Saturday, April 22, 2006
Mega Fantasmic NBA Playoff Surprise
Enough of all that hockey stuff... time to talk some hoops.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Milwaukee
I'm not as sold on the Pistons cruising to a Championship as some people I know... but I'm on board with them cruising through this series.
Shape it up - If Milwaukee wins a game here, it's because Detroit wanted another home game.
Series MVP - Rip Hamilton... beware the mask.
Series Goat - Jamaal Magloire... maybe they'll run him out of town and into Toronto?
Detroit 4-0.
(2) Miami vs. (7) Chicago
Is Shaq finally running out of gas, or was he just waiting for these next two months?
Shape it up - The Bulls keep it tight, doing what they do best (holding opponents to poor shooting)... but eventually the Diesel shines through
Series MVP - Shaq, until proven otherwise (sorry Flash)
Series Goat - Othella Harrington... just because.
Miami 4-3.
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) Indiana
Another 3-seed from Jersey... while the Devils get a team that overachieved, the Nets draw a team that never developed into what should've been a perennial conference powerhouse.
Shape it up - The Nets have been uber-hot, but I hate Vince Carter... the Pacers need to dominate on the glass, and hope the Nets evil-twin shows up 4 times.
Series MVP - Jermaine O'Neal, needs to take this team on his back this time.
Series Goat - Vince Carter... because I hate Vince Carter.
Indiana 4-3.
(4) Cleveland vs. (5) Washington
The King makes his first appearance, and I'm backing him to do great things.
Shape it up - Both teams are good at home, but having Hughes in the lineup will help the Cavs get revenge for losing the season series.
Series MVP - King James. Lookout.
Series Goat - Antonio Daniels... I'm gonna pick on former Grizzlies today.
Cleveland 4-3.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) San Antonio vs. (8) Sacramento
This would've been a walk for the Spurs without the trade for Artest, and it probably still will be despite it. Though, I wonder how much Dunc-a-Dunc can do... luckily the Spurs shouldn't need much here.
Shape it up - The Kings will keep the games close, but they can't compete with the toughness of the Spurs in the endgame.
Series MVP - Tony Parker... emerges from a battle with Bibby as an even bigger star.
Series Goat - Ron Ron... it's so easy to see him doing something stupid in a tight game.
San Antonio 4-1.
(2) Phoenix vs. (7) LA Lakers
THE series that I'm excited for. Mamba and Nash. 120-point games. Phil looking Zen-like. It's faaaan-tastic!
Shape it up - The Suns probably win this series unless Kobe averages 50... the scary thing is he just might, but I think the Lakers are just too weak.
Series MVP - Boris Diaw. Everyone knows the stars, they'll cancel each other out. The Hawks didn't even want this guy... that must be worth something!
Series Goat - Kwame Brown. He's looked better lately, but I see him reverting to his "big bust" form in this series.
Phoenix 4-3.
(3) Denver vs. (6) LA Clippers
The real reason I wanted the Lakers to get past Stevie Nash and co. was because I wanted to see them match up with the Clips in the second round. It's pretty screwy when the 6-seed gets homecourt, but welcome to the 2006 playoffs.
Shape it up - Denver is an interesting team, but the Clips have got it together this year, they'll win Game 4 in Denver and take it at home.
Series MVP - Sam "The Man" Cassell... he'll will them to a series win... and he'll still look like Alien.
Series Goat - Kenyon Martin... the pouty face wars between him and Vince Carter will be a sight to behold this postseason.
Clippers 4-1.
(4) Dallas vs. (5) Memphis
Congratulations Memphis, that big win against the Clips netted you a first-round sweep. Tough breaks for the Tennessee teams.
Shape it up - Dallas is very, very good. Memphis is good, but everything they do, Dallas does better.
Series MVP - Mark Cuban. His towel waving will shift the momentum of this series.
Series Goat - Memphis' season-ending 5-game winning streak. Whoops.
Dallas 4-0.
Enjoy the games everybody!
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Milwaukee
I'm not as sold on the Pistons cruising to a Championship as some people I know... but I'm on board with them cruising through this series.
Shape it up - If Milwaukee wins a game here, it's because Detroit wanted another home game.
Series MVP - Rip Hamilton... beware the mask.
Series Goat - Jamaal Magloire... maybe they'll run him out of town and into Toronto?
Detroit 4-0.
(2) Miami vs. (7) Chicago
Is Shaq finally running out of gas, or was he just waiting for these next two months?
Shape it up - The Bulls keep it tight, doing what they do best (holding opponents to poor shooting)... but eventually the Diesel shines through
Series MVP - Shaq, until proven otherwise (sorry Flash)
Series Goat - Othella Harrington... just because.
Miami 4-3.
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) Indiana
Another 3-seed from Jersey... while the Devils get a team that overachieved, the Nets draw a team that never developed into what should've been a perennial conference powerhouse.
Shape it up - The Nets have been uber-hot, but I hate Vince Carter... the Pacers need to dominate on the glass, and hope the Nets evil-twin shows up 4 times.
Series MVP - Jermaine O'Neal, needs to take this team on his back this time.
Series Goat - Vince Carter... because I hate Vince Carter.
Indiana 4-3.
(4) Cleveland vs. (5) Washington
The King makes his first appearance, and I'm backing him to do great things.
Shape it up - Both teams are good at home, but having Hughes in the lineup will help the Cavs get revenge for losing the season series.
Series MVP - King James. Lookout.
Series Goat - Antonio Daniels... I'm gonna pick on former Grizzlies today.
Cleveland 4-3.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) San Antonio vs. (8) Sacramento
This would've been a walk for the Spurs without the trade for Artest, and it probably still will be despite it. Though, I wonder how much Dunc-a-Dunc can do... luckily the Spurs shouldn't need much here.
Shape it up - The Kings will keep the games close, but they can't compete with the toughness of the Spurs in the endgame.
Series MVP - Tony Parker... emerges from a battle with Bibby as an even bigger star.
Series Goat - Ron Ron... it's so easy to see him doing something stupid in a tight game.
San Antonio 4-1.
(2) Phoenix vs. (7) LA Lakers
THE series that I'm excited for. Mamba and Nash. 120-point games. Phil looking Zen-like. It's faaaan-tastic!
Shape it up - The Suns probably win this series unless Kobe averages 50... the scary thing is he just might, but I think the Lakers are just too weak.
Series MVP - Boris Diaw. Everyone knows the stars, they'll cancel each other out. The Hawks didn't even want this guy... that must be worth something!
Series Goat - Kwame Brown. He's looked better lately, but I see him reverting to his "big bust" form in this series.
Phoenix 4-3.
(3) Denver vs. (6) LA Clippers
The real reason I wanted the Lakers to get past Stevie Nash and co. was because I wanted to see them match up with the Clips in the second round. It's pretty screwy when the 6-seed gets homecourt, but welcome to the 2006 playoffs.
Shape it up - Denver is an interesting team, but the Clips have got it together this year, they'll win Game 4 in Denver and take it at home.
Series MVP - Sam "The Man" Cassell... he'll will them to a series win... and he'll still look like Alien.
Series Goat - Kenyon Martin... the pouty face wars between him and Vince Carter will be a sight to behold this postseason.
Clippers 4-1.
(4) Dallas vs. (5) Memphis
Congratulations Memphis, that big win against the Clips netted you a first-round sweep. Tough breaks for the Tennessee teams.
Shape it up - Dallas is very, very good. Memphis is good, but everything they do, Dallas does better.
Series MVP - Mark Cuban. His towel waving will shift the momentum of this series.
Series Goat - Memphis' season-ending 5-game winning streak. Whoops.
Dallas 4-0.
Enjoy the games everybody!
