Backdoor Cut: Full NBA Playoffs Preview

Music to listen to: Triad by Tool

Screw this.  Some of these first round series are sorry and don’t deserve their own posts.  Here are my overall predictions:

East First Round:

Chicago over Indiana in five

Miami over Philadelphia in five

Boston over New York in six

Orlando over Atlanta in seven

Thoughts:  Chicago and Miami should win their series relatively easy and work out any lingering rotation issues to prepare for the rest of the playoffs.  The Celtics have struggled in the second half of the regular season, especially after the trade of Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City but until the Knicks learn to play consistent defense, Boston will be the better overall team.  Plus, the point guard matchup is heavily in favor of Boston because Rajon Rondo should have a field day against Chauncey Billups.  Finally, Atlanta has fared better than Orlando in the regular season but when the playoffs come around, the Magic will ride Dwight Howard to a tough series win because the Hawks STILL have no answer for him.

West First Round:

San Antonio over Memphis in six

Los Angeles over New Orleans in five

Portland over Dallas in seven

Oklahoma City over Denver in five

Thoughts: The Spurs will struggle with the Grizzlies more than the experts thing because Memphis plays hard defense and Zach Randolph can average 20-15 in this series.  However, San Antonio will advance.  The Lakers will make quick work of the Hornets but Chris Paul may win a game by himself.  I’ve flipped back and forth between Portland and Dallas but ultimately, I don’t think Dirk Nowitzki will be enough to compensate for the flaws of the Mavs.  Dirk is the best player in the series but the next three best players are Portland players.  The Thunder are ready to make a major run.

East Semifinals:

Chicago over Orlando in six

Miami over Boston in seven

Thoughts:  The outside shot will fail the Magic in this series and the Bulls are too deep for Orlando.  If you asked me who would have won between Miami and Boston two months ago, it would have been the Celtics in a walk.  However, the Celtics traded away their biggest strength against Miami, size, and that will burn Boston in the end.

West Semifinals:

Oklahoma City over San Antonio in six

Los Angeles over Portland in seven

Thoughts: The Spurs have over-achieved all year and we see the ceiling come down against a young and hungry OKC team.  Portland always gives the Lakers trouble and this year will be no exception.  However, Los Angeles has too much talent and will survive and advance.

East Finals:

Chicago over Miami in seven

Thoughts: While I think LeBron James can average close to a triple-double and Dwayne Wade can get close to 30 points per game in this series, the point guard advantage that Chicago has is substantial.  Furthermore, the Bulls’ bench is so much better than the Heat.

West Finals:

Los Angeles over Oklahoma City in seven

Thoughts: I REALLY want to take OKC and honestly, I should, but the Lakers have one good series left in them and returns to the NBA Finals.

NBA Finals:

Chicago over Los Angeles in six

Thoughts:  Whenever the Lakers face a team that plays better defense than them, they usually lose.  I can say that the biggest flaw of the Bulls, the lack of a good shooting guard, can come back to haunt them if Kobe Bryant goes off but I don’t think that he will have the energy to do it once again.

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?