# NBA Playoffs Predictions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505 "2003-04-18T05:35:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/21 "2003-04-20T03:14:49Z")
Those 3’s killed me man… Spurs are still my personal favourites to come out of the West…but… I have this annoying feeling that the Kings are gonna have their way this time around. Stupid Duncan! Make those free throws!!! Make 'em! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/22 "2003-04-20T03:23:53Z")
Oh btw I would’ve loved to see Dallas take on LA, but since the Blazers couldn’t pull out a silly win against the Clipps, Spurs’ll just have to make do with takin’ on LA in the second round. Hmm, I’m brimming with hate today 😃 Free throws! Make’ em! ---
**Author:** ![oli\_the\_dope\_r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/5fc32e/32.png) [@oli\_the\_dope\_r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oli_the_dope_r)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/23 "2003-04-20T05:45:25Z")
Does anyone else think the NBA is rigged? Last year, Robert Horry’s buzzer-beater stuck a dagger in my heart. I am still bitter. My bet: Lakers all die in a firey crash as they fly back home from Minnesota. Go Sactown! ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/24 "2003-04-21T15:12:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\*Yeah, right. It was a conspiracy. :rolleyes: > > If Kobe doesn’t get food poisoning, the series doesn’t even get to a Game 6 or 7. The Lakers were the better team. > > Haj \*\* That is exactly correct. The Lakers would have taken game two and swept the Kinks if Kobe hadn’t gotten sick. And it is true, the refs have little earpieces and the President of NBC (this year ABC) tells them what to call to ensure the Lakers win it all again. Or maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with Weber getting a T called on him in game 7, and Vlade acting like a baby and flopping around, and missed free throws and choking on open shots??? ps We attended a Clipper/ Sixer game this year at Staples (hell, I can’t afford Laker tickets) and Iversen is amazing. First of all, before the game he was talking to people at courtside during warmups, shaking hands with kids, smiling and talking with different people. I think when he gets in front of a camera, he gets nervous and comes off as a thug. He also PLAYS HIS ASS OFF, both on offense and DEFENSE. I was isolating on him and he runs up court and causes turnovers and other mayhem on D. He also is unbelievabely small. Not short, SMALL. Small boned. He looked like a teenage kid out there with men. Yet he plays that well. I was impressed and I am now a big fan. Heck, I hope they make the finals again so the Lakers can sweep them. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/25 "2003-04-21T20:16:57Z")
**Jimmy Chitwood** summed it up pretty well, so there isn’t much to say. I’m pulling for the Kings or the Spurs out of the west. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/26 "2003-04-21T20:25:41Z")
Spurs will beat the Suns tonight… …if there is any justice in this world. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/27 "2003-04-21T20:46:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by oli the dope® \* > \*\*Does anyone else think the NBA is rigged? Last year, Robert Horry’s buzzer-beater stuck a dagger in my heart. I am still bitter. > > My bet: Lakers all die in a firey crash as they fly back home from Minnesota. > > Go Sactown! \*\* OF COURSE THE NBA IS RIGGED! Jordan never got called for a foul when the game was on the line, and before him neither did Bird or Magic, and before them neither did Chamberlain or Russell, and before them George Mikan used to get away with murder. I’m only kidding about Wilt, Russell and Mikan, of course. They were just a bit before my time, after all. But the great god Jordan sure had the refs in his back pocket during the playoffs, just like the Lakers did against Sacramento last year. ---
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/28 "2003-04-21T22:19:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hardcore \* > \*\*Sorry **Dumbguy** , but you are being a Dumb Guy 😃 The first round _used_ to be a 5 game series, but it was changed this year to a best of 7. \*\* I realized that watching games over the weekend and hoped no one would notice. And the team I predicted would win it all lost to the Suns. Moral: ignore my posts. Iverson can’t play defense? He lead the league in steals. I agree with **World Eater** that the Lakers would be just as good with TMac/Iverson/Paul Pierce swapped in for Kobe. Shaq is the MVP hands down and has been since Jordan retirement #2. If you don’t agree with me, see moral above. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/29 "2003-04-21T23:00:40Z")
Is the Admiral going to be playing tonight? Didn’t he twist or pull something? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/30 "2003-04-21T23:06:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Is the Admiral going to be playing tonight? Didn’t he twist or pull something? \*\* He is out tonight. Talk about terrible luck (or is it another conspiracy?). Haj ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/31 "2003-04-22T00:33:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\*He is out tonight. Talk about terrible luck (or is it another conspiracy?). > > Haj \*\* ABC/ESPN got to Robinson’s doctor. They want a Laker/Kink WCF and then a Laker/Sixer final. Look for Kevin Garnett to foul out in the first minutes of the 3rd quarter tomorrow night. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/32 "2003-04-22T03:23:49Z")
SPURS WIN! SPURS WIN! [sup]Just had to get that out there. :)[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/33 "2003-04-22T04:55:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soup\_du\_jour \* > \*\*SPURS WIN! SPURS WIN! > > [sup]Just had to get that out there. :)[/sup] \*\* Yeah, it wasn’t very satisfying though. Although Duncan made his free throws 🙂 I guess they’ll just have to play harder in Game 3 ---
**Author:** ![bjohn13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bjohn13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bjohn13)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/34 "2003-04-22T13:20:30Z")
I haven’t watched a basketball game since the infamous “misdribble” which prodeeded Jordan’s winning shot the last year before he re-retired. That call was so obvious…and, to this day, no one seems to see it. Alas…I still pay attention to the games. It will take a miracle to beat the Lakers as long as Kobe and Shaq are playing together (or at least until Jordan/Pippen are reunited…and, yes…I truly believe that Jordan was nothing without Pippen…just as Shaq never won a championship without Kobe). ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/35 "2003-04-22T14:18:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bjohn13 \* > \*\*I haven’t watched a basketball game since the infamous “misdribble” which prodeeded Jordan’s winning shot the last year before he re-retired. That call was so obvious…and, to this day, no one seems to see it. > > Alas…I still pay attention to the games. It will take a miracle to beat the Lakers as long as Kobe and Shaq are playing together (or at least until Jordan/Pippen are reunited…and, yes…I truly believe that Jordan was nothing without Pippen…just as Shaq never won a championship without Kobe). \*\* Yes well who would you rather have on your team at their prime. Pippen or Shaq? During their last repective 3-peats, Scottie averaged 19.5 PPG, while Shaq averaged 28.5. Shaq is a bigger impact player and he makes life much easier for Kobe then Pippen ever did for Jordan. Look a Pip’s stats since he hasn’t played with Jordan. He’s averaged 10.5 points a game the last 3 years! Now he’s no spring chicken, but even old ass Jordan averaged 21.4 points these last 2 seasons with the Wizards. And yay, the Spurs won. ---
**Author:** ![bjohn13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bjohn13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bjohn13)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/36 "2003-04-23T01:52:24Z")
I wasn’t comparing Pippen to Shaq…I was comparing Jordan to Shaq (and Pippen to Kobe). I admit that comparing Kobe to Jordan makes more sense, but I was trying to make the point that I would take Shaq every day of the week over Jordan, though I’m not yet sold on taking Kobe over Pippen. I suppose that once the Lakers do what Jordan’s Bulls didn’t, my opinions will change. ---
**Author:** ![hardcore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@hardcore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardcore)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/37 "2003-04-23T04:22:46Z")
well now THAT was satisfying!! Watching the Lakers get their ASSES kicked, _and_ seeing the Ralph Sampson series-clinching shot highlight too. Saw the Mario Elle Kiss-of-Death shot yesterday, so all is right with the world. My take on the conspiracy and referee discussion – I can’t take any conspiracy talk serious for obvious reasons. You would never be able to hide it, and it would ruin the game if it came out, so why chance it? But I do think the refs are human, and they see the same commercials as the rest of the world. If you constantly see Shaq and Kobe on TV portrayed as larger than life figures in commercials, it makes it tougher to call them for ticky-tack fouls. Just human nature, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/38 "2003-04-23T15:10:55Z")
Damn the Nets lost. Well we know Minny won’t stop the Lakers, the best we can hope for is they will drag it out a few games, and soften Kobe & Co. for the next round. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/39 "2003-04-23T16:40:47Z")
I think we saw Minnesota at its absolute best in game 2, and I can’t see them having the same kind of performance in game 3 (oh, but how I wish they do 😃 ) Any picks for Portland-Dallas game 2? If Pippen’s upto par, I think the Blazers can take it, BIG if though. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505/40 "2003-04-23T17:54:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by green\_bladder \* > \*\*I think we saw Minnesota at its absolute best in game 2, and I can’t see them having the same kind of performance in game 3 (oh, but how I wish they do 😃 ) > > Any picks for Portland-Dallas game 2? If Pippen’s upto par, I think the Blazers can take it, BIG if though. \*\* Yeah I wish too, but Troy ain’t gonna have 37 again. I read on [espn.com](http://espn.com) somewhere that Pip may play, but he won’t be very effective for the rest of their season. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs-predictions/169505.md?page=3)