The Playoff Discussion Thread

[Nolan]

I thought i'd make a thread for us to discuss all the other playoff series in the NBA. Here's the brackets for the east and west:

Eastern Conference

(1) Chicago 62-20 vs. (8) Indiana (37-45)

Game 1 - Sat April 16, Indiana at Chicago, 1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN3D
Game 2 - Mon April 18, Indiana at Chicago, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21, Chicago at Indiana, 7:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Game 4 - Sat April 23, Chicago at Indiana, 2:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26, Indiana at Chicago, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28, Chicago at Indiana, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30, Indiana at Chicago, TBD, TNT

(2) Miami (58-24) vs. (7) Philadelphia (41-41)

Game 1 - Sat April 16, Philadelphia at Miami, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/R
Game 2 - Mon April 18, Philadelphia at Miami, 7:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21, Miami at Philadelphia, 8:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4 - Sun April 24, Miami at Philadelphia, 1:00 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 5 * Wed April 27, Philadelphia at Miami, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, Miami at Philadelphia, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, Philadelphia at Miami, TBD, TBD

(3) Boston (56-26) vs. (6) New York (42-40)

Game 1 - Sun April 17, New York at Boston, 7:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 - Tue April 19, New York at Boston, 7:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 22, Boston at New York, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 24, Boston at New York, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/R
Game 5 * Tue April 26, New York at Boston, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, Boston at New York, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, New York at Boston, TBD, TBD

(4) Orlando (52-30) vs. (5) Atlanta (44-38)

Game 1 - Sat April 16, Atlanta at Orlando, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 19, Atlanta at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Game 3 - Fri April 22, Orlando at Atlanta, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN3D
Game 4 - Sun April 24, Orlando at Atlanta, 7:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26, Atlanta at Orlando, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28, Orlando at Atlanta, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30, Atlanta at Orlando, TBD, TNT


Western Conference

(1) San Antonio (61-21) vs. (8) Memphis (46-36)

Game 1 - Sun April 17, Memphis at San Antonio, 1:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 20, Memphis at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Game 3 - Sat April 23, San Antonio at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 - Mon April 25, San Antonio at Memphis, TBD, TBD
Game 5 * Wed April 27, Memphis at San Antonio, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, San Antonio at Memphis, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, Memphis at San Antonio, TBD, TBD

(2) L.A. Lakers (57-25) vs. (7) New Orleans (46-36)

Game 1 - Sun April 17, New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/R
Game 2 - Wed April 20, New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 22, L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 24, L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26, New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28, L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30, New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TNT

(3) Dallas (57-25) vs. (6) Portland (48-34)

Game 1 - Sat April 16, Portland at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 19, Portland at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21, Dallas at Portland, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4 - Sat April 23, Dallas at Portland, 5:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Mon April 25, Portland at Dallas, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28, Dallas at Portland, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30, Portland at Dallas, TBD, TNT

(4) Oklahoma City (55-27) vs. (5) Denver (50-32)

Game 1 - Sun April 17, Denver at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 20, Denver at Oklahoma City, 8:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 23, Oklahoma City at Denver, 10:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/R
Game 4 - Mon April 25, Oklahoma City at Denver, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 * Wed April 27, Denver at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29, Oklahoma City at Denver, TBD, TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1, Denver at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD

Predictions?

[Donald Kaufman]

This looks to be an epic playoffs. Can't wait.

Predictions:

Bulls over Pacers in 5

Heat over 76ers in 6

Celts over Knicks in 6

Magic over Hawks in 5

Spurs over Grizzlies in 5

Lakers sweep Hornets

Blazers over Mavs in 6

Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Am particularly looking forward to the NY-Bos series in the east, and the Por-Dall/OKC-Den series in the west. If I don't get to see any of the Atl-Orl/Chi-Ind series or LA-NOH series I won't lose any sleep.

[spursforever]

Bulls over Pacers in 4

Miami over Philly in 6

New York over Boston in 7

Orlando over Atlanta in 6


Spurs over Grizzlies in 5

Lakers over Hornets in 4

Dallas over Portland in 6

OKC over Denver in 6

[co_laper]

Yeah I think the games that are fun to see are the ones that might be able to upset.

That means, Dallas vs Portland. OKC vs Denver. Boston vs New York.

To be honest, there seems to always be one upset every year in the first round. Somehow, I'm thinking New York. Don't have a reason. Just some sort of gut feeling.

[Nolan]

Here's my predictions:

Bulls over Pacers in 4

Philly over Miami in 7

New York over Boston in 7

Orlando over Atlanta in 5

Spurs over Grizzlies in 4

Portland over Dallas in 6

Thunder over Denver in 7

There's a ton of great first round series this year.

Lakers over Hornets in 4

[rocopc]

Bulls 4-0
Heat 4-1
Celtics 4-2
Magic 4-3

Spurs 4-2
Mavs 4-3
Lakers 4-0
Thunder 4-2

[Donald Kaufman]

Philly over Miami in 7

New York over Boston in 7

Bold predictions. I can see Philly and NY giving their respective opponents trouble, anything can happen.

[Nolan]

^
I love the way Philly plays and I really think their style is suited for the playoffs. And with Boston's struggling defense and all of New Yorks scorer's that series could get interesting.

[Blame Rasho]

Prediction...

Bulls 4-0
Heat 4-1
Celtics 4-1
Magic 4-3
Spurs 4-2
Mavs 4-3
Lakers 4-0
Thunder 4-2

A part of me really wants the Mavs to lose... esp to that jackass Terry.

[Nolan]

Indy is playing great against the Bulls right now. They're playing with a ton of energy and just outworking the Bulls on both ends.

[Nolan]

Epic collapse by the Pacer's. Hansbrough played the game of his life but Rose just took over in those last couple minutes.

[spursforever]

The Hawks are playing with fire. I said Orlando in 6 before the series started but when I made that prediction I also thought that I wouldn't be surprised if Atlanta won. Joe Johnson is actually playing like a franchise player. Before he's had some real bad stinkers in his last few postseason runs but today he's playing like someone who wants to really win. I think Atlanta is motivated by their embarrassing loss to the Magic last playoffs and what Jameer Nelson said to Rose, how he would see him in round 2. Hubie Brown said during the game that Josh Smith made a note of that and that would give them even more motivation to avenge their loss. Dwight Howard's playing like a beast but Orlando needs more production from their other guys. Atlanta is winning through a balanced attack whereas Orlando is really just getting points from Howard. Very interesting game tho.

[co_laper]

That Pacers-Bulls game was awesome. That was the game for Indiana to take and they didn't. I can't see them playing anywhere near as well as game 1. Didn't get to watch the other games. I fell asleep.

Tyler Hansbrough was awesome!!! He won me today. Joakim Noah is a beast thou. I love his hustle. The guy is all out energy. I haven't seen much of Danny Granger. Probably like 4 times in the last 4 years. However, I really don't see how he's THAT good.. Luol Deng is a good defender, but I see nothing but LONG jumpers from Granger. He can shoot. I'll give him that, but he's not much of a dribbler... and despite his size, he didn't post up one time. he's not quick either or overly athletic. He hit huge baskets today especially in the 3rd quarter, but I just can't see how a team with him as a first option is any good. He looks more like a 3rd option scorer for me.

[spursforever]

Lmao the Lakers are on verge of losing to the Hornets in game 1! What a joke! Unfortunately I couldn't watch the Spurs game today (I blame my diabetes) but Ginobili didn't play today. What's the Lakers excuse? Now I understand the Spurs and Lakers could both win their series in 5 but I predicted the Lakers to sweep the Hornets, now the best they can do is 5 which is the same amount of rest as the Spurs if they win in 5!

[Donald Kaufman]

Epic collapse by the Lakers almost makes up for the Spurs losing to the Grizz.

[spursforever]

Hey the Spurs have lost game 1 in the first round to the Mavs last year, Nuggets in '07, Nuggets in '05, and Suns in '03 and we all know how that went. If the Grizz win another game then I'll be worried but until then it's not out of the question that the Spurs win 4 straight against Memphis like they did against the Nuggets.

[Donald Kaufman]

OKC-Denver has all the makings of a classic series so far. Nice to see Durant break the shackles and have a good playoff game. Not having Artest chase you around the perimeter can do wonders for your production. Westbrook was great in G1 but I'm not entirely sold on him just yet. He makes some boneheaded plays at times. The Green trade has really opened things up for them -- Harden has improved a ton and Ibaka is thriving at the starting 4. And of course they get Perk up front, he's exactly what they needed.

NYK-Bos is shaping up to be fun as well. That was a moving screen by KG though, really surprised he got away with that.

Really surprised the Lakers went down to the Hornets. Anything can happen in the playoffs I guess. I'm assuming this will be the only win the Hornets get the rest of the way though.

Indy is playing the Bulls real tough in both games so far. It might get interesting when the series shifts back to Conseco Fieldhouse (if it is still called that -- not sure and too lazy to check).

[Nolan]

Another big clutch play from the Celtics to beat the Knicks. Rivers has just out coached D'Antoni through 2 games so far and thats been the difference in that series.

[Donald Kaufman]

D'Antoni's not exactly tough to out coach...can't believe Melo got 42-17-6 -- that's epic.

[rocopc]

Melo was a beast yesterday, unstopable, amazing to watch.