RealGM

Here are the playoff matchups of 2009


Western Conference Matchups

Los Angeles Lakers(1) vs. Utah Jazz(8)
Regular Season Series: Lakers won 2-1

Denver Nuggets(2) vs. New Orleans Hornets(7)
Regular Season Series: Tied 2-2

San Antonio Spurs(3) vs. Dallas Mavericks(6)
Regular Season Series: Tied 2-2

Houston Rockets(4) vs. Portland Trailblazers(5)
Regular Season Series: Rockets won 2-1


Eastern Conference Matchups

Cleveland Cavaliers(1) vs. Detroit Pistons(8)
Regular Season Series: Cavaliers won 3-1

Boston Celtics(2) vs. Chicago Bulls(7)
Regular Season Series: Celtics won 2-1

Orlando Magic(3) vs. Philadelphia 76ers(6)
Regular Season Series: Magic won 3-0

Atlanta Hawks(4) vs. Miami Heat(5)
Regular Season Series: Hawks won 3-1


Who do some of you have going all the way? Expect any upsets?

Lakers beat Jazz 4-1

Hornets beat Nuggets 4-3

Spurs beat Mavs 4-2

Blazers beat Rockets 4-2

Cavaliers beat Pistons 4-1

Celtics beat Bulls 4-2

Magic beat Sixers 4-1

Hawks beat Heat 4-2

The Celtics had a close one against the Bulls. Gordon looked absolutely unstoppable, making me question how anyone wanted Westbrook for ROY over him

I think the Bulls could really come out of that series. They looked good, and the Celtics aren't the same without KG. Pierce didn't have a particularly good game and Allen was even worse, but with their struggles on the road WITH KG last year, this might be the premature end of their title run.

The Lakers ran the Jazz out of the building in the 1st half and then let up a bit in the 2nd. I don't think the Jazz have a chance in that one. Here are my predictions:

Lakers over Jazz 4-0
Nuggets over Hornets 4-2
Spurs over Mavs 4-3 (I really want to pick the Spurs to lose, but I think they'll come out of it winning)
Rockets over Blazers 4-1
Cavs over Pistons 4-1
Bulls over Celtics 4-2
Magic over Sixers 4-0
Hawks over Heat 4-3

Unfortunately the Magic screwed up in the fourth and Philly capitalized with a big run in the fourth quarter. And the cap was won on a big shot by Andre Iguodala despite the defense of Hedo Turkoglu in that sequence.

I was surprised at just how dominant the Hawks were. They turned it up a notch or two... Always like Bibby and Johnson, I'm rooting for them now.

As for the Magic, I see them as the most vulnerable. I think the Bulls take the Celtics to seven, but the defending champs will win that series (and nothing more). I also hope the Blazers wake up... could that terrible first game be all based on experience? And what's T-Mac's future, while we're on the subject of the Rockets.

JJ is one of my favorite players, so it's nice to see the Hawks doing well.

I was pretty shocked that the sixers pulled it out against the magic (obviously, by my predictions)... Even if it did take a crazy come back and an amazing shot by iggy.

The Hawks have the advantage over the Heat in the match. From the young vets to the neccessary depth to overtake the Heat in the series. As for T-Mac's future with the Rox, I think he will remain a Rocket and his minutes need to be watch more carefully from here due to the injuries he's been enduring the past couple seasons.

Did anyone happen to catch tonight's Bulls/Celts game? This whole series has been awesome, but this game was one of the best I've seen in a LONG time at any level of basketball. It had just about everything you could ask for!

You know when a series has been great when the games have been played very tight throughout the whole time. Neither team allowing the score not to blow out of hand and stuff like that along with individual performances like Gordon vs. Allen or Rose vs. Rondo. Like last year's first round, the Celtics find themselves taken to the limit by a lower seed to determine who moves on and who goes home. With the game these two have played against each other, I wish the matchup could go beyond the seven games, but something's got to give.