Alright, the first round is over and second round has already begun. First, let's see how I did predicting round one.
Cleveland swept Detroit, as predicted.
The Celtics and Bulls series was tough and long, just like I said it would be. I predicted 6 games and if the Celts had managed to get the ball to Ray Allen at the end of the third overtime I just may have been right, instead it went 7 games. I was close, but at least I had the right team.
I picked Orlando in 6 and Orlando won in 6. Not a big surprise. However the fact that they won without Howard and Courtney Lee was a bit surprising.
Miami and Atlanta, my first mistake. I thought Wade could win the series for the Heat, and if he had just a little help from his team he probably could have carried them over the hump. The problem? His team practically played for the Hawks. Oh well, you can't get them all right.
The Jazz and Lakers series went exactly how I thought. Utah was able to get by the Lakers in one game at home, but were clearly outmatched and outplayed the entire series.
I though the Hornets would at least put up a fight against the Nuggets, but it turned out that they were worse than I originally thought (i.e. losing by 58 points at home). The Hornets lost it in 5 and this series was never really in question.
Again, I thought San Antonio had a bit more fight in them. I thought it would be a competitive series. But Dallas more or less mauled the Spurs. They just aren't the same team without Ginobli. But, I still picked the winner, it just didn't go 7 games.
Portland got off to a rough start and although they played well, they were just too young to win this series. I should have known better than pick them. The Rockets played very well and despite Roy's superstar performances the Blazers were out in six.
So, I picked 6 of the 8 series correctly. Not bad. So who do I have in the second round?
Eastern Conference:
Atlanta (4) vs. Cleveland (1)
Atlanta had to play 7 games against the Dwayne Wade's, since the rest of the Heat didn't really play most of the games. So how could they go and beat the best team in the NBA which also happens to have the official MVP? There is no way. Cavs in 5 or 6. Atlanta is tough at home, so they might win a couple there.
Orlando (3) vs. Boston (2)
Boston had a tough time with the Bulls and I think they're pretty tired. With all the overtimes they played they essentially played an 8 game series. Orlando also has Dwight Howard, who Boston will have a tough time matching up against with KG still out. The onyl problem for Orlando is the health of Courtney Lee, who may miss some time with his own injury. They aslo don't have the homecourt advantage. Still, I just don't see Boston being able to handle the Magic after such a tough first round. I'm taking the Magic in 7.
Western Conference:
Houston (5) vs. LA Lakers (1)
The Rockets beat an inexperienced team. That's the exact opposite of the Lakers. They know playoff basketball and have a deeper, longer bench. Yao may get the best of Bynum and Kobe may have some trouble against the defense of Artest and Battier. But who's going to stop Gasol and Odom? It should be a decent series, but I still think the Lakers win in 6.
Dallas (6) vs. Denver (2)
Okay, okay, the series already started. I know. But come on, the last game of the first round was on Sunday morning followed by this series beginning. I had no time to write predictions in between round one and two. Thanks NBA. Still, I would have picked Denver regardless. Dallas ran into a broken San Antonio team and even though they are playing good basketball, the Nuggets are playing great. They have home court advantage and a deeper more energized bench. I've said it time and again, but this Dallas team just doesn't feel or look right. I think Denver wins in 5 or 6.
So, check back and see how I do on these predictions. Maybe some teams will surprise me.
Cleveland swept Detroit, as predicted.
The Celtics and Bulls series was tough and long, just like I said it would be. I predicted 6 games and if the Celts had managed to get the ball to Ray Allen at the end of the third overtime I just may have been right, instead it went 7 games. I was close, but at least I had the right team.
I picked Orlando in 6 and Orlando won in 6. Not a big surprise. However the fact that they won without Howard and Courtney Lee was a bit surprising.
Miami and Atlanta, my first mistake. I thought Wade could win the series for the Heat, and if he had just a little help from his team he probably could have carried them over the hump. The problem? His team practically played for the Hawks. Oh well, you can't get them all right.
The Jazz and Lakers series went exactly how I thought. Utah was able to get by the Lakers in one game at home, but were clearly outmatched and outplayed the entire series.
I though the Hornets would at least put up a fight against the Nuggets, but it turned out that they were worse than I originally thought (i.e. losing by 58 points at home). The Hornets lost it in 5 and this series was never really in question.
Again, I thought San Antonio had a bit more fight in them. I thought it would be a competitive series. But Dallas more or less mauled the Spurs. They just aren't the same team without Ginobli. But, I still picked the winner, it just didn't go 7 games.
Portland got off to a rough start and although they played well, they were just too young to win this series. I should have known better than pick them. The Rockets played very well and despite Roy's superstar performances the Blazers were out in six.
So, I picked 6 of the 8 series correctly. Not bad. So who do I have in the second round?
Eastern Conference:
Atlanta (4) vs. Cleveland (1)
Atlanta had to play 7 games against the Dwayne Wade's, since the rest of the Heat didn't really play most of the games. So how could they go and beat the best team in the NBA which also happens to have the official MVP? There is no way. Cavs in 5 or 6. Atlanta is tough at home, so they might win a couple there.
Orlando (3) vs. Boston (2)
Boston had a tough time with the Bulls and I think they're pretty tired. With all the overtimes they played they essentially played an 8 game series. Orlando also has Dwight Howard, who Boston will have a tough time matching up against with KG still out. The onyl problem for Orlando is the health of Courtney Lee, who may miss some time with his own injury. They aslo don't have the homecourt advantage. Still, I just don't see Boston being able to handle the Magic after such a tough first round. I'm taking the Magic in 7.
Western Conference:
Houston (5) vs. LA Lakers (1)
The Rockets beat an inexperienced team. That's the exact opposite of the Lakers. They know playoff basketball and have a deeper, longer bench. Yao may get the best of Bynum and Kobe may have some trouble against the defense of Artest and Battier. But who's going to stop Gasol and Odom? It should be a decent series, but I still think the Lakers win in 6.
Dallas (6) vs. Denver (2)
Okay, okay, the series already started. I know. But come on, the last game of the first round was on Sunday morning followed by this series beginning. I had no time to write predictions in between round one and two. Thanks NBA. Still, I would have picked Denver regardless. Dallas ran into a broken San Antonio team and even though they are playing good basketball, the Nuggets are playing great. They have home court advantage and a deeper more energized bench. I've said it time and again, but this Dallas team just doesn't feel or look right. I think Denver wins in 5 or 6.
So, check back and see how I do on these predictions. Maybe some teams will surprise me.
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