The NBA playoffs start tomorrow and I’m very, very excited about them. This is usually my favorite time of year sports wise because you have the NHL playoffs, NBA playoffs, Wrestlemania from WWE, Lockdown from TNA Wrestling, the beginning of MLB, college baseball, solid MMA fights, even some early tennis and golf majors. However the favorite is the NBA playoffs.
For those of you who hate on the NBA for various reasons, a lot of those dislikes are eliminated in the playoffs, accept for the fact there a few too many games. Return the best-of-five format to the first round, please!
Forgot…
Music to listen to: Vicera Eyes by The Mars Volta
Before I get to my first-round playoff predictions, here are my awards:
OK, Cleveland beats Los Angeles in the NBA Finals, LeBron is the MVP, fun times in the city before he contemplates leaving and then…stays in Cleveland and signs a three-year deal. More on this during the summer.
MVP: Lebron James, Cleveland
I know that its easy to hate on LeBron because of his constant non-commitment to his future and openly accepting the ovatures of the New York Knicks, the media love affair, the dancing, etc. but he’s clearly the best player in the league. Kobe Bryant made a nice claim last year but its Lebron’s crown now.
Similar to last year, LeBron covers all fronts. If you believe in the notion of the best player on the best team, its LeBron. If you’re a stats geek, he averaged 29/9/7 while shooting over 50% from the field. He’s the most efficient player in the league and just had one of the 10 best individual seasons ever and he took some games off at the end to rest. He’s in year two of a seven to eight year run of being arguably the most dominant player in his sport for his era, maybe only Wayne Gretzky, Jim Brown, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Babe Ruth joining him at the table. He’s an athlete that is almost lapping the field with his individual brilliance.
Kevin Durant would be second in my vote. Not only did he mature and lead his team to 50 wins, something no one, I don’t care who you are saw coming, but he evolved his game beyond just scoring points. OK, the points are big for him. Youngest scoring champ ever, the only possible guy who can average 35+ points in the next two to three years, unstoppable if he’s on point. The thing I like about him is that he shoots 90% from the free throw line, averages more than 10 attempts a game and shots 3-pointers efficiently. A year ago Bill Simmons said that he could average 40 per game. I laughed but not anymore. He also gave a darn on defense and rebounding. He’s never going to be a first-team All-Defense member but his effort propelled them to 50 wins.
Rounding out my top five would be Steve Nash, who defies age and has gone from underrated in Dallas, to slightly overrated with the two MVPs in Phoenix, to underrated again the past three years. He’s a lock Hall of Famer and off the top of my head, Magic, Isiah Thomas, Oscar Robinson and John Stockton are the only point guards I’m taking over him all-time. That’s major company.
Fourth would be Deron Williams who is making his debate against Chris Paul even more interesting as the years pass and Dwight Howard, who continues to play defense and rebound but lacks offensive and leadership qualities to contend for the top spot.
I didn’t leave Kobe of the top-five on purpose. Just looked at the other guys and put them ahead.
Rook of the year: Steph Curry, Golden State
I really, really wanted to show love to Brandon Jennings of Milwaukee for being the starting point guard on a playoff team and Tyreke Evans for putting up a 20/5/5 season. Only Jordan, Robertson and James have done what Evans did so that’s heady company.
However, I think that Curry was a better overall player this season. You may say that the Golden State system makes him better and that’s a fair critique but I look at this award as the best pure player, not just stats and that nod goes to Curry.
OK, I’ll get to some other stuff during the predictions so lets get started
Cleveland vs. Chicago
Prediction: Cleveland in five
Thoughts: Maybe Noah will close line James as he drives to the basket. Other than Rose averaging 25 points, eight assists and five rebounds in this series, Chicago doesn’t have much to look forward to other than the general manager John Paxson and head coach Vinnie Del Negro slapping each other in the hallway. Hinrich will have a nice series for the Bulls and Noah will show his all-defensive skills but this round for Cleveland is all about getting Shaq in shape to face Orlando down the line.
Orlando vs. Charlotte
Prediction: Orlando in six
Thoughts: Sure Charlotte plays excellent defense and anytime you have Stephen Jackson in a pressure situation its fun for the whole family but outside of that, what do the Bobcats offer that Orlando can’t overcome?
Atlanta vs. Milwaukee
Prediction: Atlanta in six
Thoughts: If Andrew Bogut was healthy, I would take the Bucks in a walk. However, seeing how Atlanta’s strenghs is the front court play of Josh Smith and Al Hoford, Milwaukee can’t compete with that. Jennings starting his first playoff series is tough to bet on as well. He’ll outplay Mike Bibby but with Joe Johnson establishing himself as a borderline elite NBA player, this too much for the Bucks to overcome.
Boston vs. Miami
Prediction: Boston in seven
Thoughts: Wade is the best player on the floor. He was the best player on the floor last year when the Heat faced Atlanta last year in the playoffs. Who won that series, you can figure it out. I’ve never been a fan of one-man gangs in the playoffs (Cleveland is different because that one player is that darn good). While Boston will get smoked in the next round, they have the better overall team than Miami. Wade will put up sick numbers and the Celtics will look very old but they will find a way to get this series.
Western Conference
Los Angeles vs. Oklahoma City
Prediction: Lakers in six
Thoughts: The battle of two of the three best pure players in the league in the first round of the playoffs, young vs. older and experienced. The NBA couldn’t have scripted it any better. As much love as I have for Durant as you’ve read above and becoming more enamored by Russell Westbrook’s skills at point guard where he will destroy Derek Fisher, the Lakers are the better overall team. Durant will go for 40 in one of the games and Thabo Sefolosha may curtail Kobe from scoring a lot of points but Gasol and Odom will be too much inside. This series is about the Lakers getting Artest and Bynum right for the next series coming up.
Dallas vs. San Antonio
Prediction: Dallas in six
Thoughts: Duncan can only do so much. Richard Jefferson has been a bust, Tony Parker and Ginobili are too worn down, this can get ugly for the Spurs. However, they’re a game bunch and will get two games in this series, in fact it wouldn’t surprise me to see them take it to seven games. However, the best player on the floor is Nowitzki, the bigs of Haywood, Dampier and even Marion to some degree will be too much for San Antonio.
Phoenix vs. Portland
Prediction: Phoenix in six
Thoughts: Without Brandon Roy, you have to take Phoenix. This will be a fun series to watch but the two best players are Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire. In a more even series than you would think, I usually take the team with the best players.
Denver vs. Utah
Prediction: Denver in seven
Thoughts: Excellent series, maybe the best one on the docket for the first round. I’ve gone both ways with this series mentally but I jus think that Carmelo Anthony will find a way to win a seventh game at home. Love the point guard matchup between Williams and Chauncy Billups, both guys play the position properly. I would be more confident in Denver if Kenyon Martin was in form but I’m always fearful of older players coming back from knee injuries. The Jazz have a healthy Andrei Kirilenko, Boozer in a contract year, positive things going. Plus, I’ll take Jerry Sloan over darn near any other coach in the NBA. All of that stuff and I still come back to Carmelo.
Your opinions are welcomed.
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