Two days without NBA basketball has been very difficult, but I can't wait until the NBA Playoffs begin. I'm ready to see if we are finally going to see "Kobe vs LeBron" or will someone like the Magic, Nuggets, Suns, or Mavericks are ready to spoil everyone's dream NBA Finals. I'm ready for Saturday and it can't get hear soon enough. Here are my predictions for the NBA postseason and let the debates begin.
Eastern Conference 1st Round Games
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers over (8) Chicago Bulls in 6 games
- LeBron James (averaging 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists) and the Cavs will start this series with a bang. It's too bad Derrick Rose will not have former teammates Ben Gordon and John Salmons for this series. The Bulls playoff experience will give LeBron and his squad a battle, but the Cavs will prevail.
(5) Miami Heat over (4) Boston Celtics in 6 games
- I don't care if the Celtics swept the regular season series against the Heat, but I don't see the same fire from this team. Doc Rivers may leave after this season, Kevin Garnett is not as healthy as I thought, and Rasheed Wallace is a joke. Paul Pierce (team-leader in points with 18.3 ppg) and Ray Allen (16.3 ppg) are playing well but they are not getting any younger. Rajon Rondo, who led the league in steals with 2.3 steals per game, will have to carry this team to make a huge playoff run. The Heat have won 12 out of the last 13 games. I believe Dwyane Wade, fifth in the league with 26.6 ppg, will carry the Heat and take advantage of an old Celtic team. Defensively they will shut down the Celtics the entire series. They are second in the league in allowing only 94.2 ppg.
(3) Atlanta Hawks over (6) Milwaukee Bucks in 5 games
- The will be the most least interesting first round series in the playoffs. It's too bad Bucks center Andrew Bogut will miss the entire postseason with an elbow and hand injury, this would have been an interesting series. Brandon Jennings, averaging 15.5 ppg and 37% from the field, will have to carry this team in order to pull an upset. The Hawks will be hungry for a title right now, especially that Joe Johnson will be a free agent next year. This could be the last time that this group will have a chance to win it all.
(2) Orlando Magic over (7) Charlotte Bobcats in 6 games
- Dwight Howard, averaging 18.3 points and an NBA-best 13.2 rebounds, and the Magic will not take the Bobcats likely. Bobcats head coach Larry Brown led his team to an league-best 93.8 points allowed per game. Gerald Wallace, averaging 18.2 points and 10.0 rebounds, and Stephen Jackson will have to carry the load. I believe Howard, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis will be too much for an upset to happen.
Western Conference 1st Round Games
(1) Los Angeles Lakers over (8) Oklahoma City Thunder in 7 games
- "Kobe Bryant vs. Kevin Durant" what else can you ask for. You have Durant, the youngest scoring champ in history with 30.1 points, and Kobe a.k.a Black Mamba and four-time NBA champion. I would love for this series to go on forever. I'm concerned with some of the injured Lakers except for Kobe. If LA doesn't have Andrew Bynum, they will not win the championship, but I think they'll be fine without him. My only concern is can the Lakers points guards (Derek Fisher, Shannon Brown, and Jordan Farmer) shut down Russell Westbrook, who averages 16.1 points and eight assists.
(4) Denver Nuggets over (5) Utah Jazz in 6 games
- I'm concerned with Carmelo Anthony, averaging 28.2 points and 6.6 rebounds, and the Nuggets without George Karl, who has throat cancer, in this series. Let's see if acting coach Adrian Dantley will hype up the Nuggets to make a playoff run. How about this point guard matchup "Deron Williams vs. Chauncey Billups." Deron Williams, averaging 18.5 points and a third-best 10.5 assists, will need a healthy Carlos Boozer (suffering a rib injury) and Andrei Kirilenko (calf injury) to be productive in this series. Chauncey Billups, averaging 19.5 points and 5.6 assists, will have no problem finding Carmelo, Nene Hilario, and J.R. Smith.
(3) Phoenix Suns over (6) Portland Trail Blazers in 5 games
- How on earth will the Blazers beat the Suns without Brandon Roy, out four to six weeks with a torn meniscus in his right. Andre Miller and LaMarcus Aldridge will be no match for Steve Nash (averages 16.5 points and league-best 11.0 assists) and Amar'e Stoudimire (league-best 1,110 points in the paint). The Suns are the league's best offense averaging 110.2 points
(2) Dallas Mavericks over (7) San Antonio Spurs in 6 games
- Tim Duncan (averaging 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds), Manu Ginobili (averaging 16.5 points) and Tony Parker will not find a way to win this series. Dirk Nowitzki (averaging 25.0 points and 7.7 rebounds) and Jason Kidd (averaging 9.1 assists) now have teammates that are physical and can play good defense. The Mavs new teammates Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood have big a huge difference for this team.
Eastern Conference Semifinals
(1) Cavaliers over (5) Heat in 5 games
- LeBron and the Cavs will destroy D-Wade and the Heat in this series. LeBron's supporting cast (Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao, Shaquille O'Neal, J.J. Hickson) is a much better group than D-Wade's group (Micheal Beasley, Quentin Richardson, Jermaine O'Neal). LeBron's teammates will get it done and get enough rest for the Eastern Conference Finals.
(2) Magic over (3) Hawks in 6 games
- This will be Joe Johnson's last series in a Hawks uniform. I don't think Al Horford will find a way to stop Dwight Howard in the post. The Hawks have a great starting five but I think the Magic depth will be too much for the Hawks. The Magic will be in a physical war but they'll move on.
Western Conference Semifinals
(1) Lakers over (4) Nuggets in 6 games
- I always look forward to watch "Kobe vs Carmelo" any chance they play against one another. I don't believe Carmelo and company will learn a lesson from last season's Western Conference Finals lost. They won't be able to stop Kobe or defend Pau Gasol in the post. If George Karl doesn't come back for the Nuggets, I smell a return trip to the Lakers in the conference finals. Hey Carmelo, good luck against Ron Artest.
(2) Mavericks over (3) Suns in 6 games
- Dirk and company will shut down Amar'e Stoudimire's offensive attack. They will have enough big bodies to shut Amar'e down but can they shut down the rest of the Suns offensive attack? Jason Kidd vs Steve Nash is a good point guard matchup. Both players can find players in transition, in the post, or beyond the arc. I think Caron Butler will shut down Jason Richardson and make him look unimportant. The Suns energy will not be very good in Dallas and I think the Mavs will win one game at Phoenix.
Eastern Conference Finals
(1) Cavaliers over (2) Magic in 7 games
- This is going to be one of the best series in the playoffs. You already know the Magic are capable of winning in Cleveland. If the Cavs allow Dwight and company to win one game at their city, LeBron's championship dream could be in jeopardy. I think LeBron has made his teammates better this year and can beat the Magic this time. I'm ready to see if Vince Carter is ready to finally win a championship, but it won't happen. Give me the Cavs in a dramatic Game 7 classic.
Western Conference Finals
(1) Lakers over (2) Mavericks in 6 games
- You already know Kobe lives for this type of moments and the Mavs will not have an answer for him. Pau is going to have a hard time defending Dirk in this series. I would make sure Ron Artest would defend him throughout most of the series. Jason Kidd will have to be the x-factor for the Mavs in order to pull off an upset. I'm not going to call an upset like some of you will. I think this Lakers team will be heading back to the finals and Kobe will attempt to win his fifth NBA title.
NBA Finals
(1) Cavs over (1) Lakers in 6 games
- We finally will see "Kobe vs. LeBron" in the finals. The Cavs swept the season series against the Lakers for a reason. LeBron and his teammates will be more hungry to bring a championship to Cleveland. I know Kobe will be hungry as well but will his teammates step up this season. I think it's LeBron's time and the Cavs will celebrate on their homecourt.
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