NBA Playoff Picks

Welcome to the time of year when everyone loves the NBA after only watching maybe a combined 40 minutes all year, and that is only through highlights. You will get expert analysis by a guy who is now more known for his sweet commercials with Wade then his past success as an NBA star, and thousand of people will turn to TNT angrily when they discover they can't watch their fifth episode of Law and Order of the day, because some NBA game is on (luckily for them USA won't let them down). The other interesting thing about all this is that it is the only sport that routinely has the championship game one or two rounds before the final games (although this year might actually break the mold). Some notes before I go into my picks:

1) Celtics fan will be everywhere, no matter where you live. They'll claim they have been fans all along, but they'll probably be sporting a Garnett jersey seeing they didn't care less about the Celts until they started winning.

2) Some casual fans will get extremely confused when they turn on the tv to Orlando v Toronto (ok, I understand that few casual fans will actually care about this series) and be extremely confused when the announcers are talking about superstar Hedo Turkoglu... Needless to say, actual NBA anaylists are also confused about this, and probably Hedo himself.

3) That the Atlanta Hawks still exist. I think alot of people just assumed that their mediocrity got to the point that the franchise was disbanded. However, true to Eastern form, an extremely bad team actually can be playoff bound with a horrible record. However, most people will still continue to think the Hawks don't exist, because within 4 quick games they'll be gone.

4) San Antonio v Phoenix will potentially be the most dissapointing series in the first round, just because of the huge expectation. Most people are probably hoping that someone runs into Nash, forcing Stoudamire AND Shaq to run out and start brawling Duncan and Parker as Ginobli cries in the corner. The sad part is that this sweet response will likely not happen, and it will just be close typical basketball games. Ah well, maybe Detroit and Philly can fulfill our fight desires.

5) That the Denver Nuggests are a 8th seed in the Western Conference with 50 wins, and our major underdogs. I mean, when was the last time a team that was 18 games over .500 was the bottom team in the playoffs. Needless to say, despite that great win count, they still can't compete with the Lakers and will get knocked out before Carmello can get another DUI (although I am sure Anthony will take that challenge).

6) The Dallas Mavericks story. Yes, the same team that was embarrassed by Golden State after their dominating season last year, this year they are on the opposite spectrum as alot of people thought they might not even make the playoffs. The difference about them this year is that last year Dirk was complacent, and this year Dirk is just plain pissed off. Needless to say, if there is one player to carry a team by himself in the West I'd take Kobe, but Dirk would be a close second.

7) That the reigning Eastern Conference champion is considered an underdog by many sources. Now this isn't surprising, because the Cav's basically have only one player sorrounded by players who probably wouldn't even make the Lakers roster. However, that one player is the sickening Lebron, and after watching that Detroit game last year when he went off at the end of Regulation and OT (which was the most impressive single player sports performance I saw in my life) I am not about to pick against this kid. Lebron is everything the NBA needs, a star ala Michael Jordan, and while he probably will never reach that plateau, he is definitely the best individual performer in the mediocre East where one player can take it all.

8) That I, personally, will pretend that I know what I am talking about when I am making these picks, despite the fact that my favorite teams are the Bucks and Grizzlies, and quite frankly my entire NBA based knowledge is about who gets a sweet amount of fantasy points (which is why, I may try to convince you that Peja is the secret star of the Hornets, when any sane man knows that it was David West, but he wasn't on my team)

Eastern Conference Picks
(1) Boston over (8) Atlanta 4-0
-Have to make it, although I really hope Atlanta can win just won so they can say that their postseason went against all expectations.
(2) Detroit over (7) Philadelphia 4-1
-Philadelphia was quietly a good team near the end of the season, and Iguadala is an up and coming superstar that gets undernoticed. Despite those nice points, Detroit is just too deep and has too much history to be an Eastern Conference fatality
(3) Orlando over (6) Toronto 4-2
-The fact that a canadian team can make the playoff back to back years is a surprise enough, but until their manager finally realizes that Calderon is significantly better than Ford, and that besides Bosh they have nothing else, Orlando should cruise.
(4) Cleveland over (5) Washington 4-3
-Washington is the trendy pick, because of their now deep and healthy roster with Gilbert and Butler returning. However, Gilbert will be anything but 100%, and if Detroit couldn't stop Lebron, how do you expect the Wizards do it for 4 games

(1) Boston over (4) Cleveland 4-2
-Lebron will steal two games by himself, but four against the team that dominated the East all season is just asking too much. There is only one legit team in the East and that is Boston, and Lebron is just not good enough yet to do it himself against this caliber.
(3) Orlando over (2) Detroit 4-2
-My first East conference upset is based upon that one of these teams is up and coming and the other is reaching the end of their franchises dominance. While Orlando has its share of weakness (Keith Bogans mainly) the trio of Turkoglu, Howard, and Lewis should be enough to stun the Pistons.

(1) Boston over (3) Orlando 4-1
-I hate to do this, but quite frankly Orlando is just not good enough yet to beat Boston. Maybe they will, and I would love to be proven wrong here, but don't expect it.

Western Conference Picks
(1) LA Lakers over (8) Denver 4-1
-Denver is a great team, but Carmello is a constant distraction and Iverson is no longer good enough to carry a team by himself. They'll steal a game but not alot more.
(7) Dallas over (2) New Orleans 4-2
-This is where the West gets interesting. Dallas is a team that has finally gotten healthy with Dirk and is fairly deep for a 7 seed. New Orleans is having a dream season with potential MVP runner-up Chris Paul and quite superstar David West. However, you can't underate post-season experience and Dirks anger over the embarrasment last year.
(6) Phoenix over (3) San Antonio 4-2
-Simply, Phoenix got Shaq to change the scales on the Spurs. Instead of the run and gun no defense Suns, this is a more funadamental team now. This series will get all the hype, but I think the Spurs run should finally run short.
(4) Utah over (5) Houston 4-1
-What is interesting is that Houston has homecourt despite being the lower seed. Houston is here because of their improbably run of 22 straight games, before finally plateauing to the talent they are. McGrady won't be shedding his postseason failure image this season. Thats for sure

(1) LA Lakers over (4) Utah 4-3
-I struggled over this pick for a bit, but I think this is where Gasol tips the scales. Gasol is as good, if not better than Boozer and that changes up Utah's advantage. Deron Williams is a great player, but not a superstar yet... Kobe is.
(7)Dallas over (6) Phoenix 4-2
-My continue support of Dallas is ironic, because I cheered adamantly for Golden State last postseason. However, Dallas is more prepared this year, and won't be caught watching instead of playing.

(7) Dallas over (1) LA Laker 4-2
-I could tell you some elaborate insight for this pick, but then I would have to think of one. Basically, I am picking this because having the two top seeds playing in the finals is just lame. Therefore need an upset here so I can't be accused of "chalking" it up

NBA Finals Picks
(7) Dallas over (1) Boston 4-3
-This is why I am not an actually sports analysist. This is a team that could have easily fallen out of the playoffs when Dirk went down. This is a team who two years ago had the Heat all but done before allowing Wade to take them over. The problem is, I don't think Boston has a Wade who can take over a game himself, but Dallas does. Until I figure out who stops Dirk at the end of the game, this is their time to redeme last years failure, and make me actually look like I know what I am talking about.... even if I am one of those people who only watched an hour all year...