posted by TheHype
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Here ye, here ye, the NBA Playoffs is approaching faster than your mid-life crisis. Here at BallHype we've asked some prolific NBA blogger heads to use that big brain of theirs and predict this year's incredible post-season festival known as the Playoffs.
Our first bloggers to step up to the plate are Don from With Malice and Jeff Sack from Slam Dunk Central and Le Basketbawl
Here are their Round 1 prophecies:
The Eastern Conference:
DON:
In the East, I don’t see there being anything but blow-outs in the first round, other than Detroit/Orlando who might make a series of it. Detroit have the experience there still, and it’d be a brave soul to bet on a Magic victory here. If Jameer Nelson was aboard (kid has ice-water running in his veins), I’d be happier with the Magic-men, but if Detroit can play the basketball they’re capable of… then there’s an upset in the offing!
JEFF:
Cleveland should have the easiest series as their front court should dominate the Bulls even with Chicago now having Brad Miller in the pivot. The key to this series though should be the back courts as Rose and Gordon have keyed this team's revival. They will be the first Playoff victims of Williams and West. Boston will show that they are ready for the second season as the dominate the Sixers. It will be a first round Bye-Bye for the once mighty Pistons against the Magic big men. D-Wade, Jermaine O'Neal, and Jamario Moon will get by the Hawks in the only first round upset in the East.
The Western Conference:
DON:
In particular, the Spurs vs Nuggets deserves to have attention drawn to it. The Nugs are an intriguing proposition for San Antonio. Young legs against old, and Chauncey Billups has the nous to put Tony Longoria in his place. I expect Carmelo Anthony to have a big series, and put some ghosts to rest with that. But perhaps the best series of the first round will be the match-up between Deron Williams & Chris Paul. Deron Williams is often called the “second best guard in the NBA” to Paul’s supremacy. D-Will will put that to rest here, and have a phenomenal series, leading Utah to a win in 5 over the Hornets.
JEFF:
The Western Conference will find lots of changes from the alignment currently in the Playoff hunt. The Lakers will find little resistance from the over-matched Jazz. Dirk Nowitzki will not be near enough to get past an aging but still potent San Antonio squad. Portland will taste first round success as they go against a Rockets team that will be without T-Mac. Chauncey Billups has been the key to the Nuggets revival, but the best pure point in the Association
SCORECARD:
| EASTERN CONFERENCE | DON | JEFF |
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(1) Cleveland Cavaliers v. (8) Detroit Pistons
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Cleveland Cavaliers |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
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(2) Boston Celics v. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
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Boston Celics |
Boston Celics |
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(3) Orlando Magic v. (6) Detroit Pistons
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-- |
Orlando Magic |
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(4) Miami Heat v. (5) Atlanta Hawks
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Miami Heat |
Miami Heat |
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | DON | JEFF |
|
(1) Los Angeles Lakers v. (8) Dallas Mavericks
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Los Angeles Lakers |
Los Angeles Lakers |
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(2) San Antonio Spurs v. (7) Denver Nuggets
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Denver Nuggets |
San Antonio Spurs |
|
(3) Utah Jazz v. (6) New Orleans Hornets
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Utah Jazz |
New Orleans Hornets |
|
(4) Portland Trailblazers v. (5) Houston Rockets
|
Portland Trailblazers |
Portland Trailblazers |
Blog Reactions
A Stern Warning - NBA, NBL and FIBA News & Views: NBA Playoff Predictions
Slam Dunk Central: BallHype Features Slam Dunk Central In The Blogger’s Choice: NBA Playoffs 09 — Round 1 Predictions
Le Basketbawl: BallHype Features Le Basketbawl In The Blogger’s Choice: NBA Playoffs 09 — Round 1 Predictions
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ranter scorecard is wrong - Magic listed twice (not a 7 seed)-
TheHype IS it wrong? They're just *everywhere* these days! :P
(Fixed, thanks)
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mookie I didn't arrive in time, but decided to be fashionably late. Here is a grand entrance from A Stern Warning (www.asternwarning.com):
Eastern Conference (winners underlined)
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers
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(8) Charlotte Bobcats
(2) Boston Celtics
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(7) Philadelphia 76ers
(3) Orlando Magic
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(6) Detroit Pistons
(4) Atlanta Hawks
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(5) Miami Heat
Series worthy of your attention: Atlanta Hawks vs Dwyane Wade. This will be a series to firmly cement Wade as a clutch performer and a constant entry into MVP discussions for the next 5-7 years. Joe Johnson has is a phenomenal leader, but if this season is anything to go by, Wade can not be stopped.
Western Conference (winners underlined)
(1) Los Angeles Lakers
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(8) Dallas Mavericks
(2) San Antonio Spurs
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(7) Utah Jazz
(3) Denver Nuggets
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(6) New Orleans Hornets
(4) Houston Rockets
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(5) Portland Trail Blazers
Series worthy of your attention: Rockets v Blazers. The Blazers will make smoother work of this than many would envisage. Oh yes, it's a controversial prediction, but the clutchness of Roy will be aided by a strong, injury-free playoff performance from Oden to silence the critics. It all will hinge on LaMarcus Aldridge -- but in the end, another early Rockets exit from the playoffs.
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venonaD Being a myopic homer, I don't care about the east at all. That being said, I see the Cav's and the Lakers with LeBron cementing his position as the second coming. I agree with all of this except I see Denver getting the Trail Blazers and Houston getting the Hornets Denver and the Hornets advancing Thinking Denver could get past the Spurs, maybe, but that's it for this year
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dfn2006 I htink Milwaukee, Charlotte or NY would be the easiest 1st round opponent for Cleveland. Chicago plays the Cavs tough. -
Douglass C. Perry A collaborative NBA story on BallHype? What a great idea. Hyped!-
newsboy1956 Thanks Doug! Hope All Is well! You are missed!-
WithMalice Echoing Jeff's sentiments...
Thanks for getting this going!
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TheProgram That was just awesome.....what's next...an NHL story? Heh.
NBA Playoff Predictions
A Stern Warning - NBA, NBL and FIBA News & Views —
... Over at Ballhype there is an NBA Playoff Predictions jousting match of sorts going on. I've decided to throw my pole into the ring (I probably should be thrusting it, but nonetheless...) with the following hastily put together predictions for the first round of the NBA playoffs. As always, the floor is more than open to criticism of my choices, including who those final 16 teams indeed are. ...
BallHype Features Slam Dunk Central In The Blogger’s Choice: NBA Playoffs 09 — Round 1 Predictions
Slam Dunk Central —
... to participate in The Blogger’s Choice: NBA Playoffs 09 — Round 1 Predictions. They were revealed on Friday, as we attempt to predict what will happen in the first round of the upcoming NBA Playoffs. Here are the choices made by ...
BallHype Features Le Basketbawl In The Blogger’s Choice: NBA Playoffs 09 — Round 1 Predictions
Le Basketbawl —
... to participate in The Blogger’s Choice: NBA Playoffs 09 — Round 1 Predictions. They were revealed on Friday, as we attempt to predict what will happen in the first round of the upcoming NBA Playoffs. Here are the choices made by ...
NBA Playoff Predictions
With Malice - An LA Lakers blog, news and opinions —
... Some interesting predictions... here's the link: The Blogger's Choice: NBA Playoff Predictions - Round 1. ...
