NBA Playoffs

The NBA Playoffs have started. The quest for the Larry O'brien Trophy will be done in a few short months.  Will the Marvericks repeat? Will the Thunder be able to put it together? Will the Heat FINALLY win? Only time will tell. Here are some quick picks for the NBA Playoffs!

Eastern Conference

The Chicago Bulls vs The Philadelphia 76ers
Before the injury to Rose last night, I would have told you this series would have been a sweep. Now that Derrick Rose is out for the rest of the playoffs, it is a bit more interesting. I still think the Bulls have more pure talent than the 76ers and I think they will want to "win one for Rose!". With that said, the 76ers give the Bulls trouble, but not enough trouble. I have the Bulls in 6.

The Miami Heat vs The New York Knicks
The Heat have been playing some really good basketball recently. James and Wade have really been clicking and that will be key fro the rest of the playoffs. The Knicks just have too many injuries and don't have the chemistry to beat the Heat. I have the Heat in 5.

The Orlando Magic vs The Indiana Pacers
This series is going seven. Both teams have great post games and have been able to put it together many times this season. I think Dwight Howard will eventually be too much for the Pacers and he will lead the Magic to a 4-3 series win.

The Boston Celtics vs The Atlanta Heat
Boston has been labeled as old and not a contender, but they closed out the season playing really well. Rondo, Pierce, and Garnett will continue to keep their good form throughout this series. The Hawks are just one of those teams that have the ability to push a team to the edge. Johnson will play well when he needs to in this series, but the Celtics will still win the series in 6.

Western Conference

The San Antonio Spurs vs The Utah Jazz
This is probably the last great opportunity for the Spurs to win the championship. I don't think they will squander it in the first round like they did last year. Though the oldies don't always play their best, I always have to go with a Greg Popovich team. I have the Spurs in 5.

The Oklahoma City Thunder vs The Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs are not the same team that they were last year. They lost a lot of key talent and a lot of their big players have lost the touch they had last year. Durant and Westbrook are now at their championship level, and I expect them to make the most of it. Thunder win in 4.

The Los Angeles Lakers vs The Denver Nuggets
Los Angeles has been in a very transitional state, but they are still the same ol' Lakers. Kobe may be deteriorating (your call), but when they playoffs start, he is a different man. He will be able to will the Lakers to a lot of wins and Pau Gasol will also be able to rise to the occasion. The Nuggets cause some ruckus in Lala land, but the LA team wins in 6.

The Los Angeles Clippers vs The Memphis Grizzlies
This is a monumental occasion for Clippers fans. Their Clips are finally in the playoffs. They will have tough match with the Grizzlies though. There will be a lot of energy on the Clippers side, but the Griz have gone pretty far in the playoffs before. I see this being one of the more thrilling series in the first round as the Clippers win in 7.

Thanks for reading!