predictions for the playoffs and NBA champs open thread
by dandresden on Feb 8, 2010 2:44 PM CST
66 comments
just thought i would throw an open thread out there to see what peoples thoughts are on who is going to win it all this year, seedings in the playoffs, who you think is going to conference finals or if any big moves are going to be made before the trade deadline. obviously this post is not pistons-centric.
i'm going to say that the finals will finally be nike's wet dream of lakers/cavs, with the cavs winning the finals(as much as it pains me to say) and pretty much a replay of last years conference finals (lakers/nuggets and cavs/magic). my dark horse candidates for teams to make noise in the playoffs are dallas and atlanta.
what are your predictions?
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i would like to see the nuggets get to finals this year.
hopefully they can grab another big body somehow before the trade deadline.
I like Chauncey.
Otherwise, don’t care for the McNuggets. JR Smith doesn’t even deserve a 3 pt. title much less an NBA one. Don’t like George Karl a whole lot. Don’t like Nene or Kenyon Martin.
But I feel you Dan. They’re not favored in the west, and I like an underdog.
Hawks, Magic… Not the Lakers or Cavs.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
carmelo has won me over in the last 2 years.
his attitude seems much better, and his game is very pretty to watch.
other then cb and melo, the nuggets are mostly unlikeable. im tired of birdmans hugs not drugs storyline. seriously, i got it. i think they are going to make a movie about him and how sandra bullock picked him up off the streets and turned his life around.
I don't mind 'Melo at all either. I forgot to mention him.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
What's not to like about Nene?
Guy came back from cancer and improved his game drastically. I’d love to have him on our team, that’s for sure.
Jonas Jerebko - the Tiger Woods of Swedish Basketball
by Thom_not_Tom on Feb 9, 2010 3:48 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Also rec'd.
He’s one of the good guys in the league. Can’t possibly think of a reason to hate him. Plus he’s the current holder of the “Shawn Kemp Most Violent Dunker” mantle, which is cool.
LOL
I picked Pistons after 2 others already had!!!
DAJUAN SUMMERS!!! 2ND HALF ROY!!!
by Boney on Feb 8, 2010 4:49 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
He's NBA ready!
But the NBA ain’t ready for him! I predict 25 ppg/ 9 rpg/ 5 apg/ 3 spg/ 1 bpg on 60% shooting and 45% from three. WRONG DAJUAN WILL RISE!!!!111one
Jonas Jerebko - the Tiger Woods of Swedish Basketball
the nugs!
according to billups, they know how to beat the lakers, and thats their only REAL challenge, unless they end up playing the celtics. but yea, im going with the nuggets .
I picked the Cavs, as much as it hurt to do so. LeBron is on another planet, and I don’t think he’ll be denied. Especially by the league, if they can help it.
Kobe?
That would be a good reason for the league to not give it to Bron, just think of the publicity if he repeats. The comparisons to Jordan will get stronger than ever.
by bearded thundar on Feb 8, 2010 5:31 PM CST up reply actions
the cavs are rolling
barring a break down like last years series against the magic they should roll to the finals. if there is any credibility to these iguodala to the cavs rumors then i think you can just give him the trophy right now. that would be quite a stacked team.
you think so? they got relatively close last year
and i think the competition in the east has gotten a lil worse this year. the only team in the top four that has gotten better is the hawks, but i just cant see them taking out the cavs. maybe if the magic can pull it together and vince carter can stop sucking they might knock em off again but as of now it looks like the cavs have the best shot to win the east.
Ehh
Mike Brown typed icanhasKingJames?? in his console commands and unlocked Big Game James mode. Unfortunately for him, when Bron goes into Big Game James mode, he seems to forget Mo Williams is a much better shooter than him, effectively taking poor Mo out of the game.
That was their ultimate downfall, not just Howard. With a healthy Ben Wallace, Superman would have been contained (he was quite mediocre against the Celtics). Cleveland lost because they got no production out of key role players, especially Mo Williams.
by bearded thundar on Feb 8, 2010 6:45 PM CST up reply actions
The numbers favor Cleveland, and it’s quite possible they end up with home court.
Still, I say LA. I just don’t like the way Cleveland matches up against LA, apart from LBJ, and if anyone’s got the physical capacity to hold LBJ in check, it’s probably Artest.
But like...........
I think Cavs are built to beat the Lakers, but not teams that has perimeter oriented 4. If you put Shaq and Z up front, it seems like the Lakers can’t rebound from that.
by JC no1 pistons fan on Feb 9, 2010 12:15 AM CST up reply actions
ehh
Gasol and Bynum can run right by those 2 guys…
Hickson is their new PF, he’s much better than Z or Shaq at the PF
i thought that the cav's retooling was to solve their matchup problems with orlando.
and w orlando getting rid of turk and getting vc combined with cavs getting moon and parker i think that they will be able to match up alright with them. i still think orlando could beat them in a series, but it would be interesting.
that cavs vs lakers would be interesting. if im not mistaken the cavs have handled them with ease during both of their meetings this year. doesnt mean anything of course, but i dont think lal would be the sure thing, or even the favorite in a finals meeting with cle.
I agree with Boney and dan
LA’s frontcourt > Cavs frontcourt, and it’s not close. Z and Shaq can’t keep up with Bynum and Gasol. And Hickson is decent and all, but Odom is far superior there as well.
Dan’s right; Cleveland retooled to face Dwight Howard … I don’t know how they matchup against LA.
Kobe's more important
Their frontline doesn’t mean anything if Kobe plays hurt and ends up jacking up a bunch of shots. They need him to start scoring with that efficiency he had at the start of the season, when he was shooting around 50%.
Then the Lakers are the best team in the NBA, but with Kobe hurt, LeBron has shown he can easily take over the game.
by bearded thundar on Feb 9, 2010 2:44 PM CST up reply actions
I should note
I do not think LA’s key to winning is Kobe scoring a lot of points. I just wanted to point out that if he plays bad and shoots below 40% (like he has against cleveland so far), then their frontcourt’s ability won’t matter as they’ll be down a lot anyways.
What I don’t understand is why hasn’t Bynum been able to mesh with Gasol? Gasol plays high post while he plays low post, on paper there shouldn’t be any issues.
by bearded thundar on Feb 9, 2010 2:47 PM CST up reply actions
They’d mesh better if Kobe hadn’t been taking horrible shots the last month and a half. He’s played some of the most selfish ball I’ve ever seen anyone play with that good of a team around him. Kelly Dwyer has been all over him for weeks, and watching them play without Kobe has really hammered the point home. At this point, Pau is a more productive player than Kobe. The LA frontcourt isn’t ever going to fully mesh as long as Pau isn’t touching the ball on every possession, something which Kobe hasn’t seemed to fully accept yet.
That was very obvious in the finals last year
Pau was unstoppable, but he’d be taking like 9-12 shots per game, versus Kobe’s 20-35 (sometimes on HORRIBLE shooting). I like Kobe’s game a lot, but — as Dwyer has said — he’s really bipolar when it comes to being selfish or unselfish. He’s all or nothing, and he wavers between them constantly.
Jonas Jerebko - the Tiger Woods of Swedish Basketball
Exactly my point
Kobe’s performance is more important than anyone else’, because if he’s jacking up a bunch of shots, his frontline won’t be able to make use of their mismatches. If Kobe takes less than 20 shots a game, and shoots around 50%, then it doesn’t really matter as much if Pau has a bad game because Odom and Bynum should have enough shots to do some damage. However if Kobe takes 30 shots, then you might get some consistency for Pau, but more than likely nothing from Bynum, and perhaps some rebounding from Odom.
by bearded thundar on Feb 9, 2010 5:55 PM CST up reply actions
IMO, and I haven’t done any research on this, so it’s speculation: I’d guess that Kobe’s shot volume is more important to LA winning than his actual percentage.
If Kobe shoots less than 20 times, I think the Lakers are a lot tougher to beat than if he shoots more than 20 times.
In other words, I’d take Kobe at 8-20 combined with LA’s front line over Cleveland on almost any given night.
Cleveland didn't "retool" to compete with Orlando
JJ can guard Lewis for the most part but.. Shaq and Z are there now strictly for their contracts, IMO. Neither of them can stay with Howard, or even guard him effectively.
So they didn’t sign another Center to compete with Orlando, who happens to have the best Center in the game?
I think if you read between the lines … http://videos.cleveland.com/plain-dealer/2009/06/cleveland_cavs_gm_danny_ferry.html
Look at who they traded
A healthy Ben Wallace is a much better post defender than Shaq. He’s much more mobile and has far better timing, as Shaq’s biggest advantage was always size and speed. That’s what confuses me the most. His contract would have expired this year too, the only difference being Shaq’s is larger.
by bearded thundar on Feb 9, 2010 5:57 PM CST up reply actions
reading between the lines
and looking at the current state of the Cavs and how LeBron is holding that entire organization hostage…
Shaq is not going to stop Howard. Z couldn’t do it last year.
The Cavaliers need to make these moves and trade Z/Shaq otherwise letting them walk, they’ll only be able to re-sign those guys and have the MLE if LeBron re-signs.
I believe they feel Shaq could be a solid post option in their halfcourt offense… they need to trade Z or you get nothing for his near superstar salary that will expire.
A rotation of:
Mo/Boob
Delonte/Jawad
LeBron/Moon
Varejao/Hickson
MLE Center/Minimum Center
is not much better than what the New York Knicks COULD potentially have… they need to dump Z, they need to sign and trade Wally world..
Shaq is not going to stop Howard. Z couldn’t do it last year.
I agree completely, but that doesn’t mean Cleveland didn’t sign him to try.
It’s not merely coincidence that they lost to the team with the best, biggest C in the league, so they went and traded for one of the biggest Centers in the league to bolster their frontcourt, is it?
I agree about trading Z and the rest of that jazz. But that doesn’t mean Shaq wasn’t about adding frontcourt size, depth, and at worst, 6 fouls and another big body to throw at
Dwight.
I honestly believe
it was 60/40 split between stopping Howard and the large chunk of salary and/or the possibility of trading the expiring for 2 pieces…
I honestly believe if CLE traded Shaq for Hinrich/Salmons/Jerome James and then traded Z for Jamison a line up of:
Mo Williams/Hinrich/Gibson
Salmons/Parker/Gibson
LeBron/Moon
Jamison/Hickson
Varejao/Jackson/Z (when he comes back 30 days later)
wouldn’t be bad
Jazz should be in this poll
They’re better than the Nuggets. AK47 has his mojo back.
Jonas Jerebko - the Tiger Woods of Swedish Basketball
I like their frontline a lot more than the Nuggets’. They get consistent post scoring from Milsap and Boozer, and don’t forget Memo can stretch the defense. Also Deron Williams has historically torched Chauncey.
But I don’t think they would necessarily win a playoff series against the Nuggets. The playoffs are where guys like Wade and Melo get to take over the game, and the Jazz don’t really have anyone that can match Melo’s offensive output. Also I feel the Nuggets are much deeper at the guard position, so Williams being in foul trouble has a much bigger impact than Chauncey.
by bearded thundar on Feb 9, 2010 6:04 PM CST up reply actions
They have guys that can contain Melo, though
Kirilenko and Brewer are both excellent defenders. I think they’d do enough to swing the series in Utah’s favor. Although, I suppose Denver has plenty of good post defenders to throw at Milsap and Boozer. Anyway, I really think this Utah team — at the MOMENT — is the best team in the West. I’m sure LA will get it back together, but they need to figure a few things out.
Jonas Jerebko - the Tiger Woods of Swedish Basketball
jazz are added
sorry for the oversight, they didnt come to mind when making this poll, but they have been playing really well lately.
the yazz (i think it's a soft j)
are pretenders, for sure. Boozer is on track to get hurt. Same w/ AK. I don’t think they have the depth to keep up w/LA/Nuggs/Mavs in a 7 game series.
i dont buy em either, but the people demanded it.
then again i dont really think that atlanta or dallas have much more than an outside shot at making hay in the playoffs, but included them anyways.
but of course
the stones had to be on the list. When we perfect the 4 guard lineup w/ben at c, and reel off that 14 game win streak, all those who voted stones will have a big " i told you so" coming.
by C$ on Feb 11, 2010 9:13 AM CST up reply actions
ben wallace or ben gordon at C?
this = championship:
PG: Chucky Atkins
SG: Will Bynum
SF: Rodney Stuckey
PF: Rip Hamilton
C: Ben Gordon
book it.
I’ve watched Utah play a few games this year, and I don’t even know who half the guys on their roster are but I LOVE watching them. They move really, really well, play smart, and look like they’re having a lot of fun out there. For all the knocks Boozer gets, he looks like he’s having a ball this year and he loves his team.
Yeah, their bench is surprisingly deep
It’d be even better if they didn’t have to part with Maynor (for salary reasons). Wesley Matthews has been a huge steal for them.
Jonas Jerebko - the Tiger Woods of Swedish Basketball
That is some sage advice, my friend. Elite!
by garrettelliott on Feb 9, 2010 10:08 PM CST up reply actions
Jerry Sloan
Is the most underrated coach in the league. He gets no respect and yet his teams always play with more chemistry and share the ball better than any other in the entire league. Not to mention he’s great a developing players. Memo was a good player, but not an 18 and 10 guy when they signed him, same with Boozer. Not to mention Milsap has become a force after a few years of riding the pine and Williams was always a great scorer, but has become one of the best passers in the league.
I really wonder, if you switched CP3 and Williams, who would average more assists? I think it might actually be Williams, because the Hornets let CP3 do all the passing where as the Jazz share the ball very well.
by bearded thundar on Feb 10, 2010 1:10 PM CST up reply actions
Media respect
I’m sure the refs respect him, but you never hear his name in the media compared to Phil Jackson (and even Mike Brown, yuck). That was my point.
It’s like Ben Wallace vs Tyson Chandler in their primes. Chandler is the sexier name, but clearly Wallace is the better player. I think the Zen Master’s best attribute is his ability to contain attitudes, but Sloan does that just as well and behind Larry Brown is the second best team basketball coach in league history (I like Popp a lot, but he hasn’t been a head coach nearly as long and hasn’t had to develop lottery teams into contenders).
by bearded thundar on Feb 10, 2010 1:14 PM CST up reply actions
ok
Right now the best team in the eastern conference is Cleveland, but if the Magic get on a roll they can beat the cavs. I believe they are the only team that really has a chance of beating them.
To be completely honest I don’t see the lakers making ANY finals this year. I think it will be Nuggets- Jazz with the Jazz going to the Finals and eventually winning the whole thing.
bold prediction… maybe.
that is a bold statment indeed.
could happen who knows? i still think we will be seeing the lakers in the finals.
I am thinking Jazz- Nuggets
because it finally looks like this year all their talent is clicking like it should. Even though the lakers aren’t exactly healthy, but they are winning, they appear to be coasting through the regular season. It doesn’t seem like they really ever have a test. But will they be able to turn up the heat when the playoffs come and other teams get hot? That I’m not sure about.
What I do know. Pau Gasol is a very very good player but is spotty and doesn’t play like it all the time. You can’t really blame him though, he doesn’t have to. Also, I don’t think the lakers really know what they have in Andrew Bynum. In my mind his potiential is farther than the sky, but he seems a bit like the lazy type off the court. The window is closing for him to improve his skills but if he does look out. You could be looking at a more offensivly minded Dwight Howard look alike.
i'm thinking chicken nuggets
and saying no to the jazz in the wcf’s.
by C$ on Feb 11, 2010 9:14 AM CST up reply actions
Speaking of Nuggets
McDonald’s has a great deal right now, 50 nuggets, two fries, two drinks for $14.99.
Win.
Unfortunately, my wife will be out of town … But that’s really not a reason to not get them now, is it?
Rec'd Rec'd
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
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