Due to the popularity of my NBA playoff blog last year, I have decided to entertain my public by doing another one for the 2008 playoffs. Of course last year my highlight entry was when the Golden State Warriors made NBA history by knocking out the # 1 seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 1st round. I would like to thank Charles Barkley for providing me with hilarious quotes and 
pictures to make the blog amazing. Im looking forward to Charles providing me with even more entertainment this year during his show on TNT. If anyone hasnt seen the pre-game/halftime/post-game studio show for games on TNT, then you are not smart individuals. It is by far the greatest basketball related show in the history of TV.
pictures to make the blog amazing. Im looking forward to Charles providing me with even more entertainment this year during his show on TNT. If anyone hasnt seen the pre-game/halftime/post-game studio show for games on TNT, then you are not smart individuals. It is by far the greatest basketball related show in the history of TV. Enough about TNT, time to start blogging about what could be the greatest NBA Playoffs we have ever seen (especially out West). Before I start on the preview and predictions, I want to list my feelings on who should win some of the major regular season awards...
MVP: Chris Paul
Coach of the Year: Byron Scott
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Durant
Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett
Sixth Man of the Year: Manu Ginobili
Note: This is who SHOULD win the awards, not who I think WILL win the awards, because the voters will be influenced by all the ESPN media bullshit talking about how Kobe Bryant is the easy MVP choice. Let me tell all you Kobe lovers something, where would the Lakers be had they not gotten Pau Gasol?? The answer is that they would be an average team who may not have even made the playoffs. Kobe Bryant is a great player but ESPN's reasoning is to give Kobe the MVP because he has never won it yet. That is ludicrous! Its not a lifetime achievement award people, I only care about who is the most valuable THIS YEAR... and that man is Chris Paul.
Now that Im done bashing ESPN its finally time to get to the preview/predictions for the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. I will start with the Eastern Conference...
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF MATCHUPS:
# 1 Boston Celtics vs # 8 Atlanta Hawks
"If we make the playoffs this year, I will shave my head."
Either Mike Woodson didnt think the Hawks would make the playoffs, or he just wanted an excuse to shave his head without having to worry about his wife divorcing him. Nonetheless that was the guarantee that the Hawks coach gave his team prior to the season this year and I give him props for keeping his word as he will be on the sidelines with his dome shinning. Unfortunately this will be the only thing shinning for Atlanta in this series. The Celtics destroyed the NBA this year racking up only 16 losses in 82 games: there is no way they will lose 4 out of 7 here. Actually they probably wont even lose 1 game. Not much else to say here, I see the Celtics winning every game by double digits.PREDICTION: Boston Celtics win series 4-0
# 2 Detroit Pistons vs # 7 Philadelphia 76ers
First the first time since this team has been together, the Pistons were locked into there seed about 3 weeks before the playoffs started. This allowed Flip Saunders to rest his starters for most of the end of the season. I think all 5 of the starters are angry about getting embarrassed last year by Lebron James and will have a much better game plan this year if they happen to run into him again. As for facing the 76ers, I think both Andre's (Miller and Iguodala) are good enough to get hot and pull out 1 game in Philly, but other than that I see 3-4 blowouts and even more rest for Detroit as they cruise past Philly.
PREDICTION: Detroit Pistons win series 4-1
# 3 Orlando Magic vs # 6 Toronto Raptors
Lets face it, the most underrated team in the NBA this year has been the Orlando Magic. I mean has any other team had a more quiet run to 50+ wins ever? They have a ton of young talent and a slam dunking superstar in Dwight Howard. Toronto counters with playoff experience from last year and another big man superstar, Chris Bosh. The matchup of Bosh v. Howard could be one of the best matchups in the 1st round this year. Neither team is loaded with experience here so I dont think it will matter as much, in the end I think home court advantage and better talent will prevail.
PREDICTION: Orlando Magic win series 4-1
# 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs # 5 Washington Wizards
Obviously this is the series I am most looking forward to watching, blogging, and screaming about. I am extremely pissed off about this matchup because for the 3rd straight year my two favorite players in professional sports, Gilbert Arenas and Lebron James, will be facing off in the 1st round. In turn I will also have to watch one of them exit the playoffs in the opening round yet again. My loyalties of course are with the Cavs here, but if they have to lose a few games in the series I wouldnt mind them coming via Agent Zero buzzer-beaters.
Two years ago these teams put on one of the greatest series in NBA history with the Cavs ultimately prevailing thanks to Lebron making Arenas miss free throws, and a Damon Jones 3-pt shot from the corner. Last year the series was a drag with the Cavs winning in a sweep (mainly due to Butler and Arenas being injured).
This year the Wizards are determined to finally beat the Cavs in the playoffs. DeShawn Stevenson... yes I said Deshawn Stevenson.... is running his mouth about Lebron being overrated, and telling coach Eddie Jordan that he wants to guard Lebron because he can easily shut him down. Gilbert Arenas has been blogging for the last two weeks about how he loves that they are playing Cleveland because its the easiest way into the 2nd round. I personally find this hilarious trash talk and think it has hyped up the series tremendously, which is exactly what the Eastern Conference especially needed.
Charles Barkley put his input into this series recently and called the Wizards "the dumbest team in the history of civilization" for trash talking Lebron James. If Charles Barkley has a high interest in this series, then I cant wait for Games 2 and 3 when they play on TNT.
We have no idea how healthy Arenas is this year, and quite frankly we have no idea how the Cavs are going to gel in the playoffs. So many questions lead to a tough series to predict, I dont think there is any possible way this series doesnt go the distance.
I think the bigger question here is which jersey should i wear for these games... id like to form a trivia question here and hope for reader feedback
Which jersey should I wear for the Wizards-Cavs series?
A. Lebron James
B. Gilbert Arenas
C. Alternate each game
D. Both at the same time
-please IM me with your opinions, thank you.
PREDICTION: Washington Wizards win series 4-3
Note: If this happens the Wizards won 3 out of 4 against the Celtics in the regular season, and seem to present difficult matchups for them, much like Golden State presented to the Mavs last season.... just saying. Maybe.
However, GO CAVS!
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF MATCHUPS:
# 1 LA Lakers vs # 8 Denver Nuggets
Okay, we all know the Nuggets are definitely not a true 8 seed. They won 50 games this year and really throw a ton of fire power at the Lakers. They can easily make this a series with Carmello and A.I. However, their extreme lack of defense will prevent them from winning a playoff series. If Andrew Bynum comes back healthy then I dont think anyone can stop the Lakers from rolling through the West.PREDICTION: LA Lakers win series 4-2
# 2 New Orleans Hornets vs # 7 Dallas Mavericks
I dont want to hear about the lack of postseason experience here from the Hornets. They have the MVP Chris Paul on there team and probably the most improved player in the league, David West. Tyson Chandler presents some problems underneath for the Mavericks who seem to never have a big man to help them out in the playoffs. This year they do have Jason Kidd. His knowledge of how to win playoff games mixed with Dirk Nowitski's talent is dangerous, but I believe Don Nelson makes a surprise appearance in New Orleans for Game 7 of this series, and in turn Avery Johnson forgets how to coach and Dirk forgets how to shoot.PREDICTION: New Orleans Hornets win series 4-3
# 3 San Antonio Spurs vs # 6 Phoenix Suns
Is this really a 1st round matchup? Wow. Thats all I can say... Wow. Its a 50/50 chance that Robert Horry gets activated from his injury for this series... if he doesnt I think Steve Nash is safe from another hip-check into the press table. Steve Kerr is going to get the last laugh here because Shaq is going to play key roles in a few games to push Phoenix over the hump this year. Yea I said it, the defending champs will go home in the 1st round.
PREDICTION: Phoenix Suns win series 4-3
# 4 Utah Jazz vs # 5 Houston Rockets
Due to a good NBA rule it will be the lower seed with home court advantage in this series. The Rockets actually have a better record than the Jazz, but the Jazz won there division so they get the higher seed but not home court advantage. With the Jazz going 37-4 at home this year it could play a huge factor. The only team I can see them playing and winning without home court advantage is the Houston Rockets for one reason... T-MAC. McGrady will have yet another chance to get out of the first round, but the Yao Ming loss will catch up to them here. Not too mention Deron Williams will pick up right where he left off last postseason and the Jazz will overcome not having home court here.
PREDICTION: Utah Jazz win series 4-2
Thats all for this edition of Po's playoff blog. The blog will be updated every few days for the next 2 months, because thats how long the playoffs last nowadays.
GO CAVS
GO GILBERT
GO DERON
GO BARKLEY
BASIC KNOWLEDGE.........
