So who’s gonna take it all this year and why? The field’s pretty open… Kings, Spurs, Lakers, Mavs… erm… Pistons
Does anyone have a feeling that the Spurs finally have the ability to beat the Lakers this time around should they meet in the conference semis?
I’ll just be the first to say the Easter Conference really does not matter. It’s just as likely that Tracy McGrady could carry the 8th seeded Magic to the finals as it is that the first seeded Pistons could suffocate every other teams offense on their way to a 2nd place finish.
In the west, the Lakers will beat the Wolves in 6. Garnett will continue to be unfairly maligned for not winning a playoff series. The majority of his roster is not very good.
Kings, Mavs, and Spurs all win first round series. Spurs handle the Lakers in 7, Kings over the Mavs in 6. The Kings then beat the Spurs in 6 and win the finals in 5.
For some reason, though I’m a die hard Spurs fan, I think the Kings may come out of the West, going against the 76ers.
Wallace in injured, unfortunately.
Yah, essentially the true final serious with be the semi-finals in the West.
I definitely see the 76ers pulling it out in the East with Wallace down and McKie and Snow playing well. The hard part for them will be weak 3-point shooting which will hurt in close games. Don’t forget about the Nets getting Mutombo back, which should be a major difference maker.
The West is going to be fun to watch in almost every series though. I think the Spurs have developed the mental toughness to take out LA. The Mavs just don’t have the defense or inside game to hold up to the Kings, Lakers or Spurs. The big X factor is that LA always seems to step up when it counts, and they definitely have the confidence to get it done. No matter what anyone says, they are the team to beat. If they do make it past the Spurs, the match-up with the Kings will be fun to watch. The Kings have the players to just run teams into the ground right now, but they’re mental toughness is annoying to watch. Last year they just broke down mentally and fell out of their game, while LA showed how to hang in their though the tough times.
Ok, for predictions…
Orlando over Detroit
Nets over Bucks
Pacers over Boston
76ers over Hornets
76ers over Orlando
Nets over Pacers
Nets over 76ers
Spurs over Phoenix
Kings over Jazz
Mavs over Portland
LA over Wolves
Spurs over LA
Kings over Mavs
Spurs over Kings
Spurs beat Nets in 5
Yeah I’m a Spurs fan too, but I’m getting my annual post-season worry fits.
It would’ve been ideal if Blazers had beaten the Clippers earlier… would’ve put the Mavs, Kings and Lakers in the same half of the draw, leaving the spurs refreshed enough to take on whoever in the conference finals.
I agree with ** Bobby Roberts ** on the predictions though I’ll probably replace the Nets with the 76ers in the finals, but its anyone’s guess at this point. 