Celtics-Lakers is so 1980’s, so don’t be surprised if those teams fail to both make it to the Finals

SCOTT JACOBS

So Mitch is ranting about summer plans, and how he doesn’t want to watch the Lakers-Celtics series if it happens, and how basketball really isn’t his thing. And here I am, sitting in my room, with a week left, wondering what the University of Georgia is going to be like when I go up there next week. O wait a minute, that’s not what I’m here to write about. You (and by you I mean people who visit this site eagerly anticipating my latest posts) want to see my picks. And if you don’t, well hell, you’re going to get them anyways.

Last time I ranted about the Suns-Spurs, but I didn’t really give good reasons why any of the series would go the way I picked them. So here goes my playoff picks and why I’m making them. The best regular season in some time is unlikely to be shadowed by an even greater post-season, but in the end, I think we’ll look back at this unbelivably long post-season and smile.

Expect to hear people say, “O my god, I survived that!”
Expect to hear people say, “If the Spurs play the Pistons in the Finals again, I’m moving to Iceland.”
Expect to hear people say, “The NBA wants the Lakers-Spurs, otherwise no one will watch the Finals.”

Ya know, it’s not like people care in the other 28 cities at all or nothing. When the Celts and Lakers were down one person officially watched the NBA Finals every year. And that person chooses to remain annonymous. O crap, I’m pulling a Mitch, and I’m rambling.

If my basketball picks are as accurate as my hockey picks (aka: not accurate at all) I will be really disappointed. Here goes nothing in the hardest post-season to predict since Coach Carter.

The L(EASTERN? Conference

1. Celtics vs. 8. Hawks
The Hawks have to go down as one of the worst teams to ever qualify for the playoffs in post-season history. Mike Woodson led Atlanta to the second season, but he still may get the ax, because his team went a daunting 37-45 outlasting the terrible Indiana Pacers for the last spot in the East. I have yet to find an analyst that has press credentials who legitimately gives the Hawks a chance to win one game. Mike Bibby used to anchor Sacramento’s high scoring attack during their glory years, but the Hawks are phonies who are lucky the NBA hasn’t gone to a top 16 format, instead of mediocre meteor shower of garbage East teams. You may see where I’m going with this. Celtics in FOUR.

2. Pistons vs. 7. Sixers
No one thought the Sixers could do anything, let alone make the playoffs, even in the horrid East. So give Maurice Cheeks a lot of credit. I know not much has been said about this because the caliber of conference is slightly unbalanced, but do you realize that Philly is a higher seed then AI and Denver? Again, I know it’s the East, but still, at 40-42 (which would be good for 11th in the West) it’s a nice story. Unfortunately, Detroit is better, a lot better. Deeper too. Detroit’s had the same starting five sans Ben Wallace for a while now, and they know how to win in the post-season. I’ll throw the Sixers a bone and give them a game three win, but nothing more. Pistons in FIVE.

3. Orlando vs. 6. Toronto
Let’s go back a bit. Remember when Billy Donovan signed on to be Magic head coach for like five years, and the team sold all those season tickets because the thought of Billy the Kid heading a blah team was intriguing, and then Billy decided to go back to Florida and Orlando had to give all those season ticket holders their money back? Well, the Magic hired the right guy in #2 Stan Van Gundy. The Heat just wish they had him on their bench right now, but are instead stuck with a wishy washy, never wants to go away Pat Riley. With Stan leading the way Orlando won the Southeast, the first team in that division’s history other then Miami to accomplish that feat. Though they overpaid huge for Rashard Lewis, he and Dwight Howard, along with Hedo Turkoglu have formed a very good team, one that exceeded every expectation in winning 52 games, and finishing third in the East. The Raptors who won the Atlantic last year, never had any prayer of repeating that with Boston’s dominance, and only made the playoffs because they play in… THE EAST! This will be a decent series, with half of it shown on NBATV (Because this match up couldn’t be less appealing to the casual fan). I’ll give Toronto a few games, but Disney beats Canada’s hope, as the Magic advance in six.

4. Cleveland vs. 5. Washington
X factor in the East: Gilbert Arenas. I know he missed 60 plus games this year, and can’t seem to stay healthy, but the guy is a terrific player when he’s on the court, and a clutch scorer. I think the fighting Lebrons are living off of last year’s surprise Finals trip (aka: living in the past). I don’t think they’re that much better with Ben Wallace, Wally, and Delonte West amongst others. And I think the Wiz, who managed to stay afloat all year despite constant injury issues, are ready to make their third consecutive playoff tussle with Cleveland a charm. It’s the trendy pick I know, but Lebron can only do so much, and I think Washngton will expose the Cavs in a six game series that’s all about revenge.

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE (I talked about this yesterday, so I’ll be much more brief today)

1. Lakers over 8. Nuggets in five
Any match-up out west looks like it could go either way, but I think the Lakers will put away Denver pretty easily. Simply put, the Nuggets don’t play any defense and are much too on and off to stage a real fight. J.R. Smith is my player to keep an eye on, because he can shoot lights out or like no body’s home. If Denver brings their A game and shows they can play ANY defense it’s not crazy to think they can’t challenge LA. But that’s not going to happen. Kobe, Gasol, and Co. move on.

7. Mavericks over 2. Hornets in six
This seems to be a chic pic, but I’m not going with Dallas because every one else seems to be. I just think they’re the better team right now. Dirk Nowitzki has been playing out of his skull and Jason Terry has been playing much better of late. Dallas knows what it’s like to fight for their playoff lives compared to being able to breathe. They had to fight, the Hornets could breathe, and for that reason: Chris Paul and David West will come up short. But don’t worry, they’ll be back next year.

6. Suns over 3. Spurs in 6 games
These teams are so close it’s scary. But rage can do a lot for a team, and the Suns are incredibly furious after losing to a Spurs team that they thought they were good enough to beat. Phoenix went 3-1 against the Spurs this year, and 2-0 with Shaq. This is why they got the Big Fella. To stop Tony Parker, Manu and the rest of San Antonio’s slashers from carving up the paint. Tim Duncan no longer dominates Phoenix. Phoenix can rebound with San Antonio and second chance points no longer come ever other possession. This is step one of the Suns difficult trip through the west playoffs. But they’re going to do it, and their will be nothing controversial about it.

4. Jazz over 5. Rockets in six
Without Yao Houston was able to manage surprisingly in the gruesome West. But in the playoffs, with teams being able to zone in on their gaping hole in the middle, the Rockets look like one and done again. Their courage has been admirable, but Utah is just better. Unless of course they play like they did against the Spurs with the number three seed on the line. If they do that, I’m jumping ship. This will be competitive, possibly a seven game series, but Tracy McGrady will once again come up short, posing the question: will he ever win a first round series?

AS FOR THE REST OF THE PLAYOFFS…

SECOND ROUND

Celtics over Wizards in five
Like the Heat a few years ago when they held the top seed, the Celts will have no problem dismantling Washington. And once again James Posey will play a big role in ruining the Wiz’s dreams. KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce will help too.

Pistons over Magic in five
The Pistons have been very good all year, and Orlando is still not deep enough, nor experienced enough to handle Detroit’s depth and experience. It will be close, and Orlando may even get a game in Detroit, but that’s about all I forsee. Pistons, as they seem to do every year now, go back to the conference finals.

Lakers over Jazz in six
Utah’s a good team, don’t get me wrong. But all this crap about them being primed for another big run after lucking out in the post-season last year is a little pre-mature. Utah is putrid on the road and that is not the blueprint for playoff success. And they’re going to have to beat LA at least a couple times at Staples, because LA is going to beat the Jazz at least one game at the Energy Solutions Center, or whatever the devil they call that place nowadays.

Suns over Mavericks in seven
These teams have developed a terrific rivalry over the years, and were taken out of the playoffs prematurely last season. This season they meet in somewhat of a surprise. And it will be one heck of a series. Throw out the seedings, Phoenix will have just enough to win a tough game seven at home, over a Mavs team that will bring everything they’ve got.

CONFERENCE FINALS

Celtics over Pistons in seven
Two dead even teams who have been sleeping through the regular season until they meet in the east finals finally get their crack at each other. So what’s the difference? Ray Allen goes on a tare and KG controls the paint in one of the best playoff series in years. Home court though will be the difference as the Celtics return to the finals for the first time since the Bird years.

Suns over Lakers in seven
Not a homer pick. And how can Phoenix beat the Lakers on their own home court in a game seven at the Stapler? Shaq. He’s closed out a seven game conference finals series on the road before. Remember Sacramento? The Lakers took the Kings to OT and prevailed on the opposition’s home court. Phoenix knows their window is closing, and the urgency will be there to pull out a thrilling, legendary series. The hero? Grant Hill, who came to the Suns to win a title. He’ll get his chance. Suns win.

THE FINALS

Suns over Celtics in six
Phoenix has been a top caliber seed every year since the Nash era entered phase two. This year, the pressure is still there, but a bit of the burden is off, as Phoenix has been sort of forgotten in the heapload of quality teams. The Suns series win over LA will give them the confidence and the swagger they need to lock up their first championship. And Shaquille O’Neal will promptly ride off into the sun set, carrying Steve Kerr and Mike D’Antoni to the title they dreamed of when they made the deal many moons ago.

The main reason though? Amare. He will man up, and play the best defense of his life, generating vintage Suns fast breaks. When the game slows down, the Suns have the interior presence they’ve never had to get the job done.

Phoenix wins it all. The six seed Suns… O, and David Stern will be there to hand Amare the MVP, and Robert Sarver the O’Brien trophy.

Now, how about your picks planet Earth?

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