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The Blogger's Choice: NBA Playoffs 09 -- Round 1 Predictions

TheHype posted 3/17/2009 from ballhype.com

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

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