let the Playoffs begin!

[chriz]

NBA PLAYOFFS
West:
MINNESOTA (1) vs. DENVER (8)
L.A. LAKERS (2) vs. HOUSTON (7)
SAN ANTONIO (3) vs. MEMPHIS (6)
SACRAMENTO (4) vs. DALLAS (5)

East:
INDIANA (1) vs. BOSTON (8)
NEW JERSEY (2) vs. NEW YORK (7)
DETROIT (3) vs. MILWAUKEE (6)
MIAMI (4) vs. NEW ORLEANS (5)


Predictions:
San-Antonio will meet Minnesota in the West Conference Final
San Antonio will win that, then beat whoever comes out of the East(indiana or nets, maybe detroit). east sucks as usual.

lakers, dallas, sacremento will all lose because they have no defence.

Winners: Spurs
MVP: Kevin Garnett
Rookie - Lebron James (close decision over carmello anthony)

[RaveN]

My predictions;

First round:
West: Wolves in 5 games, Kings in 7, Spurs in 5 & Lakers in 6
East: Pacers in 5, Nets in 6, Pistons in 5 and Hornets in 7

Conference semis:
West: Wolves in 6, Lakers in 7
East: Nets in 7, Pistons in 6

Conference finals:
West: Lakers in 6
East: Nets in 7

Finals:
Lakers in 6

I'd like to see the Nets go to the finals again, but with Kidd and Kmart not at 100%, that might be difficult (all my Nets predictions are based around them being healthy).

The Lakers lost Karl Malone this morning through a sprained ankle, expect him to be back in for game 2 or 3 of he first round, I'd expect him to be a key player in the Houston series while Shaw and Yao go at it - given Houston didn't resign Charles Oakley after his first 10-day contract, the rockets lack big forwards with playoff experience.

Whilst the Wolves look good in the reg season, they've been knocked out of the first out the last 7 years straight, Garnett has very little playoff experience past the first round, Cassell and Sprewell should back him nicely in the playoffs - they've got a chance to get to the west finals, but I'm not sure they've got what it takes to beat a team with 4 stars, which all know what the playoffs are about.

Pistons seem a little shakey to me, they do well but not like some of the other teams in the league. They should get through to the east finals, but if Kidd and Kmart are healthy, I'd expect the Net's to take them. Look for the Wallace's (Ben and Rasheed) to fire up in the playoffs.

I've overlooked the Pacers, which I know I'll regret at some point - but I’m not confident they can take it past the Nets. The Hornets did well during the regular season but I think will fall quickly in the playoffs.

Kings should overcome the mav's, but I think the tension surrounding Webber will come out in the playoffs.

Memphis and Denver will use this as experience and they're mad if they think they're going through to the second round, same with the bucks, celtic and heat - I think they're already starting to plan their extended vacations.


Individual awards:

MVP: Garnett
Rookie of the Year: You know it'll be LeBron, simply due to the hype - If it was based on overall game performance and how much a single rookie has improved his team, I think Mello' Anthony should get this one (He's also finished ahead of James in almost every statistical category out of this years rookies), don't get me wrong, I think James is great and will only get better, but mello's had a better overall season.
6th Man: Haven't paid much attention to the 6th man award, but either Al Harrington or Bobby Jackson
Most improved: Andrei Kirilenko
Best Defensive: Ben Wallace

1st pick in the draft; Emeka Okafor out of UConn.