NBA Playoffs 2008: Sweep City
The NBA playoffs have been extremely one-sided to this point in both conferences. Will that trend continue for the first round? (There is also a random tangent on the MVP race.)
The Eastern Conference
Boston v Atlanta: I am pretty sure we all saw this coming. The big three of the Celtics are just too much for the Hawks to handle. I am sure that Hawks fans are happy to even be in the playoffs after the decade of misery they have endured. Too bad they are going to be swept.
Cleveland v Washington: This is definitely the most surprising situation in the East. After all the noise that the Wizards talked on the Cavs and LeBron, they had me convinced. I did not like the Cavs trade at the deadline. It was pointless and really did nothing to improve the team. However one thing has been made clear in this series: do not talk smack on James. That said I do believe that if Agent Zero (Arenas) was fully healthy then this series would be very different. And would someone please tell DeShawn Stevenson to shave?
Orlando v Toronto: Also known affectionately as Howard vs Bosh. These two young superstars are both extremely talented, but so far Howard has been too dominate for Toronto to get anything going. The Raptors stayed in Game 2 through a lot of outside shooting, but in the end they lost. Even if they could keep it up, there is no way it will win in the long run (ask Coach K about that one…zing!). Bottom line is that the Magic are going to roll the Raptors riding the huge shoulders of Dwight Howard.
Detroit v Philly: This is the only series that is unlikely to end in a sweep. It is hard to say at this point if the Sixers’ win in Game 1 was a sign of skill, or simply taking advantage of an overly confident Pistons team. The Sixers were the hottest team going into the playoffs, so really it should be no surprise they are putting up a fight. Even so I do not think I can pick against the Pistons. I really would like Philly to pull the upset though. Props to Rasheed for sneaking into that huddle though. It was hilarious.
The Western Conference
Los Angeles v Denver: This series is already over. Some players might have been trying, but in the ten minutes or so that I watched it was a Gasol layup drill. The Lakers look strong, and I really do not see Denver even stealing one.
Utah v Houston: I am torn in this series. I rooted for the Rockets during their 22 game winning streak, and I really want T-Mac to make it to the second round so everyone can stop focusing on that. Yao going down pretty much shot their chances, and I feel for McGrady in that regard. The biggest surprise right now is that Utah went up 2-0 on the road, when they were not that great of a road team this season. Unfortunately for 65 year old Dikembe, all signs point to sweep.
San Antonio v Phoenix: This is the only series in the Western Conference that I do not see a sweep happening. I know that the Spurs are up two, but let me point you to a scenario a mere two years ago. The Mavericks were up 2-0 on the Heat in the NBA Finals, and Shaq (in actuality it was Wade) led the team to victory. The analogy fits because the Suns are now in possession of said Shaquille O’Neal. If Phoenix can take care of business at home, things are square at 2-2. I have Phoenix winning this series, but if they do not Kerr can kiss his job goodbye.
New Orleans v Mavericks: Done. Chris Paul is too good, and honestly he is swaying my personal opinion on MVP. He is that good. I do not care if that award is supposed to depend on the regular season or not, Paul is single-handedly tearing apart the Mavs. He is untouchable. That Kidd trade (that I did not like from the beginning) looks more and more stupid by the second. You don’t even have to guard him because he can’t score. The Hornets would be better off doubling Dirk and letting Kidd run around wherever he wants. On offense, put the ball in Paul’s hands. That is my gameplan on both sides of the ball.
Closing Thoughts
Now that I am thinking about the MVP race, let me mention one thing. Kobe’s team was horrible until Gasol came along. Now suddenly because they are good he is the MVP? That makes no sense. If anything Gasol is more of an MVP candidate than Kobe. It is between Garnett and CP3, who actually had a hand in turning around franchises. Kobe and his whining brought the Lakers down, and Mitch Kupchak bailed him out with the Pau Gasol trade steal.
Anyway back to the playoffs. The first round really has not been all that exciting, and there have been several absolute joke calls (see: Houston v Utah Game 1). The only game that has stood out is the double OT Suns/Spurs game, so I hope that series picks up. Right now it is the only one worth watching.
Agree or disagree? What are your thoughts on the playoffs so far?
April 23rd, 2008 | 11:03 pm
well I’m glad to say that the 76ers will not he bringing out their brooms because the pistons won tonight. Saying gasol has a better chance of winning the mvp over Kobe is seriously hilariously ridunkulous. Kobes whining is always brought up. I dont see why it matters. It doesn’t take away from how good he is. After saying all that CP3 is my MVP and I am rooting for hornets pistons in the chip. I am proud to say that wake forests own is owning the NBA (I’m sure thePhantom will agree). Paul[us] is just phenomenal. Lebron has been playing well as well as fartnett with 19 I believe tonight.
I’m going to let the duke zing go because I now have stronger ties to another acc team even though I guarantee the comment was for my enjoyment alone. (I still love duke).
I do not believe Kerr will lose this job because the trade has still proven many of us wrong, including me.
The wizards has all been made lebrons b’s.
Go hornets. Go pistons. Go Paul. Go paulus. Go go gadget arms.
April 23rd, 2008 | 11:05 pm
the grammar and spelling in my post should go in English books everywhere.
April 23rd, 2008 | 11:15 pm
Paul is playing amazing, but no matter what you say he cannot be your MVP now just because he’s dominating the playoffs. He may be playoff MVP but not regular season. Don’t be a fool and say it doesn’t matter if it’s for regular season.
The Lakers were towards the top of the West before the Gasol trade, so get off Bryant’s big…(see Santonio). Gasol just put them in total domination. I agree the series have not been that great to watch because of the lack of close games, but it is still fun. I love playoffs in every way, shape, and forn…ication (see Mike Tyson).
April 23rd, 2008 | 11:18 pm
@mark I was not saying Gasol is an MVP candidate. I was saying that if the success of the Lakers is the basis for Kobe’s MVP award, it is a bogus argument. The Lakers would have no shot at the Finals without Gasol.
April 23rd, 2008 | 11:19 pm
Kobe dropped 20 in the first quarter on 8-10 shooting I believe.
April 24th, 2008 | 12:35 am
arenas healthy would have made as much of a difference as he did the past 2 years…not that much. lebron has taken the game to a whole new level, past anyone in the league. is he wins at least 2 series, he will be the playoff mvp.
April 24th, 2008 | 12:55 am
CP3
April 24th, 2008 | 12:56 am
I do not have enough time to make a serious comment . . . for I should be in the books
I shall be back tomorrow night . . . last final is at 6
April 24th, 2008 | 2:41 am
Kobe: 49 points (18-27 fg), 10 assists. Enough said.
April 24th, 2008 | 2:42 am
Plus, he jumped an Aston Martin.
April 24th, 2008 | 7:35 am
LeXane is LeGay.
April 24th, 2008 | 11:45 am
puerto ricans are homos.
kobe puts up about 25-30 shots a game. he’s bound to get hot once in a while.
April 24th, 2008 | 4:04 pm
We all know how Denver has the second to last D in the league and one of the best O’s in the league. Therefore Kobe has the ball much more . . .because Denver scores fast and plays no D.
Kobe had a good shooting game . . . so what.
Give me 27 shots and 9 Foul Shots, ill get at a minimum 30 on Denver and I play twice a week . . . if that. ( However, I am money.)
Doesn’t impress me that much.
April 24th, 2008 | 4:58 pm
I’ll impress thePhantom that much.
April 25th, 2008 | 8:05 am
LeBron showed his MVP status last night. LePwned.
April 25th, 2008 | 10:14 am
he had 22 7 and 3 on 10-19 shooting, and his teammates clearly didn’t show up to play, since no one else even broke double digits in scoring except devin brown who had 10 on 2 of 8 shooting. the tizards came out and got the crowd into it, and the rest of the cavs flopped over and played dead. lebron had 9 in the first quarter, and for some reason tiz brown took him out for 5 minutes to start the second while the tizards went on a run. when the cavs are without lebron james, i bet you some of the ncaa teams this year could beat them, or at least have a competitve game against them.
April 25th, 2008 | 12:15 pm
its funny how I read that entire post and did not pay attention to your slurpie at all
April 25th, 2008 | 1:54 pm
For the record, any NCAA team would get destroyed by the Cavs without Lebron. With Lebron is another story. And superstars lift their team when they’re sucking, kind of like Lebron didn’t do tonight.
April 25th, 2008 | 2:06 pm
xane=pwned twice
April 25th, 2008 | 8:54 pm
you guys have no idea what youre talking about. and justin, paramore concert instead of game 1 pens vs rangers is unreal.
April 26th, 2008 | 5:29 pm
Yeah, I wouldn’t say that the playoffs have been that exciting yet. I am surprised that the West hasn’t been more competitive (Dallas and Phoenix have been underperforming, in my opinion. Well, Phoenix lost a couple of close ones.)
I am also surprised by Philadelphia, wining the 3rd game and going up 2-1 in the series against the Pistons.
Things will probably get better after the first round.
April 28th, 2008 | 7:06 pm
if the nuggets win tonight justins sweep city predictions will all be smashed (like his brawl character)