NBA Playoff Predictions – 2011

This should be a great post-season.  For the first time in a long time, there are legitimately a handful of teams that are capable of taking home the trophy.  My good friends and NBA experts, Jeff Rinaldi and Matt McKenna break it all down.  So let’s get to it!

 
Danny: I’ll start it off with you Jeff.  Do you see any upsets in round 1 in the East?

Jeff:  Well, I know one upset that WILL NOT happen and that is the dirty Pacers over the Bulls.  Stern should think about folding the Pacers.  I usually wouldn’t say this but the Bulls should go ahead and look to round 2.  I seriously think the Knickerbockers are going to give the Celtics all they want.  The Celtics better look out.

Danny: McKenna, your turn.  Let’s take a look at the West – any 1st round upsets?

McKenna: I actually have two of them although beating Dallas in the first round is kind of a yearly tradition now isn’t it? I do like Portland though.  They are athletic, deep, and just pose tons of match up problems for the Mavs.  Kidd couldn’t defend me and rebounding could be an issue so the Blazers are my first pick.  To me that isn’t a long shot (Insert Greg Oden joke here).  The other upset is the Grizz over the Spurs.  The Spurs are prime for a first round exit, they are old and have the potential to have injury issues as soon as the tip goes up.  They also know they aren’t as good as either of their second round opponents and certainly won’t beat LA, so why prolong getting embarrassed by a good team.  So married men keep an eye on your wives because a little French horn-ball will be on the loose earlier than normal this season.

Danny: Why you gotta do TP like that?!  We’ll get to your finals predictions later.  For now, give me one team out of each conference that is *capable* of making a deep run even if this team is not your first choice – or the “obvious” choice.

McKenna: I hate to do this Danny but the Magic terrify me and I think they can beat the Bulls.  If they are knocking down jump shots and Howard is willing to break a sweat they will murder the Hawks and beat the Bulls in six.  Nobody can keep Howard off the boards and once the game slows down in the playoffs controlling the boards is key.
 
Danny:  You’re right, the Magic can be scary.  But I’m not worried, just like nobody on the Bulls (or in the league) can slow down Howard, nobody on Orlando can slow down Asik… face!

 
And Jeff, any surprises?

Jeff:  The Pacers!  Just kidding.  Dreadful team.  I like the Thunder to get rolling and knock out the Spurs in round 2. Westbrook and Durant can carry that team.  The whole West better look out.

Danny: And who do you think it going to make it to the conference finals, and fight for the right to go for it all?  Let’s start with Mr. Rinaldi.

Jeff: Bulls vs Heat.  Thunder vs Lakers.  Chalk it up!

McKenna: I like the C’s and the Magic in the East.  I’m hoping I’m right because if it’s the Bulls I won’t sleep for a couple weeks because Rose is terrifying.  In the West I like the Lakers and OKC.  I could even fathom the Blazers knocking off LA but Kobe, the most hated man in my household (tied with ARod of course) would never let me enjoy the playoffs.

Danny: Spoken like a true Bostonian!  Time for the moment we’ve all been waiting for: who plays in the finals, and who takes home the hardware?!?

Actually fellas if you don’t mind, I’ll get things started…

I really don’t want to do it, but I guess I’m going to have to go with the Lakers.  I still think they’ll be able to turn on that switch.  Kobe is close to his last leg (last leg of dominance, that is), but I think he still has another year or two of great playoff basketball left in him.  Odom has been really good this year and of course they still have Gasol and a much improved Bynum.  Onto the Eastern champs… Da Bulls!  I know you think I’m being a homer here (and I probably am), but I have really loved this team from the start.  When the pieces starting to fall into place this summer, I knew it would be a great year.  We (yeah, I’m part of the team) have shooters, scrappers, bangers, defenders, scorers, and of course, Mr. MVP!  Believe it or not, I really think that Luol Deng is the “X-Factor.”  When he plays well, the Bulls are the best team in the NBA.  If he can give us ~18 ppg and be active on both ends of the floor, I like our chances.

Mark it down, Da Bulls in 7!!!

McKenna my friend, what say you?

McKenna: Well I know this will shock people but I like the C’s coming out of the East.  They are flawed but this is their last run and I think the old guard will rise up one more time.  Plus the Red Sox have gotten off to a rough start so that means the city of Boston is on edge and winning in their building will be tough.  I also like the way the seedings fell and I think not having to see the Bulls till the Finals, if that happens, will help.  They C’s can still defend and if Rondo stops pouting about losing hid best bud Perkins, he will be seeing him in the Finals for a reunion.  That’s right, in the West I’m going with the OKC Thunder!  I hate Kobe and karma has got to catch up with him eventually.  Re-hashing why this guy is the biggest a-hole in professional sports is unnecessary but trust me he is long overdue for some comeuppance. The Thunder have two great scorers, one who shoots threes and is seven feet tall (Durant), the other (Westbrook) will be guarded by either Derek Fisher or Steve Blake so that is favorable.  Ibaka and Perk can match up with Bynum and Gasol so the match ups are going to be good and the chance for a great series has me pumped.  David Stern will be crushed he doesn’t get another Lakers vs. Celtics match up but it won’t matter because once the C’s raise the eighteenth banner to the rafters the title will return home and all will be ok in the world. 

C’s in 6!!!

Danny: And Jeff?  
 
Jeff: Excellent picks guys.  I think we have a re-match of 1991 with Da Bulls vs the Lakeshow. Everything is in order. Young Derrick Rose like MJ,  HUNGRY for his 1st title going up against a legend in Kobe (Like Magic) with 5 rings.  Da Bulls win 4-1 sending Phil into retirement questtioning his Zen crap, as the team which made him famous ends his career.  Rose wins MVP of the finals and Luol Deng (agree with Danny) plays the role of Pippen..an unsung hero. This championship opens the door to another dynasty which all Bulls fans deserve with their years of loyalty.  

 
Danny: Great job guys!  It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.  I just realized there was barely a word mentioned about the Heat!  Have we lost our minds?  Or are they just not there yet?  Readers, what do you think?  Leave your thoughts and predictions in the comments section below.