When the NBA regular season came to an end and I saw the placing... all I could think was wow' there is going to be some great battles in both west and east. So with that said, please take a look at my humble first round predictions.



East Division

#1 Celtics vs. #8 Hawks
well, this may get ugly for the hawks but keep in mind it will be Bibby and Johnson against Young Rondo and Old Allen. I defiantly dont think the Hawks will win the series but I think the gaurd matchup may win them at least one game. Probable the most important think to look for is if the Celts start turning up a notch.

Celts win 4-1


#2 Pistons vs #7 Sixers
Though they split the season series the Piston are 8-2 in there last 10 were as the Sixers are 3-7. Its safe to assume the Sixers are stumbling into the playoffs. But do to the Pistons wealth of playoff exp. and the Sixers lake thereof got say this will be quick.

Pistons win 4-0


#3 Magic vs #6 Raptors

Probable the most intriguing matchup in the Eastern conference, but I think if Dwight Howard turns it on this may be a quick series because I dont think any of the Raptors can man up Howard w/o doubling him in which case they leave open Hedo and Rashard. Witht hat said I give it to the Magic mainly because of matchup difference and some questionable loss for the Raptors in the end of the season.

4-2 Magic Win


#4 Cav's vs. #5 Wizards
Im just going to lay it there, the Wizards are going win this series dont ask me how or why but I have a gut feeling about this... I feel Arenas may become the x-factor that the Wizards need that combine that Lebron is a one man show and cav success is directly related to Lebron have a monster game.

4-3 Wizards pull off the upset and win

2 round East matchups
Celtics vs. Wizards
Pistons vs. Magic

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West Coast

#1 Lakers vs. #8 Nuggets
Its hard to believe that the Nuggets won all 3 of the Regular Season... If the Nuggets get Kobe lock into a shoot off/ no defense series it could get ugly but, the Lakers have the big men to play a smart slow down game which will win them the series. Regardless I believe that the Lakers will win it just a matter of how many games will be played.

4-1(2) Lakers win the series

#2 Hornets vs. #7 Mav's

This may not be a good matchup for the Mavs as some would think... because the Hornets will more than likely dominate the offensive glass because the Mav's lack a real bruiser on the glass. If it comes down to shooting the Hornets will win because Peja will neutralize Dirk's offensive output and I feel that Chris Paul is the best playmaker (yes I do know j-kidd is on the Mav's now) in the playoffs let alone this series. Mav's have got to play a slower game to neutralize the speed and 3pt shooting of the Hornets.

4-2 Hornets win

#3 Spurs vs. #6 Suns

this will be a real grudge match, and to qoute John Donne "for whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee" and that ringing is for the Spurs who will get upset in this series because Shaq can neutralize Duncan in the post (yes I said it).
so dig your heels in because this will be a defensive slug fest.

4-3 Suns win

#4 Jazz vs. #5 Rockets

another gut feeling, Im going to give it to the Rockets for no other reason that I feel they will win. probable wrong again but then again I dont care.

4-3 Rockets win

2nd round matchups
Lakers vs Suns
Hornets vs. Rockets

5 reasons you can’t blame The Dallas Mavericks loosing to the Golden State Warriors

5.) Dirk Now-slightly above average-itzki

Averaging a mere 20 pts and 11.5 Dirk defiantly lost a step or two; a Perennial all-star and MVP candidate wasn’t what he was during this series. Great moments are born from great opportunity and when your star player does not take advantage of that opportunity and dominate, than your team is doomed for let down. When the light shine brightest the star is supposed to transcend there norms not play a disappearing act. He did have one moment of excellence in game five with 30 points and 12 Rebounds but, then he played a similar disappearing act in Game 6 with only 8 points and 10 Rebounds.

 

 

 

4.) Truffle shuffle of centers

Game 1-Nowitzki, Game 2-Dampier, Game 3-Dampier, Game-4/6 Diop,

With Nowitzki being a complete waste of talent at the center position and the fact that the Mav’s would be better off playing with only four players seeing how pitiful Diop and Dampier have been. In the Games Dampier started he had 5 fouls then 3, and had a cumulative 5 pts to show for nearly 31 minutes of play; and Diop slightly more productive with 16 fouls, 8 pts, and 88 cumulative minutes (not including Games 5&6)

 

 

 

3.) “You are still but a padawan, Avery!”-Don Nelson

True, Don Nelson was the architect of this Maverick team his nurturing turned Dirk Nowitzki into the star he is today; one can claim that because of this he best knew how to shut Dirk down and that thusly resulted in the Mav’s loosing. However, I believe because of Avery inability to motivate his team when he should of and because his mishandling and shuffle of Centers, Avery’s inexperience as a head coach really started to show. He allowed his team to play the Warrior’s game and let them control the tempo which resulted in there losses.

 

 

 

 

 

2.) Under Pressure

Shooting under .500 from the field and having a non existent arc game making only .381 may have a little to do with the pressure of the level of hype that surrounds the Mav’s. In that they were the most dominate team in the NBA during the regular season even making a run at Chicago Bull Legend status but falling short of a 72-10 season, they were supposed to dominate Golden State from the very beginning of the game to the very end with ease. Perhaps they took them too lightly or perhaps they were shellshock by the loss in Game 1 and could never regain the same composure they had during the regular season.

 

 

 

 

1.) Baron Davis is god!

He really is... I have proof… average of 25 pts, 4.75 AST, 2.25 STL, exactly .500 from the field, the Arc, and .740 from the charity stripe. Dare I say this is a very Jordon-esque performance? Davis is playing like an all-star, he has elevated his game and has elevated his team passed the best in the west.

 

 

* Most stats were calculated pre-game 5 so they may be a point or two off, however the serve as a generality to prove a point.

Prelude: back when basketball was hinderd by having to walk up a latter to get the ball of a basket . There was Chess and the best player was Bobby Fischer he was huge he was bigger than sliced bread (well not that awesome). But he was big and when he left the game he left as the greatest player to ever ... play And since then they have tried to fill the void with numerous players.

But now we THINK we have our man , D-Wayne "Flash" Wade . And Hence the movie analogy.

A comparison if you will,

What I'm I Trying to say !!!??

Even Though he has won a NBA title it does not mean he will be the next Michael Jordon. He has gotten him self off the bubble and established him self as a legendary part of NBA Playoff history, but at this point many discussions circle around potential. Wade has allot of it but He will need to work really hard to get it , I think the NBA community is a little fast to give people things without having them work for it . But, I think mostly all of us can agree to a "we Will see" if he shows progress than maybe and if he doesn't he will always be consider as a superb athlete.

Truth is there may never be another Mj, when you think basketball you think of him first (at Least I do). To me it silly to match them MJ has the intangible factors along with his 5 Rings, Gold Medals, NCAA Championship, MVP awards and many many more that are un-match by the greats.

Same thing goes for Lebron, it one thing to be young and talented and it’s another to be like MJ who basically changed the game. Let’s not fill the void of MJ so soon, give it time to develop. Lets appreciate the athlete we have now, and we will see in the future.