Ok, the playoffs are finally here. 30 teams began the season in November, all of them (except the OKC Thunder, for obvious reasons) with a realistic or statistical shot at winning the 2009 NBA Championship. They all started at 0-0. However, as we have seen throughout the past six months, a few teams distanced themselves from the pack and built a solid foundation for a playoff run.
We all figured that the Boston Celtics would be back. They really only lost James Posey from a team that physically dominated the Lakers in last year's finals. However, throughout this season, the Celtics have been plagued by serious injuries. Most notably, to the heart of the team, Kevin Garnett. The season has really been marginally saved by Paul Pierce, who, a year ago, resurrected himself from the locker room ten mintues after being carted off the floor like he had had a fatal encounter with a land mine, and who has consistently performed during this season with a few remnants of the will power that had helped win the championship. Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo have both solidified themselves as great role-starters. These guys may never make the all-star games, but will continue to contribute in many ways other than scoring throughout their careers. Nevertheless, the one lasting memory of the 2008-09 Celtics will be Glen "Big Baby" Davis crying after having his ass jumped by Kevin Garnett during a game! He has earned his nickname, no doubt about it. He seriously CRIED during a professional basketball game. Unforgivable. Possibly, he foresaw Garnett's impending knee strain and was expressing his pity toward his fallen leader and his sorrow at losing any chance to repeat as NBA champions. As we have seen Saturday against the Bulls, this team without Kevin Garnett looks more like the Denver Nuggets or Houston Rockets (teams that are so close, but will never get to the championship podium because they lack a team motivator or closer...such as Kobe or LeBron). My prediction for the Celtics is that if they can string the series to seven games, they win be successful and pass through to the next round (only to lose to the Magic). If the series does not make it seven games, it will be because the Bulls won their fourth in Game 6. Irregardless of KG being unavailable, this will be one (if not, the) best series to watch in the first round.
Call it a bias prediction, as all of my friends know that I am a life-long Laker fan, but I said last summer that the Lakers were the team to beat this season. The Los Angeles Lakers only lost the Martinique native-on-speed Ronnie Turiaf (that is, until they traded away V. Radmonivic's horrendously overpaid Serbian ass to the Bobcats), and they re-added a budding star in Andrew Bynum just in time for the 2009 playoff push after he suffered yet another knee injury during this season. Add Bynum to Gasol and Odom, mix in Josh Powell, Chris Mihm, Trevor Ariza, and Luke Walton, and the Lakers definitely have the BEST frontcourt in all of the NBA. Combine that with the league's best player (not best athlete) Kobe Bryant and the wily veteran Derek Fisher, and you have a recipe that results in success. Now, indeed, the Lakers have had some lapses during the season. Such as losing the BOBCATS, TWICE!!! Nonetheless, they were the only team to beat the Cavaliers at Cleveland, with LeBron in the line-up. The lasting memory of this season involving the Lakers has to be Andrew Bynum's comeback from the knee injury to increase the Lakers chances, or the fact that Pau Gasol has braces... will someone please order the Spainard an invisalign? Obviously, my prediction for Lakers is that they will win the NBA Championship in a 6 game series, beating the LeBrons. The Jazz will not put up much of a fight, Lakers in 5. The Rockets will beat the whiny Blazers in 6 games, but will fall to the Lakers in 6. Who really knows who will face the Lakers in the Conf. Champ?? Who really cares? That side of the bracket is very competitive. I'll go with the Nuggets beating the Mavs in a 7 game series. Lakers will beat the Nuggets in 6. Remember these predictions, because they will be dead on. Cavaet: I assume no liability if you bet on these games using my picks. In fact, I will call you an idiot.
Who do you all think will run the gauntlet and win the NBA Championship? Take the poll on the right side of the site.
Next post: MVP!! MVP!!
We all figured that the Boston Celtics would be back. They really only lost James Posey from a team that physically dominated the Lakers in last year's finals. However, throughout this season, the Celtics have been plagued by serious injuries. Most notably, to the heart of the team, Kevin Garnett. The season has really been marginally saved by Paul Pierce, who, a year ago, resurrected himself from the locker room ten mintues after being carted off the floor like he had had a fatal encounter with a land mine, and who has consistently performed during this season with a few remnants of the will power that had helped win the championship. Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo have both solidified themselves as great role-starters. These guys may never make the all-star games, but will continue to contribute in many ways other than scoring throughout their careers. Nevertheless, the one lasting memory of the 2008-09 Celtics will be Glen "Big Baby" Davis crying after having his ass jumped by Kevin Garnett during a game! He has earned his nickname, no doubt about it. He seriously CRIED during a professional basketball game. Unforgivable. Possibly, he foresaw Garnett's impending knee strain and was expressing his pity toward his fallen leader and his sorrow at losing any chance to repeat as NBA champions. As we have seen Saturday against the Bulls, this team without Kevin Garnett looks more like the Denver Nuggets or Houston Rockets (teams that are so close, but will never get to the championship podium because they lack a team motivator or closer...such as Kobe or LeBron). My prediction for the Celtics is that if they can string the series to seven games, they win be successful and pass through to the next round (only to lose to the Magic). If the series does not make it seven games, it will be because the Bulls won their fourth in Game 6. Irregardless of KG being unavailable, this will be one (if not, the) best series to watch in the first round.
Call it a bias prediction, as all of my friends know that I am a life-long Laker fan, but I said last summer that the Lakers were the team to beat this season. The Los Angeles Lakers only lost the Martinique native-on-speed Ronnie Turiaf (that is, until they traded away V. Radmonivic's horrendously overpaid Serbian ass to the Bobcats), and they re-added a budding star in Andrew Bynum just in time for the 2009 playoff push after he suffered yet another knee injury during this season. Add Bynum to Gasol and Odom, mix in Josh Powell, Chris Mihm, Trevor Ariza, and Luke Walton, and the Lakers definitely have the BEST frontcourt in all of the NBA. Combine that with the league's best player (not best athlete) Kobe Bryant and the wily veteran Derek Fisher, and you have a recipe that results in success. Now, indeed, the Lakers have had some lapses during the season. Such as losing the BOBCATS, TWICE!!! Nonetheless, they were the only team to beat the Cavaliers at Cleveland, with LeBron in the line-up. The lasting memory of this season involving the Lakers has to be Andrew Bynum's comeback from the knee injury to increase the Lakers chances, or the fact that Pau Gasol has braces... will someone please order the Spainard an invisalign? Obviously, my prediction for Lakers is that they will win the NBA Championship in a 6 game series, beating the LeBrons. The Jazz will not put up much of a fight, Lakers in 5. The Rockets will beat the whiny Blazers in 6 games, but will fall to the Lakers in 6. Who really knows who will face the Lakers in the Conf. Champ?? Who really cares? That side of the bracket is very competitive. I'll go with the Nuggets beating the Mavs in a 7 game series. Lakers will beat the Nuggets in 6. Remember these predictions, because they will be dead on. Cavaet: I assume no liability if you bet on these games using my picks. In fact, I will call you an idiot.
Who do you all think will run the gauntlet and win the NBA Championship? Take the poll on the right side of the site.
Next post: MVP!! MVP!!
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