NBA Playoffs

[eathb]

West Conference:

Dallas Mavericks #1 vs Golden State Warriors #8
Likely Starters:
Mavericks:
C - Erick Dampier
PF - Dirk Nowitzki
SF - Josh Howard
SG - Jason Terry
PG - Devin Harris
Important Bench Players: Jerry Stackhouse, Deavean George, Greg Buckner, DeSagana Diop

Warriors:
C - Al Harrington
PF - Stephon Jackson
SF - Jason Richardson
SG - Monta Ellis
PG - Baron Davis
Important Bench Players: Andris Biedrins, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus

Key Matchups: Al vs Nowitzki, Baron vs Devin/Terry, Howard vs Richardson

Phoenix Suns #2 vs Los Angeles Lakers #7
Likely Starters:
Suns:
C - Amare Stoudemire
PF - Shawn Marion
SF - Raja Bell
SG - Leandro Barbosa
PG - Steve Nash
Important Bench Players: Boris Diaw, Kurt Thomas, James Jones

Lakers:
C - Kwame Brown
PF - Luke Walton
SF - Lamar Odom
SG - Kobe Bryant
PG - Jordan Farmer
Important Bench Players: Ronny Turiaf, Maurice Evans, Smush Parker, Andrew Bynum

Key Matchups: Raja vs Kobe, Marion vs Odom/Walton

San Antonio Spurs #3 vs Denver Nuggets #6
Likely Starters:
Spurs:
C - Fransisco Elson
PF - Tim Duncan
SF - Bruce Bowen
SG - Michael Finley
PG - Tony Parker
Important Bench Players: Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Brent Barry

Nuggets:
C - Marcus Camby
PF - Nene Hilario
SF - Carmelo Anthony
SG - Allen Iverson
PG - Steve Blake
Important Bench Players: Linas Kleiza, Eduardo Najera, JR Smith

Key Matchups: Camby/Nene vs Duncan, Melo vs Bowen, AI vs Parker

Utah Jazz #4 vs Houston Rockets #5
Likely Starters:
Jazz:
C - Mehet Okur
PF - Carlos Boozer
SF - Matt Harpring
SG - Derek Fisher
PG - Deron Williams
Important Bench Players: Paul Millsap, Dee Brown, Ronnie Brewer

Rockets:
C - Yao Ming
PF - Chuck Hayes
SF - Shane Battier
SG - Tracy McGrady
PG - Rafer Alston
Important Bench Players: Luther Head, Dikimbe Mutumbo, Juwan Howard

Key Matchups: Yao/Hayes vs Okur/Boozer, Battier/Tracy vs Harpring

East Conference

Detroit Pistons #1 vs Orlando Magic #8
Likely Starters:
Pistons:
C - Chris Webber
PF - Rasheed Wallace
SF - Tayshaun Prince
SG - RIP Hamilton
PG - Chauncey Billups
Important Bench Players: Antonio McDyess, Amir Johnson, Ronald Murray

Magic:
C - Tony Battie
PF - Dwight Howard
SF - Hedo Turkoglu
SG - Grant Hill
PG - Jameer Nelson
Important Bench Players: Trevor Ariza, Darko Milicic, Keyon Dooling

Key Matchups: C-Web/Rasheed vs Dwight, RIP vs Hill, Billups vs Nelson

Cleveland Cavaliers #2 vs Washington Wizards #7
Likely Starters:
Cavaliers:
C - Zydrunas Ilgauskas
PF - Drew Gooden
SF - Lebron James
SG - Sasha Pavlovic
PG - Larry Hughes
Important Bench Players: Anderson Varejao, Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall, Daniel Gibson

Wizards:
C - Ethan Thomas
PF - Antawn Jamison
SF - Jarvis Hayes
SG - DeShawn Stevenson
PG - Donell Taylor
Important Bench Players: Brendan Haywood

Key Matchups: Ethan/Antawn v Zydrunas/Gooden, LBJ/Hughes/Pavlovic v Hayes/Stevenson/Donell

Toronto Raptors #3 vs New Jersey Nets #6
Likely Starters:
Raptors:
C - Rasho Nesterovic
PF - Chris Bosh
SF - Joey Graham
SG - Anthony Parker
PG - TJ Ford
Important Bench Players: Juan Dixon, Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa

Nets:
C - Jason Collins
PF - Mikki Moore
SF - Richard Jefferson
SG - Vince Carter
PG - Jason Kidd
Important Bench Players: Bostjan Nachbar, Antoine Wright

Key Matchups: Bosh vs Collins/Mikki, Graham/Parker vs Jefferson/Carter, Ford vs Kidd

Miami Heat #4 vs Chicago Bulls #5
Likely Starters:
Heat:
C - Shaquille O'Neal
PF - Udonis Haslem
SF - Eddie Jones
SG - Dwayne Wade
PG - Jason Williams
Important Bench Players: Antoine Walker, Jason Kapono, James Posey, Alonzo Mourning

Likely Starters:
Bulls:
C - Ben Wallace
PF - PJ Brown
SF - Luol Deng
SG - Ben Gordon
PG - Kirk Hinrich
Important Bench Players: Chris Duhon, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas

Key Matchups: Shaq vs Wallace, Eddie/Wade vs Deng/Gordon/Hinrich, Walker/Kapono/Posey vs Duhon/Andres/Tyrus

 

[PHX]

I hope GSW do play Dallas. It'll be a very entertaining series as the Warriors always give them a shake-up.

 

[apollo_creed]

I hope GSW do play Dallas. It'll be a very entertaining series as the Warriors always give them a shake-up.

Dallas would win in four.

If they don't play well they'd win in five.

Who cares about their recent head to head record? They're no chance against Dallas over seven.

Two blowouts to start things off in Dallas followed by Dallas taking at least one of the next two. Either sweeping or closing it in five.

 

[Borgsta]

1. The playoff rankings haven't even been decided yet.

2. We will have 2 threads for the playoffs, East and West.

3. Ariza is the most important bench player for the Magic.

 

[PHX]

Dallas would win in four.

If they don't play well they'd win in five.

Who cares about their recent head to head record? They're no chance against Dallas over seven.

Two blowouts to start things off in Dallas followed by Dallas taking at least one of the next two. Either sweeping or closing it in five.

What if GSW win again tomorrow and that makes it a 3-0 sweep for the year. It would have some effect on them.

I hope so anyway, Dallas Supporters piiiiiissss meeee orrrrrrf.


btw lmfao @ Antoine Walker being an important bench player.

 

[apollo_creed]

I'd imagine Dallas will rest key players/not take it seriously so it could very well happen.

Bottom line is, the 8th seed isn't knocking off a quality 1 like Dallas.

 

[weapon_of_choice]

Firstly The seeds arent completely set in stone yet. More so in the East then West. And secondly, i doubt Jordan Farmar will start over Smush Parker considering Famar has been in and out of the D-League and Smush has started most of the season. Anyway at least what you have done is gonna be pretty close so good job.

 

[eathb]

Firstly The seeds arent completely set in stone yet. More so in the East then West. And secondly, i doubt Jordan Farmar will start over Smush Parker considering Famar has been in and out of the D-League and Smush has started most of the season. Anyway at least what you have done is gonna be pretty close so good job.

Isn't Smush in Phil's doghouse??

I heard that theres something between those 2

 

[Stenglein's a Champ!]

Isn't Smush in Phil's doghouse??

I heard that theres something between those 2

Yeah, Smush stated after one game.

"I gave up trying to read that man a long time ago".

IIRC, that came after Phil dragged Smush even though he was playing really well.

Don't expect to see Smush at the Lakers next season.

 

[apollo_creed]

In that case, don't expect to see him in the NBA next season.

 

[peternorth]

Yeah, Smush stated after one game.

"I gave up trying to read that man a long time ago".

IIRC, that came after Phil dragged Smush even though he was playing really well.

Don't expect to see Smush at the Lakers next season.

In that case, don't expect to see him in the NBA next season.

good. id prefer a PG who's able to play D instead of a streaky shooter. see ya smush, thanks for the memories.

 

[danielz_23]

yeah a bit premature... chicago have lucked out and end up playing miami now. they have had such a rough run the last few years. they are way better than cleveland yet they steal the 2 seed in the final moments!

 

[apollo_creed]

yeah a bit premature... chicago have lucked out and end up playing miami now. they have had such a rough run the last few years. they are way better than cleveland yet they steal the 2 seed in the final moments!

At least it gives us a good first round match-up.

Actually most in the West are actually quite interesting.

The Spurs v the hype machine Nuggets with superstar69 x 2 lolllolll!!
The Mavs v the team who supposedly troubles them
The Suns v last years almost nemesis, also a big rival over a long time, some great playoff contests between the teams
and....
The Rockets v Utah.... 4th v 5th seed I guess.

Don't even know who's playing who in the east,

I gather it's Detroit v Orlando. only made intersting to see what Dwight does over the four games.

Obviously you mentioned Chicago v Miami. a very good match-up. two good teams, one will go. it's like two of the network TV stations putting two of their best, highest rating shows up head to head (which happens alot but yeah) unlike television though ONE MUST go. not could. ahh Nip what are you on about?

I presume it's Cleveland v NJ and Toronto v Washington.

both will be one sided series one would think. but J.Kidd is a man.

 

[Stenglein's a Champ!]

I presume it's Cleveland v NJ and Toronto v Washington.

both will be one sided series one would think. but J.Kidd is a man.

Actually, Toronto hosts the Nets and the Wizards play at Cleveland.

 

[apollo_creed]

Actually, Toronto hosts the Nets and the Wizards play at Cleveland.

****.

I'd rather Toronto have had the easy run.

Great, that means we'll have to put up with a certain poster, who supports said team for at least another 3-4 weeks. Sad day for basketball.

 

[Darealrath]

I'm jumping on the S-Jaxx Warriors bandwagon.

 

[peternorth]

too bad the sixers arent in

 

[PHX]

I'm jumping on the S-Jaxx Warriors bandwagon.

I'm a Phoenix boy out West but the Warriors will be my little adoption, they wont let Dallas get away with it easy but I think the Dallas experience will cover them.

**** I hate Dallas.

 

[Dal-Las Mav'a Riq]

The Mavs will win in 3, the Suns in 2.

Lets just get down to the Spurs, Suns, Mavs 3 way please. I am getting bored

 

[wezza]

Bored enough not to know that its now best of 7 series?

 

[PHX]

No he's just continuing his good form. Check my signature!

 

[eathb]

My Predictions

West:
Mavs in 6
Suns in 4
Nuggets in 7
Rockets in 6

East:
Pistons in 4
Cavs in 4
Raptors in 5
Bulls in 6

 

[Dal-Las Mav'a Riq]

Imo the Mavs in 3, Kings in 5, Spurs in 6 and Nuggets in 7

 

[Hawkie_McHawkHawk]

The jury is still out on playoff spurs IMO.

The best attribute for them winning world titles was/is their ability to control the tempo of games- something which i havent been completely sold on this season.

I think the Denver- SA series will be a good indication how the spurs will go. The number of games it takes doesnt matter, as long as the spurs play their grind-it-out lockdown game i think they will have what it takes.
Spurs in 6.

Dallas will be interesting up against Nellie and the Warriors, but not interesting enough. Dallas in 5.

The Lakers wont beat the Suns. Kobe will need 4 freak performances for them to have any chance, and even if Kobe can put up 40-50 on reasonable shooting, the Suns can score just as easily, more often.

The rest dont matter.

 

[Gridlock'd]

West:

Mavs in 5

Suns in 5

Spurs in 6

Rockets in 7

East:

Pistons in 6

Cavs in 4

Nets in 7

Heat in 7