Heard in the Cheap Seats

The NBA Playoffs are here!  This is the most excited I have been about the playoffs in awhile.  I’m always excited, but this year has been a great season for the NBA.  With young players like LeBron, Howard, Paul, and D. Williams carrying the torch, all seems to be going well for the NBA.  With the Lakers and Celtics back at center stage, the storylines are endless.  Will the Shaq trade boost Phoenix to the elusive Championship or will Steve Kerr look like a bonehead.  Will Kobe win without Shaq finally?  Can KG bring a parade to the starving city of Boston (really guys, you’ve had enough between the Pats and Sox, plus BC hockey!!!)?  Are the Spurs finally done?  Can the Hornets, even with their inexperience make some noise?…Ok.. You get the point.  Now I’m just being ridiculous and asking questions to see how many I can write before I get bored.  Not to mention, my Sixers are back in the playoffs and that has me juiced…even if it will not last long.  So, without further ado here are my picks for the 2008 Playoffs.  These are sure to be right, so head to Vegas ASAP. 

EASTERN CONFERENCE Even though everyone likes to dump on the East, there are still some good series that will play out.  Will it go according to form like most people think, or will there be a shocker in the mix?  Will I ever stop asking questions and just get to my picks?  Hmmm… 

Atlanta vs. BostonThis one really couldn’t be easier.  I mean, seriously.  The Hawks may as well start booking their vacations now.  The Celtics have 30 more wins!  30!!!  Garnett may actually eat Marvin Williams.  This is going to be an ugly one. Celtics in 4 

Philly vs. DetroitI would love to go with my boys in this one, but they just are not ready for the big time yet.  I think there will be a few tense moments for Detroit, and when the games are played in Philly, the Sixers speed and athleticism will bother the Pistons a bit, but not enough to steal more than one game. Pistons in 5 

Toronto vs. OrlandoChris Bosh will get his.  Probably 30 + a game, but I do not see the supporting cast of the Raptors being able to score enough to match Orlando’s big 3 of Howard, Lewis, and Hedo.  This could be where Howard has one of those series where he averages an insane 26 and 15…This in my opinion is a boring series.  Nothing too exciting here. Magic in 6 

Washington vs. ClevelandMan I love Charles Barkley!  I also agree with him.  The Cavs have been stuck in neutral for a month and the Wizards have been playing their best basketball of the season, as well as getting healthy.  Leave it to Agent 0…only one less the number of playoff series his teams have won.  Why would you piss off LeBron James?  Didn’t he see that is not a good idea based on games against the Raptors and Knicks this year.  And what the hell is Stevenson opening his mouth for?  Dude, you averaged 11 points a game. Shut up.  I would have picked the Wizards, but now with even just a little bit of help from West, Sczerbiak, Ilgauskas and company LeBron’s anger will carry the Cavs. Cavs in 7 Those are my first round picks. 

I will revisit this after the first round, but just to put it on record I see Boston defeating Cleveland in 6 and Detroit over Orlando in 6 in the second round to set up the matchup everyone has assumed would happen all year.  I will break it down further when it happens, but I have been picking Detroit all year.  Something tells me I am going to regret this, but I say Detroit in 7.  Maybe its just because I cannot stand to see another Beantown celebration. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE I think this time I will just get to the picks.  My question mark key is broken. 

Denver vs. Los AngelesWell I live in LaLa Land, and I have been talking up a Lakers first round demise for months, and then they go and draw Denver.  Damn!  Now I’m screwed.  There is no way the Lakers lose to Denver.  They are so dysfunctional and play a brand of basketball that has zero chance of getting them anywhere in the playoffs.  Probably because George Karl has gone crazy.  Allen Iverson will be fun to watch, Carmelo will be drunk, and J.R. Smith will shoot 17 threes a game.  The Lakers may average 142 point per game.  The Lakers will not lose to the new Portland Trailblazers. Lakers in 5 

Dallas vs. New OrleansThis is a tough one.  The Mavs looked like they were on the brink of missing the playoffs and then we would have had a cage match to the death between Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson (and by the way Avery would have won by making Cuban’s ears explode with his voice).  Then, Dirk cam back from his injury and willed them to the playoffs.  The Mavs can be scary when they are on, but I am not sure they will be.  Yes, these Hornets are young, but they are good.  Chris Paul will run circles around Kidd in this.  The Mavs were better before the trade.   Hornets in 7 

Phoenix vs. San AntonioThis is the best series of the first round and maybe the entire playoffs.  I am pissed this is in the first round.  I wanted to see this later in the playoffs.  Yes, the Spurs are old and banged up.  Shaq’s hip is always a question mark.  I just feel like the Suns are really gelling now.  They beat the Spurs both times since the trade, and actually played tough D in those games.  If this were to go to a 7^th game, I do not think the Suns would win, which is why they will steal a game in San Antonio.  Probably game one.  I think Shaq and Stoudemire will be too much for the Spurs frontcourt to handle throughout the series. Suns in 6 

Utah vs. HoustonHouston had a nice run, but in the playoffs they will miss Yao Ming.  Houston can defend, but they will not be able to defend Deron Williams and the well oiled Jazz offense.  Another early exit for poor Tracy McGrady. Jazz in 6 This sets up my chance for an upset.  The Jazz take down the Lakers in 7 in the semis and Phoenix wins in 6 against New Orleans.  Setting up a Suns, Jazz final.  I see the Suns winning this one in 7. 

NBA FINALS Pistons in 7 Again I will be writing more as the Playoffs shake out.  I am sure that I will have a lot of words to eat, but either way, this should be an exciting couple months of games, and I am going to sit back and enjoy watching.