2012 NBA Playoff Picks

I know they've technically started, but here are some belated playoff predictions:

First Round:

Chicago over Philadelphia in four.  This one's no contest, the 76ers have been a mess lately.
Boston over Atlanta in six.  I'll buy into the 'one last run' logic as the Hawks get Rondo'd.
Orlando over Indiana in seven.  Hedo will hit at least one irrational game winner for the Magic.
Miami over New York in five.  Knicks will get one hero ball win at home.

San Antonio over Utah in seven.  Jazz's size up front will be almost enough to snag this one.
Memphis over LA Clippers in six.  The Clip get robbed in Lob City.
LA Lakers over Denver in five.  Bynum + Gasol = too much for Vale and Faried.
Oklahoma City over Dallas in four.  KD earns from good karma for leading the Frosted Tips to their fantasy title.

(Everything beyond the first round picks are updated as of 4/30).


With one game completed in each first round series, I've finally got time to squeeze in some predictions for the rest of the series.  Two knees have been busted and one ref's been chest-bumped since the playoffs began.  It's not possible for me to un-learn these things, so here are my picks for how the rest of the post season will play out, keeping in mind what we've learned so far but also adhering to the first round predictions posted above.

Conference Semis:


Chicago over Boston in seven.  The Bulls will be fine (or at least fine enough to make the ECFs) without D. Rose.
Miami over Orlando in five.  The Magic will get hot enough from three to steal one of these.

Memphis over San Antonio in seven.  I'm not sold the Spurs can handle back-to-back physical seven game series.
Oklahoma City over LA Lakers in six.  Some more good karma, this time from the elbow.

Conference Finals:


Miami over Chicago in five.  This happens with or without D. Rose.

Oklahoma City over Memphis in seven.  The two most complete teams out west, if only the Grizz could hit a few threes once in a while.

NBA Finals:


Oklahoma City over Miami in six.  After being able to coast through the first three rounds, the Heat won't find that extra gear against the Thunder - a team that may be just as talented but (out of necessity) will have been playing at a higher level for weeks just to get this far.