing a star big. Unfortunately for the Magic, Ibaka cannot do much against a guy like Stephenson.
The Verdict: Magic in Seven
#2 Detroit Pistons v. #3 Philadelphia 76ers
Why the Pistons will win: This would be the type of series where trading for Darko could pay off. He's a solid defensive big, even at his old age, that could slow down DeJuan Blair. The Pistons are balanced enough offensively to overcome the solid defensive play of the Sixers. The two teams split the season series so it'd certainly be a hotly contested match-up. Tyreke Evans could cause Stephen Curry some problems and they aren't very good without an effective PG.
Why the 76ers will win: Again, DeJuan Blair. He had his way with the Pistons in the last match-up of the regular season. Basically, this team goes as far as Mr. Blair takes them. Curry and Warren are solid enough defensively to neutralize their very dangerous back-court. If Blair can dominate the bigs of the Pistons then the 76ers have a very good chance of winning the series.
The Verdict: Sixers in Seven
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#1 Orlando Magic v. #3 Philadelphia 76ers
Why the Magic will win: The Magic swept the 76ers during the regular season so logically they will be the favorites to win this series. They contain DeJuan Blair's mortal enemy in Mr. Ibaka. I hate that fucker. The Magic are probably the only team with a solid enough front-court to handle Blair. That spells trouble for the Sixers. Dwight Howard should be extremely effective against a solid but not spectacular Jack Creamer.
Why the 76ers will win: Blair finally figures out how to play against Ibaka. He has had a few solid games against him in the past, but Ibaka has been the one guy in this league that has shown the ability top shut Blair out. The 76ers will win if Curry, Warren, Thompson, etc. step up the scoring and provide Blair with some help. That's no easy task against the defensively stout Magic.
The Verdict: 76ers in Seven. Why? Because this is my article!
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Am I going to do the West? Probably not. Why? Because I don't care about the West. They all suck.
