2011 NBA Playoff Predictions

[LA Forever]

Let's hear them folks!


There's mine. If only Rudy Gay was playing, Memphis would upset San Antonio.

[crimsonkb24]

Spurs in 5 -too much experience and Gay missing
Thunder in 6 -unpredictable, can see thunder in 7 or thunder in 5, lets take 6 games :>
Mavs in 7- just cant imagine that Dallas screws up again in the first round,would love Blazers in 6
Lakers in 4-if we dont play like lazy bitches. but even if we play lazy, the hornets win only 1 game.

Bulls in 5- wanted to go with the sweep there, but the Pacers pull one off in Indy
Orl in 6- Havent watched the Magic at all this year, same for hawks, Hawks wont win the series though
Bos in 5- Knicks get one at MSG, thats it
Miami in 5- Really hoping for the upset here, but miami plays too good right now, maybe 6 games.

[aussie_laker]

Spurs in 4
OKC in 7
Dallas in 5
Lakers in 4

Bulls in 4
Orlando in 6
Boston in 6
Miami in 5

[Imadogg]

I hope we don't sweep for selfish reasons... I need to sell game 5 tickets..

[snaquille oatmeal]

Raptors in 4/thread

[semi-sentient]

West

• SAS in 6 - Giving this more thought and taking into account that Manu is going to miss at least one game (something tells me he'll be battling injury throughout the playoffs), I think this series goes 6 games. The Grizz have played the Spurs tougher than I thought (judging by the gamelogs/box scores), and they've beaten them the last 2 times without Rudy Gay -- although Duncan missed one of those games as well. It looks like I initially under-estimated them by predicting a Spurs sweep.
  
  
• OKC in 6 - Denver is a really good team, but the cylinder tends to shrink in the playoffs and that's going to take away some of their potency on offense. The Thunder have a couple of guys that can break up any defense and get to the line at will, and that's going to play dividends against a perimeter oriented team like the Nuggets. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if this series went 7 games though. If Durant disappears the way he did last season then that really opens the door for the Nuggets to pull off an upset, but I think he'll learn from that and have a solid post-season this time around.
  
  
• POR in 6 - This is my upset pick. The Blazers have been fantastic since obtaining Wallace, and I think he's going to play an instrumental role in containing Dirk. The Mavs also don't have an answer for Aldridge who I think is going to eat them alive. The Mavs strike me as the type of team that will wilt under pressure, so my prediction is based on Portland stealing one of the first two games and winning all their games at the Rose Garden.
  
  
• LAL in 4 - With Phil coming out and stating how serious he's going to take this post-season run and how much energy he's going to devote, I think we'll stay on top of things and not allow any lapses. A sweep would be ideal because at this point rest is the most important things as we get deeper into the post-season. A rested, energetic Lakers team can beat anyone. A tired, lethargic Lakers team can lose to anyone.

East

• CHI in 5 - The Bulls are rolling right now and will make quick work of the Pacers. I see Indiana pulling a game out, but I wouldn't be surprised one bit if this is a sweep with the Bulls blowing them out all 4 games.
  
  
• ORL in 5 - The Hawks just suck and have been in a free fall since the All-Star break, going 10-17 and getting blown out quite a bit. I think they've mailed it in. The meetings between these two teams this season isn't any indication of how the series will go, IMO. Still, the Hawks will probably muster up enough competitive fire to win a game.
  
  
• BOS in 6 - I'm expecting the Celtics to get it together in this series and start playing some solid basketball. Rondo is going to be a real pest on Billups, and Melo is the type of player that the Celtics team defense specializes in shutting down. Stoudemire is going to get owned by Garnett. The Celtics offense has really exploded against the Knicks this year, and I don't see that changing at all. This series is going to give them some good momentum going into the Heat series. I originally figured 5 games, but the Celtics tend to drag things out in their series so I'm going to change that to 6.
  
  
• MIA in 4 - I really don't see the Sixers putting up much of a fight. LeBron and Wade are going to eat them alive.

Edit: Change my picks for SAS (in 6), LAL (in 4), and BOS (in 6).

[ROballer]

How bout we do a contest,like they do on espn every year?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/ ... ackdown-10

5 pts for series won by the chosen team,+ 2 pts if we have the series score right

I'm offering to do the rankings after each round...


My picks for the first round

Lakers in 5
Mavs in 7
Thunder in 6
Spurs in 6

Bulls in 4
Heat in 5
Celtics in 6
Magic in 6

Side note: I propose that we send our picks before the series begin for obvious reasons

Who's in?

1.Roballer

[vmor]

I think that Spurs, Celtics and Heat will have it 1 game easier than the table at top.
I wish the Nuggets beat Thunder so we can sleep easier - but I don't think they will...

[not5not6not7]

Spurs in 7 Chi in 5
OKC in 6 ORL in 5
DAL in 6 BOS in 6
LA in 4 MIA in 4

[The_Trade_Seer]

WEST

FIRST ROUND

Spurs in 7
Lakers in 4
Mavs in 7
Thunder in 5

SECOND ROUND

Spurs in 7
Lakers in 5

THIRD ROUND

Lakers in 6

------------------------

EAST

FIRST ROUND

Bulls in 5
Heat in 5
Celts in 5
Magic in 5

SECOND ROUND

Bulls in 7
Celts in 6

THIRD ROUND

Celts in 6

--------------

NBA FINALS

Lakers in 6

[DEEP3CL]

1st round only

Lakers in 4 (if focused) , 5 if we have a mental lapse.
Spurs in 5- Three point shooting team now, this could go the distance though.
Blazers in 6- They're the better defensive team period.
Nuggets in 6- Too many people here on RGM jocking OKC, they lack an inside scorer.


Bulls in 5- They'll coast in the 1st series, but problems will arise from there on out.
Celtics in 7- Only because New York will some how win a game in Boston.
Magic in 4- Hawks just don't have enough of the right stuff to get a game.
Heat in 4- Big 3 will toy with Sixers real quick.

[The Skyhook]

West
Spurs in 5
Lakers in 5
Portland in 6
OKC in 5

East
Bulls in 4
Mia in 4
Boston in 6
Orlando in 5

[Edrees]

I hope we don't sweep for selfish reasons... I need to sell game 5 tickets..

How much you selling those for?

My predictions

Spurs in 6
Lakers in 5
Blazers in 6
OKC in 6

Bulls in 5
Magic in 4
Celtics in 5
Heat in 7

[bruddahmanmatt]

I honestly think a lot of folks are sleeping on the Grizz. Memphis has been playing some pretty solid team basketball despite the absence of Rudy Gay, and not having Ginobili for game one is gonna hurt San Antonio big time if he isn't able to play.

[Gek]

I don't think Miami will win in 4... I'm feeling like they get tested early once the sixers start streaking.

[Jetset]

1st Round

Spurs in 6
Thunder in 5
Mavericks in 6
Lakers in 4

Bulls in 5
Magic in 5
Celtics in 6
Heat in 6

[Base]

From just a first round standpoint

San Antonio Spurs in 6
Oklahoma City Thunder in 5
Dallas Mavericks in 6
Los Angeles Lakers in 4

Chicago Bulls in 4
Orlando Magic in 6
Boston Celtics in 6
Miami Heat in 4

I am probably the most weary about the Dallas Vs. Portland Series. Either way, the series will finish in 6 games.

[Speedlot]

I had my gf fill out a bracket.. and she chose all higher seeds to win.. except lakers > spurs and celtics > miami and bulls in the end. She just did it by instinct and from watching me watch the games throughout the year. She didn't even know the seeds but manage to pick the favorite in all but Lal and Bos. What a pro!

Given that. I think Phili will upset Miami.

[bruddahmanmatt]

I honestly think a lot of folks are sleeping on the Grizz. Memphis has been playing some pretty solid team basketball despite the absence of Rudy Gay, and not having Ginobili for game one is gonna hurt San Antonio big time if he isn't able to play.

Like I said.

[LA Forever]

There goes my LA sweep prediction.