2008 NBA Playoffs

[Zen653]

This should be one of the best post-seasons in NBA history. In the Eastern Conference, I foresee two competitive first round series: Cleveland vs. Washington and Orlando vs. Toronto. In the Western Conference, I think there will be four competitive first round series: Los Angeles vs. Denver, Utah vs. Houston, New Orleans vs. Dallas and Phoenix vs. San Antonio. Then, from the second round on, all of the playoff series should be competitive. This will be a lot of fun to watch.

In the East, Detroit seems to have the easiest road to the Conference Finals because the Pistons get to avoid the winner of Cleveland/Washington in Round 2. The Cavaliers give the Pistons fits, and the Wizards are the most underrated team in the Conference (Arenas, Jamison and Butler are a dangerous offensive trio.) For similar reasons, I'm a little worried about Boston's chances in the second round; the Celtics went 1-3 against the Wizards and 2-2 against the Cavs (one of the wins against Cleveland coming on a night when LeBron James didn't play.) I think the Celtics are the best team in the East when everyone plays up to potential, and I'm hopeful that in each 7 game series, that talent will deliver 4 wins for Boston. The Celtics finished an astounding 50 games over .500, one of just eleven teams to ever accomplish that feat. All they have to do now is finish a collective 4 games over .500 to win the NBA title.

In the West, all of the teams have it tough. If the Nuggets suddenly decide to play team defense, the Lakers could be pushed to the brink in the first round. Iverson and Anthony can outscore Kobe and Gasol. And Camby is a monster on the defensive glass. I could see the Nuggets upsetting the Lakers, and the Mavericks upsetting the inexperienced Hornets. If those two things were to happen, that would pave the way for the Utah Jazz to win the Western Conference. The tired Spurs and injury-riddled Suns will beat up on each other in the first round, and neither team will have enough energy left to make it through the second round. Utah will be a tough out in the playoffs because Jerry Sloan is a terrific coach and he has a well-balanced team with Deron Williams at the point, Carlos Boozer as the dominant post presence, and the mercurial Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur as solid third and fourth options. I watched a fair number of Jazz games this year and I like the way that team plays.

Without further ado, here are the First Round match-ups:

Eastern Conference

(1) Boston Celtics
(8) Atlanta Hawks

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers
(5) Washington Wizards

(2) Detroit Pistons
(7) Philadelphia 76ers

(3) Orlando Magic
(6) Toronto Raptors

Western Conference

(1) Los Angeles Lakers
(8) Denver Nuggets

(4) Utah Jazz
(5) Houston Rockets

(2) New Orleans Hornets
(7) Dallas Mavericks

(3) Phoenix Suns
(6) San Antonio Spurs

Round 1 Television schedule: NBA.com: At a Glance 2008

[bedir than average]

I dream that ClayClay hadn't ruined the sport for me

[djwhokid]

In the West, all of the teams have it tough. If the Nuggets suddenly decide to play team defense, the Lakers could be pushed to the brink in the first round. Iverson and Anthony can outscore Kobe and Gasol. And Camby is a monster on the defensive glass.

They have not played defense all season, what makes you think they will play defense in the playoffs?

I'm sorry, but the Nuggets will be lucky to push that series against the Lakers to six.

When your starting point guard is Anthony Carter, you are not going to do much damage in the playoffs, even with Melo' and A.I.

You are such a Lakers-hater Zen.

(1) Celtics vs. (8) Hawks

If you took out one of the big three on the Celtics, they still probably could beat the baby-Hawks easily. Of course, the Hawks have a great future. If they hire a better coach and keep that core intact, in 2010 the Hawks probably will be a higher seed while the aging Celtics will be on the decline barely making the playoffs.

Of course, this in 2008, Celtics sweep.

(2) Pistons vs. (7) 76ers

The 76ers might win a game or two, but the Pistons should easily win this series.

(3) Magic vs. (6) Raptors

I smell a potential upset here. Chris Bosh vs. Dwight Howard will be an excellent matchup as they are two of the best big men in the league.

Raptors in 7.

(4) Cavs vs. (5) Wizards

This will be another great matchup with the Wizards at full strength. Although, I would take King James and homecourt advantage over Agent 0.

Cavs in 6.

(1) Lakers vs. (8) Nuggets

The Nuggets don't play a lick of defense and that is not good against a team with Kobe Bryant. If you thought Smush Parker was a mediocre starting PG on a playoff team, wait till you see Anthony Carter.

(2) Hornets vs. (7) Mavericks

Mavericks are clicking at the right time and I expect them to win in a hard fought matchup.

(3) Spurs vs. (6) Suns

This will be a battle. Both teams will beat each other up. I think the Spurs win and Grant Hill will continue his streak of not being able to get out of the first round of the playoffs.

(4) Rockets vs. (5) Jazz

How can anyone pick the Rockets? They couldn't beat the Jazz last year with Yao Ming. The streak continues for T-Mac and he will shock the world by retiring from basketball and pursuing a baseball career in MLB.

[Zen653]

You are such a Lakers-hater Zen.

I'm a Celtics fan, that's to be expected.

Seriously, though, the Nuggets are no push-overs. If they were playing the Celtics in the first round, I'd say the exact same thing about a potential upset. And if the Lakers had the Hawks, I'd predict a Laker sweep.

I'm just calling it as I see it. Any team with Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby is not going to down easily. Defense is 50% effort. If the Nuggets decide they want to guard people, they'll be able to do it.

I still think the Lakers will win that series, it just won't be a 4 game cakewalk. The Nuggets will win a game or two and make the Lakers sweat for all 48 minutes. Whenever you have big game players on both sides (Bryant for the Lakers, Iverson for the Nuggets), you know you'll get a competitive playoff series.

As for Orlando-Toronto, I agree with your take on that series. Chris Bosh could potentially rise up to the level of Dwight Howard, and the Raptors, in my opinion, have a superior supporting cast. I love the ball movement and torrid shooting of the Raptors. If the Raptors do a Hack-a-Shaq on Howard, they'll be able to win every close game. Howard's free-throw shooting is abysmal.

[BravesRule22]

Lakers / Boston would be what the TV guys want and I think they might get it this year.

A bunch of teams can win the West but I cant see anyone but Detroit beating the Celtics and I probably only give them a 30 % chance to take down the Celtics

The west is going to be fun though, cant wait for saturday

[djwhokid]

I can watch the Spurs play all day.

Manu Ginobili has to be the most underrated player in the NBA while Tim Duncan has proven he is the best big man of his generation.

Another choke job by the Suns.

[elvin]

Gosh! The suns lost to a very tight game. Hope they beat the spurs next game.

[Zen653]

How about the Sixers upsetting the Pistons on their own court? I didn't expect that one.

[Nat]

Rasheed's ego may bring them down...if not this series, at another critical point in the playoffs. Overall the East looks very weak, including Boston.

[elvin]

76ers won against the pistons. I think the pistons will win the 2nd game between them.

[djwhokid]

Seriously, though, the Nuggets are no push-overs. If they were playing the Celtics in the first round, I'd say the exact same thing about a potential upset. And if the Lakers had the Hawks, I'd predict a Laker sweep.

Would you like to take this statement back?

[Zen653]

Would you like to take this statement back?

In part. The Lakers still had to work to beat the Nuggets. It didn't come with complete ease. My Celtics, unfortunately, seem to be choking at the worst possible time (that's the part I take back.)

It's strange how the Celtics and Patriots have switched roles with the Red Sox. It used to be that the oldtime Celtics and 2001-2004 Patriots would win in the clutch, and the Red Sox would always find a way to blow it. Now, it's the Red Sox who pull off stunning comebacks and the Celtics and Patriots who choke. Oh well. At least Boston teams are perennially competitive now.

Either the Celtics will use this unexpectedly tight series against the Hawks to catapult them to a higher level, or they will completely fold. I have no idea which scenario is likelier. What I do know is that the Cleveland Cavaliers suddenly look like the team to beat in the East.

[djwhokid]

What I do know is that the Cleveland Cavaliers suddenly look like the team to beat in the East.

I wouldn't put to much stock into the Cavs-Wizards series.

That is more like a WWE storyline than a playoff series. Some of the most ridiculous antics I have ever seen. Gilbert Arenas is the Chad Johnson of the NBA. DeShawn Stevenson is Freddie Mitchell with more talent.

Seriously, it is time to blow up the Wizards roster. They have a decent team but every time they play the Cavs in the playoffs, they just embarrass themselves. It seems the more they lose, the more they trash talk?

"I'm an assassin. I get buckets," the Washington Wizards guard said after Friday's practice. "I know I haven't played in a long time, but the shot is still there, so when I come off that bench, there is going to be some trouble."

"I think everybody wants Cleveland in that first round" and "We don't think they can beat us in the playoffs three years straight."

Arenas breaks silence, ready to be 'assassin' in playoffs - USATODAY.com

Today after practice, Brendan Haywood cracked everybody up with a response. Putting on a sorrowful expression and speaking in a high pitched, whining tone, Haywood said: "Ooooh, they're trying to hurt me!"

Going back to his natural voice he added:

"He wears 23, he wants to be Michael Jordan. I can respect that, he's a great player. But you saw what Mike when through. Mike got fouled way worse than this. No one's trying to hurt him. Everyone's trying to play basketball and trying to be tough. Play basketball and leave it alone. He's trying to hurt me! [whining tone again] C'mon.

The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

I expect Agent Zero to sign with Dallas at the end of the season. He and Mark Cuban would make a great fit.

Stevenson actually is not that bad of a player, but he is a clown. IMO, he would be a great backup to Kobe. Let Phil do his magic on talented yet troubled players:

[elvin]

The Detroit Pistons finally eliminated the 76ers. Hope they will win the eastern conference championships.

[djwhokid]

In the East you have some of the worst head coaches in the playoffs.

Doc Rivers - was outcoached by Mike Woodson. If you look at his record, he has been a mediocre head coach in the regular season and playoffs...

Mike Brown - Another mediocre coach. Did nothing in the NBA Finals last season. Holding the Cavs back.

Stan Van Gundy - Does this need explaining?

Flip Saunders - Marty Schottenheimer of the NBA.

In the west, what is new? Phil Jackson out coaching George Karl and Jerry Sloan in the playoffs?

Some things never change.