NBA Playoff Throwdown (Preview)

Thanks, Shaq. I hope you aren't too tired after introducing this post...the Statue of Liberty is pretty far from Phoenix. Even though you don't give a heck, please don't punch me in the stomach. Sike!

(side note: definitely check out the related videos after the video is over...especially the 2nd one on the first page and the last one on the 2nd page, they're just as funny or funnier than the one I posted)

Very, very few posts on here have been exclusively on the NBA, mostly because neither Ryan or I are huge fans....but I am a bigger fan of the NBA than Ryan, so despite the fact that neither my favorite team (the Bulls) nor my local team (the Pacers) are in the playoffs, and the fact that I am apparently an earthquake survivor today, I bring you my 2008 NBA Playoff Throwdown. So let's take a look at the first round matchups, and I'll throw in my finals prediction too:

First Round
East
#1 Boston Celtics vs. #8 Atlanta Hawks - You can tell the Eastern conference is God-awful terrible when a 37 win Atlanta Hawks team lead by Joe Johnson makes the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Despite playing in the East, Boston seems to be the most complete team in the NBA heading into the playoffs. These 2 teams actually have a pretty storied playoff history.....from back in the days when players wore belts on their shorts. The Celtics are 8-1 all time against the Hawks in the playoffs, with the Hawks only win over them coming in the 1958 NBA Finals. I think the Celts have a pretty good chance of avenging 50 years later. Pick: Celtics in 4

#4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #5 Washington Wizards - There's a good chance the Wizards are better than they seem. Gilbert Arenas only played 13 games this year, but is back now and Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler kept the team afloat while he was gone. With everyone healthy, and with Lebron James thrown in, this can be one of the most entertaining series of the first round, and the only watchable one in the East. Pick: Wizards in 7

#3 Orlando Magic vs. #6 Toronto Raptors - This series features a battle between 2 of the best up and coming big men in the NBA, Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh. How can you not like Dwight? He's seems like a legitimately nice kid that has a lot of fun out there, and he can be freakishly dominating. Bosh is very underrated, but its hard to get noticed playing in Toronto when playing with guys named Moon, Nesterovic, Bargnani, and Garbajosa unless you are a dunking machine (see: Carter, Vince). Pick: Magic in 6

#2 Detroit Pistons vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers - Both of these teams lack a single superstar, but are hard working and cohesive.....the Pistons just do it a lot better. Get ready to start booing Philly fans, but keep it in perspective: your team had a worse record than Portland. Pick: Pistons in 5

West
#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #8 Denver Nuggets - Only 7 games separate these 2 teams...that's how tight the West was. This is another big star matchup with Kobe and Gasol going against Iverson and Melo. The Lakers finished strong to get the #1 seed, and I think they'll take advantage of home court and distractions like the Carmelo DUI and A.I. being A.I. to take this...but it won't be easy. Pick: Lakers in 6

#4 Utah Jazz vs. #5 Houston Rockets - So let's see if I understand the NBA's seeding system. Now, being a division champion no longer matters all that much, since it will only earn you at least a spot in the top 4. Also, if your lower seeded opponent has a better record, they get home court in the first round. The Jazz won their division but the Rockets get home court...so doesn't that really make the Rockets the 4 seed? Oh well, I think the Rockets are back down to earth after the 22 game streak and Utah will take them out anyways. Pick: Jazz in 6

#3 San Antonio Spurs vs. #6 Phoenix Suns - Now its time to see if the Shaq trade paid off for the Suns. I can't believe a matchup this good will be in the first round of the playoffs, especially with all of the controversy that surrounded their series last year. This could be the last ride in the playoffs for the Diesel, and I think Tim Duncan is going to end it early. Pick: Spurs in 7

#2 New Orleans Hornets vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks - How can Chris Paul not be the league's MVP this year? Have you seen the rest of his team? Paul is turning into one of the most exciting and dominant players in the NBA...too bad he's stuck in New Orleans. Maybe the trend of grown men wearing teal and purple can return with the Hornets being a top team in the NBA. The Mavericks have been pretty shaky and beat up all season, and the jury is still out on the Jason Kidd trade. I think they are still bitter about the upset to Golden State last year and will crumble again this year. Pick: Hornets in 6

NBA Finals Pick: Boston Celtics over San Antonio Spurs in 7 - The long suffering Boston sports fans will finally get a title this year, their first since all the way back in October, 2007. I know a Celtics-Lakers finals would be absolutely awesome, for both the retro factor and the fact you'll have KG, Ray, and Pierce on a legit East team going against Kobe, in the finals for the first time without Shaq. I think the Spurs are going to ruin this though, as they are actually the annoying boring dynasty coming into a finals matchup versus a Boston team. First, the Spurs will eliminate the entertaining Suns, and blowing a possible Kobe-Shaq western finals. Then, they will knock off possible league MVP Chris Paul and the upstart Hornets, then knock off the relatively playoff inexperienced Lakers to make it to the Finals. The Celts will roll over Atlanta and Washington, but will run into a formidable Pistons team in the eastern finals, before getting past them (star power rules in the NBA) and making it to the finals. I was tempted to go with the Spurs in the matchup, based on experience and the fact that the seemingly "dream team" of the Celtics could fall flat on their faces in the finals just like the '04 Lakers. But I think the Celtics truly are the best team in the league this year, and three stars will be winning their first title.