NBA Crystal Ball
A quick post here, and then another late tomorrow night, and I'll still be on track to fulfill my 30-day promise even though I'm going away for the weekend in a few minutes and won't have my computer with me.
I thought I would offer up my predictions for the first round of the NBA playoffs, partly because I can't imagine anything the world wants or needs more and partly because I like being publicly wrong. Actually, the first round offers some lopsided match-ups on paper, so I'm not going out on a limb with these picks:
In the East, I like the Bulls to beat the Pacers soundly, the Heat to trounce Philly, the Magic to beat the Hawks, and the Celtics to beat the Knicks. (Though, of course, I would love if the Knicks could make that a series, or even win it.)
In the West, just about every so-called expert I've listened to or read in the past few days is picking Portland to beat Dallas, which means that Dallas over Portland is an easy pick for me. When a 6 seed over a 3 seed becomes something like consensus, a pick has become way too trendy to be trustworthy. Suddenly Portland is a world-beater because it traded for Gerald Wallace? Really? I think not. I'm also a Mavs fan, but I feel like I'm using the logical part of my brain here anyway. Spurs over the Grizzlies, Lakers to beat the Hornets. Potentially the most entertaining first-round series is the Thunder against the Nuggets. I haven't seen them play, so I have no idea how the Nuggets became seemingly so much better after trading Carmelo Anthony, but I still think that Durant and Westbrook are too tough with a season of playoff experience under their belt. I like the Thunder to win, and to be a tough out whoever they play next. In fact, unless the Lakers regain their form fast, I think OKC has a legitimate chance to win the West. Not saying it will be easy.
Invest accordingly.
I thought I would offer up my predictions for the first round of the NBA playoffs, partly because I can't imagine anything the world wants or needs more and partly because I like being publicly wrong. Actually, the first round offers some lopsided match-ups on paper, so I'm not going out on a limb with these picks:
In the East, I like the Bulls to beat the Pacers soundly, the Heat to trounce Philly, the Magic to beat the Hawks, and the Celtics to beat the Knicks. (Though, of course, I would love if the Knicks could make that a series, or even win it.)
In the West, just about every so-called expert I've listened to or read in the past few days is picking Portland to beat Dallas, which means that Dallas over Portland is an easy pick for me. When a 6 seed over a 3 seed becomes something like consensus, a pick has become way too trendy to be trustworthy. Suddenly Portland is a world-beater because it traded for Gerald Wallace? Really? I think not. I'm also a Mavs fan, but I feel like I'm using the logical part of my brain here anyway. Spurs over the Grizzlies, Lakers to beat the Hornets. Potentially the most entertaining first-round series is the Thunder against the Nuggets. I haven't seen them play, so I have no idea how the Nuggets became seemingly so much better after trading Carmelo Anthony, but I still think that Durant and Westbrook are too tough with a season of playoff experience under their belt. I like the Thunder to win, and to be a tough out whoever they play next. In fact, unless the Lakers regain their form fast, I think OKC has a legitimate chance to win the West. Not saying it will be easy.
Invest accordingly.
posted by JMW at 9:13 AM
2 Comments:
The Knuggets added Ray Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. They are incredibly deep. That said, they probably still won't beat the Thunder.
I think that Dallas will prevail, but it could easily go seven games. Also, Aldridge is playing like an All Star.
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