2008 NBA Playoffs

[Scott M]

The playoffs start on Saturday, and while I know most who frequent this board don't care much for the NBA, it has been a fantastic season (except for Timberwolves fans).

The Lakers showed that a trade could take you from a playoffs also-ran to the #1 seed.

One draft can also change a franchise. In 04-05 the Hornet had the worst record in the league and their city was destroyed. They drafted Chris Paul and in 3 years through 2 mediocre records are now the #2 seed.

The Houston Rockets leading scorer and rebounder Yao Ming was lost for the season and then the team went on a record 22 game win streak, 3rd most in NBA history. They are a #5 seed. A remarkable run.

The West was tough with the 1-9 teams separated by only 8 games. It was a log jam. The old reliable Spurs are still poised to make their run. Utah was resilient in winning the Northwest division. Trades were the highlight of this year with Jason Kidd and Shaq coming back to the Western conference to try and boost the Mavs and Suns to the Finals.

In the East the records aren't as good but a few teams will make a run at a championship. In his fourth year Dwight Howard is a manchild. Watch for his Magic to make some noise. Washington just got Gilbert Arenas back from injury...He had been gone since the second week of deer season! Cleveland will try to get back to the Finals and LeBron James will try once again to take over. The Pistons will once again challenge all takers. And the new look Celtics will find out if their regular season winning ways translate into the postseason.

***********************

My bets for the Eastern Conference Finals are Magic versus Celtics, with the Celtics winning in 6.

Out west I will say Phoenix versus Lakers, with the Lakers winning in 7.

In the Finals Boston beats the Lakers in 7 games.

None of it is likely as competitive as this year has been and with anything possible, but who knows. It's wide open so anybody could win it. I'll cheer for KG and see where it takes me.

[Flaco651]

I'll go with Celtics over the Spurs in 6.

GO CELTICS!

[maros91]

In the East I will go with Detroit over Boston

In the West I will go with New Orleans over Utah

Finals: Hornets over Pistons

Chris Paul will win Regular season MVP and Finals MVP.

[tisosy11]

They start on Sunday and end in September?

[EBass]

Go Boston! I'm sick of the Spurs.

[mnwild]

Anyone catch the Hawks-Celtics game last night?? What a 4th quarter that was for the Hawks, Johnson was a beast with 20 in the 4th 35 overall and Smith had 28 with 7 blocks. It's now the best of 3 series it would be really nice to see the Hawks take down the Celtics but I dont see that happening. Reason I don't want to see the Celtics advance is Sam Cassell.

[Sandmannd]

Yea, that was insane. Can't believe the Celtics let that one slip.

[Scott M]

The Celts should have sent a message and got the sweep. The Lakers had no trouble with the Nuggets. I mean, the Hawks are a below .500 team that backed into the playoffs. Don't even give the team a chance.

Should be some more good games tonight.

[ozzie]

the Hawks have some talent in Bibby-Johnson-Smith-Horford.....saw KG try to score in the 4th quarter and thought who is this guy???? Then he got blocked and missed a few right by the basket!!

[mnwild]

Let just say Hawks beat them the next 2 games and advance to the next round, would that be the biggest upset in sports history or is there something that already happened that is considered the biggest upset??

[IFallsRon]

Cuban will be putting out the help wanted sign tonight after the Mavs get run.

[mnwild]

I hope N.O puts them away tonight, I cannot stand Cuban 1 bit.

Just think if they get beat tonight the trade they made for Kidd was worthless.

[mnwild]

I loved the look on Cuban's face last night with about 2 minutes left in the 4th, he knew he was going to lose the game another one and done for the Mavs I love it.

Chris Paul was a monster last night, 24-15-11. Its going to be fun watching him go against Parker.

I say N.O in 7 games.

[mnwild]

And to top it off for Dallas they fired Avery Johnson today.

[tisosy11]

Obviously its not how Cuban runs his team...it has to be the coach right!

D'antoni will be right behind him!

[Scott M]

Wow, Celtics and Hawks are going to game 7 in Boston. Hopefully what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[Scott M]

Round 2 started despite there still being one series left in round one. Detroit beat Orlando in game one and New Orleans is leading San Antonio late in the third in the other game.

[montanagriz]

I guarantee Boston wins tomorrow. If it's close look for Boston to get every call. The NBA will lose millions if the Celts go out in the first round. Perfect scenario for the league though, the 7 game series was entertaining, brought some life back to an otherwise dead Atlanta franchise. They are a good young team and ticket sales will be up next year as a result of their good showing. Starting to wish I would have predicted a Celtics-Lakers finals. That would be the NBA's dream scenario. My final 4 is Lakers-Spurs and Celtics-Pistons. Should be some exciting games tomorrow.

[lookincalifornia]

i hope kg and the celts can take that huge game 7 momentum into there series against the lebrons

[tisosy11]

Boston V NO! Hopefully its good for the league, NBA needs all the help they can get!

[Scott M]

The Spurs are in trouble with New Orleans. If early games are any indications it will be Hornets/Lakers and Pistons/Celtics

[mnwild]

in 2 games the Spurs looked aweful, they have a tough task ahead of them. If I remember right the last time they were down 2-0 it was against the Lakers some years back and they were swept, do we see this happening again...

[Fishing_High]

NO is sick and Chris Paul should have been the MVP in my opinion man do they look good this year.

[Scott M]

The C's sure play good defense at home! 2-0 lead over LeBron and company. Nip and tuck game in San Antonio right now...

[lookincalifornia]

now, boston needs to shut down the city and have every fan travel to cleveland.(i find these days i cant say the word cleveland without thinking of 'family guy'. 'hello peter')

watching david west reminded me of beasly, only with less range. paul is unreal, i just keep waiting for the clock to strike midnight for the hornets. they don't have the depth of the spurs. if they are gonna close out it needs to be quickly.