NBA Playoffs Predictions: Round One

News Type: Opinion — Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:13 PM EDT

sports, nba, heat, kings, playoffs, lakers, spurs, cavaliers, wizards, mavericks, bulls, pistons, suns, nuggets, nets, pacers, clippers, bucks, grizzlies

Jordan Rivas

There is a limit to Kobe's greatness, trust me.
photo courtesy Vaguely Artistic, distributed under Creative Commons.

The NBA Playoffs are nearly upon us, so there is only one thing left to do - predict. But please, lets do it quickly.

Recently I was asked, in regards to the Detroit Pistons winning a league best 64 games, "what else do they have to do?" My reply:

Win 16 more.

It was a simple and uncomplicated answer. Truthfully, there are no complicated answers in the playoffs. The playoffs are over analyzed, yes, but "analysis" in the modern sense is a way to fill a half hour TV program with opinions that would take five minutes to divulge without commercials, annoying intro graphics, and the self absorbed analyst who unnecessarily expounds on every elementary observation on a game or series.

Seven game series. Win four. Times four.

Win 16 more.

That is the NBA playoffs in a nutshell. There is much to be said of atmosphere and dramatics, but such things are insubstantial and not fit for true analysis. If you want to know the playoffs "feel" then watch the games or attend in person. You don't need me or anyone else to tell you how somethings feels or how exciting it is.

"But who will when?" you ask.

Well dammit I don't know, but because you and the basketball loving world at large demand an answer to this question, I'll try my best to suffice. For your sake more than mine, I'll do so quickly.

San Antonio Spurs(1) vs. Sacramento Kings(8)

Winner: San Antonio
Why: Tim Duncan won't be stopped; Bibby won't get help offensively.

Dallas Mavericks(4) vs. Memphis Grizzlies(5)

Winner: Dallas
Why: The Clippers decided to "rest" their better players down the regular season stretch to avoid this matchup with the Mavs. Jason Terry goes bonkers on Bobby Jackson, Chucky Atkins, or anyone else they throw at him.

Denver Nuggets(3) vs. Los Angeles Clippers(6)

Winner: Los Angeles Clippers
Why: See above. Clippers have depth; Nuggets do not.

Phoenix Suns(2) vs. Los Angeles Lakers(7)

Winner: Phoenix
Why: Kobe Bryant is capable of scoring 100 points in a single game... but not 120.

Detroit Pistons(1) vs. Millwaukee Bucks(8)

Winner: Detroit
Why: Are you kidding me? They're the @!$%#ing Pistons.

Cleveland Cavaliers(4) vs. Washington Wizards(5)

Winner: Cleveland
Why: LeBron nearly averages a triple-double. Gilbert Arenas shoots his team out of the series.

New Jersey Nets(3) vs. Indiana Pacers(6)

Winner: New Jersey
Why: The Nets have peaked at the right time. No Ron Artest means Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, or both will go nuts.

Miami Heat(2) vs. Chicago Bulls(7)

Winner: Miami
Why: Shaq vs. Tyson Chandler. The end.

3 Votes
Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Published to:

Jordan Rivas's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: none
Regions: none

Public Discussion (3)

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

2.9

{"commentId":103257,"authorDomain":"prompt"}

prompt

As a Spurs fan, I was quite upset to see that they got matched up against the Kings. I know that they get the luck of playing the 8th placed team, but in this situation they got screwed. True, the Kings have only come close to winning the championship (as of late) but they still have the experience and talent to do a good job in the playoffs. No matter - the Spurs will be fine, they will just have more competition early on.

{"commentId":103257,"threadId":"24400","contentId":"172620","authorDomain":"prompt"}

1 vote

#1 - Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":103277,"authorDomain":"jordanrivas"}

Jordan Rivas

If the Spurs end up playing Dallas in the second round(they likely will), they'll end up with one of the toughest 1st/2nd round match-ups ever. The Kings and then the Mavs, that's a tough route for a number one seed.

{"commentId":103277,"threadId":"24400","contentId":"172620","authorDomain":"jordanrivas"}

3 votes

#1.1 - Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:54 PM EDT

{"commentId":104140,"authorDomain":"ballew74"}

Rob Ballew

I think the Pacers have a very good chance at beating the Nets it really all depends on what pacer team decides to come out and play.

{"commentId":104140,"threadId":"24400","contentId":"172620","authorDomain":"ballew74"}

1 vote

#2 - Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:47 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"24400","isPrivate":false}

JORDAN RIVAS

Backyard